Top 5 File Sharing Solutions for Real Estate Agents

There are lots of online file storage and sharing options out there. These are five that are easy to use and fairly inexpensive. And, in the case of #5, real inexpensive and real interesting.

1. Google Drive

This is my go to storage solution. Your first 15GB are free and upgrading to 100GB costs about the same as a soft drink at your favorite drive-thru restaurant once a month.

CON

• Sharing is limited to either specific people or the public. There’s no way to share a file with the public but also require a password.
• By using this, Google has even more of your data.

What You Get

With every Gmail address, you get 15GB of free storage and all of the Google Drive tools like Documents, Sheets, etc. The interface is fairly intuitive, with a limited number of options (which, of course, adds to the simplicity and intuitiveness). If you have a Google Workspace account (a paid Gmail address using your own domain), the basic plan jumps up to 30GB.

Upgrading

Google’s upgraded storage solution is Google One. For $19.99/year (or $1.99/month), you can upgrade to 100GB of storage and for $29.99/year (or $2.99/month) you can double that to 200GB. And for $9.99/month (or $99.99/year) you’re at 2TB. The upgraded versions also include several new Google Photos tools, like Portrait Blur and Magic Eraser.

Tracy’s Bottom Line

If you’re already using Gmail, this is a simple decision. Use Google Drive.

2. Microsoft OneDrive

A direct competitor to Google Drive but in the Microsoft Office 365/Outlook family.  Your first 5GB are free and upgrading to 100GB costs the same as Google’s solution (about the same as a soft drink at your favorite drive-thru restaurant once a month).

CON

• Starts out with less free storage
• Selective file sync is a bit challenging to set up (though not impossible)

What You Get

The basic (free) plan only includes 5GB of storage compared to Google’s 15GB, and the same $19.99/year at Microsoft gets you the same 100GB as at Google. However, that’s when the plans diverge. Microsoft’s next level is $69.99/year and gets you 1TB (that’s 1000GB) while Google wants $99.99 for that same amount. And with your 1TB at Microsoft, you also get the full desktop versions of Work, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Defender, and more. Then, for $99.99 at Microsoft, your storage jumps to 6TB.

Tracy’s Bottom Line

If you’re already paying for Microsoft Office, this might already be available to you and with a lot more storage than you’re getting from Google.

3. Apple iCloud

If you’re an iPhone user and especially if you’re a Mac user, this might be your first choice. The tight integration with Apple products makes it a no brainer. And, let’s face it, that’s what Apple users love about Apple. It all works together like a champ.

CON

• Android user? No soup for you!
• Linux user? Well, I don’t know any REALTORS® who are Linux users but surely they’re out there. And, bad news for them, they don’t get soup either.
• Anyone you share files with must also have an Apple ID
• No versioning

What You Get

When you sign up for iCloud, you get 5GB of free storage. Plans go up from there but are still very reasonable. $0.99/month for 50GB, $2.99/month for 200GB, and $9.99/month for 2TB. I didn’t see annual pricing for iCloud+ (the plans that aren’t free) but they’re still competitive with Microsoft and Google.

Tracy’s Bottom Line

This would be a simple choice for Apple users if they allowed you to share your files with non-Apple ID people, but I’m not going to force someone to sign up for an Apple ID just to receive files from me. If you’re in a 100% Apple environment, go with this. If you’re not and you want to share with people who don’t use Apple, you need to select a different option. Keep in mind that as of 2023, the iPhone only has a 49% market share so you will have clients that aren’t on Apple.

4. Dropbox

The grandfather of online storage and file sharing is still alive and kicking butt in 2023 after over 15 years on the market. The name is synonymous with online storage and file sharing  – and, therefore, trusted.

CON

• A bit bloated (the unfortunate flip side of mature with loads of features)
• Kind of expensive by comparison

What You Get

The free version only gets you 2GB. Which is not nothing, but it’s not something either. From there you jump to $11.99/month (or $119.88/year) for 2TB and that fee also gets you 3 eSignatures per month. But, come on, you’re a REALTOR® so you’ve already got an esig solution. I hope. A 3TB package runs $19.99/month (or $198.96/year).

Tracy’s Bottom Line

I used to be a paying subscriber but finally switched to the free version after cheaper and simpler solutions came along. I still have the free version so that I can receive shared folders from paying users (like my real estate photographer). The free version is fine so long as you don’t need to store a lot.

1. IDrive

Number five in your program but it could be number one in your heart! You know, if your heart likes to save money.

CON

• Limited Linux support … But, again, are there many REALTORS® using Linux? And it’s limited, not none like iCloud.
• Full disk imaging is only available on Windows … I know, you’re probably thinking, “What in the world are you talking about?”
• There are very few cons … that’s only a con because I felt like I haven’t researched hard enough.

What You Get

The free version gets you 10GB. For $2.95/year you get 100GB. Yes, that’s per year and not a typo. $9.95/year gets you 500GB. The TB ranges are pretty cheap, too. 5TB for $60/year, 10TB for $75/year, and 20TB for $150/year. There are team solutions, too.

 Tracy’s Bottom Line

As I write this, I do not use IDrive. However, I will be using it if for no other reason that to give it a good test drive. I’m pretty sure I can pass on my next Route 44 Coke from Sonic and get a year of storage at 100GB. You’ll hear back from me about this one.