ZippyShare is a file hosting service where users may upload, share, and download files. It’s easy to reject it as a ruse: a business that provides infinite hosting space for free seems too wonderful to be true. However, rest assured that despite its quirks and flaws, it is a genuine file-sharing service. Indeed, ZippyShare has been around longer than many of the current crop of file-sharing providers.
It’s worth noting that you may use ZippyShare to transfer and exchange files without first registering with the service. While this option is excellent for sharing a single file quickly, if you plan on using the site frequently, you should create an account to have access to additional services. Before we go through its capabilities, keep in mind that ZippyShare is primarily a file-sharing application. To put it another way, don’t be shocked if it lacks some of the features you’ll find on other services.
ZippyShare has been around since 2006 and has many users all around the world. The most notable aspects of this service are that it is free to use and does not require registration. This is really convenient since you won’t have to waste time registering before you can transfer your data. They also offer a pretty straightforward (if not archaic) user interface, so you may utilize their service quickly with no complicated procedure to learn. It can provide you with an endless amount of disk space. You cannot, however, upload anything greater than 500 MB, and submitted files are permanently erased after 30 days. And, because they don’t impose any bandwidth restrictions, you may upload or download files from Zippyshare very quickly. Because it is prohibited in some areas, you may see a 403 Forbidden error while visiting its website from those locations.
Zippyshare is not a swindle. You can be certain of it. However, when it comes to file security, you may not get the same amount of privacy protection as you would with other services. When you upload a file to Zippyshare, it will not encrypt the transfer unless you pass it over an HTTPS connection. And, while you may make files and folders private and password-protect them, you don’t have complete and accurate control over who has access to them. They also lack two-factor authentication to safeguard your account, which is another weakness of this service.
Features
One of ZippyShare’s most notable characteristics is that it provides limitless storage space, which is almost unheard of among file-sharing platforms. Individual uploads, on the other hand, cannot exceed 500 MB in size. This shouldn’t be an issue for most lawful usage, and it’s in place to deter users from using the site to illegally exchange data.
Another feature that is common among free accounts on other file sharing platforms is that after 30 days of inactivity, ZippyShare will automatically remove files from your account. So, if you haven’t downloaded any of your files in the previous month, ZippyShare will delete them permanently. There is no way to recover deleted data from the recycle bin. You’ll have to re-upload the deleted files to your ZippyShare account if you want to distribute them.
Another advantage is that, like its disc space, ZippyShare does not impose a bandwidth limit on downloads. You may share the files with anyone, and they’ll be available for download as long as they don’t sit idle for more than a certain amount of time.
The ZippyShare bilingual interface is a feature that won’t be of much value to TechRadar Pro readers but is a lovely touch in the bigger context. You may use the service in a dozen different languages in addition to English, which greatly improves the program’s accessibility.
Interaction and use
You can use the service without establishing an account, although it’s recommended that you do so. Although you don’t get the ease of single sign-on, it only requires your name and login credentials. Uploading files uses the same interface as before: a basic text box into which you can drag and drop any number of files and folders. While each file is being uploaded, ZippyShare will show you how far it has progressed. The uploads are swift, and there is no artificial delay, which is surprising given that the service is free. When you submit a file, ZippyShare will immediately share it with others and publicise the URLs to view it.
Additionally, the service allows users to upload files from a remote URL. This is a unique feature that I was astonished to discover on ZippyShare. The remote links to files I pasted in the appropriate area were accepted, but they never appeared in my account, and the URLs it produced for these files always returned a “File not found” error.
Downloads and Apps
In terms of applications, ZippyShare doesn’t have much to offer. It does not use browser extensions to complement the web interface, unlike its competitors. There are no smartphone applications for the service either. To upload and share content from your phone, open the web browser on your phone and go to ZippyShare.
The service does have a desktop version, but it is exclusively for Windows. Even then, the programme is only a helper for uploading. You can use the app to upload several files, but like the web app, you’ll have to queue them up before clicking the upload button. In addition, the desktop software, like the online app, spits out URLs once the files have been uploaded to your account.
The app’s sole true benefit is that it allows you to upload files larger than 500 MB. When you point it at a huge file, the programme suggests splitting it into 500-MB portions. Although the tool failed to split Linux ISO images in our tests, it did operate as claimed on several home films in the MP4 format.
It’s easy to understand that the free service is supported by advertisements, the most prominent of which can be seen on the downloads page. They are normally not bothersome, but certain download URLs result in a slew of advertising, pop-ups, and redirects that are rather irritating.
The competition is fierce
The service ZippyShare isn’t the only one that offers a free account. MediaFire’s free account is subsidised by advertisements. While you may subscribe to a premium account for ad-free access, the lack of an equivalent option for ZippyShare is inconvenient.
While I can deal with the commercials, the lack of privacy settings is the real issue for me. You may mark uploads as private in both the online and desktop uploaders, and they won’t be shared automatically. You may also password-protect folders, requiring the password before allowing access to the contents when shared. That’s all there is to it. If you’re expecting access limits or two-factor verification, you’ll be disappointed with Mega’s free account.
Mega’s encryption options wowed us as well. While ZippyShare uses an https connection for all transfers, it lacks end-to-end encryption, which is a must-have feature, especially if you plan to use the service frequently.
Furthermore, the lack of smartphone apps for ZippyShare does not speak well for the business. It’s the polar opposite of MediaFire, which includes Android and iOS apps but no desktop version. Even ZippyShare’s desktop application isn’t very useful. It lacks important functionality like file synchronisation, which is available on rival services such as pCloud and Mega.
The Final Word
Despite the fact that the service is free, it is not for everyone. The advertisements are a significant turn-off, especially since there is no way to turn them off without paying. Then there’s the absence of security features, which makes the service unsuitable for exchanging sensitive data. You can’t use ZippyShare to quickly sync your data between multiple computers and devices since its desktop software lacks a sync feature.
In truth, ZippyShare has a very particular use case: it’s perfect for casual users who wish to transfer non-important files that are too large to send over email. Everyone else will be better off going somewhere else.
