FileShot vs Internxt: Secure File Sharing Comparison
— Written by Brendan, Founder of FileShot.io
Internxt is a Barcelona-based cloud storage provider that has built its identity entirely around privacy and zero-knowledge encryption. Unlike many services that use "private" as marketing language while retaining the ability to access user files, Internxt's architecture genuinely prevents the service from reading files stored on its platform. They use AES-256 encryption with client-side key generation, a distributed storage model that fragments and distributes file chunks across nodes, and an open-source codebase that makes their encryption claims auditable. These are real technical commitments, not marketing copy.
FileShot shares this foundational commitment to zero-knowledge encryption but applies it to a different use case: temporary, expiring file transfers rather than persistent cloud storage. Understanding the difference in what these two services are designed to do is central to choosing between them — and in many situations, the correct answer is that both have a role in a privacy-conscious workflow.
Where They Agree: Zero-Knowledge Is Non-Negotiable
Both FileShot and Internxt operate from the same first principle: the service should be technically incapable of reading your files. On Internxt, when you upload a file, it is encrypted client-side using AES-256-GCM before any data leaves your device. The encryption keys are derived from your password using secure key derivation, and Internxt never receives those keys in any form. Files are broken into shards and distributed across Internxt's node network, so even infrastructure-level access to any single node produces only useless fragments.
FileShot's zero-knowledge mode applies the same cryptographic principle to the sharing workflow. Files are encrypted in-browser using AES-256-GCM before upload. The decryption key is embedded in the URL fragment — the portion after the `#` symbol that browsers never transmit to servers — so FileShot receives the encrypted file but never the key required to decrypt it. Recipients with the full link can decrypt locally; anyone without the key, including FileShot, cannot.
Both services meet the cryptographic definition of zero-knowledge. The difference is deployment context: Internxt stores files indefinitely for retrieval; FileShot shares files for a defined time window and then deletes them permanently.
Storage vs. Sharing: Fundamentally Different Use Cases
Internxt is a cloud storage product. You upload files, they're available whenever you need them from any device you've authorized, and they persist until you delete them or cancel your subscription. The workflow is identical to Dropbox, Google Drive, or iCloud Drive — except the service cannot read your data. This serves users who primarily need secure long-term file access across devices: documents, photos, backups, project files, archives.
FileShot is a file-sharing product. You upload a file, generate a link with configurable expiration (1 to 90 days on the free tier), share the link with specific recipients, and the file is permanently deleted when it expires. There is no persistent storage. There is no sync client. There are no "my files" that live in your account indefinitely. FileShot is designed for the act of handoff — moving a specific file to a specific recipient within a specific time window — not for ongoing storage.
The practical implication: Internxt cannot replace FileShot for sending files to someone who doesn't have an Internxt account, because the zero-knowledge model requires the recipient to be authenticated to access the decrypted file. FileShot cannot replace Internxt for long-term file storage, because files expire and are deleted. They solve different problems with the same underlying cryptographic philosophy.
Anonymous Sharing: FileShot's Structural Advantage
One of the most significant practical differences between the services is anonymity. To share a file securely from Internxt, the sender needs an Internxt account and the recipient typically needs one as well to access files within the encrypted ecosystem. File sharing with non-Internxt users involves generating share links that expose files outside the zero-knowledge model, reducing privacy guarantees for that specific transfer.
FileShot supports completely anonymous sharing on the free tier with no account required from either the sender or the recipient. A user with no FileShot account can upload an encrypted file, receive a link, and share that link with anyone who can then download and decrypt using the key in the URL fragment. No email address, no registration, no identity associated with the transfer. For situations requiring anonymous file handoff — journalist sources, legal document submissions, whistleblower-style transfers, or simply the preference not to have your identity attached — FileShot's architecture handles this natively where Internxt's account-centric model does not.
Free Tier: 10 GB Cap vs. 10 GB per File
Internxt's free tier allocates 10GB of storage. This is a reasonable amount for casual use — documents, photos, small project files — but it fills quickly for anyone handling large media files, video projects, or substantial data archives. Once the 10GB is exhausted, uploads fail until you delete old files or upgrade to a paid plan. The 10GB cap is an account-wide ceiling, not a per-file limit.
FileShot's free tier supports files up to 10 GB each with 50 GB of total storage and a 90-day link expiry. The constraint is time rather than permanent storage: files expire after your chosen period (up to 90 days) and are then deleted, which bounds the ongoing storage cost. Paid tiers expand further: Pro ($5/month) supports 100 GB per file, Creator ($12/month) handles files up to 300 GB, and Professional ($19/month) adds HIPAA compliance with BAA for healthcare.
Pricing Comparison
| Feature | Internxt | FileShot |
|---|---|---|
| Zero-Knowledge Encryption | Yes (AES-256, client-side) | Yes (AES-256-GCM, client-side) |
| Free Storage/Size | 10GB total | Unlimited per file, up to 90-day expiry |
| Anonymous Uploads | No (account required) | Yes (no account needed) |
| File Expiration / Auto-Delete | None (permanent until deleted) | 1 to 90 days (guaranteed deletion) |
| Primary Use Case | Long-term cloud storage | Temporary file transfers |
| Paid Storage Plan | $3.49/mo (200GB) | $5/mo Pro (100GB per file) |
| Open Source | Yes | Encryption library open source |
| Built-in File Tools | Minimal (virus scanner) | Converter, PDF editor, metadata scrubber, compressor |
Open Source and Auditable Architecture
Internxt publishes its clients as open source, allowing independent researchers and security professionals to audit the encryption implementation and verify that the zero-knowledge claims hold in practice. This is an important transparency mechanism: self-reported security claims from any vendor have limited value, but published code that anyone can audit provides a meaningful verification pathway. Internxt has consistently maintained this openness, and it's a genuine strength of their approach.
FileShot's encryption implementation is available for review and the cryptographic principles used — AES-256-GCM, PBKDF2, Web Crypto API — are standard and well-understood. The zero-knowledge model is architecturally verifiable: because the key lives only in the URL fragment and browsers never include fragments in HTTP requests, the server's inability to decrypt files is a structural property of browsers rather than a policy that could be quietly changed. This is arguably more verifiable than a policy promise, because it's enforced by the HTTP specification itself.
Integrated File Tools: A FileShot Exclusive
Internxt focuses on storage and sync, which means the product stops at file management. Conversion, PDF editing, metadata scrubbing, compression, and virus scanning are all available as third-party tools — but they require leaving Internxt, processing the file in a separate service, and then uploading the result. Each step introduces potential privacy exposure to services that may not be zero-knowledge.
FileShot's integrated toolbox handles these operations in-browser before the file is shared: convert formats, edit PDFs, strip metadata, compress, and scan for viruses — all without sending the file to a separate service. For a privacy-conscious workflow where you want to both process and share a file securely, doing both within a single zero-knowledge context is more consistent than routing through multiple services.
Conclusion: Two Privacy-First Services With Different Missions
Internxt and FileShot share a genuine commitment to zero-knowledge encryption but serve fundamentally different roles. Internxt is the right choice for long-term encrypted cloud storage — if you need a Google Drive or Dropbox alternative where the service cannot read your files, Internxt delivers that with a solid free tier and affordable paid plans. For users who primarily need a permanent encrypted home for important files, Internxt is purpose-built for that.
FileShot is the right choice when the task is sending a file to someone rather than storing it indefinitely. Anonymous uploads, guaranteed expiration and deletion, generous file size limits (up to 300 GB on Creator), and an integrated privacy toolbox make FileShot the stronger option for transfers, handoffs, and any scenario where the file's useful life is measured in days rather than years. When you need to share something privately and then have it gone, FileShot is the appropriate tool.
Privacy-conscious users who do both — long-term storage and secure transfers — may find both services earn a place in their workflow. The good news is that both have free tiers with genuine zero-knowledge encryption, so the cost of using both is zero.
Try FileShot's zero-knowledge file sharing at fileshot.io or see our plans.