What Is Cloud File Sharing?

Share Files via Clouds
Share Files via Clouds

Cloud data sharing is the process of sharing files between different user accounts using cloud-based file sharing technology. It utilizes cloud storage and team collaboration services to achieve file sharing over the Internet between multiple user accounts on a global basis.

Cloud-based sharing works only when files are stored online or on a cloud storage service. Upon successful upload, a file will be generated online with a unique URL provided by the file-sharing services. The owner of the file can share this URL with multiple users to allow them to access and download the shared file. 

Why Need Cloud File Sharing Apps/Services?

With the fast development of information technology, people share files and folders online every day. While a great deal of content is shared via social media, cloud storage services still provide a safer place to store and share files online. 

With so many cloud-based file sharing solutions, we've put together a comprehensive guide to the 10 best free cloud file sharing for business and individual options for online file sharing.

Top 10 Cloud File Sharing Options in 2023

This clear guide focuses on the top 10 best cloud-based file-sharing software in 2023. The comparison is fierce, as every major IT company has its cloud storage service. Therefore, when choosing a cloud for sharing files online, you may need to take into account the security, storage, price, speed, and other important features of the service.

1. Dropbox

Dropbox
Dropbox

Dropbox provides cloud storage space for all your files. It offers a desktop application and mobile app to make sure that all your files are in sync and within easy reach. Dropbox has a simple interface that allows you to easily share files from your desktop, cloud, or mobile devices.

Pros Cons
  • Files in Dropbox can be integrated with Dropbox paper and more than 10 million third-party apps.
  • It focuses on customer privacy and security.
  • The free accounts start only with 2 GB of storage capacity.

2. pCloud

pCloud
pCloud

pCloud is a good cloud file sharing service that provides a rich choice of media features and security. You can subscribe pCloud in two major modes. You can pay for a monthly plan or a lifetime plan. The unique part is that you can pay a one-time-only lifetime fee for the cost of the service to save your money.

Pros Cons
  • It offers lifetime subscriptions.
  • Elegant and user-friendly interface.
  • A separate charge for security.

3. OneDrive

OneDrive
OneDrive

As a safe and secure cloud file sharing option, OneDrive allows users to store files and access them from anywhere on any device. You can edit files offline, and OneDrive will automatically upload changes the next time you have an Internet connection. OneDrive provides a safe way to collaborate on content with the team and co-workers outside of the team.

Pros Cons
  • Ideal for data, project, user, and workflow management.
  • Desktop and mobile apps are available for all popular operating systems.
  • 15 GB file upload limit.
  • Does not have an easy-to-use interface.

4. Google Drive

Google Drive
Google Drive

In Google Drive, you will get 15 GB of free cloud storage for all your documents and media files, and you can upgrade if you need more storage. Files stored on Google Drive can be accessed from anywhere on any device. And Google Drive provides a well-designed mobile app for you to easily work from anywhere, at any time.

Pros Cons
  • Excellent collaboration features of Google Workspace.
  • Generous amount of free storage.
  • 5 TB data limitation.
  • No password protection for shared files.
  • The web interface may be a little confusing.

5. MultCloud

 

MultCloud
MultCloud

MultCloud is not a cloud storage service but works pretty well as a multiple cloud storage manager and a secure cloud file sharing service. Based on the clouds you add to MultCloud, MultCloud can help you securely share cloud files with everyone by 3 major sharing options. MultCloud supports 30+ leading clouds and uses the OAuth authorization system and 256-bit AES Encryption to protect your cloud account and data.

Pros Cons
  • Share, create cloud file requests, collaborate with teams across clouds all in a single interface.
  • Best cloud file management and transfer with multifunctional features.
  • Great cloud-to-cloud migration by Cloud Transfer, Cloud Sync, Cloud Backup, and Team Transfer.
  • Only provides web service.

6. Box

Box
Box

Box may be an old but secure cloud-based file sharing solution. It is a cloud storage service that specializes in content management and enterprise functionality. Box extends the capabilities of collaborative work and sharing to partners as well as within the company.

Pros Cons
  • Security, compliance, and governance are built-in.
  • A strong emphasis on security and privacy.
  • 5 GB file size upload limit.

7. iCloud

iCloud
iCloud

All Apple users are aware of iCloud provided by Apple. iCloud is available for Apple devices and allows you to store messages, documents, music, photos, videos, and other data remotely in Apple data centers.

Pros Cons
  • Seamless data sync between devices.
  • Easy and simple data sharing between Apple devices.
  • This service is only available to those who have an Apple device and doesn’t provide android apps.

8. MEGA

MEGA
MEGA

MEGA is a cloud file sharing platform that offers 20 GB of free storage. It is well known for its security features that provide end-to-end data encryption. In addition, many popular browsers have extensions for MEGA.

Pros Cons
  • Excellent security for cloud file sharing.
  • The web is only supported by Chrome and Firefox.

9. IDrive

IDrive
IDrive

IDrive performs everything necessary for an online cloud service. Its key features include disk image backup, folder sync, file sharing, etc. IDrive allows IT users to access the IDrive Thin Client, which makes them easy to perform functions like backup, restore, manage settings for all connected computers on one centralized dashboard.

Pros Cons
  • No limit to devices per account.
  • Bulk upload and restore through email.
  • File upload within 2 GB.
  • Only the basic cloud file-sharing options are provided.

10. Amazon Drive

Amazon Drive
Amazon Drive

Previously called Amazon Cloud Drive, Amazon Drive is limited to a few countries, including the United States, Japan, Spain, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Australia, Italy, Brazil, India, and Canada. It offers unlimited photo storage and 5 GB of video storage.

Pros Cons
  • It is the central storage for all files at an affordable price.
  • File sizes larger than 2 GB will not be uploaded.
  • For personal use only.

Sharing files from clouds could be so easy if you choose and try one of these best cloud-based file sharing sites to start sharing cloud files with others. And if you are wondering how to share a Google Drive file or how to share cloud files most simply and safely for free, here we have worked out a great solution below for you to conveniently and securely share files from clouds.

Tip: Make sure that the services match the devices that are compatible with your primary needs since they do not always support all devices.

How to Use the Most Secure Cloud File Sharing Service - MultCloud

As one of the best cloud-based file-sharing services, MultCloud stands out with its easy-to-use interface and powerful features for sharing files from every cloud you have to whoever you want inflexible sharing modes.

  • 3 useful and reliable sharing options: Share cloud files in public, private (password supported), or source mode all according to your needs.
  • Easily request files from all clouds: Create Box File Request and requests from all the clouds you have with easy file request management.
  • Efficiently collaborate with the team across clouds: After subscribing, you can create sub-accounts of MultCloud for your team to collaborate in a shared cloud folder without cloud brand limit.

It would be so easy to share cloud files by MultCloud as soon as you follow the step-by-step instruction below without any pressure. Here we use how to share Dropbox folder and file by MultCloud as a brief example. You can use the same method to share files and folders from other clouds as well.

Use the Best Cloud File Sharing Service to Share Files from Clouds

Step 1. Sign up MultCloud and log in. Or, click “Try without signing up” to try with a temp account.

Sign Up MultCloud
Sign Up MultCloud

Step 2. Choose the Dropbox icon and allow MultCloud to access your Dropbox account.

Add Dropbox to MultCloud
Add Dropbox to MultCloud

Step 3. Tick a file or folder in Dropbox and choose “Share” in the above feature bar.

Select File to Share from Dropbox
Select File to Share from Dropbox

Step 4. In the pop-up window, choose the sharing mode you want and click “Create Share”.
Step 5. Click “Copy” and send the sharing link by yourself or by the listed ways.

Private Cloud File Sharing in MultCloud
Private Cloud File Sharing in MultCloud

When the recipient receives your sharing link, he can view and download the shared file from the link. Or, he can use MultCloud to directly save the shared file to his cloud instead of manually downloading and uploading files to Dropbox or other clouds.

Tips:

  • For safety concerns, you can try the Private Share mode so that your recipient needs to access the shared file with a password set by you.
  • If you share a folder with others, you can easily achieve cloud file requests by turning on the “Allow to Upload” button in the “My shares” list.
Create Dropbox File Request from MultCloud
Create Dropbox File Request from MultCloud

Summary

With the most comprehensive guide of the 10 best free cloud file-sharing services and clear instructions on how to share cloud files to everyone from MultCloud easily, now you can feel free to share anything you like from the cloud to others successfully.

Besides, if you try MultCloud, you will find it is not only a cloud-based file sharing tool, but also the best cloud file manager that allows you to use and manage multiple cloud storage accounts in a single interface with cloud built-in functions like upload, download, delete, copy, cut, review, rename, etc.

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