Swyvl vs WeTransfer
WeTransfer is great for sending large files quickly. But spatial data delivery is more than just file transfer — whoever you share with needs to view the data, not just download it. And your links shouldn't expire in 7 days.
What your client actually opens
The same deliverable, received two ways.
Your client downloads gigabytes, then can't open the spatial files without specialist software. Files arrive — the data never gets seen.
Opens in the browser — point clouds, orthos, 360°, video, all interactive. No account, no install.
Side-by-side comparison
How WeTransfer and Swyvl compare for survey and spatial data delivery.
| Feature | WeTransfer | Swyvl |
|---|---|---|
| Link expiry | Free links expire. Paid plans can set the expiry, but links still expire. | Permanent links. Your client can access the data months or years later. |
| Comments on a spot in the scan | None. A transfer has no comments. | Pin a note to the exact spot on a point cloud or orthomosaic, with a sketch. Clients invited by email reply on the spot, free. How notes work. |
| File viewing | No file previews for spatial formats. Download only. | Browser-based viewers for every major format: point clouds, orthomosaics, 3D models, Gaussian splats, 360 panoramas, video, PDF, DXF, IFC. Measurement tools built in. |
| Branding | WeTransfer branding on all transfers. Custom backgrounds on paid plans, but still WeTransfer's interface. | Your logo, your colors, your company name. The client sees your brand, not ours. |
| Free tier limit | Up to 3 GB, and 10 transfers every 30 days. | 5 GB storage. Upload files up to 100 GB each. |
| Audit trail | Download notification email. No detailed access logs. | Full access logs — who viewed, what they viewed, when, with timestamps and location. |
| Client feedback | None. Clients must reply by email. | Built-in approve/request changes workflow. Clients respond through the link. |
| Organization | Flat file list per transfer. No concept of sites or sessions. | Files organized by physical site and collection, one visit's worth of files. Map view shows all your sites. |
| Site map | None. Files have no location context. | Interactive site map with toggleable layers, GPX tracks, and custom base maps: your own orthomosaics and site plans as the background. |
| How you start | Free plan, paid plans bought online. | Free plan, sign up yourself, no credit card. Paid plans bought online. |
| Data regions | EU or US, decided by where the upload comes from: uploads from a European IP address are stored in the EU, the rest in the US. No customer choice. | 8 storage regions on every plan — Australia, US East, US West, UK, Europe, Canada, Japan, Singapore. Chosen at signup. |
| Data privacy | WeTransfer's updated terms allow use of uploaded content for AI training, raising concerns for sensitive survey data. | Your data is never used for AI training. Files are encrypted at rest and in transit. You control access. |
| Pricing | Free, Starter, Ultimate and Teams plans. Starter sends up to 300 GB with 10 transfers every 30 days; Ultimate has no transfer limit. | Free tier with 5 GB. Paid plans from $49/mo (Solo). See pricing. |
Comparison as of October 2026, based on WeTransfer's published information.
Why surveyors are moving beyond WeTransfer
Links expire. Data shouldn't.
WeTransfer's free links expire. Even on paid plans, links have a shelf life. Survey deliverables are reference documents — your clients may need to access the data months later for compliance checks, insurance claims, or project reviews. Swyvl links are permanent.
Transfer is not delivery.
WeTransfer moves files from point A to point B. But delivery means your client can actually use what they received. When you send a LAS file via WeTransfer, the transfer succeeds — but the delivery fails, because your client cannot open it. Swyvl renders every spatial file type in the browser.
Data privacy concerns.
WeTransfer updated their terms of service to permit the use of uploaded content for training AI models. For surveyors handling sensitive site data, government contracts, or proprietary intellectual property, this is a significant concern. Swyvl never uses your data for AI training, and you choose the storage region where your files reside.
When WeTransfer is the right choice
WeTransfer is a fast, simple way to send large files to someone when you just need them to download a file once. For sending a zip file to a colleague, a batch of photos to a friend, or a one-off file that doesn't need to persist — WeTransfer works well.
But if you're a surveyor or drone operator delivering spatial data to clients on a regular basis, you need permanent links, browser-based viewing, branding, and an audit trail. That's what Swyvl is built for.
Try Swyvl free — see the difference
Upload a point cloud or orthomosaic, generate a branded link, and compare the experience to a WeTransfer download. No credit card required.