Send now or let them pick it up later: choosing between real-time and cloud on GigaFile
Short answer: if the recipient is at their screen now and you can both keep the page open until the transfer finishes, use Real-time (the pickup code starts with P).
If you don't know when they'll pick it up, you're in different time zones, you want to close your laptop, or your office network struggles to connect, use Cloud (the code starts with C).
Which one fits your situation
| Situation | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You're on a call or chat with the recipient and they can receive right now | Real-time | Sending starts as soon as they connect. The pricing page lists it as free. |
| They're abroad, in another time zone, or you don't know when they'll reply | Cloud | They can download any time within the retention period. |
| You want to close your laptop or head out after sending | Cloud | Once the upload finishes you no longer need to keep the page open. |
| Real-time showed "P2P connection failed" | Resend via cloud | The error screen has a "Send via cloud instead" button. |
| Several people need the same files | Cloud | You can set a download limit of 5, 10, 20 or 50. |
How the two modes differ
| Real-time | Cloud | |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup code | 4 characters starting with P | 4 characters starting with C |
| Recipient online at the same time | Required (both pages stay open) | Not required |
| How long the sender keeps the page open | Until the recipient has everything | Until the upload finishes |
| How long it can be picked up | Only during the session; the code expires after a short time | Chosen when sending: 1, 3, 7, 10 or 15 days (default 7), then deleted |
| Download limit | — | 5, 10, 20 or 50 (default 10); deleted once reached |
| Price (as shown on the pricing page) | Free | Free under 1 GB and once per day; otherwise $1 per GB, capped at $3 per transfer (tax included) |
Prices are what the pricing page showed on 25 September 2026. Check the amount shown during the send flow before you pay. Payment is by credit card through Stripe.
Note: Real-time connects the two browsers, but depending on the network the connection may be routed through a relay server. If your organisation has rules about where files may travel, check with your administrator first.
Sending, step by step
- Open GigaFile and drag your files onto "Send file" or browse for them. No account is needed.
- Choose the mode: "Real-time" if the recipient is online now, "Cloud" if they'll pick it up later.
- Real-time: a 4-character pickup code and a QR code appear. Tell them the code or let them scan the QR. When they connect you'll see "The recipient is connected"; approve it and sending starts. Keep the page open until it finishes.
- Cloud: choose the retention period and download limit, then upload. Don't close the tab until the upload completes. You then get a pickup code, a QR code and a share link. If the transfer is beyond the free allowance you'll be taken to payment.
Sharing the code with someone who speaks another language
The pickup code doesn't depend on language: the same 4 characters work on every language version of the site. Send the recipient the page in their language together with the code.
- Japanese
https://www.gigafile.io/jaOn screen: ファイル受信 / 受取コードを入力 - English
https://www.gigafile.io/On screen: Receive file / Enter pickup code - Chinese (Simplified)
https://www.gigafile.io/zh-CNOn screen: 接收文件 / 输入取件码
- Easy to read out: codes leave out the look-alike characters 0, O, 1, I and L, and they aren't case-sensitive, so reading them out one character at a time over the phone works.
- In person or on a shared screen, use the QR: scanning the on-screen QR with their phone is fastest. If the page opens in the wrong language, have them open their language's page from the list above and type the code instead.
- Line things up before a real-time send: real-time codes expire after a short time, so confirm the recipient is ready before you start.
Ready-to-send messages (the codes P7KM and C4TR are examples)
For a Japanese-speaking recipient (日本語)
Real-time
GigaFileでファイルをリアルタイムでお送りします。
1. https://www.gigafile.io/ja を開いてください
2.「ファイル受信」に受取コード P7KM を入力してください
3. 受信が終わるまでページを閉じないでください
（こちらも送信が終わるまでページを開いたままにします）
Cloud
GigaFileにファイルを預けました。
受取ページ：https://www.gigafile.io/ja
受取コード：C4TR（「ファイル受信」に入力してください）
受け取り期限：◯月◯日まで
ダウンロードできる回数に上限があります。受け取ったらご連絡ください。
For an English-speaking recipient
Real-time
I'm sending you files in real time with GigaFile.
1. Open https://www.gigafile.io/
2. Under "Receive file", enter the pickup code P7KM
3. Keep the page open until the download finishes
(I'll keep my page open until it's done, too.)
Cloud
I've uploaded the files to GigaFile for you.
Page: https://www.gigafile.io/
Pickup code: C4TR (enter it under "Receive file")
Available until: [date]
The number of downloads is limited, so please let me know once you have them.
For a Chinese-speaking recipient (简体中文)
Real-time
我用 GigaFile 实时发送文件给你。
1. 打开 https://www.gigafile.io/zh-CN
2. 在“接收文件”中输入取件码 P7KM
3. 接收完成前请不要关闭页面
（我这边也会保持页面打开，直到发送完成。）
Cloud
文件已上传到 GigaFile。
页面：https://www.gigafile.io/zh-CN
取件码：C4TR（在“接收文件”中输入）
有效期至：◯月◯日
下载次数有上限，收到后请告诉我一声。
Receiving, step by step
Real-time (code starts with P)
- Open the page the sender gave you (for example
https://www.gigafile.io/) or scan their QR code. - Enter the 4-character code under "Receive file" and press "Open file".
- Receiving starts once the sender approves. Don't close the page or let your phone sleep until it finishes.
Cloud (code starts with C)
- Enter the code under "Receive file", or open the link or QR code the sender shared.
- Download the files shown.
- Files are deleted when the retention period ends or the download limit is reached. Let the sender know once you have them.
When it doesn't work
| Message or symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| "Invalid pickup code" | A typo, an expired code, the retention period has ended, or the download limit was reached | Check the code; if it still fails, ask for a new send. For real-time, start only when the recipient is ready. |
| "Connection timeout" / "P2P connection failed" | A network problem, a connection timeout or too many connections. Office or school networks and VPNs can block direct connections | The sender switches with "Send via cloud instead" on the error screen. |
| The sender closed the page or the network dropped | The sender's page closed, or a connection dropped, during a real-time transfer | Start again. For large amounts, use cloud. |
| "Hash verification failed" | The integrity check on the received data failed and the transfer was stopped | Ask for the files again; if it keeps happening, resend via cloud. |
| Slow, or stops partway | Real-time speed depends on both connections and devices | Use cloud for big files or unstable connections. |
Try GigaFile
No account needed. Choose your files and you'll be asked how to send them.
Related pages
Everything in this article was checked against the public pages on 25 September 2026. Features and prices can change; the send screen and the pricing page take precedence.