Top 5 Free File Hosting Websites in 2024
Need a digital locker to store all your online documents without spending a dime? Free file hosting services have you covered!
They are used to store overflowing hard drives, share files, or collaborate on projects virtually. Free file hosting makes all these surprisingly easy.
But with so many options over the internet (or should I say cloud storage?), choosing the right one depends on your work.
Today we’ll be talking A-Z on free file hosting, aka, ‘all about online storage solutions’- from understanding the basics to finding the caterer of your needs.
How Can I Host a File Online For Free?
You have two options (free) to host files online.
- Free file hosting websites: Just like cloud storage services, there are websites available to host your files for free. The websites allow you to upload your file and share the link. Examples include MediaFire, ZippyShare, Mega and a lot more.
- Free cloud storage services: Popular cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive offer free storage plans. Just upload the files over here and these services will generate the links for you to share it with others (customization with accessibility is doable). These options have a storage limitation in free tiers but even with the free tiers, they provide a lot.
Where Can I Upload Files For Free?
There are a few feasible options for seamless file uploading.
The most reliable one is free cloud storage services which are convenient; only con is they may have restrictions on file size or download limits.
Google Drive, Dropbox and Microsoft are 3 names that are most sought upon in this domain.
Just like cloud storage services, another on-demand choice is file hosting services which, in some case, offer larger storage space than the former option. MediaFire, Mega are some names in the field which are completely free.
Other options consist of Transfer Now (up to 5 GB of free file transfer, not a permanent storage) and Fastupload.io (unlimited storage but no guarantee on file persistence).
These are paths quite off-beaten. We have given an extensive and brief list of file hosting services, and before you head onto that section, ask yourself these questions-
- Storage Space: How much space do you need for your files?
- File Size Limits: Are there any limitations on the size of the files you can upload?
- Security: How important is security for your files?
- Download Limits: Are there any restrictions on how many times your files can be downloaded?
- File Expiration: Do files get deleted after a period of inactivity?
Comparison Table of 5 Free File Hosting Websites
This table compares popular file sharing services we just discussed highlighting key features like free storage, security options and document viewing capabilities to help you choose the best fit for your needs.
You’ll notice correlations like while Mega offers the most storage (20 GB), Dropbox and Google drive provide auto-syncing and document viewers for added convenience.
| Feature | Google Drive | Dropbox | Microsoft OneDrive | Mega | MediaFire |
| Free Storage | 15 GB | 2 GB | 5 GB | 20 GB | 10 GB |
| Additional Storage | 100GB @ $1.99/month | 2TB @ $9.99/month | 100GB @ $6/month | 300GB @ $3.25/month | 1 TB @ $5/month |
| Security | Encryption | Zero-knowledge, 2FA | Zero-knowledge, 2FA | End-to-end, 2FA | N/A |
| Auto Syncing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Web, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux | Web, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Web, Windows, macOS, Android, Linux, iOS | Web, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
Remember, these websites are always hovering on different plans (not to mention different promotional offers) so always stay up-to-date!
Top 5 Free File Hosting Websites
Introducing the top 5 free hosting websites to all aspiring collaborators! Be it a major data backup plan for a large industry or an English assignment, these websites come in handy.
01. Google Drive
This is a cloud storage solution hosted by Google- so integration with Google Workspace like Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc are readily accessible.
Collaborative editing and document viewing in real time are the key features. Perfect for those whose workload relies on Google environment.
Features
- Free Storage: 15 GB (includes Gmail and Google Photos)
- Maximum File Size: Generally up to 5TB for Google Drive files
- Storage Limit: Free storage can be shared across Gmail and Google Photos; additional storage needs to be paid
- File Expiration: Files remain in trash bin for a period after deletion before being permanently erased
Pricing
- Free: 15GB storage
- Paid Plans: Start at $1.99/month (100GB) and scale up for additional storage/ increased collaboration features
Link: https://drive.google.com
02. Dropbox
A user-friendly file hosting service, known for its reliable file hosting service known for its reliable file syncing and sharing functionalities.
This one serves best for those who prefer ease of accessing files across different devices.
Features
- Free Storage: 2 GB
- Maximum File Size: 2GB per file (large files can be uploaded in segments)
- Storage Limit: Upgradeable with paid plans
- File Expiration: Limited timeframe to recover accidentally deleted files, remains in dropbox until user deletes
Pricing
- Free: 2GB free storage
- Paid Plans: Starts at $9.99/month (2TB) and offer tiers. Advanced features include remote wipe for lost devices and password-protected files
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/
03. Microsoft OneDrive
This is a cloud storage solution from Microsoft, and you guessed it right!
This one offers seamless integration with Microsoft applications like Word, Excel and PowerPoint. It’s a natural choice for those who are invested in a Microsoft workspace.
Features
- Free Storage: 5GB
- Maximum File Size: 250 GB
- Storage Limit: Upgradeable with paid plans
- File Expiration: Limited timeframe to recover accidentally deleted files, remains in dropbox until user deletes
Pricing
- Free: 5 GB storage
- Paid Plans: Start at $6/month and there are various tiers, often bundled with Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Enhancements include premium versions of Office applications and additional cloud space.
Link: https://onedrive.live.com/
04. Mega
Mega is a privacy-focused storage provider known for its end-to-end encryption functionalities.
This popular cloud storage provider prioritizes user privacy and control over data.
Features
- Free Storage: 20GB (highest among free tiers)
- Maximum File Size: No Limits
- Storage Limit: Upgradable to tiers with paid plans
- File Expiration: Inactive free accounts which have files gets automatically deleted after 30 days. Paid plans offer longer durations for account deletion though.
Pricing
- Free: 20GB storage (with limited monthly transfer quota)
- Paid Plans: Start at $3/month (300GB), higher tiers available. Advanced features include no maximum limit of file size as well as chat functionality.
Link: https://mega.io/
05. MediaFire
A one-stop file hosting service with all the basic functionalities for storing and sharing files.
Features
- Free Storage: 10 GB
- Maximum File Size: 4 GB per file
- Storage Limit: Upgradeable with paid plans
- File Expiration: Inactive free accounts which have files gets automatically deleted after 30 days. Paid plans offer longer durations for account deletion though.
Pricing
- Free:10GB storage with download limitations and ads.
- Paid Plans: Start at $5/month and offer increased download bandwidth, no advertising, and longer file inactivity periods.
Link: https://www.mediafire.com/
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Can I Host My Files For Free?
The options for hosting files for free are vast.
Some popular options include Google Drive, OneDrive, MediaFire, Amazon S3 while services like GitHub and Box are mostly used for technical and business aspects.
However, there are different terms of services for all as well as limitation exist in each of the platforms- choose your best pick to collab and host files according to your needs!
What is The Best Free File Server?
Determining this answer with only one name can be difficult as there are best names for each category.
For instance, Box works well for those who oversee large-scale bigshots, Dropbox is a preferred option for flexible accessibility and so on and so forth.
However, Google Drive, in our opinion and other’s stands a good competitor in the storage competition.
Its seamless integration with other Google services like Google Docs and Gmail alongside free 15GB of storage makes it a generous option for everyone.
Navigation, file sharing, searching features also are comparatively easier.
What is The Best Free File Transfer Site?
This title is dependent on a few factors like limits, speed, security, features, ease of use and add-ons.
So before we name it, you be the judge to see if these ones fit your needs!
WeTransfer allows users to send files up to 2 GB for free, SendGB allows for free, Dropbox Transfer allows up to 100MB whereas Filemail doesn’t have a max limit for size.
Among these, DropBox offers the highest level of customization- and SendGB offers the top-tier security.
Considering all these, even though it isn’t a popular choice yet, FireMail might just become the thing of 2024.
How Do I Host My Own Files?
It’s a simple process which will involve setting up a server or using a hosting server to store files and then share it over the internet. Here’s a basic outline-
Choose your hosting option (own server/ hosting service).
If you choose to go with the hosting service (which most people do!), select a hosting provider (AWS, GCP, Microsoft Azure, and etc).
Set up your server with required OS systems and web servers and then you can start uploading your files.
Make sure there is a well-maintained web-based control panel (FTP/ SFTP).
Set up your Domain Name and DNS (Domain Name System) to point to the server’s IP address after you configure your file permissions.
Now that everything is set up, all you have to do is sit back and monitor (relax too, if you want).
Don’t forget to regularly update to avoid vulnerabilities!
Final Thoughts
File hosting websites offer brilliant ways to store, share and transfer files online.
Free of cost, these services own up to their limitations but play well with the strengths and do the job just right.
We’d request the users to have a good look at this article to spot the differences and choose the right one for the job to be get done.
