10 top file-sharing services: Dropbox, Box, Google Drive, OneDrive, and more

Most file-sharing services have evolved into total-blown collaboration platforms. We look at ten online services ranging from bones to enterprise-level.

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Back in the pre-cloud days, sharing files involved using file transfer protocol applications or else copying files to a disc then mailing it or walking information technology over to a colleague (affectionately known equally 'sneakernet'). Emails could likewise be sent (and many people still use email as their master "file-sharing" selection), but size limits on attachments and security concerns discouraged this practise.

Today's world of file sharing offers nearly endless options. Giants like Dropbox, Box, Google, Microsoft, and Apple, too as smaller companies like MediaFire and Tresorit, all offering online deject storage options that include file sharing, synchronization beyond multiple devices, and collaboration features. In one case you have uploaded a file to one of these services, file-sharing is as easy as clicking a "share" push button and and then sending the link to a colleague via e-mail. While about offering desktop and mobile applications, users can too upload, store, sync, and share files via a web browser.

The services we've chosen are listed here in alphabetical order and comprehend a range of options, from basic services for consumers to enterprise-level services. This is not an exhaustive list of all services, but rather a sampling of the big players and some lesser-known vendors.

To bank check file transfer times for each, we uploaded a 245MB Null file using an internet connection with an average upload speed of 86 megabits/2d. (Meet "How we tested.")

Box

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(Click any epitome in this story to overstate it.)

It'southward most impossible to talk well-nigh Box without mentioning Dropbox (and vice versa), as the 2 are frequently pitted confronting each other. Box has always been geared toward businesses and enterprises, while Dropbox used to be largely focused on consumers and SMBs. But both services now include enterprise collaboration features and cloud content management via integrations with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365/Office 365, and many others, along with enterprise-grade security and management options.

There is a free plan for individudals that lets you kick the tires — it offers 10GB of storage, a 250MB file upload limit, and the ability to share these files with limited permissions. The file upload size limit is a bit strict if you are trying to share video files, but the 10GB storage limit is still pretty generous. Additionally, all of Box'southward business plans offering a 14-day gratis trial.

Complimentary account storage space: 10GB

Free account max file size: 250MB

Paid accounts : Personal Pro, 100GB storage, $x/month; Business Starter, 100GB storage, $five/user/month; Business, unlimited storage, $xv/user/month; Business Plus, unlimited storage, $25/user/month; Enterprise, unlimited storage, $35/user/month; Enterprise Plus, unlimited storage, custom pricing. (All business plans crave at least 3 users. Prices shown are for almanac payments.)

Paid business relationship max file size: Personal Pro, 5GB; Business Starter, 2GB; Concern, 5GB; Business Plus, 15GB; Enterprise, 50GB, Enterprise Plus, 150GB.

Additional features with business plans: Built-in integrations with Slack (too equally Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace), plus 1 additional enterprise app integration; Box Sign (unlimited e-signatures via web app); Box Relay (workflow automation); information loss protection; two-factor authentication; SSO; Active Directory integration; other user management features. College-level plans offer additional enterprise app integrations; HIPAA/FedRAMP compliance; document watermarking; AI-powered threat detection; more.

Time to upload 245MB file: 35 seconds

Citrix ShareFile

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ShareFile, which Citrix acquired in 2011, creates a custom file-sharing site for your business concern, then you lot can share files easily with clients, partners, co-workers, and others. For example, your accountant might employ ShareFile to securely share tax documents with you. The service offers lots of compelling features and tools for business concern users, including workflow direction, certificate collaboration, e-signatures, and integration with Outlook and Gmail.

Security is robust, too, with enterprise-course encryption and customizable permissions settings. The ShareFile dashboard makes it easy to add new users and toggle between personal and shared folders. Full-featured apps are available for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. In that location is no free plan, simply y'all tin try the Premium version for free for thirty days without having to enter a credit bill of fare number. The visitor as well offers a virtual information room for v employee users, which offers avant-garde security, sharing, and control for sensitive data.

Free account storage infinite: N/A

Costless account max file size: North/A

Paid accounts : Standard, unlimited storage, $50/calendar month; Advanced, unlimited storage, $77/month; Premium, unlimited storage, $122/month; Virtual Data Room, 5GB storage, $338/calendar month. All plans are for up to 5 employee users (boosted employee user fees are $10–$24/user/month) and unlimited client users. (Prices shown are for annual payments.)

Paid account max file size: Standard, Advanced, and Premium, 100GB; Virtual Information Room, 5GB.

Other paid options include: Feedback and approvals workflow; activity logs; versioning; third-party integrations including Microsoft 365/Office 365 collaboration.

Time to upload 245MB file: ane minute, 38 seconds

Dropbox

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As previously mentioned, Dropbox and Box are large players in the business market, offering enterprise-level security and direction features every bit well as a salubrious ecosystem of integrated third-party apps that make the services more robust. Both have continually evolved and improved to the betoken that, for virtually organizations, either one is a slap-up option.

In recent years, Dropbox has been adding features aimed at boosting productivity and collaboration, such equally the ability to create Microsoft Office or Google Docs/Sheets/Slides files from within Dropbox and a new shared Spaces interface for team collaboration.

To attempt before yous buy, Dropbox's free Bones programme for individuals offers 2GB of storage. A 30-24-hour interval complimentary trial is bachelor for all business plans.

Free account storage space: 2GB

Free business relationship max file size: No limit, but must be smaller than your storage space quota.

Paid accounts : Personal plans include Plus (1 user, 2TB storage, $10 per month) and Family unit (up to 6 users, 2TB shared storage, $17/month). Work plans include Professional person (i user, 3TB storage, $16.lx/month); Standard (iii+ users, 5TB storage, $12.l/user/month); Advanced (3+ users, unlimited storage, $20/user/calendar month). For enterprise plans, contact Dropbox Sales. (Prices shown are for annual payments.)

Additional features with business concern plans: 180 days of file recovery and version history, 180-24-hour interval history for Dropbox Rewind (recover from accidents/ransomware past reversing changes at folder or business relationship level), remote device wipe, two-factor authentication, certificate watermarking, shared link controls, file locking, branded sharing, priority email support, and live chat support. Higher-level plans offering HIPAA compliance, an admin console, SSO integration, audit logs, more than.

Time to upload 245MB file: 56 seconds

Google Drive

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If you're already invested in the Google ecosystem, Google Drive is a no-brainer, since it integrates with Google's productivity apps, such as Google Docs. Even if you don't use other Google services, Google Drive is worth because, as it gives users 15GB of free storage (shared with other Google services). Its rates are also competitive — 200GB costs individuals just $30/year.

With the Backup and Sync desktop client, you tin can cull which of your Windows or macOS reckoner folders to continually sync to Google Drive — y'all don't take to keep files in a designated folder, as you do with some services. Permissions on shared files can go complicated — we've often shared a link with colleagues only to become a response proverb that they can't access the file. But in one case yous can access a file, collaborating on documents in real time through Google's other productivity apps is every bit skillful every bit information technology gets.

Beyond the 15GB free plan, Drive is available to individuals through a Google Ane plan. Businesses can opt for either a Google Workspace programme, which includes Drive, Gmail, Calendar, Docs, and other productivity/collaboration apps, or Workspace Essentials, which includes all of the above except Gmail and Agenda. A 14-day gratuitous trial is available for business organisation plans.

Gratuitous business relationship storage space: 15GB

Free account max file size: 5TB (with some exceptions)

Paid accounts: Google One plans for individuals: 100GB, $two/month; 200GB, $3/month; 2TB, $10/month; 10TB, $50/calendar month; 20TB, $100/month; 30TB, $150/month. Google Workspace Essentials plans for businesses: 100GB per user/2TB pooled deject storage, $eight/user/calendar month. Google Workspace plans for businesses: Business organization Starter: 30GB storage per user, $six/user/month; Business Standard: 2TB storage per user, $12/user/month; Concern Plus: 5TB storage per user, $18/user/month; Enterprise (300+ users): unlimited storage, contact sales for pricing.

Additional features with business plans: Security and direction controls, 24/vii phone and email support, centralized admin console, audit and reporting. Higher-level plans offer advanced endpoint management, information loss prevention, context-aware access, more than.

Time to upload 245MB file: 48 seconds

iCloud Bulldoze

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Anyone who owns a Mac, iPhone, or iPad likely already has the free 5GB of online storage via iCloud that comes with the cosmos of an AppleID, and those users can share folders and documents with other iCloud users. Although Apple does offering an iCloud app for Windows, it's likely that this mainly benefits Apple users who also utilise a Windows PC; we don't really come across people who are primarily Windows users signing up for an iCloud business relationship to use the service, particularly considering iCloud does non have an Android app. Android device users could admission iCloud via the web app, but they would likely use Google'south online cloud storage to back up their photos and videos anyway.

As with other online storage services, users tin can gear up upwardly iCloud to automatically back up and sync specific folders from their figurer to their iCloud business relationship, such equally the Documents folder, Desktop binder, or others. Photos and videos from an iPhone or iPad can likewise exist automatically synchronized. Using this characteristic tin chop-chop eat up the 5GB of free space, so it's likely that anyone using iCloud for such purposes would upgrade to a paid business relationship. At $3 per calendar month for 200GB, it'south still a relatively good deal for the Apple faithful.

While iCloud users tin can use their personal accounts to share files with colleagues (and those files are encrypted in transit and at balance), this is essentially a consumer service.

Free account storage space: 5GB

Gratis account max file size: 5GB in theory, as long as it doesn't exceed storage limits.

Paid accounts : 50GB, $one per calendar month; 200GB, $three/month; 2TB, $10/month. Apple allows these plans to be shared with family unit members (up to 5 other members). Those who subscribe to Apple services such as Apple Music or Apple TV+ may also be able to salvage money through Apple tree Ane bundling.

Paid account max file size 50GB, every bit long as information technology doesn't exceed storage limits.

Additional features with paid plans: Upgrading your storage amount doesn't requite you additional features, unlike with other online storage services.

Time to upload 245MB file: 1 minute, 56 seconds