An Uploadcare Alternative Priced by Storage

Step by step

1. Create an app

   Sign in at api.rapidfile.cc, create an app and copy its secret key. The key is shown once, so save it on your server.

2. Request an upload

   From your server, send the file name, size, type and access setting. The API returns an upload address valid for one hour.

3. Upload the file

   Send the file to that address from the browser or a script. Large files are uploaded in parts, and the response tells you where each part goes.

4. Receive webhooks

   Set a webhook URL for your app. Rapidfile sends signed notices when files are uploaded or deleted.

Uploadcare is a developer platform for file uploads, storage, delivery and image processing. Its operations-based model suits apps that transform a lot of images, and its enterprise options are aimed at larger teams. People look for an alternative for different reasons: they want to store and serve files without counting operations, their free plan is limited to personal use, or they need larger free storage for a project that is not yet earning money. Rapidfile's Upload API is aimed at the storage side. It persists files for your app, issues signed upload addresses, supports private files and sends webhooks, with paid tiers priced by storage rather than by operation.

The short version

Uploadcare figures are from Uploadcare's website as of October 2026. Plans change — check their site.

Where Uploadcare is the stronger pick

• Image and video processing. Uploadcare's paid plans include content-aware crop and resize, automated image optimisation, document conversion and asynchronous video processing. If your product depends on those, Rapidfile does not replace them.
• Moderation and security checks. Its Pro plan lists auto-moderation and malicious content filtering. Rapidfile's Upload API does not offer those as named features, so you would add a separate check.
• Custom domains. The Business plan includes a custom upload domain and a custom CDN CNAME, which helps when your uploads must come from your own hostname.
• Team seats. Pro includes three team members and Business includes four, so a small team can share the account without extra cost.

Where Rapidfile fits better

• Storage at a lower entry price. Starter is $5 per month for 100 GB with 4 GB files. Uploadcare's Pro plan is $66 per month billed yearly for 10 GB, and its maximum file size there is 1 GB. The comparison is not identical, but for storage-heavy work the difference is large. See the Upload API pricing page.
• No operations count. Uploadcare's free plan gives 1,000 operations a month, and paid plans count operations against their quota. Rapidfile's Upload API is priced on storage tiers and file-size caps, so a busy week of uploads does not change the bill in the same way.
• Larger files on the way up. Growth allows 16 GB files and Scale allows 50 GB files, with multipart uploads up to 50 GB. Uploadcare's Business plan lists a 10 GB maximum.
• A free tier you can use from day one. The free plan allows 512 MB files and 3 apps. Check the terms for your project, because Uploadcare's free plan is limited to personal use.
• Private files and a JavaScript SDK. Private files use signed URLs that last up to 7 days. The SDK sends files from the browser while your server keeps the secret key, and an MCP server lets AI agents work with the same files.

Operations versus storage

Uploadcare's model counts operations, which are the units used for transformations and other processing. Its free plan allows 1,000 a month, and Pro allows 5,000. That model fits apps that process many images. It is harder to predict for apps that mostly store and serve files, because the number of operations depends on how the app is used.

Rapidfile's Upload API is simpler to forecast. You choose the storage tier that covers what you keep, and each tier caps the size of each file. You will not need to estimate processing units to know your costs. If you do need processing, keep it in your own worker and upload the results.

Before you compare the two, check how many operations your app runs in a typical month using your own usage figures, then compare that with the allowance on each plan. An app that only stores and serves files will usually find the storage tier is the number that matters.

Moving from Uploadcare

Migration is a manual job. Plan a script that lists your files in the old service, downloads each one, uploads it through the Upload API using your secret key and records the new file ID next to the old one. Then update your database or your templates to point at the new URLs. Run the script on a copy first, check a sample of files, and keep the old service running until every link has been switched. Confirm the current file-size limits and tier details before you start, because they change.

Which one should you use?

Choose Uploadcare if you need image and video processing, moderation or a custom upload domain in one service, and you can afford its operations-based plans. Choose Rapidfile's Upload API if you mostly store and serve files, want storage priced by tier, need files larger than Uploadcare's free and Pro limits, and will handle any processing in your own code. Both give you signed uploads, webhooks and private files, so the deciding factor is usually the processing you need.

FAQ

Updated 2026-10-20