Cloud storage decision
MEGA Pro I
A single developer can build a minimal zero-knowledge file store (uploads, client-side encryption, links) but reproducing MEGA's global scale, multi-platform apps, bundled VPN/password-manager products and production-grade infra is not realistic for a small DIY effort.
Visit website↗$10.99/mo
$132/yr
Not verified against a pricing page.
$100one-off80 h to build
$10/mo8 h/mo upkeep
On cash alone, building overtakes the subscription at 2 seats.
Open-source builds that already do this
Every project below is open source and already does this job today. Fork one, self-host it, or take the parts you need - the build prompt further down assumes an empty file, and this is the shortcut past that. Licences differ; check the one on each card before you ship. All MEGA Pro I alternatives, with the arithmetic →
What a replacement has to do
- Allow a user to upload a file from a browser, encrypt it client-side, store the encrypted blob in object storage, persist searchable metadata on a server, and let the user generate a shareable link that others can use to download and decrypt the file.
What it still won’t have
- MEGA multi-platform desktop and mobile apps
- Bundled VPN and password-manager products
- Global scalable object storage and large-scale infrastructure
- Polished sync clients, real-time collaboration and meeting features
What remains hard
- Infrastructure at scale
Object storage Fully scalable S3 compatible storage
- Brand trust
Millions of people trust us
First-year cost
Keep paying
Paying is—cheaper in year one.
On cash alone, building overtakes the subscription at 2 seats.
Money you would actually spend
Time you would spend
—
What you would spend
What we assumed
The verdict above measures whether you could build it. This one is only about money.
Runnable build prompt
Build a minimal zero-knowledge cloud storage web app using React for the frontend, Node.js (Express) for the backend, Postgres for metadata, and an S3-compatible object store for blobs. In scope: client-side encryption/decryption (WebCrypto), streaming uploads/downloads of encrypted blobs to S3, metadata CRUD in Postgres, user auth (email + password), shareable links with optional password and expiry, and a simple React UI to upload, list, generate links, and download. Out of scope: mobile/desktop native apps, VPN, password manager, advanced sync clients, multi-region replication, enterprise billing. Include unit and integration tests for crypto, upload/download, and link expiry paths; log and surface clear error messages for failed uploads, decryption errors, and expired links.
How we checked
How the score was reached
- Partly verdict base52
- An open-source build was found+5
- 4 cited sources+3
- 3/3 assessment runs agreed+4
- Hard moats found in the evidence-3
- Evidence score61
The base comes from the verdict. Everything under it is a check that either happened or did not, and each one is a fact frozen in this record rather than a judgement made at render time - so the same evidence always produces the same number.
How scoring works →Cited sources · 4
Every page the run actually retrieved.
- official productMEGA - official product
- official pricingMEGA - pricing
- open sourcehudikhq/hoodik
- open sourcecloudreve/cloudreve
Integrity checks
What held up, and what did not.
