Dropbox vs MEGA

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.

MEGA is a cloud storage service run by Mega Limited in Auckland, New Zealand, launched in January 2013. Kim Dotcom started it but cut ties with the company in 2015. Its main selling point is zero-knowledge, end-to-end encryption: files are encrypted on your device before upload, so MEGA cannot read them, and the same model covers share links, chat and meetings.

Desktop sync apps for Windows, macOS and Linux, mobile apps with camera upload, file versioning, upload request folders and expiring, password-protected links cover everyday storage and sharing. Paid plans also bundle MEGA VPN and the MEGA Pass password manager. The free plan gives 20 GB with limited transfer. Paid plans are charged in euros: Pro Lite is €4.99 per month for 750 GB, Pro I €9.99 for 3 TB, Pro II €19.99 for 10 TB and Pro III €29.99 for 20 TB. Pro Flexi and Business start at €15 per month for 3 TB with pay-per-TB beyond.

MEGA fits privacy-minded individuals, freelancers and creators who move large files and want far more free space than Dropbox. pCloud offers lifetime plans, Sync.com and Tresorit focus on business compliance, and Dropbox wins on integrations and Office or Google file collaboration. Weak spots are transfer quotas, limited in-browser editing and a past file-sharing reputation some IT teams still flag.

MEGA has grown into a privacy suite with VPN, password manager, S3-compatible object storage and the transfer.it file-sending service. Tip: annual billing on Pro I and above saves about two months, while Pro Lite yearly saves almost nothing.