The Best Cloud Storage Providers in 2024 ComparedTop 10 picks for cloud storage, all offer a free tier allowing you to see if they're right for you before handing over any hard-earned cash.
Given the multitude of cloud storage providers out there, you must take care in choosing a provider who will offer the maximum amount of low-cost storage and bandwidth, while still keeping your data safe. This list represents our top 10 picks for cloud storage. All offer a free tier allowing you to see if they're right for you before handing over any hard-earned cash.
Drop Box Cloud Storage
Dropbox is a file hosting service operated by American company Dropbox, Inc., headquartered in San Francisco, California, that offers cloud storage, file synchronization, personal cloud, and client software.
Dropbox Business is the secure file-sharing and storage solution that employees love and IT admins trust.
Key Features
- Free: 2GB Storage
- Free: Android, iOS, Windows, Mac OSX clients
- Free: Web interface
- Plus: Everything in Free plus
- Plus: 1 TB (1,000 GB) of space
- Plus: Offline folders on mobile
- Plus: Remote device wipe
- Plus: Priority email support
- Professional: Everything in Plus as well as
- Professional: Smart Sync: save hard disk space
- Professional: Showcase: present and track your work
- Professional: Advanced sharing controls
- Professional: Full text search
- Professional: 120-day version history
- Professional: Priority chat support
Prices and Quota
- Free: 2 GB
- Plus: $7.99 / month for 1 TB
- Professional: $19.99 / month for 1 TB
Google Drive Cloud Storage
Google Drive is a file storage and synchronization service developed by Google. Launched on April 24, 2012, Google Drive allows users to store files on their servers, synchronize files across devices, and share files.
Drive starts you with 15 GB of free Google online storage, so you can keep photos, stories, designs, drawings, recordings, videos - anything.
Your files in Drive can be reached from any mobile phone, tablet, or computer. So wherever you go, your files follow.
Key Features
- Free: Windows, Android, iOS and Mac clients
- Free: Powerful web interface
- Free: Access to Googles services including Docs, Sheets, Gmail etc.
- Free: Backup and Sync mobile devices
- Free: Unlimited Photo backup from devices subject to data compression and resolution limits (currently 16MP)
Prices and Quota
- Free: 15 GB
- 100 GB: $1.59 / month for 100 GB
- 1 TB: $7.99 for 1 TB
OneDrive Cloud Storage
OneDrive is a file hosting service operated by Microsoft as part of its suite of Office Online services. It allows users to store files as well as other personal data like Windows settings or BitLocker recovery keys in the cloud.
Use your phone, tablet or computer to continue what you started, wherever you happen to be. Any changes you make will be updated on all of your devices.
Key Features
- Advanced sync technology
- Mobile apps
- Web-based access
- Search and discover
- Photos
- Edit and annotate files
- Files On-Demand
- Native integration into Windows 10's file explorer
Prices and Quota
- Free: 5 GB
- 50 GB: $1.99 / month for 5 GB
iCloud Cloud Storage
iCloud is a cloud storage and cloud computing service from Apple Inc. launched on October 12, 2011. As of February 2016, the service had 782 million users.
iCloud is built into every Apple device. That means all your stuff - photos, files, notes and more - is safe, up-to-date and available wherever you are. And it works automatically, so all you have to do is keep doing what you love. Everyone gets 5GB of free iCloud storage to start, and it's easy to add more at any time.
iCloud securely stores your photos, videos, documents, music, apps, and more, and keeps them updated across all your devices. It lets you easily share photos, calendars, locations, and more with friends and family. You can even use iCloud to help you find your device if you lose it.
Prices and Quota
- Free: 5 GB (with purchase of Apple devices)
- Most Popular: $0.79/month for 50 GB
- Lots of Photos: $2.49/month for 200 GB
- Great for Families: $6.99/month for 2 TB
Box Cloud Storage
Although more geared towards businesses, Box does offer personal plans too. As with Dropbox, you can install the desktop app for syncing between your hard drive and the cloud.
Key Features
- Easy and secure file sharing
- Preview files without download
- Automatic version control
- Shorten review cycles
- Security you control
Prices and Quota
- Free: 10 GB (250MB File Size Limit)
- : $8 / month for 100 GB (5 GB file upload limit)
Amazon Drive Cloud Storage
Amazon Drive offers secure cloud storage for your photos, files, videos, music and more. Back up your files to the cloud and know that all of your documents are safe. Once your files are uploaded, you can access them from your computer, your phone or your tablet, all with the Amazon Drive app. Amazon Drive lets you free up space on your phone, tablet and computer, by backing up all of your documents to one secure place. Sign in to Amazon Drive on the web, or through the iOS and Android apps, and save, share, organise and store all of your stuff.
Prices and Quota
- Free: 5 GB
- 100 GB Plan: $11.99 / year for 100 GB
- 1TB Plan: $59.99 / year for 1 TB
Flickr Cloud Storage
Flickr is probably the world's best-known photo-hosting site. More like a social network than a storage facility, its focus is on sorting and sharing your photos, though you can use it for just backing up if you so wish.
Anyone with a (free) account gets 1TB of space. One benefit of Google Photos is there's no limit to the resolution of the images and videos you upload, but it is only for photos and videos.
Prices and Quota
- Free: 1 TB (photos and videos only)
NextCloud Cloud Storage
Where are your photos and documents? With Nextcloud you pick a server of your choice, at home, in a data centre or at a provider. And that is where your files will be. Nextcloud runs on that server, protecting your data and giving you access from your desktop or mobile devices. Through Nextcloud you also access, sync and share your existing data on that FTP drive at school, a Dropbox or a NAS you have at home.
Key Features
- Share with others on your terms
- Security first
- Mobile and desktop clients
- Calendar and Contacts
- Secure audio and video calls
- Build your own website!
- View and edit documents with Collabora
- Tracking changes to your files
- External storage, securely encrypted
Prices and Quota
- Free: Open Source, Self Hosted Solution
