ShieldFive is a Google Drive replacement where your files and filenames are encrypted in your browser before upload. ShieldFive stores only ciphertext and never holds the keys, so it cannot open your files. You upload, preview, organise and share from the web, with a free 5 GB plan and no card.
This page is for people moving their own files off Google, not for teams running Google Workspace. It covers what each private alternative is best for, where ShieldFive is weaker, and how to move a Google Drive across without losing anything.
ShieldFive at a glance
| ShieldFive | |
|---|---|
| Best for | Private personal files you store and share from the browser |
| Privacy | Files and filenames encrypted in your browser; we store only ciphertext and never hold the keys. New uploads use hybrid post-quantum encryption (ML-KEM-1024 with XChaCha20-Poly1305) on web and Android, with an AES-256-GCM fallback |
| Apps | Web app on any modern browser, desktop or phone. Android app in Google Play testing, not yet a public release. No iOS app and no desktop sync client yet |
| Self-hosted | No |
| Price | Free 5 GB. 1 TB €6/month (€60/year), 2 TB €10/month (€96/year), 5 TB €20/month (€192/year). Lifetime Vault: 2 TB for a one-time €199 |
| In-browser preview | Images, PDF, video, audio, spreadsheets (.xlsx, .xls, .csv) and Word documents (.docx), decrypted on your device |
| Sharing | Links that open without an account, with expiry, download caps and revoke. Paid plans add password and country controls |
Private Google Drive alternatives compared
| Service | Best for | Privacy | Collaboration | Apps | Self-hosted | Free tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ShieldFive | Private files you store and share from the browser | Zero-knowledge for every file, filenames included | Share links only; no shared editing | Web; Android in testing | No | 5 GB |
| Proton Drive | Leaving Gmail and Drive together | Zero-knowledge for every file | Proton Docs and Sheets | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | No | 2 GB (5 GB after setup tasks) |
| Sync.com | Zero-knowledge desktop sync | Zero-knowledge for every file | Shared folders and links | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | No | 5 GB |
| Nextcloud | Running your own server | Depends on your server; end-to-end encryption is optional per folder | Nextcloud Office, calendar, contacts | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Yes | Free software; you pay for the server |
| MEGA | A large free tier | Zero-knowledge for every file | Shared folders and links | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | No | 20 GB |
| Tresorit | Businesses that need admin controls | Zero-knowledge for every file | Shared folders and links | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | No | 3 GB |
| Google Drive | Working inside Docs, Sheets and Gmail | Encrypted, but Google holds the keys | Real-time editing in Docs, Sheets, Slides | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | No | 15 GB shared with Gmail and Photos |
Free tiers move often, so check each vendor's site before you decide. For encryption details, audits and paid prices across ten providers, see the zero-knowledge cloud storage comparison.
Which one fits
- ShieldFive if you mostly store files and share them, want filenames hidden as well as contents, and are happy working in the browser.
- Proton Drive if you are also leaving Gmail and Google Calendar and want one account for all of it.
- Sync.com if you need a folder on your Windows or Mac that syncs automatically.
- Nextcloud if you want to run your own server and are comfortable maintaining it.
- MEGA if the size of the free tier matters most, or you need a Linux client.
- Tresorit if you are buying for a business that needs admin-managed sync.
Where ShieldFive is weaker today
- No desktop sync. There is no Windows, macOS or Linux client that mirrors a folder. You upload and download in the browser.
- No iOS app, and Android is still in testing. On an iPhone you use the web app in Safari.
- No shared editing. You can preview documents and spreadsheets, but you cannot co-edit them the way you do in Google Docs. If you write documents together with other people, keep that work in a collaboration tool.
- No version history. Deleted files go to Trash until you empty it, but an overwritten file does not keep its earlier versions.
- No completed third-party audit yet. The encryption code is open source (Apache-2.0) so it can be checked, but an external audit is still planned.
How to move from Google Drive to ShieldFive
- Export with Google Takeout. Go to takeout.google.com, click Deselect all, tick Drive, and export. Google emails you one or more .zip files. Large Drives are split into several archives.
- Unzip on your computer. Google Docs, Sheets and Slides are converted to Word, Excel and PowerPoint files in the export. Those convert cleanly, and ShieldFive previews the Word and Excel ones in the browser.
- Upload in batches. In ShieldFive, open your files and use Upload folder. Folder structure is kept, and every file and folder name is encrypted in your browser. Work one top-level folder at a time so a dropped connection costs you one batch, not the whole Drive.
- Check the counts. Compare the number of files and the total size in each folder against the unzipped export before you go further.
- Keep the Google copy until everything matches. Leave your Drive as it is until every folder has been checked. Save your ShieldFive recovery key somewhere offline before you rely on the vault.
- Then delete from Google. Once the counts match, delete the files from Google Drive and empty Google's trash. If you are on a paid Google One plan, downgrade it after the storage is gone.
If you collect documents from other people rather than store your own, the Google Drive alternative for confidential files covers that case for firms.