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

Most file-sharing services have evolved into full-blown collaboration platforms. We await at 10 online services ranging from basic 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 and so mailing information technology or walking it over to a colleague (affectionately known equally 'sneakernet'). Emails could likewise be sent (and many people still employ e-mail as their main "file-sharing" pick), but size limits on attachments and security concerns discouraged this practice.

Today's globe of file sharing offers nearly endless options. Giants like 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 across multiple devices, and collaboration features. Once you have uploaded a file to ane of these services, file-sharing is as easy as clicking a "share" push and then sending the link to a colleague via e-mail. While nearly offering desktop and mobile applications, users tin 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 bones services for consumers to enterprise-level services. This is not an exhaustive listing of all services, simply rather a sampling of the big players and some lesser-known vendors.

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

Box

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(Click any prototype in this story to enlarge it.)

Information technology's nearly impossible to talk about Box without mentioning Dropbox (and vice versa), equally the 2 are often pitted against each other. Box has always been geared toward businesses and enterprises, while Dropbox used to exist largely focused on consumers and SMBs. But both services now include enterprise collaboration features and deject content direction via integrations with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365/Office 365, and many others, along with enterprise-grade security and management options.

In that location is a free plan for individudals that lets yous kick the tires — information technology offers 10GB of storage, a 250MB file upload limit, and the power 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's business plans offering a 14-day free trial.

Free account storage space: 10GB

Free account max file size: 250MB

Paid accounts : Personal Pro, 100GB storage, $10/month; Business organization Starter, 100GB storage, $5/user/calendar month; Concern, unlimited storage, $15/user/month; Business organization Plus, unlimited storage, $25/user/month; Enterprise, unlimited storage, $35/user/month; Enterprise Plus, unlimited storage, custom pricing. (All business plans require at least three users. Prices shown are for almanac payments.)

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

Additional features with business concern plans: Built-in integrations with Slack (as well as Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace), plus 1 boosted enterprise app integration; Box Sign (unlimited e-signatures via web app); Box Relay (workflow automation); data loss protection; 2-gene authentication; SSO; Active Directory integration; other user management features. College-level plans offer boosted 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 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 utilize ShareFile to deeply share tax documents with you lot. The service offers lots of compelling features and tools for business users, including workflow management, document collaboration, eastward-signatures, and integration with Outlook and Gmail.

Security is robust, likewise, with enterprise-class encryption and customizable permissions settings. The ShareFile dashboard makes information technology piece of cake to add new users and toggle between personal and shared folders. Total-featured apps are bachelor for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. There is no gratuitous plan, but yous tin can endeavor the Premium version for free for thirty days without having to enter a credit card number. The visitor also offers a virtual data room for five employee users, which offers advanced security, sharing, and control for sensitive data.

Complimentary business relationship storage infinite: Northward/A

Free account max file size: N/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/month. All plans are for up to 5 employee users (additional employee user fees are $10–$24/user/month) and unlimited customer users. (Prices shown are for annual payments.)

Paid account max file size: Standard, Advanced, 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.

Time to upload 245MB file: 1 minute, 38 seconds

Dropbox

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As previously mentioned, Dropbox and Box are big players in the business market, offering enterprise-level security and management features every bit well as a healthy ecosystem of integrated tertiary-party apps that make the services more robust. Both have continually evolved and improved to the point that, for most organizations, either ane is a keen option.

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

To effort before y'all buy, Dropbox's complimentary Basic programme for individuals offers 2GB of storage. A 30-24-hour interval costless trial is available for all business plans.

Free account storage space: 2GB

Complimentary account max file size: No limit, but must exist smaller than your storage space quota.

Paid accounts : Personal plans include Plus (1 user, 2TB storage, $10 per month) and Family (upwards to 6 users, 2TB shared storage, $17/month). Piece of work plans include Professional (1 user, 3TB storage, $sixteen.60/calendar month); Standard (3+ users, 5TB storage, $12.50/user/calendar month); Advanced (3+ users, unlimited storage, $20/user/month). For enterprise plans, contact Dropbox Sales. (Prices shown are for annual payments.)

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

Time to upload 245MB file: 56 seconds

Google Drive

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

With the Backup and Sync desktop client, you can cull which of your Windows or macOS reckoner folders to continually sync to Google Bulldoze — you don't have to proceed files in a designated folder, every bit yous do with some services. Permissions on shared files tin can get complicated — we've frequently shared a link with colleagues only to get a response saying that they can't access the file. Just once you can access a file, collaborating on documents in real time through Google'southward other productivity apps is as good as it gets.

Beyond the 15GB gratuitous program, Drive is available to individuals through a Google One 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 Calendar. A 14-solar day costless trial is available for business organization plans.

Free account storage space: 15GB

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

Paid accounts: Google I plans for individuals: 100GB, $2/month; 200GB, $three/month; 2TB, $10/month; 10TB, $50/calendar month; 20TB, $100/month; 30TB, $150/calendar month. Google Workspace Essentials plans for businesses: 100GB per user/2TB pooled deject storage, $8/user/month. Google Workspace plans for businesses: Business Starter: 30GB storage per user, $vi/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 back up, centralized admin console, audit and reporting. College-level plans offering advanced endpoint management, data loss prevention, context-aware access, more.

Time to upload 245MB file: 48 seconds

iCloud Drive

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Anyone who owns a Mac, iPhone, or iPad likely already has the costless 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 tree does offer an iCloud app for Windows, it's likely that this mainly benefits Apple tree users who besides use a Windows PC; nosotros don't actually see people who are primarily Windows users signing up for an iCloud business relationship to utilize the service, especially because iCloud does not have an Android app. Android device users could access iCloud via the spider web app, just they would likely use Google'south online deject storage to back up their photos and videos anyway.

As with other online storage services, users tin can ready up iCloud to automatically support and sync specific folders from their estimator to their iCloud account, such every bit the Documents folder, Desktop folder, or others. Photos and videos from an iPhone or iPad can as well be automatically synchronized. Using this characteristic can quickly swallow up the 5GB of free space, so information technology's likely that anyone using iCloud for such purposes would upgrade to a paid business relationship. At $3 per month for 200GB, it's still a relatively good bargain for the Apple faithful.

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

Gratuitous business relationship storage space: 5GB

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

Paid accounts : 50GB, $1 per calendar month; 200GB, $3/month; 2TB, $10/month. Apple allows these plans to exist shared with family members (upwardly to five other members). Those who subscribe to Apple services such as Apple tree Music or Apple TV+ may besides be able to save money through Apple tree I bundling.

Paid business relationship max file size 50GB, every bit long as it doesn't exceed storage limits.

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

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