How to Send Large Files (mostly for free)

June 13, 2008

Need to send giant video files, but don’t want the hassle of FTP? There’s a proliferation of free sites that will allow you to upload a giant file (100 MB to 1 Gig) and provide someone else with a URL or e-mail so they can pull it down. Some require “client” software, but many need only a web browser and are supported by advertising or upsells to fancier versions. I used to be a loyal Pando user, but there are three problems:

I don’t like the way I have to locate the file and drag it to the clumsy file interface (the user experience for finding a file on my Mac via Pando is painful).
Most people don’t want to have to download and install a client application to retrieve it (even though it’s quite easy). And once you’ve done that, it’s usually the most convenient way to go (because it’s a one-step operation — instead of uploading, waiting for a unique URL, then e-mailing that URL and hoping your recipient downloads it before it expires).
Pando seems to be constantly nagging me to upgrade, and I never see any improvements. It also crashes quite often.

Now I’m finding a wealth of alternatives, and the web interfaces have improved. The ads are still there, but it’s a small price to pay for free storage and upload/download. Here are just a few… No doubt Google will invent a free one that will crush this marketplace, but you gotta love ‘em all for trying.

sendspace: Currently my favorite. Up to 300 MB, no fee, and very few limits. Has some upsell packages with a lot higher limits (1.5 gigs).
mediafire: One to watch. Has really good reviews (PCMag, CNet and PCWorld) and is apparently new.
senduit: Extremely easy, but it vanishes in 7 days and you have to wait for the unique URL (then e-mail it). Lose that code, and the file vanishes.
yousendit: I moved to it, but it started nagging me about reaching a limit. It’s got some upsell features.
dropboks: Haven’t played with it yet, but seems simple enough.
nakido: Another one I haven’t tried, but looks simple.
Plain Old Webserver: A Firefox add-on that does the trick apparently.
diino: Another client one, but decent file limit.

Tagged as: compare, diino, dropboks, files, large, mediafire, nakido, pando, plain old webserver, review, send, sendspace, senduit, websites, yousendit

{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }

1 xjasongarciax June 13, 2008 at 9:13 pm: I’ve got a large file for you………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………smell it yet? )
2 marquisdejolie June 14, 2008 at 4:05 am: I’ve got about 39.637 gigabytes uploaded to YouTube so far. I know how to send large files, Kevin: 1 megabyte at a time.
3 JimmerSD June 14, 2008 at 4:22 am: I just load the file on my webspace. I drop it in a subdirectory and send a link. Seems to work.
4 sukatra June 14, 2008 at 9:24 am: I pando in the nude
5 Matt June 14, 2008 at 9:46 am: Don’t forget that these sites now have copies of your files. Make sure you read the user agreements carefully to see what kind of rights and privileges they claim on the use of your files.
6 Hayley June 14, 2008 at 10:45 pm: Rapidshare.com is the best, ive been a premium user for 2 years.
7 sukatra June 16, 2008 at 8:51 pm: Well, it took you long enough to screw with my pando comment, but I must admit, you did a good job. When I read it I thought “oh my god, what drugs was I on when I wrote that comment??”

I like drugs. I’m rarely sober.
8 Sand July 4, 2008 at 7:04 am: I use Podmailing to send large files because there is no size limit. =)

Check it out: http://www.podmailing.fr/
9 Manish S March 7, 2009 at 4:30 pm: I would like to recommend http://www.fileapartment.com Free, NO registration, easy to use, and supports up to 1 gb. Just click “Upload File” and go…