The Filen Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Filen in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Filen
The Insider’s Guide
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage from Germany with open source apps
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among file storage and sync services, read from Filen’s own pages.
Made by Filen Cloud Dienste UG (haftungsbeschränkt) · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Filen’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Filen’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.4
GPA, above 15 of the 17 other file storage and sync services we grade
Filen is a cloud storage service from Germany in which every file is encrypted on the device before upload, so the company cannot read what is stored. Its apps for the web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android are open source and add folder sync, a network drive, encrypted notes and chats. Every account starts with 10 GiB free, and paid plans from 100 GiB to 10 TiB can be stacked on one account.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Filen, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Picking between five sync modes is the only decision it asks of you.
- 1
Best for encrypted storage with open source apps
Filen is encrypted storage from Germany: 200 GiB for €1.99 a month, with every file locked on your device before upload and open source apps for every system, Linux included.
- 2
Paid plans start at about $1.12 a month
As its pricing page puts it: €11.99 per year for 100 GiB, or €1.99 per month for 200 GiB.
- 3
There is a free plan
10 GiB of storage with encryption and every feature included. Data on free accounts is deleted after 3 months without a login.
- 4
It runs on 6 platforms
Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
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.
- 8
A 3.4 GPA, above 15 of 17
That is against the other file storage and sync services we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Filen you would be making files kept in step across devices without losing one. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Filen at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from €11.99 per year for 100 GiB, or €1.99 per month for 200 GiB
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Filen Cloud Dienste UG (haftungsbeschränkt), since 2021
- Category
- File Storage & Sync
- Our grade
- 3.4 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for encrypted storage with open source apps
Filen is encrypted storage from Germany: 200 GiB for €1.99 a month, with every file locked on your device before upload and open source apps for every system, Linux included. Prices are in euros only, lifetime plans are gone, WebDAV and S3 need a server you run, and a free account is wiped after 3 months without a login.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Pro I is €1.99 a month for 200 GiB, and the cheaper quarter of this category starts at $3.99, so Filen comes in under 60% of that. Starter is €11.99 for a whole year of 100 GiB. Encryption is in every plan, not an upsell. Prices are euros only. |
| Free plan and trial | B | 10 GiB free with the encryption and every feature switched on, which one person's documents could sit in for years. It's not photo-library room, and a free account's data is deleted after 3 months without a login, so don't park files and forget them. |
| Features | B | Device-side encryption on every plan, folder sync in five modes, the cloud mounted as a drive, public links, version history, phone camera upload, and encrypted notes and chats. Nothing in the listing points at missing storage work. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: install the desktop app, sign in, and your storage appears as a drive in the file explorer with no server to run. Picking between five sync modes is the only decision it asks of you. |
| Platforms and integrations | A | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android, with the Linux build as .deb, .rpm and AppImage, plus a documented API and TypeScript, Rust and Go SDKs. No ready-made hook-ups to other apps are listed, but the API covers the A. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Filen is for
- Fits if you want every file encrypted on your device, even on the free plan
- Works for Linux users and command-line fans, with .deb, .rpm and AppImage builds, a CLI, SDKs and a documented API
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you'd park files on a free account and forget it, as 3 months without a login wipes them
- Not for you if you were hoping to pay once, since Filen no longer sells lifetime plans
- Not for you if you want a price in dollars, because everything is listed in euros only
- Watch out: WebDAV and S3 access need a server you host through the desktop app or CLI
- Watch out: the free plan is 10 GiB, Starter is sold yearly only, and no ready-made app integrations are listed
Good to know
Good for
- 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
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
~$1.12
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Filen has a free plan. Paid plans start at €11.99 per year for 100 GiB, or €1.99 per month for 200 GiB.
Encryption is in every plan, not an upsell.
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.
The free plan
10 GiB of storage with encryption and every feature included. Data on free accounts is deleted after 3 months without a login.
Read from filen.io on Oct 5, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on filen.io
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
6
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage from Germany with open source apps. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, end-to-end encrypted, public API, real-time collaboration, notes, file sync, file sharing.
Nothing in the listing points at missing storage work.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Who makes Filen
Filen is a German company in Recklinghausen that sells end-to-end encrypted cloud storage and publishes its apps as open source. Accounts start free at 10 GiB, and the money comes from paid storage plans; the about page says it has taken no outside money.
- Founded
- 2021filen.io
- Based
- Recklinghausen, Germanyfilen.io
- Ownership
- Privately held. The imprint names Filen Cloud Dienste UG (haftungsbeschränkt), registered at the District Court of Recklinghausen under HRB 8896 and represented by Jan Lenczyk. No parent company is named.filen.io
- Funding
- No funding round has been announced. The about page counts zero for "Data leaks and financiers in the background", which is the company saying it has taken no outside investment.filen.io
- Team
- No headcount is given. The about page says Filen is a growing team of privacy enthusiasts, developers, entrepreneurs and marketing and sales people.filen.io
- Founders and leaders
- Jan Lenczyk, Managing director, named in the imprint as representing the companyfilen.io
- Hiring
- The careers tag on its hub carries three job posts, all for developers: a senior full-stack role, a React Native mobile role and a frontend web role.filen.io
- Lately
- Status Update - June / July 2026 · Aug 7, 2026
- The New Filen Mobile App · Jul 20, 2026
- Status Update - April and May 2026 · Jun 15, 2026
- Status Update - February / March 2026 · Apr 1, 2026
Read on Oct 18, 2026 from the company’s own pages and from news reports. What is not stated there is left out.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
15/17
Other file storage and sync services it is graded above
Filen's GPA of 3.4 is higher than 15 of the 17 other file storage and sync services we grade, and level with 1.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 11 of 17) and worst on ease of use (B, above 4).
Its paid plans start at about $1.12 a month, against a middle price of $4.17 for the category: 3 of the 16 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 18 file storage and sync services we grade, cut by the letter each got. Filen’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 11 of 17
- BFree plan and trialAbove 13 of 17
- BFeaturesAbove 7 of 17
- BEase of useAbove 4 of 17
- APlatforms and integrationsAbove 7 of 17
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 18 file storage and sync services. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Filen is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Filen you would be making files kept in step across devices without losing one. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.4 is higher than 15 of the 17 other file storage and sync services we grade. It costs $13.44 a year. Filen is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could make
- Notes: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Files kept in step across devices without losing one.
- Storing and serving files for other people.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
- An API that other software can build on.
- End-to-end encryption done properly.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Filen’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Proton Drive, Internxt, MEGA, Tresorit and Icedrive
The 5 tools Filen is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Proton Drive
Free plan · from $3.99/mo
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage from the maker of Proton Mail.
- Only Filen lists a Linux app.
- Filen also covers notes.
- Proton Drive also covers documents and spreadsheets.
- 2.2GPA
Internxt
Free plan · from $11.99/mo
Open source, zero-knowledge cloud storage with lifetime plans.
- Internxt can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Filen also covers notes and file sync.
- 3.2GPA
MEGA
Free plan · from €3.33/mo
Zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage with a 20 GB free plan.
- Only MEGA lists a browser extension.
- Filen is open source, according to its own site.
- Filen also covers notes.
- 2.4GPA
Tresorit
Free plan · from $4.75/mo
End-to-end encrypted file storage and sharing for businesses.
- Filen is open source, according to its own site.
- Filen also covers notes.
- 2.2GPA
Icedrive
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Cloud storage with a mountable drive and client-side encryption.
- Filen is open source, according to its own site.
- Icedrive can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Filen also covers notes.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Filen free?
Filen has a free plan. 10 GiB of storage with encryption and every feature included.
How much does Filen cost?
Filen lists 6 plans. Free: €0.
What platforms does Filen work on?
Filen is available on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
Does Filen offer any discounts?
Filen publicly lists the following: About 16% lower with annual billing.
Is Filen open source?
Yes. Filen is open source, according to its own site.
Is Filen end-to-end encrypted?
Filen describes itself as end-to-end encrypted on its own site. Nobody here has audited that.
Does Filen have an API?
Yes. Filen offers a public API, according to its own site.
Who makes Filen?
Filen is made by Filen Cloud Dienste UG (haftungsbeschränkt). The imprint names Filen Cloud Dienste UG (haftungsbeschränkt), registered at the District Court of Recklinghausen under HRB 8896 and represented by Jan Lenczyk.
What are the alternatives to Filen?
The closest alternatives to Filen in our directory are Proton Drive, Internxt, MEGA, Tresorit and Icedrive.
How does Filen compare with other file storage and sync services?
Filen's GPA of 3.4 is higher than 15 of the 17 other file storage and sync services we grade, and level with 1.
Is Filen good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Filen A for value for money. Its paid plans start at about $1.12 a month, against a middle price of $4.17 for the category: 3 of the 16 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Filen?
To replace Filen you would be making files kept in step across devices without losing one.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Filen’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Filen's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-02-24.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Filen Cloud Dienste UG (haftungsbeschränkt). Prices change, so check filen.io before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Filen, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/filen
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Filen: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/filen
Know someone choosing between file storage and sync services?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/filen/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded file storage and sync services after Filen, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- File Storage & Sync Insider's GuideEvery one of the 18 file storage and sync services we grade, compared
- Google Drive Insider's GuideCloud storage tied to Google Docs, Gmail and Photos3.6 GPA
- Microsoft OneDrive Insider's GuideMicrosoft's cloud storage, bundled with Microsoft 365 plans3.4 GPA
- IDrive Insider's GuideCloud backup for many devices in one account, with a sync folder3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Filen’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Filen is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Filen Cloud Dienste UG (haftungsbeschränkt). Prices and plans change: check filen.io before you buy.