MEGA vs Proton Drive — Which One Wins?
Pick MEGA if: Users who want the most generous free encrypted storage without handing data to big tech companies
Pick Proton Drive if: Privacy-first users who already trust Proton Mail and want their files encrypted with the same zero-knowledge approach
Our take: MEGA for simplicity, Proton Drive for power users.
| MEGA | Proton Drive | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | 20 GB free | Pro Lite $5.56/mo (400 GB) | Free 1GB (5GB with Proton account) | Drive Plus $3.99/mo (200GB) |
| Features | End-to-end encryption by default, Generous free storage, Secure chat and video calls, File versioning, Cross-platform sync | End-to-end encrypted file storage and sharing, Zero-access encryption — even Proton cannot read your files, Built-in photo backup from mobile, Integrates with Proton Mail, Calendar, and VPN, Open-source clients audited by third parties |
| Best for | Users who want the most generous free encrypted storage without handing data to big tech companies | Privacy-first users who already trust Proton Mail and want their files encrypted with the same zero-knowledge approach |
| Learning Curve | Easy | Easy |
The Real Difference
Both offer free tiers, so the real question is what you get when you start paying.
MEGA stands out with Generous free storage and Secure chat and video calls. Proton Drive counters with Zero-access encryption — even Proton cannot read your files and Built-in photo backup from mobile.
MEGA's Achilles heel: reputation baggage from the megaupload era — some businesses won’t touch it for compliance reasons. Proton Drive's: storage amounts are small for the price — 200gb for $4/mo when google gives you 100gb for $2/mo. Pick whichever weakness you can live with.
Bottom Line
If you value generous free storage and users who want the, go with MEGA. If privacy-first users who already matters more, Proton Drive is your pick. Neither is a bad choice — but one will fit your workflow better.