TeraBox Review
Having 1TB of free storage sounds too good to be true, especially in the cloud space -- but that’s exactly what one Japanese company is offering. In this TeraBox review, we see whether there’s a price to pay for so much free storage space.
— Last Updated: 2025-02-06T12:55:55+00:00 Facts checked by Simona Ivanovski
Key Takeaways: What Is TeraBox Cloud Storage & Is It Good to Use?
- TeraBox has an excellent file management system, allowing quick access to videos, documents and other file types.
- Having 1TB of free storage space can certainly come in handy, but it’s at the expense of quality features and performance.
- Though your files are secure, TeraBox isn’t the most private option and lacks client-side or zero-knowledge encryption.
Top Use-Cases for TeraBox App
- File size limits: One major limitation on the TeraBox free plan is that you can upload files up to only 4GB in size, which isn’t great if you’re a video creator.
- Download speeds: The download speeds were among the slowest we have seen and won’t be suitable for people who need to quickly download files onto their device.
- Secure file sharing: To its credit, TeraBox offers advanced security features such as password protection and time limits for access to files, even on the free tier.
The Japanese-based cloud storage company TeraBox is making a lot of headlines. Offering 1TB of free storage space, it really is one of a kind. None of the best cloud storage offers anything close to that. However, before you rush to sign up for an account, take the time to read this TeraBox review — all that free data storage may not actually be worth it.
When we first became aware of TeraBox, we were immediately suspicious. Very little is truly free in the tech space. Take Google Drive, for example, which offers plenty of tools but at the price of your data and privacy. Therefore, forgive us for being cautious when we see a company offering enough cloud storage that few users would ever need to pay a penny.
In this detailed Terabox review, we’ll take a look at some of the potential pitfalls of signing up for an account. We’ll compare the free plan with the paid plan, and uncover whether TeraBox is on a par with the most secure cloud storage services.
What Is TeraBox & Who Is It For?
TeraBox is a cloud storage service offering 1TB of storage space to free users. This is the most space we’ve seen on a free plan, and the paid tier is one of the cheapest around for 2TB of storage. This makes it ideal for those on a tight budget who want plenty of space to back up photos, videos and other file types.
- Release date: June 2020
- Developer: Flextech Inc.
- Platforms: Desktop, web and mobile apps
- Operating systems: Windows, macOs, Linux, Android and iOS
- Notable features: Private vault, media playback, advanced file management
- Pricing: for 2TB of storage, billed yearly ()
The Cloudwards Expert Opinion
There’s no denying that Terabox’s ample free storage is attractive. However, you can’t view your photos and videos in high resolution on the free plan. TeraBox is also a relatively new service, with no guarantee of longevity like other, more established cloud storage solutions. I would keep this in mind before committing a lot of data to the service.
TeraBox Pros & Cons
TeraBox Alternatives
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Features: What Can TeraBox Do?
TeraBox covers most of the bases we look for in a cloud storage service. We’ll break most of them down, but it’s worth noting some of what’s missing. Unlike our favorite cloud storage provider, Sync.com, you can’t create documents with TeraBox. In addition, there are no communication tools like you’ll find with MEGA.
File Management
it improves access and management.
You can create different folders and subfolders for your files. TeraBox also separates your files into four distinct categories: music, documents, photos and videos. Each tab offers quick access to specific file types; however, you can still access your files via their dedicated folder.
Media Playback
the 480p quality limit on the free version.
TeraBox users can view photos, watch videos and listen to music files directly within the web and mobile apps. That’s also where you’ll see the first distinction between the free and paid plans. The service compresses 4K video down to 480p on the free plan. TeraBox also restricts file uploads to 4GB on the free version, which won’t be enough for video creators.
Vault
but in theory TeraBox employees can still access them.
You can protect specific files with two-factor authentication by adding them to your personal vault. Free users can add only 200MB of files to the vault, and paid users can add 2TB. The personal vault works similarly to OneDrive’s vault. It isn’t as robust as IceDrive or pCloud, though, both of which offer a dedicated zero-knowledge encryption folder for your files.
TeraBox Features Overview
| Features |  |
|---|---|
| Sync Folder | |
| Block-Level Sync | |
| Selective Sync | |
| Bandwidth management | |
| Sync Any Folder | |
| File Link Sharing | |
| Link Passwords | |
| Link Expiry Dates | |
| Folder Sharing | |
| Folder Permissions | |
| Link Download Limits | |
| Upload Links | |
| File Previews | |
| Edit Files | |
| In-App Collaboration | |
| Office Online | |
| Google Docs | |
| Notes App | |
| Media Playback | |
| Mobile Apps | |
| Deleted File Retention | |
| Versioning | |
| WebDAV | |
| At-Rest Encryption | |
| In-Transit Encryption | |
| Encryption Protocol | TSL/SSL |
| Zero Knowledge | |
| Two-Factor Authentication | |
| Server Location | Japan |
| 24/7 Support | |
| Live Chat Support | |
| Telephone Support | |
| Email Support | |
| User Forum | |
| Knowledgebase | |
| Free Plan |
User-Friendliness & Hands-On Testing
We have few complaints about TeraBox’s functionality. However, there’s no denying that the pop-up advertisements reduce the quality of the overall user experience. That’s the real price you pay for the free storage space. If you want to make TeraBox your daily driver, we recommend jumping on the paid plan to ensure you don’t pull your hair out in frustration.
How to Install TeraBox
We’ll take you through the steps to installing TeraBox so you can use it on your desktop. Note that this process is for macOS. Windows users can access the app via the Microsoft app store.
- Navigate to Your Desktop App Tray
Access your app tray at the bottom of your desktop and select “launchpad.”
- Access the App store
When you arrive at the Apple app store, search for “TeraBox: 1024GB cloud storage.”
- Download the App
Click on the cloud with the downward arrow to download TeraBox onto your Mac.
- Login
Log in with your user credentials to begin using the TeraBox app.
TeraBox on Desktop: macOS & Windows Apps
that mirrors the clean aesthetic of the web variant.
You can download Terabox via the Apple or Microsoft app store. The apps are a mirror image of the web version. Unlike other desktop apps, there’s no dedicated sync folder, nor can you run automated backups. Instead, you’re limited to the same experience as with the web browser.
TeraBox on Mobile: Android & iOS Apps
using the mobile app rather annoying.
The user experience on the mobile app depends on your plan. Free users will have third-party ads pop up in a range of formats, including video, which you can’t skip. In terms of functionality, you can update photos and videos automatically, access your files and share them with other users. The UI is a little messy, but it’s usable.
TeraBox Pricing: How Much Does TeraBox Cost?
TeraBox offers only two plans: free and Premium. The paid plan gets you 2TB of storage. Compared to other platforms offering the same amount of storage, the paid plan is extremely cheap at just per month and removes many of the pain points of the free version.
- 1TB
- 2TB
TeraBox Speed
We ran some in-house tests to see how well TeraBox does with upload and download speeds. Using an internet connection of 100 Mbps, we uploaded a 5GB folder that we filled with a range of file types. This time around, we had to test both TeraBox plans, as the company slows down speeds for free users.
Security: Is TeraBox Safe?
We spent time researching TeraBox’s security measures to see if it has robust security protocols. We’ll take you through our findings below.
Privacy: Is TeraBox Private?
There’s a lot of confusion surrounding TeraBox and privacy. Many still believe it’s owned by a company based in China, a country known for its lax approach to privacy. However, it’s actually in the hands of a company based in Japan, which has a better track record of managing user data.
TeraBox Customer Support
TereBox’s customer support is shockingly bad. There’s no telephone support, and finding ways to contact the company directly is a mess. There’s a very basic help center for common issues, and you can access ticket support once you find it.
Email Support Speed & Quality
We contacted TeraBox to find concrete information on whether it scans user files and which security protocols are in place. We were given a response time of 24-48 hours.
Unfortunately, we never received a response for our first query, and the second time we reached out we got a generic vague response that didn’t answer our question. This is telling, as a company that’s not transparent about its access to user data is a huge red flag.
TeraBox vs Other Cloud Storage Services
Let’s look at how TeraBox stands up against some similar services. We’ve intentionally included solutions with a generous free tier, and we’ll compare their features beyond just the available storage space.
TeraBox vs Dropbox
As far as free storage space goes, Dropbox is terrible, offering only 2GB. That said, it doesn’t throttle speeds on the free plan, though it’s not the fastest cloud storage either. Dropbox is also a better option for productivity thanks to Dropbox Paper. We’re equally as cautious as with TeraBox on the privacy front, though — learn why in our Dropbox review.
TeraBox vs Google Drive
Google Drive’s free tier offers 15GB of storage space. It doesn’t reduce playback quality, and it takes the upper edge with its productivity suite. TeraBox has more widely accessible security features, though, as Google Drive doesn’t offer password protection or file access limits on most of its plans. Learn more in our Google Drive review.
TeraBox vs MEGA
MEGA offers 20GB of free storage up front, plus an extra 10GB for one year if you install MEGA’s applications and 5GB for every referral. The key difference is that MEGA offers zero-knowledge encryption, so your files are as private as they come. Though it has a user-friendly interface, we feel TeraBox offers a more modern design. To learn more, check out our MEGA review.
Community Feedback: TeraBox Reviews on Reddit, Quora & Social Media
Most users online are concerned about the safety of their files with TeraBox. However, in a post on Quora, one user wrote, “It seems that there is no intention of stealing, because the parent company of this software is in Japan, a country known for its strict data security for enterprises…”
For performance, one user on Reddit complained that upload and down speeds didn’t improve when they upgraded to Premium. Of course, this is just one person’s experience — in fact, we had the opposite experience during our in-house testing.
The Verdict: Is TeraBox Worth It?
TeraBox isn’t a scam, and there’s nothing in its privacy approach that stands out as worse than the likes of Google Drive and Dropbox. You get a subpar product with the free plan, though, especially in terms of speed and playback features. The ads are also a pain and vastly reduce the user experience. For us, 1TB of free space doesn’t make up for all of that.
The Premium plan does bring improvements, and for less privacy-focused users it’s a good option considering the affordable pricing. There are other cheap options available, though, and they come with better privacy standards and more productivity tools. You can check them out in our selection of the best cheap cloud storage.
What’s your verdict on TeraBox? Is the free tier worth the inferior features? Is there another storage solution you would recommend as an alternative? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading.
FAQ: TeraBox Cloud Review
TeraBox is probably safe. It uses TLS/SSL encryption to secure files and prevent unauthorized access from the outside, which is good, but the company failed to detail how files are secured at-rest, and there are some concerning red flags in the service’s privacy policy.
Yes, you can trust the TeraBox app, so long as you know what you’re signing up for. It doesn’t feature zero-knowledge encryption, and has some serious red flags in the security and privacy departments, so we would advise against using it for confidential data.
The main disadvantage is that TeraBox lacks advanced privacy protocols like zero-knowledge encryption. Its free plan is also littered with third-party advertisements.
Yes, if you want to use TeraBox, it’s necessary to give it access to your device’s file system for platforms that require permission, such as Android, iOS and Mac.
