How to send files via SMS without attachments
A text message cannot contain a photo. MMS may seem to offer that option. Your carrier limits MMS messages to a few MB. The limit varies by carrier. Images are also reduced in size. An 8 MB invitation is already too large for MMS.
The message carries the link. The file is stored elsewhere.
| Method | 17 MB invitation |
|---|---|
| SMS | No room for files |
| MMS | Limited to a few MB, compressed |
| Phone’s built-in email app | May have a 20–25 MB size limit |
| SMS sent by us | Not offered; you send the message |
| Link in the message | File downloads unchanged |
The example above includes an invitation, a venue photo, directions, a schedule, and a note.
We do not send the text message
The text message goes out from your phone. We do not set your carrier’s charges. We do not maintain a bulk messaging list. You copy the link and paste it into the message you send to the recipient.
| MMS | SMS with a link | |
|---|---|---|
| What is sent | Compressed image | Short link |
| 17 MB | Cannot be sent | Can be sent |
| App | Phone’s messaging app | Browser |
| Account | Phone line is enough | No additional account |
| Password | Keep it out of the message | Use a separate channel |
Do not put the password in the same SMS. Text messages pass through your carrier’s network.
Older phones can download files too
The recipient may not have WhatsApp, Telegram, or a newer phone. A browser is enough. No app installation is needed. On a very old phone, the link may split into two messages. Just copy it and paste it into the browser.
| Phone | What happens |
|---|---|
| Current smartphone | The link opens |
| Older phone with a browser | Paste the link |
| Installing an app | Not needed |
| Same photo sent by MMS | Compressed; not this method |
| 2 GB video | SMS cannot carry it; the link lets you send it for free |
WhatsApp compression is covered in the guide to sending files with WhatsApp. A 17 MB file is large for email too. Email size limits are explained in the guide to sending files over 25 MB.
This works for small files too
A 17 MB transfer is free and stays available for up to 90 days. You can use the same text-message method for a larger video. Free transfers over 250 MB stay available for 7 days. Files over 5 GB require a paid plan.
| Total size | MMS | SendGB |
|---|---|---|
| Small card | May send, compressed | Clearer through a link |
| 17 MB invitation | Cannot be sent | Free |
| 500 MB video | Cannot be sent | Free |
| Over 5 GB | Cannot be sent | SendGB Extra or SendGB Exceed |
| Have us send bulk SMS messages | Not available | Not available |
Do not attach the file to an SMS. Put the link in the message.
How to send
- 1
Add the invitation
Add the file that SMS cannot carry to the upload box. Even 17 MB is too large for MMS. You can send it for free.
- 2
Text the download link
Paste only the link into your text message. Do not send the file by MMS. Do not put the password in the same message.
- 3
The recipient downloads
The phone’s browser is enough. The recipient downloads from the link and does not create an account or install an app. The link stays available for up to 90 days.
What happens to your file?
- The message stays short. The file is not inside the message.
- The photo is not compressed as it would be with MMS.
- Your carrier’s MMS size limit does not apply to the file.
- If you entered your email address, you receive one notification when downloading starts.
What we don’t do
- We do not send the SMS. You send the message from your own phone.
- We cannot change your carrier’s MMS limit.
- A long link may split into two messages on some older phones. The link is still clickable.
- A download notification does not mean the invitation has been read.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send a file via SMS?
No. SMS carries text. It cannot carry photos, PDFs, or videos. MMS may seem like a way to send files. Depending on your carrier, MMS is limited to a few MB and compresses images. A 17 MB invitation will not fit.
Does SendGB send the text message?
No. You send the text message from your own phone. We only provide the download link. We do not add an SMS sending charge to your carrier bill.
Can an older phone open the link?
A phone with a browser can open it. No app installation is needed. A very old phone may split a long link into two messages. Copy the link and paste it into the browser.
Should I put the password in the SMS?
Do not put the link and password in the same message. Send the password separately from the link. Use another channel to share it. Text messages pass through your carrier’s network. Keep the password out of the text message.
Why use 17 MB as the example?
It is large for SMS. It is small compared with our free transfer limit. The same method works for a 2 GB video. MMS stops at a few MB. The limit varies by carrier.
Why use SMS instead of WhatsApp?
Not everyone has WhatsApp. A text message can reach almost any phone line. WhatsApp compresses the file. SMS cannot carry the file at all. In both cases, the original file is at the link.
Can I send it to multiple people?
You send the same link to each phone number. The file is uploaded once. We do not maintain a bulk SMS list or send the messages.
Will the photo be compressed?
MMS compresses it. The JPG at the link is not compressed. The venue photo downloads at the size you selected.
Will I get a download notification?
The text message does not notify you. If you entered your email address when sending the file, you receive one email when downloading starts. It does not confirm that the invitation has been read.
Do I need a paid plan?
Not for 17 MB. No registration is needed for transfers up to 5 GB. This example is under 250 MB, so it stays available for up to 90 days. Free transfers over 250 MB stay available for 7 days. To send larger files regularly, you need SendGB Extra or SendGB Exceed.
Do not attach the file to an SMS. Send the download link.
A 17 MB invitation will not fit in an MMS. Only the link goes in the message. You can send the file without registering.
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