The 4 Best Apps to Send Large Files in 2026
Email cuts you off at twenty-five megabytes and WhatsApp compresses video until it is unrecognisable, so as soon as you want to send something heavy and intact you need another tool. The options split in two: those that upload the file to the internet and those that pass it straight between devices. In this guide we compare the 4 best apps to send large files in 2026.
Apps for sharing heavy files from your phone
Apps for sending large files without compression, by link or directly between devices, with no size limit in some cases and no loss of quality.
Top pick
WeTransfer
Free (with purchases) · 10M+
Simplest
4.8
211K reviews
TopApps analysis
WeTransfer asks nobody for an account: you upload the file, enter the recipient's email address and they get a download link. Impossible to get lost.
WeTransfer is the simplest way to send large files: upload, type the recipient's email address and you are done, with neither side having to sign up for anything. The recipient gets a download link that expires after a few days.
Pros
- No account or sign-up needed on either side
- Interface so simple you cannot get lost
- The recipient just gets a link
Cons
- Size limit on the free version
- Links expire after a few days
- Files pass through their servers
Send Anywhere: Transferir Archivos
Rakuten Symphony Korea, Inc. · Free (with purchases) · 10M+
Most versatile
4.7
347K reviews
TopApps analysis
Send Anywhere sends with no size limit using a six-digit key and, if you are both on the same Wi-Fi, transfers directly without going through the internet.
Send Anywhere moves files between devices using a six-digit key, with no size limit, and if both are on the same Wi-Fi network it transfers straight between them without going through the internet. It is the fastest way to shift something heavy from your phone to your computer.
Pros
- No file size limit
- Direct Wi-Fi transfer, nothing gets uploaded
- Six-digit key, no accounts needed
Cons
- Ads in the free version
- Shared links expire
- Needs the app on both ends to work at its best
LocalSend
Tien Do Nam · Free (with purchases) · 5M+
Most private
4.5
14K reviews
TopApps analysis
LocalSend is open source and moves files only across your local network: they never leave the house, with no accounts, no ads and no size limit.
LocalSend is the open-source option and the most private one: it transfers files between devices on the same Wi-Fi network without touching the internet or any server, with no accounts, no ads and no size limit. It works across Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac and Linux.
Pros
- Completely free, no ads and no accounts
- Files never leave your local network
- Open source and auditable
Cons
- Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network
- No use for sending to someone remote
- Requires the app installed on both ends
Google Drive
Google LLC · Free (with purchases) · 10.000M+
Best for permanent files
4.2
10.8M reviews
TopApps analysis
Google Drive is the option when the file has to stay available weeks later, something WeTransfer's temporary links do not allow.
Google Drive is the default cloud storage on Android, with 15 GB free shared across Drive, Gmail and Google Photos. Its real advantage isn't the space but the ecosystem: Docs, Sheets and Slides open straight from the app, and several people can work on the same file at once.
Pros
- 15 GB free when you create the account
- Collaborative editing with Docs and Sheets
- Search that reads text inside images and PDFs
Cons
- The 15 GB are shared with Gmail and Photos
- No end-to-end encryption
- Entirely dependent on your Google account
Frequently asked questions
How do I send a video without losing quality?
By avoiding WhatsApp and Telegram in their normal mode, which compress video. In Telegram you can send it as a file rather than as a video and it keeps the original quality. WeTransfer, Send Anywhere and LocalSend never compress, so the recipient gets exactly the file you sent.
What is the fastest way to move files from phone to computer?
If both are on the same Wi-Fi network, LocalSend or Send Anywhere in local mode: the transfer goes straight between devices at the speed of your network, with nothing uploaded to or downloaded from the internet. A video of several gigabytes takes minutes instead of the best part of an hour it would take to upload to the cloud and download again.
Is it safe to send files through these apps?
It depends on where they travel. LocalSend is the safest because the files never leave your local network. WeTransfer and Send Anywhere store them temporarily on their servers, which is fine for everyday material but worth avoiding with confidential documents. In that case, use an encrypted service or a local transfer.
How long do download links last?
On WeTransfer, free links expire after a few days, and the file goes with them. Send Anywhere also applies an expiry date to shared links. If you need the file to stay available longer, Google Drive or any cloud service is the right choice, because the link lives on until you delete it.
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