These online file hosting services or file storage services are designed to store static content such as large files not web pages. By definition these online storage services allow web and FTP access. In most of the cases the sites that provide these services are optimized for serving to many users. Even so we can say that some file hosting sites are optimized for single user storage. Here is made the difference between the hosting and storage. The common services provided by these specialized sites are video sharing, virtual storage or remote backup.

A category of shared files for hosting are the software products. The providers of shareware software are usually confronted with the problem of sharing their products. This involves another costly problem such as the bandwidth cost. This type of hosting provides additional services such as statistics or marketing features.

Personal file storage is a lot different from file hosting. This alternative is addressed especially to private individuals and allows them to create so called network storage for different reasons starting with personal backup, file access file distribution. They are able to share their files and make them public but there is the second alternative too. They might want to protect their data from other users of the file storage web site and might agree with the usage of a password.

It is also good to know that these personal file storage services are not affordable for everyone because of the high costs. That is why these off-site backup services are not commonly used.

Companies with major internet presence might use services specialized in distributing cached or static content such as Akamai Technologies, Amazon S3 or Redswoosh. These situations are seen when the mentioned companies encounter bandwidth congestion problems.

It is well known that we can see if we look for them both free and buyable file storage services. Some sites that provide these services will require the usage of software that makes the files available only for computers which have the mentioned software installed.

Other services allow users to retrieve files through any web browser. It is also known that the increased inbox space offered by the webmail providers may be used by some persons as a virtual hard drive.

Another thing that is good to be known is that some sites offer the free unlimited file storage but along with a limit in the file size.