Best Site for Anonymous Cloud Storage
Summary
The best anonymous cloud storage combines zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption with crypto payment so the provider cannot read your files and cannot tie an identity to the account. Filen (Germany) is the strongest option in 2026 — open-source clients, generous free tier, accepts cryptocurrency. Internxt (Spain) is the EU alternative with Bitcoin and Lightning payment. MEGA remains the largest free-tier option (20GB) and accepts crypto but its closed-source desktop client and 2013 founder controversies make it a contested choice. Sync.com is the Canadian zero-knowledge option but does not accept crypto, so it is anonymous in the encryption sense only. Proton Drive bundles with the Proton ecosystem. None of these are 'truly anonymous' — they know the account exists, just not what is in it.
Top 5 at a glance
| # | Site | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Filen | Open-source zero-knowledge cloud storage with crypto payment | 10GB free, paid from ~€1/month, Bitcoin and crypto accepted |
| 2 | Internxt | EU-based zero-knowledge storage with Lightning Network payment | 10GB free, paid from ~€1/month with crypto including LN |
| 3 | MEGA | Largest free tier with end-to-end encryption and crypto payment | 20GB free, paid tiers from ~€5/month, Bitcoin accepted |
| 4 | Sync.com | Canadian zero-knowledge storage with strong reputation in the Dropbox-replacement market | 5GB free, paid from ~$8/month |
| 5 | Proton Drive | Cloud storage bundled with the Proton privacy ecosystem | Free 5GB, full feature on Proton Unlimited from ~€10/month |
Detailed rankings
Filen
Open-source zero-knowledge cloud storage with crypto payment
The default for anonymous zero-knowledge cloud storage. Open-source clients let you verify encryption claims; crypto payment severs identity link.
Pros
- Open-source clients across web, desktop, mobile
- Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption — server stores ciphertext only
- Germany-based — strong data-protection jurisdiction
- Cryptocurrency payment supported
- Reasonable pricing for paid tiers — much cheaper than Tresorit
- Active development with recent S3-compatible API and CLI
Cons
- Smaller than Mega — slower throughput in some regions
- Free tier capped at 10GB, half of MEGA
- Limited app ecosystem — no Photos competitor
- Server source not open (only clients) — verify the architecture documentation
- Mobile apps younger and less polished than web
Price: 10GB free, paid from ~€1/month, Bitcoin and crypto accepted
Sources: filen.io, github.com
Internxt
EU-based zero-knowledge storage with Lightning Network payment
The right pick when you want EU jurisdiction and Lightning Network as a payment option. Functionally close to Filen.
Pros
- Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption with open-source clients
- Spain-based — EU jurisdiction with GDPR enforcement
- Bitcoin, Lightning Network, and other crypto accepted
- Includes related products: Internxt Send (E2EE file share), Internxt Mail (in beta)
- Reasonable pricing comparable to Filen
- Audit by Securitum published
Cons
- Smaller than MEGA on raw storage scale
- Some apps less polished than Filen's
- Newer product line (Mail, VPN) adds focus risk
- Marketing emphasizes some weak comparisons against legacy providers
Price: 10GB free, paid from ~€1/month with crypto including LN
Sources: internxt.com
MEGA
Largest free tier with end-to-end encryption and crypto payment
The right pick when the free tier matters most and you can live with the closed-source clients. For maximum trust, Filen or Internxt are stronger.
Pros
- 20GB free — among the most generous in the industry
- End-to-end encrypted client-side
- Bitcoin payment for paid tiers
- Mature apps across all platforms
- Strong throughput from large global infrastructure
Cons
- Desktop and mobile clients are closed source — encryption claims cannot be independently verified
- Kim Dotcom founded MEGA but has not been involved since 2015; the corporate history is debated
- New Zealand jurisdiction subject to Five Eyes — some users avoid for this reason
- Past UI flaws (browser-side JS key handling) have been criticized by cryptographers
- Account-deletion mechanics have been criticized — recoverable for some period after deletion
Price: 20GB free, paid tiers from ~€5/month, Bitcoin accepted
Sources: mega.io
Sync.com
Canadian zero-knowledge storage with strong reputation in the Dropbox-replacement market
The right pick when you want a Dropbox-style sync experience with zero-knowledge encryption and accept the lack of crypto payment. Strong on encryption, weaker on identity anonymity.
Pros
- Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption end to end
- Mature Dropbox-style sync clients
- Canada-based — outside US legal-process reach but still in Five Eyes
- PIPEDA compliance and audited security architecture
- Strong reputation for reliability
Cons
- Closed source on the clients
- No cryptocurrency payment — credit card only
- Free tier modest (5GB)
- Higher pricing than Filen or Internxt at paid tiers
- Canada is in Five Eyes — court orders can compel cooperation
Price: 5GB free, paid from ~$8/month
Sources: www.sync.com
Proton Drive
Cloud storage bundled with the Proton privacy ecosystem
The right pick when you already pay for Proton Unlimited. As a standalone, Filen and Internxt are more direct fits.
Pros
- End-to-end encryption integrated with Proton account
- Switzerland-based operator with strong privacy law
- Bundles with Mail, VPN, Pass, Calendar in Unlimited plan
- Open-source mobile clients
- Active development with desktop sync now available
Cons
- Crypto payment supported but via separate flow — less direct than Filen
- Newer than Proton's email — feature parity with Filen still catching up
- Free tier smaller than MEGA
- Bundle pricing makes pure Drive comparison less favorable
- Lock-in pressure with the Proton ecosystem
Price: Free 5GB, full feature on Proton Unlimited from ~€10/month
Sources: proton.me
How we chose
- Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption — provider cannot read files even under subpoena.
- Crypto payment — provider cannot tie a real identity to the account.
- Open-source clients — code public so encryption claims can be verified.
- Jurisdiction strength — where the company and servers actually sit.
- Honest scope — 'anonymous' here means file content is private; the account itself exists in their database.
- Excluded: Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive — provider holds keys, not anonymous in any sense.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'zero-knowledge' actually mean?
Your files are encrypted on your device before upload; the encryption key is derived from your password and never sent to the server. The provider stores encrypted blobs they cannot decrypt. Even if subpoenaed, they can provide the ciphertext but not the content. The catch: if you lose your password, they cannot recover the files — there is no 'reset password' that decrypts.
Is MEGA actually zero-knowledge?
By architecture, yes — files are encrypted in the browser/client before upload. The criticisms are about the client implementation: closed-source desktop and mobile apps, browser-JS-based key handling that researchers have called fragile, and account-deletion mechanics. The cryptography is real; the trust assumptions around the closed clients are the weak point.
Why is crypto payment important?
Without crypto, the provider's records tie your account to a credit card, which ties to your name and address. Even with perfect encryption, the metadata (account exists, when it was created, when it was accessed) is associated with you. Crypto payment severs the identity link — the provider knows the account exists and stores encrypted bytes for it, but cannot say who is using it without subpoenaing your wallet's payment history.
What about Tresorit, Boxcryptor, Cryptomator?
Tresorit is Switzerland-based zero-knowledge but enterprise-priced and does not accept crypto — not on the ranking because of cost and payment friction. Cryptomator is a separate client-side encryption layer you put on top of any cloud (Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive) — useful pattern but does not replace the cloud itself. Boxcryptor was acquired by Dropbox in 2022 and is being deprecated — no longer recommended.
Can law enforcement still get my files?
From zero-knowledge providers: they receive a subpoena, comply by handing over encrypted ciphertext that they themselves cannot read. From you directly: yes, if you cooperate or if your device is seized while unlocked. The encryption protects against external compromise of the provider, not against compulsion of you or seizure of your decrypted devices. Use full-disk encryption on your devices as the matching layer.