If you are still trying to decide what to look for, picking the right cloud storage provider for your needs might take time and effort. Because of this, we’ve included a primer on cloud storage and why you would want to use it to back up your data.
You can choose from various pricing structures, as the best cloud storage services typically provide free, personal, premium, and business tiers. You can avoid much stress if you lose or delete your files using a cloud storage and backup service.
We’ll discuss paid plans, such as the top business cloud storage. However, there are excellent free options as well. Even if they don’t run a business, individuals can benefit greatly from a premium plan’s additional features and enhanced security.
Google cloud storage
Android and Google Workspace are compatible with Google’s cloud storage. If these platforms are a part of your workflow, Google Drive offers a feature-rich, affordable native backup-and-sync option. We loved Google Drive’s easy-to-use user interface. But it goes beyond cloud storage. This web-based interface can create, edit, store, view, and sync files using Google Workspace’s Google Photos, Docs, Sheets, and Slides. New users of Google Drive receive 15GB of free storage. This plan is yours indefinitely, though you can upgrade to one with more storage. The 100GB premium plans for Google One start at $1.99 per month. You can get 30TB of additional storage for $299.99 per month.
Dropbox
Dropbox is a fantastic cloud storage option. It offers a great user experience, integrates with various other services, and costs effectively. Whether or whether the other person has Dropbox, sending and receiving large files is a breeze. Unfortunately, external and network drives cannot be backed up with Dropbox since it only keeps data transferred to your device’s Dropbox folder. That’s what sets it apart from rivals like IDrive. There is encryption for all files stored and in motion, but no end-to-end encryption. Account safety is ensured with two-factor authentication. There are two individual plans plus a free 2GB option. There is a $9.99 monthly fee for the Plus Plan, which provides 2TB of storage and 2GB of file transfers. The $16.99 Family Plan allows six people to store and transmit data. Dropbox is still a viable alternative for cloud storage.
Sync
Sync is a cheap cloud storage service that is easy to use, quick, and safe. You can increase your free cloud storage space from 5 GB to 27 GB by inviting friends, making new folders, and accomplishing other tasks. Sync’s paid subscriptions are billed annually, but you can cancel within the first 30 days if you change your mind. For $8 a month, the Solo Basic plan provides 2 TB of secure space and sophisticated sharing features. For an additional $20 a month, you can upgrade to Sync’s Solo Professional plan, which boosts your storage capacity to 6TB and adds unique branding and advanced sharing options. Contrary to popular belief, sync is a cloud storage service that only synchronizes a single folder’s worth of data between your local PCs and the cloud. This restriction might put some people off, but others could find the service’s lack of bells and whistles appealing. You can use the Vault function to keep files in the cloud that you don’t wish to share across devices.
Zoolz
Zoolz provides reliable cloud storage supported by the AWS cloud platform. It complies with several regulatory frameworks, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It offers top-notch security features, including complete 256-bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption. You may test out the service risk-free with a 50GB trial that’s completely functioning. The cost of 1 terabyte of storage is $14.99 per month, while 50 TB is $679.99 per month. Annual payments qualify for considerable price reductions. Unlimited backups on the server and external drive connections are included in all business plans. Users can also access first-rate live support round-the-clock and a detailed knowledge base.
Microsoft OneDrive
For users of Windows 10/11, Microsoft 365, macOS, Android, and iOS, Microsoft OneDrive is the finest cloud storage option. It allows Xbox players to save their save data on the cloud safely. The platform offers ample storage space, straightforward interfaces, seamless Microsoft 365 integration, and robust safety measures. After initial configuration, the operation is as described with no further input from the user. Files stored in the cloud can be edited without downloading them beforehand. OneDrive is compatible with both in-house and external applications like Outlook and AutoCAD. Using two-factor authentication and Bitlocker encryption, Personal Vault keeps sensitive data safe. Microsoft 365 users get 1TB of free storage space in OneDrive. If you’re not, you can try it out with a 5GB capacity. Add 100GB to your plan for only $1.99 per month.
pCloud
pCloud is one of the few cloud storage services to offer a lifetime subscription, with 500GB for $175 or 2TB for $350.00. Prices for the annual plans range from $47.18 to $95.88. A free ten gigabyte (GB) plan is available, and additional storage can be purchased by the month. There’s also a family plan that accommodates four people. All plans allow for the sharing and collaboration of files and data backup from several external sources. All data is protected using TLS/SSL and 256-bit AES encryption. Robust Android and iOS apps for mobile management and automatic social media uploads exist. Extensions for Opera, Chrome, and Firefox browsers are offered, and support is provided for Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, and Mac. However, it might benefit from a better UI, a document editor, and the ability to collaborate with others.
Icedrive
Icedrive’s affordable costs and innovative features have garnered media attention. AES 256-bit encryption, which is the standard in the industry, is not used by Icedrive. Instead, Twofish is used. Around the turn of the century, Twofish took part in the Advanced Encryption Standard competition. In premium accounts, data is encrypted so that even the provider cannot decrypt it. Unlike other zero-knowledge providers, Icedrive can decrypt files as they are streamed to your computer. Icedrive’s privacy policies and 2FA security measures are among the most stringent in the industry. Since Icedrive is a UK company, it must comply with the General Data Protection Regulation. One of Icedrive’s biggest draws is its affordable price. The monthly cost of 1TB at the annual rate is $4.17. If you require more space, the next pricing tier offers 5TB of cloud file storage for $15/month (for annual subscribers). That’s a hefty increase, but you get lifetime access.
IDrive
IDrive is unlike other cloud storage options because it also serves as an online backup. It supports file syncing and sharing, disk imaging, and courier data retrieval. Any folder on your device can be designated as a sync folder and relocated. If you only want to sync the smaller files, you can use selective sync to minimize time and data transfer. Although you can set permissions on share links, file sharing is simpler. While IDrive primarily focuses on online backup, the service also excels in cloud storage. IDrive is a fantastic option for automatic device backups because you won’t need to manually set anything you want to safeguard into a sync folder. IDrive provides a large amount of space at an affordable price. IDrive’s two individual plans offer a lot of storage space. Priced at $6.63 and $8.29 monthly, respectively, they offer 5TB and 10TB of storage space.
Box
Box may be a business-oriented cloud storage company, but it provides individual customers with two options (free and premium). Box’s intended application in the corporate world means it’s jam-packed with useful extras. There is a comprehensive set of capabilities, including robust choices for collaboration, two-factor authentication, note-taking, and project management. Private key management, the primary condition for zero-knowledge privacy, is not provided by default (we’ll prove ourselves out). Box’s pricing for this premium function is private; you’ll need to contact the firm to determine how much it costs. The first is completely free, granting you access to Box’s core functions and 10GB of storage space. The premium plan is a horrible deal if you need some extra space. For about $14/month or $120/year, you can get 100GB of storage space.
Koofr
Koofr’s unique features make it stand out from the competition. It offers a free tier with 10GB of storage and paid tiers with either 100GB or less. Connecting it to your other cloud services is a great feature. You may now integrate your Dropbox, OneDrive, and Google Drive accounts into a convenient location. However, considering the prevalence of major alternative platforms, this is merely a hiccup in an otherwise novel offering from Koofr. You can search for files across all platforms, move and copy files between your linked accounts, and more once you’ve connected your accounts. Your Koofr storage will remain the same amount of data you have in other cloud services. Prices are in Euros, so be aware that your actual cost may be slightly different each month.