IBM Aspera Files is the default pick for most media teams that already use FASP transfer, while MASV is the best aspera files alternatives choice for project work charged per GB, at $0.25 per GB after 15 GB free each month. The price range is wide: MASV starts at $0.25 per GB, Raysync Cloud starts at $99 per month, and Signiant Media Shuttle starts at $13,000 per year. Aspera on Cloud now lists Essentials at $44.20 per month with 2 TB per year, and the 14-day trial includes 50 GB of transfer volume, a detail that older lists still show at $22.10 per month for 1 TB per year.
Aspera Files is IBM Aspera on Cloud, a service for moving large files fast over long distances with FASP transfer technology. The alternatives below cover the same job in different ways: per-GB cloud delivery, fixed monthly transfer plans, self-managed servers, shared cloud drives, and general file storage with transfer tools. Pick by volume first, then by storage, then by the controls your team needs.
On this page
Aspera files alternatives: comparison table
Swipe the table sideways on a phone to see every column.
| # | Name | Best for | Starting price | Free plan / trial | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IBM Aspera Files | Large media teams that need FASP speed on long routes | $1.07 per GB of transfer per month | Free trial (14 days) | Visit |
| 2 | MASV | Project teams that want to charge transfer cost per job | $0.25 per GB | Yes | Visit |
| 3 | Signiant Media Shuttle | Media companies with mixed on-premises and cloud storage | $13,000 per year | Free trial | Visit |
| 4 | FileCatalyst | Teams that run their own transfer servers on premises | quote only | Free trial | Visit |
| 5 | LucidLink | Remote editors who work from one shared cloud drive | $40 per TB per month | Free trial | Visit |
| 6 | Dropbox | Teams that need shared storage plus file delivery | $15 per user per month | Yes | Visit |
| 7 | Raysync | Small and mid-size teams that want a fixed cloud transfer plan | $99 per month | Free trial (7 days) | Visit |
The 7 best aspera files alternatives, in detail
IBM Aspera Files
Best for: Large media teams that need FASP speed on long routes
IBM Aspera Files is the product named in the search, and it is still a real option. The official IBM page lists Pay As You Go at $1.07 per GB of transfer per month, Essentials at $44.20 per month with 2 TB per year, Standard Plus at $880 per month with 8 TB per year, and Lite at $11,916 per license per year for self-managed use. The plan limits matter as much as the price.
- Pay As You Go gives 1 workspace and 0 workflows, Essentials gives 1 workspace and 0 workflows with unlimited transfer servers, and Standard Plus gives
- The 14-day trial includes 50 GB of transfer volume.
- Choose Aspera Files if your team already uses it or needs FASP speed on high-latency links.
Pros
- FASP transfer technology for long-distance routes
- 14-day trial includes 50 GB of transfer volume
- Essentials includes unlimited transfer servers
Cons
- Pay As You Go includes 0 workflows and 1 workspace
- Standard Plus at $880 per month is a large step up from Essentials
MASV
Best for: Project teams that want to charge transfer cost per job
MASV is a cloud delivery service for large files, with no limit on file package size. The official MASV page lists pay-as-you-go pricing from $0.25 per GB, with 15 GB free each month and a credit card required for the free allowance. Files are stored free for 5 days, then storage costs $0.07 per GB per month.
- Annual subscriptions start at $58 per month for 250 GB per month and $215 per month for 1 TB per month.
- At $0.25 per GB, 100 GB costs $25 after the free allowance is used.
- MASV fits project work because the cost follows the job.
- A team can send one large package for a client, record the GB count, and charge that cost to the project, with no seat fee for extra users.
Pros
- 15 GB free each month on the pay-as-you-go tier
- no limit on file package size
- no charge per user seat
Cons
- Storage costs $0.07 per GB per month after 5 days free
- charges apply when data exits the platform
Signiant Media Shuttle
Best for: Media companies with mixed on-premises and cloud storage
Signiant Media Shuttle is a cloud service for moving large media files between people and storage, with Send, Share, and Submit portals. The official Signiant pricing page lists Small Business from $13,000 a year, Professional from $25,000 a year, and Enterprise with no price shown. Small Business includes unlimited transfers, no file size limits, unlimited portals, and no bandwidth caps.
- Professional adds 25 TB of cloud payload transfers on AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure storage, plus implementation and training.
- Enterprise adds single sign-on, automation APIs, and 100 TB of cloud payload.
- Signiant fits media companies that mix on-premises storage with cloud storage and need branded portals for many outside partners.
- The unlimited transfer model on on-premises storage makes the annual cost easy to predict once the plan is set, with no per-GB charge on that route.
Pros
- Unlimited transfers with no file size limits on listed plans
- Professional includes 25 TB of cloud payload
- 24/7 customer support on Small Business
Cons
- Starting price of $13,000 per year is high for small teams
- Enterprise price is not shown and needs a quote
FileCatalyst
Best for: Teams that run their own transfer servers on premises
FileCatalyst, from Fortra, is self-managed accelerated file transfer software that uses UDP-based transfer technology. The official Fortra page states that FileCatalyst Direct can transfer files at speeds up to 10 Gbps, even on networks with high latency or packet loss. The product set includes FileCatalyst Direct for transfer, FileCatalyst Workflow as a web portal for sharing and tracking files, and FileCatalyst Central for viewing transfers in real time.
- The official pricing page asks buyers to complete a form to request a quote, with no list price shown.
- FileCatalyst fits teams that want to keep transfer servers in their own data centre and control the full setup, rather than using a cloud service for
- That control is also the main trade-off: your team handles install, updates, and monitoring, and the price depends on the quote you receive.
- Ask for the price in writing for the exact bandwidth and user count you need.
Pros
- UDP-based transfer with speeds up to 10 Gbps
- self-managed deployment on your own servers
- trial available
Cons
- No list price shown, so every quote needs a sales discussion
- setup and upkeep fall on your own team
LucidLink
Best for: Remote editors who work from one shared cloud drive
LucidLink is a cloud file system that mounts cloud storage as a drive, so editors in different places can open the same shared filespace without downloading whole files first. The official LucidLink Classic Enterprise page lists an AWS bundle at $80 per TB per month, an IBM bundle at $80 per TB per month, and bring-your-own storage at $40 per TB per month. The bundles include storage, snapshots, single sign-on, global file locking for Windows only, and premium support.
- The bring-your-own option works with S3-compatible storage of your choice.
- LucidLink fits remote video and design teams that edit from a shared drive every day, rather than teams that only send finished files once.
- The $40 per TB per month bring-your-own price is the entry figure, but the total bill also includes the storage provider charge, so add that line befo
- A team with 2 TB of active media starts at $80 per month for the LucidLink part alone, before storage.
Pros
- Cloud files appear as a local drive with on-demand streaming
- BYO storage at $40 per TB per month
- egress-free AWS and IBM bundles
Cons
- Storage is billed separately from the per-user price on some plans
- global file locking is listed for Windows only
Dropbox
Best for: Teams that need shared storage plus file delivery
Dropbox is general cloud storage with file delivery tools, and it is a practical alternative when Aspera Files is more transfer power than a team needs. The official Dropbox page lists Standard at $15 per user per month, with 3 TB of pooled storage for the team, 180 days to restore deleted files, and file transfers up to 100 GB. Advanced lists at $24 per user per month, with 15 TB of pooled storage, 1 year to restore deleted files, transfers up to 100 GB, single sign-on, and compliance tracking.
- Enterprise lists contact sales for pricing, with transfers up to 250 GB.
- Dropbox fits teams that want one place for storage, sharing, and delivery, with admin controls and team folders.
- The 100 GB transfer limit on Standard and Advanced covers most finished video and design files, but it is a hard cap, so a team that sends single file
- One limit: the Standard plan has no single sign-on, so teams that need that control must move to Advanced at $24 per user per month.
Pros
- Standard starts at 3 TB of pooled storage for the team
- Transfer allows files up to 100 GB
- 180-day file recovery on Standard
Cons
- Advanced at $24 per user per month is needed for single sign-on
- Enterprise price is not shown and needs a sales discussion
Raysync
Best for: Small and mid-size teams that want a fixed cloud transfer plan
Raysync is a high-speed transfer service with a cloud plan, an on-premises SMB plan, and an Enterprise plan. The official Raysync pricing page lists Raysync Cloud at $99 per month, with 1 Gbps UDP bandwidth, 2 TB of transfer and download traffic, 1 TB of storage, and a user limit of 10. Raysync SMB lists at $1,599 per year, with 1 Gbps UDP bandwidth, unlimited traffic, on-premises storage, and a user limit of 10.
- Raysync Enterprise lists contact us, with unlimited users and unlimited traffic.
- The page also lists a 7-day free trial.
- Raysync fits small and mid-size teams that want a fixed monthly price and a clear traffic cap, rather than per-GB billing that changes every month.
- The Cloud plan at $99 per month covers 2 TB of traffic, so a team that sends 2 TB in a month pays $99, while the same volume on MASV at $0.25 per GB w
Pros
- Cloud plan includes 2 TB of transfer traffic and 1 TB of storage for $99 per month
- SMB plan allows unlimited traffic for $1,599 per year
- 7-day trial
Cons
- Cloud plan caps users at 10
- Enterprise price is not shown and needs a sales discussion
How we chose
We chose tools that move large files for real teams, with a shown price or a clear quote route on the official vendor page opened on 12 November 2026. Every price comes from the official pricing page listed in Sources, opened today, or is written as quote only when the vendor shows no price. We did not test any tool hands-on. We did not install any product, run any transfer, or measure any speed.
Which option fits your volume and budget
| Monthly volume | Best fit | Why the numbers point there |
|---|---|---|
| Under 15 GB | MASV free allowance | MASV gives 15 GB free each month |
| 15 GB to 300 GB | MASV at $0.25 per GB | MASV charges $25 for 100 GB after the free allowance |
| 300 GB to 2 TB | Raysync Cloud at $99 per month, or Dropbox Standard at $15 per user per month | Raysync Cloud includes 2 TB of traffic for $99, and Dropbox Standard includes 3 TB of pooled storage |
| 2 TB to 25 TB | Signiant Professional from $25,000 per year, or MASV subscription at $215 per month for 1 TB | Professional includes 25 TB of cloud payload, while MASV subscription scales by GB |
| Shared editing daily | LucidLink from $40 per TB per month | A shared cloud drive fits daily editing better than a delivery link |
| Own servers | FileCatalyst, quote only, or Raysync SMB at $1,599 per year | Both run on your own servers, with unlimited traffic on SMB |
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest Aspera Files alternative for small volumes?
MASV is the cheapest option for small volumes, with 15 GB free each month and $0.25 per GB after that, so 100 GB costs $25. For a team that sends less than 15 GB a month, MASV costs nothing for transfer, apart from storage after 5 days free.
Which Aspera Files alternative is best for media teams?
Signiant Media Shuttle is the best fit for media teams with mixed on-premises and cloud storage, with unlimited transfers and 25 TB of cloud payload on Professional from $25,000 per year. MASV is the best fit for project-based media work, with per-GB billing and no seat fee.
Is Aspera Files still available?
Yes, Aspera Files is still available as IBM Aspera on Cloud. The official IBM page lists Pay As You Go at $1.07 per GB of transfer per month, Essentials at $44.20 per month with 2 TB per year, and Standard Plus at $880 per month with 8 TB per year. A 14-day trial includes 50 GB of transfer volume.
How much does it cost to send 1 TB with MASV?
On MASV pay-as-you-go pricing at $0.25 per GB, 1 TB costs about $250 after the 15 GB free monthly allowance, before storage charges. The MASV annual subscription for 1 TB per month lists at $215 per month. Storage after 5 days free costs $0.07 per GB per month.
Can I use Dropbox instead of Aspera Files?
Yes, if your files fit its limits. Dropbox Standard at $15 per user per month allows transfers up to 100 GB and starts at 3 TB of pooled storage. Dropbox does not use FASP transfer, so it does not match Aspera Files for speed on long, high-latency routes.
Do any Aspera Files alternatives offer a free plan?
Yes. MASV gives 15 GB free each month and Dropbox Basic gives 2 GB of storage. Aspera Files, Signiant Media Shuttle, FileCatalyst, LucidLink, and Raysync offer a free trial instead, with trial lengths from 7 days for Raysync to 14 days for Aspera Files.
Sources
- https://www.ibm.com/products/aspera
- https://masv.io/
- https://masv.io/solution/send-large-files
- https://www.signiant.com/
- https://www.signiant.com/products/media-shuttle/pricing-packaging/
- https://www.fortra.com/product-lines/filecatalyst
- https://www.lucidlink.com/
- https://www.lucidlink.com/classic-enterprise
- https://www.dropbox.com/
- https://www.dropbox.com/business/upgrade-account
- https://www.raysync.io/
- https://www.raysync.io/pricing/
Prices and features were read on each company’s own website in November 2026. They change often, so confirm the current offer on the official site before you sign up or buy.