Mega vs Dropbox: Cloud Storage Showdown

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Cloud storage has become an essential tool for organizing and accessing our digital lives. Mega offers a generous 50 GB of free storage space, which is a significant advantage over Dropbox's 2 GB free plan.

For users who need more space, Mega's paid plans start at a reasonable $11.20 per month for 2 TB of storage, while Dropbox's paid plans begin at $11.99 per month for 2 TB.

Mega's focus on security is notable, with end-to-end encryption and a no-logs policy, giving users complete control over their data.

Cloud Storage Options

Google Drive offers 15GB of free storage, which is a decent starting point for most users.

Dropbox, on the other hand, provides 2GB of free storage, which is relatively limited compared to Google Drive.

Microsoft OneDrive offers 5GB of free storage, making it a more competitive option in the cloud storage market.

For users who need more storage space, Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive offer affordable upgrade plans starting at $1.99 per month for 100GB.

Mega

Credit: youtube.com, Mega Cloud Storage Review 2024 | What They Don't Tell You!

Mega offers a huge 20 GB of storage for free, which is pretty impressive. This is a great starting point for anyone looking to store their files securely.

Mega prioritizes security, using end-to-end encryption to keep your data safe. This means your files are transformed into unreadable code from the moment they leave your device until they reach their destination.

The company stores files in a dispersed server network outside the United States, providing an extra layer of protection. Mega regularly publishes transparency reports that confirm its responsibility for the privacy of user data.

If you need more advanced features like password-protected links or shares that expire, you'll need to upgrade to one of Mega's paid plans. Support is provided exclusively through email requests, which may not be the most convenient option for some users.

Mega's pricing starts at about $5.5/month for 400 GB, and the most popular plan, Pro I, costs about $11 and offers 2 TB of storage and 2 TB of transfer space. Here's a breakdown of Mega's pricing plans:

Overall, Mega is a great option for those who value security and have a lot of files to store.

OneDrive 100GB

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OneDrive 100GB is a great option for those who want a simple and affordable cloud storage solution. It offers 100GB of storage for £1.99 a month.

The free storage you get with OneDrive is 5GB, which is a decent starting point. However, if you need more space, the 100GB plan is a good choice.

OneDrive is tightly integrated with Windows and Microsoft Office, making it a great option for users who rely on these tools. You can choose which Windows user folders to back up, rather than having a single folder synced.

The OneDrive desktop app is available, and you can also access your files on the go with the mobile app. Collaboration features are also included, making it easy to share files with others.

Here are the key features of the OneDrive 100GB plan:

  • 100GB of storage
  • £1.99 a month
  • Desktop app: Yes
  • Mobile app: Yes
  • Collaboration features: Yes

Low Free Plan

MEGA offers a generous free plan with 20 GB of storage, which is a significant advantage over Dropbox's 2 GB free plan. This means you can store more files and documents without having to upgrade to a paid plan.

Credit: youtube.com, Should You Still Use Dropbox in 2024? [Updated Review]

The free plan also comes with features like secure sharing and live chat, making it a great alternative to Dropbox. You can share files via shareable links with password protection or expiration dates, and collaborate with others through text, video, or audio calls.

One of the benefits of MEGA's free plan is that it's easy to get more free storage. By registering an account, installing MEGASync, or installing the mobile app, you can earn additional storage space. Here's a breakdown of the storage bonuses you can get:

  • 35 GB account registration bonus (30 days)
  • 20 GB install MEGASync (180 days)
  • 15 GB install mobile app (180 days)
  • 10 GB referral bonus (365 days)

There's no limit to how many friends you can refer, so you can keep earning more storage space over time. This makes MEGA's free plan a great option for those who need more storage space without breaking the bank.

Features and Security

MEGA offers a scalable cloud storage platform with a massive storage capacity, allowing you to handle very large files without running out of space as your business expands.

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MEGA's file transfer center enables you to track and manage file transfers via a pop-out window, schedule and organize transfers, and even share files with users outside of your organization who don't have a MEGA account.

MEGA's secure chat facility offers instant messaging, video and voice calls, all secured with end-to-end encryption, and automatically adds new team members to the contact lists of your established team.

MEGA provides a user analytics and admin panel, allowing you to track how much storage space each person in your team is occupying, and ensuring no one is ever locked out of the platform.

Here are some key features of MEGA:

MEGA's security features include zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication, password protection on link permissions, and anti-ransomware features.

Security

MEGA's security features are truly impressive. High-end security features are one of MEGA's key selling points. They offer zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption on all of your data, which means that not even MEGA can access your files. On top of that, they provide a backup recovery key in case of password loss, two-factor authentication mechanisms, password protection on link permissions, and anti-ransomware features too.

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MEGA uses AES encryption to secure files with client-side encryption, just like pCloud and Sync.com. This means that your files are encrypted on your device before they're even sent to the cloud. They also use "Zero-knowledge privacy" which means that they don't keep any of your passwords or master keys, only you have access to them.

Mega prides itself with the User-Controlled Encryption (UCE) which provides automatic encryption for all data transferred to and stored on Mega's cloud service. This means that you, and only you, hold the encryption keys and can control who has access to your files.

You can also use two-step verification to take the security of your account one step further. This makes Mega one of the most secure cloud storage on the market.

File Syncing

File syncing is a crucial feature for anyone using cloud storage. MEGAsync is MEGA's desktop application that allows you to sync your files across devices.

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MEGAsync is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it a versatile option. The application creates a sync folder where you can store your files, which is a useful feature for cloud storage.

The MEGAsync client worked extremely well during testing, with transfer speeds being unlimited. Changes made on devices show up in the browser immediately.

There are no file size limits at Mega, which is a significant advantage. However, due to the client-side encryption used by Mega, block-level sync is not possible.

Selective sync is enabled, allowing you to sync only specific folders from your cloud drive. You can also sync any folder from your device using the MEGAsync client.

Here are the details of the file syncing features available at Mega:

No Zero-Knowledge Encryption

Dropbox's encryption is 256-bit AES, which is good, but it doesn't mean Dropbox can't access your files.

The company's privacy policy means it can and will access your files, which is not ideal.

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Zero-knowledge encryption is the solution, but Dropbox lacks it because of its policy.

This type of encryption encrypts and secures your files, so only you can access and preview them, even for the cloud service provider.

NordLocker and pCloud offer this feature as a bonus, but Dropbox doesn't.

If Dropbox had zero-knowledge encryption, it wouldn't be able to access your files and collect information.

We don't think Dropbox will include it in its services.

Dropbox Alternatives: Top 4 Choices

If you're looking for an alternative to Dropbox, you have several options to consider. The top 4 Dropbox alternatives in 2024 are pCloud, NordLocker, Icedrive, and MEGA.

PCloud is considered the best and safest Dropbox alternative, with amazing online storage and zero-knowledge encryption. NordLocker is another great option, offering secure cloud storage at an affordable price.

Icedrive is a good choice for those who need a lot of storage space, with plans available for up to 10 TB of storage. MEGA is an excellent free Dropbox alternative, offering 20 GB of storage.

Credit: youtube.com, Tired of Dropbox? I Tested Every Dropbox Alternative to Find 10 Options [2024]

Here's a brief comparison of the top 4 Dropbox alternatives:

NordLocker is particularly notable for its zero-knowledge encryption and affordable pricing, making it a great option for those who value security and convenience.

Support and Reviews

MEGA offers priority support features for business users, which means they receive a solution more quickly than other users, but only via email.

Their free plan provides a generous 15 GB of storage, but you'll need to upgrade if you want more.

MEGA's support is limited to email, with no phone or live chat options available.

Their client is modern and responsive, and they offer browser extensions, direct FTP access, and a well-made mobile app for various platforms.

Online support is limited to e-mails and has a poor FAQ base, which can be frustrating for users.

MEGA's security is strong, with client-side encryption, making it a viable option for those who value security.

Review

MEGA offers a 15 GB free program for its users, but you'll need to upgrade if you want more storage.

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The service has a modern and responsive client, making it a pleasure to use.

Their plans come with a bandwidth limit, which might be a concern for heavy users.

MEGA's download and upload speeds can be slow during peak hours, so be prepared for that.

The sync&sharing feature is decent, but it has some negative aspects to consider.

MEGA provides browser extensions, direct FTP access, secure chat, and a well-made mobile app for various platforms.

Online support is limited to emails, and their FAQ base is a bit lacking.

The service takes security seriously, with client-side encryption to keep your data safe.

Overall, MEGA is a viable cloud storage option, but there are better providers out there.

MEGA's business plan is affordable, and their security features are market-leading.

Support

MEGA offers dedicated help site and contact email addresses for different support queries. Business users receive priority support via email, but there's no phone or live chat support.

Their support centre provides basic answers, but often leaves users with more questions than before. I experienced this firsthand when trying to find answers to my questions.

Priority support is only available via email, and even free users like me can receive responses. However, it's not clear how quickly business users receive their solutions.

Live chat and phone support are not available, which can be frustrating for users who need immediate help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the cons of MEGA?

MEGA may experience slower synchronization and file transfer speeds, especially with large files or slow internet connections, which can impact user experience

What is better than MEGA?

For those seeking a reliable cloud storage alternative, pCloud offers robust security and user-friendly features that surpass MEGA's capabilities

Do people still use Dropbox?

Yes, Dropbox remains a widely used cloud storage platform with a large user base of 15.4 million worldwide. Its popularity is reflected in its market capitalization of over $8.5 billion.

Walter Brekke

Lead Writer

Walter Brekke is a seasoned writer with a passion for creating informative and engaging content. With a strong background in technology, Walter has established himself as a go-to expert in the field of cloud storage and collaboration. His articles have been widely read and respected, providing valuable insights and solutions to readers.

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