Live Relay
Both you and your recipients must remain online until the transfer completes. Keep your browser tab or desktop app running until all downloads finish. Relay forwards data through memory and leaves no hosted copy for later download.
Send live. Share for later.
Temporary by design.
Send a photo shoot, a video delivery, or client files through one link. Choose live delivery together or temporary cloud backing for pickup later.
Built for multi-file throughput
Both delivery modes support parallel file streams within your transfer allowance. Live Relay can spread independent streams across Relay servers. Cloud transfer uploads encrypted files to temporary backing for recipient pickup. Recipients choose a destination folder and receive individual files.
Sign in with a verified account to send multiple files together. Free and Lite move one file at a time within each transfer. Pro supports up to three concurrent file streams per transfer, and Studio or a File Pass supports up to ten per transfer. See plans and File Passes for transfer allowances. Use a supported desktop browser or PhotonFile Desktop to send and receive multi-file transfers. For browser receipt, use current Chrome or Edge with folder-saving support.
Cloud transfer
Upload encrypted files for temporary pickup. Recipients can begin downloading while you upload. Keep your browser tab or desktop app running until your upload finishes. After that, you can close it or go offline, and recipients can still download using the shared link. Cloud transfers default to seven days from upload completion. Choose one to seven days with Free or File Pass funding, or up to the server maximum with Relay subscription funding.
End-to-end client-side encryption by default
Cloud and multi-file Live Relay transfers always use client-side encryption. Single-file Live Relay has encryption on by default, with an option to turn it off for compatibility. Connections use TLS.
How it works
1. Select your files
Select the files you want to send. Eligible anonymous single-file sends use Live Relay. Sign in with a verified account for Cloud or multi-file transfers.
2. Choose Live or Cloud
Choose Live Relay while both sides are online, or Cloud transfer with account or File Pass funding. Accept the Cloud delivery policy before starting the upload.
3. Share one link
Recipients join a Live Relay session or start downloading Cloud files during upload. For Live Relay, both sides must remain online with their browser tabs or desktop apps running until all downloads finish. For Cloud Transfer, keep the sender running until the upload finishes. After that, recipients can download even when the sender is offline.
4. Finish the handoff
Live Relay leaves no hosted copy. Cloud files remain temporarily available for pickup. Use Photon Vault for ongoing storage, sharing, and sync.
Why people choose it
- Live delivery or pickup later through one link
- Parallel file streams within your plan or File Pass allowance
- Client-side encryption required for Cloud and multi-file sends, and on by default for single-file Live Relay
- Temporary Cloud delivery without creating a Vault
- Resumable behavior in supported environments
When it is not the right model
Photon Transfer handles temporary delivery. Choose Photon Vault for version history, ongoing managed shares, or Vault Intake.
For a private cloud drive, sharing, and intake workflows, use Photon Vault.
Live + Cloud transfer vs Photon Vault
| Model | How files are delivered | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Live Relay | Data moves through a live session and operates ephemerally by default. | Immediate delivery while both sides are online |
| Cloud transfer | Encrypted files remain temporarily available after upload completes. Recipients can also download during upload. | Download files later |
| Photon Vault | Encrypted data is stored for ongoing access by authorized clients. | A private cloud drive for full collections, sharing, intake, and versioning |
Choose the PhotonFile workflow
Start with the outcome. Send live with Relay, keep your file collection in isolated Vaults, collect from outsiders through Vault Intake, or compare PhotonFile's separated file models.
Photon Transfer guide
Choose Live + Cloud delivery and share one transfer link.
Vault overview
Replace your cloud drive with isolated, encrypted Vaults.
Vault Intake
Give outsiders an upload page, not a workspace view.
Compare all file models
Use the hub page to choose between Relay, Vault, and stored
delivery.