Tessil vs Wormhole
The same key-in-the-link model as Wormhole, plus open source, EU hosting, and optional accounts.
Wormhole (wormhole.app) popularised the clean, modern take on encrypted sending: files are encrypted in the browser and the key lives in the link, so the service can't read them. Transfers auto-expire quickly. It's a great tool and the closest in spirit to Tessil.
Tessil uses the same core idea - browser-side encryption with the key in the URL fragment - and differs on the things around it. It's open source under AGPL-3.0, hosted in the EU rather than the US, and offers an optional free account with a dashboard so you can manage and re-share your transfers instead of every send being purely ephemeral.
You also get to choose expiry windows rather than being limited to a fixed short lifetime.
| Feature | Tessil | Wormhole |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encrypted | Yes | Yes |
| Key never reaches the server | Yes | Yes |
| Works without an account | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes (AGPL-3.0) | No |
| Hosting / jurisdiction | EU (Germany + Netherlands) | United States (Socket) |
| Ads & third-party tracking | None | None |
| Optional accounts / dashboard | Yes | No |
| Configurable link expiry | Yes | Fixed short lifetime |
| Price | Free | Free |
Wormhole details last verified June 2026. Competitor features and pricing change often - check the provider's own site for current details.
The honest verdict
Wormhole and Tessil share the part that matters most - neither service can read your files. If you want the most ephemeral, fire-and-forget experience, Wormhole is great. If you'd prefer open-source code you can audit, EU hosting, and the option to keep an account that tracks your transfers, Tessil leans that way.
Both are free, so it's mostly a question of jurisdiction, openness, and whether you want optional persistence.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tessil the same as Wormhole?
The encryption model is the same - files are encrypted client-side and the key stays in the link. Tessil differs by being open source (AGPL-3.0), EU-hosted, and offering optional accounts with configurable expiry.
Does Tessil delete transfers automatically like Wormhole?
Yes - transfers expire based on the time and download limits you set. You can choose the window rather than being fixed to one short lifetime.
Where is each service hosted?
Tessil is hosted entirely in the EU (Germany and the Netherlands). Wormhole is operated from the United States.