10 Best File Sharing Software in 2024

After deciding which file sharing method to use, it's time to choose a single service or product. This can be challenging because there are many options, from established companies to newly established startups. Here are some tips to consider when choosing a file sharing solution.

Price — You will want to know how much the service will cost upfront each month or year. In some cases, you may also need to pay for the bandwidth used during transmission.

Safety — If you want to trust the data hosting of the cloud provider, make sure to research how to store information and how to protect it. Compatibility—Understand which types of devices and operating systems will support file transfer. If some of your users are not satisfied with the new technology, look for options with a simple interface.

Limit — Before making a huge investment in file-sharing services, be sure to determine any restrictions or limitations on the number of shared files or the total amount of data stored by the provider.

In most cases, cloud-based solutions will meet your file sharing needs. For personal use, you will find a series of free options. For enterprise-level file sharing, you will need a powerful and flexible tool. The following alphabetical list will help you narrow your choices.

1. Box

Box is one of the earliest popular cloud-based file storage services. It enables users and organizations to centralize all data and collaborate with others. Box offers free options for individual users and a variety of paid plans for businesses.

Great For: Large companies that need to manage large global data systems.

Pros: It is well integrated with corporate security systems, can be configured for workflow, and meets compliance requirements.

Cons: Cheap plans are very limited and it is difficult to preview files from computers and devices.

Pro Tip: Enable email alerts to automatically be notified when documents are uploaded or changed.

2. Dropbox

Dropbox is committed to providing a place for individual users and organizations to store all their important data. Synchronization is a big focus of Dropbox because it has a native app for mobile devices and allows you to carry files anywhere.

Great For: Small and medium-sized enterprises that do not need advanced functions, and users who want to back up critical data.

Pros: Huge user network, so it is easier and safer to share documents, files are always encrypted, and the desktop experience is integrated.

Cons: The personal free tier only includes 2 GB of storage space, and new collaboration solutions can be confusing.

Pro Tip: Check the version history of the document to understand its changes over time, and if you accidentally delete it, you can even restore it.

3. Egnyte

Egnyte caters mainly to business users who want to maintain strict control over every file shared inside or outside the organization. It has many advanced features out of the box, and also allows you to integrate its services with your own applications through an application programming interface (API).

Great for: Companies that need to transmit confidential data, organizations that support various devices and operating systems.

Pros: Each file transfer will save additional backup copies, and follow the highest encryption standards, strong mobile access permissions.

Cons: Difficult to use than some basic services and may lack customer support.

Pro Tip: Administrators can share files and create custom dashboards for each user.

4. Google Drive

Google Drive is one of the first companies to bring document collaboration to the cloud using its browser-based Google Docs suite. The platform behind it is Google Drive, which is also an excellent file sharing service.

Great For: People who already have a Gmail account, small organizations, don't want to worry about local storage.

Pros: New users can get 15 GB of data for free and can share files with any email address.

Cons: Collaboration requires a Google account, and it may be difficult to see sharing settings.

Pro Tip: Upload an image and let Google Drive extract text from it for searching.

5. iCloud Drive

Apple has been steadily releasing improvements to its iCloud online software suite. Now, new Mac computers and iOS devices have iCloud Drive installed, so files can be automatically synchronized.

Great For: Users who use Apple products at home and in the office, and file sharing between Apple users.

Pros: Free up storage space on the local hard drive and integrate with iMessage and other Apple services.

Cons: Limited integration with Windows, new users only get 5 GB of storage space, limited business support.

Pro Tip: Try the family sharing option to easily share images and videos among multiple users.

6. MediaFire

MediaFire is a small but growing cloud-based storage platform that can be used in a browser or mobile device. It aims to provide a simplified file sharing solution for users who do not need exquisite features.

Great For: Quickly transfer files from one person to another, users who like to share via email.

Pros: No bandwidth limitation, fast batch download, multiple uploads can be handled through the browser.

Cons: The basic plan includes on-screen advertising and limited collaboration options.

Pro Tip: Configure a one-time link to ensure that your files will not be shared more than once.

7. OneDrive

As Microsoft moves many of its core business products to the cloud, its OneDrive tool has become an important part of the Windows operating system. Individual users can back up their data and create shared folders throughout the organization.

Great For: Businesses using Windows PCs, individuals with Outlook email accounts.

Pros: Integrated with Sharepoint, fine permission settings, easy to use in conjunction with Office.

Cons: Mac OS is not supported, and the upload and download speed will be very slow.

Pro Tip: Use the OneDrive mobile app to automatically back up all photos to the cloud.

8. SecureDocs

SecureDocs is considered a virtual data room designed to cater to companies that are seeking mergers or acquisitions and need to manage secure document sharing. The company provides a fixed monthly pricing structure that includes access to an unlimited number of users. They also provide a single sign-on option for your existing corporate identity verification tools.

Great For: Instances where safety is the top priority.

Pros: Drag and drop folders, uniform prices, one of the few providers that offer unlimited accounts.

Cons: Challenging to configure permissions and restrict integration.

Pro Tip: Enable two-factor authentication to improve security.

9. SugarSync

SugarSync can run on Mac or Windows computers so that users can easily synchronize folders to their cloud accounts. It was first launched in 2008 and is geared towards both consumers and business users. Their security standards are equivalent to those of the banking industry.

Great For: Users with messy folders, companies without backup solutions.

Pros: Easy to restore files online, you can create public links to documents.

Cons: There is no free plan option, and the synchronization speed may be slow.

Pro Tip: You can view snapshots of synced documents at any time.

10. WeTransfer

WeTransfer aims to become the easiest file sharing service by reducing management work. The company was established in 2009. Its main service is to allow you to send any file to an email address or create a one-time link that other people can access.

Great For: One-time file transfer.

Pros: Very fast and easy to use, no account required.

Cons: Each transfer is limited to 2 GB, and there is no security function.

Pro Tip: Upgrade to a corporate account to track download history.