Best Cloud Storage

Thanks to its well-rounded offer that ticks all the boxes, IDrive is the ideal cloud storage choice for many. In addition to providing a generous amount of storage with all of its plans, IDrive includes a multitude of syncing, backup, and security features. Furthermore, this is one of the best cloud storage free options around.

Features

IDrive has almost everything you need when it comes to cloud storage. Firstly, it offers immaculate security features that guarantee the safety of your files and data. After creating an account, you can choose whether you want to use a personal private key for decryption or let IDrive handle it for you. The first option offers a higher degree of security, as you’ll be the only one capable of decrypting your files. But in case you lose or forget the key, you won’t be able to reclaim access to your account.

When it comes to syncing, IDrive may very well be the best value cloud storage because you can use it on an unlimited number of devices. You can freely sync your files across all your devices, which gives you incredible flexibility. After installing the service app, you select the folder on your local machine that you want synced, or you create a new one. File sharing is equally straightforward – you just right-click on the file or folder you wish to share and select the Share option. Unfortunately, recipients are required to set up an IDrive account. Furthermore, sharing is only an option if you’re not using a private encryption key. You cannot put up passwords for files, but you can regulate whether recipients get permission to edit files.

IDrive is also one of the best backup cloud storage options available. For starters, you can choose to back up individual folders from your device. IDrive advises users to back up most folders like My Documents, but you’re free to select which ones you wish to back up. You can also choose where to back up your folders – it can be on the cloud, another local device, or via the Express Device option. However, the truly standout feature is the disk image backup. This basically makes a copy of your entire hard drive. In case of an HDD failure, you can restore this image, which brings you back to your previous settings and OS installation.

Storage & pricing

Unfortunately, IDrive isn’t the best unlimited cloud storage option, as all of its plans have storage caps. But the service still offers enough storage to keep even the most demanding users satisfied.

There are three different plans available with IDrive: Free, Personal, and Business. The free plan gives you 5 GB of storage. There’s no credit card required, and the service is free for life – always great to see when it comes to free plans. This is definitely one of the best free cloud storage plans available.

The IDrive Personal plan has two variants. The 5 TB variant currently costs $52.12 for one year, while the 10 TB one is $74.62. Both of these are for one user only, but can be used on an unlimited number of devices. There’s an ongoing promotion at IDrive that gets you one year of the 5 TB plan for only $6.95 – a very affordable option that the competition can’t match.

The Business plan goes from 250 GB ($74.62 for the first year) to 1.25 TB ($374.62 for the first year). The business plans allow for an unlimited number of users and offer HIPAA/GDPR compliance.

Final thoughts

If you’re looking for the best private cloud storage, the low price and a plethora of security, backup, and sharing options make IDrive a prime choice for cloud storage.

Swiss-based pCloud is another very solid choice for cloud storage. While it has most of the traditional cloud features like syncing, file sharing, and backup, it really shines when it comes to storing media content. If you’re a photography buff or a music fan, pCloud could be the right choice for you.

Features

After installing the pCloud desktop software, you’ll be able to choose which folder you want synced. pCloud makes a duplicate of the folder on the cloud and begins the syncing process. Unlike some of the best business cloud storage services, pCloud makes a separate iteration of your sync folder on the cloud drive and any devices you install it on. With a paid pCloud account, you can see the previous versions of your files going back 30 days, while the free package limits you to 15 days.

When it comes to security, pCloud uses TLS encryption to protect any communication between you and its servers. pCloud also has its own high-security folder called the Crypto folder. Any files you keep here are protected by zero-knowledge encryption, meaning that not even pCloud can ever access those files. Sharing files is easy with pCloud, as you can share an unlimited number of files and folders as long as you don’t break your subscription storage limits.

This is probably the best cloud storage for videos, music, and photos. Firsty, any media files that are shared or stored through the cloud can be played via the embedded media players. The integrated audio player can be used to create playlists, and any images stored can be previewed and turned into a slideshow. It also makes your life easier by allowing you to back up media both from your mobile phone and your social media accounts.When it comes to integrations, pCloud integrates with some services, but not as many as some of the providers we’ve already reviewed. For example, you can preview Office 365 files online, but you cannot edit them.

Storage & pricing

So, how much will this best photo storage cloud cost you? pCloud has a fairly generous free plan that nets you 10 GB of free storage. Only Google Drive with its 15 GB offers more with a free plan.

When it comes to paid plans, pCloud offers both monthly and annual subscriptions. The 500 GB plan costs $47.88 per year or $175 for a lifetime, while the 2 TB one is $95.88 and $350. These prices are incredibly low and even more affordable than IDrive in the long run.

Final thoughts

While pCloud can’t compete with the big boys when it comes to storage space, syncing, or backup, it’s very affordable, and great media-oriented features earn it a place on our list.

You’re probably familiar with Google’s incredibly popular cloud storage solution: Google Drive. Chances are you’re already using it, as both Android users and anyone with a Google account gets a free package. Apart from storage, Google Drive comes with a long list of features and integrations that are constantly growing, making it one of the safest cloud storage choices around.

Features

One of the main advantages of Google Drive/Google One and why it’s on every best online storage list is its illustrious track record. Naturally, this Google product integrates with many Google services and other widely-used programs. If you’re using any of the G Suite apps and services – and you probably are – then Google Drive is the optimal choice, especially for collaboration. The same goes for Android users, as most of the services are already integrated with Google Drive.

Of course, Google Drive also enables file syncing. After installing the desktop app, a folder is chosen or created that acts like any other folder on your device. This folder will be synced in real-time as long as you’re connected to the internet. Like with any best cloud service, you can freely add or remove files in the sync folder and create subfolders.

Most files that you upload to your cloud can be converted to Google formats and then edited, making collaboration or working on the move even easier. When it comes to sync folders, the process is a two-way street. You select the folders that will constantly be uploaded to the cloud and which ones you want downloaded to each of your devices.

Besides Android and Google services, Google Drive offers many productive integrations, including Slack, which is another widely used software by businesses.

There aren’t any real downsides to using this best cloud backup storage service. But if we had to choose one weakness, it would have to be the browser-based interface. While the desktop app is far more user-friendly, we found the web browser to be a bit convoluted and hard to navigate. However, you’ll get used to it pretty quickly, and it doesn’t really impede you in any way.

Storage & Pricing

Google Drive has one of the most generous free plans around. This lifetime offer provides you with 15 GB of storage and no strings attached.

Paid personal plans are part of the Google One service with three default best cloud storage packages available: 100 GB ($1.99/mo), 200 GB ($2.99/mo), and 2 TB ($9.99/mo). This makes Google Drive one of the more affordable options, but there are definitely cheaper providers out there.

The Business plans all include extensive collaboration features, like shared calendars, team meetings, team chats, as well as priority support. These G Suite plans offer 300 GB ($6/mo for each user), while the other two get you unlimited storage if you have more than five users. If not, each user gets 1 TB. The other two business plans cost $12/mo and $25/mo per user, with the latter offering more analytics, logs, and greater management control.

Final thoughts

Those looking for the best cloud backup should definitely consider Google Drive. Its many integrations crush the competition, but there are cheaper options available.

Any cloud storage that manages to stay popular next to Apple, Google, and Microsoft definitely deserves a closer look. While other companies were getting ready to board the cloud train, Dropbox was winning over users. Thanks to its immense popularity, Dropbox integrates with almost any app and features its own suite of collaborative apps.

Features

Dropbox was launched in 2008 and has since become a feature-rich and trusted provider. It’s considered the best cloud storage for music, videos, or private data. All files stored with Dropbox are protected by 256-bit AES encryption. This is considered to be the industry standard in file protection and will keep your storage space safe from malicious third parties. On top of that, there’s two-factor authentication via SMS or through the company’s authenticator app.

Like most cloud storage services, Dropbox operates mainly by creating a sync folder on your computer. You can choose its location, move the folder around, and make sub-folders. But you can’t turn existing folders into sync ones. Beyond syncing, Dropbox also offers to back up your files. It covers the usual trio of folders most at risk from system errors and shutdowns: Desktop, Documents, and Downloads. Dropbox isn’t really the best cloud photo storage solution, since it doesn’t back up the Pictures folder.

Dropbox has its own proprietary suite of collaboration apps called Papers, which acts similarly to G Suite and Office 365. Dropbox Papers is only available in the web browser and allows you to create documents where videos, images, and audio can be added. While it won’t match G Suite/Office 365 in a head-to-head fight, we found Papers to be extremely useful for quick online collaboration.

Dropbox is available on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and even on Kindle. Furthermore, it integrates with the most popular apps and services, including the Office 365 suite. The long list of integrations that’s constantly expanding makes Dropbox the best cloud storage for small business owners.

Storage & pricing

Dropbox has a free cloud storage plan that gives you 2 GB of storage, enables you to back up certain folders, and provides you with automatic camera backup if you have the desktop app installed. While it’s great that there’s a free plan, it’s pretty lackluster when compared to what other providers offer with their free packages.

The Plus plan costs $11.99/mo and gives you 2 TB of storage, while Professional is $19.99/mo and nets you 3 TB. Both have similar core features, with Professional giving you greater admin controls over access and longer file history.

Final thoughts

You really can’t go wrong with Dropbox. While it doesn’t have the best free plan around, nor is it the cheapest cloud storage you can get, its sheer number of features and integrations make it a safe choice.

What Google Drive does for G Suite and Android users, Microsoft OneDrive does for Windows lovers. A strong rival to both Google Drive and Apple iCloud, Microsoft OneDrive has strong integrations with Microsoft services. While it’s made by Microsoft, it works perfectly on non-Windows systems as well. In addition to storage and syncing, OneDrive also provides additional tools to keep your online files secure.

Features

While Google Drive is the best cloud storage for Android and G Suite, OneDrive is the equivalent for Microsoft users. It comes preinstalled on newer versions of Windows 10. This enables Windows users and others to use the free plan with no credit card and for an unlimited period of time.

Naturally, OneDrive works great with any program from the Office 365 package. If you’re heavily reliant on software from this package, OneDrive is a natural choice. One of the most valuable integrations is with AutoCad – a highly popular program for designers and architects.

In addition to providing free online storage, OneDrive also has backup and sync features. When it comes to sync, it differs slightly from other providers, as it doesn’t allow you to choose which folder you want to sync. It sets a OneDrive folder on your local machine, and only that one – and any subfolders you create – can be synced. While this can be slightly annoying, it doesn’t pose a significant problem.

Fortunately, OneDrive allows you to quickly share files and folders you have in cloud storage. Furthermore, it doesn’t require the recipient to register, which is especially useful for sending files to business associates.

OneDrive is also the best cloud storage for photos or for storing any sensitive files, thanks to its recent addition of personal vaults. Along with the standard encryption, the vaults provide additional security for your files by adding multi-step verification.

OneDrive is a bit lackluster in the backup department. Just like with syncing, you can’t choose which folders to back up, but it does offer to back up the Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders.

Storage & pricing

Similarly to Google Drive, OneDrive also comes with free storage preinstalled on Windows systems. However, it only provides 5 GB for free. If you subscribe to Office 365, you get 1 TB of free cloud storage, as well as advanced protection.

There are three options available within Microsoft’s best home cloud storage pricing plan, which is aimed at individual users and families. There’s the OneDrive 100 GB option, which costs $1.99/mo. Then there’s Microsoft 365 Personal ($69.99/year), which gets you 1 TB of storage and includes free Skype and Office software access. The Microsoft 365 Family package is designed for up to six users with 1 TB of storage each. All of the plans include the aforementioned syncing, sharing, and storage features.

For Business plans, the price goes from $5/user/month to $12.50/user/month. Each business plan gets you 1 TB of storage per user.

Final thoughts

Whether you’re an avid Windows user or you’re looking for the best cloud storage for Mac, OneDrive is a great choice. However, its free plan isn’t as generous as Google Drive, but those looking for great integration with Office apps should look no further.