Sending large files over the web should be a simple process, but in practice we know it’s far from it. The main online services have limits that work against us, forcing us to look for more flexible alternatives. Today we’ll explore four of them: pCloud Transfer with a 5-gigabyte ceiling, WeTransfer which has been with us for over a decade, Smash with a big bet on unlimited transfers, and WebWormHole, which works in a similar way to data streaming.
Sending Large Files: Why Is It Complicated?
In essence, for two reasons: time and bandwidth. The people responsible for an online service need to define certain restrictions so that storing and transferring files doesn’t devour their servers, but it would be a gross mistake to forget the upload process on our side. The vast majority of network connections don’t have symmetry between upload and download, and the difference between the two ends is usually enormous (10 to 1, or even more).
In other words, sending large files over the Internet is tedious, but we have to work with what we have. Now the question is: how do we minimize the headache? A good possibility is to adopt tools with higher transfer limits, and that eliminate classic requirements like creating accounts. Today we offer four.
How to Send Large Files: pCloud Transfer
pCloud Transfer has always been one of our favorite options due to its simple operation. With a maximum limit of five gigabytes, the whole process is reduced to uploading the files, entering an email address, and setting up to ten recipients. The files will remain available for download for a week, and pCloud Transfer also allows us to activate file encryption, thus guaranteeing a more secure transfer.
WeTransfer
When you first enter its site, WeTransfer will try to convince you to create an account, but with a click on “I just want to send files” you can avoid all that. The only limitation of the “anonymous” mode is that it doesn’t support customizing link expiration or password protection; however, its 2 GB ceiling, automatic encryption, and pleasant interface make it worthy of a place on this list.
Smash
Smash aims to break the mold with a direct strategy: there is no upper limit on transfers. Its only warning is that files larger than 2 GB will enter a waiting queue, which could extend the delay in the download process, but that’s a reasonable compromise. In addition, with Smash we can configure link expiration, customize the design and the waiting message, preview files, receive notifications, and protect everything with a password.
WebWormHole
If the idea of storing data on a remote server doesn’t sit well with you, then you should take a look at WebWormHole. Unlike other services for sending large files, WebWormHole establishes connections between browsers, courtesy of WebRTC. Launch the “wormhole” in your browser, and share the URL link or the keyword with the recipient. The tunnel will be open in seconds, ready to send and receive files.
In Summary
The experience of sending large files could be much more comfortable for the end user, no doubt about it. However, these four tools work very well and easily replace others that have disappeared or been retired. We hope they work for you, and if you want to share other similar solutions, leave a comment!.
