The 11 Best Ways to Send Large Files

Everyone knows the frustrating feeling — you’ve got collected all the photographs you wish to your next campaign, but once you go to press “Send” you are told, “Sorry. File too large.”

Determining learn how to send large files on the fly is a pain. Unfortunately, our email accounts cannot carry as much storage as you may think. Gmail, for example, can only hold files up to 25 MB.

Moreover, large files can eat at your cupboard space, even when it’s just sitting in your Sent folder. Should you’ve got a file you possibly can’t send the standard way, don’t fret — we have several alternatives (some free), to make sure the most important of files will be sent to whoever, inside minutes.

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Methods to Send Large Files in Email

1. Upload your files to a cloud cupboard space, and share them or email them to others.

Pros

• Easy to make use of
• Great for internal company sharing

Cons

• Limited to your service provider

Using a cloud cupboard space like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive is one in all the best and hottest methods for sending large files. Depending in your email provider, you will likely have the ability to make use of corresponding cloud storage — like Google Drive for Gmail, or OneDrive for Outlook.com.

Should you’re sending an attachment inside a provider like Gmail, you will see the Google Drive button already integrated. Simply press it, select your file, after which send it like an everyday attachment.

Alternatively, Dropbox lets you upload large files after which send an online link via email or text to your recipient. With Dropbox’s free tier, you will receive 2 GB of cupboard space. For $9.99 per thirty days, you possibly can increase your storage to 1 TB.

Best for: Ease-of-use when sending attachments through your email provider. Probably to make use of when sharing files internally with colleagues.

2. Use WeTransfer, a free online service.

Pros

• Free
• No download required
• No install required

Cons

• Limited file size totally free version (2 GB)

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WeTransfer is one in all the only ways to share files online with the added bonus of not having to register to make use of the service. Once on the web site, all it’s essential do is upload your file (as much as 2 GB), enter a destination email, enter your email, a title, and a message and also you’re all set. 

Best for: Emailing large files without having to enroll or download anything.

Methods to Send Large Files Over the Web

3. Use a VPN.

Pros

• Sends files securely
• Keeps sender’s location private

Cons

• Could slow connection
• Requires tech savvy to put in

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a service that protects your data and provides you with more privacy once you’re online by routing your web connection through a server. A VPN can protect you from hackers, and even online ads, and is a secure option, particularly in case you’re often using public wi-fi.

Some web service providers (ISP) use broadband traffic management to moderate upload bandwidth — if that is so to your ISP, you need to use a VPN, which is able to prevent your ISP from recognizing how large your files are, enabling you to send them.

Nevertheless, this is not one of the best option in our list for 2 reasons — one, the massive file could decelerate your VPN connection, and two, your files aren’t guaranteed to be intact upon delivery. To make sure a high-quality delivery, it is advisable to try another option, like a Zip compression.

Best for: Should you’re using public wifi and also you’re sending private documents, that is an excellent option for increasing security measures. Nevertheless, this will not be one of the best option if it’s essential ensure high-quality delivery.

4. Use FTP via FileZilla

Pros

• Fast transfers
• Easy to make use of

Cons

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FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is an option for transferring files online by uploading a file to your hosting server. FileZilla is a free FTP tool you need to use to transfer files.

Once installed, users can easily select the files to be transferred with FileZilla’s two-pane display by clicking and dragging them into place. It’s great for sending files greater than 4 gigabytes. The software is regularly updated so in case you encounter any bugs, changes shall be resolved quickly.

The few downsides to using FTP is that files should not encrypted and with FileZilla, the free version also includes adware but upgrading to the paid version will eliminate this issue.

Best for: Using FTP software is best for transferring large, non confidential files that don’t have to be encrypted.

5. Transfer files using SFTP.

Pros

• Safer than FTP
• Speedy file transfers

Cons

• Requires tech savvy to put in

FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is an option for transferring files online by uploading a file to your hosting server. Nevertheless, the drawback of FTP is that it is not that secure — which is where SFTP is available in.

SFTP — or Secure File Transfer Protocol — is a protocol that works in the same option to FTP, except it uses secure shell for encryption. That is an excellent option for limiting accessibility to those outside your recipient list. Among the other options on this list, including file transfer options that depend on email, are likely less secure than an SFTP.

Best for: A safer option than traditional online file-sharing, for use when sending highly classified files to colleagues or clients.

Other Ways to Send Large Files

6. Use file compression software, like 7-Zip.

Pros

• Eliminates storage obstacles
• Quick transfer time

Cons

• You’ve gotten to manually compress files
• Recipient must know learn how to decompress files

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If you’ve gotten multiple files, you may think about using a free compression software like 7-Zip, which may compress a complete folder of files directly. Zip files basically support lossless data compression, and are good for saving time and space while ensuring your files remain intact. Most operating systems can extract Zip files easily, without additional software.

7-Zip is out there for Windows, Mac, and Linux. You may as well provide a password to your files with 7-Zip, to make sure they’re protected to send online.

Best for: Sending a folder stuffed with files directly to a recipient.

7. Purchase a USB flash drive.

Pros

• Simplest option to transfer files
• Portable

Cons

• Data is gone in case you lose it
• Not ideal for time-sensitive deadlines

If you desire to collaborate on a project or video with a big storage size, you may consider uploading it to a USB flash drive, which may range in size from 2 GB to 1 TB. This might let you pass your files more easily between coworkers, or back your files up for extra protection.

Better of all, in case you use a USB you possibly can take some strain off your computer, extending its data storage.

Best for: Should you’re interacting along with your team in person, a USB flash drive is an excellent option for physically handing files to team members, and takes a few of the storage strain off your devices. Alternatively, a USB flash drive is protected to make use of as a back-up, so in case your computer crashes you do not lose access to your files or folders.

8. Use Jumpshare, a free online service.

Pros

• Free
• Stand up to 2 GB of cupboard space

Cons

• No client side encryption

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There are many free online services that make uploading and sending large files each easy and incredibly quick. Jumpshare, for example, allows you to send as much as 250 MB value of files with a free account — simply upload a file or folder, and Jumpshare provides you with a link to share the files.

Plus, you possibly can download the Jumpshare icon to your desktop. If you drag-and-drop files onto it, a link shall be copied to your clipboard, which you possibly can send to anyone, even in the event that they do not have their very own Jumpshare account.

Best for: Easily, and quickly, sending files via links to colleagues. Best used for files or folders for which there aren’t too many privacy concerns, for the reason that link is shareable with anyone.

9. Try Rakuten Drive Pro.

Pros

• Secure password protected
• Send files as much as (50GB)

Cons

Rakuten Drive, formerly Sendy, provides 1 TB of cloud storage and unlimited Cloud storage to transfer large files. What sets this tool aside from the remainder is the power to send your files using a password with recipients, so you possibly can share files without having access to everyone’s email addresses. Alternatively, you possibly can send a link through email or an organization messenger, like Slack, once you need not transfer the files in real time.

Rakuten Drive allows you to attach big files using Chrome Extension, Outlook add-ins, and Send Anywhere’s website. It’s $7.99/month for the PRO version — or you possibly can try the free version in case you don’t need the PRO features.

Best for: The password allows you to quickly message or send files to anyone, without having an email address. This could be good for quickly Slacking files to colleagues, or texting a file to a friend.

10. Upload the file and generate a link to share via MyAirBridge.

Pros

• Free version
• Share as much as 20 GB

Cons

• Password protection just for the Enterprise version

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MyAirBridge is a free tool that allows you to upload and share as much as 20 GB through an email, shared link, or downloaded to your individual cupboard space. You should utilize your individual mobile device to upload files. For larger files the uploading takes some time, and it will not be the cleanest interface on the receiving end (the link your recipient receives takes them to direct download), nevertheless it gets the job done for private or small team use.

MyAirBridge also offers plans starting from Basic ($2.99/month) to Enterprise ($65.99/month). With the Enterprise option, users have access to fifteen TB of storage, unlimited uploads of as much as 100 GB, and the choice to password-protect files for extra security.

MyAirBridge is an excellent option if you desire to download various files (including music or video files, game applications, or documents) to your individual cupboard space. As an example, you may use the tool to download music out of your mobile device to your computer.

Best for: Downloading files to your individual storage device, or use when downloading music, gaming, or video files.

11. Share a set of assets to your team via Brandfolder.

Pros

• Stores all files in a single place
• Sets user-level permissions

Cons

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Consider sharing brand assets, or a set of assets, along with your team, partners, or customers using Brandfolder. Brandfolder allows you to use tiered access to share files with intended individuals, and even measure performance of every asset using Brandfolder’s Brand Intelligence feature.

Utilized by major brands including Slack, Bumble, and Hotels.com, Brandfolder allows you to store all brand-related assets in a single place. Brandfolder is cloud-based, and uses user-level permissions to make sure employees and clients only have access to the suitable files and folders.

Brandfolder offers Premium and Enterprise options. Request a quote to learn the way much it will cost to your team to implement.

Best for: A more professional-looking option when sharing brand-related assets with clients or agencies, and an excellent long-term solution for storing all major files in a single place to your team to access easily.

Methods to Send Large Files via Email Attachment

While you possibly can’t send large files via email attachment the standard way, there may be a workaround using a cloud storage device. Start by storing your files in a cloud storage provider like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive.

When you desire to send the file, simply share the file with someone, after which notify them via email that you’ve gotten done so. For instance, in case you’re using Google Drive, simply click share in the highest right corner of the document you want to send. From there you will be prompted to enter the recipient’s email information and choose whether or not they need to have editing permissions. Google Drive will mechanically send them an email notification or you possibly can decide to send them a link as a substitute.

One other way is to utilize built-in integrations with Gmail or Outlook. Should you use Gmail or Outlook.com, you will find a Google Drive or OneDrive integration. When attaching your file to an email, you possibly can click the Google Drive or OneDrive button to share the file.

When the recipient receives your email, they will download your file to their computer, or open it online through the cloud storage service you used to send it.

Sending Large Files Made Easy

Sending large files doesn’t should be an obstacle in your workday. By utilizing the methods above, you will have the ability to share large files with ease and collaborate along with your team seamlessly.

Editor’s note: this text was originally published in June 2021 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.