The Free plan gives you 5 GB of secure, end-to-end encrypted cloud storage at no cost. It includes the core Sync experience: the desktop app, mobile apps, the web panel, Vault, CloudFiles, Camera Uploads, and file version history. Some features and capacities are reserved for paid plans, and this article explains what those limits are.
In this article:
- How much storage does the Free plan include?
- What are the limits when sharing with links?
- What are the limits when sharing Team Shared Folders?
- Which file previews are available?
- Can I stream video and audio?
- Can I use Microsoft Office with a free account?
- Which security and compliance features require a paid plan?
- How many devices can I connect?
- What happens if I upgrade and later cancel?
- How do I upgrade from the Free plan?
How much storage does the Free plan include?
Free accounts include 5 GB of storage. This covers everything in your account, including files in your Sync folder and files archived in Vault.
If you run out of space, delete files to free up room, or upgrade to a paid plan.
How shared files count towards your quota
Files you share are normally counted against the storage quota of each person you share them with. There is one exception: when a Personal, Pro Solo, or Pro Teams user shares a folder with a free user, the free user can join that folder even if it is larger than their own quota.
If you join a shared folder this way, you can access everything in it, but you can only upload up to the storage still available on your own account. To upload more than that, you will need to upgrade.
What are the limits when sharing with links?
Links let you send a file or folder to anyone, without the recipient needing a Sync account. Free accounts can create and share links, with the limits below.
Three active links at a time
You can have up to 3 links active at once, to any combination of files and folders. If you reach the limit, delete a link you no longer need and the slot frees up immediately. See How do I create additional links on my free plan? for step-by-step instructions.
20 downloads per link, per day
Each link on a free account allows up to 20 downloads per 24-hour period. Once a link reaches that limit, anyone who tries to open it will see Error #8031. The counter resets automatically after 24 hours.
Free accounts also have limited data transfer on links. Pro Solo and Pro Teams plans remove both the download cap and the transfer limit.
Link permissions available on the Free plan
- Passwords — require a password before anyone can open the link.
- Enhanced privacy — add an extra layer of end-to-end encryption on top of the standard SSL encryption applied to every link.
Link permissions that require a paid plan:
- Expiry dates
- Download limits you set yourself
- View only links, with downloads disabled
- Collaborative links, letting recipients edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files in the browser
- Email notifications when a linked file is downloaded
- Upload enabled links (file requests), which let people send files to you
- The Share via email button in the web panel
Note: On a free account, use the Copy link button and paste the link into your own email or messaging app instead. For full details on every permission, see How to manage shared link permissions.
What are the limits when sharing Team Shared Folders?
Team Shared Folders give several people access to the same set of files, syncing to everyone's devices.
Three Team Shared Folders
Free accounts can create up to 3 Team Shared Folders. Pro Solo and Pro Teams plans allow an unlimited number.
Read only access is not available
Free accounts cannot change the Can edit permission on a Team Shared Folder. Everyone you invite to a folder you own will be able to add, change, and delete files in it.
If you need to give someone view only access to a shared folder, you will need to upgrade to a paid plan.
Which file previews are available?
In the web panel, free accounts can preview these formats:
.jpg · .gif · .png · .pdf · .txt
Notes:
- Microsoft Office document previews are not available on the Free plan. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files cannot be previewed in the browser.
- Paid plans extend previews to Office and OpenDocument formats, AutoCAD drawings, Photoshop files, and dozens of additional image formats. See Supported file types for previews, thumbnails, and streaming for the full list.
- Any file type can still be downloaded and opened in an application on your own device, on any plan.
Can I stream video and audio?
Video and audio streaming is not available on the Free plan, in either the web panel or the mobile apps. When you open a media file in your own account, it downloads first and then plays. The file will play normally once the download finishes, but there is no instant playback.
Streaming does work for media shared through a link. People you share a link with can stream the file in their browser without downloading it first.
Note: If you enable Enhanced privacy on a link, streaming is disabled for that link, along with extended previews, download acceleration, and document editing.
Can I use Microsoft Office with a free account?
Free accounts can use Edit in Office to open a .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx file in the Microsoft 365 online editor and save changes back to Sync. Editing may require your own Microsoft 365 licence.
Not available on the Free plan:
- The View in Office option
- Office document previews in the web panel
- The previewer preference setting, which lets paid customers choose between Sync's built-in previewer and the Microsoft hosted one
Opening and editing Office files through the Sync desktop app, or through the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint mobile apps, works the same on every plan. See the Microsoft Office for Sync getting started guide for details.
Which security and compliance features require a paid plan?
Every Sync account, free or paid, gets the same underlying protection: end-to-end encryption, zero-knowledge privacy, two-factor authentication, and file version history. Your files are no less secure on a free plan.
Two compliance-oriented features do require a paid plan:
- HIPAA compliance and a signed Business Associate Agreement require Pro Solo 5 TB, Pro Solo Professional 6 TB, Pro Solo Unlimited, or any Pro Teams plan. A free account cannot serve as the covered entity's account, though free accounts can still receive shared PHI from a properly licensed account. See Which plans are HIPAA compliant?
- Custom branding, which adds your own logo to links and shared folders, requires Solo 5 TB, Solo 6 TB, or a Pro Teams+ plan. See Customizing Sync branding with your own logo
How many devices can I connect?
You can connect up to 5 active computers or mobile devices to your Sync account. This limit applies to all plans, not just free accounts.
Note: Each person should have their own Sync account rather than sharing one login. Sharing an account causes problems with security, device management, and sync conflicts. See Troubleshooting syncing issues when too many devices are connected.
What happens if I upgrade and later cancel?
Note:
Upgrading is a one-way change. Sync does not support downgrading from a paid plan back to the Free plan. If you cancel a paid subscription, your account is closed rather than converted to a free account.
A closed account means:
- You can no longer sign in to the web panel, desktop app, or mobile app.
- Syncing pauses, and shared links stop working.
- Your files are retained for 30 days, during which you can contact support to reactivate.
- After 30 days, the account and all data are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.
All new plan purchases come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try a paid plan and get a full refund within the first month. The guarantee applies to new purchases only, not renewals or upgrades.
For more information, see What happens when your Sync account is closed and What is your refund policy?
How do I upgrade from the Free plan?
Upgrades take effect immediately and are pro-rated, so you receive credit for any unused portion of your current plan. Your files, shared folders, and account settings are unaffected.
- Sign in to the web panel.
- Click Settings from the left navigation bar.
- Select the Account & billing tab.
- Click the Manage Subscription button.
- Under Payment Methods, enter your billing information and click Add.
- Click the tile displaying your current plan (Free Plan).
- Click Edit Subscription.
- Click Change next to your current plan.
- From the dropdown menu, select your desired plan and billing frequency, then click Update.
- Review the changes and click Update Subscription to confirm.
A confirmation email, including your updated invoice, will be sent to your inbox.
For more information on switching plans, see How do I change my Sync plan?