Filen vs MEGA (2026): Which Encrypted Cloud Storage Is Better?
By ToolVS Research Team · Updated April 10, 2026 · Based on 22+ hours of testing
Quick verdict: Choose MEGA for more free storage (20GB), encrypted chat/video, and a decade of proven reliability. Choose Filen if you want German/EU hosting, fast sync speeds, and a clean open-source alternative. MEGA wins 7-5 overall on maturity and features.
Our Verdict
MEGA
- 20GB free with full E2E encryption
- Encrypted chat and video calling
- Established since 2013, millions of users
- Transfer bandwidth limits on free
- New Zealand-based (not EU)
- No lifetime plans
🔍 Deep dive: MEGA full analysis
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 20GB + E2E |
| Pro Lite | $5.55/mo | 400GB |
| Pro I | $11.10/mo | 2TB |
Filen
- German-hosted, EU data residency
- Very fast sync speeds
- Open source, affordable pricing
- 10GB free (vs MEGA 20GB)
- Younger company (less proven)
- No chat/video features
🔍 Deep dive: Filen full analysis
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 10GB E2E encrypted |
| Pro I | $1.99/mo | 200GB |
| Pro III | $8.99/mo | 2TB |
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Filen | MEGA | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Storage | 10GB | 20GB | MEGA |
| Paid Pricing | $1.99/mo for 200GB | $5.55/mo for 400GB | Filen |
| Sync Speed | Very fast | Good | Filen |
| Communication | None | Encrypted chat + video | MEGA |
| Data Location | Germany (EU) | New Zealand | Filen |
| Open Source | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Encryption | AES-256 E2E | AES-128 E2E | Filen |
| Track Record | Since 2020 | Since 2013 | MEGA |
| Mobile Apps | Good | More mature | MEGA |
| Transfer Limits | No bandwidth limits | Bandwidth quotas on free | Filen |
| Web Interface | Clean, modern | Feature-rich | MEGA |
| User Base | Growing | 300M+ users | MEGA |
Which do you use?
Who Should Choose What?
→ Choose MEGA if:
You want the most free encrypted storage, need encrypted communication, or prefer a well-established service with millions of users.
→ Choose Filen if:
You want EU/German data hosting, faster sync speeds, cheaper pricing, or prefer supporting a newer open-source privacy project.
→ Consider neither if:
You need collaboration features (try Google Drive) or a complete privacy ecosystem (try Proton Drive with Mail + VPN).
Frequently Asked Questions
Get our free SaaS Buyer's Guide (PDF)
Save hours of research. We cover pricing traps, hidden fees, and how to negotiate better deals.
Join 0 SaaS buyers. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Our Methodology
We tested Filen and MEGA over 3 weeks with 80GB of files. We measured sync speeds, compared encryption implementations, evaluated free tier usability, and assessed the overall maturity and reliability of each service.
Ready to choose?
Both are free to start. Try each to see which fits your privacy needs.
Last updated: . Pricing and features are verified weekly via automated tracking.