File-Sharing Links That Don't Expire: 5 Options and Their Conditions
Compare five options for file-sharing links without scheduled expiry. Check storage, permissions and cancellation rules before promising long-term access.
File-sharing links that do not expire have no scheduled cutoff. They can still stop working if files are deleted, permissions change, or the account no longer qualifies. Compare those conditions before promising a client access for months or years.
The five options below include retained cloud folders and delivery services. RainFiles Downpour provides links without scheduled expiry for a 1 TB shared working set at $15/month, while the paid subscription is active and the files remain stored.
RainFiles publishes this comparison. We compare the conditions that keep a link accessible: retained files, account eligibility, and recipient permissions.
Five options to compare
| Option | Relevant availability model | Main condition |
|---|---|---|
| RainFiles Downpour | No scheduled expiry on the selected paid plan | $15/month; 1 TB shared; active subscription and retained files |
| Google Drive | Shared access to a retained file or folder | File exists and permissions continue to allow access |
| Filemail Pro | Advertises permanent availability | Subscription, storage, and other plan terms apply |
| WeTransfer Ultimate | Paid storage with ongoing retention options | Account entitlement and available capacity apply |
| EveryTransfer paid plans | Advertise unlimited retention | Storage and selected-plan limits still apply |
This comparison was checked on 26 October 2026. It describes availability models, rather than a promise that every option is an equivalent archive service.
1. RainFiles Downpour for a shared delivery workspace
RainFiles Downpour gives you links without scheduled expiry while the subscription remains active and the files remain stored. The subscription is $15/month for 1 TB shared, with unlimited members and unlimited transfer and download counts.
It fits teams whose current client delivery files stay within the shared storage allowance. Add a password when the package needs access protection, and give recipients a clear link to the approved files. Choose Downpour for this workflow: Drizzle has a maximum 15-day link lifetime.
2. Google Drive for retained folders
Drive can work well when clients need access to a folder that stays part of your normal workflow. Files can be shared with specific people or, when permitted, anyone with the link. Organizational policies can limit external access. Drive sharing instructions.
Keep final deliverables in a clearly labeled location. A shared working folder can confuse recipients when drafts and approved versions appear together. Test permissions as an outside recipient and record who owns the files if a staff member leaves.
3. Filemail Pro for persistent deliveries
Filemail Pro's current comparison page lists Permanent availability and 1 TB initial storage. Filemail comparison.
This is relevant when clients repeatedly request an old package. The same table lists 20 downloads per transfer for Pro, so persistent retention does not mean unlimited collection. Confirm cancellation terms and how repeat downloads are counted. Retained delivery copies also consume space that could otherwise hold new work.
4. WeTransfer Ultimate for ongoing paid access
WeTransfer Ultimate is relevant if you want to keep the delivery workflow clients already know. The individual offer has a 2 TB default, so ongoing retention still requires capacity management. Ultimate storage, paid plan details.
Check your transfer's expiry setting and actual account entitlement. A paid subscription does not make every link permanent automatically, and an existing legacy account may have different benefits from today's advertised offer.
5. EveryTransfer for retained packages
EveryTransfer's paid plans advertise unlimited retention. Essential lists 500 GB and a 20 GB size ceiling; the published page uses both per-file and per-transfer wording, so clarify the rule for multi-file packages. EveryTransfer plans.
This can fit modest retained deliverables, but the amount of storage and applicable delivery allowances still matter. Read what happens on cancellation or downgrade before relying on a link for a long client engagement.
Decide what “long term” means for the project
Write down the period your client actually needs: two months for a campaign, a year for a construction handoff, or continuing access to recurring assets. Then check the service's subscription, deletion, downgrade, and ownership rules against that period.
If a contract requires access for twelve months, budget for those twelve months. If clients only need a collection opportunity, an explicit deadline may be easier to manage than indefinitely retaining every revision.
Capacity grows with retained work. Twenty 50 GB packages occupy a nominal 1 TB. Removing the expiry date does not create room for the twenty-first package.
Record who keeps each link available
For important deliveries, keep a small register alongside the project:
Project / approved version:
Link owner and backup owner:
Client access required until:
Subscription renewal date:
Source archive location:
Last successful external download check:
This gives someone responsibility for availability after the initial handoff. Review the register before cancelling a subscription or deleting stored work.
Keep an exit route
Retain your own source files, a list of important deliveries, and current client contact details. Review old links periodically and test high-value ones after account or permission changes.
Before changing providers, tell clients which links will stop working and provide replacements. You generally cannot redirect a delivery URL on another provider's domain yourself, so update the places where people find it.
Read the migration guide for a client email template, or the limits explainer to separate storage from download allowances.
Questions about file links without expiration
Is a link without expiry a permanent archive?
No provider's public URL replaces your own recovery copy. Record the promised access period, retain the source elsewhere, and check the service's deletion and account rules. Long-term availability needs an owner and a budget.
Will a paid link stay live after I cancel?
Do not assume it. Check when paid entitlement ends, what happens above the free storage allowance, and whether files or links are deleted. RainFiles explains its plan-expiry rules in the billing guide.
Can I recover a file after its link expires?
It depends on the provider and whether a retained copy is still recoverable. Start with the sender and the service's recovery instructions. A different file-sharing provider cannot restore a deleted file from the old service.
Keep your client handoffs available with RainFiles
Use Downpour when the client needs to return to the same delivery over time. See the RainFiles plans, or create your account to share your next package without a scheduled expiry.