Get A Link is a pretty cool file sharing service that lets you share files up to a mammoth 4 GB in size. File sharing through Get A File is extremely simple and straightforward. There is no sign up, registration or anything of that sort required. All you have to do is upload the file through the Web Interface, and share the automatically generated unique URL with anyone whom you want to share the file with. However, Get A File differs from other file sharing services in the sense that the unique URL actually points to the shared file, and not a webpage where you can download the file. Apart from that, Get A Link also imposes a bi-way (download count or time duration) limit on the shared file, after which it’s deleted, thereby adding to security as well. Intrigued? Let’s find out more.
Get A Link: Primary Web UI
Get A Link seems to be quite devoted to promoting photo artists. Probably that’s the reason its web interface features stunning photographs from photo artists around the world as a continuously advancing slideshow in the backdrop. Apart from that the UI is extremely straightforward, and the actual file sharing UI sits as a box, on the left of the homepage. Check out the screenshot below:
As illustrated by the above screenshot, all you have to do is either drag and drop the file(s) that you want to share, directly on the file sharing interface, or use the Add Files button to do so manually.
The above screenshot of the sharing UI also illustrates a unique security feature of Get A Link. It enforces a bi-way constraint on the shared file’s access, i.e., the unique link to any shared file only remains active for a maximum of 3 days, or 1 download (whichever is earlier). This means that if anyone downloads a file once within the time frame of three days, it’s deleted and the sharing link is invalidated. And even if no one accesses the file, it’s still deleted once the maximum time limit of three days is over. This is a great security feature that ensures that your file(s) aren’t available for access beyond a specific time, no matter if they are downloaded or not.
As I mentioned, this service lets you share files that are up to 4 GB in size. In case you want to send larger files, you can use AnySend, that lets you send files of unlimited size.
How to upload and share files using Get A Link?
Uploading files to Get A Link is really simple. All you have to do is drag and drop your file on the sharing UI, or add it manually using the Add Files button. The upload progress can be tracked via a progress bar.
However, there’s a difference in Get A Link’s take here as well. While most conventional file sharing services let you upload one file at a time, and then generate a unique link, after which you have to refresh the webpage for the next upload, Get A Link lets you upload a second (and third!) file while the previous one is being uploaded. It also generates a unique sharing link for each uploaded file. You can copy individual links to share them with others. This is a really handy feature, that saves quite a time.
As illustrated by the above screenshot, individual links can be directly copied and shared via the Copy Link buttons. Once each link has been used to download a file a single time, or when the three day limit expires, it will be invalidated and the file pointed to, by it will be deleted.
There’s also interesting thing to note here. The sharing links generated by most conventional file sharing services actually point to a separate webpage, which hosts the download link that you need to click to get the file. However, in case of Get A Link, the shared link directly points to the shared file. This means that once you access the link, it’ll immediately start downloading the file it points to. Neat little feature if you ask me.
Also check out online service to send files by P2P: Sharefest.
Conclusion
Get A Link is a pretty good file sharing service that has quite a few nifty aces up its sleeve. The interface is simple and functional, and file sharing works the way it’s supposed to. Apart from that, additions like the bi-way shared file access limit of 3 days, or 1 download is a really good addition from the security point of view. If you’re looking for a simple and effective way to share large files with others, and also want to ensure that they won’t stay available for access forever, give Get A Link a try.