Why do so many services limit free transfers to 2 GB?
Many free transfer services stop at 2 GB. When your file reaches that size, you are asked to create an account, pay, or reduce the file size. With SendGB, that prompt appears at 5 GB. Transfers between 2 GB and 5 GB require no registration.
Email is a separate issue. Gmail stops at 25 MB, and Outlook at approximately 20 MB. A 2 GB folder cannot be sent as an attachment.
| Limit | A 2 GB folder |
|---|---|
| Email attachment | Cannot be sent |
| Free service with a 2 GB limit | Stops the transfer or requires an account |
| SendGB free transfer | Can be sent, up to 5 GB |
| Over 5 GB | SendGB Extra or SendGB Exceed |
| Shared drive | Account and ongoing access |
The sample above is 3.2 GB: a promo video, a photo archive, a print PDF, a cover image, and a note. It may exceed another free service’s limit. Here, you can send it without signing up.
A folder or a single video?
Sometimes 2 GB is a single promo video. Sometimes it is the combined size of videos, photos, and PDFs. A single link handles either. Don’t split the folder into 700 MB parts. We do not reassemble split files.
| Single large file | Project folder | |
|---|---|---|
| Example | A 1.8 GB MP4 | Video, ZIP, and PDF |
| ZIP required? | No | No |
| Organization | One filename | Folder names are preserved when the entire transfer is downloaded |
| File count | 1 | 500 on free transfers |
| Compression | None | Files are not recompressed |
See the folder transfer guide for details on downloading folders. For the video itself, see the video transfer guide. We do not extract the photo archive.
What about transfers between 2 GB and 5 GB?
Transfers in this size range are free with SendGB. If another service requires payment, it is because of that service’s size limit, not because your file is inherently too large.
| Total size | With SendGB | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1 GB | Free, no registration | Don’t split the file for a service that asks you to create an account |
| 3.2 GB | Free | This is the sample project |
| 4.8 GB | Free, close to 5 GB | Adding another file may put you over the limit |
| Over 5 GB | Not accepted as a free transfer | Files over 5 GB |
| More than 500 files | Hits the file count limit even within the size limit | ZIP or SendGB Extra |
The link stays available for 7 days. Send the password separately from the link. No browser extension is required. Transfers run in your browser.
When do you need a paid option?
Not at 2 GB. You need one when the total exceeds 5 GB or the file needs to stay available for more than 1 year. If you frequently send folders this size, you can use SendGB Extra. For an occasional single transfer over 5 GB, SendGB Exceed is enough. It does not require a subscription.
| Need | Option |
|---|---|
| 2–5 GB, once | Free, 7 days |
| Keep the same folder for 1 year | SendGB Extra, from €29.90 |
| A single transfer over 5 GB | SendGB Exceed |
| Thousands of small files | SendGB Extra or SendGB Exceed, 2,500 files |
| Email attachment | Not suitable |
If you enter your email address, you receive one notification when downloading starts. This notification does not confirm that the entire folder has been downloaded. Don’t pay to send 2 GB. Send the link.
How to send
- 1
Add your folder
Add a folder or individual file over 2 GB to the upload area. You don’t need to create an account if the total size is no more than 5 GB. Free transfers have a limit of 500 files.
- 2
Send the link
Share a single link. Don’t split your folder into 2 GB parts. Send the password separately from the link. If you enter your email address, you receive one notification when downloading starts.
- 3
The recipient downloads
The recipient downloads from the link and does not create an account. Folder names are preserved when the entire transfer is downloaded. Free transfers over 250 MB stay available for 7 days. Free transfers up to 250 MB stay available for up to 90 days.
What happens to your file?
- Transfers between 2 GB and 5 GB require no registration.
- Videos and photos are not recompressed.
- Downloading the entire transfer preserves folder names. Files are not compressed when repackaged.
- If you enter your email address, you receive one notification when downloading starts.
What we don’t do
- Transfers over 5 GB are not free. We do not reassemble split files.
- Empty folders cannot be uploaded. Clicking an individual file does not recreate the folder structure.
- Free transfers have a limit of 500 files.
- A download notification does not confirm that the entire folder has been downloaded.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send a 2 GB file free?
Yes. Many free services have a limit of around 2 GB. With SendGB, you can send files up to 5 GB without signing up. You don’t need to create an account for transfers between 2 GB and 5 GB.
Why do other services stop my transfer?
Free plans often have a 2 GB size limit. That does not mean your file is corrupted. You can send the same folder here without signing up, up to 5 GB.
Do I have to ZIP my folder?
No. You can add the folder as it is. Folder names are preserved when the entire transfer is downloaded. Files are not recompressed. If you have more than 500 very small files, a single ZIP file is a safer option. We do not extract the ZIP.
Can I send a 3 GB file free?
Yes, it is free as long as the transfer does not exceed 5 GB. The sample transfer is 3.2 GB and requires no registration. Transfers above 5 GB are covered on the files over 5 GB page.
Can I send 2 GB by email?
No. Gmail does not accept attachments over 25 MB, and Outlook does not accept attachments over approximately 20 MB. A 2 GB file is far above those limits. A link is not an attachment. No browser extension is required.
How does the recipient access the folder?
The recipient uses the download link without creating an account. They can download an individual file or the entire transfer. Downloading the entire transfer keeps the folder names intact. Clicking an individual file does not recreate the folder structure. See the folder guide for details.
Will my photos be reduced in size?
No. We do not extract ZIP files. We do not convert raw photos to JPEG. The cover file may be a JPG. The original photo file is not converted.
How long do files stay available?
Free transfers up to 250 MB stay available for up to 90 days. Free transfers over 250 MB stay available for 7 days. SendGB Extra keeps files for up to 1 year. Annual pricing starts at €29.90. It is not required for a single 2 GB transfer.
Will I receive a download notification?
Yes, if you enter your email address. With email delivery, you are notified once per recipient. With link delivery, you are notified once per transfer. This notification does not confirm that the entire folder has been downloaded.
What happens if I have more than 500 files?
You can include up to 500 files in a free transfer. A video and a ZIP do not exceed that limit. Thousands of small photos do. SendGB Extra and SendGB Exceed have a limit of 2,500 files. The file count limit applies separately, even if the total size is under 5 GB.
Send a download link instead of attaching a file over 2 GB to an email
You can send a 3.2 GB project folder without signing up. For transfers over 5 GB, you can use SendGB Extra or SendGB Exceed.
Start sending