5 Of The Best Mobile Apps For Sharing Large Files
In our daily communication, file-sharing has become a routine task. While smaller files are easily managed, the challenge arises when dealing with larger ones — be it hefty presentations, high-resolution images, or lengthy videos. Standard messaging platforms, email attachments, and features like Bluetooth often fall short due to data size limitations.
While some devices come equipped with native apps like AirDrop — available across the likes of iPhone, iPad, and MacBook — for file sharing, these have limitations when it comes to cross-platform compatibility. Fortunately, several third-party applications can help you share large files within minutes across phones and even between phones and computers. Below are the five best options you may consider.
However, before diving into the convenience they provide, it’s crucial to exercise caution. Take a moment to scrutinize the app’s permissions and privacy settings, ensuring that sensitive data remains secure. Avoid granting unnecessary access as well. Additionally, keep in mind that the efficiency of file-sharing apps often depends on both the app and the strength of your internet connection. It is best tocheck your internet connection speedto ensure a stable connection before you proceed.
SHAREit is a cross-platform file-sharing application that utilizes Wi-Fi Direct technology to establish a direct connection between devices to help you share large files, such as videos, photos, documents, and even installed apps.
The platform has a group-sharing feature as well, which can come in handy when you want to collaborate or share files with multiple people simultaneously. You can also use SHAREit to backup and restore your data or clone your phone when you switch to a new device. To use SHAREit:
Once the transfer is complete, you can access the shared files in the designated folder on the receiver’s device.
Google Drive
Google Drive is a cloud-based file storage and collaboration platform developed by Google that allows you to store, share, and work on files in real-time. You can access these files from any device.
One of the main advantages of Google Drive is that it can share large files of any size and type, such as photos, videos, music, and PDFs easily. To share files, you’re able to either use sharing links or directly invite collaborators by entering their email addresses. To use Google Drive:
To manage or revoke permissions later, return to the sharing settings by tapping the three-dot button and selecting Manage access. If, at any point, you notice any sluggishness in the app’s performance, you canclear the Google Drive cacheon your phone to improve its efficiency.
Filemail is another file transfer app that can send large files up to 5 GB for free and also offers encrypted data transfer as well as antivirus protection.
One of the main features of Filemail is that it can send files securely and quickly without any compression or quality loss. Filemail also uses encryption to protect your files, and you can set a password, a download limit, or a self-destruct option to control access to your files. Additionally, Filemail provides a full audit trail of your transfers, and you can receive email notifications when your files are downloaded. To use Filemail:
The only downside you should be aware of is that Filemail has a storage limit of seven days for free users, and you need to pay for a subscription if you want to store your files longer or access more features.
You can also consider using Xender, which, like SHAREit, uses a direct Wi-Fi connection to facilitate rapid file transfers between devices. Unlike most other file-sharing apps, Xender comes with many additional features like Playlist, which allows you to convert video files into audio files, Social to help you use social platforms on the app, Phone Copy to copy all the data of your phone to transfer it, etc. To use Xender:
One drawback you should know about is that Xender has a lot of ads and pop-ups that can be annoying and risky. It is best to avoid hitting any suspicious links or buttons to stay safe.
WeTransfer
WeTransfer is specifically designed for creative professionals who need to share high-quality photos, videos, or documents with their clients or colleagues for feedback. Think of it as both a file-sharing and a work-management app. It offers three plans: Free, Pro, and Premium. In the free plan, you can send up to 2 GB of data. To use WeTransfer:
The mobile app has basic functionality, but if you want to access additional features like portals, you will need to use the official WeTransfer website. A portal is a collection of reviews, which can be a file or a set of files you can share with others and get feedback on.
you may create a portal for a client or project as a single destination to keep track of all reviews. Your portal has a fixed, short link to share with your team.
