Best Secure File Sharing Software: 11 Options for Business

Email attachments were never built for contracts, payroll files or client records. They get forwarded, saved to personal laptops and sent to the wrong person with one slip of autocomplete. Once a file leaves your hands, you've no say over where it goes next.

Secure file sharing tools give you that say back. The eleven options below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from privacy-first storage to enterprise content platforms, and every description comes from the vendor's own site, read this week. My piece on why manual file sharing becomes a risk as you grow explains the problem in more detail.

Secure file sharing tools at a glance

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site names a free plan, a free edition, a free account or an open source version. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it or book a demo.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Box	Content management and collaboration	Larger firms managing content and workflows	Not stated
Egnyte	Content cloud for enterprises	Firms mixing cloud and on-site files	Trial only
FileCloud	Enterprise file sharing and sync (EFSS)	Regulated firms that want self-hosting	Trial only
Filemail	Large file transfer service	Sending very large files quickly	Yes
pCloud	Swiss-based secure cloud storage	Privacy-minded small businesses	Yes
Proton Drive	End-to-end encrypted cloud storage	Encrypted storage from a privacy brand	Yes
SendSafely	End-to-end encrypted file and message sending	Exchanging sensitive files with outsiders	Not stated
ShareFile	Secure document workflow and file sharing	Accountants and professional services firms	Not stated
Sync.com	Secure cloud storage and sharing	Simple encrypted sharing with collaborators	Not stated
Tresorit	End-to-end encrypted cloud storage for business	Confidential projects and client data rooms	Not stated
Virtru	Data security for email, files and apps	Controlling access to files after sending	Not stated

Eleven secure file sharing tools to compare

Box

Best for: Larger organisations that want file sharing as part of a content platform with workflows, e-signatures and AI built in.

Egnyte

Best for: Mid-size and larger firms that want governed file sharing across cloud and on-premises storage, with controls over sensitive content.

FileCloud

Best for: Regulated businesses that want file sharing they can host themselves or in the cloud, with compliance controls and unlimited external users.

Filemail

Best for: Creative and technical teams that often need to send very large files and folders to clients without email attachment limits.

pCloud

Best for: Small businesses and freelancers who want cloud storage and sharing from a Swiss provider with a strong focus on privacy.

Proton Drive

Best for: Individuals and small teams who want end-to-end encrypted file storage and sharing from the company behind an encrypted email service.

SendSafely

Best for: Support, legal and finance teams that regularly swap sensitive files with customers and want them encrypted end to end.

ShareFile

Best for: Professional services firms that want secure client file exchange plus document requests, approvals and signatures in one place.

Sync.com

Best for: Small teams that want straightforward secure storage with shared folders for staff and outside collaborators.

Tresorit

Best for: Businesses handling confidential projects that want an end-to-end encrypted workspace, secure file sharing and client data rooms.

Virtru

Best for: Organisations that want to keep control over who can open sensitive files and emails, even after they've been shared.

When a wrong file becomes a reportable breach

The ICO says that when you've had a personal data breach, you must assess the likely risk to people's rights and freedoms. If a risk is likely, you must notify the ICO as soon as possible and, where feasible, within 72 hours.

A spreadsheet of customer details sent to the wrong person can be exactly that kind of breach. That's why access logs, expiring links and the ability to revoke a share matter as much as encryption. If you can prove a file was never opened, or switch off access within minutes, you're in a far better position.

End-to-end encryption versus encryption at rest

Almost every tool encrypts files while they're stored and while they travel. End-to-end encryption goes further: files are encrypted on your device, so even the provider can't read them. That's reassuring for confidential work, but it can limit features such as previews and search.

Content platforms usually trade a little of that privacy for workflows, approvals and integrations. Neither approach is wrong; it depends on how sensitive your files are and how much your team needs to collaborate on them.

Questions to ask a provider

1. Are files end-to-end encrypted, or only encrypted at rest and in transit?
2. Can we set expiry dates, passwords and download limits on shared links?
3. Can we see who opened or downloaded each file?
4. Can we revoke access after something has been shared?
5. Where are files stored, and can we choose the region?
6. How do outside clients receive files without creating an account?

Signs your file sharing isn't safe enough

• Sensitive files travel by email. Copies spread everywhere.
• Links never expire. Old shares still work years later.
• Nobody can say who opened what. There's no audit trail.
• Staff use personal accounts. Files leave your control.

Do you make secure file sharing tools? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on choosing secure file sharing software

Think about the riskiest file you send in a normal month, perhaps payroll, a contract or a client's personal details, and test that exact journey. If it's quick for you and simple for the person receiving it, people will use the tool instead of falling back on email.

Then check the controls you'd need on a bad day: revoking a link, seeing who opened a file, and pulling a report for the ICO if you had to. For very large files that aren't sensitive, my guide to sending large files in Gmail shows a simpler route.

Frequently asked questions

What is secure file sharing?

Secure file sharing means sending and storing files with protections such as encryption, access controls, expiring links and audit logs, so only the right people can open them.

Is email safe for sending sensitive files?

Ordinary email attachments can be forwarded and saved anywhere, and sent to the wrong person by mistake. Secure sharing tools let you control and revoke access.

Are there free secure file sharing tools?

Yes. Several providers offer free plans with limited storage or transfer sizes. Check the free plan column in the table above.

What does end-to-end encryption mean?

End-to-end encryption means files are encrypted on your device and only decrypted by the recipient, so the provider in the middle can't read them.

Should I report a file sent to the wrong person?

If it's a personal data breach that's likely to risk people's rights and freedoms, the ICO says you must notify it as soon as possible and, where feasible, within 72 hours.

What is a virtual data room?

A virtual data room is a secure online space for sharing confidential documents with outside parties, often used for deals, audits and legal work.