# Free online file transfer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 28, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-file-transfer/443098 "2008-03-28T20:35:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![flex727](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-file-transfer/443098/1 "2008-03-28T20:35:45Z")
I have a need for the occasional large file transfer. Is there a decent free service that would allow someone in another city to EASILY send me a large file? The sender will not necessarily be technically savvy except for simple use of a web browser. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-file-transfer/443098/2 "2008-03-28T20:57:15Z")
How much time do you have to make the transfer. If ther person isn’t too great with computers, it might be easiest to get a jump drive and just (snail) mail it to the other person. ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-file-transfer/443098/3 "2008-03-28T20:58:59Z")
Free (up to 1GB) and easy as hell… can send larger files for a fee. > **[Secure file sharing & creative collaboration | Hightail](https://www.hightail.com/)** > > Simple and secure file sharing with Hightail. Send large files, preview visual assets, collect precise feedback and keep creative projects moving in one easy and secure cloud-based software. Try Hightail for free. Mac and PC compatible. I use it all the time, works like a charm. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-file-transfer/443098/4 "2008-03-28T21:00:31Z")
If it’s the same person sending every time, instant messaging clients are pretty good at this. Windows Live Messenger (AKA MSN Messenger), for example (if you’re running Windows…) ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-file-transfer/443098/5 "2008-03-28T21:35:39Z")
To expand on what filmyak said, there are several services that offer the same thing (each with different caveats)… Here’s a list: [http://www.email-unlimited.com/stuff/send-huge-files.htm](http://www.email-unlimited.com/stuff/send-huge-files.htm) ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-file-transfer/443098/6 "2008-03-28T22:24:51Z")
Be aware that upload speeds for most ISPs are generally much slower than download speeds. Depending on how large the file is, and how fast your internet connection is, **Joey P** could be right. You might consider using the [Sneakernet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sneakernet). ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2008, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-file-transfer/443098/7 "2008-03-29T01:49:06Z")
[QUOTE=MrSquishy] Be aware that upload speeds for most ISPs are generally much slower than download speeds. Depending on how large the file is, and how fast your internet connection is, **Joey P** could be right. You might consider using the [Sneakernet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sneakernet). [/QUOTE] I said to myself, “Huh? I’ve never heard of Sneakernet.” I clicked the link, and just as the page was loading it dawned on me. :smack: I’m an idiot. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2008, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-file-transfer/443098/8 "2008-03-29T02:23:10Z")
Even better: [www.mailbigfile.com](http://www.mailbigfile.com). No registration, though it only goes up to 100 Meg. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2008, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-file-transfer/443098/9 "2008-03-29T03:12:37Z")
I transfer large (~200MB) files all the time. I upload to a web site via FTP, then send the URL to the recipient, who can download with any browser. My ISP allows 300GB online storage for $8/month, which is almost free. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2008, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-file-transfer/443098/10 "2008-03-29T04:23:26Z")
Open a Gmail account. You can attach up to 20 Mb (file +message) Create a message, give it a tittle ()Big file 1) and attach file. click save. Email or call the other person and tell them to log onto that g mail account (obviously you have to give them the log in info) They download file, life is good. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2008, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-file-transfer/443098/11 "2008-03-29T04:58:03Z")
[QUOTE=GameHat] I said to myself, “Huh? I’ve never heard of Sneakernet.” [/QUOTE] Never underestimate the bandwidth of an RV full of magtapes\* speeding down the highway. \*(Or, in this era, an SUV full of hard drives and DVD-Rs.) ---
**Author:** ![Scientia\_est\_potentia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@Scientia\_est\_potentia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scientia_est_potentia)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2008, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-file-transfer/443098/12 "2008-03-29T14:43:39Z")
I use [drop.io](http://drop.io) to transfer files. instant setup, free and easy to use. as usual uploads are slow but downs quick. check it out. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2008, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-file-transfer/443098/13 "2008-03-29T17:39:05Z")
[QUOTE=Scientia est potentia] I use [drop.io](http://drop.io) to transfer files. instant setup, free and easy to use. as usual uploads are slow but downs quick. check it out. [/QUOTE] The upload:download ratio may be a function of your ISP. My cable company has several tiers of speed for different charges, but all are in the ratio of 10:1, down:up. Example: 5Mb/sec down, 512Kb/sec up. The excuse given for this asymmetry is that a typical browser user sends a very small data request and the server responds with a flood of data in the form of web pages, sound or video. The average user supposedly doesn’t need speed in the upload direction. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2008, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-file-transfer/443098/14 "2008-03-29T20:45:37Z")
[QUOTE=Musicat] The excuse given for this asymmetry is that a typical browser user sends a very small data request and the server responds with a flood of data in the form of web pages, sound or video. The average user supposedly doesn’t need speed in the upload direction. [/QUOTE] I believe that this discrepancy was also, at least in the early days of broadband internet, to discourage people from using their home connection and home computer as a server. Another host that allows large (up to 100Mb) file hosting for free is [Mediafire](http://www.mediafire.com/). If your file is larger than 100Mb, you can split it into 100Mb chunks using [WinRAR](http://www.rarlab.com/) ---
**Author:** ![flex727](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-file-transfer/443098/15 "2008-03-29T23:46:34Z")
[QUOTE=filmyak] Free (up to 1GB) and easy as hell… can send larger files for a fee. > **[Secure file sharing & creative collaboration | Hightail by OpenText](https://www.hightail.com/)** > > Simple and secure file sharing with Hightail by OpenText. Keep creative projects moving in one easy and secure cloud-based software. Mac and PC compatible. I use it all the time, works like a charm. [/QUOTE] This looks like a winner for me. Thanks to everyone.