13 Free & Paid File Sharing Sites to Watch in 2020 like Dropbox, Google Drive, One Drive

Originally Published at Troop Messenger 

 

Storage Almost Full!

‘To Ensure normal use, please delete files to free up internal storage space.’

 

 

I am sure you receive a ‘storage full’ warning once in a while unless your device is equipped with a cloud file-sharing system.

Receiving these storage warnings can be frustrating, especially when you’ve important files that you cannot risk losing.

 

That’s where File Sharing Sites come into the picture. With these storage systems, you can transfer large-sized files conveniently, simplify server upkeep, and easily collaborate on-the-go.

 

Cloud File sharing, apart from individual users, has also become a key function in Enterprise use, which explains why:

 

• 39% of cloud business data is used for file-sharing purposes.
• 34% of uploaded data have sensitive and confidential information that includes personally identifiable information.
• An average company shares documents and files with over 800 different online domains.

What is File Sharing with pros and cons

 

With File Sharing Software, users can have controlled and centralized visibility of files at different stages of the data lifecycle, which helps with finding, protecting, editing, sharing, and managing sensitive data at any point in time.

Pros of File Sharing

• Transfer small & large files over a secure network connection.
• Easily collaborate with multiple people across the globe.
• No need to maintain a central online file server

Cons of File Sharing

• Bandwidth requirement is often costly.
• Hard to trace revisions once the file has been shared publicly.
• Higher risk of acquiring malware or ransomware from a remote file

Types of File Sharing:

• File transfer protocol programs (FTP):Example: Cyberduck, Mozilla Firefox

• Peer-to-peer networks:Example: Skype, Slack, Troop Messenger

• Removable storage mediaExample: Memory sticks, memory cards, optical discs, and removable hard disks

• Online file-sharing servicesExample: Box, OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud Drive, Tresorit

 

How to Select Your Platform: 

Choosing an appropriate File sharing Platform is all about understanding the storage, sharing, and synchronization needs of your enterprise.

You’d need a thorough understanding of all the key features, pros, and cons of each file-sharing software to make a final selection.

In this article, we’ve done the same. Consider this article a directory of top shortlisted file sharing sites. Go through the pros, cons, and pricing, of each tool and select your ideal platform, keeping in mind the following features:

• Security and Encryption
• Compatibility on different OS and Devices
• Storage Limitations
• Pricing

 

 File Sharing Websites

 

• 1.  Box
• 2.  DropBox
• 3.  Egnyte
• 4.  Apple iCloud Drive
• 5.  OneDrive
• 6.  Google Drive
• 7.  Media Fire
• 8.  SecureDocs
• 9.  SugarSync
• 10.  WeTransfer
• 11.  Tresorit
• 12.  Sync.Com
• 13. pCloud

 

Box

Box was literally the first-ever cloud-based media storage service and file-sharing sites to grab the attention. Box allowed it’s users to centralize all their data. It also offered easy collaboration on documents shared.

It is now known as secure content management and business collaboration tool.

Pros:

• Meets compliance requirement
• Integrated with an enterprise security system
• Allows Workflow Configuration
• Work at unprecedented Speed

Cons

• Starter plans have very limited features
• File previewing from computers and devices is complex

Pricing:

• Individual Plans: Starts at INR 785 per month
• Business Plans: Starts at INR 389 per user per month
• Business Plus: Starts at INR 1881 per user per month

Ideal For:

Enterprises and Large-Scale companies that require organisation of huge data systems across different locations.

 

2. DropBox

DropBox offers a lot more than secure file storage. Dropbox, as a file-sharing website, has established its identity as a state-of-the-art workspace where teams, content, and tools come together to collaborate.

Dropbox allows creation, storage, and sharing of cloud content from Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, MS Office files, alongside traditional files.

Pros:

• Large network and number of users
• Secure sharing of files and documents
• Integrated desktop experience
• Files transferred across devices are always encrypted
• Team collaboration, anywhere, at anytime
• Easy Integration with tools like Slack and Zoom
• Integrations with over 100,000 third party applications

Cons:

• New collaboration features and solutions are confusing
• Personal plan offers only 2GB space for Dropbox Transfer

Pricing:

• Standard: 5 TB of secure space:$15 / user/month, starting at 3 users
• Advanced: Unlimited Space: $25 / user/month, starting at 3 users

Ideal For:

• Medium and Small-scale companies which do not need advanced features
• Users who are looking for a secure space to back up their critical data
• P2P file sharing

 

3. Google Drive

Google Drive’s Enterprise Plan offers a simple and secure way for businesses and teams to work together and collaborate over a project in the cloud.

Drive was unarguably the first companies that brought together document collaboration and cloud. It’s Google Docs Suite made it a huge success.

This file-sharing program boosts collaboration with features that allow users to request approval, track revisions, and assign tasks.

Google Drive is 50% faster when it comes to finding files. Search features use AI to understand the need and surface only relevant content. 

Pros:

• Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and more
• Enterprise Grade Security
• Enterprise-Grade Management tools
• Can be accessed via desktop, mobile, web
• 24/7 email and phone support
• Compatible with more than 100 file types
• Organize Automatically

Cons:

• For Collaboration across Google Drive files, a Google Account is compulsory
• Sharing Settings can be complex at times

Pricing:

$8 per active user per month

Ideal For:

• People having a Gmail account
• Small and Medium organizations
• Peer to Peer File Sharing

4. Apple iCloud Drive

iCloud drive has been called as apple’s version of Dropbox. iCloud Drive is primarily cloud-based, which makes sharing of data overdrive very easy. It also allows users to sync different type of content between devices.

Apple has been steady at releasing improved versions of the iCloud suite. The new iOS devices and Mac computers are now equipped with iCloud drive of latest versions, which come ins-built so that the files in either of Apple devices can be synced automatically.

Pros:

• Any type of file that can be accessed from anywhere
• Organize files with different folders
• Rename and tag files
• Original, full-resolution photos automatically uploaded
• Easy iCloud photo sharing
• Invite people to work on a file or document
• Send private link
• No need to add manage versions, create copies, or add the email attachments

Cons:

• Very limited integration with Android users

• Limited integration with Windows user

• New users only get access to 5 GB storage

• Limited Business Support

Pricing:

Prices vary in different geographical locations. 

Ideal For:

• iPhone and Apple product users
• People who frequent share files with Apple users
• File sharing iTunes

 

5. Egnyte

Egnyte is also a file-sharing site that offers data governance and reduces the risk of a data breach. As content’s value increases, the potential threat to breaches increase too.

With Egnyte, the users can have a control and centralized visibility of files at different stages of data lifecycle, which helps with finding, protecting, and managing sensitive data at any point of time.

Pros:

• Rapidly discover sensitive data
• Detect potential exposure
• Guard data against malicious sharing and accidental sharing
• Ensure only the right people get access to sensitive data
• Avoid operation disruption
• Enforce data handling policies
• Extra backup copies are saved during file transfer
• Robust mobile access

Cons:

• More complex to use than other basic services
• Lacks custom support

Pricing:

• Office Plan: $8 per employee per month, 5-25 employees and 5 TB of online storage
• Business Plan: $20 per employee per month,25-100 employees and 10 TB of online storage
• Team Plan: $10 per employee per month, 1-3 employees and 1 TB of online storage 

Ideal For:

• Administrators and companies that need to frequently share confidential data 
• Organizations supporting various operating systems
• Organization working across various devices

6. MediaFire

MediaFire makes storage and file sharing simpler than ever. It’s clean UI and easy navigation makes it one of the most widely used file sharing applications.

Mediafire allows users to share, collaborate, store, and get an easy access to the documents and files. Files can be shared via email, link, and social network.

MediaFire users can store any file type, project files in specified folders, and of large size.

Up to 10 GB of space is free for individual use, hence it’s a great tool to store all the photos, audio, and videos.

Pros:

• Always have access to important files
• Unlimited Bandwidth
• Unlimited downloads
• Multiple uploads at once
• 10 GB free storage space
• One-time links
• Organize files with ease
• Easily share after uploading
• Available on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Windows, and Android

Cons:

• Basic plans have a lot of on-screen ads
• Limited collaboration features

Pricing:

• Pro Plan: $3.75 per employee per month
• 1 TB of storage space per user, ad-free sharing, and priority support.
• Business Plan: $40 per employee per month, 100 TB of storage space per user, ad-free sharing, and priority support.

Ideal For:

• Employees and teams needing quick file transfers from one member to another
• Users who exchange files and documents via emails

 

7. OneDrive

With OneDrive, you can save your files, photos, videos, and documents, and get them from any device, at anytime, from anywhere.

Users can share files, photos, folders via email, Facebook, or iMessage and text. You can also create polished content, present with clarity, and collaborate with team members in real-time, by using Office365 with OneDrive. It is one of the best free file sharing sites.

Pros:

• Integration with Sharepoint
• Offline Access
• OneDrive is encrypted using SSL
• Granular permission setting
• Document Scanning
• Easy to use with Office
• Expiring Links

Cons:

• No support for Mac OS
• OneDrive’s latest version suffers from slow upload
• Slower download speeds.

Pricing:

• One Drive Basic Plan: 5 GB storage space, Available for Free
• One Drive Paid Plan: 100 GB storage space, Available at INR 123 per user per month

Ideal For:

• Businesses that work on Windows PCs
• Windows 10 file sharing
• Individuals with an Outlook account

 

8. SecureDocs

With SecureDocs, you get to own a private and virtual data room, where files can be shared, stored, and edited in real-time. SecureDocs is simple, convenient, and powerful. It has all the features you need to keep your files secure, easily accessible, and up-to-date.

Pros:

• Drag and drop folders
• Immediate Set-up
• Unlimited users and data
• Flat-rate pricing, no additional fee
• Activity alerts
• User actions with Tracking of IP address
• Two-factor authentication
• Document Watermarking
• Permission-based user roles

Cons:

• Challenging to configure permissions
• Flat pricing not suitable for individual use
• Limited integration.

Pricing:

$250 per month

Ideal For:

Companies and Virtual workplaces where security is a top priority.

 

9. SugarSync

SugarSync was first launched in 2008. It functions on both Mac or Windows and allows easy sync of folders to the cloud account. Sugarsync caters to both Individual and business users.

Pros:

• Easy to restore files online
• Automatic file sharing
• Remote wiping of data
• Creation of public links to documents
• Transport Layer Security
• Files Encrypted in 256-bit AES format
• Online Backups
• Mobile applications are available for iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, & Android devices.

Cons:

• No free plan option
• Syncing speeds can be slow
• Pricing:
• Personal Plan: $9.99 per month
• 250 GB of storage space
• Business Plan: $55.00 per month
• 1 TB of storage space

Ideal For:

• Users with messy folders
• Businesses lacking a backup solution.

 

10. WeTransfer

WeTransfer is unarguably one of the simplest file-sharing services used to send large-sized files all across the world. WeTransfer was founded in 2009 and ever since it has been used as a file-sharing software.

WeTransfer’s primary service can be used for individual and business personnel to send any file to an email address, or simply by creating a one-time link which can be accessed by other people.

Pros:

• No account required
• Immediate Set-up
• Extremely easy to use
• Activity alerts
• Integration with Slack, ThunderBird, and Command Line
• Integration with Firefox, Chrome, and Sketch
• Track Download history
• Password-protect transfers

Cons:

• No security features
• Limited transfer of 2GB
• Limited integration.

Pricing:

• Free Forever Plan:
• No Storage
• Send up to 2 GB
• WeTransfer Pro: $12 per month
• 1 TB storage
• Send up to 20 GB

Ideal For:

• Companies and Virtual workplace where One-time file transfers are required
• Individual with ‘resend and delete transfers’ requirement
• Mega file sharing
• Businesses requiring Pro page and URL

11. Tresorit

Tresorit guarantees an ultra-secure place for storage, syncing, and sharing of files in the cloud. As a large file-sharing site, it offers state-of-the-art privacy in compliance with strong data protection plans.

 

Certified for ISO 270001, Tresorit is also in compliance with HIPAA, GDPR, and multiple security protection requirements.

Pros:

• End-to-end encryption
• Secure lost/stolen devices
• Protect organization’s privacy
• Take 1,000 GB storage anywhere
• Recover deleted files
• Keep data protected from ransomware
• File sharing with encrypted links
• Manage users and groups with security policies

Cons:

• Fewer integrations

Pricing:

• Small Business Plan: $20 per user per month,1 TB storage per user, starting at 2 users
• Business Plan: $12 per user per month,1 TB storage per user, starting at 10 users
• Enterprise Plan: $24 per user per month,1 TB storage per user, starting at 100 users

Ideal For:

Businesses with a lot of options

 

12. Sync.com

Sync.com is a Toronto based cloud-storage service that ranks among the top five dropbox alternatives with free service plans.

Synch, as a secure file-sharing site, makes it convenient to share, store, and access files from just about anywhere. Apart from that it protects the content with end-to-end encryption and ensures that the data shared or transferred in the cloud is secure, safe, and 100% private.

Pros:

• Control access with passwords
• Expiry dates of link shares
• Email notifications
• No file size in business plan
• No traffic limit in business plan
• Access files from centralized folders
• Activity logs
• Granular user permission
• Restrict Downloads
• HIPAA Compliance

Cons:

• Slow upload
• Slower download speeds.

Pricing:

• Standard Plan for teams: 1 TB storage space per user, Available at $5 per user per month
• Plus Plan for teams: 4 TB storage space per user, Available at $5 per user per month
• Advanced Plan for teams: 10 TB storage space per user, Available at $15 per user per month

Ideal For:

Businesses and Enterprises where content security is the main concern