FileShot vs Proton Drive: Zero-Knowledge Encryption Compared
— Written by Brendan, Founder of FileShot.io
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Proton Drive | FileShot |
|---|---|---|
| Free Storage | 1 GB (shared with Proton Mail) | 50 GB (10 GB per file) |
| Encryption | AES-256 + PGP (account-based) | AES-256-GCM (per-file, key in URL) |
| Zero-Knowledge | Yes | Yes |
| Account Required | Yes (Proton account) | No |
| Auto-Expiration | No | 1 day to unlimited |
| P2P Transfer | No | Yes (WebRTC) |
| Built-in Tools | Docs (beta) | PDF editor, converter, compressor, virus scanner, metadata scrubber |
| Cheapest Paid Plan | $3.99/mo (200 GB, billed annually) | $2/mo (Lite) |
Two Privacy-Focused Approaches
Proton Drive and FileShot share a core value: both believe the server should never have access to your unencrypted files. This is a meaningful distinction from Google Drive, Dropbox, and most mainstream cloud storage. Both services legitimately offer zero-knowledge encryption.
The difference is in the architecture and use case. Proton Drive is a cloud storage platform — you create a Proton account, upload files to persistent storage, and manage them like a traditional file manager. FileShot is designed for file sharing — you upload a file, get an encrypted link, and share it. No account needed.
Different Encryption Models
Proton Drive uses account-based encryption. Your files are encrypted with keys derived from your Proton account password using SRP (Secure Remote Password) and OpenPGP. Your encryption keys are stored (encrypted) on Proton's servers. If you forget your password and don't have recovery set up, your files are lost.
FileShot uses per-file encryption. Each upload generates a unique AES-256-GCM key that lives only in the URL fragment (the part after #). The server never sees the key. There's no account-based key derivation, no password dependency. The link IS the key. This is simpler to understand and has a smaller attack surface.
Storage and Pricing
Proton Drive's free tier gives 1 GB of storage shared across Proton Mail, Calendar, and Drive. For most people, that fills up quickly with email alone. Proton's paid plans start at $3.99/mo (billed annually) for 200 GB.
FileShot offers 50 GB of storage on the free tier (10 GB per file) with unlimited storage on paid plans. The $2/mo Lite plan removes ads and adds unlimited expiry. The $5/mo Pro plan adds 100 GB per file, inbox features, and verified sender badges.
Anonymous Sharing
Proton requires account creation, which means an email address (even if it's a Proton email created without phone verification). FileShot supports fully anonymous file sharing with no account or identifying information required.
For unlimited zero-knowledge encrypted file sharing, try FileShot free or compare plans.