Introducing Boomerang: A Simple Alternative to WeTransfer’s Changing Landscape
December 30, 2025
One of the original co-founders of WeTransfer, Dutch entrepreneur Nalden, has publicly criticized the company’s recent strategic shifts following its acquisition by Milan-based tech firm Bending Spoons. Founded in 2009, WeTransfer became a beloved free file-sharing platform used by over 70 million monthly active users worldwide. However, Nalden reports discontent with the new direction, citing concerns over company values and product integrity.
Concerns About WeTransfer’s Direction
Since Bending Spoons took over last year, several significant changes have been introduced. These include opaque modifications to transfer link functionalities, widespread layoffs—about 75% of staff—and controversial decisions such as utilizing user content for AI training. The latter prompted backlash, forcing the company to backtrack on certain policy updates. Nalden has voiced his disappointment, emphasizing what he perceives as a decline in the service’s core ethos centered on simplicity and user focus.
“Bending Spoons doesn’t really care about people. Even though I get that it is their private equity strategy, I notice that since I left [WeTransfer] in 2019, there were a lot of updates that were basically killing the product, in my point of view,” he told TechCrunch.
Launching Boomerang: Returning to Roots
Frustrated creatives began reaching out to Nalden, inspiring him to launch a straightforward alternative that preserves the original spirit of WeTransfer—ease of use and simplicity. The result is Boomerang, a minimalistic file-sharing service designed for quick transfers without the need for user accounts or logins.
“Why do tech companies always make things so complicated? I’ve always struggled with this, and I just wanted to offer another tool that is entirely focused on the user experience, its ease of use. It’s the simplicity of sharing something quickly and that just saves time. You don’t need to sign up, you don’t need to verify via email,” Nalden explained to TechCrunch.
Features and Limitations of Boomerang
The free version of Boomerang caters to casual users, providing:
- No login required
- 1GB total storage
- 1GB file size limit
- Seven-day expiration timer for links
For more demanding needs, users can create a free account to access:
- 3GB total storage
- 3GB maximum file size
- Upload history
- File management (add/delete files)
- Custom emojis for sharing pages
A premium tier at €6.99/month elevates capabilities further with:
- 200GB per folder
- 500GB total storage
- 5GB file size limit
- Folder customization (covers, passwords)
- File expiration up to 90 days
- Unlimited user invitations
Commitment to Privacy and Minimal Data Use
In contrast to many services, Nalden affirms Boomerang’s strict stance against advertising and unnecessary data collection.
“I just want to offer a tool that works for users. It’s like buying a hammer. You possibly don’t want to buy a fancy hammer, but a hammer that just works,” he stated.
The platform’s interface is intentionally minimalist, focusing on functionality over design flair—an approach Nalden believes offers a breath of fresh air from the often over-engineered tech products chasing investor approval.
Future Plans
While AI tools are prevalent across tech, Nalden plans to harness AI for product development behind the scenes, but explicitly avoids adding AI-driven features directly accessible by users. Currently, Boomerang is web-based, with a dedicated Mac application planned for the near future.
Note: Contact Ivan at TechCrunch for further insights or to verify information regarding this story.