Overview

Filen’s client-side encryption and zero-knowledge design put privacy at the center of its storage service. Files use AES-GCM 256-bit encryption; Filen says its file encryption is quantum resistant. The company, founded in 2021 and headquartered in Recklinghausen, Germany, says its servers are in Germany and operate in Tier III-IV ISO27001-certified colocation data centers, and that it complies with GDPR.

Storage is only part of the product: Filen adds syncing, network-drive access, sharing, notes and chats. That breadth makes it more useful than a file vault alone, though it does not make the service a general-purpose collaboration suite.

Key features

Private storage and sync: Zero-knowledge encryption, file versioning, Smart Sync and five sync modes give users several ways to keep files accessible while retaining a privacy-focused design. The versioning is useful protection against unwanted changes, while the range of sync modes helps accommodate different workflows.
Notes and chats: Encrypted notes support rich text, code, Markdown and checklists, and chats are end-to-end encrypted. They extend Filen beyond storage for users who want these tools alongside their files, although teams seeking a broader collaboration platform may need other software.
Developer access: A documented API, command-line interface, and TypeScript, Rust and Go SDKs give developers routes to integrate or automate access. The CLI and desktop client can also run local WebDAV and S3-compatible mirror servers, a practical bridge for compatible tools.
Mobile apps: iOS and Android apps support encrypted camera uploads, offline files, notes, chats and notifications. That provides more than basic mobile file access, especially for users who want camera uploads protected within the same service.
Open source and support: Filen says all its apps use the AGPL v3 license and advertises 24/7 support through its support panel and contact channels. These are useful considerations for users who value inspectable software or access to support.

Pricing

Filen uses a freemium model. The free account costs 0.00 EUR per free and includes 10 GB of storage. Its important drawback is the inactivity policy: data in free accounts is deleted after three months without activity, with reminder emails beforehand. That makes the free tier a poor fit for archival storage or files you may not access regularly.

All paid plans are billed monthly and include unlimited bandwidth and uploads, client-side encryption, zero-knowledge technology, syncing, a network drive, file sharing, unlimited notes and unlimited chats:

Pro I — 1.99 EUR per month: 200 GiB of storage. A low-cost step up from free for users with modest storage needs who want to avoid relying on the free tier.
Pro II — 3.99 EUR per month: 500 GiB. This suits users who have outgrown 200 GiB but do not need multi-terabyte capacity.
Pro III — 8.99 EUR per month: 2 TiB. The natural choice for larger personal libraries or work files that need more room.
Pro X — 39.99 EUR per month: 10 TiB. It is aimed at users with substantial storage requirements; the higher monthly cost is difficult to justify if you will not use the added capacity.

Paid tiers keep the same stated core features and differ chiefly in storage capacity. Choose by the space you need rather than expecting higher tiers to unlock a different set of tools.

Platforms

Filen supports Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and the web, and provides an API. The broad desktop and mobile coverage is useful for mixed-device households and teams. Developer tools include the documented API, CLI and SDKs for TypeScript, Rust and Go.

Who it's for

Filen is a good fit for individuals and professionals who want encrypted storage with file syncing and room for notes and chats, as well as developers who value API, SDK and command-line access. Its multiple storage tiers and wide platform coverage also make it viable for businesses whose needs align with those tools. It is less suitable as a set-and-forget free archive because inactivity can lead to deletion after three months.

Pros and cons

Pro: Client-side, zero-knowledge encryption and file versioning combine privacy with a safeguard against unwanted file changes.
Pro: Smart Sync, five sync modes and network-drive access offer several ways to work with stored files.
Pro: Encrypted notes and chats, mobile camera uploads, and developer tooling make the service useful beyond basic file storage.
Con: Free-account data is deleted after three months of inactivity, which rules out using the free tier as an untouched archive.
Con: The paid plans scale storage but share the same stated core features, so users who need little space may find the larger tiers unnecessary rather than more capable.

Alternatives

Consider PigCloud if you want a free 10 GB plan and its stated transfer controls—5 GB per day of uploads, 2 MB/s upload, 5 MB/s download, three versions per file and one concurrent upload. Filen is the better fit when its unlimited bandwidth and uploads, zero-knowledge encryption, or notes and chats matter more.

FileLu is another freemium option with apps and platforms spanning mobile, desktop, web, API and extension. Its Premium monthly plan costs 6.00 USD per month, while its yearly plan is 60.00 USD per year; choose it if those terms and its premium features suit you better.

Choose Cryptee if independently reviewable open-source software and cryptography are a priority. Its free plan offers 100 MB forever, far less storage than Filen’s 10 GB free account.

Ente Photos offers a free 10 GB plan with one replica and 100 Locker items, and a 50 GB Starter family plan at $2.49 per month or $29.88 per year. It is worth considering if those photo-focused plan terms match your needs better than Filen’s storage tiers.

Consider Plient if you want a free plan with 5 GB encrypted storage for one user, mobile and desktop apps, WebDAV and CLI, and a 30-day version history. Its free trial is also a point of difference; Filen instead offers more free storage, but deletes inactive free-account data after three months.

Internxt Drive may suit users looking for a free encrypted cloud-storage tier and code publicly available on GitHub that the provider says has been externally audited.

Choose Proton Drive if its 5 GB Proton Free plan or its 200 GB Drive Plus and Proton Unlimited options better match your requirements.

MEGA offers a 20 GB free plan and a PRO I tier with 3 TB of storage and 3 TB of transfer. Consider it if that free allowance or transfer-based paid option fits better than Filen.

Browse more options in Secure Cloud Storage and Cloud Storage Services.

Verdict

Filen is a strong choice for privacy-conscious users who want encrypted storage with syncing, developer access and useful extras such as notes and chats. Its main advantage is how much functionality it brings together under a zero-knowledge design, across desktop and mobile platforms. Look elsewhere if you need a free account to preserve dormant files, or if Filen’s storage tiers do not match your capacity needs.

	Filen	Nest
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	€1.99/mo	—
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Android, api, iOS, Linux, macOS, Web, Windows	Web
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Zero-knowledge encryption	—	Yes
Included storage	—	100 GB
Sharing controls	—	advanced

Filen vs Nest

Filen

Nest