How do I send large files for free?
Email has a 25MB limit. Want to send videos, photo albums or large documents? These are your options.
The problem: email limits
We have all been there: you want to share a holiday video, but Gmail says "attachment too large". Most email providers have a limit of 25MB. A single photo from a modern smartphone is often 5-10MB already.
Fortunately there are smart solutions that let you send files of 20GB or more, completely free and without any technical knowledge.
Method 1: An online file sharing service
The easiest way is a file sharing service such as share2file.com. This is how it works:
- Go to the website and select your file
- Choose how long the link should stay valid
- Click upload and wait until it is done
- Share the link by email, WhatsApp or text message
Tip: With share2file.com you can send up to 20GB without creating an account.
Method 2: Cloud storage
Services such as Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive also let you share files. The downside: you need an account and your files stay there permanently (unless you delete them manually).
- Google Drive: 15GB free, requires a Google account
- Dropbox: 2GB free, paid after that
- OneDrive: 5GB free, requires a Microsoft account
Method 3: Compress it (ZIP)
If your file is just too large, compressing it can help. On Windows: right-click → "Send to" → "Compressed (zipped) folder". This works especially well for documents and text, less so for photos and videos that are already compressed.
Which method is best?
| Method | Max size | Account needed | Privacy |
|---|---|---|---|
| share2file.com | 20GB | No | E2E encrypted |
| Google Drive | 15GB | Yes | Google can read along |
| WeTransfer | 2GB free | No | No E2E |
| Email attachment | 25MB | No | Unencrypted |
Tip: ZIP multiple files together
Want to send a whole folder of files? Put them in a ZIP archive first. On Windows, right-click the folder → "Compress to ZIP file". On a Mac: right-click → "Compress". That way you upload everything as one file.
Read: Sending a folder as a ZIP — full explanation →Conclusion
For sending large files as a one-off, a file sharing service is the easiest option. You do not need to create an account, the file is deleted automatically after a set time, and with end-to-end encryption you can be sure that only the recipient can open the file.