What is the Best Way to Share Large Files with Friends?

Use Cloud Storage If You Have the Space:

Cloud storage is typically the easiest way to share big files provided you already have an account and you have the storage space. Any of the big cloud storage providers, from Dropbox to Google Drive have ways to share a link to any file you have uploaded to their servers.

Unfortunately, most of these services have small file size limits. For example, Box only allows free users to upload files less than 250 MB, which isn't enough for something like an HD movie. This means if you're sharing single, very large files, cloud storage often won't do the trick.

Still, if your file size fits within the requirements of your cloud storage provider, it's the easiest way to share a link to download with your friends.

Share Files Directly with Opera Unite, BitTorrent, or FTP:

If you don't want to go through a third-party service, you have a bunch of massive files to share, or you're just sick of messing around with web apps, you can share files directly from your computer with a little set up. You have a few options , and each has their own strengths and weaknesses.

Opera Unite essentially turned the browser into a file sharing tool where you could easily send and receive files from friends without going through any crazy set up tools. Unfortunately, Opera Unite was discontinued, but there are workarounds to get it to work if you're interested.

Another option is BitTorrent. This sounds complicated, but all you need to do is download the software, alter a few settings, and then point your friends to your private link. The problem with this method is that you can't make it totally private and the person you're sending files to will need to also download BitTorrent software.

FileZilla to turn your computer into your own private FTP server. When you set this up, you'll share a directory on your computer with friends by giving them a network address and password. Then they'll be able to download files from that directory.

Use a Storage Locker If You Don't Care About Download Speed:

You can use a file locker,Services like Minus and Mediafire make it so you can upload a file to their servers and then send a link to that file to your friends. Your friends can then download the file directly from the link, although sometimes they'll have to wait through an advertisement or deal with throttled download speeds if they're not willing to pay for an account.

The problem with file lockers is that they're often under scrutiny from copyright holders because they're so often used for piracy.

There's still no perfect solution to share files that works for everyone, but depending on your needs, it's pretty easily to share large files with your friends provided you know where to look. If you're looking to just quickly share a single file one time, storage lockers are a great way to do that, but if you're looking for long term solutions, you'll want to look into cloud storage or setting up your server.