A simpler WeTransfer alternative
WeTransfer is the default for emailing a big file to someone, and it is good at that job. It is also more process than many handovers need: type your address, type theirs, wait, and hope the mail lands.
BuddySend takes the other approach. Upload the file, read out six numbers, and the other person types them. No addresses, no accounts, nothing to install.
How it compares
| BuddySend | Typical send-by-email service | |
|---|---|---|
| What the recipient needs | A 6-digit code or link | Usually an email address |
| Sign-up | None | Often optional, sometimes required |
| Best for | A quick handover, phone to PC | Large files to someone's inbox |
| File size | Up to 100MB per transfer | Gigabytes, depending on plan |
| After download | Deleted automatically | Expires after a set number of days |
Be honest about the limit: if your file runs to gigabytes, a service built for large transfers is the right tool and BuddySend is not. Where BuddySend wins is the small, immediate handover where email is the slow part.
When a code is the better tool
- You're on the phone with the person, so you can simply say the numbers.
- You don't have their email address, and don't want to ask.
- You're on someone else's computer and won't sign into your email there.
- You want the file gone afterwards instead of sitting in two inboxes.
- The recipient isn't technical: "go to buddysend.com and type 482917" is the whole instruction.
How to send one
- Open buddysend.com and drop your files in. Up to 5 files, 100MB in total.
- Share the 6-digit code or the link it gives you.
- The other person opens buddysend.com/receive, types the code, and downloads.
FAQ
Is BuddySend free?
Yes. Sending and receiving files is free and needs no account.
Do I need the recipient's email address?
No. You pass them a 6-digit code or a link, by any means you like, including a phone call.
How large can my file be?
Up to 5 files per transfer, 100MB in total. For larger files, use a service built for gigabyte transfers.
How long does the file stay available?
Until it has been downloaded, or about an hour after upload, whichever comes first.
Is the transfer secure?
Uploads and downloads travel over HTTPS, so they are encrypted in transit, and file contents are never opened or scanned. Treat the 6-digit code like a password while the transfer is live.
Try it with your own file
Free, no sign-up. You'll have a 6-digit code in seconds.