| Secure web-based or other on-line file sharing or file synchronization tools can dramatically increase the efficiency of sharing and updating documents between your office(s) and clients.
Here is a comparison between the leading services and methods used for secure file sharing and file synchronization between devices/computers. An on-line file repository that is available on-line (only) or that synchronizes files and folder between the on-line file store and other computers can be a valuable addition to normal business and accounting operations. Note: This table is accurate as of January 2011 and is designed as a general, summary comparison between vendors and does not represent a full-detailed analysis. |
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| Company or Method/ Website |
File Sharing? |
File Sync between devices/ computers? |
Free/starter Account Available? |
Paid Account Storage |
Selective User Permission or Access | Platforms Supported |
| Dropbox | Yes | Yes | Yes, 2-Gb | $10/mo for 50-Gb | No | Windows (yes), Mac (yes?), Linux (yes), Android (yes), iPhone (yes) |
| Box.net | Yes | No, only w/Business or Enterprise | Yes, 5-Gb | $15/mo for 500-Gb | Yes, only w/Enterprise |
Windows (yes), Mac (yes?), Linux (yes), Android (yes), iPhone (yes) |
| ShareFile | Yes | No, only selective devices | Yes, 30-day trial. | $29.00/mo 5-Gb, $59.95/mo 10-Gb, $99.95/mo 20-Gb |
Yes | Browser based only, mobile version also available. |
| Ubuntu One | Yes | Yes | Yes, 2-Gb | $2.99/mo per 20-Gb “pack” | No | Windows (yes), Mac (yes?), Linux (yes), Android (yes), iPhone (yes) |
| SugarSync | Yes | Yes | No | $5.00/mo 30-Gb, $9.95/mo 60-Gb, $14/mo 100-Gb |
No | Windows, Mac, Linux (no), Android, iPhone, iPad |
| LiveDrive | Yes | No, only backup | No | $16.95 Unlimited | No | Browser ,Windows |
| MobileMe | Yes | Yes | No | $99/yr 20-Gb | No, single user only |
Apple only |
| Egnyte | Yes | Yes, but designed as backup (with upgraded service). |
No | $14.99/mo 20-Gb 1-user, $24.95 150-Gb 5-user |
Yes | Windows (yes), Mac (yes), Linux (yes), Android (yes), iPhone (yes) |
| SpiderOak | Yes | Yes | Yes, 2-Gb | $10/mo 100-Gb | Yes | Windows (yes), Mac (yes), Linux (yes), Android (no), iPhone (no) |
| Wuala | Yes | Yes, but manually activated w/extended plan |
Yes, 1-Gb | $10/yr 10-Gb, $49/yr 25-Gb, $79/yr 50-Gb |
No | Windows (yes), Mac (yes), Linux (yes), Android (no), iPhone (no) |
| Syncables | Yes | Yes, synchoronization only between devices – no on-line storage! |
No | $39/3 computers, $49/5 computers |
No | Windows (yes), Mac (yes), Linux (yes), Android (yes), Blackberry (yes) |
| Windows Live Mesh | Yes | No, on-line storage only | Yes, 25-Gb free | n/a | No | Windows (yes), Mac (yes), Linux (no), Android (no), iPhone (no) |
| Jungle Disk | Yes | No, on-line storage only | Yes, trial | $4.00/user | No | Windows (yes), Mac (yes), Linux (yes), Android (no), iPhone (yes) |
| 4shared.com | Yes | No, on-line storage only | Yes, 10-Gb | $55/yr 100-Gb | No, single-user | Windows (yes), Mac (yes), Linux (yes), Android (yes), iPhone (yes), Blackberry (yes) |
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Methods for In-house developed and maintained file-sharing repository |
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| Method: WebDAV
Web-based file-sharing (encrypted) |
Yes | Yes, use local sync software for manually sync |
Yes | Limited only to your server disk space |
Yes, with configuration |
All |
| Method: SFTP
Secure (encrypted) File Transfer Protocol |
Yes | Yes, use local sync software | Yes | Limited only to server disk space | No, single user | All |
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Comparison of Online File Storage and Sync Services6 comments to Comparison of Online File Storage and Sync Services |
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[...] and methods used for secure file sharing and file synchronization between devices/computers. Read More February 7th, 2011 | Category: Sales & [...]
Thanks for including ShareFile (I work there).
We do offer a mobile version of ShareFile as well as a 30-day free trial.
Dan,
Thanks for the info, I adjusted my post.
Mike
There is another option to backup data to cloud storage powered by Amazon S3. Check out CloudBerry Backup http://backup.cloudberrylab.com/ . It is onetime fee and the rest what you pay for Amazon S3. Besides, there is no proprietary data format and you can access your data using other Amazon s3 tools. Supports all Amazon S3 regions and Reduced Redundancy Storage.
Jungle Disk file syncing capibilities, offer free trial, and has read/write permissing settings for user accounts. It also integrates with iphones.
Cindy,
Thanks for the update. I updated the post.
Mike