YouSendIt for Web

Quick overview

YouSendIt is a web-based service for sending large files without relying on email attachments, FTP, or physical media like DVDs and USB drives. It provides a simple interface for transferring documents, images and other large files, plus download tracking and short-term storage.

How it works

1. Choose the file you want to transfer and upload it to the service.
2. Add recipients’ e-mail addresses and an optional subject and message.
3. Click the send button — recipients receive an e-mail containing a download link they can use to retrieve the file.

When a recipient follows the link, they download the file from YouSendIt’s servers. You can preview what the recipient will see before sending.

Limits and pricing

• Free tier: up to 100 MB per transfer, with files available to download for 7 days.
• Paid tier: increases the single-file limit to 2 GB and extends availability to 14 days.

A 2 GB cap is useful for most everyday needs, but it may be insufficient for long, uncompressed video files.

Key benefits

• Fast uploads so transfers don’t take longer than necessary.
• Recipients get an email notification with a direct download URL.
• You can include a subject line and message to explain the transfer.
• Easy alternative to attaching large files to email or burning them to physical media.

Considerations and potential drawbacks

• Uploading files to a third-party server means you must trust the provider with the confidentiality and security of your data.
• The free storage and retention windows are relatively short, so transfers intended for long-term sharing may require a different approach.

Conclusion

YouSendIt is a straightforward, efficient option for sending large files quickly over the web. Its freemium model covers light users, while paid accounts offer larger transfers and slightly longer storage — but weigh the convenience against any privacy or security concerns before uploading sensitive material.