PrivacyPick

Filen vs MEGA Comparison

Feature
Overview
Rating7.06.6
Pricing
  • €1.00/mo100 GiB, Starter for 1 year
  • €1.99/mo200 GiB, Pro I monthly
  • €1.67/mo200 GiB, Pro I for 1 year
  • €3.99/mo500 GiB, Pro II monthly
  • €3.33/mo500 GiB, Pro II for 1 year
  • €8.99/mo2 TiB, Pro III monthly
  • €7.50/mo2 TiB, Pro III for 1 year
  • €39.99/mo10 TiB, Pro X monthly
  • €33.33/mo10 TiB, Pro X for 1 year
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  • 100 GiB, Starter for 1 year: €11.99 billed yearly
  • 200 GiB, Pro I for 1 year: €19.99 billed yearly
  • 500 GiB, Pro II for 1 year: €39.99 billed yearly
  • 2 TiB, Pro III for 1 year: €89.99 billed yearly
  • 10 TiB, Pro X for 1 year: €399.99 billed yearly
  • €3.33/mo200 GB, Essential for 1 year
  • €4.99/mo750 GB, Pro Lite monthly
  • €5.00/mo750 GB, Pro Lite for 1 year
  • €9.99/mo3 TB, Pro I monthly
  • €8.33/mo3 TB, Pro I for 1 year
  • €19.99/mo10 TB, Pro II monthly
  • €16.67/mo10 TB, Pro II for 1 year
  • €29.99/mo20 TB, Pro III monthly
  • €25.00/mo20 TB, Pro III for 1 year
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  • 200 GB, Essential for 1 year: €40 billed yearly
  • 750 GB, Pro Lite monthly: €4.99 a month
  • 750 GB, Pro Lite for 1 year: €59.99 billed yearly
  • 3 TB, Pro I monthly: €9.99 a month
  • 3 TB, Pro I for 1 year: €99.99 billed yearly
  • 10 TB, Pro II monthly: €19.99 a month
  • 10 TB, Pro II for 1 year: €199.99 billed yearly
  • 20 TB, Pro III monthly: €29.99 a month
  • 20 TB, Pro III for 1 year: €299.99 billed yearly
Free storage10 GB20 GB
Lifetime planNoNo
Established20212013
Platforms
WebWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS
WebWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS
Encryption & keys
Who holds the keysYou hold the keys
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Filen says files are encrypted on your device with AES-256-GCM, each file with its own key, and that file names, folder names and file metadata are encrypted with a key derived from your password. The web app at app.filen.io receives its encryption code from Filen each time it loads and keeps your keys in the browser's local storage. Filen still sees your email address, IP address, how much storage you use and payment references.

You hold the keys
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MEGA says files are encrypted on your device with a random key per file, and file names, folder names and thumbnails are encrypted too. File sizes, the folder structure and the order of file versions stay readable to MEGA. The web version loads its encryption code from MEGA's servers on every visit, unless you use MEGA's extension for Chrome or Edge.

Also encryptedFile names and metadataFile names only
SharingShared files stay encryptedShared files stay encrypted
If you lose the passwordRecovery key you keepRecovery key you keep
Trust & transparency
Client codeFully open sourcePartly open source
Server codeClosed sourceClosed source
Reproducible buildsNot specifiedNot specified
Security auditNone on recordNone on record
JurisdictionGermany
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Filen Cloud Dienste UG (haftungsbeschränkt) is registered at the District Court of Recklinghausen, Germany, and its terms are governed by German law. Filen says all its servers are its own hardware in colocation data centers in Germany; payment data passes through PayPal, Stripe and Coinbase, which also process it in the US.

Hungary
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Since May 2025 the contract for MEGA's cloud service has been with MEGA Privacy Kft, registered in Csomád, Hungary, under Hungarian law; subscriptions bought in the Apple and Google app stores are with MEGA Networks LLC (Delaware, USA), also under Hungarian law. Until then the operator was in New Zealand. Personal data is stored in Japan, Canada and the EU; MEGA says none is stored in the USA.

OwnerFilen Cloud Dienste UG (haftungsbeschränkt)
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A small German company represented by Jan Lenczyk, officially founded in May 2021. Filen says it has no outside investors and grew on sales of its earlier lifetime plans; its roadmap lists a planned change of legal form from UG to GmbH.

Independent company
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MEGA's website does not name its shareholders. It was founded in New Zealand in 2013 and restructured in March 2025, when a Hungarian company became the provider of the cloud service; offices are in Hungary (head office), New Zealand and Spain.

TelemetryNo telemetryOpt-in
Past data breachNoYes
Features & sync
Desktop syncYesYes
File versionsExtended
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Up to 100 versions per file, kept for as long as the file itself exists; versions count toward your storage and can be turned off. Deleted files stay in the trash for up to 30 days.

Extended
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Up to 100 versions of each file, with no time limit; past 100, MEGA removes versions in between but keeps the oldest and newest. Rewind restores deleted files and folders to a past date: 30 days on the free plan (view only), up to 60 days on paid plans.

Collaborative editingEnd-to-end encryptedNot available