How to Choose a Video Transfer Service for Large Files

What Makes a Video Transfer Service Different

Regular file sharing tools weren't built for video. Dropbox, Google Drive, and email work fine for documents and small images. But a single 4K video file can exceed 50GB. An hour of raw RED footage? 300GB or more.

Video transfer services handle the specific challenges of moving large media files:

• Resumable uploads: If your connection drops during a 100GB upload, you don't start over. The transfer picks up where it left off.
• Optimized protocols: Standard HTTP uploads waste bandwidth on long-distance connections. Accelerated protocols can be 10-100x faster than standard HTTP.
• Preview generation: Recipients can watch the video immediately while the original continues downloading.
• Delivery confirmation: Know when files arrive and whether the recipient opened them.

Consumer tools treat video like any other file. Professional tools understand that a 2-hour upload failing at 95% is a real problem.

Why Standard File Transfer Often Fails

Traditional FTP fails approximately 30% of large file transfers. The causes are predictable:

TCP congestion control: Standard protocols reduce speed as latency increases. A 1Gbps connection between Los Angeles and London might deliver only 100Mbps in practice because TCP spends more time waiting for acknowledgments than moving data.

No resume capability: Many basic tools require starting over if the connection drops. For a file that takes 4 hours to upload, that's painful.

Browser timeouts: Web-based uploads often hit timeouts before large files finish. The browser gives up, the progress bar disappears, and you're left wondering what happened.

Compression damage: Some services compress uploads to save storage costs. Acceptable for documents. Destructive for color-graded video.

Professional video files aren't forgiving. A single dropped packet in the wrong place can corrupt frames. Services built for video handle error correction and verification automatically.

Comparing Video Transfer Services

The market splits into several categories, each with trade-offs.

Dedicated Acceleration Services

MASV, Signiant, FileCatalyst: These use UDP-based protocols for maximum speed. MASV charges per GB downloaded (around $0.25/GB) with no file size limits. Signiant and FileCatalyst target enterprise deployments with high volume and custom pricing.

Best for teams moving terabytes regularly who need raw speed above all else.

Cloud Storage with Video Features

Fast.io, Frame.io, Dropbox: These combine storage with transfer. Files live in the cloud permanently rather than expiring after download. Fast.io adds HLS streaming so recipients can watch while the file downloads in the background. Frame.io focuses specifically on review and approval.

Best for ongoing projects where you need both transfer and storage.

Consumer Transfer Services

WeTransfer, Smash, TransferNow: Simple upload-and-share tools. WeTransfer's free tier caps at 2GB. Paid tiers reach 200GB but lack video-specific features. Files typically expire after 7-30 days.

Best for occasional one-off transfers of finished deliverables.

Enterprise FTP Alternatives

Aspera, GoAnywhere: High-performance transfer with enterprise security, audit logging, and integration capabilities. Aspera's FASP protocol achieves near-full bandwidth utilization regardless of distance. Pricing typically requires a sales conversation.

Best for organizations with strict security requirements and existing enterprise infrastructure.

Key Features for Professional Video Transfer

When evaluating services, prioritize these capabilities:

Maximum file size: Some services cap individual files at 5GB or 15GB. For raw video, you need services that handle files over 100GB. Fast.io supports files up to 250GB.

Transfer speed: Look for advertised throughput and whether the service uses accelerated protocols. Ask about performance on international routes if you work with global clients.

Resumable uploads: Non-negotiable for files over 10GB. Verify the service actually resumes from where it left off rather than restarting.

Streaming preview: Can recipients watch the video without downloading the entire file first? This saves hours when clients just need to review, not edit.

Delivery tracking: Know when files were downloaded and by whom. Useful for client handoffs and verifying delivery.

No compression: Confirm the service doesn't transcode or compress your uploads. What goes up should be exactly what comes down.

Matching the Service to Your Workflow

The best choice depends on how you work.

One-time deliverables to clients

You finished the edit, exported the master, and need to send it. The client downloads once and you're done.

Use: WeTransfer, MASV, or any service with pay-per-transfer pricing. No point paying for storage you won't use.

Ongoing projects with review cycles

Clients need to watch cuts, leave feedback, and access multiple versions over weeks or months.

Use: A platform with persistent storage and streaming. Fast.io lets clients watch in the browser with frame-accurate comments. No download required for review.

High-volume production houses

You're moving terabytes daily between shooting locations, post facilities, and archives.

Use: Dedicated acceleration with automation. Look for watch folders that auto-upload, API access for integration with your pipeline, and volume pricing.

Secure enterprise transfers

Regulatory requirements, audit logging, and integration with corporate identity systems.

Use: Enterprise-grade services with SSO, detailed audit trails, and granular permissions. Fast.io offers SSO integration and complete activity logging.

Setting Up Reliable Video Transfers

Speed matters, but reliability matters more. A fast transfer that fails is worse than a slow one that completes.

Before uploading

1. Verify file integrity locally: Run a checksum on your source file. Keep it for comparison after transfer.
2. Check available bandwidth: Run a speed test to your transfer service. Upload speeds are often much slower than download.
3. Close competing applications: Video conferencing, cloud sync, and other uploads compete for bandwidth.

During transfer

1. Use wired ethernet: WiFi drops packets. A single glitch during a 100GB upload can corrupt frames.
2. Monitor progress: Keep the transfer window visible. If progress stalls, you want to know immediately.
3. Avoid sleep mode: Make sure your computer won't sleep mid-transfer. Most services handle resume, but why test it?

After transfer

1. Verify the download: Have the recipient confirm they can open and play the file.
2. Check file size: If the downloaded file is smaller than the original, something went wrong.
3. Spot-check quality: Scrub through the video looking for artifacts, especially in motion-heavy scenes.

What Video Professionals Actually Use

Based on common workflows in post-production:

Dailies to director/producer: Cloud platforms with instant streaming. Directors want to watch, not wait for downloads. Fast.io and Frame.io are popular for this because playback starts immediately.

Masters to broadcast: Aspera or MASV for raw speed. Broadcast delivery often has tight windows, and UDP-based transfer maximizes throughput.

Archives to LTO/cloud: Glacier or Backblaze for cold storage. These aren't transfer services, but they're where footage lives long-term.

Rough cuts for client review: Cloud storage with comment features. Video review platforms let clients mark exact frames rather than describing timecodes in email.

Camera media from set: Physical drives or high-speed services. Set to post-house transfers often use messengers with SSDs because upload speeds on location are unreliable.

Most professionals pick different tools for different jobs rather than forcing one solution to do everything.