The good news is that email isn’t your only option. Many file storage services and independent file transfer websites can handle the job. Here are a few ways to send large files over the Internet.
Save Files Online
One simple solution is to upload the file to a cloud storage service, which someone else can access and use to download anything you couldn’t email. Many of these services offer free tiers with enough storage space to solve your problem:
- Box offers 10GB of free storage.
- Dropbox offers 2GB of free storage.
- Google Drive offers 15GB of free storage.
- iCloud offers 5GB of free storage.
- OneDrive offers 5GB of free storage.
However, these services have upload limits, which can disrupt your plans. Check to see if your file can be found on any of these services, otherwise you may need to upgrade to a paid plan.
Upload Large Files with Gmail
Gmail limits attached files to 25MB; anything beyond that is automatically placed within Google Drive. You can do the process by starting a new email in Gmail and attaching the file you want to send. If it’s too big, Google will generate a link to it in Google Drive.
When you try to send your email, you are asked to give your recipient access to the file and set their permissions. By default, the file is available for viewing. You can choose to allow someone to review or edit the file, but you’ll need a Google account to perform either action.
Once the email is sent, the recipient can click a link in the email to view the file within Google Drive.
Upload Large Files with Yahoo Mail
When you try to send a large file through Yahoo, a warning tells you to save the file to Google Drive or Dropbox. Select the service of your choice and upload the file to it. Then go back to your email, click on File Attachments, and select Share Files from Google Drive or Share Files from Dropbox.
Select the file, and it appears as an email attachment. Once your email is sent, your recipient can click on the file attachment to view it in Google Drive or Dropbox.
Upload Large Files with Outlook
If you try to send something too large with Outlook, you’ll get a prompt to upload the file to OneDrive and share it with a link. Select the Upload and share as a Personal OneDrive link option and send your message. The recipient can then open and view the file in your OneDrive.
Upload to File Transfer Portal
Instead of relying on email, you can turn to a third-party file transfer website. Upload the file you wish to send and enter your name and email address and the name and address of your recipient. The site stores the file online and sends your recipient a download link.
How big can the file be? That depends on the service, and in some cases, what you’re willing to pay.
DropSend
The DropSend file transfer site allows you to write an email to your recipient and attach the file you want to send. Your recipient receives an email with a link to the file to view or download. DropSend offers multiple pricing plans, or you can sign up for free.
The free Lite plan lets you share files as large as 4GB with up to five uploads per month. If you need to send large files, any paid plan will remove the upload limit. The Basic plan costs $5 per month and allows 25 posts per month and 10 GB of online storage. Standard and Technical plans will add additional shipping, storage, and other features.
MyAirBridge
With MyAirBridge, you can upload a file and email a link to a specific recipient or simply upload a file and generate a link that you can share with anyone. You can send a file as large as 20GB for free. The $2.99-per-month Basic plan includes files up to 50GB, the $10.99-per-month Pro plan handles files as large as 250GB, and the $65.99-per-month Enterprise plan allows files of unlimited size.
File mail
Filemail is a fast and simple website. Fill out the email form with your address and destination, write your message, attach your file, and send your message. The recipient will then receive a link to the file so they can download it or view it online.
The free option allows files as large as 5GB, the $10-per-month Filemail Pro plan supports sizes as large as 25GB, and the $15-per-month Business plan handles unlimited file sizes.
Transfer
The popular WeTransfer service allows you to select the file you want to send from your computer, add email addresses, and write your message. When you’re ready, click Pass it on button to send your file to the recipient.
WeTransfer’s free ad-supported account allows file sizes of up to 2GB. You don’t need to create an account, but guests must enter a verification code with an email with each transfer. For $11 per month, a WeTransfer Pro account allows files as large as 200GB and other benefits. And for $19 a month, a Premium account allows unlimited file transfers.
Send Anywhere
Powered by Seoul-based Rakuten Symphony Korea, Send Any is an ad-supported file transfer site that can send files as large as 10GB for free. You can upload a file, then protect it with a six-digit password or create an account to generate a shared link or send an email.
If you need to transfer even larger files, the Rakuten Drive Pro plan supports file sizes up to 50GB for $7.99 per month.
Bitwarden Post
Bitwarden password manager also offers a way to securely send large files over the Internet with Bitwarden Send. You can share text with a free account. The ability to send files is included with a $10 annual subscription.
To share a file as large as 500MB, go to the Submit page on Bitwarden’s site and click Create a New Post button. Enter the name of the file you want to share, and then attach the file. You can also set a wipe date, expiration date, and password before sharing.
Once you have submitted the file, it will be uploaded to Bitwarden. Then you send a link to the file to your recipients, and they download the file from that link.
Aborigine
Wormhole is a simple yet effective site that helps you securely share files up to 10GB in size using end-to-end encryption and auto-expiring links. Simply upload the file you want to share, and a link will be generated. Share that link with your recipient, who can download the file. The easily shared link expires after 24 hours.
SendBig
SendBig lets you share files as large as 30GB for free. Just drag and drop the file or folder you want to send to the email panel, add the recipient’s address, write a message, and send the email.
By signing up for a free Pro account, you can password protect your files, change their expiration date, receive an email when someone downloads a shared file, and set a maximum number of downloads for each file.
ToffeeShare
Offering a different spin on the file sharing website, ToffeeShare is a free service that uses a peer-to-peer sharing method, meaning your file is not stored online but sent directly to the recipient. For this to work, you simply drag and drop or manually upload your file to the site—size doesn’t matter.
A link to your file is generated, and you share it with the recipient. You just need to keep the page open while the other person downloads the file directly from their end. You can also choose to share your file with nearby devices, similar to Apple’s AirDrop.