Files.com vs ShareFile (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Files.com grades higher than ShareFile: 2.0 against 1.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Files.com grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money, features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Files.com
Cloud SFTP, managed file transfer and automation platform
ShareFile
Secure file sharing and client portals for business teams
Which one is for you
Pick Files.com if
- Fits if your job is moving files between partners over SFTP
- Works for an IT team that needs automations and an audit trail
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you just want storage: $199 a month is the starting point
- Tight if you need SSO or a custom domain, as those start on Power at $499
- Watch out: extra users cost $12 each and storage $100 per TB a month
- Watch out: usage is metered, with 1 or 2 TB of monthly storage and transfer included before overage
Pick ShareFile if
- Fits if you send documents to clients and want portals and tracking
- Works for a firm of 3 or more with a compliance need on the Premium plan
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you're alone: every plan needs at least 3 users
- Skip it if you want a free plan, as there is none
- Tight if you need e-signatures or forms, which start at Premium at $26 a user
- Watch out: storage starts at 3 TB for the whole account, with more in 3 TB packs
How we grade them
| 2.0GPAFiles.comFair | 1.8GPAShareFileWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D$199 a month is well above the category's $16.50 dearest-tenth line, though this is a managed file transfer platform, not personal storage. | D$16.50 a user billed annually is the category's dearest-tenth line, and 3 users minimum makes it $49.50 a month for one person's worth of use. |
| Free plan and trial | C7 days free with no credit card, and no free plan after it. | DA free trial on each plan, length not stated, and no free plan. |
| Features | CSFTP, FTP, automation and a web interface, but SSO, a custom domain and the on-premise agent need Power, and the SLA and HIPAA BAA need Enterprise. | CSharing and portals are covered, but e-signatures, forms, workflow automation and HIPAA, FINRA and SEC support start at Premium. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record, with connections, users and automations to configure. | CNo store rating on record, and portals and permissions to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb only, with an API and 2 integrations listed. | BWeb only is named on the page, with 8 integrations listed. |
| Best for | IT teams moving files over SFTP with automation | client portals and secure sharing for business teams |
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: Files.com and ShareFile. How we grade
Price against what you get
Files.com starts at $174.92 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. ShareFile starts at $16.50 a month for each person and scores 2.3.
They score the same, and ShareFile starts $158.42 a month lower. Of the other file storage and sync services on the chart, 22 score higher than Files.com for less, and 22 score higher than ShareFile for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- ShareFile also covers forms.
At a glance
| Files.com | ShareFile | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starts at | $199 per month, or $2,099 per year | $16.50 per user / month, billed annually ($18.15 billed monthly) |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial, no credit card required | Free trial offered on each plan; length not stated on the pricing page |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Files.com | Progress Software Corporation |
| Price read from | files.com | sharefile.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Files.com
- Entry pricing starts at $199 a month, which is above typical consumer cloud storage plans.
- Extra users, connections and storage cost extra, such as $12 per full user and $100 per TB a month.
- SSO, a custom domain and the on-premise agent need Power; the SLA and HIPAA BAA need Enterprise.
- Usage is metered: 1 TB or 2 TB of monthly storage plus transfer is included before overage.
ShareFile
- No free plan, and each plan needs at least 3 users.
- Plans start with 3 TB of account storage in total; more comes in 3 TB packs.
- E-signatures, forms, workflow automation and HIPAA, FINRA and SEC support start at Premium.
- The pricing page mentions desktop and mobile apps without naming operating systems, so only web is listed.
Key features
Files.com
- SFTP, FTP and WebDAV
- Hosted inbound and outbound endpoints for SFTP, FTP and WebDAV, with an API, CLI and SDKs for scripting.
- Automations and sync flows
- No-code flows move files on a schedule or on a trigger such as an inbound file, email or webhook.
- Share links and inboxes
- Share files with access-controlled links, or collect files from others through inboxes by email or web.
- Web, mobile and desktop apps
- Includes collaborative document editing and preview, plus a desktop drive for file-server replacement.
- Access and security controls
- Role-based access, 2FA, IP allowlisting and password policies on every plan; SSO from Power and SIEM integration at Enterprise.
- Regions and compliance
- Starter stores in one region and Power in one or two. Enterprise uses up to eight, with a HIPAA BAA, DORA addendum and SLA.
ShareFile
- Encrypted sharing
- Files are stored encrypted and shared by link, with link expiration dates and remote lock and wipe for lost devices.
- Client portal
- Clients get a branded place to receive and upload files. Unlimited client users are included on every plan.
- Requests, forms and e-signatures
- Premium and above can collect documents, forms and signatures from clients and route them through automated workflows.
- Email add-ins
- Integrations for Outlook, Outlook Online and Gmail replace attachments with secure ShareFile links.
- Access and security controls
- Multi-factor sign-in, Active Directory single sign-on, activity reports and file-level permissions. Enterprise adds provisioning and monitoring.
Plans
Files.com
Starter$199
per month, or $2,099 per year
10 full users, 50 system users, 2 outbound connections and 1 TB of monthly storage plus transfer.
Power$499
per month, or $5,269 per year
20 full users, 100 system users, 5 outbound connections, 2 TB, SSO, on-premise agent, AS2 and GPG.
EnterpriseCustom
Quoted from $10k a year: SLA, HIPAA BAA, multi-region storage and full onboarding.
ShareFile
Advanced$16.50
per user / month, billed annually ($18.15 billed monthly)
Encrypted storage and sharing, real-time co-editing, access controls and basic reporting. 3-user minimum.
Premium$26.00
per user / month, billed annually ($28.59 billed monthly)
Adds e-signatures, requests, forms, workflow automation, an enhanced client portal and AI document automation. 3-user minimum.
Enterprise$35.00
per user / month, billed annually ($42.00 billed monthly)
Adds automated user provisioning, data loss protection and security monitoring tools. 3-user minimum.
Virtual Data Room$69.30
per user / month, billed annually ($77.00 billed monthly)
Confidential document sharing with granular access for deals and audits. 1 GB storage per license, 5-license minimum.
Ways to pay less
Files.com
- Annual discount
12% off with annual billing
The pricing page says annual billing saves 12%, and two- and three-year terms carry volume pricing.
ShareFile
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Files.com or ShareFile?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Files.com starts at $199 per month, or $2,099 per year, and ShareFile starts at $16.50 per user / month, billed annually ($18.15 billed monthly). One is priced for each person and the other is not, so which costs less depends on how many of you use it.
Which has a free plan, Files.com or ShareFile?
As of Nov 12, 2026, neither Files.com nor ShareFile has a free plan. Both have a free trial.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.