As time progresses, so does the technology we use to develop. And as technological improvements appear, old technological tools become obsolete. Such is the case with the fax machine, which is almost no longer in use today. In spite of this, file sharing tools are still necessary as an integral part of project management. In fact, most project management systems have some type of file-sharing tools built right in. So, as an addition to our movers’ software improvements, here are some tools to consider.
What does a file-sharing tool do?
When it comes to file-sharing, anything from downloading videos via BitTorrent to uploading a batch of photos via FTP counts as such. Today, we look at how project managers implement file-sharing software to:
- collaborate on documents
- access files from any device
- communicate changes within their team
It is because of all these purposes that any one of these tools has to contain cloud storage and collaboration tools. And in addition to all this, we will also examine the extra features of the top file-sharing tools.
Five easy-to-use free file sharing tools
The main criteria for the following tools are that they are both free and easy to use. Hence, they are listed in order of Ease of Use and user reviews. Another important fact to mention would be that most of these tools have the option to pay extra for additional storage space because the free version has a limitation. That limit goes from 2 GB to 15 GB. So, if you are interested in storing large amounts of data, you might want to consider investing extra money for more storage space.
#1: Wimi
Based out of Paris and San Francisco, Wimi is a project management and online collaboration tool. Their Wimi Drive feature allows version management, access rights, online and offline editing, and cloud synchronization. When it comes to storage space, it works up to 10 GB and can be shared between two users and eight projects. You get 10 GB of free storage space for up to two users and eight projects. The main advantage of Wimi is that it is extremely easy to use. And in addition to being described as fun to use, it offers a generous 10 GB of free storage space. The flaw that most users find in Wimi is the fact that their mobile apps lack in terms of functionality.
The cost to upgrade: Paid plans start at a monthly $5 per user and include 250 GB of storage, unlimited projects, and phone support.
#2: Dropbox
San Francisco-based Dropbox was one of the first cloud storage services on the market. It began with a pair of MIT students in 2007 and quickly developed into the absolute leader among storage services. With variations such as Dropbox Business for IT departments and Dropbox Professional for advanced individual users, Dropbox found a way to diversify and keep up with competitors. Dropbox has all of the latest collaboration, access, and synchronization features that you would expect from a leading file sharing tool. And this is to be expected from a product with 10 years worth of development behind it.
The best feature about Dropbox is that it works just as good on both desktop and mobile devices. In fact, users claim that the transition from one to the other is barely detectable. However, every tool piece of software has its flaws, and with Dropbox, that is the initial storage space it offers. With only 2 GB worth of space, users find it insufficient and as a result, they receive constant upgrade reminders. When it comes to the actual upgrade costs and subscription plans:
- Paid plans start at $9.99/month and give you up to 1 TB (1,000 GB) of storage space to stretch out in.
- Team plans, which start at $15/user/month, come with 2 TB of space and administrative tools.
#3: Google Drive
As part of the G Suite, for people who use Gmail, Google Drive is a great online storage and file sharing option. It offers an optimal solution for people using other Google products such as:
- Calendar
- Sheets
- Documents
Collaboration and synchronization come naturally with the use of Google Drive alongside other Google Cloud tools. The good thing is that Google Drives offers users 15 GB of storage space, which is definitely more than enough for any individual. Another benefit of the Google Drive mobile app is that you are able to convert pictures you take into PDF formats and store them directly on the Drive. However, with the age of Google Drive, some claim that the file folder organization system is very outdated. When it comes to upgrading expenses, for a monthly fee of $9.99, you can get 1 TB of storage space.
#4: One Drive
This is Microsoft’s way of getting into the free file sharing tools race. Firstly, the free plan offers you 5 GB of free storage space, which is a bit less than the 15 GB offered by Google Drive. However, what OneDrive has worked for it is the fact that it is so easy to use in comparison to other cloud storage tools. And you can use the Share feature in the Office documents to quickly collaborate and edit any documents online.
This option also saves you money in terms that a monthly subscription comes at a price of $1.99 and offers you 50 GB worth of space. So, OneDrive is the perfect solution if you need a boost your free plan in terms of space. When it comes to larger space capabilities, there is an annual business plan of $60 for 1 TB worth of storage.
#5: Zoho Drive
When it comes to popular project management software, India-based Zoho Projects ranks among the top 20. And with more than 20 years of experience in the industry, you can count that they have something good in terms of file-sharing tools. Built for groups of 25 people, Zoho Docs offers each user 5 GB of free storage space. The layout reminds of that of Google Drive, which most users find pleasant. Collaboration tools are built right in through native chat, group sharing, tasks, and notifications.
The biggest advantage of Zoho Docs is the feature that you can use to email large files directly into storage as attachments. Compared to Google Drive and Dropbox, users find the Zoho mobile apps to be a bit lacking in functionality. And for only $5 per month, you get:
- 100 GB per user
- larger upload limits
- advanced analytics etc.
What are your favorite file-sharing tools?
Do you have some file-sharing tools or Cloud Drive that you did not find here? If so, share your experience and give us some additional options and recommendations for us to review. You never know which of these might lead to the next step in the growth of your moving business.
