5 GB freePriority handling
The highest free ceiling
5 GB per transfer for free, handled with priority — versus 3 GB at WeTransfer and a queue beyond 2 GB at Smash.
Send a file larger than 2 GB for free
2 GB is the historic free ceiling of transfer services — not yours. TransferNow sends up to 5 GB per transfer for free, no sign-up, and up to 500 GB with an account. Same gesture, higher ceiling.
- Well beyond the usual free ceilings
- Up to 5 GB free
- No sign-up
Average rating after at least one transfer:
4.8750,000 votes
4.9 / 5 on Trustpilot and Google (20k+ reviews)
The problem
The 2 GB wall only exists at certain services
If you’re searching for “send more than 2 GB”, chances are a free transfer service just stopped you cold: 3 GB at WeTransfer (2 GB until late 2024), a waiting line beyond 2 GB at Smash. Yet 2 GB is barely 25 minutes of 4K video or a family photo folder.
The limit isn’t technical, it’s commercial — and it varies twofold from one service to the next. Comparing free ceilings before settling into a tool saves you from paying for a one-off need.
- Outlook attachment20 MB
- Gmail attachment25 MB
- TransferNow — free, no sign-up5 GB
- TransferNow — with an account500 GB
Logarithmic scale — the exact values are what counts.
The solutions
Four ways to send more than 2 GB
At equal weight, it all comes down to the service’s free ceiling and the friction on the recipient’s side.
| Method | Max size | Quality | For the recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| TransferNowRecommended | 5 GB free · 500 GB with an account | No compression, priority handling | One click, no account |
| WeTransfer free | 3 GB max · 10 transfers/month | Intact | One click, no account |
| Smash free | Unlimited but queued beyond 2 GB | Intact | Waiting on the sending side |
| Drive / cloud storage | Depends on the account quota | Intact | Account or access rights often required |
TransferNow: 5 GB free, with priority
The free tier goes up to 5 GB per transfer, handled with priority — no sign-up, with password protection and download tracking included. It’s the most comfortable free ceiling on the market for a one-off send.
WeTransfer: the standard… quickly capped
Simple and well known, but the free tier caps at 3 GB (2 GB until late 2024) with 10 transfers per month, and passwords require an account. Our detailed comparison puts numbers on the differences.
Smash: unlimited, with an asterisk
No advertised ceiling, but beyond 2 GB free sends are queued behind subscribers. The “unlimited” is paid for in waiting time.
The cloud: always possible, always the same friction
A lasting dent in your quota, an account and permissions on the recipient’s side: to hand over 3 GB once, a dedicated transfer stays more direct.
Guide
How to send a file larger than 2 GB for free?
- 1
Drag in your files, even beyond 2 GB
No intermediate threshold to watch: up to 5 GB for free, the 4K vacation movie goes through whole.
- 2
Share the link wherever you like
Email, messaging app, forum: the download link works everywhere, with no account on the recipient’s side.
- 3
No queue to keep an eye on
Free transfers are handled with priority — no “your transfer will start in 47 minutes”.
With TransferNow
Built for your transfers over 2 GB
Password included
Other services’ paid options, for free
Password protection and download notifications are included in the free tier — where others reserve them for paying plans.
500 GB
And if 5 GB is no longer enough
Plans go up to 500 GB per transfer, with retention configurable up to 365 days.
No compression
Original quality guaranteed
No compression applied: your 2.5 GB arrives byte for byte.
5 GB free: how far does it go?
- 2 GB
- the historic free ceiling (WeTransfer: 3 GB since late 2024)
- 5 GB
- TransferNow’s free tier
- ≈ 25 min
- of 4K video = already 2 GB
- 0
- queue: free transfers get priority
Frequently asked questions
How do I send a file larger than 2 GB for free?
With TransferNow: up to 5 GB per transfer for free, no sign-up. Drag in your files, send the link — the recipient downloads without an account.
Does WeTransfer still block at 2 GB?
Historically yes; since late 2024 its free tier goes up to 3 GB, with 10 transfers per month. The limit is still commercial, not technical: 5 GB per transfer at TransferNow, with no monthly quota.
Does a single 3 GB file go through (not just a total)?
Yes: the limit applies to the whole transfer, single file included. One 4.9 GB MP4 goes through on the free tier.
What happens beyond 5 GB?
Paid plans go up to 500 GB per transfer — see the “send more than 5 GB” page or our pricing.
How many photos or how much video fits in 2 GB?
About 75 RAW files at 24 MP (26.1 MB each, Canon EOS R6 II manual) or barely 3 minutes of 4K at 100 Mbps (Sony XAVC S): a single shoot or one clip is enough to blow past the historic free ceilings.
Also worth sending
Sending other types of files?
All file typesSend more than 5 GB
Beyond the free tier: plans go up to 500 GB per transfer.
TransferNow free limit
ExploreSend a video
Films, edited exports, footage — no compression, no quality loss.
MP4MOVMKVAVI
ExploreSend more than 100 MB
Presentations, albums, folders: too much for email, trivial for a transfer.
≈ 4× the email limit
Explore5 GB per transfer for free, no sign-up