Alternative

Dropbox vs MEGA

Zero-knowledge storage with the most generous free tier.

Why it beats Dropbox. Same zero-knowledge guarantee as the others — the provider can't read your files — with the biggest free allowance, making it an easy no-cost way to stop trusting a provider with your decryption keys.

Dropbox vs MEGA, head-to-head

	Dropbox	MEGA
Can the provider read your files?	Yes (holds the keys)	No (zero-knowledge)
Zero-knowledge by default	No	Yes
Encryption model	Server-side encryption with Dropbox-held keys on core sync; optional end-to-end only on some Teams folders.	End-to-end, zero-knowledge by default; open-source clients.
Legal jurisdiction	United States (CLOUD Act applies)	New Zealand.
Notable breaches	2012 breach (~68M credentials), 2024 Dropbox Sign breach, 2022 GitHub repo theft	No major breach reported
Free tier	2 GB	Up to ~20 GB (largest of the privacy-first set)
Open source	No	Yes (clients)
Independent audits	SOC 2 / ISO (not zero-knowledge)	Open-source clients; periodic third-party review

Pros

Zero-knowledge by default; provider cannot read files
Very large free tier (~20 GB)
Open-source clients; cross-platform incl. Linux

Trade-offs

Past corporate-history controversy (early association with Kim Dotcom, since divested) draws some skepticism
Key-management UX puts recovery responsibility on the user (lose the key, lose the data)

Best for

Users who want a large free zero-knowledge tier and don't need a Dropbox-grade integration ecosystem.

Switching from Dropbox

Generous free tier makes it good for a no-cost trial migration; export from Dropbox and upload, and store your recovery key safely.

Full export & migration guide →

MEGA cannot read your files

Sources

Independent editorial comparison; no paid placement and no invented ratings. Facts current as of 2026 — verify current pricing and features before switching. Dropbox Watchdog is not affiliated with MEGA or Dropbox.