Filen vs Plient
Filen
filen.ioPlient
plient.comSide by side
| Figure | Filen | Plient |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €1.99/mo | $9/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 6 | 3 |
| Spec score · Secure Cloud Storage | 9.3 (#3) | 8.3 (#14) |
| Collaboration | Filen offers encrypted notes with rich text, code, Markdown, and checklist options, plus end-to-end encrypted chats. | Plient offers shared drives, granular permissions, password-protected links with expiry, and file requests. |
| Encryption | Files are encrypted on the client with AES-GCM 256-bit encryption before upload. | Files are encrypted on the client with AES-256-GCM before upload, using a zero-knowledge key model. |
| Headquarters | Recklinghausen, Germany | Austin, Texas, United States |
| Integrations | The CLI and desktop client can run local WebDAV and S3-compatible mirror servers. | The in-app marketplace lists Google Workspace, OnlyOffice, iDrive E2, Backblaze B2, and AWS S3. |
| Product | Filen is a zero-knowledge, client-side end-to-end encrypted cloud storage service. | Plient is an encrypted file storage and collaboration platform with office document editing, WebDAV, a CLI, and an app marketplace. |
| Support | The home page advertises 24/7 customer support through its support panel and contact channels. | The Business plan includes 24/7 support, and the site says sales inquiries receive a reply within one business day. |
Plans
Filen
- Pro I€1.99 a month
- Pro II€3.99 a month
- Pro III€8.99 a month
- Pro X€39.99 a month
- FreeFree
- Free accountFree
In their own words
Filen
Filen is a cloud storage service that encrypts data on the client before storage, using zero-knowledge, end-to-end encryption. It supports syncing, network-drive access with Smart Sync and five sync modes across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and the web. Mobile apps include encrypted camera uploads, offline files, notes, chats and notifications. Encrypted notes support rich text, code, Markdown and checklists, while chats are end-to-end encrypted. Developers can use the documented API, command-line interface and TypeScript, Rust and Go SDKs. The desktop client and CLI can run local WebDAV and S3-compatible mirror servers. Filen says its apps are open source under AGPL v3 and that its headquarters and servers are in Germany. The free account includes 10GB storage. Paid monthly plans start with Pro I at €1.99 a month for 200 GiB; higher tiers offer 500 GiB, 2 TiB or 10 TiB. Filen says data in free accounts is deleted after three months of inactivity, with reminder emails beforehand.
Plient
Plient is an encrypted file storage and collaboration platform with browser-based office editing, WebDAV, a command-line interface, and an app marketplace. Files are encrypted on the user's device with AES-256-GCM before upload. Its zero-knowledge model derives the master key on that device from a password and salt, and the key is not sent to the server. Collaboration features include shared drives, granular permissions, password-protected links with expiry, and file requests. In the browser, users can co-edit.docx,.xlsx, and.pptx files in real time, with comments, suggestions, and version history. The marketplace lists Google Workspace, OnlyOffice, iDrive E2, Backblaze B2, and AWS S3. The CLI supports file transfers, syncing, and management from scripts and CI pipelines. WebDAV mounting is available on macOS, Windows, and Linux. Plient can be used as managed cloud software or self-hosted with Docker. The Free plan provides 5 GB of encrypted storage for one user; Pro costs $9 a month and Business costs $25 per user / month.