Temporary File Sharing: Free Expiring Links Compared (2026)

Temporary file sharing means you upload a file, choose how long it should stay online, and send the link. When the time runs out, the link stops working and, with the services below, the file is permanently deleted. Free options include InvisHosting (expiry from 1 minute to 30 days, 300 MB per file, no account), Wormhole (24 hours, end-to-end encrypted) and WeTransfer Free (links last up to 3 days).

Expiry limits how long a file is exposed. It does not make the file private. Anyone who has the link can download it until it expires. This guide compares the options using limits taken from each service's own pages (checked November 9, 2026), shows how to set up an expiring link, and explains what expiry does and doesn't protect.

What temporary file sharing is

The basic flow is the same everywhere:

1. Upload the file.
2. Choose an expiry, or accept the service's fixed one.
3. Share the download link.
4. When the time is up, the file is removed and the link stops working.

The point is that the file doesn't sit on a server indefinitely after the person you sent it to has it. That matters with ordinary file hosts. On InvisHosting, for example, a file uploaded without an expiry stays up indefinitely unless you delete it, it breaks the Terms of Service, or it gets no downloads for 90 days.

Three kinds of "temporary" link, and why the difference matters

Services use "expiring link" for slightly different things. Before you trust one with a file, check which kind it is.

Time-based expiry (the file is deleted after a set time)

This is the most common model. Some services let you pick the window. InvisHosting lets you set anything from 1 minute to 30 days, and the file is then deleted permanently. Others use a fixed window: Wormhole's FAQ says files are "permanently deleted from the server after 24 hours."

Link expiry versus file deletion

A link that stops working is not always the same as a file that's gone. WeTransfer is a useful example. On its standard expiry, "the download link stops working and the files are permanently deleted from WeTransfer's servers." But on its Ultimate, Teams and Enterprise plans, transfers with the Recoverable option turned on can be retrieved within a set window after they expire. A dead link can therefore still mean a copy exists somewhere for a while, depending on the plan and settings.

WeTransfer also lets the sender change the expiry date of a transfer that has already been sent, from the Transfers panel. Recipients aren't notified automatically, so if you shorten or extend a link, tell them yourself.

Size-dependent behaviour

Some services handle files differently depending on their size. Wormhole stores files up to 5 GB on its servers for 24 hours. Above 5 GB it sends them peer-to-peer, which means you have to keep the page open until the recipient finishes downloading. Close the tab and the transfer stops.

Free temporary file sharing options compared (2026)

Limits below come from each service's own pages, checked November 9, 2026. Where a service's page doesn't say, the cell reads "not stated" rather than repeating guesses from third-party sites.

Which one fits:

• You want to choose the exact window, or need it very short: InvisHosting, down to 1 minute.
• The file is large and sensitive: Wormhole, because it encrypts the file in your browser before upload and goes up to 10 GB.
• You need a password on the link: WeTransfer says password protection is available on all plans.
• You need longer than a few days: InvisHosting allows up to 30 days. WeTransfer's paid Ultimate and higher plans can set any duration.

For files bigger than these limits, see our guide on how to share large files for free.

How to share a file with an expiring link

These steps work for most services. The InvisHosting details are included where they apply.

1. Decide how long the recipient really needs. If they'll download it in the next hour, don't give it a week. A shorter window means less time for a forwarded or leaked link to be used.
2. Encrypt the file first if it's sensitive. InvisHosting and many other hosts don't use end-to-end encryption. Put the file in an encrypted archive with a strong password, and send the password through a different channel than the link. For example, send the link by email and the password by text message.
3. Upload and set the expiry. On InvisHosting you don't need an account. Upload a file up to 300 MB and set an expiry anywhere from 1 minute to 30 days. Large uploads are sent in pieces, so a big file won't fail halfway. If you skip the expiry, the file is kept indefinitely (subject to the 90-day no-download rule), so set it before you share.
4. Share the link privately. Send it directly to the person who needs it, not in a public channel. If the link is long or you need to share it in print or on screen, you can turn it into a short link with the link shortener or a scannable code with the QR code generator. Keep in mind that anyone holding the short link or QR code reaches the file too.
5. Delete early once it's been downloaded. You don't have to wait for the timer. Anonymous InvisHosting uploaders get a one-time deletion token when they upload, so save it straight away. With a free account, you delete files from your dashboard instead.

A free InvisHosting account also cuts the cooldown between uploads from 1 minute to 15 seconds and raises the hourly upload limit, which helps if you send files often.

Is temporary file sharing private? What expiry does and doesn't protect

Expiry answers "how long?" It doesn't answer "who?" Keep these three points in mind.

Anyone with the link can download until it expires

On most temporary hosts, including InvisHosting, the link itself is the key. If it's forwarded, pasted in the wrong chat or seen over someone's shoulder, whoever has it can download the file until it expires or you delete it. That's why the shortest workable window and early deletion matter. If you need to restrict who can open it, WeTransfer says it offers password protection and access limited to specific email addresses on all plans.

End-to-end encryption versus "encrypted on our servers"

With end-to-end encryption, the file is encrypted on your device before it leaves, so the service can't read it. Wormhole works this way: it encrypts files with 128-bit AES-GCM "before they leave the browser." Without end-to-end encryption, the host could technically access the file. InvisHosting files are not end-to-end encrypted, so encrypt sensitive files yourself before uploading, as in step 2.

The recipient can always keep a copy

Once someone has downloaded your file, expiry has no effect on their copy. They can save it, forward it or re-upload it. A temporary link controls the copy on the server, not copies that have already been downloaded. Only send files to people you trust with them permanently.

When a temporary link is the wrong tool

• Files over 300 MB. InvisHosting caps each file at 300 MB. Wormhole goes up to 10 GB, but above 5 GB you have to keep your browser open while the recipient downloads.
• Ongoing collaboration. If several people need to edit the same file over weeks, a shared cloud folder suits the job better than a link that disappears.
• Files that must stay up long-term. For something like a download link on a website, don't set an expiry. On InvisHosting, a file without an expiry stays up as long as it keeps getting downloads at least once every 90 days.
• Very sensitive data where you can't encrypt first. Use an end-to-end encrypted service, or encrypt the file before using any host.

Receiving a temporary file? Check it before you open it

A link that expires soon creates pressure to download and open the file right away. Scammers take advantage of that. Pause long enough to confirm who sent it and whether you expected it. Be wary of executables, or of documents that ask you to enable macros. Every InvisHosting upload is scanned with VirusTotal, suspicious files are quarantined, and executables and other dangerous file types are blocked. Not every host does this, though. Our guide on how to check if a file is safe walks you through the checks.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free temporary file sharing site?

It depends on the file. For an expiry you control (1 minute to 30 days) with no account, InvisHosting works for files up to 300 MB. For large or sensitive files, Wormhole offers end-to-end encryption and up to 10 GB, with a fixed 24-hour window.

How long does WeTransfer keep files on the free plan?

WeTransfer says links on Free and Starter accounts stay active for up to 3 days. When a transfer expires, the link stops working and the files are permanently deleted from its servers.

How long does Wormhole keep files?

Wormhole permanently deletes files from its server after 24 hours. Files over 5 GB aren't stored at all: they go peer-to-peer while your page stays open.

Can I share a temporary file without making an account?

Yes. InvisHosting doesn't require an account to upload or set an expiry. Anonymous uploaders get a one-time deletion token to remove the file early.

Can I delete a temporary file before it expires?

On InvisHosting, yes: use your deletion token, or your dashboard if you're registered. On WeTransfer, you can change a transfer's expiry date from the Transfers panel.

Is there a temporary file host that deletes files after one download?

None of the services we verified for this guide offers that. The closest option is a very short expiry, plus deleting the file yourself as soon as the recipient confirms they have it.

Can the recipient keep the file after the link expires?

Yes. Expiry removes the file from the server, not from the recipient's device.

Sources

• Wormhole – Simple, private file sharing
• Wormhole Frequently Asked Questions
• WeTransfer – Share data files that expire on your schedule
• InvisHosting

This article was written with AI assistance from the sources listed above and checked automatically against them.