On January 19, 2012, the US Justice Department shut down MegaUpload, one of the largest file-sharing sites on the Internet. Though commonly associated with piracy, many people used MegaUpload for perfectly legal reasons. Regardless of whether personal or pirated data was stored, users lost access to their files without notice. Although file-sharing sites have taken a tough blow, there are still a fair number of sites that still offer file-sharing services. Sites such as MegaUpload, FileSonic and Uploaded.to may not be around anymore, but there are still a number of alternatives that vow to keep their services. Some of the most popular alternatives include:
RapidShare
RapidShare is a well-known alternative to MegaUpload, with nearly identical services. In order to use RapidShare and upload files, users must create a login. With an account, users can take advantage of unlimited file size and storage, but files are removed after 30 days of inactivity. While most users take advantage of the free service, users are also able to purchase a premium subscription called “RapidPro”. With different payment models, RapidPro members are able to use unlimited storage and traffic, without the standard waiting time.
Mediafire
MediaFire is a free image and file hosting site, with a relatively friendly user interface. Free users are able to drag and drop files into the site without registration, with a maximum uploading or downloading size of 200 MB. MediaFire also features paid versions, starting at 9 dollars a month. With a subscription, users are able to use direct downloads, increased file sizes and a number of additional features.
HotFile
HotFile is another hosting website that allows users to upload and download files. Free users are able to upload a file size up to 400 MB, and must wait 30 minutes between downloading files. However, premium users are able to access unlimited, multiple downloading, with direct linking services.
WUpload
Similar to the above, WUpload is another hosting service that allows users to upload files up to 10 GB. One of the main characteristics of the premium service is speed: customers are able to access increased download and upload speeds, as well as unlimited storage and file size.
DropBox
DropBox is a cloud-based hosting service, which allows users to share files with each other. Unlike direct download sites, users must download a client in order to use DropBox. Free users are given an account to store up to 2GB of space , while subscription services allows customers to take advantage of additional storage space. DropBox also offers a service tailored for businesses, providing unlimited storage space at 795 a year for the first five users.
==== About the Author ====
Rachel Hyun Kim is a writer on topics ranging from payroll services to background checks. She writes for an online resource that gives advice on topics including telemarketing for small business owners and entrepreneurs at Resource Nation.
