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FileShot – zero-knowledge file sharing, nothing locked behind accounts

FileShot – zero-knowledge file sharing, nothing locked behind accounts

by GraysoftDev·Mar 3, 2026·3 points·0 comments

AI Analysis

●●●BangerSolve My ProblemZero to OneSlick

Real zero-knowledge (key in URL fragment), 50GB free files, no signup dark patterns.

Strengths
  • True zero-knowledge architecture: AES-256-GCM runs in browser, server receives only ciphertext, decryption key never leaves URL fragment
  • Genuine freemium without dark patterns: password protection, 50GB files, file previews, and tool suite all free without signup
  • WebRTC P2P mode for direct transfer ensures nothing touches servers when both parties online; streaming encryption handles any file size without memory bloat
Weaknesses
  • Zero-knowledge file sharing is growing category (Tresorit, Sync.com, Proton Drive compete), though this one's free positioning is stronger
  • Monetization relies entirely on account creation upsell; unproven whether 'no dark patterns' sustains business
Category
Target Audience

Privacy-conscious users, developers, anyone sharing sensitive files

Similar To

Tresorit · Sync.com · Proton Drive

Post Description

I'm a CIS student who built this after getting fed up with every file sharing platform making the wrong tradeoffs. They're either expensive with good encryption, free with no encryption, or free but lock basic features behind signups and paywalls.

Technical implementation: - AES-256-GCM encryption runs entirely in the browser before upload - Decryption key lives only in the URL fragment — the server receives and stores only ciphertext. Zero-knowledge is real, not marketing - P2P mode: WebRTC direct transfer, nothing touches our servers at all

What's free without an account (competitors charge or require signup for these): - Password-protected links - 50GB per file, unlimited storage total - File previews on the download page - Full tool suite (file conversion, image tools, etc.)

The only reason to create an account: persistent file management. That's it. No dark patterns, no feature gating to force signups.

I noticed some "zero-knowledge" competitors literally ask for your name on signup. If you're privacy-first, why do you need my name? FileShot asks for nothing — you can use every feature anonymously.

Desktop app (Electron), browser extension (Chrome), and PWA also available.

Happy to answer questions about the encryption implementation, P2P architecture, or anything else.

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