MEGA is a file storage & sharing tool for Freelancers and Small businesses, offered as freemium. Founded in New Zealand in 2013. Popular alternatives include lifebox.
About MEGA
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.
Key features of MEGA
- Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption for files, links and chat
- Desktop sync for Windows, macOS and Linux with selective sync
- Mobile apps with automatic camera upload
- Share links with passwords and expiry dates on paid plans
- Upload request folders that let non-users send you files
- File versioning and rubbish bin recovery
- MEGA VPN and MEGA Pass bundled with Pro plans
- Business plan with user management and usage dashboards
Pros and cons
Pros
- 20 GB free, ten times Dropbox's free tier
- Client-side encryption on every plan, including free
- Lots of storage per euro on Pro II and Pro III
- Native apps for every major platform including Linux
- Bundles a VPN and password manager
Cons
- Transfer quotas limit heavy downloads on the free tier
- Charged in euros only
- Limited online document editing
- Fewer third-party integrations than Dropbox or Google Drive
- Losing both password and recovery key means losing data
MEGA pricing
MEGA uses a freemium model.
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | €0 | 20 GB storage, limited transfer |
| Pro Lite | €4.99 / mo | 750 GB storage, 1 TB transfer per month |
| Pro I | €9.99 / mo | 3 TB storage and transfer; €99.99 billed yearly |
| Pro II | €19.99 / mo | 10 TB storage and transfer; €199.99 billed yearly |
| Pro III | €29.99 / mo | 20 TB storage and transfer; €299.99 billed yearly |
| Pro Flexi | €15 / mo | 3 TB base, then €3.50 per extra TB used |
| Business | €5 / user/mo | Minimum 3 users; 3 TB base, €3.50 per extra TB |
Source: mega.io · checked on Oct 20, 2026
How MEGA compares in File storage & sharing
- Rank by votes
- #1 / 16
- Starting price
- $0
- Free alternatives
- 1
0 votes from members
Category median is $7/mo
Free or open-source tools in File storage & sharing
MEGA ranks #1 of 16 file storage & sharing tools by community votes and is not directly comparable on price.
Common use cases
- 1Private backup of personal documents and photos
- 2Sending large video files to clients
- 3Encrypted shared folders for a small team
- 4Collecting files from clients through upload request links
- 5Off-device backup of raw footage for video creators
Best for
Privacy-conscious individuals and small teams who want lots of encrypted storage at a low euro price.
Not ideal for
Teams that live in Office or Google file collaboration or need compliance tooling (Dropbox, Tresorit).
Integrations
- MEGAcmd CLI
- rclone
- MEGA S4 (S3-compatible)
- MEGA VPN
- MEGA Pass
- Transfer.it
Our take
MEGA gives more encrypted storage per euro than most rivals, and 20 GB free is generous. Pick Pro I on annual billing for personal use, but choose Dropbox or Google Drive if collaboration and integrations matter more than encryption.
FAQ
- What is MEGA?
- MEGA is a File storage & sharing tool: End-to-end encrypted cloud storage with 20 GB free.
- How much does MEGA cost?
- MEGA uses a Freemium model; see the vendor's pricing page for current plans.
- What are the best alternatives to MEGA?
- Community-listed alternatives to MEGA include lifebox.
- What does MEGA integrate with?
- MEGA integrates with MEGAcmd CLI, rclone, MEGA S4 (S3-compatible), MEGA VPN, MEGA Pass, Transfer.it and more.
- Which platforms does MEGA support?
- MEGA is available on web, macos, windows, linux, ios, android.
- Who is MEGA for?
- Privacy-conscious individuals and small teams who want lots of encrypted storage at a low euro price.
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