A Free Wormhole Alternative

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.

Wormhole is a browser-based file sharing service that makes encryption its main selling point. Files are encrypted before they leave the sender's device, and the site says the service does not read them. Smaller files are held on Wormhole's servers for a short time, and larger ones are sent directly between the two browsers. People look for a Wormhole alternative for a few reasons: they want links that last longer, they need a transfer that does not depend on the sender's page staying open, or they want a clearer picture of what the service stores. Rapidfile is one option. It does some things Wormhole does not, and it gives up one important thing, so this page sets out the differences plainly.

The short version

Wormhole figures are from wormhole.app's website as of October 2026. Plans change — check their site.

Where Wormhole is the stronger pick

Being fair to Wormhole matters here, because its encryption design is its main strength:

• End-to-end encryption. Wormhole's FAQ says files are encrypted in the browser before upload. If the goal is that only the sender and recipient can read the content, that design fits the goal better than Rapidfile's model, which encrypts files in transit and at rest but does not claim end-to-end protection.
• A higher advertised ceiling. The homepage says you can send up to 10 GB. Rapidfile's free account stops at 2 GB, and its top paid plan is 50 GB per transfer. If you regularly send files between 2 GB and 10 GB and do not want to pay, Wormhole's stated limit is larger.
• No sign-up stated. Its site does not describe an account requirement, so you can start sending without creating one.

If end-to-end encryption is a hard requirement, Wormhole should be on your shortlist. For a wider view of the field, read our comparison of free file transfer services.

Where Rapidfile fits better

• Longer free links. Wormhole's FAQ says server copies are deleted after 24 hours. Rapidfile lets you pick 1 hour, 1 day, 3 days or 7 days on the free plan. For more on expiry options, see expiring file links.
• Codes and QR codes. Every transfer gets a 6-digit code and a QR code. Someone in the same room can type the code at rapidfile.cc/receive or scan the QR code with the Rapidfile app. That is quicker than reading out a long link. See also sharing files with a code.
• Passwords and download limits. You can add a password to any transfer, and set a download limit as well.
• Your tab can close. Wormhole's FAQ says that for files over 5 GB, the sender must keep the page open until the recipient finishes. On Rapidfile, you can close your tab once the upload completes, and the recipient downloads from the stored transfer.
• Apps and a command line. The Mac and Windows apps add a right-click option in Finder and File Explorer. The CLI runs on Node 18 or newer with no extra dependencies, and rapidfile send <path> works from a terminal.
• Folders without zipping first. Drag a folder in and it is zipped in your browser with its structure kept. See sending a folder online.

How big files travel on each service

Wormhole has two delivery modes, and it helps to know which one you will get. Files up to 5 GB go to its servers and are deleted after 24 hours. Files over 5 GB travel directly from your browser to the recipient's, so your page has to stay open until the download finishes. The homepage advertises 10 GB, which means the largest transfers depend on that direct connection. Its site does not say how long a direct transfer can take, or what happens if either browser disconnects, so check the current guidance before you send something important.

Rapidfile works the other way round. Your files are stored with Cloudflare's network (R2) and kept until the expiry you chose, or until you delete the transfer early. Expired transfers are removed automatically. The trade-off is that Rapidfile is a stored-file service, so it is not a direct connection between two people.

What end-to-end encryption does and does not cover

End-to-end encryption protects the content of a file from the service that carries it. It does not protect a file from the person you sent it to, who can save, forward or copy it. It also does not hide that a transfer happened. Those limits apply to any encrypted service, Wormhole included.

There is one trade-off to know about. A service that cannot read file contents cannot inspect them for malware. Rapidfile scans every upload with ClamAV, an open source scanner. Flagged files show a warning and a "Download anyway" option, so the recipient still decides. If you need content scanning on what you send, a stored-file service with scanning is the better fit. If you need the server itself to be unable to read your files, Wormhole's design is closer to that goal.

Moving from Wormhole to Rapidfile

If you decide Rapidfile suits your files better, the change is small:

1. Open rapidfile.cc on the device you use most. Files up to 500 MB need no account.
2. Choose an expiry time and, if you like, add a password before you upload.
3. Copy the link, or the 6-digit code, into your message. Rapidfile does not email the recipient, so you share it yourself.
4. For files above 2 GB, sign in with a free account, or look at the Plus and Pro plans.

Recipients do not need to install anything. They open the link or type the code, as they would before.

Which one should you use?

Use Wormhole when end-to-end encryption is your main requirement and your files are up to its stated 10 GB limit. Use Rapidfile when you need links that last up to 7 days on the free plan, codes and QR codes for sharing in person, or apps for Mac, Windows and Android. For sensitive material, verify the encryption design of whichever service you choose, and do not assume that Rapidfile's transport and at-rest encryption protects content in the way end-to-end encryption does.

FAQ

Updated 2026-10-20