How to do when doing large file sharing?

Depending on the size and number of files you need to send, this may be a problem. For example, Gmail only allows you to attach files up to 25MB to emails. Not to mention the fact that large files lurking in the "Sent" folder will quickly take up your storage space quota!

If you need to send large files online, there are many good ways to avoid trouble. We highlight the 12 best files transfer methods, most of which are free (although you have to pay for improved services).

Use a VPN

What is the relationship between VPN and sharing large files?

Some Internet service providers (such as Virgin Media) use broadband traffic management to regulate upload bandwidth (rather than download).

Using a VPN as our first choice ExpressVPN means that your ISP cannot determine the type of file you are uploading, so in theory, traffic shaping cannot be applied to your account.

Use specialized services

The new generation of file transfer service is browser-based and has built-in proprietary technology to accelerate the upload of large files.

Raysync is one of them and specializes in transferring large files via the cloud. But the advantages are clear: Raysync is faster, more secure and more efficient than other transfer methods. In addition, Raysync offers a free trial opportunity.

Use file compression

One of the easiest ways to solve the problem of sending large files is to use file compression software, such as the cross-platform program 7-Zip. This is especially convenient if you have multiple files because you can put them in a folder and then compress them all at once.

7-Zip is suitable for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and can compress files into regular ZIP format, and it's slightly more efficient than 7ZIP. Most major operating systems can extract ZIP files without any other software. 7-Zip also allows you to set a password to protect the files, so you can share them safely. Please keep in mind that although uploading very large files may time out.

Express 20TB external hard drive

The fastest way to transfer massive large files is not via the Internet, but to use disk drives and messengers. All large cloud providers (Microsoft, Google, and Amazon) can use hard drives to transfer large amounts of data.

• Microsoft Azure charges a nominal fixed fee, which means that it costs approximately US$75 per storage device, but you must be prepared to provide your drives. This is similar to Amazon Web Services' import/export disk, while Google uses a third party.
• The WD My Book Duo external hard drive is priced at $749.99 and has a capacity of 20TB (24TB and 28TB versions are also available), making it the largest and most cost-effective device in its class.

On a consumer-grade broadband line, it will take more than 500 hours (or about 20 days) to transmit the contents of a 20TB external hard drive on a 100Mb dedicated line, and it is expected to last more than a month and is only used for uploading. Remember to keep a copy of the file and encrypt the hard drive to be sent.

5. Google Drive

Although Gmail messages can only contain attachments up to 25MB, when the file is too large, Google can give you the option to place it in Google Drive and send a link for sharing. Gmail users can share files and folders up to 10GB. Considering that Google's free tier can provide you with 15GB of storage space, so you can share large files repeatedly for absolutely free (assuming you delete, clear and duplicate).

Google allows you to choose to create a link that can be shared with anyone or just to create a link to the person who sent you an email with the link.

6. FTP

Although FTP (File Transfer Protocol) may be outdated compared to cloud services such as Dropbox and Google Drive, it is still one of the most reliable methods for uploading and downloading files.

All operating systems support FTP, and many websites and add-ons support uploading and downloading from your browser, such as FireFTP. Windows and Mac users can also use the free desktop FTP client Cyber duck.

The only disadvantage is that you need to have access to remote servers (such as web hosting services). Many companies like DriveHQ provide some free storage space (5GB), and the price is comparable to cloud storage providers.

7. Mediafire

True to its name, MediaFire is a pioneer. Sign up for a free account and you will get 10GB of storage space. Connect your Facebook and Twitter accounts, install mobile apps, and refer friends to get up to 40GB of bonus space. You can upload files directly from your computer or the web and generate a link that will allow others to download the file from the MediaFire website.

The paid subscription costs US$3.75 (approximately £3) per month and includes 1TB of storage space, a 20GB file size limit, and the elimination of annoying verification codes and advertisements. Another convenient advanced feature is a one-time link, which ensures that once the recipient downloads the files, they can no longer be accessed.

8. Hightail

Hightail has considered the needs of business users. After registration, you can create special "spaces" for various files and projects, which can then be shared with others. The convenient "PipPoints" function can even be used to take notes on documents while you and others are working on them.

The free Lite version of Hightail only allows files up to 100MB to be shared. The Pro subscription is priced at US$12 (approximately £9.50) per month, which includes unlimited workspace and supports files up to 25GB. There is also no limit to the number of people who can access a file at any given time.

9. WeTransfer

WeTransfer is one of the simplest services for sharing large files. With just a few clicks, the website will automatically send you the files, which can be downloaded for 7 days. Everything is also very user-friendly, with a step-by-step wizard to guide you through the upload process.

You can transfer up to 2GB on a free account, but for US$12 per month (approximately £9.50) or US$120 per year (approximately £95), you can upgrade to WeTransfer Plus, which can transfer up to 20GB of files at a time, and 1TB Storage. Besides, you can choose to set a password to download the file-in addition, and customize the background and email as needed.

10. Resilio synchronization

This handy tool used to be BitTorrent Sync, which uses the BitTorrent protocol (especially used for sharing large files) and can directly synchronize files between devices. This peer-to-peer connection can be used for two or more devices, such as phones and desktop PCs.

Resilio Sync also supports generating secure links to allow your contacts to download files from your folder. This naturally means that your device must be online at the time to be accessible. The software itself is provided for free, and there is no limit to how much data you can transfer or store.

Note: Only "Personal Sync" is free. Sync Home adds more features and is priced at US$60 (US$30 at the time of writing and US$30 when sold), while Sync for Family can accommodate up to 5 family members and retails for US$100 (at the time of writing $50, when sold).

11. Send Anywhere

Send Anywhere is suitable for almost every platform you can think of and can transfer files up to 10GB completely free. Which is suitable for Windows, macOS, Linux and Amazon Kindle, as well as plugins for WordPress and Outlook.

The browser widget allows you to share files up to 10GB, but the paid service allows you to share files without restrictions.

12. Dropbox

Sign up for this cloud storage service and you can share all files moved into the Dropbox folder using a web link. Some operating systems allow you to do this by right-clicking, while other operating systems may require you to log in to the site and click the "share" link. Most importantly, the person you send the link to does not have to be a Dropbox user-they just need to download the file from the site.

Dropbox has a free tier that gives you 2GB of storage space, but you can earn more by referring friends to use the service-or by signing up for Dropbox Plus for $9.99 a month to increase the limit to 2TB. The latter also allows you to better control files, including version control and remote device wipe and can set download passwords.

Conclusion

To find a flexible solution with security and speed, cloud storage is the only way to go. Cloud solutions such as Raysync, Google Drive, Dropbox, and the like provide amazingly flexible pricing and even free storage.