Filen vs Icedrive
We give Filen a 3.6 GPA and Icedrive a 3.0, out of 4.0. Filen grades higher on value for money, features and platforms. They get the same grade on the free plan and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Filen
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage from Germany with open source apps
Icedrive
Cloud storage with a mountable drive and client-side encryption
How we grade them
| 3.6GPAFilenExcellent | 3.0GPAIcedriveVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | APro I is €1.99 a month for 200 GiB, where Google charges $2.99 for 200 GB, and the smallest plan is €11.99 for a whole year of 100 GiB. Pro III, at €8.99 for 2 TiB, is nearer the going rate. Encryption is included in all of them. Prices are in euros only. | BPro is $9.99 a month, or $99 a year, for 2 TB with client-side encryption included. That's the going rate for 2 TB, and there's no smaller subscription. Lifetime plans start at $199 for 100 GB, when Google rents you 100 GB for $1.99 a month. |
| Free plan and trial | B10 GiB free, with the encryption and every feature included. That's fair, but it's not a lot of room. And a free account's data is deleted after 3 months without a login, so don't park files here and forget them. | B10 GB free, with the virtual drive, the web and phone apps and public links. But there's no desktop sync, no file versions and no client-side encryption. Free accounts left idle for 12 months may be removed. |
| Features | AEverything is encrypted on your device, on every plan. Then there's folder sync in five modes, a network drive, public links, version history, camera upload from your phone, and encrypted notes and chats. Developers get an API, SDKs and a command-line tool. | BThe virtual drive is the draw, and paid plans add Twofish encryption on your device, folder sync and 30 to 90 days of file versions. The gaps: files in the encrypted area can't be shared, and WebDAV is being phased out. |
| Ease of use | BThe desktop app syncs folders and can show your storage as a drive in the file explorer, with no server to run. There's no App Store rating on record to show how people get on, so it stops at a B. | BThe desktop app mounts your storage as a drive, so files open in your usual apps without syncing first. There's no App Store rating on record to show how people get on, so it stops at a B. |
| Platforms and integrations | AWeb, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android, with the Linux app as .deb, .rpm and AppImage. There's a documented API plus TypeScript, Rust and Go SDKs. No ready-made hook-ups with other apps are listed. | BWeb, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android. But no integrations or API are listed, and WebDAV was switched off for new users on 15 April 2026. |
| Best for | cheap encrypted storage with open source apps | cloud storage that shows up as an extra drive |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Filen and Icedrive. How we grade
Where they differ
- Filen starts at €11.99 per year for 100 GiB, or €1.99 per month for 200 GiB. Icedrive starts at $9.99 per month, or $99 billed yearly.
- Filen is open source, according to its own site.
- Icedrive can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Filen also covers notes.
At a glance
| Filen | Icedrive | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | €11.99 per year for 100 GiB, or €1.99 per month for 200 GiB | $9.99 per month, or $99 billed yearly |
| Free plan | 10 GiB of storage with encryption and every feature included. Data on free accounts is deleted after 3 months without a login. | 10 GB of storage with the virtual drive, web and mobile apps and public links. No desktop sync, file versioning or client-side encryption. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Filen Cloud Dienste UG (haftungsbeschränkt) | Ice Privacy LTD |
| Price read from | filen.io | icedrive.net |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Filen
- People who want every file end-to-end encrypted, on the free plan too
- Users who prefer open source clients and storage hosted in Germany
- Developers and sysadmins who want a CLI, SDKs and a documented API
- Linux users: the desktop app ships as .deb, .rpm and AppImage
Icedrive
- People who want cloud storage mounted as a drive rather than synced to disk
- Buyers who prefer a one-time lifetime payment to a subscription
- Individuals who need 2 TB to 6 TB with client-side encryption included
- Linux users: the desktop app ships as an AppImage and a command-line client
Worth knowing
Filen
- Prices are listed in euros only; Filen says taxes and transaction fees are included in them.
- Free accounts lose their data after 3 months without a login, following reminder emails.
- Lifetime plans are no longer sold: the pricing FAQ says they were removed for an indefinite period.
- WebDAV and S3 access require a server that the user hosts through the desktop app or CLI, because files are encrypted on the device.
Icedrive
- Client-side, zero-knowledge encryption is limited to paid plans, and files stored in the encrypted area cannot be shared.
- The Free plan has 10 GB and no desktop sync, file versions, link passwords or user-to-user sharing. Free accounts inactive for 12 months may be removed.
- WebDAV was disabled for new users on 15 April 2026 and is being phased out for existing users.
- Lifetime plans allow 2 sync devices and 14 days of file versions, fewer than any subscription plan.
Key features
Filen
- Zero-knowledge encryption by default
- Files are encrypted on the device with AES 256-bit before upload, and Filen states that it cannot access them. Encryption is part of every plan, the free one included.
- Sync and network drive
- Desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux sync folders in five modes, with one-way and two-way among them, and can mount the cloud as a network drive in the file explorer.
- Encrypted sharing
- Files and folders are shared with other Filen users or through public links, and the shared content stays encrypted. Earlier versions of files can be restored from version history.
- Notes and chats
- Encrypted notes support rich text, markdown, checklists and code and can be edited with other users in real time. Encrypted chats carry messages and files between Filen users.
- Open source apps and developer tools
- Filen says all of its apps are open source. Developers get a documented API, TypeScript, Rust and Go SDKs, and a CLI that can run a local WebDAV or S3 server.
- Mobile camera upload
- The iOS and Android apps upload photos and videos from selected albums automatically, with optional compression, and can keep chosen files available offline.
Icedrive
- Virtual drive
- The desktop app mounts cloud storage as a drive on Windows, macOS and Linux, so files open in native applications without being synced to disk first. It is included on every plan, Free among them.
- Client-side Twofish encryption
- On paid plans, files and their names are encrypted on the device with the Twofish algorithm before upload. The key is generated from a passphrase and is never sent to Icedrive's servers.
- Desktop sync and file versions
- Paid plans sync folder pairs on 3, 5 or 10 devices and keep earlier versions of files for 30, 60 or 90 days, depending on the plan.
- Public links and sharing controls
- Every plan can create public links. Paid plans add expiry dates, download caps, preview-only mode, password protection, file requests and sharing between Icedrive users.
- Mobile apps with camera upload
- The iOS and Android apps upload camera photos and videos automatically, keep chosen files available offline and stream audio and video from the cloud.
- Lifetime plans
- 100 GB, 500 GB and 2 TB plans are sold for a single payment and include client-side encryption. Further lifetime plans can be stacked on an account to add storage.
Plans
Filen
Free€0
10 GiB with encryption and every feature included. Data is deleted after 3 months without a login.
Starter€11.99
per year, billed annually
100 GiB of storage, offered on annual billing only.
Pro I€1.99
per month, or €19.99 billed annually
200 GiB with unlimited bandwidth, syncing, network drive, file sharing, and unlimited notes and chats.
Pro II€3.99
per month, or €39.99 billed annually
500 GiB of storage with the same features as Pro I.
Pro III€8.99
per month, or €89.99 billed annually
2 TiB of storage with the same features as Pro I.
Pro X€39.99
per month, or €399.99 billed annually
10 TiB of storage. Plans stack on one account, so two Pro X plans give 20 TiB, with no upper limit.
Icedrive
Free$0
10 GB with the virtual drive, web and mobile apps and public links. No desktop sync, file versions or client-side encryption.
Pro$9.99
per month, or $99 billed yearly
2 TB with client-side encryption, desktop sync on 3 devices, 30 days of file versions and priority support.
Pro Plus$15.99
per month, or $159 billed yearly
4 TB with client-side encryption, desktop sync on 5 devices and 60 days of file versions.
Pro Max$26.99
per month, or $269 billed yearly
6 TB with client-side encryption, desktop sync on 10 devices and 90 days of file versions.
Ways to pay less
Filen
- Annual discount
About 16% lower with annual billing
Annual prices of €19.99, €39.99, €89.99 and €399.99 compare with €23.88, €47.88, €107.88 and €479.88 for twelve monthly payments on Pro I, Pro II, Pro III and Pro X.
Icedrive
- Lifetime license
Lifetime plans for a one-time payment
Basic (100 GB), Personal (500 GB) and Personal + (2 TB) were shown at $199, $399 and $699 as one-time payments, against crossed-out prices of $299, $599 and $1,049.
- Annual discount
About 17% lower with yearly billing
Regular yearly prices of $99, $159 and $269 compare with $119.88, $191.88 and $323.88 for twelve monthly payments on Pro, Pro Plus and Pro Max.
- Other savings
Up to 40% off the first year of annual plans
When checked, the pricing page showed first-year prices of $59, $89 and $149 for Pro, Pro Plus and Pro Max on annual billing, described as a limited-time offer with no end date given.
