Apple iCloud vs. ShareFile

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Apple iCloud
Score 8.2 out of 10
N/A
Apple iCloud is a document management software offering from Apple. It includes features such as access to music, photos, calendars, contacts, and documents, and it is built into every new iOS device.
$0.99
per month
ShareFile
Score 8.4 out of 10
N/A
ShareFile is a cloud-based file sharing and storage service built for business. The product was acquired by Citrix Systems in 2011.
$10
per month per user, per month, minimum of 3 users
Pricing
Apple iCloudShareFile
Editions & Modules
50GB
$0.99
per month
200GB
$2.99
per month
2TB
$9.99
per month
Standard
$10
per user, per month, minimum of 3 users
Advanced
$16
per user, per month, minimum of 3 users
Premium
$25
per user, per month, minimum of 3 users
Virtual Data Room
$67.50
per user, per month, minimum of 5 users
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Apple iCloudShareFile
Free Trial
NoYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Apple iCloudShareFile
Considered Both Products
Apple iCloud
Chose Apple iCloud
The integration is second to none. If you have many Apple devices then you will be glad to use iCloud.
ShareFile
Chose ShareFile
Functionally, they're on the same level as ShareFile. However, my experience with each of these was from a personal account perspective. From a corporate level, knowing that my data lives in my data center and not having to go through the hassle of negotiating a BAA makes …
Top Pros
Top Cons
Features
Apple iCloudShareFile
File Sharing & Management
Comparison of File Sharing & Management features of Product A and Product B
Apple iCloud
9.1
74 Ratings
8% above category average
ShareFile
8.9
64 Ratings
5% above category average
Versioning8.750 Ratings8.050 Ratings
Video files9.270 Ratings9.042 Ratings
Audio files9.267 Ratings9.339 Ratings
Document collaboration8.963 Ratings8.358 Ratings
Access control8.461 Ratings10.061 Ratings
File search9.766 Ratings9.061 Ratings
Device sync9.473 Ratings8.753 Ratings
Cloud Storage Security & Administration
Comparison of Cloud Storage Security & Administration features of Product A and Product B
Apple iCloud
8.7
70 Ratings
1% above category average
ShareFile
9.1
60 Ratings
5% above category average
User and role management8.654 Ratings9.257 Ratings
File organization8.266 Ratings10.060 Ratings
Device management9.367 Ratings8.048 Ratings
Cloud Storage Platform
Comparison of Cloud Storage Platform features of Product A and Product B
Apple iCloud
9.4
74 Ratings
10% above category average
ShareFile
8.6
62 Ratings
1% above category average
Performance9.674 Ratings9.061 Ratings
Reliability9.674 Ratings9.562 Ratings
Storage Reports9.158 Ratings7.449 Ratings
Best Alternatives
Apple iCloudShareFile
Small Businesses
SugarSync
SugarSync
Score 10.0 out of 10
SugarSync
SugarSync
Score 10.0 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Score 9.6 out of 10
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Score 9.6 out of 10
Enterprises
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Score 9.6 out of 10
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Score 9.6 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Apple iCloudShareFile
Likelihood to Recommend
9.2
(74 ratings)
8.6
(88 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(4 ratings)
9.1
(8 ratings)
Usability
10.0
(21 ratings)
9.1
(19 ratings)
Availability
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(1 ratings)
Performance
8.2
(12 ratings)
9.1
(14 ratings)
Support Rating
7.5
(20 ratings)
1.1
(14 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(3 ratings)
Configurability
-
(0 ratings)
5.0
(2 ratings)
Ease of integration
-
(0 ratings)
1.0
(1 ratings)
Product Scalability
-
(0 ratings)
1.0
(1 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(1 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
Apple iCloudShareFile
Likelihood to Recommend
Apple
iCloud is also great to keep access to photos synced across devices. Ex: I can snap a photo at a job site and have access to that photo on my desktop when I return to my office. I can then drop the photo into a document that is stored in iCloud and have instant access to that document on my iPad at a client's office later in the day. Seamless transitions make life much easier.
Read full review
ShareFile
Sometimes we just need to send a single large file, and compressing it is easier than using ShareFile. But generally, we use ShareFile to exchange or send anything over 20 MB. A problem that we have not had [yet], but wonder about is this: Are ShareFile and its e-mailed links safe for transmission to/from U.S. Government computers? All of our public-sector clients are state and locality-based. We haven't had any interacton with U.S. entities. U.S. entities, especially DOD, are rather particular about these type of file-sharing sites and links embedded inside e-mails.
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Pros
Apple
  • Syncing files, appointments, Notes and contacts. If I'm away from home, and set an appointment using my phone, that appointment automatically updates real time to my home laptop and vice-versa.
  • It stores files (e.g photos) nicely
  • Once it's set up, it's fairly easy to use.
Read full review
ShareFile
  • Authenticated electronic document signatures--self-signing, and sending out for signatures. This is a robust feature that also allows for additional information to be added to documents being sent for signatures, such as dates, notes, and items omitted but needed.
  • Encrypted emails through ShareFile, Citrix apps for Outlook, Gmail, and Mac email systems. Encrypted email messages cannot be cut/pasted, nor forwarded without encryption. If only the attachments need to be encrypted, the email message can be unencrypted. Also, two options for securely opening an encrypted email (one with less credentials, one with more).
Read full review
Cons
Apple
  • Customization - iCloud is great at the stuff it does well. But it lacks features that some competitors (in Google Drive or Dropbox) do really well. API support for third-party apps is really great for some other people.
  • Remote use - Managing or accessing information from iCloud while not on one of your logged-in apple devices can sometimes be an issue. From a work computer for example. It doable, but the experience is much less user-friendly.
  • Ability to edit documents on the cloud similar to google docs or some other competitors
Read full review
ShareFile
  • Users grow quickly (each client gets a separate account). Automated pruning would be nice.
  • I'm not aware of integration with Office365 online (only the outlook app). This could make it harder for some users.
  • It would be nice to have something that auto-scans emails and attachments for PII and would require Sharefile for those emails.
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Likelihood to Renew
Apple
It's so seamless that I can't imagine another product doing a better job synchronizing all of my devices. I simply do not think about it at all. Everything happens behind the scenes and I'm confident that Apple keeps my data safe and secure. I'm a happy customer as far as this is concerned. I have not had a bad experience with this service.
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ShareFile
The cost is fair and the program does what it has promised to do. Customer service is attentive. I'm not aware of any better-sounding file sharing systems out there that would tempt us to discontinue ShareFile.
Read full review
Usability
Apple
While it may be great to use with other Apple products, I find it's an absolutist-style workflow to be debilitating and to lead to many problems. When you sign into the cloud, it completely takes over your device in many ways that you don't notice at first until there is a problem.
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ShareFile
ShareFile is so easy to use I was able to download all of my projects files and have them set up to sync before my supervisor could even come over to explain the process to me. It is a neatly organized and intuitive software that allows even the less tech-savvy to become power users.
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Reliability and Availability
Apple
No answers on this topic
ShareFile
The software has never been down when I needed to use it.
Read full review
Performance
Apple
Occasionally, large files that haven't yet been synced require a few minutes to pull down but I've rarely noticed delays. It does a good job of keeping data cached on my local machines while updating them with changes from other machines transparently.
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ShareFile
Easy to use, easy to integrate with Outlook. I only gave it a 9 because I have found that sometimes it does not play nicely with Outlook and can slow it down. But, when that happens (not frequent), I restart Outlook and all is well again
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Support Rating
Apple
Apple customer service is fantastic. iCloud is built with Apple in mind and its design is extremely intuitive and user-friendly. Additionally, whenever our team has encountered issues, the speed of Apple support has been more than timely in addressing our issues and solving our request. We have encountered relatively few issues in my time with the platform and this only improves our overall score for those who keep the platform stable.
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ShareFile
Typically the support is very knowledgeable and interested in following an issue until it is fully resolved. I have not had any issues working with their staff as they are all polite and easy to communicate with. If the first or second level tech does not fix the concern then it is escalated until we get to someone who can close the case.
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Implementation Rating
Apple
No answers on this topic
ShareFile
Good documentation for the API. With a little help from RS tech staff, any competent programmer should be able to integrate RightSignature with an existing system in a week or three. That help is easy to get as well
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Alternatives Considered
Apple
Apple does offer an alternative to Office & the Google Docs family but trusting to use it with both internal and external parties is tough. Google is more universal and easier for 3rd parties to collaborate with. Apple works well for a closed internal group that is native to Apple's ecosystem. Google offers more storage space than Apple
Read full review
ShareFile
ShareFile is easier and does what you need. I have moved a few organizations from SharePoint to ShareFile. Just easier. You can setup different areas for different departments, setup their permissions and it is easy enough for them to do what they want in their zones. The mobile app works great as well. So you can all the features you really use from SP, but just easier to setup and use.
Read full review
Scalability
Apple
No answers on this topic
ShareFile
I am a one person office. I have no idea how this software would scale to a larger office.
Read full review
Return on Investment
Apple
  • If I lose track of my credentials or my continuing education documentation, I could end up not being able to renew my certification. This would lead to a major loss in revenue.
  • Time is money and having all of my required documents easily accessible in iCloud saves me time and allows me to work more efficiently.
  • My Apple devices were certainly not cheap purchases. iCloud has allowed me to maximize my productivity through synchronizing my work no matter which device I'm working on.
Read full review
ShareFile
  • It's been huge in allowing our freelancers to upload a doc or email comp into the system and initiate a workflow so that those inside the organization can provide feedback without the need of staying on top of emails/messages. It's all located in one place.
  • The time suck from the previously-mentioned annotations issue has caused me to lose some productivity as I have to 'wait my turn' to drop in an annotation, then have it removed, and re-attempt multiple times. Not a huge impact on ROI, but it does affect productivity.
  • From the product side, it is helpful for me to reference what the content will be on our website before the page goes up, as well as the copy we send to our retailers who resell our products. Our marketing lingo stays even across all touch-points because of ShareFile.
Read full review
ScreenShots

ShareFile Screenshots

Screenshot of ShareFile dashboardScreenshot of ShareFile Outlook PluginScreenshot of ProjectsScreenshot of Link sharing optionsScreenshot of ShareFile e-signature