Why is it hard to share podcast files by email or chat?
An episode is more than a single audio recording. The release MP3, WAV recording, artwork, and notes go together. An hour-long MP3 is often over 25 MB. Gmail and Outlook will not accept that attachment. The WAV recording of the same episode can be several hundred MB, sometimes 1 GB.
A recording sent as audio through WhatsApp is compressed. The artwork and show notes do not stay in that message. YouTube and Spotify let people listen or publish episodes. They do not deliver working files to an editor.
The package the recipient downloads should be the folder you uploaded.
| Sharing method | What happens | Episode delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail or Outlook attachment | Attachments over 20–25 MB will not send | Not suitable |
| WhatsApp audio | Compresses the recording and leaves out artwork | Not suitable |
| YouTube or Spotify | Publishes the episode, not the working files | For listening |
| Shared drive | Files can stay available, but the recipient may need an account | Use with care |
| SendGB link | MP3, WAV, artwork, and notes download unchanged | Suitable for delivery |
The example above is an episode package. Studio multitrack recordings are outside the scope of this page. Use the audio file guide to send those.
What should an episode package include?
An incomplete package interrupts the editor’s or host’s work. The audio arrives, the artwork is forgotten, and the show notes are in another email. Add the entire folder.
| File | Purpose | If missing |
|---|---|---|
| Release MP3 | The copy the host or publishing tool uses | The episode is not ready to publish |
| WAV recording | A clean recording for cuts and corrections | The editor cannot export a new version |
| Artwork | The episode or show image | The platform has no image |
| Show notes | Title, summary, links, chapter markers | The text is incomplete |
| Transcript or agreement | Searchable text and guest permission | Gaps appear before publication |
We do not adjust artwork dimensions or MP3 bitrate. Export to the platform’s requirements, then send the folder.
What’s the difference between a release MP3 and a WAV recording for editing?
If the host only needs to listen, MP3 is enough. If the editor needs to make cuts, WAV is needed. Put both in the same transfer. The limit is based on total size, not file count.
| Release MP3 | WAV recording for editing | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Listening and publishing | Cuts, levels, corrections |
| Typical file | MP3 | WAV |
| Hour-long episode | Often under 100 MB | Several hundred MB |
| 5 GB | Holds dozens of episodes | May hold a season, but not every archive |
| Compression | Already a compressed copy | SendGB does not compress it again |
Do not use the MP3 in place of the WAV recording for editing. Editing the MP3 will not recreate the studio recording.
Is 5 GB enough for one episode?
5 GB is almost always enough for one audio episode, artwork, and notes. The limit applies to the total size. An hour-long spoken-word MP3 is often under 100 MB. The WAV recording takes up several hundred MB. A video episode or a season’s WAV archive changes the calculation.
| What you are sending | Typical size | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| One episode’s MP3, artwork, and notes | Often under 200 MB | Free, no sign-up, up to 90 days |
| MP3 with the WAV recording | About 1 GB | Free |
| One video episode | Can be 1–4 GB | Free if it fits; otherwise SendGB Extra |
| A season’s WAV archive | Can be tens of GB | SendGB Extra, 500 GB per transfer |
| An archive over 500 GB | One transfer | SendGB Exceed, up to 1 TB |
SendGB Extra starts at €29.90 per year. It includes 1 TB of storage. SendGB Extra keeps files for up to 1 year. It suits producers who send episodes every week.
SendGB Exceed does not require a subscription. A 1 TB transfer costs €9.99. The code can be used once and is valid for 1 year. The link stays available for 7 days. It is enough for an occasional very large archive.
For video episodes, see the video file guide. For separate tracks and stems, see the music and stems guide.
How to send
- 1
Add the episode folder
Add the episode folder to the upload box on the home page, not just the audio. The release MP3, WAV recording, artwork, and notes go in the same transfer. The free limit is 5 GB total.
- 2
Send the link
Email the link to the editor or host, or copy it into a message. Add a password for an unreleased episode. Send the password separately from the link.
- 3
The recipient downloads the episode
The recipient downloads from the link and does not create an account. Downloading the entire transfer preserves the folder structure. Free transfers over 250 MB stay available for 7 days. Free transfers up to 250 MB stay available for up to 90 days. SendGB Extra keeps files for up to 1 year.
What happens to your file?
- MP3 and WAV files download exactly as uploaded. Bitrate and duration stay the same.
- Artwork, show notes, and the agreement stay in the same transfer.
- Adding a folder preserves its structure. The recipient downloads everything together.
- If you add a password, anyone with the link needs that password to download.
What we don’t do
- We do not upload the episode to Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. We do not set up an RSS feed.
- We do not convert audio to the platform’s required bitrate or resize artwork.
- MP3 and WAV files can be played on the download page. JPG artwork can be opened. This is not a publishing dashboard.
- There is no Gmail or Outlook add-on. You paste the link yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Are podcast files compressed when I send them?
No. SendGB does not re-encode MP3 or WAV files. The bitrate and duration stay as uploaded. WhatsApp compresses audio. That is not what this page is for.
Can I send the release MP3 and WAV recording together?
Yes. Put both in the same folder. The editor uses the WAV recording for editing. The host or publishing tool usually needs the MP3. If you leave either out, the recipient has to recreate it.
Can I share podcast audio, show notes, artwork, and a transcript through one link?
Yes. Artwork, show notes, a transcript, and a guest agreement can sit in the same folder as the audio. We do not write these documents or resize the artwork. The recipient downloads the files you add.
How many episodes can I send for free?
The limit is 5 GB total, not a number of episodes. An hour-long spoken-word MP3 is often under 100 MB. The WAV recording of the same episode may be several hundred MB. One episode, its artwork, and notes almost always fit within 5 GB. A season’s WAV archive may exceed the limit.
How do I get around Gmail’s 25 MB attachment limit?
Do not attach the episode to the email. Even an hour-long MP3 exceeds 25 MB. Create the transfer and paste the short link into Gmail. The email goes through even if the file is large.
Can I send an episode through WhatsApp?
Do not send it as audio. The app compresses the recording and does not keep the artwork, notes, and WAV together. Paste the download link into the message.
Does SendGB upload the episode to Spotify or Apple?
No. We deliver the file to the editor, host, or producer. Publishing the episode, setting up the RSS feed, and uploading to the platform are jobs for your publishing tool.
Can the recipient listen before downloading?
MP3 and WAV files can be opened and played on the download page. JPG or PNG artwork can be viewed. This screen is not a publishing dashboard for episode approval. Its main purpose is to deliver the package.
Can I send video podcast files in the same transfer?
Yes, if they fit within the total size limit. A video episode is usually larger than an audio package. See the [video file guide](/send-large-files/send-large-video-files) for details. For studio masters and multitrack recordings, see the [audio file guide](/send-large-files/send-large-audio-files).
How do I protect an unreleased episode, and how long does the link stay available?
Add a password. Send the password separately from the link. 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. If a season’s WAV archive exceeds 5 GB, SendGB Extra handles 500 GB per transfer, with 1 TB of storage starting at €29.90 per year. For a single archive over 500 GB, SendGB Exceed is enough: no subscription, €9.99 for a 1 TB transfer, and a code that can be used once and is valid for 1 year. The link stays available for 7 days.
Send a download link, not an audio message
One episode and its artwork fit within 5 GB. Send a season’s WAV archive with SendGB Extra for up to 500 GB, or with SendGB Exceed for up to 1 TB in a single transfer.
Start sending