You are here: Compare Free File Hosting providers (SkyDrive, Box.net)

Compare Free File Hosting providers (SkyDrive, Box.net)

Authors of Shareware, Freeware and Open Source/Free software often use file hosting services to upload their software. The inherent problem with free downloads is the huge bandwidth cost. These hosts also offer additional services to the authors such as statistics or other marketing features.

As a shareware/freeware developer you will need the file hosting company to provide with there mandatory features:

- Maximum allowed filesize should be enough for your program

- Direct download links. E.g.
http://www.24hsoftware.com/files/PocketMoonPhases.zip
should start the download without opening an internet browser window and asking for more user clicks.

- Keep stable (permanent) and human-readable download links
e.g. http://www.24hsoftware.com/files/PocketMoonPhases.zip

- Ability to upload a newer version and keeping the same download link.
Otherwise for every new version you will have to change all download links in the various sites it appears (this is practically impossible to do)


Additionally to the above mandatory features, the following features are desirable to make your life -as a developer- easier:

- Download URLs should not be case sensitive.
E.g. http://www.24hsoftware.com/files/PocketMoonPhases.zip
should be the same as
e.g. http://www.24hsoftware.com/files/PocketMoonPhases.Zip
(note the small change in the case of "Z")

- Provide download statistics

- Provide antivirus file scanning


We review below the major free file hosting providers.

Comments

Microsoft SkyDrive

Total capacity: 5GB
Max individual file: 50MB
Total bandwidth per month:
Allowed types of files:
Automatic Antivirus Scanning:
Other notes:
A SkyDrive account requires a Windows Live ID.

Review box.net

Total capacity:
1 GB

Max individual file:
25 MB

Total bandwidth per month:

Allowed types of files:

Automatic Antivirus Scanning:

Allows download managers:

Files can be updated and the download URL remains the same:

Other notes:
Lite plan is for personal file sharing and small short-term projects.
Business plans start from $15/month

Google sites (they have a "files" section)

Does not accept .EXE files but you can zip them and upload the zip instead.
Keeps the same download URL for newer versions.
Allows direct downloads.
100 MB total storage space.

File Synchronization, Backup and Sharing

If you are looking for File Synchronization, Backup and Sharing here are some of the best options:

syncplicity
http://www.syncplicity.com/
The only all-in-one service that makes sure your files are everywhere you need them.
Read only sharing
if you and a friend both edit a document, the conflicts are handled gracefully so you never lose your changes
Revision history - Syncplicity saves past versions of your documents. They're accessible online through our secure website.
Remote access

Live Mesh
http://www.mesh.com/
5 GB of free storage
Live Mesh Remote Desktop
No statistics

Dropbox
Free for Windows, Mac, and Linux
http://www.getdropbox.com/

SpiderOak
SpiderOak provides an easy, secure and consolidated free online backup, sync, sharing, access & storage solution for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
2 GBs Free.
Preserve all historical versions & deleted files.
Share folders instantly in web ShareRooms w / RSS.
Retrieve files from any internet-connected device.
https://spideroak.com/

mediafire.com

Free: 200MB / file max
All accounts come with unlimited storage space.
All accounts can upload an unlimited number of files.
Direct/Hot Link to Files (with a PRO account)
Detailed Statistics Tracking (with a PRO account)
PRO accounts start at $7 / month

stashbox.org

Does not allow to update a file and keep the same download link (cannot add version)

fileave.com

50MB Free file hosting with no download limits
direct link URL's
Includes a free subdomain! Your account's address will be http://yourname.fileave.com
You can create folders, to organize your files.

swmirror.com

Get real-time statistics on how many times your files have been downloaded
directly link to any file hosted with SWMirror. In addition to summary reports and daily bandwidth reports that let you know what files have been downloaded there is a full web statistics package available (Webalizer).

Direct Links
Your files are optionally available as a direct link - http://yourhostname.swmirror.com/yourfile.exe (or you can use your own domain!) - so there are no confusing script names to remember.

Expiring Links
Create links that can only be downloaded a certain number of times or that expire on a certain date.

Password Protected Links
Require users to enter a password before they can download.

Combined Link Protection
All of our link security features can be used together so you can, for instance, create a link that can be downloaded X times until Y date by users with the password.

Track User Data
Include hidden information in your download links to track later (a customer's name, for instance).

Full Web Statistics
REAL stats software is used to generate statistics as well as download summary reports.

Emailed Reports
Get daily bandwidth reports straight to your inbox.

Blocked Referrer Lists
Block any referrer you like (we already block dozens of known Warez sites).

$5 per month Up to 5GB

adrive.com

ADrive Features
FREE 50GB Online Storage
Cloud Storage
Upload & Store Files
Access Files Anywhere
Share Files
Edit Documents Online
File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
ADrive Desktop

Minus.com

free accounts get 10GB of storage.
individual files – 2GB is the largest upload you can do.
Very good user interface.
Many features.
Connect and share with friends, family and more.
Easy file management and statistics via Dashboard.
Unlimited file transfer and downloads for free.
Minus is on the Web, Desktop and Mobile.

Cannot create a folder structure

zumodrive.com

1 GB free
Online storate appears as local disk drive

Amazon cloud drive 5GB free

desktop apps for Windows and Mac
You cannot share a folder to the public