Icedrive vs MediaFire (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Icedrive and MediaFire share a 2.4 GPA, both have a free plan, and Icedrive starts cheaper, at $2.99 a month against $3.99 a month.
Checked Nov 9, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 9, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Icedrive grades higher on platforms. MediaFire grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on the free plan, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Icedrive
Cloud storage with a mountable drive and client-side encryption
MediaFire
Cloud storage and link sharing with a free 10 GB ad-supported tier
Which one is for you
Pick Icedrive if
- Fits if you want cloud files to show up as a drive, not get copied onto your disk
- Works for people who'd rather pay once, with lifetime plans of 500 GB or 2 TB
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you're staying free: no desktop sync, file versions or encryption, and idle accounts may be removed after 12 months
- Skip it if you need to share encrypted files, as anything in the encrypted area can't be shared
- Not for you if you want to pay monthly for a small plan, as the 100 GB Starter is yearly only, with 2 sync devices and 14 days of versions
- Watch out: the 30% off the first year or 80% off the first month only covers new customers' first bill, and lifetime plans start at $229
- Not for you if you rely on WebDAV or an API: WebDAV is off for new users and no API is listed
Pick MediaFire if
- Fits if you share the odd file by link and don't mind ads
- Works for someone who wants 10 GB free and a cheap 100 GB step up
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you download in bulk: free downloads are one file at a time and need a paid plan to batch
- Skip it if you dislike ads, because the free plan is ad-supported
- Watch out: the upgrade page says 5 GB a file free, the home page says 4 GB
- Watch out: Business plan prices load by script, so we couldn't read them
How we grade them
| 2.4GPAIcedriveFair | 2.4GPAMediaFireFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CStarter is $2.99 a month for 100 GB, but only billed yearly at $35.88. That's between this category's cheaper quarter at $1.99 and its middle at $4.75. Pro is $8.99 a month yearly for 2 TB, or $10.99 monthly. The lifetime route costs more up front: $229 once for 500 GB. | BUltra is $3.99 a month, inside the category's cheaper quarter, but it is only 100 GB, and only 50 GB of that is fast ad-free. |
| Free plan and trial | C10 GB free with the virtual drive, the web and phone apps and public links, but the walls come fast: no desktop sync, no file versions, no client-side encryption and no password on a link. Leave the account idle a year and it may be removed. | CBasic is 10 GB free with ads, files up to 5 GB and single-file downloads only. |
| Features | CThe storage basics plus the mounted drive, with Twofish encryption, sync and 14 to 90 days of versions on paid plans. The listing's own gaps keep it here: files in the encrypted area can't be shared at all, and WebDAV was switched off for new users and is being phased out. | CStorage and link sharing, but bulk downloads need a paid plan, and Ultra's fast transfers cover 50 GB. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating on record, but nothing to set up either: install the desktop app and your storage turns up as a drive in Explorer or Finder, where files open in your usual apps without syncing first. | BNo store rating on record, but you sign up and upload with nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | BEvery device is covered, web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android, with an AppImage and a command-line client for Linux. What's missing is everything else: no integrations, no API, and WebDAV on the way out. | CWeb, iPhone and Android only, with no desktop app and no integrations listed. |
| Best for | cloud storage that shows up as an extra drive | free link sharing with 10 GB |
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: Icedrive and MediaFire. How we grade
Price against what you get
Icedrive starts at $2.99 a month and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. MediaFire starts at $3.99 a month and scores 2.3.
Icedrive scores higher and starts $1 a month lower. Of the other file storage and sync services on the chart, 5 score higher than Icedrive for less, and 8 score higher than MediaFire 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
- Icedrive is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Icedrive can be bought with a one-time purchase.
At a glance
| Icedrive | MediaFire | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $2.99 per month, billed yearly at $35.88, for Starter | $3.99 per month (Ultra, 100 GB) |
| Free plan | 10 GB of storage with the virtual drive, web and mobile apps and public links. No desktop sync, file versioning or client-side encryption. | Basic: 10 GB of storage, ad-supported downloads, files up to 5 GB, and single-file downloads only. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Ice Privacy LTD | MediaFire |
| Price read from | icedrive.net | mediafire.com |
| Checked | Nov 9, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
- Starter, the 100 GB plan, is sold on yearly billing only, with 2 sync devices and 14 days of file versions.
MediaFire
- Free downloads are ad-supported and limited to one file at a time; bulk downloads need a paid plan.
- The free per-file limit is 5 GB on the upgrade page, while the home page says up to 4 GB.
- Ultra's storage is 100 GB with only 50 GB of fast ad-free transfers.
- Business plan prices load by script and were not readable, so they are not listed here.
Key features
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 2, 5 or 10 devices and keep earlier versions of files for 14 days on Starter and 90 days on the Pro plans.
- 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
- 500 GB and 2 TB plans are sold for a single payment and include zero-knowledge encryption. Further lifetime plans can be stacked on an account to add storage.
MediaFire
- Link and email sharing
- Files and folders can be shared by email, link or social network right after upload. Recipients do not need an account to download.
- FileDrop requests
- Paid plans include FileDrop file requests, so other people can send files to your account through a link.
- Protected links
- Ultra and Pro add password-protected files and one-time links, plus direct links to files and bulk downloads of several files.
- Ad-free transfers
- Basic downloads show ads. Ultra includes 50 GB of ad-free CDN-speed transfers and Pro includes 1 TB of ad-free standard-speed transfers.
- Mobile apps
- iOS and Android apps manage folders and files and upload photos and videos. Automatic photo and video syncing is listed for Android.
- Business accounts
- A separate Business tier offers 2 TB and up with 100 user accounts, custom branding and a detailed security log.
Plans
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.
Starter$2.99
per month, billed yearly at $35.88
100 GB with desktop sync on 2 devices and 14 days of file versions. Sold on yearly billing only.
Pro$8.99
per month, billed yearly at $107.88 ($10.99 billed monthly)
2 TB with client-side encryption, desktop sync on 5 devices, 90 days of file versions and 1 TB of public sharing a month.
Pro Extra$16.99
per month, billed yearly at $203.88 ($19.99 billed monthly)
5 TB with desktop sync on 10 devices, 90 days of file versions and 3 TB of public sharing a month.
Pro+$29.99
per month, billed yearly at $359.88 ($34.99 billed monthly)
10 TB with desktop sync on 10 devices, 90 days of file versions and 4 TB of public sharing a month.
MediaFire
Basic$0
10 GB storage, ad-supported downloads, 5 GB per file and single-file downloads only.
Ultra$3.99
per month, monthly or yearly billing
100 GB storage, 50 GB of ad-free fast transfers, 50 GB per file, bulk downloads and direct links.
Pro$5.83
per month, billed annually ($6.99 billed monthly)
1 TB storage, ad-free standard transfers, 50 GB per file. Page shows 30% off $8.33 and $9.99.
Ways to pay less
Icedrive
- Lifetime license
Lifetime plans for a one-time payment
Lifetime Personal (500 GB) and Lifetime Personal+ (2 TB) are shown at $229 and $499 as one-time payments, against crossed-out prices of $344 and $749, with an extra 10% off for new customers.
- Annual discount
Lower price with yearly billing
Yearly billing costs $107.88, $203.88 and $359.88 for Pro, Pro Extra and Pro+, against $131.88, $239.88 and $419.88 for twelve monthly payments.
- Other savings
New customer offer on Pro plans
The pricing page offers new customers 30% off the first year on yearly billing, or 80% off the first month on monthly billing, on the Pro, Pro Extra and Pro+ plans, with a countdown but no end date.
MediaFire
- Annual discount
Cheaper Pro with annual billing
The upgrade page shows Pro at $5.83 a month billed annually against $6.99 a month billed monthly, both after a 30% discount.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Icedrive or MediaFire?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Icedrive is cheaper to start with: $2.99 a month, against $3.99 a month for MediaFire. Icedrive starts at $2.99 per month, billed yearly at $35.88, for Starter, and MediaFire starts at $3.99 per month (Ultra, 100 GB).
Which has a free plan, Icedrive or MediaFire?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Icedrive and MediaFire have a free plan.
Which platforms do Icedrive and MediaFire run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Icedrive lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps. Both list a web app and iOS and Android apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
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.