You’re into your third or fourth hour of editing, your eyes are blurring but you’ve finally finished. Sweet, sweet relief! Now, to upload …
But, your video file is too large.
Considering video traffic was predicted to account for 84% of all internet traffic by 2022, it’s surprising that most video file sharing platforms aren’t optimized to upload large files. Here in 2023, Gmail still only supports attachments of up to 25 MB per email. Mind blowing, huh?
So, we’ve come up with a list of the best ways to upload and send large video files with clients and colleagues, saving you time and effort to put into more creative endeavors.
Check out the video for more information on how to successfully share large video files:
The best ways to share video files from your desktop
Upload files to the cloud with Dropbox
Source: Dropbox
Among all the cloud storage services, Dropbox is a tried and true method that keeps your video files safe and organized.
It provides collaborative tools, can share any size file, it can share multiple video files, and you can assess updates in real time, utilizing any extra time to finesse the final edit.
Dropbox Pricing
The Dropbox Basic plan is a free service and includes 2 GB of storage, with plenty of paid service plans available should you need a little bit of extra space for multiple video files.
The cheapest paid version, Dropbox Plus starts at $9.99 per month with 2 TB of storage (2,000 GB), while Dropbox Advanced comes in at $24 per month, supporting larger teams and sending files up to 100 GB with Dropbox Delivery.
Once you’ve uploaded your video, Dropbox will generate a link that you can share endlessly, allowing recipients to download and stream the video. The best bit? They don’t need a Dropbox account to view the video.
Use a collaborative online tool with Filestage
The best of the bunch, if we do say so ourselves.
So, what is Filestage? Glad you asked!
It’s a content review platform that lets users share videos, documents, and images with teammates and clients for review.
Once the video is uploaded to the platform, you can invite reviewers by email or send the link via chat. They can then review, leave comments, add annotations, and approve the video file without having to register – all in one clear and centralized workflow.
Don’t worry, though. Filestage offers password protection and email verification from users if required, so it’s as secure as you want it to be.
Filestage Pricing
Filestage’s Free plan is ideal for freelancers and small teams. It includes:
- Unlimited team members
- Unlimited files, versions, and reviewers
- 2 GB secure storage
- Support for all file types
- Two active projects
- Two review steps
While the Basic option starts at €49 a month and includes:
- Everything in the Free plan
- 10 active projects
- 250 GB of secure storage
Still curious? Learn more about how to share video online for feedback.
Source: Filestage
Online video sharing with Vimeo
Source: screencloud.com
We’re all pretty comfortable with video hosting sites at this point, with Vimeo showing figures of 260 million users at the end of 2022, and 1.7 million paid subscribers.
Using an online video hosting site like Vimeo is the perfect way to upload your large video files with ease, without compromising the quality. It keeps your videos secure, allowing users to keep their videos listed as private until they’re ready to share via link.
Unlike other video hosting sites, Vimeo doesn’t automatically compress the video after upload. Rather, it offers users the option to compress or not to compress your video. So it’ll still be sparkling in 4k Ultra HD for collaborators and reviewers.
Vimeo pricing
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to progress into video marketing with a higher budget, Vimeo has the subscription for you.
The starter tier is a free service, capping at 5 GB of storage but without marketing tools. You can graduate to the affordable Vimeo Plus, costing $7 a month on an annual basis, or $12 month-to-month rolling. It offers 250 GB a year/5 GB a week, including collaborative tools such as customizable video templates, playback control, and unlimited videos.
You’ve got mail: the best ways to share video files over email
Google Drive
While Gmail only holds files of up to 25 GB, Google Drive had other plans.
Every Google Drive user has 15 GB of storage to use across Google Drive and Gmail. This means if you upload a video file greater than 25 MB over Gmail, it’ll automatically upload onto Google Drive so you won’t have to spend time compressing or transferring zip files. This generates a link that you can share with reviewers with a Google account.
By sharing your video files over email with a platform like Google Drive, you can keep your video files safe and secure in one place with easy access for stakeholders and colleagues.
It’s an effective and proficient collaborative tool, too. You can either share your files individually, allowing collaborators to download, edit, and comment, or pop it in a shared drive that grants everyone equal access.
Google Drive is just one in a huge list of the best file sharing applications, but has proven to be one of the most universally used platforms, accounting for 44.97% of the market share.
Source: Enlyft
OneDrive
Similar to Google Drive, OneDrive serves its purpose as a cloud-based storage device linked with an email platform.
OneDrive and Google Drive work in very similar ways. You simply upload your large video file to the cloud, generating a link that you can share among Microsoft Outlook users.
It’s fairly low-budget considering the services it offers, starting with $5 per month for the OneDrive for Business (Plan 1), and ending with the Microsoft 365 Business Standard option at $12.50/user per month.
Yup! So rather than gushing over all that OneDrive has to offer, here’s a quick ‘how to’ on large video file transfers:
- Sign into the OneDrive website and click ‘Upload’ at the top.
- On the ‘Upload’ dropdown, select files and select your video file. Click “Open”.
- Once the video is uploaded, click “Share”.
- When prompted by the pop-up window, type in the name, Outlook email address, or group name.
- Click “Send” and your recipients will be emailed with a link where they can watch, download, and save the video file. Voila!
WeTransfer
Source: WeTransfer
If you want to keep it quick and easy, WeTransfer is the way to go.
One of the most easy-to-use file storage and sharing services on this list, WeTransfer offers a free service that allows you to upload video files of up to 2 GB in size.
Unlike Google Drive and OneDrive, WeTransfer doesn’t require a registration, so you’re good to go from the start. Unless you want to upgrade to Pro to send and receive multiple files up to 200 GB (with 1 TB of storage space).
WeTransfer also offers Pro and Premium subscriptions from $12/month. These include the ability to set due dates and add or receive comments in context. But unlike out-and-out review platforms like Filestage, they don’t give you the option to set up a comprehensive review workflow.
On the go: three ways to send large video files from your phone
Transferring large video files on iPhone
Similar to Gmail, iOS prohibits files over 25 MB to be sent over iMessage or email, so you can say goodbye to sending large video files this way.
But, if we know Apple like we think we know Apple, there’ll be a super user-friendly solution. And here it is …
iCloud
Source: iCloud
Apple’s iCloud stores your photos, videos, and other files up to 5 GB on a cloud-based service, freeing up storage space on your mobile device and making it incredibly easy to upload and share your large video files.
iCloud is simple to use, all you have to do to send a video file is:
- Open the “Photos” app on your device
- Select the video you’d like to share
- Tap the share icon, and scroll down to find and select the “Copy iCloud link” option
- Copy the link and send it to your team via email, iMessage, or work-based chat platform
And this is just the free service. There’s an option to upgrade to iCloud+, offering 50 GB, 200 GB, or 2 TB for $0.99, $2.99, or $9.99 per month respectively. Sharing large video files has never been easier for Apple users, it’s no wonder that paid iCloud subscriptions accounted for 15% of Apple’s services revenue in 2017.
Mail Drop
Another one of Apple’s cloud storage services, Mail Drop allows users to send your large video files by mail through iCloud.
Mail Drop allows you to send video files up to 5 GB via the mail app on your iPhone, so you can still send large video files when you’re being chased for them in the middle of a coffee shop during your lunch hour.
Don’t worry, although Mail Drop can send large video files, it won’t compromise on your storage space (phew). And, much like Gmail, if your video file exceeds the 25 MB allowance or Internet Service Provider limit, you’ll be prompted by Mail asking you to send the files via Mail Drop.
Source: iDownloadBlog
Transferring large video files on Android
Again, it’s not the easiest to send large video files directly from your Android mobile device. In fact, it’s pretty much impossible to do it by text. But, there are a number of free file sharing services that you can download to your Android phone to make it possible.
Google Photos
Source: Google Photos
Similar to iCloud, Google has its own cloud storage service for large files. It can be downloaded straight to your Android phone so you can upload your video files from anywhere you’d like, whether you’re on the go or stuck in a never ending meeting.
It’s user friendly, too. All you have to do is:
- Sign into your Google Photos account
- Select the video you’d like to share
- Tap the share icon
- Select who you’d like to share it with
- Click send and you’re good to go!
If you’d like to share your video via link, there is a ‘create link’ option, which allows you to send the link via text, email, WhatsApp, and social media.
Once you’ve sent your video file (with ease, of course), a live thread will be generated where you can leave comments, likes, and upload additional videos.
Google Photos provides a free service that offers up to 15 GB of storage. Alternatively, if you’re working in a team and need just a tad more storage, there are three paid subscription options:
- Basic – 100 GB for $1.99 a month
- Standard – 200 GB for $2.99 a month
- Premium – 2 TB for $9.99 a month
Filemail
Source: Filemail
Filemail is an easy and efficient cloud-based storage application that’s downloadable to Android phones. You can upload your large videos to Filemail and send them via email, or generate a shareable link to send via text or WhatsApp.
Like all of the file sharing devices on this list, there’s a free version and a paid version. The free version offers up to 5 GB of storage, while the mid-range Business plan offers an unlimited file size for transfer, and 1 TB of storage.
But wait, the fun doesn’t stop there!
Filemail doesn’t just end with endless storage and file sizes. It runs without adverts, provides real-time updates, and won’t compress or trim your videos so you won’t be compromising on quality.
Bonus: transferring large files in person
Go back in time with a USB
Source: EverythingUSB
Though they may look like ancient relics to us now, USBs are still as handy as ever.
Ranging from 2 GB to 2 TB, they’re the simplest way to transfer large video files between devices, colleagues, and collaborators. In fact, there’s something quite charming about the idea of swapping USB sticks in person, considering the new ‘working from home’ world we live in.
And all it takes is three simple steps: pop the flash drive in your computer’s USB port, drag and drop the multiple files into the drive, and remove the USB stick from your computer!
They’re also a great way to back up your files and keep a ‘physical’ copy on you in case of any technical difficulties, just try not to lose it – have you seen how tiny they are these days?
Final thoughts
Sending large files shouldn’t have to be a hurdle in your everyday and working life, and with these options (free or paid), it’s not!
For such a small fraction of the entire production process, it’s clear to see that the video uploading process and the services that these platforms offer are integral in creating a solid and efficient post-production workflow for teams and collaborators.
The internet is on us at all times, whether it’s popping a video over to a colleague via your phone’s email app, or uploading with collaborative software like Filestage, you’ll never run out of options.
