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Filen

Name: Filen
Availability: InStock
Rating: 83.0 (1 reviews)

Zero-knowledge encrypted

with German and open-source clients

Privacy score 83 Free Technical: Beginner Open source

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Filen offers a privacy-conscious alternative in the

space, with a stronger focus on data protection than many mainstream tools.

Web Android iOS Desktop

Who is this for?

✓ Good for you if:

• You want zero-knowledge
Cryptographic transform providing confidentiality.
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with German privacy protections
• You prefer open-source client applications for
Practice of providing clear, accurate disclosures and user-facing explanations of data flows.
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• You need reliable
Remote object/file storage service with access control, durability, and often integrated sharing.
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with data redundancy
• You want AES-256
Cryptographic transform providing confidentiality.
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(same standard used by U.S. government)
• You need
EU data protection regulation defining obligations and data subject rights.
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-compliant
Remote object/file storage service with access control, durability, and often integrated sharing.
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⚠ Think twice if:

• You need the largest free storage tier
• You want self-hosting or complete infrastructure control
• You need advanced collaboration features
• You want fully open-source server code (clients are
Software with publicly available source code under an open license; enables review and reuse.
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)
• You need offline-first file access

Overview

Filen is a privacy-focused cloud storage

service that provides end-to-end encryption for files. The service encrypts files on the user's device before uploading them to servers, ensuring that only the user can access their files. Filen does not collect user data, does not track users, and does not display advertisements. The service includes features like file storage, file sharing, and synchronization across devices. Filen is available for web, Android, iOS, and desktop platforms. The service is open source and is based in Germany, operating under German privacy laws and GDPR requirements. Filen offers both free and paid plans, with paid plans providing more storage.

Privacy highlight

End-to-end encrypted

from Germany. , strong , German privacy laws. Secure file storage.

Quick facts

Country:: 🇩🇪 Germany
Pricing:: Free
Platform:: Web, Android, iOS, Desktop
Technical:: Beginner
It's like whispering a secret that only your friend can hear — not even the phone or app knows what you said. Read full definition :: Yes
Automatic collection of operational and usage signals from clients to a service. Read full definition :: Minimal telemetry
Software with publicly available source code under an open license; enables review and reuse. Read full definition :: Yes
Open-source status:: Fully open source
Operational practice of hosting and administering services under your own control. Read full definition :: No
Right enabling individuals to receive and transmit their data in a structured, machine-readable format. Read full definition :: Yes

Key features

Secure
Remote object/file storage service with access control, durability, and often integrated sharing.
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for your files and
Secondary copies of data for restoration; must be protected (encryption, access control) and tested regularly.
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.

Security & encryption Click to expand

It's like whispering a secret that only your friend can hear — not even the phone or app knows what you said. Read full definition: Yes
Encryption protocols: AES-256,
Cryptographic protocol for secure transport.
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,
HTTP over TLS with certificate-based authentication.
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Lifecycle control for cryptographic keys. Read full definition: Filen uses
It's like whispering a secret that only your friend can hear — not even the phone or app knows what you said.
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with keys generated and stored on user devices.
Cryptographic transform providing confidentiality.
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keys are derived from user passwords and are never transmitted to servers in plaintext. Filen uses client-side
Cryptographic transform providing confidentiality.
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, meaning files are encrypted on the device before upload. Filen does not have access to
Cryptographic transform providing confidentiality.
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keys as they never leave user devices. The service supports secure
Secondary copy of data for recovery; must be secured, tested, and lifecycle-managed.
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and recovery through encrypted key
Secondary copies of data for restoration; must be protected (encryption, access control) and tested regularly.
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.
Offline support: No

Telemetry & tracking Click to expand

Automatic collection of operational and usage signals from clients to a service. Read full definition: Minimal telemetry
Behavioral data collection for profiling and attribution. Read full definition: No
Retention of IP addresses and related metadata. Read full definition: Ip no
Automatic collection of operational and usage signals from clients to a service. Read full definition: Filen collects minimal
Automatic collection of operational and usage signals from clients to a service.
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data for service operation. The service collects basic usage statistics including app version and platform. Filen does not collect file content, user identifiers, or personal information.
Automatic collection of operational and usage signals from clients to a service.
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data is anonymized and aggregated. Users can disable
Automatic collection of operational and usage signals from clients to a service.
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through settings.

Jurisdiction & compliance Click to expand

Geographic location of data storage and, sometimes, processing within specific regions. Read full definition: Filen is developed by Filen, which is based in Germany. The service operates servers in Germany and Europe. Filen operates under German privacy laws and GDPR requirements, providing strong data protection. Encrypted files are stored on servers in various locations.
Storage duration for data, defined by policy, law, and operational needs. Read full definition: Filen retains encrypted files on servers for service operation. The service retains minimal
Ancillary data describing communications/events (e.g., timestamps, identifiers, routing).
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for account management. Filen does not retain unencrypted files - all files are encrypted end-to-end. The service retains account information until account deletion. Users can delete their accounts and all associated data at any time. The service operates under German privacy laws and
EU data protection regulation defining obligations and data subject rights.
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requirements.
Legal frameworks: EU data protection regulation defining obligations and data subject rights.
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Revenue sources: Subscription, Freemium

Editorial signals Click to expand

Composite metric summarizing privacy characteristics based on a scoring model. Read full definition: 83
Trust score: 87
Trust breakdown (0–10): Encryption: 95, Audits: 80, Open source: 90, Telemetry: 90, Jurisdiction: 90, Transparency: 85, Trackers: 100
Editorial notes: Usability: 85, Performance: 80, Family friendly: 90

User experience Click to expand

Signup requirements: email
Onboarding difficulty (1-5): 1
Accessibility features: Add technical accessibility details after testing.

Backup & portability Click to expand

Right enabling individuals to receive and transmit their data in a structured, machine-readable format. Read full definition: Yes
Migration tools: Import from other cloud services, Data export tools
Processes and factors used to re-establish account access after loss of credentials. Read full definition: Account recovery via email, Encrypted backup recovery

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Filen

Who is this for?

✓ Good for you if:

⚠ Think twice if:

Overview

Quick facts

Key features

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