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

Virtually file-sharing services take evolved into full-diddled collaboration platforms. We look at 10 online services ranging from basic to enterprise-level.

Table of Contents

Prove More

Back in the pre-deject days, sharing files involved using file transfer protocol applications or else copying files to a disc and then mailing it or walking it over to a colleague (affectionately known equally 'sneakernet'). Emails could also be sent (and many people yet utilize email as their main "file-sharing" pick), but size limits on attachments and security concerns discouraged this practice.

Today's world of file sharing offers nearly countless options. Giants similar Dropbox, Box, Google, Microsoft, and Apple, as well equally smaller companies like MediaFire and Tresorit, all offer online cloud storage options that include file sharing, synchronization beyond multiple devices, and collaboration features. Once you have uploaded a file to one of these services, file-sharing is equally easy as clicking a "share" push and so sending the link to a colleague via email. While most offer desktop and mobile applications, users can also upload, store, sync, and share files via a web browser.

The services we've chosen are listed here in alphabetical order and cover a range of options, from basic services for consumers to enterprise-level services. This is non 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 connectedness with an average upload speed of 86 megabits/second. (See "How we tested.")

Box

file sharing apps box IDG

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

It'south nearly incommunicable to talk about Box without mentioning Dropbox (and vice versa), as the two are oft 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 deject content management via integrations with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365/Role 365, and many others, along with enterprise-grade security and management options.

There is a free program for individudals that lets you kick the tires — information technology 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 y'all are trying to share video files, but the 10GB storage limit is notwithstanding pretty generous. Additionally, all of Box's business plans offering a 14-day complimentary trial.

Free account storage infinite: 10GB

Free account max file size: 250MB

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

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

Boosted features with business plans: Built-in integrations with Slack (besides as Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace), plus one additional enterprise app integration; Box Sign (unlimited e-signatures via web app); Box Relay (workflow automation); data loss protection; two-gene authentication; SSO; Active Directory integration; other user management features. Higher-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

file sharing apps citrix sharefile IDG

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

Security is robust, as well, with enterprise-grade encryption and customizable permissions settings. The ShareFile dashboard makes information technology easy to add new users and toggle between personal and shared folders. Total-featured apps are available for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. At that place is no free plan, simply you tin try the Premium version for complimentary for 30 days without having to enter a credit card number. The company likewise offers a virtual data room for 5 employee users, which offers avant-garde security, sharing, and control for sensitive information.

Gratis account storage space: Northward/A

Free account max file size: Due north/A

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

Paid business relationship max file size: Standard, Avant-garde, and Premium, 100GB; Virtual Data Room, 5GB.

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

Fourth dimension to upload 245MB file: 1 minute, 38 seconds

Dropbox

file sharing apps dropbox IDG

Equally previously mentioned, Dropbox and Box are big players in the business market, offering enterprise-level security and management features as well as a salubrious ecosystem of integrated third-party apps that brand the services more robust. Both have continually evolved and improved to the point that, for most organizations, either one is a swell option.

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

To try before you lot purchase, Dropbox's gratuitous Basic plan for individuals offers 2GB of storage. A 30-solar day costless trial is bachelor for all business plans.

Complimentary account storage space: 2GB

Gratuitous account max file size: No limit, merely must be smaller than your storage space quota.

Paid accounts : Personal plans include Plus (1 user, 2TB storage, $10 per month) and Family (up to vi users, 2TB shared storage, $17/month). Work plans include Professional (1 user, 3TB storage, $16.60/month); Standard (3+ users, 5TB storage, $12.l/user/month); Avant-garde (three+ users, unlimited storage, $20/user/month). For enterprise plans, contact Dropbox Sales. (Prices shown are for annual payments.)

Additional features with business organization plans: 180 days of file recovery and version history, 180-day history for Dropbox Rewind (recover from accidents/ransomware past reversing changes at folder or business relationship level), remote device wipe, two-factor authentication, document watermarking, shared link controls, file locking, branded sharing, priority e-mail support, and live chat back up. Higher-level plans offer HIPAA compliance, an admin console, SSO integration, audit logs, more.

Time to upload 245MB file: 56 seconds

Google Drive

file sharing apps google drive IDG

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

With the Backup and Sync desktop customer, you can cull which of your Windows or macOS computer folders to continually sync to Google Drive — y'all don't have to keep files in a designated folder, as you do with some services. Permissions on shared files tin become complicated — nosotros've often shared a link with colleagues only to get a response proverb that they tin't access the file. But once you can access a file, collaborating on documents in existent time through Google'south other productivity apps is equally good equally it gets.

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

Complimentary account storage infinite: 15GB

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

Paid accounts: Google One plans for individuals: 100GB, $ii/calendar month; 200GB, $3/month; 2TB, $ten/month; 10TB, $fifty/month; 20TB, $100/calendar month; 30TB, $150/month. Google Workspace Essentials plans for businesses: 100GB per user/2TB pooled cloud storage, $8/user/month. Google Workspace plans for businesses: Business Starter: 30GB storage per user, $6/user/month; Business Standard: 2TB storage per user, $12/user/calendar month; Business concern Plus: 5TB storage per user, $eighteen/user/calendar month; Enterprise (300+ users): unlimited storage, contact sales for pricing.

Additional features with business plans: Security and management controls, 24/7 phone and email support, centralized admin panel, audit and reporting. Higher-level plans offer advanced endpoint management, data loss prevention, context-aware access, more.

Time to upload 245MB file: 48 seconds

iCloud Drive

file sharing apps icloud drive IDG

Anyone who owns a Mac, iPhone, or iPad likely already has the free 5GB of online storage via iCloud that comes with the creation of an AppleID, and those users can share folders and documents with other iCloud users. Although Apple does offer an iCloud app for Windows, it's probable that this mainly benefits Apple users who also use a Windows PC; we don't really see people who are primarily Windows users signing upwards for an iCloud account to use the service, peculiarly because iCloud does non have an Android app. Android device users could access iCloud via the web app, merely they would probable utilise Google's online cloud storage to dorsum upwardly their photos and videos anyhow.

As with other online storage services, users can gear up iCloud to automatically back up and sync specific folders from their reckoner to their iCloud account, such equally the Documents binder, Desktop folder, or others. Photos and videos from an iPhone or iPad can also be automatically synchronized. Using this feature can quickly eat up the 5GB of gratis space, so it'due south likely that anyone using iCloud for such purposes would upgrade to a paid account. At $three per month for 200GB, information technology'south however a relatively adept deal for the Apple tree faithful.

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

Gratis account storage space: 5GB

Costless business relationship max file size: 5GB in theory, equally long as it doesn't exceed storage limits.

Paid accounts : 50GB, $1 per calendar month; 200GB, $3/month; 2TB, $10/month. Apple allows these plans to be shared with family members (up to 5 other members). Those who subscribe to Apple services such equally Apple Music or Apple Idiot box+ may also be able to save money through Apple Ane bundling.

Paid account max file size 50GB, as long as it doesn't exceed storage limits.

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

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