The Internet has made the world a smaller place. With the rise of social media, mobile devices, and cloud computing, we have more access to information than ever before.
At the same time, more and more people are paying bills online, and sending faxes is almost unheard of.
Because of this shift towards digital communication, many companies need to send and receive large files over the internet rather than through traditional mail, fax, or courier services.
However, sending large files over the Internet can be a challenge. We all know that we need to use the proper file compression method and choose the best file transfer tool.
But the truth is, numerous factors influence how fast you’ll be able to send large files online.
If you’re wondering how to send large files over the internet and have lots of questions regarding this topic, you’ve come to the right place.
These 15 options provide a good starting point:
Ways To Send Large Files Over The Internet
1. Google Drive
Google Drive is a cloud-based storage service. One of the many free cloud storage alternatives accessible today is Google Drive.
It gives you 15GB of storage for free, and you can increase it at any moment if you need more.
It is a cloud storage service that allows users to store data on their servers, sync files between devices, and share files.
Google introduced the service on April 24, 2012. Google Drive offers offline programs for Windows and macOS desktops, as well as Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, in addition to the website.
Optional paid options for the Google One service (part of Google Drive) include 100 gigabytes, 200 gigabytes, 2 terabytes, 10 terabytes, 20 terabytes, and 30 terabytes of storage.
Files up to five gigabytes in size can be uploaded. You can also change the privacy settings of files and folders to make them private or public.
These options could include allowing other users to share the content or making it public. Users can utilize natural language to find specific files on the website by searching for an image using the description of its visuals.
To send files, go to drive.google.com and select New > File Upload or Folder Upload from the drop-down menu. You can also upload files by dragging and dropping them into your browser window.
Right-click the file and select Share from the drop-down menu once the upload is complete. Click Send after entering the email addresses of everyone you wish to share the file with.
The file can then be viewed or downloaded by clicking the link in the email. Through Google One, customers can get 15 gigabytes of free storage, but you may upgrade to a paid version at any time which ranges from $1.99 to $9.99 per month.
2. WeTransfer
WeTransfer is a file sending service that allows users to send up to 2GB of data over the internet (better than the limit on email) without creating an account.
WeTransfer is free if you don’t mind sharing your files with anyone who clicks on your download link.
The benefit of using WeTransfer is that it’s so easy to use and there’s no registration required.
All you have to do is send an email, attach the file you want to send, and fill out the email address of the person you’re sending it to.
Everything else is done for you.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to prevent others from downloading your file because a link is provided for people to download the file.
If you’re sending sensitive information, this may not be the best option for you.
What’s the catch? Well, there is a limit of 20 transfers per day, and you’ll see an ad on the page where you download your files.
It’s free, but a Pro package costs $10 per month while the Premium package costs $19 for those who want to upgrade.
Also Read: Best Open-source Download Managers
3. Dropbox
Dropbox is the most popular service for syncing and sharing your files online and between computers, making it a good option if you want to send a large file to someone else.
You can upload and store almost any file with Dropbox — from photos and videos to PDFs, Microsoft Office files, ZIP archives, and beyond. And anything you upload is automatically synced across all your devices.
The biggest advantage of using Dropbox is that the recipient doesn’t need a Dropbox account to get the files you’ve shared with them.
They just need the link to the shared folder or file, which they can get via email if you like. This alone makes Dropbox easier than attaching large files via email (more on that later).
Dropbox also keeps track of previous versions of your files for up to 30 days, so if you ever accidentally overwrite an important document, you can recover an earlier version from your account.
You can also set up two-factor authentication for an extra layer of security on your account. Free accounts are available with 2 GB of free storage space, but paid plans start at $9.99/month to $20 per user per month.
Check out the best open-source Dropbox alternatives.
4. FTP
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is one of the oldest and most effective ways to transfer large files over the Internet.
It works by connecting your computer and a server via an FTP client like FileZilla or Cyberduck, which allows you to upload, download, move, and edit files on that server from your computer.
It’s not that hard to use once you get the hang of it, but the main problem with using FTP is that most people who need to send large files don’t have access to a server in the first place.
However, if you own a website or know someone who does, using an FTP client is ideal to easily and quickly transfer large files between computers anywhere in the world.
It’s free software that anyone can use.
Check Out: PowerISO vs UltraISO
5. 7-Zip
7-Zip is free software that compresses (zip) files and unzips archives. It’s ideal to send large files via email or upload them to your website. The 7-Zip software is compatible with Windows 7/8/10, Mac OSX, and Linux operating systems.
This popular file compression tool supports more than 30 languages and works with all types of compressed files, including .7z, .rar, .tar, .gz, and more. 7-Zip’s free software uses Windows’ built-in ZIP functionality or its 7z format to pack and compress files into a smaller size so they take up less space on your hard drive or can be sent via email quickly.
It also offers high-quality encryption that can protect your privacy if you’re sending sensitive information.
Open the software on your computer and add all the files you’d like to send (if you’re using Outlook, this will be an email or folder).
Then, press “add” or “zip” to create an archive file containing those documents. Next, remove any unnecessary items from inside the compressed folder, and you’re good to go.
6. Use VPN like Nord
A virtual private network (VPN) is used to extend a private network across a public network. Using this service, a person can send or receive data across shared or public networks as if the computing device was directly connected to the private network.
Through the use of a VPN, remote applications may gain the benefit of the functionality, security, and management available through the remote network.
VPNs make it possible for employees to access their company’s intranet securely even when not in the office. Similarly, VPNs connect geographically disparate offices of an organization, creating one cohesive network.
Even individuals can benefit from VPNs, as they allow users to access content on the Internet that their country or location might restrict. Other VPN networks are accessible, however, with NordVPN, you can pay as little as $3.49 per month.
7. MediaFire
MediaFire is a popular and free service that enables you to send large files to anyone. If you want to send up to 200MB per file, you can create a free account.
But if you need to send files larger than that, you’ll have to upgrade.
A free account also gives you up to 10GB of storage space and enables you to access your files from any computer or mobile device. You can also use MediaFire on your website and blog by embedding files or entire folders.
The process is simple. Simply upload your file via web browser, email, or FTP. Then copy the link provided in the confirmation message and paste it into an email or text message.
You can also use it on social media sites like Facebook, Google+, and Twitter. If the recipient repeatedly needs access to the file, they can download it through MediaFire’s website without contacting you again.
Their prices range from $40.00 per month for the business plan and $3.75 per month for the basic plan.
Also Read: Best Recuva Alternatives
8. Resilio Sync
Resilio Sync is a peer-to-peer file synchronization tool that uses the BitTorrent protocol.
It’s a great way to transfer large files quickly without compressing them. Its advantage over cloud storage is that your files remain private and are not stored on third-party servers.
Resilio Sync offers two ways to share folders with other people; by sharing a secret or giving them read-only access to a folder.
The secret is a random string of characters that lets you connect two devices and share files between them directly, while read-only access requires you to generate an access code that you can give to other people so they can view your files.
There are also advanced options like setting up encryption and limiting bandwidth, which might be helpful if you’re sharing multiple folders with lots of people.
Resilio Sync monthly price rates range from $7 to $14 per user.
9. Hightail (Formerly YouSendIt)
One of the more popular services for sending large files, Hightail offers free and paid options. With the free version, you can send up to two gigabytes worth of files per month; with a paid account, that limit increases to 250 gigabytes.
Another cool feature is that you can set your email attachments to expire after a specific date, so they’re not floating around indefinitely.
Hightail offers online viewing and editing tools and collaboration features that let you assign tasks, set project deadlines, and add comments on individual documents or across multiple files. Hightail lets you upload files up to 2GB for free or 500GB if you create an account.
After uploading your file, Hightail creates a link that you can send via email or instant message. The recipient clicks the link and downloads the file.
And when your files are in Hightail, its mobile apps let you access them on any Android or iOS device.
The company’s paid plans range from $12 to $36 per month for large businesses to enterprise solutions that run several hundred dollars monthly.
10. Jumpshare
Jumpshare is a cloud-based file-sharing service that lets you upload and share files of any size without an account. You can use it to send large files via email or generate a link to share your files on social media.
Jumpshare is a free tool that can be used for file sharing and image and video screenshot capture too.
You can also use it for video recording and basic editing. It works with Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
You can then upload files by dragging them into your browser or clicking on a + sign. You’ll receive a link via email once your file upload has completed, which you can then share with anyone you like using any means you want — email, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
The recipient will download the shared files as many times as they like for 14 days.
You can also upload your files without creating an account, but if you create an account, you’ll get more sharing options, such as setting passwords on your shares and using custom domains.
Prices range from $8.25 per month to $12.50 per month. You can also opt for the custom package; contact them for that.
Also Read: Best FileBot Alternatives
11. Sendy
With Sendy, you can create custom tracking rules for each email that you send via a self-hosted, web-based email marketing application.
Once installed, you only pay as you use Amazon SES. You can easily manage multiple client accounts with Sendy’s multi-user feature.
Sendy is built on the Amazon SES platform, which means your emails are sent across the same infrastructure and servers used by Amazon.com.
This means your emails are delivered to the inbox and not the spam folder. It lets you track real-time opens, link clicks, bounces, unsubscribes, complaints, and more for every campaign or autoresponder you send using Sendy.
You can automatically trigger follow-up emails based on users’ actions or time-lapses. Set up a welcome series for new subscribers, create a product tour for new customers, or create email courses for lead nurturing.
It also lets you segment your subscribers automatically by tagging them based on their behavior, such as link clicks or purchase history. Sendy offers a free trial and a paid plan with prices as low as $6.79 and goes as high as $7.99 per month.
Explore: Best Free ISO Makers
12. DropSend
DropSend is a file-sharing service that allows you to send large files easily. Using this service, you can upload and share a file of up to 4GB size with anyone.
The recipient can download the files using a link provided by DropSend. You can also specify an expiration date for the download link.
The free plan on DropSend allows you to send five files of up to 4GB each month. For more, you need to subscribe to one of the paid plans starting at $5 per month.
In addition, users can share drive folders, view the recipients’ activity details, and create custom messages with each file.
There’s no software to install or upgrade. Just log in, choose the file you want to send, and enter the recipient’s email address. The recipient does not need a DropSend account but must be willing to download (and delete) the file(s) within five days.
If that’s too long for your needs, there are fees for longer retention times; you can also purchase an account with DropSend if you need more capacity and more options.
DropSend offers plans ranging from $5/month to $19/month based on the amount of data stored. Users can also opt for a free account which gives them 5GB of storage and has other restrictions.
13. Bitwarden Send
Bitwarden Send is a free and open-source file-sharing service that allows you to transfer files up to 1GB in size without any registration or login requirements.
It uses end-to-end encryption, with each file being encrypted before it leaves your device and only decrypted once it reaches its intended recipient, ensuring that no third party can view or access the contents of your files while they’re in transit.
The best way to send large files over the internet is through a cloud-based service like Bitwarden Send. This enables you to share files without worrying about size limits, as long as you have an internet connection.
To use Bitwarden Send, open your browser and go. Once there, create an account or log in if you already have one.
Once you’re in, you’ll see a link that says “Upload a file” — click or tap on it to reveal a box where you can find the file on your computer that you want to share with someone else.
Once you’ve selected the file, click or tap on the “Upload” button at the bottom of the page. A window will pop up that contains a link that you can then share with others so they can download it themselves.
Their business plan package is $3 per month for Teams Organization or $5 per month for Enterprises.
14. Wormhole
Wormhole is another free app that allows you to send large files. You need to type in a password, and a download link will be generated.
Then, you can share the link with anyone you want to receive your file. It’s compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux and works with any file type.
The file is encrypted and broken into chunks and then sent over multiple connections simultaneously. You get a key to track the progress of your transfer and a link to check on it in case anything goes wrong.
It also lets you set an expiration date for the transfer if you’re concerned about it falling into the wrong hands.
Arguably one of the easiest-to-use file-sharing tools out there, Wormhole is a free web app that lets you drag and drop files from your desktop into your browser and then share them with whoever you’d like.
You can even use Wormhole for sharing entire folders – it will zip the folder up for you, upload it, and give you a link to share.
There’s nothing to download or install, no registration required, and no file size or storage space limits.
15. FileWhopper
There are several ways to send large files, but the easiest is to use FileWhopper. This software makes it possible to transfer any file regardless of its size.
It uses cloud storage to store the file you want to send and charges you only for the exact amount of storage space you need.
You just need to pick a file, upload it, and share the download link with your recipient. Once your recipient clicks on that link, they are prompted to install FileWhopper on their computer. Then they can download your file via an encrypted connection that ensures their security.
The good thing about this software is that there’s no need to learn how to compress files because it handles that part itself.
In addition, sending large files over FileWhopper doesn’t lose any quality because the compression software used by the program preserves image quality or video quality (if it concerns multimedia).
It also works with all operating systems (Windows, Mac OS, and Linux) and browsers (Chrome, Firefox, or Microsoft Edge).
FileWhopper’s price to send a file depends on the file size.
For updated pricing, click here.
Bottom Line
There are many great ways to send large files over the internet – as you saw in our list above. But some are better than others for specific situations. For example, email attachments may be best avoided if security is an issue.
However, Dropbox is great for sharing files between friends or sending files to colleagues who don’t use the same cloud storage service. Whatever method you choose, be sure that it fits the specific purpose.
