# What makes StrongFolder different?

Source: https://help.strongfolder.com/en/blog/what-makes-strongfolder-different/
Updated: 2026-11-05

> Most file-sharing services store your files on their servers and send a download link. StrongFolder sends them directly from your browser to the recipient's: nothing is stored, there is no upload to wait for, no size limit set by us, folders keep their structure, and nobody needs an account. The trade-off is that you stay online until the download ends.

There are countless apps and platforms for sharing files, so why build another one? Because
most of them solve the problem by adding a server in the middle — and that server is where
the privacy, control and speed problems come from.

## How is StrongFolder different?

| | Typical cloud transfer | StrongFolder |
|---|---|---|
| Where the file goes | Uploaded to the service's servers | Directly to the recipient's browser |
| Waiting | Full upload before anyone can download | Download starts at once |
| Copy left behind | Usually for days | None — Files are never uploaded to or stored on a StrongFolder server. |
| Size on free plan | Often capped at 2–5 GB | No limit set by StrongFolder |
| Folders | Usually zipped | Sent as folders |
| Account | Often required for larger sends | Not needed |
| You stay online | No | Yes, until the download ends |

### 1. Direct transfer, not storage

Files don't go through random cloud servers. They are sent directly from one person to
another over an encrypted WebRTC connection. If a direct path is impossible, our relay
forwards the encrypted stream without storing it.

### 2. Anonymous or personal — your choice

You can share without creating an account, or sign in with Google to keep a list of your
transfers.

### 3. No waiting for uploads

Since files move directly, you don't spend an hour uploading a huge file before the recipient
can even start.

### 4. Privacy first

We don't keep your files. The transfer ends when the files reach the recipient and you stop
sharing.

### 5. Folders stay folders

Send a project folder with all its subfolders. No zipping on your side, no unpacking on
theirs.

### 6. Built for the browser

It works in your browser, with no apps to install — or in one click from the
[Chrome extension](https://help.strongfolder.com/en/chrome-extension/).

## When is a cloud link still better?

When you can't keep your computer online, or when people need to browse files for weeks, a
cloud drive is the better tool. We explain the trade-offs honestly in
[P2P vs cloud file transfer](https://help.strongfolder.com/en/guides/p2p-vs-cloud-file-transfer/).

At the end of the day, StrongFolder isn't "yet another file storage service". It gives you
control over your data and makes sharing as straightforward as a handshake.