FileShot vs OnionShare: Encrypted File Sharing
— Written by Brendan, Founder of FileShot.io
Quick Comparison
| Feature | OnionShare | FileShot |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | Tor transport encryption | AES-256-GCM client-side (zero-knowledge) |
| Requires Tor Browser | Yes (both sender and receiver) | No (works in any browser) |
| Sender Must Stay Online | Yes (direct device-to-device) | No (persistent links, 1 day to unlimited) |
| File Size Limit | No limit (but speed-limited by Tor) | Unlimited (full-speed) |
| Transfer Speed | Slow (Tor relay overhead) | Full speed (direct HTTPS) |
| Account Required | No | No |
| Password Protection | Private key in URL | Yes (optional password layer) |
| Built-in Tools | Chat, file hosting | PDF editor, converter, compressor, metadata scrubber, virus scanner, and more |
| Desktop App | Yes (requires Tor) | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Open Source | Yes | Yes (ZKE core on GitHub) |
| Price | Free | Free (Lite $2/mo, Pro $5/mo, Creator $12/mo) |
What is OnionShare?
OnionShare is an open-source tool that lets you share files directly from your computer using the Tor anonymity network. When you share a file, OnionShare creates a temporary Tor onion service on your machine and generates a .onion URL that the recipient opens in Tor Browser. The file travels directly between devices through Tor relays — no intermediate server stores the data. It is designed for maximum anonymity: both parties are hidden behind Tor's layered encryption and neither party's IP address is exposed.
Different Privacy Models
OnionShare and FileShot both prioritize privacy, but they solve fundamentally different problems. OnionShare focuses on network-level anonymity: hiding who is communicating and where they are. It routes traffic through multiple Tor relays so that neither the sender nor the receiver can be identified by their IP address. The files themselves are protected by Tor's transport encryption but are not independently encrypted at rest.
FileShot focuses on data-level privacy: ensuring that no one — including the service itself — can read your files. Every file is encrypted in your browser with AES-256-GCM before upload. The decryption key lives only in the URL fragment and never reaches the server. Even under legal compulsion, FileShot cannot decrypt your data. This is zero-knowledge architecture: privacy guaranteed by cryptography, not infrastructure.
Usability and Speed
OnionShare requires both the sender and receiver to install specific software: the sender runs the OnionShare application, and the receiver needs Tor Browser. Tor's multi-hop relay design introduces significant latency and throughput limitations. Transferring large files over Tor can be extremely slow, and the sender must keep their computer online and OnionShare running for the entire duration of the transfer. If the sender closes their laptop, the link dies.
FileShot works in any standard web browser with no installation required. Files upload at your full internet speed over HTTPS. Once uploaded, the file persists on the server (encrypted) for 1 to 90 days — neither party needs to stay online. Recipients click a link, the browser downloads the encrypted blob, and decrypts it locally using the key from the URL fragment. For users who want a native experience, FileShot also offers desktop apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux, plus a Chrome browser extension.
When to Choose OnionShare
OnionShare is the right tool when your primary concern is anonymity — hiding the fact that a transfer happened at all. Journalists communicating with sources in hostile environments, activists under surveillance, or anyone who needs to ensure their IP address is never exposed should consider OnionShare's Tor-based approach. It is also fully peer-to-peer, meaning no server ever touches the data.
When to Choose FileShot
FileShot is the right tool when you need practical encrypted file sharing that works for everyone. No special software, no slow Tor speeds, no requirement that both parties be online simultaneously. FileShot's zero-knowledge encryption ensures your files are private by design, while persistent links, password protection, QR code sharing, virus scanning, and the full tool suite (PDF editor, file converter, compressor, metadata scrubber, archive builder) make it a complete file sharing platform rather than a single-purpose anonymity tool.
For fast, private file sharing with zero-knowledge encryption and no setup required, try FileShot free or explore our plans.