Why email and chat apps fail with big files
Email was designed for text. Most providers cap an attachment at roughly 25 MB, and the real limit is lower once the file is encoded. Messengers are friendlier but they compress photos and video, rename files or refuse anything large. The usual result is a bounced message, a degraded file, or a recipient who never receives it.
The fix is old and simple: do not send the file, send a link. The file sits on a server, the message stays tiny, and the recipient downloads at full quality when they are ready. That is exactly what upload.am does, with controls most plain transfer pages do not have.
What you can send
There is no special format. Anything you can save as a file can be uploaded and shared. The most common cases:
Video and footage
Finished edits, raw clips and screen recordings. See how to send a video.
Photos and RAW
Full-resolution originals instead of compressed copies. See how to send photos.
Documents and PDFs
Contracts, reports and scans, optionally behind a password. See how to send a PDF.
Archives and installers
ZIP, RAR, disk images and builds. Many files can share one link.
Design and source files
PSD, AI, Figma exports, CAD drawings and project folders.
Audio and music
Stems, masters and podcasts, with a built-in player for quick listening.
Limits you should know about
The free plan allows 25 GB of storage and 5 GB per file. If one file is larger, split it or move to a plan with a higher per-file cap: Plus 20 GB, Premium 100 GB, Premium GOLD 300 GB. For the details see sending more than 2 GB and the plans and pricing.
Free files are kept for 30 days counted from the last download, so a file that people keep downloading stays alive. Paid plans keep files for as long as the plan is active.
Control who can download
A link is a key. upload.am lets you decide how powerful that key is, all on the free plan:
- Protect it with a password so a forwarded link is useless without it.
- Cap it with a download limit, down to a single download.
- Give it a lifetime with a self-destructing link: 10 minutes, 1 hour, 24 hours or 7 days.
- Bundle many files into one group link, or share a whole folder.
More than a transfer: cloud hosting, backup and sync
A file you send is often a file you want to keep. Because upload.am is cloud file hosting, the upload lives in your online file manager. Add the free Windows app to back up folders and keep them in sync, or the Android app to back up your phone. One account does hosting, backup, sync and sharing.
How to send a large file in four steps
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1
Drop your file
Drag the file onto the upload box at the top of this page or choose it from your device.
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2
Choose the link options
Optionally set a password, a download limit or a lifetime for the link.
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3
Copy the link
When the upload finishes you get one link. Paste it into an email, chat or message.
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4
Track and revoke
See downloads in your cabinet and switch the link off at any time without deleting the file.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest file I can send for free?
Up to 5 GB per file on the free plan, with 25 GB of storage in total.
Do I need an account to send a file?
No. You can upload as a guest from the website. An account adds storage, history, link controls and the apps.
Does the recipient need an account?
No. They open your link in a browser and download.
Is the file compressed?
No. The file is stored and delivered as you uploaded it.
How long is the file kept?
On the free plan, 30 days from the last download. Paid plans keep it while the plan is active.
Is there advertising on the download page?
No. There are no third-party ads on any plan.