When you create a new Filen account, we now show a clear eligibility indicator before signup that tells you whether the account you’re about to create will get 10 GB of free cloud storage.
This page explains what that status means, why we do it, and what you can do if you see “Not eligible”.
What “Eligible” / “Not eligible” means
Eligible
Your signup connection looks like a typical consumer internet connection.
➡️ Your new account receives 10 GB free storage at signup.
Not eligible
Your signup connection looks like anonymization infrastructure (for example VPN/proxy networks).
➡️ Your account is still created normally, but without the free 10 GB allocation.
This change only affects the one-time free storage grant during account creation. Nothing else is blocked.
Why we made this change
Over time we’ve seen a very specific abuse pattern grow: automated mass creation of free accounts, often through VPNs or proxies, to collect large amounts of free storage via multi-accounting.
Even without access to user content (Filen is built around zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption), this abuse still causes real problems:
Increased operational workload, reputational harm, access/reachability issues (for example via threat-intelligence driven blocklists), and direct infrastructure costs because Filen is fully self-hosted.
We considered bigger measures (like removing the free tier or adding strong identity verification), but rejected them because they either hurt normal users or require collecting more personal data than we want.
So we implemented the smallest targeted change that addresses the main abuse vector while keeping Filen’s privacy model intact.
What we check (and what we do not check)
At signup, we perform a one-time automated network classification. It answers only one narrow question:
Does this connection look like VPN/proxy infrastructure, or like a normal consumer connection?
Important details:
- No human review
- End-to-End Encrypted
- Happens once at signup
- A context-free yes/no classification
- The result is not used to build a profile, create metrics, or make future decisions about your account
- No ongoing tracking
- No scanning, no content analysis, no change to our encryption model
Which service is used for the one-time check?
We use Ipregistry (France-based / EU) as an IP classification provider to determine whether an IP likely belongs to an anonymization service. Only the IP address is evaluated; no account data and no context is shared.
We chose an EU-based, GDPR-oriented provider to keep the privacy impact as small as possible compared to alternatives like identity checks.
What is not changing
- Existing accounts are not affected (no re-checks, no storage removal).
- If you sign up "normally", you still get 10 GB free and you keep it.
- Filen’s zero-knowledge encryption and privacy model remain unchanged.
FAQ
Does Filen block VPN users?
No. This change only affects whether a brand-new account receives the free 10 GB when created through an anonymization service. Accounts created with a VPN are also not eligible to receive free storage through our referral program.
I want the free 10 GB, but I’m marked as “Not eligible”. What can I do?
You’ll see the eligibility indicator before you finish creating your account. If you’re marked as “Not eligible”, it’s very likely because you’re using a VPN or proxy.
If you still want to receive the free 10 GB, go one step back in the signup flow, temporarily disable your VPN/proxy, then continue and check whether the indicator changes to “Eligible”. If it does, complete signup to create the account and receive the free 10 GB. If it doesn’t, double-check that your VPN/proxy is actually off and try again (or try a different connection/method).
Can I turn my VPN back on after signup?
Yes. Once your account is created, you can turn your VPN back on. The check happens only once during signup, so you can keep using Filen with a VPN afterwards, nothing will be removed / rechecked.
What about referrals?
Accounts that do not receive the free 10 GB allocation are also not eligible for referral bonuses.
What if I need extra privacy during signup?
You can still create an account while using a VPN. However, if your connection is marked “Not eligible”, you won’t receive the free 10 GB at signup and will need a paid plan to add storage.
Does “Not eligible” mean my account will be limited or blocked?
No. Your account is created normally. The only difference is that the one-time free 10 GB at signup is not granted.
Can I become eligible later and get the free 10 GB afterwards?
No. The free 10 GB is a one-time grant that can only be applied during account creation. There are no re-checks later.
What exactly triggers “Not eligible”?
It usually means your connection looks like VPN/proxy/anonymization infrastructure. This can also happen on some shared or commercial networks.
I’m not using a VPN, why am I still “Not eligible”?
Some networks can look similar to anonymization infrastructure (e.g., corporate networks, campus Wi-Fi, hosting providers, carrier-grade NAT, shared/public Wi-Fi). Trying a different connection (home network or mobile hotspot) often resolves it.
Do you store my IP address or build a profile from this check?
No. The check is a one-time, context-free yes/no classification during signup and is not used for ongoing tracking or profiling.
Can I appeal or ask support to manually grant the 10 GB?
No, we don’t manually apply the free 10 GB grant or override eligibility on a per-account basis. If you believe you were classified incorrectly and suspect a bug, please contact support with your approximate signup time and connection details. We keep an eye on these reports to catch false positives early.
Does this affect paid plans?
No. Paid plans are not affected by eligibility for the free 10 GB signup grant.
In short
We’re keeping the free tier and keeping Filen private by design, but we’re also taking responsibility for preventing large-scale abuse that harms regular users and service reliability.
The eligibility indicator during signup is there to make this transparent before you create an account.
Thanks for your understanding, it helps us keep Filen reliable and fair for everyone.
-Team Filen.