Sharing files online, particularly larger documents and multimedia files, can be easy when you have the right software. Just remember that while file sharing itself is not illegal, you should stay away from copyrighted material if you want to avoid legal complications. Make sure your internet security software is up to date too.
1. Dropbox Business
While the free Dropbox Basic plan for individuals sets you up with 2 GB of cloud storage, Dropbox Business is geared much more toward professional users. Plans start with 2 TB of storage and 120 days of file recovery. You can create groups for collaboration within your organization and upgrade to unlimited storage if needed. Earning the PC Mag Editors' Choice award, Dropbox Business "strikes a good balance between functionality and business-level security."
2. pCloud
Much like Dropbox, pCloud also boasts differentiated offerings for individuals and businesses. Regular users can tap into up to 20 GB of free cloud storage with easy file sharing and collaboration; pCloud Business starts with 1 TB of storage. Business files are easily stored, synchronized, and shared between colleagues, and you can comment on files and folders securely. User reviews on Capterra are overwhelmingly positive, citing the ease of use and lack of file size limits.
3. eMule
Among the most popular peer-to-peer (P2P) software options, eMule is a free application for Windows computers that accesses the eDonkey network and the Kad network. Utilize the advanced search function to find files to download, including audio and video, all of which are checked for corruptions while they are being downloaded. eMule has earned a near perfect rating from the over 100 reviews on SourceForge.
4. qBittorrent
Sharing and downloading files over the BitTorrent peer-to-peer protocol ("torrenting") is commonly used for sharing large files, such as TV shows and movies, over the internet. This practice can fall into a legal gray area when sharing copyrighted content, but if you're going to use BitTorrent, qBittorrent is one of the best clients around. In fact, the ad-free interface and minimal resource footprint earned qBittorrent the TechRadar Editor's Choice award.
5. OnionShare
If security and privacy are of utmost concern to you above all else, then OnionShare should near the top of your list for file sharing apps. It runs over the Tor network for an unrivaled level of anonymity. This is why Gizmodo calls it the file sharing program "the next Snowden will use." OnionShare developer Micah Lee discusses the project at length on the Tor Blog, explaining how the anonymity of the sender and recipient are both protected and how third parties do not have access to the files shared.
