Overview

Files are encrypted on the sender’s device using OpenPGP with AES-256. A split-key design prevents SendSafely from decrypting their contents. Recipients can open files in a modern browser without an account, after verifying with a one-time passcode by email or SMS. That combination is well suited to sending sensitive material outside an organization without requiring recipients to adopt another service.

Senders can set custom expiration dates, revoke access, limit views or downloads, and use view-only mode and watermarking. Password protection, audit logs, and admin controls add further oversight. These controls matter most for transfers that need bounded, reviewable access; they are less compelling if all you need is basic file delivery.

Key features

Integrations and developer tools

Native integrations cover Outlook, Gmail, Slack, Salesforce, Zendesk, Freshdesk, and Intercom. This makes SendSafely a stronger fit for teams wanting to work secure transfers into existing communication and customer-service workflows. Its REST API and client libraries for Python, Java, .NET, and Node.js support custom connections, but API access requires Business or higher, excluding lower-cost plans.

AI collection and compliance

HALO collects files within AI chatbot workflows using client-side encryption. It is an Enterprise feature, so teams on other plans should not choose SendSafely on the assumption that they can use HALO. The company lists SOC 2 Type 2, PCI DSS, GDPR, and CCPA support, with HIPAA business associate agreements available on Enterprise plans. Hosting runs on AWS; Business and Enterprise customers can choose regional hosting in the United States, European Union, or Australia.

Team plans include online support. Enterprise customers can add premium 24x7 support with named contacts and guaranteed service-level agreements, a more substantial support option for organizations that need defined escalation.

Pricing

SendSafely has a free Personal plan, paid plans, and a 14-day trial. Trial uploads are capped at 2 GB. The Personal plan allows 50 MB per month, enough only for occasional small transfers rather than routine use.

Plan	Price	What it includes
Personal	Custom pricing	50 MB per month.
Basic	10.00 USD per month	250 MB per month, expiration controls, a personal upload URL, and an Outlook plug-in.
Pro	20.00 USD per month	100 GB per month, files up to 10 GB, expiration controls, a personal upload URL, and an Outlook plug-in.
Team	120.00 USD per month, billed annually	Five users, 10 GB bandwidth per month, 200 packages per month; the plan range is 5–25 users.
Business	232.00 USD per month, billed annually	Eight users, 30 GB bandwidth per month, 500 packages per month; the plan range is 8–50 users.
Enterprise	Custom pricing	100 GB bandwidth and 1,000 packages per month.
Consumption — Bandwidth	Custom pricing	Metered encrypted transfers with volume tiers, a usage dashboard, and no seat licensing; custom per-GB billing.
Consumption — Packages	Custom pricing	Metered encrypted packages with volume tiers, a usage dashboard, and pay-per-package billing.

Basic is the lowest-cost paid option, but its 250 MB monthly quota sharply limits regular file sharing. Pro raises that allowance to 100 GB and supports files up to 10 GB, making it a more practical individual plan for substantial transfers. Team and Business add defined user ranges and package and bandwidth quotas, with annual billing; Business is also the entry point for API access and optional regional hosting. Enterprise is aimed at larger workloads, with higher stated monthly allowances and access to features such as HALO and HIPAA BAAs, but requires custom pricing. The metered plans may suit variable transfer volumes or buyers who do not want seat licensing; their costs are also custom.

Platforms

SendSafely supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, and web, as well as an extension and API. Its browser-based recipient access is particularly useful when recipients do not have SendSafely accounts.

Who it's for

SendSafely is a strong fit for teams handling regulated or sensitive data that need device-side encryption, verified recipients, and control over access after sending. Organizations already using its native integrations can bring those protections into familiar tools. It is a weaker choice for occasional, small-volume transfers if even the Basic plan’s 250 MB monthly limit is restrictive, or for teams needing API access below Business.

Pros and cons

Pros: Device-side encryption and split keys keep SendSafely from decrypting file contents.
Pros: Recipients can use a browser without an account, while email or SMS passcodes add an identity check.
Pros: Expiration, revocation, view and download limits, view-only mode, and watermarking give senders meaningful control after sharing.
Pros: Native integrations cover several email, messaging, CRM, and support platforms.
Cons: The free Personal plan is limited to 50 MB per month, and Basic allows only 250 MB per month.
Cons: API access starts at Business, well above the lower-cost individual plans.
Cons: HALO and HIPAA BAAs require Enterprise, while its price is custom.
Cons: Team and Business prices are billed annually, and both have monthly bandwidth and package quotas.

Alternatives

pCloud is a freemium alternative with a free plan that includes 10 GB of storage, a better fit when general cloud storage is the priority. Wing FTP Server offers a free edition with one domain, 10 user accounts per domain, 10 connections per domain, and FTP/HTTP transfer. SFTPGo is another freemium option for buyers comparing file-transfer tools. CrushFTP is a paid alternative with a perpetual-license Small Business plan and yearly maintenance renewal after the first year. Progress MOVEit Transfer is a paid option with trial access. Files.com starts with a paid Starter plan at 199.00 USD per month, billed monthly, with 10 Full Users, 50 System Users, two outbound connections, and 1 TB monthly storage. rclone is a free, open-source alternative. Serv-U Managed File Transfer Server is a paid alternative at 335.00 USD per month per server.

For more options, browse File transfer services or Secure File Transfer Software.

Verdict

Choose SendSafely if your team needs encrypted transfers with recipient verification and continuing control over file access, particularly when integrations can put those protections into everyday workflows. Look elsewhere if low-volume free sharing is enough, if your workflow needs API access without a Business plan, or if you need Enterprise-only capabilities but cannot justify custom pricing.

	Instant.io	SendSafely
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Free trial		Yes
Paid from	Free
Platforms		Android, api, extension, iOS, Linux, macOS, Web, Windows
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Desktop app	No
Paid from		$10/mo
API access		Yes
Link expiration		custom
Password protection		Yes
Recipient verification		Yes
Audit logs		Yes
Admin controls		Yes

Instant.io vs SendSafely

Instant.io

SendSafely