Want to send large files for free? Try these tools
For most of us, email is an ideal file-sharing option - simple, secure and used by everyone. But, if you ever tried emailing a file, you would know that there's no way to share files larger than 20-25MB via email. This can be a major roadblock, but worry not, there are some free, secure file-sharing alternatives to address this issue. Let's take a look.
First, prepare the file for sharing over the internet
Before rushing towards file-sharing, it's important to note that you should compress all of the data into a zip file. This way, when you send the file to the other party, it won't get corrupted over the internet. You could use Window's default file compression system or WinRAR to zip the file, and then, employ any of the below-mentioned tools to send them.
Cloud-based file-hosting platforms
For some perspective, all the tools we are going to discuss are cloud-based file-hosting platforms, where you need to upload the compressed file and share its link with the recipient via email or any other messaging service. From there, they can download it.
Google Drive: Enough free space
If you use Gmail for sending regular files, we'd recommend using Google Drive, a major part of Google's ecosystem, to share the larger ones. It offers 15GB of free storage space with back-up and syncing options and a very simple interface to generate a shareable link for any uploaded file. And, in case you want more space, you could get 2TB for Rs. 650/month.
MediaFire: Sufficient space and affordable premium plans
After Google Drive, MediaFire is the next-best alternative for sharing files. It offers 10GB of free storage space and offers an additional 40GB by way of referrals, meaning you could store and share up to 50GB of files on this one. Also, MediaFire has affordable premium plans; it offers 1TB of space with password protection and other handy features at just Rs. 266/month.
OneDrive from Microsoft
OneDrive is Microsoft's alternative for Google Drive, but it only offers 5GB of free space. You can easily upload and share files on this one too, but more interestingly, you get a plethora of security features and Office 365 subscription by switching to a premium model. For 1TB storage and security features like password protection and ransomware protection, you need to pay Rs. 420/month.
Dropbox: Another cloud based solution
Dropbox is another free option to store and share files via the cloud. It is one of the most secure hosting platforms, but do note that you only get 2GB of free storage space on this one. For 1TB additional space and advanced sharing controls like password protection, you need to pay $10/month.
WeTransfer with no sign-up hassle
WeTransfer is my personal favorite as it offers free file-sharing without sign-up or any other requirement. Just add the file and enter your and recipient's email and hit the 'Transfer' button, the file in question will be uploaded and transferred. WeTransfer supports 2GB of free sharing but you can opt for a 'Plus' plan for $12/month with 100GB of space.
