A Google Drive alternative for sending large files

Google Drive vs a file transfer service

The two tools solve different problems. Drive is the right home for files you keep and work on with others. A transfer link is better when the job is “get these 30 GB to this person” and the files don’t need to live in your account afterwards.

Why sending big files through Google Drive gets awkward

• Your quota fills up. The 15 GB is shared with every Gmail message and photo backup. One 10 GB video for a client can push you into “storage full”, and when your storage is full, Gmail can no longer send or receive email until you free space or upgrade.
• Sharing settings. Restricted files show your recipient a “Request access” page; switching to “Anyone with the link” makes the file open to whoever gets the link forwarded, with no expiry by default on a free account.
• Files linger. Shared files stay until you remember to delete them, often months later.
• Large downloads can raise a warning. Google’s help center says Drive’s virus scan has a 100 MB limit, so recipients of larger files may see a notice that the file couldn’t be scanned, which can worry clients.
• Recipients without Google. People at companies that block Google services, or who don’t want to sign in, may struggle with private links.

How to send large files without Google Drive

1. 1

   Step 1

   Open Transfr

   Go to transfr.me. No account, nothing to install.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Add files or folders

   Drag them in from your computer, or from your phone’s gallery or Files. Up to 100 GB per transfer.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Choose Email or Link

   Email sends the download message to up to 10 recipients; Link gives a URL to paste into Gmail, Chat or WhatsApp.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Set the rules

   Expiry of 1, 3, 5 or 7 days, an optional password, a download limit, and end-to-end encryption if the files are sensitive.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Send

   Your recipient opens the link and downloads, without a Google account. When the link expires, the files are deleted.

When Google Drive is still the better choice

• You edit together. Docs, Sheets and Slides with live collaboration and version history are what Drive is for.
• Files should stay available indefinitely, like a shared folder of brand assets.
• Your organisation runs on Google Workspace and people already have access to shared drives.
• You send files under 25 MB by Gmail. A plain attachment is simplest; Gmail switches to a Drive link above that. See send large files with Gmail.

Google Drive storage full? Send instead of storing

If you hit “storage full” because of a few heavy files you only needed to share once, move those deliveries to transfer links. Download the files from Drive to your computer, send them with Transfr, then delete them from Drive and empty the bin. You free space for Gmail and Photos, and your recipient still gets the files. For regular deliveries to clients, Transfr Pro adds unlimited storage, 60-day links and your branding, without counting against your Google quota.

A simple workflow: Drive for work, links for delivery

Many teams end up with both. Working files, drafts and shared docs stay in Drive, where the team edits them. When something is ready to leave the team, a finished video, a print-ready PDF, a photo selection, it goes out as a transfer link with an expiry date. The client gets one clear download page instead of a folder they could wander through, and nothing internal is exposed by a mistaken sharing setting. See how this works for agencies.

Do Google Drive share links expire?

On a free personal account, a Drive link stays valid until you change the sharing settings or delete the file. Some Google Workspace plans let you set an expiry on access for specific people. A Transfr link always has an expiry, 1 to 7 days on the free plan and up to 60 days on Pro, after which the files are deleted. You can also cap the number of downloads. See expiring share links and passwords.

Sharing large files with people who don’t use Google

Clients on Microsoft 365, Apple devices or locked-down corporate networks open a Transfr link in any browser. They can preview images, videos, PDFs and Office documents before downloading, and download everything as one zip, folders kept, or file by file. If you need files back from them, send a file request rather than asking them to upload to your Drive.

For the broader picture, read Google Drive vs a file transfer service, compare other options in WeTransfer alternatives and Dropbox Transfer alternatives, or see secure file transfer for confidential documents.