# StrongFolder vs MASV Source: https://help.strongfolder.com/en/compare/strongfolder-vs-masv/ Updated: 2026-11-05 > StrongFolder vs MASV is free direct transfer versus a paid managed service. MASV uploads to an accelerated cloud, bills per gigabyte downloaded after 15 GB free each month, and adds audits, portals and integrations. StrongFolder is free, needs no account and sends files and folders browser to browser — while your tab stays open. MASV is a professional transfer service for media teams: footage goes up to its accelerated cloud network and lands with editors, clients or cloud storage, with audit trails and security certifications around it. StrongFolder is a free browser tool that sends files and folders directly from one device to another. This StrongFolder vs MASV comparison uses MASV's own pricing, security and help pages — and says plainly where MASV is the better tool. **Key facts** - **MASV** (as of 2026-11-05): usage-based, billed per gigabyte that leaves the platform; 15 GB free each month; a credit card is required to sign up. - **MASV storage:** uploaded files are kept free for 5 days, then extended storage is billed. - **StrongFolder:** StrongFolder is free. There are no paid plans at the moment — every feature is available to everyone. No size limit set by StrongFolder. The practical limits are free disk space on the recipient's device, connection speed, and how long both devices stay online. - **MASV wins** for TB-scale, recurring, managed workflows: portals, integrations, SSO, audits, checkpoint restart. - **StrongFolder fits** one-off big sends with no account and no copy on a server — while your tab stays open. ## How do StrongFolder and MASV compare? MASV facts as of 2026-11-05, from MASV's pricing and security pages and help centre (sources at the end). We don't quote prices — check MASV's pricing page. | | StrongFolder | MASV | |---|---|---| | How it works | Direct browser to browser (WebRTC, P2P) | Upload to MASV's accelerated cloud network on AWS, then download | | Pricing model | Free, no paid plans | Usage-based per GB downloaded; 15 GB free monthly; subscriptions and pre-buy | | Account to send | No | Yes, card required to sign up (sending to a Portal needs none) | | Account to receive | No | No, unless the sender sets restrictions | | Size limit | None set by the service | Help centre: "No limits" | | Files stored on a server | Never (metadata only) | Yes; 5 days free per file, then billed | | Sender online during download | Yes | No | | Folders | Structure kept, written directly, no ZIP | Structure preserved; ZIP, zipless download or MASV Studio | | Encryption | DTLS in transit | TLS 1.2+ in transit, AES-256 at rest | | Certifications | None claimed | SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001:2022, TPN; HIPAA BAA | | Link controls | Link works while you share | Password, download limits, expiry, notifications | | Team features | None — no accounts | Teams, roles, SSO, MFA, audit trail | | Integrations | Web app, Chrome extension | Cloud and on-prem storage, Frame.io, iconik and more | ## What is the main difference between StrongFolder and MASV? **Who holds the files during delivery, and who pays for it.** MASV is a managed cloud service. You upload, MASV stages the files on its network — its security page calls this a secure buffer, so delivery completes even if the recipient's systems are offline — and charges when data leaves the platform, either as a download or as delivery to connected storage. StrongFolder has no cloud in the middle. The recipient's browser connects to yours and the data flows directly. The sender's browser tab must stay open and online until the recipient finishes downloading — files come from the sender's device, not from a server. Nothing is billed because nothing is stored. Read [P2P vs cloud file transfer](https://help.strongfolder.com/en/guides/p2p-vs-cloud-file-transfer/). ## Which is better for sending large video files? It depends on how often and how much. **One project, one client, now.** StrongFolder removes the upload step: the client starts downloading as soon as they open the link. A 500 GB shoot over a 1 Gbit/s upload takes a little over an hour; over 100 Mbit/s, roughly 11 hours. Keep the machine awake. See [how to send large video files](https://help.strongfolder.com/en/guides/send-large-video-files/). **Footage every day, many recipients, many destinations.** MASV is built for this: watch folders that upload automatically, delivery straight into cloud or on-prem storage, MASV Studio for Mac, Windows and Linux, and automatic checkpoint restart when a connection drops. [Send files now](https://strongfolder.com) ## Which handles folders better? Both keep structure — differently. MASV's help centre says transfers are recursive and keep subfolders, hierarchy and names (empty folders are not sent). Recipients download the package as a ZIP, use a zipless download where supported, or use MASV Studio. StrongFolder sends a folder as a folder. Saving a whole folder with its structure uses the File System Access API: Chrome, Edge, Opera and other Chromium browsers on a computer. Other browsers can download the files one by one or as a ZIP. No archive and no app on the recipient's side. More in [how to send a folder without zipping](https://help.strongfolder.com/en/guides/send-folder-without-zipping/). ## Which is more secure? MASV offers a full enterprise security programme on its security page: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001:2022, TPN membership, HIPAA BAAs, TLS 1.2+ in transit, AES-256 at rest on AWS, malware scanning, MD5 checksums, SSO, mandatory MFA, role-based access and an immutable audit trail. If your contract requires certified vendors, that settles it. StrongFolder takes a different approach: it doesn't hold your files. Files are never uploaded to or stored on a StrongFolder server. To create the link and run the service, we keep transfer metadata: file and folder names, sizes and the number of files, plus the IP address and country of the sender and the country of each recipient. WebRTC encrypts every data channel with DTLS, so the file stream is encrypted in transit on every connection. If a direct connection is impossible (strict corporate firewall, some mobile networks), the encrypted stream passes through a StrongFolder relay (TURN) server. The relay forwards the data and does not store it. We don't claim certifications or end-to-end encryption with your own key. See [security](https://help.strongfolder.com/en/security/) and [secure file sharing](https://help.strongfolder.com/en/guides/secure-file-sharing/). ## When is MASV the better choice? Choose MASV when: - **you move terabytes regularly** and need predictable, managed delivery; - **you can't keep a computer online** — upload once and let MASV deliver; - **files must land in storage or tools** — S3, Dropbox, Box, Google, Microsoft, LucidLink, Frame.io, iconik and others on MASV's integrations list; - **clients upload to you** through branded portals; - **security reviews require** SOC 2, ISO 27001, TPN or HIPAA paperwork, SSO and audit logs; - **a dropped connection must resume** automatically from the point of failure. For post-production houses, broadcasters and agencies that move footage every day, these are real advantages that a free browser tool doesn't try to match. ## When is StrongFolder the better choice? Choose StrongFolder when: - **you send big files occasionally** and a usage bill or a card on file isn't worth it; - **nobody wants an account** — No account needed to send or receive. - **you'd rather not leave a copy** on a third-party server, even for 5 days; - **the recipient is waiting now** and an upload-then-download round trip would double the wait; - **several people need the same files** — One link can be opened by several recipients; each downloads directly from the sender. Many freelancers use both: StrongFolder for ad-hoc sends, MASV when a client's pipeline requires it. For cloud services with free tiers, see [WeTransfer alternatives](https://help.strongfolder.com/en/compare/wetransfer-alternatives/). ## Sources Checked on 2026-11-05: [MASV pricing](https://masv.io/pricing) · [MASV security](https://masv.io/security) · [MASV integrations](https://masv.io/integrations/) · [MASV: package size limits](https://help.massive.io/en/is-there-a-limit-on-the-file-size-or-entire-package-size-for-a-transfer) · [MASV: folders with subfolders](https://help.massive.io/en/can-i-send-folders-with-sub-folders-with-masv) · [MASV: account to download](https://help.massive.io/en/do-i-have-to-sign-up-sign-in-to-download-files) · [MASV: sending files](https://help.massive.io/en/how-to-send-files-using-masv) ## FAQ ### Is StrongFolder a free alternative to MASV? For ad-hoc sends, yes: StrongFolder is free, needs no account and sets no size limit of its own. It isn't a replacement for MASV's managed workflows — portals, cloud-storage delivery, audit trails, SSO and compliance audits. And with StrongFolder your tab must stay open until the recipient finishes. ### Does MASV have a free plan? MASV's pricing page lists 15 GB of free data transfer every month on its on-demand plan, after which usage is billed per gigabyte; a credit card is required to sign up (as of 2026-11-05). Uploaded files are stored free for 5 days. StrongFolder: StrongFolder is free. There are no paid plans at the moment — every feature is available to everyone. ### Do recipients need a MASV account? No. MASV's help centre says you don't need an account to receive transfers or upload to a MASV Portal, unless the sender or portal owner has set security restrictions such as team membership or SSO. StrongFolder recipients never need an account. ### Does MASV keep folder structure? Yes. MASV's help centre says transfers are recursive and preserve the folder structure (empty folders aren't sent). Recipients download the package as a ZIP, use a zipless download where available, or use the MASV Studio desktop app. StrongFolder writes the folder tree directly in Chromium browsers. ### Which is better for terabytes of footage? For regular, TB-scale, managed delivery, MASV: it's built for it, with automatic checkpoint restart, cloud and on-prem integrations, and the sender can go offline once the upload is done. StrongFolder suits one-off large sends when you can keep your computer online.