The best alternative to WeTransfer and Google Drive for delivering photos to clients is a gallery platform for photographers: a stable link with a visual gallery, password protection, download control, favorites selection and built-in sales. If you only need to move files now and then (to a print lab, an editor or another photographer), other transfer services or clouds like Dropbox, OneDrive or iCloud still do the job. The key question is whether you're sending files or delivering an experience.
In this comparison you'll see the types of alternatives, their pros and limits, criteria for choosing, when WeTransfer or Drive still make sense, and how to migrate your deliveries without making things harder for your client.
Why photographers look for alternatives to WeTransfer and Drive
WeTransfer and Drive are excellent at what they were designed for: moving and storing files. But photo delivery brings familiar friction:
- Expiring links on transfer services: the client comes back months later and you have to resend.
- Folders instead of galleries: the client sees file names, not a carefully presented session.
- No branding of your own: the experience belongs to the service, not to you.
- Little control: it's not easy to allow viewing without downloading, or to know whether the client opened the delivery.
- No selection or sales: choosing favorites or charging for single photos means using other tools.
Types of alternatives (and what each is for)
| Category | Examples | Pros | Limits for delivering photos | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other transfer services | Smash, SwissTransfer and similar | Fast sending of large files, no account needed for the recipient | Temporary links and no visual presentation | One-off sends to suppliers |
| General-purpose clouds | Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud Drive | Storage and sync | Folders with no photographic experience or branding | Backup and working with collaborators |
| Shared albums | Google Photos, iCloud shared albums | Easy for end users | Designed for personal use, not professional delivery | Sharing personal photos |
| Messaging | WhatsApp, Telegram | Immediacy | Frequent compression, clutter, no per-gallery privacy | Coordinating, not delivering |
| Gallery platforms for photographers | Ftens and others in the industry | Visual gallery, privacy, download control, selection, sales, portfolio | Require an account and a plan choice | Recurring professional deliveries |
Each service's exact features and limits change over time. Before deciding, always check each provider's current information.
Criteria for choosing your alternative
Ask yourself these questions when comparing tools:
| Criterion | Key question |
|---|---|
| Presentation | Does the client see a gallery or a list of files? |
| Link permanence | Does the link still work when the client comes back months later? |
| Privacy | Can I set a password per gallery or per client? |
| Download control | Can I allow viewing only and turn on downloads later? |
| Delivery quality | Does the client download the original file or a compressed version? |
| Full download | Can they download the whole gallery at once? |
| Selection | Can they mark favorites and leave notes? |
| Sales | Can I charge for photos or packs from the same gallery? |
| Branding | Can I use templates, my logo or my domain? |
| Data | Do I know whether they viewed and downloaded the photos? |
| Cost | Is there a free plan to test with a real client? |
When WeTransfer or Drive still make sense
A gallery platform doesn't have to replace everything. WeTransfer or Drive remain a good option for:
- Sending files to a print shop or lab with the specs they require.
- Passing RAW files or working material to an editor or a second shooter.
- Keeping off-site backups (the cloud).
- One-off sends that aren't a delivery to the end client.
The rule of thumb: working files go by transfer or cloud; client deliveries go by gallery. If you want to organize all your destinations, read where to upload your photos as a photographer.
Ftens vs. transfers and clouds
| Need | Transfer / cloud | Ftens |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation | List of files or folders | Galleries with design templates, organized by project |
| Link | Temporary (transfer) or shared folder | Gallery link that doesn't expire unexpectedly |
| Privacy | Depends on the service | Password-protected gallery or project |
| View-only | Not always available | "Allow downloads" option per gallery |
| Full download | ZIP or folder | Photo by photo or a gallery ZIP sent by email |
| Client selection | No | Client selection mode (Pro and Advanced) |
| Sales | No | Paid galleries with Stripe on all plans |
| Data | Limited | Views and downloads per gallery (advanced analytics from Basic) |
| Showcase | No | Portfolio at ftens.com/p/your-name and directory (Pro and Advanced) |
How to move your deliveries from WeTransfer or Drive to Ftens
- Create your free account and a project for your studio or your next client.
- Create the gallery for your next session instead of preparing a ZIP.
- Upload the finals by dragging them in (JPEG, PNG, WebP; RAW, CR2 and CR3 are also supported) and put them in order. From the Basic plan you can bulk import a full folder.
- Set access: password and downloads. Guide: how to share photos with clients privately.
- Send the link with a short message. For the client it's even simpler than a transfer: they open the link and see their photos.
- Keep WeTransfer or Drive only for print labs, editors and backup.
- Add selection or sales when you need them: client photo selection and sell your galleries from Ftens.
Note that on the Free plan downloads carry a watermark. To deliver the original file without a watermark, you need the Basic plan or higher (Basic, Pro and Advanced include "No watermark").
Frequently asked questions
What's the best WeTransfer alternative for photographers?
For delivering sessions to clients, a gallery platform for photographers: stable link, visual gallery, password, download control, selection and sales. For one-off sends of working files, another transfer service or a cloud.
Why not use Google Drive to deliver photos?
Drive is useful for storing and sharing files, but the client sees folders and file names, without your brand or an experience built for photography. It also doesn't offer favorites selection or built-in sales.
Do gallery links expire like WeTransfer links?
On Ftens the gallery link doesn't expire unexpectedly: it stays available as long as the gallery exists. The only thing that expires is the temporary link to the ZIP sent by email, which can be requested again from the gallery.
Can I keep using WeTransfer for some things?
Yes. It's handy for sending files to a print lab, an editor or a second shooter. The recommendation is to use galleries for deliveries to the end client.
Is a gallery harder for clients than a download?
No. The client opens the link, enters the password if there is one, and sees their photos on their phone or computer. On Ftens they don't need to create an account.
Is there a free WeTransfer alternative for photographers?
Ftens has a Free plan with 1 project, 5 galleries and 50 GB of storage, which lets you sell photos with a platform fee. On that plan, downloads carry a watermark.
Make the switch on your next delivery
You don't need to migrate your whole archive: start with your next session. Create your free Ftens account, build the gallery and compare your client's reaction with the last transfer you sent. For the full picture, read how to choose a platform for photographers and online photo gallery: what it is and how to create one.