Key Takeaways
1. Many file sharing services, like Mega and Google Drive, offer free storage but require users to visit a download page to access files.
2. PixelDrain.com supports hotlinking for direct access without download pages and provides faster performance than some free alternatives.
3. PixelDrain offers a free plan with limitations, but full features can be unlocked for a one-time fee or through a subscription starting at 4 euros per month.
4. Users can easily enable hotlinking and remove download pages in PixelDrain’s settings, and can embed large files on websites using specific URLs.
5. Direct, permanent file links can be created in PixelDrain by using the Filesystem feature, and assistance is available through the founder on Discord for any questions.
As of May 2025, there are many websites available for storing and sharing files online, like Mega and Google Drive. Most of them offer free services, which is a plus.
Limitations of File Sharing Services
However, many of these platforms come with a significant drawback. Users must first go to a download page before accessing files, making it impossible to just click a link and instantly stream a video or view a PDF.
Faster Options
There are a couple of file hosting services that support hotlinking, allowing direct access through permanent links. Yet, their speeds can vary greatly throughout the day. While not free, PixelDrain.com offers much faster performance compared to pomf2.lain.la and catbox.moe, and it has more capabilities than its homepage suggests.
Pricing Plans and Features
PixelDrain does indeed offer a free plan, but it comes with many limitations. To unlock full features, one must either pay 10 euros (plus VAT) directly to PixelDrain or subscribe to their Patreon, which starts at 4 euros a month, excluding VAT. For reference, 10 euros was equivalent to $11.16 on May 18, 2025.
The nice part about PixelDrain is that it uses a straightforward ‘pay as you go’ system with no hidden terms. It charges €0.001 for every gigabyte of data transferred, meaning those 10 euros could last for years depending on your usage.
Adjusting Settings for Hotlinking
If you want to enable hotlinking and remove download pages for your files, you can do so easily in the settings with just a few clicks.
For anyone looking to embed large files on their website using PixelDrain, don’t forget to check the Embedding Controls submenu, as shown in the accompanying image.
Hosting Videos
If you want to host videos for shared viewing on cytu.be, make sure to enter the full URL: www.cytu.be instead of just cytu.be.
Using Direct Links for Files
To create direct, permanent file links, utilize the Filesystem feature.
Begin by making a new folder:
Click the pen icon and then ‘share’ this folder by checking the box:
Now, you can upload files to this folder, and every uploaded file will be shared automatically. To obtain direct, permanent links for your files that are accessible to anyone online, select the file, click on Details in the left column, and scroll down to the Direct sharing link section highlighted in the image below.
While this article doesn’t cover everything, there are advanced features available as well:
You can use PixelDrain for object storage with rclone integration.
If you ever run into problems understanding how PixelDrain works, you can get assistance from its founder (Fornax), who answers questions daily on the official Discord server.
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