A Hightail Alternative With a Bigger Free Limit

Step by step

1. Add your files

   Drop files or a whole folder onto the uploader at rapidfile.cc, or tap to pick them on a phone.

2. Pick the options

   Choose an expiry time, and optionally add a password, a download limit, a title or a message.

3. Share the link, code or QR

   Send the link, read out the 6-digit code, or let the other person scan the QR code.

4. Recipient downloads

   They open the link, or go to rapidfile.cc/receive and type the code. You can close your tab once the upload finishes.

Hightail started life as YouSendIt, a service that many people used to pass large files to colleagues and clients. It was founded in 2004 under the YouSendIt name and renamed Hightail in 2013. OpenText acquired it in February 2018, and its website now describes Hightail as part of the OpenText family. People still look for a Hightail alternative for a few reasons: the free limit is small for a video or a folder of photos, they want a code instead of an email, or they are not sure the service will keep running under its current owner. Rapidfile is one option. This page sets out the differences and says plainly where Hightail is the better fit.

The short version

Hightail figures are from Hightail's website as of October 2026. Plans change. Check their site for current limits.

Where Hightail is the stronger pick

• Email delivery to recipients. Hightail's site describes instant email notifications to recipients. Rapidfile does not send email, so if you want the service to message your recipient for you, Hightail does that job and Rapidfile does not.
• One send to several people. The free Lite plan allows up to 30 recipients per file send. If your main need is a single file going to a small group through the service's own sharing flow, that is a practical feature.
• A paid plan with a bigger per-file ceiling. The Hightail pricing page lists per-transfer limits of 25 GB on Pro, 50 GB on Teams and 500 GB on Business. Rapidfile's Pro plan allows 50 GB per transfer, so compare the tiers that match your use.

If your files are mostly around 100 MB and you want the service to email people, Hightail's free plan is a reasonable fit. Read the current terms on its site first, since the free allowance may change.

Where Rapidfile fits better

• Bigger free transfers. Without an account, Rapidfile accepts up to 500 MB. With a free account it accepts up to 2 GB. Hightail's Lite plan lists 100 MB per file send, so a 300 MB video works on Rapidfile with no sign-up. For more on this, see sending a 500 MB file and sending a 2 GB file.
• Codes and QR codes. Every transfer gets a link, a 6-digit code and a QR code. Someone across the table types the code at rapidfile.cc/receive, or scans the QR code with the Android app.
• Apps for desktop and Android. In the Mac and Windows apps, right-click any file in Finder or File Explorer and choose "Rapidfile: Get link" or "Send to my devices". The Android app adds share-sheet support. See the apps page.
• Command line and curl. The Rapidfile CLI runs on Node 18 or newer with no extra dependencies, and rapidfile send <path> sends a file from a terminal. A plain curl upload also works, which suits scripts and automated jobs.
• Ad-free paid plans. Rapidfile's free plan is ad-supported. Plus and Pro remove ads on all Rapidfile products and apps.

What Hightail's free plan looks like in practice

The 100 MB limit is the number to check first. It is the Lite plan's per-file send size, and it is the reason many people run into a wall with a short video or a folder of raw photos. Hightail's pricing page also lists 7-day expiration and 2 GB of storage on Lite, so a free send is a short-lived transfer rather than storage you keep. Its paid tiers add larger sends and more storage. The pricing page lists paid plans starting at a monthly price, with annual billing shown separately, and that price has changed in the past. Check Hightail's pricing page for the current figure.

Rapidfile's free plan is split in two. Without an account, you can send up to 500 MB, with a link that lasts 1 hour, 1 day or 3 days (7 days with a free account). With a free account, the limit rises to 2 GB. Plus and Pro raise the size per transfer to 10 GB and 50 GB and allow links up to 14 and 30 days. Expired transfers are deleted automatically, and you can delete a transfer early.

Moving from Hightail to Rapidfile

If you decide to switch for a particular job, the steps are short:

1. Open rapidfile.cc on the computer or phone you use most. Files up to 500 MB need no account.
2. Set the expiry and, if needed, a password before you upload.
3. Copy the link or the 6-digit code into your message. Rapidfile does not send an email, so the message you write is the notice.
4. For files between 500 MB and 2 GB, sign in with a free account.

Your recipients do not need to install anything. They open the link in a browser, or type the code at rapidfile.cc/receive. If the recipient is on a phone, the link opens in the mobile browser, and the Android app can scan a QR code instead of typing the code. Check the file size before you send, since a file over 500 MB needs a free account on Rapidfile.

Keep one practical habit whichever service you use. Send the link and the code in separate messages when the file is sensitive, and set an expiry that matches the time the recipient actually needs. A link that lasts seven days is easy to forget, and a shorter expiry means a forgotten link stops working sooner.

Who runs each service

Hightail is run by OpenText, a large software company. Check Hightail's site for its current security options, such as access codes, recipient verification and expiry dates. Rapidfile is made and operated by Enzonic LLC. Rapidfile encrypts files in transit with TLS and at rest on Cloudflare's network, scans every upload with ClamAV, and deletes files at expiry. It is not end-to-end encrypted. Read each service's privacy and security pages before you send anything sensitive, and compare what each says about who can read a file.

Which one should you use?

Use Hightail if you want the service to email your recipients and your files are around 100 MB or less. Use Rapidfile if you want to send files up to 500 MB without an account, share with a code or QR code, or use apps on Mac, Windows and Android. Hightail's status is still listed as active, so you have a real choice here. Test both with a small file and pick the one your recipient finds easier to open.

FAQ

Updated 2026-10-20