If you’re still using email to send files from your phone to your computer or to regularly share data with colleagues, you’re doing it wrong. These excellent and free file transfer apps are better, easier and faster ways to share large files between two devices.
1. Gofile (web): True unlimited file sharing and temporary storage
Gofile did what none of the best online file sharing apps have managed to do: be truly unlimited. Gofile has no limitations on file size, on the number of people who can download that file, or on the bandwidth offered. You don’t even need to register to use it. So you can upload and transfer anything you want without worry.
Files are stored on the Gofile server as long as they are downloaded by users. When a file has not been downloaded for seven days, it is marked as inactive; after 10 days it is deleted from the server.
Registering with your email will unlock some other cool features. You can manage files in folders and tags, add passwords for security and set expiration dates for files to be deleted automatically.
So how is all this free? Well, there are ads on the site and the option to purchase a premium account that provides permanent storage so your files will never be marked as inactive or deleted. In terms of privacy concerns, Gofile says they never store or sell your personal data.
2. Payload (Windows, macOS, Linux): Share files between computers in the office
Sharing large files between computers is a common requirement for those who work in offices. If you are connected to the same Wi-Fi or local network, installing Payload will be easier than ever. This isn’t the first app to do this, but it’s the best implementation we’ve seen yet.
When you run the Payload, you will be prompted for your name and device name and to choose a color. Once everyone in the office has done this, all of your names will appear on connected or disconnected devices, depending on their status.
When you want to send a file to a colleague, simply click on the name and select the file or entire directories to send. You don’t need to zip a file directory. The colleague will then receive a notification to accept or reject this file. If they accept, the file is sent through the local network, which is much faster than an Internet transfer and more secure.
The speed is very useful for large files of several gigabytes. And Payload helps even more with this by adding the ability to pause and resume transfers or even resume transfers automatically if they were interrupted for some reason.
Download: Payload for Windows | macOS | Linux (free)
If you don’t trust any of the file storage companies with your data, but still need to transfer files to someone else, peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing is your best bet. In this way, you will not have any intermediate servers where the data is stored; instead, it goes directly from your computer or phone to the recipient’s computer or phone.
Both Sendfiles.dev and rDrop make this P2P process easy. Add your files and generate a unique link or code to send to the recipient. Once the recipient does their part, the file will start uploading from your device and will be downloaded to their device. This P2P style of transfer saves time for large files, as neither party needs to wait for the file to be completely uploaded to a server and then start downloading it.
Between the two apps, Sendfiles has the added benefit of adding password protection to ensure two layers of file transfer security. It also encrypts the files in your browser and decrypts them in the recipient’s browser. That said, rDrop is much easier to use and works much better on phones. You can also scan a QR code with your phone’s camera to start the transfer, which is super convenient.
4. Blindsend (online): Request a file transfer from someone else
Most file transfer apps try to make it easy for you to send files. But what happens when you need to receive a file from someone who isn’t tech savvy? These apps that seem simple to you can be overwhelming to them.
Blindsend is a fantastic solution to this problem. It allows you to create a link to request files instead of sending files. You must enter a password to generate a new link, which you send to the uploader. All they want to see is a button to upload files. When they’re done, you’ll be notified that the files are ready and waiting for you to download. It’s brilliant.
Of course, you can also use Blindsend as a standard file transfer tool, and password protection is not mandatory when sending files. You can upload a maximum of 10 files, up to 2 GB in size per file, and up to 4 GB in total.
5. CopyPaste.Me (web): The easiest, most convenient way to transfer files, text or passwords
You want to quickly send a file from your phone to someone else, but you don’t know what apps they already have installed, and you can’t remember names like rDrop or Gofile. It’s easy to remember the name “CopyPaste.Me”, isn’t it? Using the web app is just as easy.
No one needs anything installed. Launch the website in a browser and you will see a QR code. Ask the other person to scan this QR code with their phone (or if they’re on a computer, you can share a code they type). With the two devices connected, you can now share files, text snippets and even passwords.
The password section sets CopyPaste apart from other free file and text transfer sites. When you share a password, you’ll see it written out in full in your window, but it will appear as edited characters in the recipient’s window. However, they can still copy and paste it. It’s a useful feature for sharing passwords, but if you ask us, it’s still better to use this sparingly and only in emergencies.
Look for speed and convenience
So which of these file transfer apps should you use? All together! It’s not your job to pick a winner. They are all good in their own way and you should use the best one for the job.
For example, CopyPaste.Me is probably best to use with people you don’t interact with regularly, while Payload is great for setting up in a small office. And Blindsend is ideal when you want your tech-challenged boss to send you that important file without asking you a million questions about how to use the site. So just use the right file transfer app for the right job by appreciating how fast and convenient it is.
