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