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Visit MediaFire
  • 1TB storage option
  • Easy to use
  • 10GB of storage for free users

MediaFire Review

MediaFire is a cloud storage service that offers basic features to store your files, but there's a lot wrong with the platform. Some may argue there are too many cons for users to see the pros. Find out if the “pros” are worth your time in this detailed MediaFire review.

Dan Ginn
By Dan Ginn (Writer)
— Last Updated: 2024-01-25T12:31:01+00:00 Facts checked by Jasna Mishevska

MediaFire cloud storage is a bare-bones service that allows users to store files online. The company doesn’t hold a strong position in the cloud storage space, but that’s not necessarily because it’s bad at what it does. We’ll explore that in this MediaFire review.

Key Takeaways:

  • MediaFire is an easy-to-use cloud storage service.
  • It lacks strong security measures for your files.
  • Similar cloud storage services offer better features and security.

We know not every user wants a feature-stacked storage service. Basic features often give people everything they need. If you need a place to sync and share files and access a decent amount of storage space, stick with us because this review is for you.

  • 02/25/2022

    Completed a fresh review of MediaFire. Versions used: Web: v3.1 13, Mobile: 3.0.8

MediaFire Review: Alternatives

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    1TB - Unlimited GB$6 / month(All Plans)
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    500GB - 10TB$4.17 / month(save 24%)(All Plans)
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    100GB - 3TB$2.99 / month(save 40%)(All Plans) 14-days money-back guarantee
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    100GB - 2TB$1.67 / month(save 16%)(All Plans)
  5. 5
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    2TB - 5TB$9.99 / month(save 16%)(All Plans)

Strengths & Weaknesses

Pros:

  • 1TB storage option
  • Easy to use
  • 10GB of free storage

Cons:

  • Terrible security protocol
  • Limited number of plans
  • No data on file encryption
  • Design navigation issues
  • No desktop client

Features

60 % – Fair

MediaFire’s features spring to life for paid users. Plans start at 1TB of storage with the ability to upload large files up to 20GB in size. That should pique the interest of content creators who need a space to store their videos and high-resolution images.

That said, you can only upload up to 20GB to the cloud if you’re using a 64-bit browser and operating system. If you’re using a 32-bit browser, your maximum upload is 4GB.

Although you can have file previews, the process isn’t as smooth as we would like. When you select a file, it automatically opens in a new tab. You can’t scroll through your files, and if you want to preview video files, you must install the VLC media player. It’s an extra step in what already feels like a clunky process.

Vlc-player install mediafire
Users can only watch videos by installing a third-party app.

Uploading and Sharing Files With MediaFire

Users can access their files through a web browser and the MediaFire mobile app. There isn’t a desktop app, so users can’t access features like a sync folder or block-level sync.

File sharing is easy inside and outside the platform. In addition to sharing your files, you can create upload links that allow other users to add files to a folder in your account. That’s useful if you’ve been on a family trip and want to share photos and videos, or if you want to share work documents with your colleagues.

It’s possible to upload other file types, such as XLS, PDFs and DOCs. However, as with video, you’ll need to install third-party software to view them. Unlike Google Drive (read our Google Drive review), for example, there’s no option to create docs inside the MediaFire platform.

upload do mediafire
Users can upload a range of file types, including PDFs and Word documents.

Many of the features available to paid users are what we would expect to get on a free account. For example, those on a paid plan get an ad-free experience.

Some features make the service feel a little more premium. Password-protected links and one-time links have value. However, it’s difficult to say that MediaFire has any flagship features.

Mediafire Features Overview

Sync
Sync Folder
Block-Level Sync
Selective Sync
Bandwidth management
Sync Any Folder
File Sharing
File Link Sharing
Link Passwords
Link Expiry Dates
Folder Sharing
Folder Permissions
Link Download Limits
Upload Links
Productivity
File Previews
Edit Files
In-App Collaboration
Office Online
Google Docs
Notes App
Media Playback
Mobile Apps
Deleted File Retention
Versioning
WebDAV
Security
At-Rest Encryption
In-Transit Encryption
Encryption Protocol
Zero Knowledge
Two-Factor Authentication
Server LocationUS
Support
24/7 Support
Live Chat Support
Telephone Support
Email Support
User Forum
Knowledgebase
Misc
Free Plan

Pricing

60 % – Fair

Rather than overwhelm users with options, MediaFire offers three plans: Basic (free), Pro and Business. 

storage plans mediafire
Only three storage plans are available, which some users may find limiting.

Pro is made for single-person use and offers 1TB of storage. The monthly price is $3.75 per month when paid annually. If you prefer to pay month to month, the Pro plan costs $5. In comparison, with Sync.com — a far superior service — you can get 2TB for $8 (read our Sync.com review).

MediaFire’s Business plan costs $40 when paid annually. Otherwise, it’s $50 on a monthly plan. With it, you get access to up to 100TB of storage and can add up to 100 users to a single account.

While lots of storage and a high number of users are attractive, there aren’t many features that make MediaFire a good option for businesses. With the service offering no app integrations and no ability to collaborate, we suggest you check out better alternatives. Take a look at our roundup of the best cloud services for business.

Each paid plan offers decent value, but there are better options out there for a little more money (and, in some cases, a little less).

Free Storage

MediaFire is neither the best nor the worst for free users. It offers 10GB of free storage. That’s better than the 2GB from Jumpshare (read our Jumpshare review) and on par with the likes of Icedrive (read our full Icedrive review).

Boost your space mediafire
MediaFire offers multiple ways to increase your storage cap for free.

You can top up your free storage by referring a friend to the platform. For each friend who signs up with your referral, you get an extra 1GB of storage. If you connect your Twitter account and share the service in a tweet, you get an additional 400MB of free space. You also get 200MB when you install one of the mobile apps.

What’s frustrating is the free version lacks features we would expect to have. You can’t download full folders, nor can you have an ad-free experience. If you want more storage and better features, consider MEGA, which starts with 20GB of storage (read our full MEGA review).

Ease of Use

70 % – Decent

While we didn’t struggle to find our way around the web interface and iOS app, certain things frustrated us while using MediaFire.

web interface mediafire
MediaFire’s browser app offers a simple design but has flaws in functionality.

However, let’s start with what’s good. The web interface allows you to add files via an easy-to-find upload button or by dragging and dropping files into a folder. If you like to keep things in order, MediaFire makes it easy to sort folders and files into alphabetical order. You can also filter files to only show photos, videos, documents or other file types.

The platform’s lack of an integrated media player and document reader makes navigating files feel like a chore. The inability to seamlessly flick through photos — you can only open one in a separate tab — leaves us scratching our heads.

File preview image mediafire
Not being able to easily flick through files makes MediaFire tedious to use.

You can expect the same ease of use and frustrations on mobile. Like on the browser app, it’s not possible to swipe through your files when viewing them. Basic functions like uploading files, creating new folders and sharing files are available.

Mobile app for ios mediafire
The mobile application is easy to navigate, but comes with limitations.

The app’s inability to automatically save files to the cloud when you create them on your mobile device is also something the service can improve.

File Sharing & Syncing

65 % – Decent

Anyone with a MediaFire account can share and sync files with others. However, the free version has limitations in terms of security.

Upload Files With Your Web Browser & Mobile Device

Whether you upload your files from your browser or mobile device, you can access them on both platforms. We uploaded five high-resolution images from a mobile device while keeping the browser client open. Within seconds of uploading on the mobile application, they were viewable in the browser app. As far as file syncing is concerned, we have no complaints.

File Sharing

Users have a few options when it comes to sharing files. You can share a single file or folder (there’s no option to share multiple files from a folder). Next to the file and folder is a sharing button. Pressing the button copies the sharing URL for you to use. You can also share directly to social media platforms.

Share folder mediafire
Users can share folders with others by using the sharing link.

More options are available when you click the vertical ellipsis, such as sharing a viewing link or a download link.

Those on the paid plans have further options with file and folder permissions. Password-protected links and a “1-Time-Link” are available, but there’s no option to manually limit the number of downloads or set further user permissions.

Share files mediafire
Users have multiple sharing options for single files.

Speed

60 % – Fair

We put upload speed to the test by uploading a 1GB folder on a 100 Mbps internet connection for upload and download speeds. Frustratingly, we couldn’t test download speed because you can’t download a folder on a free plan and there’s no desktop app.

Speed test mediafire
MediaFire achieves average speeds when uploading folders.

For uploads, MediaFire’s performance was modest. We have seen 5GB folders uploaded in similar time frames. It’s not a total slug, but there’s not much going on to sing its praises.

First attempt:Second attempt:Average:
Upload0:06:300:07:120:06:51
DownloadN/AN/AN/A

Security

10 % – Terrible

One concern we have is MediaFire isn’t forthcoming with the type of encryption it uses to protect users’ files. There’s no mention of it inside the apps or on the MediaFire website.

Clearly, there’s no end-to-end encryption. Without knowing what standard protocol MediaFire uses (the industry standard is AES 256-bit encryption), we cannot confidently say your files will be safe from middleman attacks.

We’re not sure why MediaFire lacks transparency on this. Use the service at your own risk or find an alternative. 

Privacy

50 % – Poor

MediaFire has a standard privacy policy. It’s transparent with what happens with the data uploaded to its servers. 

If and when you interact with ads, you can expect to see ads that are tailored to your interests. There’s no avoiding this unless you use an ad-blocker or move to a paid plan.

privacy policy mediafire
There is a detailed and transparent privacy policy on MediaFire’s website.

MediaFire’s servers are located in the United States, the same country the company is registered in. MediaFire will hand your information to authorities if it “is necessary in order to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding illegal activities.”

Nothing stands out as a red flag in the policy. Just remember, your information is used to target advertisements.

Customer Service

50 % – Poor

Customer support is lackluster. There’s no telephone support or live chat. No resolution times are given to those using a free subscription. Users on a paid subscription get access to “priority support” and can expect a response to their ticket within 12 hours.

User-knowledgebase-mediafire
Users can access a knowledgebase to get answers to basic questions.

We raised a support ticket with MediaFire, asking what type of encryption it uses to protect files. We’ve yet to receive a response after four working days, which doesn’t put the support team in a good light.

MediaFire’s knowledgebase covers the basics, like how to upload and download files, but it’s lacking beyond that.

The Verdict

MediaFire may lure in businesses, but there’s not much on offer. Also, the poor customer support should be a cause for business users to look elsewhere.

It’s difficult to recommend MediaFire when it doesn’t offer more than similar cloud storage providers. There are plenty of other, better cloud service options, such as Sync.com, pCloud and Icedrive. In short: MediaFire is that friend you don’t mind being at your party, but you don’t care if you forget to invite them, either.

What did you think about this MediaFire review? What features would MediaFire need for you to sign up for an account? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading.

FAQ

  • MediaFire’s top feature is its simplicity. New and experienced users will be able to work their way around the platform in little to no time.

  • All types of users use MediaFire. Because there’s a decent chunk of cloud storage available and a 20GB file upload limit — depending on your computer specifications — content creators working with large files should take notice.

1TB - 100TB $3.75 / month (All Plans)
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