The Best Firefox Send Alternatives in 2026: Simple, Encrypted File Sharing
Mozilla killed Firefox Send in 2020 but the need never went away. Here are the best tools for simple, encrypted, link-based file sharing.
Firefox Send was perfect. Upload a file, get an encrypted link, share it. The link expired after a set number of downloads or a time limit. No account needed. End-to-end encrypted. Clean, fast, simple.
Then Mozilla shut it down in September 2020, citing abuse by malware distributors. Five years later, people still search for it — because nothing has fully replaced it.
Here’s what comes closest.
What made Firefox Send special
Firefox Send had three qualities that made it uniquely good:
- No account required. You could share a file without creating a login.
- End-to-end encryption. Mozilla couldn’t see your files. Nobody could, except the person with the link.
- Self-destructing links. You could set a download limit (1-100 downloads) and a time limit (5 minutes to 7 days). After that, the file was gone.
Most modern file sharing tools get one or two of these right. Very few get all three.
The alternatives
Wormhole (wormhole.app)
The closest spiritual successor to Firefox Send. End-to-end encrypted in your browser before upload. Files up to 10 GB. Links expire after 24 hours or the first download.
What’s good: Encryption happens client-side (even Wormhole can’t read your files). No account needed. Clean interface. What’s missing: 24-hour/single-download expiry is inflexible. No custom expiry settings. No password option.
Send (fork of Firefox Send)
The open-source community forked Firefox Send’s code when Mozilla shut it down. Several instances are running, including send.vis.ee and send.zcyph.cc.
What’s good: It’s literally Firefox Send. Same UI, same encryption, same features. What’s missing: Community-run servers — no guarantee of uptime, longevity, or trust. The operators could shut down at any time. Not suitable for professional use.
OnionShare
Built by the Tor Project. Creates an onion address (Tor hidden service) that serves your file directly from your computer. The recipient opens it in Tor Browser and downloads.
What’s good: Maximum privacy. No server stores your file. Peer-to-peer through Tor. What’s missing: Both parties need Tor Browser. Slow (Tor routing). Complex for non-technical recipients. Your computer must stay on during the download.
SwissTransfer
Swiss-made (Infomaniak). Up to 50 GB free. Files available up to 30 days. No account needed. Hosted in Switzerland.
What’s good: Huge file size limit. Swiss privacy jurisdiction. Password protection available. What’s missing: Not end-to-end encrypted (server-side encryption only). No custom download limits.
Swooshare
A native Mac menu bar app. Select files, shake your mouse, get a share link. Files are encrypted in transit and at rest on Cloudflare’s network. Links expire based on your plan (7 days free, 30 days Pro).
What’s good: Fastest workflow on Mac — no browser needed. Password protection on all plans. In-page chat on every share link. Activity analytics (Pro) tell you when files are viewed and downloaded. What’s missing: Mac-only for sending (recipients use any browser).
Proton Drive
From the team behind ProtonMail. Genuine end-to-end encryption. Based in Switzerland. Share files via encrypted links.
What’s good: Real E2E encryption from a trusted company with a track record. Swiss jurisdiction. What’s missing: Requires a Proton account. Free tier is only 1 GB for sharing. The sharing workflow is slower — it’s primarily a cloud storage tool, not a quick file transfer tool.
Comparison table
| Tool | Account needed | Expiry control | Password | Chat / replies | Native Mac app |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swooshare | No | Yes (7-30 days) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wormhole | No | 24h only | No | No | No |
| Send (fork) | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| OnionShare | No | Manual | No | No | No |
| SwissTransfer | No | 30 days | Yes | No | No |
| Proton Drive | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Which one should you use?
If encryption is non-negotiable: Wormhole for quick one-off transfers. Proton Drive if you want a long-term solution and don’t mind creating an account. OnionShare if you’re in a high-risk scenario.
If you want the Firefox Send experience: The community-run Send forks are the closest match, but trust the server operator at your own risk.
If you share files regularly from a Mac: Swooshare — it won’t match Firefox Send on E2E encryption, but it’s faster for daily use and includes features Send never had (chat, file requests, analytics).
If you just need to send a big file: SwissTransfer. 50 GB free, no questions asked.
Will Firefox Send ever come back?
Thunderbird announced “Thunderbird Send” in 2023 as a spiritual successor, built into the Thunderbird email client. As of 2026, it hasn’t shipped yet. The Firefox Send codebase lives on through community forks, but there’s no sign of Mozilla reviving the official service.
The need Firefox Send filled — simple, encrypted, ephemeral file sharing — is as real as ever. The tools above are the best current answers.