No one knows their files as well as a podcaster. That’s why it’s important to understand the best cloud storage for your files. Whether you need space for large video files, music files, or photos, there are a few options out there that should be taken into account. We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to help you make the decision you need to make—and that includes reviews of the Best File Cloud Storage Services for your needs!
The Best File Cloud Storage Services can be difficult to choose. In this guide, we present the Best File Cloud Storage Services in terms of cost, safety, and collaboration. We cover both personal cloud storage and business file storage.
Best File Cloud Storage Services
What is Cloud Storage?
Cloud storage is a type of online storage that allows users to store files on the internet. Cloud storage can be used by businesses, individuals, and governments. Cloud storage is available on many different platforms, including Apple iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry.
What are the Different Types of Cloud Storage
Cloud storage can be divided into three main categories: physical, software-based cloud storage, and mobile cloud storage. Physical cloud storage is where you store your files on a physical device like a hard drive or SSD. Software-based cloud storage is where you store your files using software applications like Microsoft Office or Google Drive. Mobile cloud storage refers to storing your files on a phone or tablet and allowing you to access them wherever you are. This type of cloud storage is popular among students and people who travel because it allows you to save your files even when you’re not connected to the internet.
What are the Different Benefits of Cloud Storage
Some benefits of using clouds include quick turnaround time for content (because there’s no need to wait for an upload from the server), security features that make it difficult for hackers to access your data, and easier management than traditional hard drives or SSDs because there’s no need to manage multiple folders or permissions levels. Additionally, many companies now offer free plans that allow users to store up to 5GB of data in their clouds stores.
The Best Cloud Storage
- Microsoft OneDrive
Slick and accessible, OneDrive boasts loads of features. It’s a natural choice for folks who primarily work on a Windows PC and use Microsoft Office. It has a powerful search tool, excellent collaborative editing support, and solid file-sharing options (including password protection and expiry dates). There’s support for most platforms, and you can sync files across them or save space by only downloading files on demand. There’s also a personal vault with 2FA protection. OneDrive is perhaps the best option for reviewing or editing files, as you can open anything within the app. (It even allows photo editing.)
On the downside, the free storage is limited, there’s no end-to-end encryption, and the free and basic tiers have a small feature set. It’s an obvious pick if you use Microsoft Office and Skype, because it’s a good value bundled with those as part of Microsoft 365, but it’s a tougher sell as a stand-alone service.
2. Sync.com
More Details About Sync.com:
- Pricing: 5GB free, 2TB for $96 per year ($8 per month)
- Number of devices: 5 on Individual Plans
- Website: Sync.com
Pros:
- Excellent value
- Secure cloud storage
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Slower than some rivals
Sync.com is our choice for the best cloud service, hitting the top spot in many of our cloud storage lists. It’s one of the most secure cloud services out there, and it keeps improving its service and adding new features as the service matures and grows.
Security & Collaboration in One Package
To start with, Sync.com comes with zero-knowledge encryption as standard. This means that if there was a security breach or the authorities demanded access to your account, the intruder would only see scrambled data because you’re the only one holding the encryption key.
To add to this, Sync.com offers advanced sharing controls, including passwords, download limits and expiry dates for sharing links. Plus, Sync.com allows you to create and edit Microsoft Office documents (including Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents) in a privacy-friendly collaboration environment, without breaking zero-knowledge encryption.
Sync.com Pricing & Free Storage
Pricing is where Sync.com truly shines. Sync.com comes with 5GB free storage, which isn’t much, but it’s enough to try the service out. However, its paid plans are some of the cheapest around. For just $8 per month (paid annually), you get 2TB of storage space.
3. Apple iCloud
For anyone exclusively using Apple devices, iCloud is an easy choice. It is polished, simple to use, and fully integrated into macOS and iOS. It’s designed to work invisibly in the background most of the time. You can share files and edit Pages, Numbers, and Keynote files online. You can also collaborate on documents and password-protect them. There is support for 2FA. Subscribe to an iCloud+ plan, and you get iCloud Private Relay to protect your privacy when browsing, Hide My Email, which lets you create temporary email addresses instead of exposing your own, and HomeKit Secure Video, which you will want if you have a HomeKit security camera or video doorbell.
While it is compatible with Windows, there is no Android support for iCloud. Although it has improved, iCloud feels bare-bones compared to most other cloud storage services. (The web interface doesn’t even have a search option.) File versioning is limited to Apple’s productivity app files, and end-to-end encryption is limited, though Apple’s security is generally sound.
4. pCloud
More Details About pCloud:
- Pricing: 10GB free, 2TB for $95.88 per year ($7.99 per month)
- Number of devices: Unlimited
- Website: pCloud.com
Pros:
- Excellent value
- Choice of encryption levels
- Clever virtual drive
- EU servers available
Cons:
- Zero-knowledge encryption isn’t free
- No document integration
You’ll often see us praise pCloud in our cloud storage reviews, and it’s not hard to see why. It has a number of unique features wrapped in a sleek and secure package. Plus, it offers great pricing, putting it alongside Sync.com.
Top-Shelf Media & Sharing Capabilities
pCloud is a great option for media lovers. That’s thanks to features offered in the embedded pCloud music player, which automatically crates playlists by artist, album or folder. Its video player is also fairly advanced, even letting you change playback speed and convert video files to other formats.
If you’re running out of media storage space on your device, pCloud’s virtual drive will come in handy. pCloud can mount a virtual drive on your device (similar to Local Disk (C:)) which uses your cloud storage instead of your hard drive’s storage.
If you’re a creator that loves to post on social media, pCloud lets you back up images that you previously uploaded to your socials as part of its backup feature. This feature also lets you back up your entire device to the cloud, or even move all your files from another cloud service to pCloud.
5. Google One
Anyone with a Google account has access to Google Drive, a handy service for backing up and syncing files. It is fully integrated with Android and Chromebook devices and a natural choice if you work with Google services like Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Photos. Google Drive is slick and easy to use, with comprehensive search, version history, and several file-sharing options. You can use it via your web browser, and there are mobile and desktop apps. Data is encrypted when stored and in transit, and there is support for two-factor authentication (2FA). You can find more details about extra perks and storage options in our Google One explainer.
Unfortunately, Google Drive lacks end-to-end encryption and is not the best choice if you have privacy concerns. There’s also no option to set passwords or expiration dates on files you share via a link.
6. Icedrive
More Details About Icedrive:
- Pricing: 10GB free, 1TB for $49.99 per year ($4.17 per month)
- Number of devices: Unlimited
- Website: Icedrive.net
Pros:
- Secure Twofish algorithm
- Zero-knowledge encryption
- Preview encrypted files
Cons:
- Zero knowledge isn’t free
- Limited choice of plans
Icedrive is a new entry on our list, and it’s a provider you may not have heard of before. That’s not surprising, given it has only been in operation since 2019. It’s been making waves, though, with highly competitive pricing and some interesting features that set it apart from some of its more established rivals.
7. IDrive
If you just want a digital locker to store your files from various sources, then IDrive may be your best bet. You will find tempting introductory prices on high-capacity plans. It’s easy to use and supports most devices. With most plans, iDrive will ship you a physical external hard drive for a speedier initial backup, then transfer the data to your online account. You get a private encryption key, so iDrive cannot decrypt your files, even if compelled by law enforcement, and there is 2FA.
IDrive has limited file-sharing and collaboration support, so I don’t recommend it if either is a priority for you. The app is quite basic, and file uploads can be slow. It’s also important not to be too dazzled by the introductory price. Check the regular price first, and be aware that you need to manually turn off auto-renew and plan to move data ahead of your renewal date if you don’t intend to stay. You also need to watch out for overage charges if you exceed your allowance.
10 GB free storage, 5 TB for $7.95 for first year ($79.50 thereafter), 10 TB for $75 for first year ($100 thereafter)
8. MEGA
More Details About MEGA:
- Pricing: 20GB free, 2TB for $122 per year (around $10 per month)
- Number of devices: Unlimited
- Website: MEGA.io
Pros:
- Zero-knowledge encryption
- No U.S. servers
- Great free storage
Cons:
- Time-limited rewards
- Ownership concerns
If you’re worried about privacy with other free cloud storage providers, like Google (our number seven pick), you can go for a provider at the other end of the privacy spectrum: MEGA. Although MEGA’s colorful founder Kim Dotcom has had run-ins with the law, he’s no longer part of the company. MEGA’s focus is security, so zero-knowledge encryption is the absolute standard, with nobody but you having access to your files.
A Truly Secure Cloud Storage Service
In terms of privacy, MEGA has servers in Canada, New Zealand and Europe. They’re all locations that have reasonable privacy laws that, as you might have noticed, is exactly why no data is held on American servers.
Because MEGA uses zero-knowledge encryption, it can’t read any of the files that you store, but it does keep some of your metadata (like IP logins) to monitor access. However, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the recent report that found serious problems with MEGA’s encryption process. Still, we feel confident recommending it as an overall secure and private service.
There is also some controversy about how much of MEGA’s stock is owned by people under the influence of the Chinese government, which could be a concern for some users.
9. SpiderOak One
For security and privacy-conscious folks, SpiderOak’s One Backup is worth a look. It has a zero-trust, no-knowledge policy, so no one but you can access your data, and everything is end-to-end encrypted. Plan prices are per person but support unlimited devices and file versions. SpiderOak also uses transport layer security (TLS) for data in transit to guard against man-in-the-middle attacks. (TLS is the successor to SSL.) The service prizes security, and SpiderOak has a transparent set of policies. You will find support for Windows, Mac, or Linux, solid recovery options, file versioning, and versatile file-sharing options, including self-destructing links.
SpiderOak is relatively expensive, and there is no mobile app support. There’s no 2FA for web logins, which is an odd omission for a security-focused company. It’s vital you keep your password safe, not just because people can access your files if they get it but also because SpiderOak cannot reset it if you forget it.
10. Koofr
More Details About Koofr:
- Pricing: 10GB free, 1TB for $10.85 per month
- Number of devices: Unlimited
- Website: Koofr.eu
Pros:
- Links to other cloud accounts
- Virtual drive
- Integrates with Microsoft Office 365
Cons:
- No zero-knowledge encryption
- More expensive than some
It’s by no means a household name, but Koofr offers some features that set it apart from the other providers on our list. As a downside, Koofr isn’t the cheapest, as our Koofr review will explain. It has some very cheap plans that offer 100GB of storage or less, as well as a free 10GB plan.
Manage Multiple Cloud Storage Services
One of the most useful is the ability to link it to other cloud storage services. Currently, you can connect accounts from Dropbox, OneDrive and Google Drive, allowing you to mix and match your services in one place. Still, with other big platforms available, this is only a minor blip in a pretty unique offering from Koofr.
Once you’ve connected your accounts, you can access all your remote files at once, letting you move and copy files between each of your linked accounts, as well as search for files across all platforms. Any files stored in your other cloud accounts won’t count against your Koofr storage quota.
How to Get Started with Cloud Storage.
To get started with cloud storage, you’ll need to create an account on a website like Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure. Once you have an account, you can use it to store your files in the cloud. You can access your files anywhere, anytime, and for any purpose.
Use Cloud Storage to Store Files
Cloud storage is ideal for storing large amounts of data because it’s fast and easy to access. You can view and manage your files in any web browser or mobile app.
Manage Your Files in Cloud Storage
In order to keep your files safe and secure, you should ensure that they are stored in a locked container and backed up regularly. You can also set up security policies so that only authorized people can access your files.
Tips for Cloud Storage Use.
You can save your files in the cloud by storing them on a web-based service like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform, or Microsoft Azure. You can also use the cloud to store your files if you’re using a mobile app or browser extension that supports cloud storage.
Use the Cloud to Store Files
One of the best ways to manage and store your files in the cloud is to use an app like iCloud or Google Drive that support cloud storage. This way, you can access and store your files anywhere, even on different devices.
Manage Your Files in the Cloud
When it comes to managing your files in the cloud, it’s important to be organized and keep track of where each file is located. You can do this by creating folders for each project or folder for all of your documents, or by keeping track of which devices have access to which files.
Conclusion
Cloud Storage is a great way to store files. It can be used to store files in the cloud, or use it to manage your files in the cloud. As a result, Cloud Storage can be a great way to boost sales and reduce costs. Be sure to explore Cloud Storage options before getting started so that you can get the most out of your investment.