# How to send a 100 GB file for free

Source: https://help.strongfolder.com/en/guides/send-100gb-file-free/
Updated: 2026-11-05

> To send a 100 GB file for free, use a tool without a size cap, such as a direct peer-to-peer transfer like StrongFolder, or split it for a service with a large free limit such as SwissTransfer (50 GB). Plan for time: 100 GB takes about 4.5 hours at 50 Mbit/s upload and 22 hours at 10 Mbit/s.

1. **Check upload speed and disk space** — Run a speed test and note the upload figure. Make sure the recipient has at least 100 GB free plus a margin.
2. **Prepare the sending computer** — Plug in the laptop, use a wired connection if you can, and set sleep to never for the duration of the transfer.
3. **Share the file with StrongFolder** — Open [strongfolder.com](https://strongfolder.com), add the file or folder and send the link to the recipient. Nothing is uploaded first.
4. **Keep the tab open until it finishes** — The recipient's download starts at once. Keep the StrongFolder tab open and the computer awake until they confirm the transfer is complete.

100 GB is the point where "just use WeTransfer" stops working. A full video shoot, a game
build, a disk image or a year of RAW photos easily reaches it — and almost every free service
caps you long before. This guide shows how to send a 100 GB file for free, what it really
costs in time, and how to set things up so a transfer that runs for hours actually finishes.

**Key facts**

- Most **free transfer services stop at 2–5 GB**; SwissTransfer goes to **50 GB** per transfer.
- A free **Google Account has 15 GB** of storage — not enough for 100 GB.
- **Direct P2P** (StrongFolder) has no cap from the service: No size limit set by StrongFolder. The practical limits are free disk space on the recipient's device, connection speed, and how long both devices stay online.
- **Time is the real limit:** 100 GB ≈ **4.4 h at 50 Mbit/s**, **2.2 h at 100 Mbit/s**, **22 h at 10 Mbit/s** upload.
- For P2P the **sender's tab must stay open** — disable sleep before you start.

## Which free services can send a 100 GB file?

As of 2026-11-05, from each vendor's own help pages:

| Service | Free limit | 100 GB possible free? | Files stored? | Sender online? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Email (Gmail, Outlook.com) | 20–25 MB | No | Yes | No |
| WeTransfer (free) | 3 GB per transfer, 10 transfers or 3 GB per 30 days | No | Yes, 3 days | No |
| Dropbox Transfer (Basic) | 2 GB | No | Yes, 7 days | No |
| iCloud Mail Drop | 5 GB | No | Yes, 30 days | No |
| Google Drive (free) | 15 GB storage | No | Yes | No |
| SwissTransfer | 50 GB per transfer | Only split into 2+ parts | Yes, up to 30 days | No |
| **StrongFolder (P2P)** | **None set by the service** | **Yes** | **No** | **Yes** |
| External drive by post | Size of the drive | Yes (cost of drive + postage) | — | — |

The honest summary: for a single 100 GB file there are two free routes — split it for a big
free transfer service, or send it directly. Paid plans of cloud drives and transfer services
handle 100 GB too; check their current pricing if you send this much every week.

## How long does it take to send 100 GB?

Your **upload** speed decides everything. The formula: size in GB × 8,000 ÷ upload in Mbit/s =
seconds. For 100 GB that is 800,000 ÷ Mbit/s:

| Upload speed | Time for 100 GB | Typical connection |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Mbit/s | ~44 h | Slow DSL, weak mobile signal |
| 10 Mbit/s | ~22 h | DSL, basic cable |
| 20 Mbit/s | ~11 h | Cable |
| 50 Mbit/s | ~4.4 h | Good cable, entry fibre |
| 100 Mbit/s | ~2.2 h | Fibre |
| 500 Mbit/s | ~27 min | Fast fibre |
| 1,000 Mbit/s | ~13 min | Gigabit fibre (both ends) |

Real transfers add 5–15 % for protocol overhead and are capped by the slower of the two
connections — the sender's upload or the recipient's download.

With a cloud or transfer service you pay twice in sequence: first your upload, then the
recipient's download. With a direct transfer both happen at the same time, so the recipient
has the file when your upload ends.

### How do I find my upload speed?

Run any speed test in your browser and look at the **upload** figure, not the download.
Home connections are often asymmetric: a "500 Mbit/s" plan may upload at 50. Test over the
connection you will actually use — Wi-Fi in the bedroom can be far slower than a cable to the
router.

## How do I send a 100 GB file with StrongFolder?

The four steps above are all there is to it. The work is in the preparation:

1. **Recipient's disk.** They need 100 GB free plus a margin. Ask before you start.
2. **Power and sleep.** Plug in the laptop and set sleep and hibernation to "never" for the
   transfer. A sleeping computer ends the transfer.
3. **Wired if possible.** An Ethernet cable is more stable than Wi-Fi over many hours.
4. **The right browser.** Chrome, Edge or another Chromium browser on a computer works best
   for both sides; to save a whole folder with its structure the recipient needs one of them.
5. **Avoid peak usage.** Large backups, cloud sync or video calls on the same connection slow
   the transfer down.

When the recipient opens the link, data flows straight from your disk to theirs over an
encrypted WebRTC connection. Files are never uploaded to or stored on a StrongFolder server. If the 100 GB is a folder of many files,
it arrives with its subfolders — see [send a folder without zipping](https://help.strongfolder.com/en/guides/send-folder-without-zipping/).

[Send files now](https://strongfolder.com)
## Should I split a 100 GB file into parts?

Splitting is a workaround for services with a cap. An archiver such as 7-Zip can cut a file
into volumes (for example two 50 GB parts for SwissTransfer). It works, but:

- you need about 100 GB of extra disk space for the parts, and the recipient needs the same
  to join them;
- packing and unpacking 100 GB takes a long time;
- if one part is missing or corrupted, the whole archive fails to extract;
- the recipient has to download every part before they can open anything.

With a direct transfer there is nothing to split: the file is sent as it is. Splitting still
makes sense if you must send while offline and the only free service with room is capped.

## When is StrongFolder not the best choice for 100 GB?

- **Your upload is under ~10 Mbit/s.** 22+ hours with a computer that must stay awake is
  tough. Ship an SSD, or let a cloud sync app upload it over a few nights (with enough paid storage).
- **You can't keep the computer on.** A stored copy (cloud or transfer service) lets you
  disconnect after the upload.
- **The recipient will download days later.** The link works while the sender keeps sharing. When the sender clicks Stop Sharing or closes the tab, the files are no longer available.
- **Several people will download it over weeks.** A cloud drive serves each of them without
  using your connection.

More on this trade-off in [why the sender stays online](https://help.strongfolder.com/en/guides/why-sender-stays-online/).

## Summary

You can send a 100 GB file for free in two ways: split it for a large free transfer service, or
send it directly peer to peer with no size cap and no upload. Either way, upload speed sets the
time — check it first, prepare the sending computer, and keep it awake until the recipient
finishes. For every method by size, see [how to send large files](https://help.strongfolder.com/en/guides/send-large-files/);
for exact requirements, see [limits](https://help.strongfolder.com/en/limits/).

## FAQ

### Can I send a 100 GB file for free?

Yes, but not with most free transfer services, which stop at 2–5 GB. A direct P2P transfer has no size cap from the service, and SwissTransfer accepts up to 50 GB per transfer, so a 100 GB file would have to be split in two.

### How long does it take to send 100 GB?

About 4.4 hours at a 50 Mbit/s upload, 2.2 hours at 100 Mbit/s and 22 hours at 10 Mbit/s, plus 5–15 % for overhead. Formula: GB × 8,000 ÷ Mbit/s = seconds.

### Can I send 100 GB with Google Drive for free?

Not on the free tier. Google allows very large single files, but a free Google Account has 15 GB of storage shared with Gmail and Photos, so a 100 GB file needs a paid storage plan.

### Does StrongFolder limit file size?

No size limit set by StrongFolder. The practical limits are free disk space on the recipient's device, connection speed, and how long both devices stay online.

### What happens if my computer goes to sleep during the transfer?

The transfer stops. The sender's browser tab must stay open and online until the recipient finishes downloading — files come from the sender's device, not from a server. Turn off sleep, keep the laptop on power and stay on a stable connection before you start.

### Is a USB drive faster for 100 GB?

If you can hand it over the same day, often yes: copying 100 GB to a fast external SSD takes minutes. Over the internet, a 100 GB transfer takes hours unless the sender has a very fast upload.