January 24, 2012, 1:34 PM —
flickr/roland
The U.S. government's shutdown of MegaUpload might have seemed like bad news for online file sharing, but it could be a boon for other file sharing sites -- at least those that aren't afraid to keep operating. While some MegaUpload alternatives have suspended operations or restricted U.S. visitors, others are alive and well, and remain confident about staying that way.
[ Free download: The law of unintended storage consequences ]
Here are six MegaUpload alternatives, and why you might use them:
MediaFire [Link]
Benefits and Restrictions: No login required, unlimited total storage, unlimited simultaneous downloads.
Restrictions: 200 MB file size limit, files removed if the user or the file is inactive for an unspecified period of time.
Premium Version: $9 per month Pro accounts get 4 GB max upload size, no time limits on storage, no ads, 100,000 MB per month of direct downloads, secure redundant backups and other benefits.
RapidShare [Link]
Benefits: No file size limit, unlimited storage, unlimited transfer speeds.
Restrictions: Must create login to upload files, wait time required before downloads, files removed after 30 days of inactivity.
Premium Version: A RapidPro account costs 9.90 euros per month, or less when purchased in longer durations. It includes no wait times before downloads, no time limits on storage and SSL-encrypted file transfers.
Oron [Link]
Benefits: No login required, no ads for registered users.
Restrictions: 400 MB max upload size (or 1 GB with login), 244 GB storage limit for registered users, files removed after 30 days of inactivity, users may not download more than 10,000 MB per three days, slower download speeds, wait times before downloads begin.
