In short: The Egnyte Platform is a cloud content platform for file sharing, collaboration and governance. It comes in four editions, Starter, Intelligent File Systems (IFS), Elite and Ultimate, each adding workflow, AI and security features. It is licensed per power user and billed monthly, on rolling or 12-month terms (Starter is 12-month only), with standard user five-packs and extra storage as add-ons.
What the Egnyte Platform is
The Egnyte Platform is the core Egnyte subscription. It gives your organisation one cloud repository for business files, reached through the web, mobile apps for iOS and Android, and a desktop app for Windows and Mac that presents the cloud as a drive without needing a VPN. Users can sync selected folders for offline use, with changes uploaded when the connection returns, and global file locking and version history stop people overwriting each other's work.
Sharing is controlled from the centre: you set folder permissions, decide what can be shared externally and how, and see who accessed what. Egnyte supports Active Directory and single sign-on, offers data residency options, and integrates with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace for co-editing.
What is included in each edition
Each edition builds on the one below it.
| Capability | Starter | IFS | Elite | Ultimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud file server replacement with desktop, web and mobile access | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Controlled sharing, granular permissions, MFA, SSO and a unified admin dashboard | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Simple review and approval workflows | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-step workflows with e-signature | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| PDF annotation and editing | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| AI document summaries and question answering | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Insider risk management and external sharing detection | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| AI Assistant, AI Search and AI Workflows | Yes | Yes | ||
| Ransomware and suspicious login detection, content lifecycle policies, dynamic watermarking, auto-remediation | Yes | Yes | ||
| Sensitive data and document type classification, DLP integrations | Yes | |||
| Ransomware detection with snapshot recovery | Yes | |||
| Customer-managed encryption keys | Yes |
The Starter and IFS rows come from the channel edition descriptions; the Elite and Ultimate rows follow Egnyte's published plan comparison, where Elite also includes everything in its Enterprise Lite plan. A blank cell means a capability is not listed for that edition, not that it can never be added. Features can move between tiers, so we confirm exactly what your edition includes when we quote.
How the Egnyte Platform is licensed
The Platform is licensed per power user, and the organisation sits on one edition. Egnyte has three user types: administrators; power users, typically your employees, with full use of the web, desktop and mobile apps; and standard users, typically clients, suppliers and partners, who can reach shared folders through the browser or mobile app but cannot use the desktop app, Storage Sync, link sharing or directory sign-in. The options on our account are:
| Option | Unit | Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Per power user | Monthly billing on a 12-month commitment |
| Intelligent File Systems (IFS) | Per power user | Rolling monthly, or monthly on a 12-month commitment |
| Elite | Per power user | Rolling monthly, or monthly on a 12-month commitment |
| Ultimate | Per power user | Rolling monthly, or monthly on a 12-month commitment |
| Standard User 5-packs (IFS, Elite or Ultimate) | Five standard users | Monthly |
| Additional Storage (Starter, IFS or Elite) | Per terabyte | Monthly |
| Trial | Per user | 13 days on every edition, converting to paid unless cancelled |
On a 12-month commitment user numbers can rise but not fall until the term ends; rolling monthly terms give flexibility while you migrate. Upgrades run upwards: Starter to IFS, Elite or Ultimate, IFS to Elite or Ultimate, and Elite to Ultimate. Prices depend on edition, users, storage and term, so ask us for a quote. See also per-user vs per-device licensing.
Requirements and deployment
Egnyte is a cloud service, so there is nothing to install on a server. Users need a supported browser, the mobile app or the Egnyte desktop app on Windows or Mac. Egnyte's Migration App moves files, folders and their permissions from an on-premises share reachable by a UNC path or mapped drive; users and groups must be created in Egnyte first, and Egnyte advises against moving or renaming large data sets on the source while a migration runs.
If an office needs a local copy of files for speed or resilience, Egnyte Storage Sync adds a hybrid option on IFS, Elite or Ultimate. Design and engineering firms can add Project Controls and the Specialized File Handler, and Elite and Ultimate can take the Egnyte Co-Pilot AI add-on.
Who it suits and how we help
Starter suits small teams that simply want the file server gone and are happy with a 12-month term. IFS is the step up for firms that run approvals and sign-offs on documents and want AI summaries. Elite and Ultimate are for organisations that hold sensitive or regulated data and need to show who can see it, spot ransomware early and recover quickly.
We help you pick the edition, map your existing permissions, run the trial and migration, and keep the licence count right as people join and leave. Compare alternatives such as Acronis Cyber Files Cloud and Google Workspace, or contact us for a quote.
How Forever Systems supplies your software licences
Forever Systems Ltd supplies business software subscriptions to UK organisations from one account, with one monthly invoice and a UK team who know the products.
- The right edition first time: we check what you need before you buy, so you are not paying for features you will never use
- Monthly or annual terms where the vendor offers them, and help timing renewals and commitments
- Licence changes handled for you: add or remove users, upgrade editions and true-up without starting a new contract
- Deployment and support from engineers who run these products every day, not just a reseller account
- Consolidated billing and renewal reminders so nothing lapses unexpectedly
We work with businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations of all sizes.
Need a licence quote or a second opinion on your renewal?
Tell Forever Systems what you need and we will come back to you by email with options, not a hard sell.
Contact usFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Egnyte Elite and Ultimate?
In Egnyte's plan comparison, Elite adds the AI Assistant, AI Search and AI Workflows, ransomware detection, lifecycle policies, dynamic watermarking and auto-remediation. Ultimate adds sensitive data and document type classification, ransomware detection with snapshot recovery, DLP integrations and customer-managed encryption keys.
What does IFS stand for in Egnyte?
Intelligent File Systems. It is the edition above Starter and adds multi-step workflows with e-signature, PDF annotation and editing, AI document summaries and insider risk detection.
What is the difference between a power user and a standard user in Egnyte?
Power users are your employees, with full use of the web, desktop and mobile apps. Standard users are external partners who can reach shared folders through the browser or mobile app but cannot use the desktop app, create share links or use Storage Sync.
Can I add storage to Egnyte?
Yes. Additional storage is available per terabyte for the Starter, IFS and Elite editions, billed monthly.
Can I change Egnyte edition later?
Yes, you can upgrade: Starter to IFS, Elite or Ultimate, IFS to Elite or Ultimate, or Elite to Ultimate. On a 12-month commitment user numbers cannot be reduced until the term ends, so we check timing before any change.