| Feature | FAT | FAT32 | exFAT | NTFS | ReFS |
| Maximum volume size | 4 GB | 32 GB | 128 PB | 256 TB | 4.7 ZB (zettabytes) |
| Maximum file size | 4 GB | 4 GB | 16 EB (exabytes) | 18 EB (exabytes) | 18 EB (exabytes) |
| Maximum filename length | 8.3 characters | 255 characters | 255 characters | 255 characters | 255 characters |
| Maximum cluster size | 64 KB | 32 KB | 32 MB | 2048 KB | 64 KB |
| File compression | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| File encryption | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Permissions | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |