What is a document sharing software? A document sharing software, also known as file sharing software, allows you to collaborate on documents and spreadsheets. You can also share documents with colleagues or clients easily, whether they work within your organization or across the globe.
Document sharing software is one of the most useful business tools, and many people are using them, but not all of us know that there are lots of document sharing software applications for any industry, whether you prefer to share documents via email or through online storage.
Looking for the best file sharing platform? We’ve compiled the top best document sharing platforms to keep your data safe and secure. Highly-rated alternatives include Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, and Microsoft OneDrive.
Share documents, track revisions and comments with this easy-to-use file sharing platform. Documents are stored securely, viewable by those you wish to share them with, and easily accessible from any device.
What to Look for in a File Sharing Service
Cloud access to digital files, correspondence, workflows and other work-related functions needs to be easy, intuitive, reliable and, most importantly, secure. The technology also needs to be configured to work across multiple devices, from smartphones and tablets to desktop computers and laptops.
There are many online file sharing softwares and platforms available on the marketplace with varying levels of functionality and price points, and it can be difficult to determine the best document sharing platform. Most sharing sites offer free account options and drag and drop features, but most businesses will need to invest in a tiered plan.
Some also serve as a document storage hub for an entire organization while others focus merely on securely transferring files from one place to another. So, what’s the best file sharing site? Depending on your needs, here are some popular options to consider.
FileCloud
Considered a top enterprise file sharing, sync, backup and remote access platform, FileCloud offers more than one way to access your files without a VPN. Whether a web browser, mobile app, mapped virtual drive, WebDAV or sync client, files can be shared easily and securely with a simple link. You can host your own FileCloud server or you can let them take care of the technical details and host it on their secure server. Each option is priced accordingly.
FileCloud’s collaboration tools allow comments, alerts and custom workflows, and it allows users to view and track file activity. The platform is known for its robust security, password protection, data governance and compliance initiatives, supporting HIPAA, FINRA, FIPS 140-2, and GDPR regulations.
Many of these platforms have considerable limitations, so it’s important to assess your unique business needs prior to making a decision. Many businesses determine they need to leverage the power of an Enterprise Content Management (ECM) system to keep all their data organized and, more so, to optimize operational efficiencies by automating many of the processes associated with business documentation. Its capabilities go far beyond traditional file storage and sharing programs.
Google Drive
If you’re already invested in the Google ecosystem, Google Drive is a no-brainer, since it integrates with Google’s productivity apps, such as Google Docs. Even if you don’t use other Google services, Google Drive is worth considering, as it gives users 15GB of free storage (shared with other Google services). Its rates are also competitive — 200GB costs individuals just $30/year.
With the Backup and Sync desktop client, you can choose which of your Windows or macOS computer folders to continually sync to Google Drive — you don’t have to keep files in a designated folder, as you do with some services. Permissions on shared files can get complicated — we’ve often shared a link with colleagues only to get a response saying that they can’t access the file. But once you can access a file, collaborating on documents in real time through Google’s other productivity apps is as good as it gets.
Beyond the 15GB free plan, Drive is available to individuals through a Google One plan. Businesses can opt for either a Google Workspace plan, which includes Drive, Gmail, Calendar, Docs, and other productivity/collaboration apps, or Workspace Essentials, which includes all of the above except Gmail and Calendar. A 14-day free trial is available for business plans.
Free account storage space: 15GB
Free account max file size: 5TB (with some exceptions)
Paid accounts: Google One plans for individuals: 100GB, $2/month; 200GB, $3/month; 2TB, $10/month; 10TB, $50/month; 20TB, $100/month; 30TB, $150/month. Google Workspace Essentials plans for businesses: 100GB per user/2TB pooled cloud storage, $8/user/month. Google Workspace plans for businesses: Business Starter: 30GB storage per user, $6/user/month; Business Standard: 2TB storage per user, $12/user/month; Business Plus: 5TB storage per user, $18/user/month; Enterprise (300+ users): unlimited storage, contact sales for pricing.
Additional features with business plans: Security and management controls, 24/7 phone and email support, centralized admin console, audit and reporting. Higher-level plans offer advanced endpoint management, data loss prevention, context-aware access, more.
Time to upload 245MB file: 48 seconds
iCloud Drive
Anyone who owns a Mac, iPhone, or iPad likely already has the free 5GB of online storage via iCloud that comes with the creation of an AppleID, and those users can share folders and documents with other iCloud users. Although Apple does offer an iCloud app for Windows, it’s likely that this mainly benefits Apple users who also use a Windows PC; we don’t really see people who are primarily Windows users signing up for an iCloud account to use the service, particularly because iCloud does not have an Android app. Android device users could access iCloud via the web app, but they would likely use Google’s online cloud storage to back up their photos and videos anyway.
As with other online storage services, users can set up iCloud to automatically back up and sync specific folders from their computer to their iCloud account, such as the Documents folder, Desktop folder, or others. Photos and videos from an iPhone or iPad can also be automatically synchronized. Using this feature can quickly eat up the 5GB of free space, so it’s likely that anyone using iCloud for such purposes would upgrade to a paid account. At $3 per month for 200GB, it’s still a relatively good bargain for the Apple faithful.
While iCloud users can use their personal accounts to share files with colleagues (and those files are encrypted in transit and at rest), this is essentially a consumer service.
Free account storage space: 5GB
Free account max file size: 5GB in theory, as long as it doesn’t exceed storage limits.
Paid accounts: 50GB, $1 per month; 200GB, $3/month; 2TB, $10/month. Apple allows these plans to be shared with family members (up to five other members). Those who subscribe to Apple services such as Apple Music or Apple TV+ may also be able to save money through Apple One bundling.
Paid account max file size 50GB, as long as it doesn’t exceed storage limits.
Additional features with paid plans: Upgrading your storage amount doesn’t give you additional features, unlike with other online storage services.
Time to upload 245MB file: 1 minute, 56 seconds
Dropbox
Best for businesses of any size, freelancers, and solo workers.
Dropbox is a workspace that is designed for reducing busywork. It will take your team’s content together. It will allow you to use the tools of your choice. It can provide the individualized support to help admin manage at scale. The platform will give you centralized team content, team collaboration anytime & anywhere, and can transform your folders.
Features:
- Dropbox will let you organize traditional files, cloud content, web shortcuts together.
- You will spend less time searching files as it provides personalized suggestions to give you files and folders.
- You can use this platform to coordinate with your team and push projects forward with the tools that you are using daily.
Cons:
- It doesn’t offer a free plan.
Verdict: Dropbox provides easy-to-use sharing and collaboration tools. You will get sophisticated control and security features.
Price: Dropbox Business has three pricing plans, Standard ($12.50 per user per month), Advanced ($20 per user per month), and Enterprise (Get a quote). A free trial is available for 30 days.
Box
Best for small to large businesses.
Box is the platform for secure content management, workflow, and collaboration. It will let you collaborate with anyone, anywhere, and on any device. It has a revamped UI and added new features like collections, annotations, and a streamlined Zoom integration. It provides functionalities for teams as well as individuals.
Features:
- Box has advanced security controls, intelligent threat-detection, and complete information governance.
- It can be integrated with more than 1400 apps including O365, GSuite, and Slack.
- It provides flexible security controls and will allow you to share files with confidence.
- It will protect your most sensitive data regardless of the industry.
Cons:
- No such cons to mention.
Verdict: By using the Box platform you will get workflow automation, seamless collaboration, and frictionless security. It is easy to use and will simplify your work.
Price: Box offers four plans for businesses, Starter ($5 per user per month), Business ($15 per user per month), Business Plus ($25 per user per month), and Enterprise ($35 per user per month).
All these plans can be tried before buying. It offers a free plan for individuals. It also provides Enterprise Suites, Platform Plans, and the plans for individuals. All the mentioned prices are for yearly billing. A monthly billing option is also available.
OneDrive
Best for small to large businesses.
OneDrive is one of the popular file hosting and synchronization services. It can be used for storing the data in the cloud, sharing files, and syncing files across Android, Windows Phone, and iOS devices. It supports Windows and Mac OS.
OneDrive provides an added layer of protection and hence you can store important files and photos.
Features:
- OneDrive is useful for saving your files and photos & accessing them anywhere and from any device.
- You will be able to access selected files without being online.
- Even though your device is lost, you will not lose your files. They will remain protected.
- You will be able to share large files just by sending a link through email or text.
Cons:
- It offers just 5GB of storage for free which is very less than the Google Drive free storage space.
Verdict: OneDrive makes your files available on demand. You will get a personal vault to store important files. It supports offline access for selected files.
Price: 5GB of storage space is available for free. It has subscription plans for various storage options like 100GB, 1TB, and 6TB.
OneHub
Several well-known brands rely on this file transfer software, including Starbucks, CVS Health, Aflac, AARP, and others. Features include an activity tracker to see who interacts with files, easy uploading and file organization, plus the ability to post messages, assign tasks and share and collaborate with others. For those concerned with data security, OneHub promises robust permission controls and bank-level data encryption both at rest and in transit. Their free trial and the absence of long-term contracts is appealing to many who want to get a feel for its functionality.
Microsoft OneDrive
One of the most popular file sharing services is one that many people may already use without knowing it. Microsoft’s OneDrive is a file management software that can host more than 270 file types, operated by Microsoft as part of its suite of online services.
If you use one of Microsoft’s services online, OneDrive offers 5GB of storage space free of charge. Admittedly, that’s a pittance for individual users, let alone a business. For organizations, OneDrive for Business is a managed cloud storage that replaces SharePoint Workspace. Your data can be stored and shared either on your own on-premise server or purchased as a cloud-based subscription from Microsoft.
Go for a Free Trial Before You Take the Final Plunge
These file-sharing solutions should give you a good idea of which one to use for your business. But, as you have seen, not all of them are simply file-sharing platforms. Our top pick, Encyro, is an end-to-end file sharing software that supports all the processes associated with distributing and storing documents. You can easily check out what we mean when you sign up for a Encyro free trial.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a small business, planning to launch your new startup or even a large enterprise looking for effective document collaboration and file sharing software, you need to do research properly. It’s never easy to pick the best from tens of similar applications.
The best file sharing platform for business is finally here. We have searched far and wide to bring you the best document sharing platform on the internet! Our features include: sync, share and search documents, create private vaults with passwords and key file encryption, set permissions for teams or individuals to access files, drag and drop uploads of any type of file including images , video and audio files