Picking a file sharing service comes down to what you actually need. This guide compares the major options so you can choose without reading marketing pages.
Quick Recommendation
- Simplest option: WeTransfer (familiar, no learning curve)
- Best free tier: Google Drive (15GB) or MEGA (20GB encrypted)
- Best for collaboration: FileGrab (real-time, two-way uploads)
- Best for privacy: Wormhole (P2P) or Tresorit (zero-knowledge)
- Best for massive files: MASV (unlimited) or Smash (no limits)
- Best value: FileGrab ($10/mo) or Sync.com ($8/mo)
Full Comparison
| Service | Max File | Storage | Expiry | E2E Encryption | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FileGrab | 2GB | 10GB quota | Forever | Yes (Pro) | $10/mo |
| WeTransfer | 200GB | Per-transfer | 30 days | No | $15/mo |
| Google Drive | 5TB | 15GB free | Never | No | $2-20/mo |
| Dropbox | Unlimited | 2GB-unlimited | Never | No | $12-20/mo |
| MEGA | Unlimited | 20GB free | Never | Yes | $11-31/mo |
| Wormhole | 10GB | P2P (none) | 24 hours | Yes | Free |
| Smash | Unlimited | Per-transfer | 14 days | No | $11/mo |
| Sync.com | Unlimited | 5GB-6TB | Never | Zero-knowledge | $8-20/mo |
FileGrab
The idea: Get your shareable link before uploading anything. Share immediately, add files whenever.
What’s different:
- Link exists instantly (no waiting for uploads)
- Recipients see files appear in real-time
- Two-way uploads (collaboration)
- No ads, even on free
Best for: People who share links before files are ready, teams collecting files from multiple people.
Limits: 100MB free / 10GB Pro, 2GB per file, $10/month
WeTransfer
The idea: Email-style file sending. Upload, enter recipient email, done.
What’s different:
- Beautiful minimal interface
- Email notifications to recipients
- No collaboration (one-way only)
Best for: One-off sends to people who expect email notifications.
Limits: 2GB free / 200GB Pro, $15/month, ads on free tier
Google Drive
The idea: Cloud storage with sharing built in.
What’s different:
- 15GB free storage
- Works with Docs, Sheets, Slides
- Familiar interface
- Recipients often need Google accounts
Best for: People already using Google Workspace.
Limits: 15GB free, $2-10/month for more
Dropbox
The idea: Sync folders across devices, share links to files.
What’s different:
- Best-in-class sync reliability
- Strong third-party integrations
- Dropbox Transfer for larger sends
Best for: Professionals who need reliable sync plus sharing.
Limits: 2GB free, $12-20/month for real storage
MEGA
The idea: Cloud storage with end-to-end encryption on all plans.
What’s different:
- 20GB free (largest encrypted free tier)
- Client-side encryption
- Massive paid tiers (up to 16TB)
Best for: Privacy-focused users who want encrypted cloud storage.
Limits: 20GB free, bandwidth limits on free tier
Wormhole
The idea: Firefox Send’s spiritual successor. P2P when possible, encrypted always.
What’s different:
- End-to-end encrypted
- Peer-to-peer transfers (no server storage)
- Open source
- Completely free
Best for: Privacy paranoids, one-off sensitive transfers.
Limits: 10GB max, 24-hour links only
Smash
The idea: No file size limits at all.
What’s different:
- Truly unlimited file sizes
- Fast uploads
- Custom branding (Pro)
Best for: Video editors sending raw footage.
Limits: No size limits, 7-day retention on free
Sync.com
The idea: Zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage from Canada.
What’s different:
- Sync.com can’t decrypt your files
- Canadian privacy laws
- Dropbox-like interface
Best for: Privacy-focused users who want a Dropbox replacement.
Limits: 5GB free, $8-20/month
Storage Models: Quota vs Per-Transfer
Services work in two ways:
Quota-based (Google Drive, Dropbox, FileGrab, MEGA, Sync.com):
- You get total storage
- Create multiple links that stay active
- Files persist until you delete them
Per-transfer (WeTransfer, Smash, Dropbox Transfer):
- Each transfer is independent
- Files auto-delete after expiry
- No long-term storage
Quota works better for multiple active projects. Per-transfer works for one-off sends.
Encryption: What Actually Matters
End-to-end (E2E): Files encrypted on your device. Service can’t see content.
- FileGrab Pro, MEGA, Wormhole, Sync.com, Tresorit
At-rest only: Files encrypted on servers, but service has keys.
- WeTransfer, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive
E2E matters if you’re sharing sensitive files. For cat photos, at-rest is fine.
Collaboration Comparison
Multiple people can upload to one link:
- FileGrab (primary feature)
- Google Drive (shared folders)
- Dropbox (shared folders)
One-way only (sender uploads, recipients download):
- WeTransfer
- Wormhole
- Smash
FileGrab is the only service where collaboration is the default behavior for shareable links, not just shared folders.
Price Comparison for Teams (5 Users)
| Service | Monthly Cost | Storage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FileGrab | $50 | 50GB total | E2E, collaboration |
| WeTransfer | $75 | Per-transfer | 200GB transfers |
| Google Workspace | $30-90 | 150GB-25TB | Full office suite |
| Dropbox Business | $100-150 | 5TB+ pooled | Admin controls |
| Sync.com | $30-75 | 5-30TB | Zero-knowledge |
Which Should You Pick?
You need to send one large file: WeTransfer or Smash - simple, no learning curve.
You need collaboration: FileGrab - real-time, two-way, link-first approach.
You need cloud storage + sharing: Google Drive (budget) or Dropbox (reliability).
You need maximum privacy: Wormhole (free, P2P) or Tresorit (enterprise compliance).
You need the best value: FileGrab ($10/mo) or Sync.com ($8/mo).
The Bottom Line
There’s no single “best” service. Match the tool to what you actually do.
For most people who share files regularly, FileGrab’s link-first approach saves time. Get the link, share it, upload when ready. No waiting, no ads, encryption when you need it.
Try FileGrab - Get your link in seconds.