Wondering how to send large files over the Internet. Filewhopper is a simple and secure solution to send large files and big documents of any size in a few clicks.
A decade ago, when you wanted to share a file with someone, you would probably turn to your trusty USB flash drive. Those days are now long gone, and as we work in a setting where our colleague may be on a different continent, exchanging USBs is simply no longer an option.
How To Transfer Large Files In 2021
Unfortunately, as far as we’ve come in developing a digital workplace, our options for transferring large files remain quite limited. This is especially true if you need to send a file or folder that is really large — the thing is, the more data you need to transfer, the more difficult it is to find efficient ways of doing that online.
Nevertheless, not all is lost. And in today’s post, we will be looking into some popular options for how to send large files online. Plus, we will also introduce you to an entirely new method for transferring really large files and folders.
How To Share Large Files Online
There are several standard ways of sending data online:
- You can use a cloud storage service like Google Drive or OneDrive.
- You can use special software to compress your files/folders to make them smaller and easier to send.
- You may try using a VPN (if your file-sharing limits are set by your network provider).
- You can send over files via SFTP.
- You can use a new service called FileWhopper to send files and folders of any size online.
Use Cloud Storage Services
One of the most popular ways of sharing files online is through the use of cloud storage services. Depending on the operating system or email provider you use, you may opt for Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Outlook, etc.
Once you’ve uploaded your file, you can simply share the link to it with anyone you want to have access to the file in question — and they will be able to download it.
Another way to go about this is to send your file via email. However, you will first need to upload it to one of the services we’ve mentioned above, like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive.
After uploading the file, simply share it with someone first and then send them an email with the link to that file. If you are using Gmail or Outlook, you will find cloud integration options right in the email. You can simply click the Google Drive or OneDrive button to share your file.
One of the main downsides of using a cloud storage service is that you receive a very limited amount of space for free. For instance, Google Drive sets the limit at 15GB and OneDrive at 5GB. This means that if you want to share large files (photo albums, videos, apps, etc.), you will need to buy a subscription to your preferred cloud storage service — and it can get quite pricey.
Compress Your Files
To avoid paying heavy storage fees, you may choose to compress your file or folder to make transferring it easier. There is lots of software available online that can help you compress your files while keeping them intact.
Once the recipient has received your data, they will need to use similar software to decompress it so that they can use it.
This is a rather straightforward (and a bit old-fashioned) way of getting your files over the Internet. The main issue with this method is that extracting files from a compressed folder can often come with errors and bugs. Plus, compressing and extracting files can take quite a bit of time.
I’ve been using Cloudways since January 2016 for this blog. I happily recommend Cloudways to my readers because I am a proud customer.
Try Using A VPN
If your file sharing limitations are imposed by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), then using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) may help you bypass these restrictions. When you activate a VPN on your device, it will prevent your ISP from seeing how large the files you are sending are, and you might just get away with it. Simply download and install any VPN from a trusted source and check if it helps.
There are two main downsides here. First, sending a large file over a VPN network can significantly slow it down. Second, it’s not guaranteed that your files will remain intact during the transfer process.
Transfer A File Via SFTP
FTP, aka File Transfer Protocol, is a method used for transferring files from a server to a client. The main problem with using FTP for file transfers is that it’s not secure. This is why it’s better to use SFTP — Secure File Transfer Protocol.
SFTP works in much the same way as FTP, but it adds secure shell encryption. This is done to protect your data from those who are not on your recipient list.
Using SFTP is typically recommended for transferring classified information to colleagues or clients.
Use A New File Sharing Service Called Filewhopper
At the beginning of this article, we’ve mentioned that we have a new file sharing service to recommend to you. It’s called FileWhopper, and it can help you quickly send large files and folders over the web with minimal hassle.
Here’s what we like about FileWhopper:
Pay As You Go
Unlike most cloud storage solutions out there (OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.), FileWhopper won’t ask you for a monthly subscription if you need to send over a large file or folder. No matter how big your file or folder is, you will be able to send it via FileWhopper with no strings attached and only play for what you are transferring. For a lot of people, this is probably a much more convenient and economical option than committing to a long-term service subscription that they may end up using only occasionally.
Payments are secure and flexible with FileWhopper. Your total file transfer fee is calculated based on the size of the file or folder you are sending. Plus, you can choose who pays for the transfer: you can pay yourself or ask the recipient to pay for the transfer. This is a handy feature to have on board for freelancers: you will be able to send over an assignment and arrange for your client to pay for the transfer directly.
Send Files Or Folders Of ANY SIZE
FileWhopper lets you send files and folders of any size — there are no limits. Even if you have a 10TB folder to share on the web, you will be able to transfer it to the needed destination with FileWhopper. This means that you won’t need to spend time compressing your files or splitting your large folder into several smaller ones just to get them over the Internet.
Zero-Knowledge Encryption
FileWhopper transfers are 100% safe. The service uses zero-knowledge encryption, which is the most advanced form of data security available today. With zero-knowledge encryption, no third party will be able to access your data. Every file transfer you make with FileWhopper is secured with a password: you can opt for setting this password yourself or have it generated automatically. Whichever way you choose to go with, your password will not be stored on FileWhopper’s servers — and nobody will be able to access your data without it.
How To Use Filewhopper
Using FileWhopper is really easy. The whole process of uploading and transferring your file or folder takes just a few simple steps:
- Go to FileWhopper.com.
- Browse your PC for the file or folder that you want to send.
- Wait a few seconds as FileWhopper evaluates its size and gives you a price quote.
- Download FileWhopper’s tiny app, which will help you through the process.
- Start uploading your file or folder.
- Get a link to your file or folder and share it with the recipient.
- As we’ve mentioned earlier, your data will also be protected with a password. You should share it with your recipient as well.
A great thing about FileWhopper is that the recipient doesn’t have to wait for the upload to be complete. They can start downloading the file or folder as soon as you start the upload. Needless to say, this feature is a great time saver.
There are no complicated features that you will need to master on FileWhopper. The service keeps things very simple, and the learning curve is absolutely minimal.
While FileWhopper keeps things conveniently basic and won’t bug you with unnecessary add-ons, there are also a few nice extras offered on demand. For example, you will be able to add more recipients to your transfer or store data on FileWhopper’s servers for longer.
FileWhopper does its absolute best to make sure your transfers aren’t interrupted. However, should a force majeure event occur (like a lost connection or power failure), your transfer won’t be greatly affected. It will simply pause until things are restored and then pick up right from where it left off.
Final Thoughts
As you can see from all of the above, we are big fans of FileWhopper here. We love that it makes handling large amounts of data easy and effortless. Plus, the pay-as-you-go approach makes things much more convenient as you are not “forced” into investing in a long-term service subscription.
We’ve also saved the best thing about FileWhopper for last. Your first 5GB transfer is absolutely free. This means that you don’t have to just rely on our review of the service — you can see how things work for yourself. This way, you will be able to make an informed decision on whether FileWhopper is a good match for your file sharing needs.
We do hope that this article has been helpful and you’ve been able to get some new ideas for how to send big files over the web. Stay tuned for more updates on how to stay efficient in the new digital environment and let all your file sharing be easy breezy.