Last Tuesday, I needed to send a 800MB video file to a client. Should be simple, right? Wrong.

My first instinct was email. Gmail immediately rejected it. "File too large." Of course.

So I uploaded it to Google Drive. Spent 5 minutes figuring out the sharing settings. Sent the link. The client couldn't access it because their company blocks Google Drive. Great.

This has happened enough times that I've basically tried every file sharing method that exists. Some work great. Some are terrible. Here's what I learned.

The methods I've tried

Over the past few years, I've used:

Email (obviously doesn't work for large files)
Google Drive and Dropbox
WeTransfer
Temporary file sharing services
FTP (don't ask)
Even tried Discord once (terrible idea)

Each has its place. The trick is knowing when to use what.

What actually works: My current setup

These days, I use a simple system that hasn't failed me yet:

For files under 2GB: Temporary file sharing

This is my go-to for 90% of file transfers. Upload the file, get a link, send it to the client. They download it within 24 hours, then the file disappears.

Why I like it:

No account needed (huge time saver)
Works behind corporate firewalls
Client doesn't need to sign up for anything
Files don't clutter my storage forever
Usually free up to 1-2GB

The 24-hour limit actually helps. Clients download files immediately instead of saying "I'll grab it later" and forgetting.

For ongoing collaboration: Google Drive

When I'm working with a team on a project that spans weeks or months, Google Drive makes sense. We need version history, we need everyone to have access, we need organization.

But for one-off file transfers? It's overkill. The permission settings alone take longer than just using a temporary service.

For professional deliverables: WeTransfer

When I'm delivering final files to a client (like completed video projects or design assets), I use WeTransfer. It sends a nice email notification, looks professional, and supports files up to 2GB on the free plan.

The email notification is key. It feels more "official" than a random link in Slack or email.

Common problems and solutions

Problem: Client can't access the file

This happens more often than you'd think. Their company firewall blocks Google Drive, or they don't have a Dropbox account, or the download link expired.

Solution: Use services that work without accounts and behind firewalls. Temporary file sharing services usually work because they're simple HTTP downloads.

Problem: File is too large

Before you panic, ask yourself: does this file really need to be this big?

Videos: Do they need 4K, or is 1080p fine?
Images: Do they need to be 5000x3000, or is 1920x1080 enough?
Documents: Can you export to PDF to reduce size?

I've found that 80% of the time, I can compress a file down to a reasonable size without anyone noticing the quality difference.

Problem: Need to track who downloaded what

Most free services don't offer download tracking. If you need this (for client billing or legal reasons), you'll need to pay for WeTransfer Plus or use a professional service.

Honestly though, I've never needed this feature in real work. A simple "did you get the file?" message works fine.

What doesn't work (in my experience)

FTP

I tried using FTP once because it "has no file size limits." Setting it up took an hour. The client had no idea how to use it. Never again.

FTP is great if both parties are technical. But explaining to a non-technical client how to use FileZilla? Not worth the time.

Messaging apps (Discord, Slack, etc.)

Discord has a 25MB limit. Slack's free tier has a 1GB storage limit total, not per file. These work for quick small file shares, but anything substantial? No.

Shared hosting downloads

Some people upload files to their website hosting and share the link. This works until your hosting provider throttles your bandwidth or charges overage fees. Been there, paid that bill.

My actual workflow now

Here's exactly what I do when I need to send a file:

Step 1: Check the file size

Under 25MB? Just email it.
25MB - 2GB? Temporary file sharing.
Over 2GB? Compress it first, then use temporary sharing or WeTransfer.

Step 2: Is this for a one-time transfer or ongoing work?

One-time: Temporary service
Ongoing: Google Drive

Step 3: Send the link with context

Don't just send a naked link. Add context: "Here's the final video edit, link expires in 24 hours so download when you can."

That last part is important. When people know the link expires, they download immediately.

The compression trick nobody talks about

Want to know a secret? Most files can be compressed significantly without noticeable quality loss.

I use Handbrake for videos. A 2GB video usually compresses to 400-500MB with barely visible quality difference. That opens up way more sharing options.

For images, export them at 85% quality instead of 100%. The human eye can't tell the difference, but the file size drops by 50-70%.

Cost breakdown

People always ask about costs. Here's what I actually pay:

Temporary file sharing: $0 (free tier works fine)
Google Drive: $0 (15GB free is plenty for my needs)
WeTransfer: $0 (2GB limit on free is enough)

I've never needed to pay for file sharing services. The free tiers handle everything I need.

If you're transferring hundreds of files per month or need enterprise features (tracking, branding, etc.), paid plans make sense. But for normal freelance or small business work? Free works great.

What I tell new freelancers

When people ask me for advice on file sharing, I tell them this:

Start with a temporary file sharing service for client deliverables. It's free, it works, and clients love how simple it is.

Use Google Drive only when you actually need collaboration features or long-term storage.

Don't overcomplicate it. File sharing should take 30 seconds, not 30 minutes.

The bottom line

After years of trying different methods, I've settled on this simple approach: temporary file sharing for most things, Google Drive for collaboration, WeTransfer for professional deliverables.

It's not fancy. It's not cutting-edge. But it works reliably, clients understand it, and I've never had a file transfer fail in the past year.

Sometimes the best solution is just the one that works without making you think about it.

How I Send Large Files to Clients (After Trying Everything)