Dropbox vs Filen

Dropbox is the cloud storage company founded in 2007 by Drew Houston and Arash Ferdowsi in San Francisco and publicly listed since 2018. It popularized simple file sync across computers and remains known for fast, reliable desktop sync, especially with large files and big folders.

Core features include sync with selective and online-only files, sharing links with passwords and expiry dates, file requests for collecting files from others, Dropbox Transfer for sending large files, version history, file recovery and remote device wipe. The company has built and bought adjacent products: Dropbox Sign (formerly HelloSign) for e-signatures, DocSend for tracked document sharing, Replay for video review and Dash, an AI-powered search across connected work apps. A free Basic plan offers limited storage; Plus serves individuals, while Standard and Advanced are priced per user with team storage, admin controls and advanced security.

Dropbox fits creative teams, agencies and freelancers who move large files and need sync that rarely breaks, and companies that want storage independent of Google or Microsoft. For organizations already paying for Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, Google Drive and OneDrive come bundled and are usually enough. Box is stronger for enterprise content governance, pCloud and Proton Drive appeal to privacy-focused users, and the free 2 GB plan is too small for most people beyond trying the service.

Filen is a zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage service from Germany. Files are encrypted on your device before upload, so the company cannot read them, and data is stored in German data centers under EU privacy law. It positions itself as a cheaper alternative to established privacy-focused providers while offering the core features of a modern cloud drive.

Filen provides desktop sync clients for Windows, macOS and Linux, mobile apps with camera upload, a web drive, encrypted sharing links with passwords and expiry dates, file versioning and a network drive mode. Its client software is open source, which lets security-minded users inspect how encryption works. Pricing starts with a free plan of 10 GB, followed by low-cost monthly or yearly plans that can be stacked on one account; the lifetime plans it once sold have been removed from the lineup.

Filen fits individuals and freelancers who want private storage on a budget, especially Linux users who are poorly served by larger providers. It is a young company with a small team, so collaboration features, admin controls and support are limited compared with business products, and some users report variable sync performance with very large folders. Proton Drive offers a broader privacy ecosystem, pCloud and Internxt sell lifetime plans, and Tresorit is the stronger choice for businesses that need compliance and team administration.