5 FREE FILE SHARING SITES

infohub February 08, 2020

5 Free File Sharing Sites

Storage Almost full!

"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 such kind of storage warnings can be frustrating, especially when you’ve important files that you cannot risk losing.

Types of File Sharing:

  • File transfer protocol programs (FTP):
    Example: Cyberduck, Mozilla Firefox
  • Peer-to-peer networks:
    Example: Skype, Slack, Troop Messenger
  • Removable storage media
    Example: Memory sticks, memory cards, optical discs, and removable hard disks
  • Online file-sharing services
    Example: Google Drive, Dropbox, Apple iCloud, OneDrive, Mediafire

GOOGLE DRIVE

Google Drive is a file storage and synchronization services developed by google. Launched on April 24, 2012, Google Drive allows users to store files on their servers, synchronize files across devices, and shares files. Google Drive offers users 15 GB of free storage through google. Google One also offers 100 GB, 200 GB, 2 TB, 10 TB, 20 TB, and 30 TB offered through optional paid plans. Files uploaded can be up to 5 terabytes in size. Users can change privacy settings for individual files and folders, including enabling sharing with other users or making content public.
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 and  cons file sharing are given below:

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:
Pricing for active use is $8 per month.

Ideal for:

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

DROP BOX

Dropbox is a file hosting services operated by the American company Dropbox, Inc., headquartered in San Francis, California, that offers cloud storage, file synchronization, personal cloud, and client software. Dropbox was founded in 2007 by MIT students Drew Houstan and Arash Ferdowsi as a startup company, with initial funding from seed accelator Y combinator. Dropbox has been praised, receiving the Crunchie Award in 2010 for Best Internet Application, and Macworld's 2009 Editor's Choice Award for Software. It has been ranked as one of the most valuable startups in the US and the world, with a valuation of over US$10 billion.
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 work 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.
  • Advanced: Unlimited Space: $25 / user/month.

Apple iCloud Drive

iCloud is a cloud storage and cloud computing service from Apple i. launched on October 12, 2011. As of 2018, the service had an estimated 850 million users, up from 782 million users in 2016. iCloud enables users to store data such as documents, photos, and music on remote servers for download to iOS, macOS or windows devices, to share and send data to other users, and to manage their Apple devices if lost or stolen.
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

Mediafire

MediaFire is a file hosting, file synchronization, and cloud storage service based in Shenandoah, Texas, United States. Founded in June 2006 by Derek Labian and Tom Langridge, the company provides client software for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Blackberry 10, and Web browers. MediaFire has 43 million registered users and attracted 1.3 billion unique visitors to its domain in 2012.

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.

Ideal For:

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

ONEDRIVE

Microsoft OneDrive is a file hosting services and synchronization services operated by Microsoft as part of its web version of office. First launched in August 2007, OneDrive allows users to store files and personal data like windows settings or BitLocker recovery keys in the cloud, share files, and sync files across Android, Windows phones, and iOS mobile devices, Windows and macOS computers, and the Xbox 360 and Xbox one consoles. Users can upload MS office documents directly to OneDrive.
OneDrive offers 5 GB of storage space free of charge, with 50 GB, 1 TB, and 5 TB storage options available either separately or with office 365 subscriptions.


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.
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