TinyX vs WeTransfer: privacy, expiry, and the AI training scandal
· TinyX · 5 min read
TinyX vs WeTransfer: privacy, expiry, and the AI training scandal
In July 2025, WeTransfer updated their terms to allow AI training on user-uploaded files. The backlash was immediate and loud — they reversed the policy within days.
But the reversal doesn't undo the question it raised: what happens to your files after you upload them? If a company can flip a policy switch and suddenly use your files to train models, that's a structural problem, not just a PR one.
This is the comparison WeTransfer doesn't want you reading.
What happened with WeTransfer and AI training
In July 2025, WeTransfer's updated terms of service included language granting them rights to use uploaded files for AI training purposes. They framed it as improving their platform. Users — including designers, photographers, lawyers, and agencies — were furious.
WeTransfer reversed the policy under public pressure. But the episode revealed something important: WeTransfer can read every file you upload. That's not a bug, it's how their architecture works. Files pass through their servers in a format they can access.
If they could opt you into AI training, they could opt you in again. Or not tell you.
How TinyX handles files differently
TinyX uses AES-256-GCM client-side encryption. Your file is encrypted in your browser before it leaves your device. The encrypted blob travels directly to Cloudflare R2 via a presigned URL — TinyX's servers are never in the path of your file content.
TinyX cannot read your files. Not now, not ever, not under policy change.
There's no server-side copy of your decryption key. There's nothing to hand over in a data breach. There's nothing to train an AI on. Zero-knowledge is an architecture, not a promise.
See how the encrypted file sharing works.
The forced expiry problem
WeTransfer free tier files expire after 3 days. Not configurable. Not extendable. Gone.
This is fine if you're sending a video to a colleague today. It's a serious problem if you're:
- Sharing a file with a client who's travelling
- Sending something you need to reference in a week
- Running any workflow where the recipient's timing isn't yours to control
TinyX lets you set expiry by time (choose your window), by click count (auto-expires after N downloads), both, or neither. The link lives as long as you need it to.
Analytics: WeTransfer has none
WeTransfer tells you a file was downloaded. That's it.
TinyX gives you: who clicked (country, device, browser, referrer), when, how many times — in real time. If you're sending a proposal or a media pack, knowing whether it was opened matters.
Feature comparison
| Feature | TinyX Free | TinyX Pro ($9/mo) | WeTransfer Free | WeTransfer Pro ($12–$19/mo) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File sharing | ✅ 10MB | ✅ 50MB | ✅ 2GB | ✅ 100GB |
| Client-side encryption | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| AI training opt-out | N/A (can't read files) | N/A | Reversed (was yes) | Reversed (was yes) |
| Configurable expiry | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ (3 days forced) | ✅ |
| Click-based expiry | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Link analytics | ✅ real-time | ✅ real-time | ❌ | Basic |
| URL shortening | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| QR codes | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Password protection | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Image galleries | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upload drops | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Forms | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Price | $0 | $9/mo | $0 | $12–$19/mo |
Where WeTransfer wins
File size limits. WeTransfer free goes to 2GB; TinyX Pro is 50MB. If you're routinely sending raw video files or massive CAD exports, WeTransfer's infrastructure is built for that at scale.
For everything else — privacy, control, analytics, URL shortening, forms — TinyX is the better choice.
The file size trade-off in context
Most files that matter for business are smaller than 50MB. Client proposals, contracts, design mockups, photography proofs (web-resolution), slide decks — all comfortably under the TinyX Pro limit.
If you occasionally need to send a 500MB file, TinyX Max ($29/mo) covers that. Still less than WeTransfer Pro, and with encryption WeTransfer fundamentally cannot offer.
Check the full breakdown at tinyx.co/pricing.
The bottom line
WeTransfer is a file transit tool. It moves files from A to B with a time limit. Their architecture means they can access everything you upload — which is why the AI training controversy happened in the first place.
TinyX is built on the premise that the platform should never be able to read your files. Not by policy, by architecture.
If privacy matters — if you're a photographer, a consultant, a lawyer, an agency, anyone sending files that shouldn't be read by the platform hosting them — TinyX is the only option in this comparison that's structurally safe.
Start free at tinyx.co — no credit card, no time limit.
Frequently asked questions
Did WeTransfer really try to train AI on user files? Yes. In July 2025, WeTransfer updated their terms of service to include rights to use uploaded files for AI training. They reversed the policy following significant public backlash. Their architecture still means they can access files — the policy is the only protection.
Can TinyX read my uploaded files? No. Files are encrypted client-side (AES-256-GCM) in your browser before upload. TinyX servers never receive unencrypted file content. TinyX literally cannot read your files regardless of any future policy change.
What's the file size limit on TinyX? Free: 10MB per file. Pro ($9/mo): 50MB. Max ($29/mo): 500MB. WeTransfer's larger limits are better for very large file transfers, but TinyX covers most business file types at Pro tier.
Does TinyX have configurable link expiry? Yes. You can set expiry by time (any window you choose), by click count (auto-expires after N downloads), both, or leave the link permanent. WeTransfer free forces a 3-day expiry with no configuration.