There are plenty of options when it comes to sharing documents and files, generally with family, friends, and colleagues. This short guide will present to you the best options!
Whenever you want to share documents and files with other people remotely, you want to be able to do so securely, fast, and overall efficiently.
The following services are good at encrypting files in transit and when stored, denying third parties and hackers access.
Firefox Send
Firefox Send stands out in the crowd because it is the only service on this list that uses end-to-end encryption, meaning that not even Firefox can see your files.
Other services retain the right to access private data if compelled by law enforcement or if they must manage the cloud services themselves.
Firefox Send is very easy to use (with or without the Firefox browser) and allows users to share files smaller than 2.5TB free of charge.
There is an option to make download links expire after a certain amount of time or number of downloads.
Users who want an additional means of security can opt for the password-protection option as well, which means that whoever wants to download your files must have access to both the link and the password alike.
Transferring files is simple – All you have to do is drag-and-drop files right into your browser. No additional software or sign up for a “premium” service is required. There are options to keep track of your shared files – You can choose when you desire to make them accessible, and there is also an option to revoke the download link at any time.
Dropbox
Dropbox only gives 2GB of cloud storage freely. Plans start at $12 monthly for 2TB of storage. Dropbox is good at keeping files and folders synced between devices and the cloud, and it also allows users to showcase files on the internet, interact with data, and many other gizmos.
Dropbox offers a multitude of ways to share files. Users can share data from the core app on the web, a smartphone or computer, or via a dedicated and simplified sharing tool named Dropbox Transfer, which adds extra functionality and statistics.
Dropbox can share entire folders and individual files with editing privileges or read-only settings.
Just like on Firefox Send, there is an option to protect shared links and put a date of expiry on them. The people who want to access the file you want to share don’t require a Dropbox account unless you want them to interact with your data directly.
Google Drive
Google Drive is one of the most reliable means of sharing data of all time. The free plan allows for 15GB of cloud storage, split across a roster of services (including Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos). Paid plans cost upwards of $2 monthly for 100GB of storage. All plans include access to Google’s online office suite as well, which is useful for those who want to be productive on the go and have their data synced at all times.
Google Drive also allows users to take full control over whether files can be viewed or edited. Recipients aren’t required to have a Google account to be able to download data.
Google Drive’s strong point is the online office suite. Complicated file sharing isn’t as fast or customizable as on the other services – There are no options to pick expiry dates or passwords for files.
