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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about BioTransfer.

Is BioTransfer really free?

Yes! BioTransfer offers a robust free tier for researchers. You can share files up to 2 GB with no account required. For higher limits (up to 20 GB) and permanent storage options, we offer a Pro plan.

What happens to my files after they are downloaded?

By default, files are deleted automatically after 7 days to ensure data hygiene and security. If you use our **Secure Transfer** (E2EE) mode, the data is stored in an encrypted state and can never be recovered by us once deleted.

Can I send sensitive patient data?

Yes, but we strongly recommend enabling **Secure Transfer** (End-to-End Encryption). This ensures that only the person with the specific share link (containing the decryption key fragment) can access the data. This architecture is designed to exceed HIPAA and GDPR standards for data in transit.

How does the decryption work for recipients?

Recipients don't need to install any software or even have an account. When they open your link, the browser automatically uses the key in the URL fragment to decrypt the file in real-time as it downloads. It's seamless and works on all modern browsers.

What file types are supported?

We support all file types. BioTransfer is optimized for common biological data formats including `.fastq`, `.bam`, `.rds`, `.pml`, `.pdb`, and large microscopy image stacks.

Why was my file transfer so fast?

We use Cloudflare's global edge network (R2) to ensure that your data is uploaded to and downloaded from the server closest to you, minimizing latency and maximizing throughput.

Still have questions?

Our team of computational biologists and engineers is here to help.

Contact Support