Filen vs MEGA Comparison
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 7.0 | 6.6 |
| Pricing |
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| Free storage | 10 GB | 20 GB |
| Lifetime plan | No | No |
| Established | 2021 | 2013 |
| Platforms | ||
| Encryption & keys | ||
| Who holds the keys | You hold the keysShow detailsHide detailsFilen 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 keysShow detailsHide detailsMEGA 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 encrypted | File names and metadata | File names only |
| Sharing | Shared files stay encrypted | Shared files stay encrypted |
| If you lose the password | Recovery key you keep | Recovery key you keep |
| Trust & transparency | ||
| Client code | Fully open source | Partly open source |
| Server code | Closed source | Closed source |
| Reproducible builds | Not specified | Not specified |
| Security audit | None on record | None on record |
| Jurisdiction | GermanyShow detailsHide detailsFilen 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. | HungaryShow detailsHide detailsSince 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. |
| Owner | Filen Cloud Dienste UG (haftungsbeschränkt)Show detailsHide detailsA 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 companyShow detailsHide detailsMEGA'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. |
| Telemetry | No telemetry | Opt-in |
| Past data breach | No | Yes |
| Features & sync | ||
| Desktop sync | Yes | Yes |
| File versions | ExtendedShow detailsHide detailsUp 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. | ExtendedShow detailsHide detailsUp 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 editing | End-to-end encrypted | Not available |