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Best for Google Services
Google One
Best for Apple Devices
Apple iCloud
Best for Windows
Microsoft OneDrive
Best for Backups
Backblaze
Whether you want to back up your files, share them with other folks, or collaborate on a piece of work, cloud storage services are perhaps the easiest way to do it. Stick that old screenplay in a digital filing cabinet and pop your photos into a digital shoebox, where they will remain safe, shareable, and easily accessible.
The tricky part of uploading your digital life to the cloud is deciding which service to use, because the choice can be overwhelming. We have distilled your options to a handful of picks that will suit different people, devices, and scenarios. (But we are focused on the best cloud storage services for regular people rather than businesses.)
For more advice, check out our guides on how to back up your digital life, how to securely share files online, and our tips for cloud storage security. For local backup storage, try our Best USB Flash Drives and Best External Hard Drives guides.
Updated March 2024: We added some details to existing entries and new honorable mentions.
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Courtesy of Google
Best for Google Services
Google One
Anyone with a Google account has access to Google One, 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). Aside from being very easy to use, you get some compelling extras with Google One, including photo editing tools, and even a VPN service. You can find all the 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.
15 GB free storage, 100 GB costs $2/month or $10/year, 200 GB costs $3/month or $30/year, 2 TB costs $10/month or $100/year
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Courtesy of Apple
Best for Apple Devices
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 two-factor authentication. 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. And 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.
5 GB free storage, 50 GB for $1/month, 200 GB for $3/month, or 2 TB for $10/month (iCloud+ is also available as part of Apple One)
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Courtesy of Microsoft
Best for Windows
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 a part of Microsoft 365.
5 GB free storage, 100 GB for $2/month or $20/year (with Microsoft 365 Basic), 1 TB for $7/month or $70/year (with Microsoft 365 Personal), 6 TB for $10/month or $100/year (with Microsoft 365 Family)
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Courtesy of Backblaze
Best for Backups
Backblaze
Backblaze is a straightforward service for backing up your files from a single device. If you want something simple that you don’t need to configure, it might be the right backup service for you. It includes end-to-end encryption with private encryption keys, so only you can access your data, two-factor authentication, custom scheduling, and a 30-day version history (extendable to a year or forever for an extra fee). It works equally well on Windows or macOS and there are Android and iOS apps too.
Perhaps the best thing about Backblaze is the relatively fast upload speeds. You can also have your data shipped to you on a hard drive for $189 (returnable within 30 days for a full refund). But, because it is designed to be a simple solution for backing up everything from a single machine, it does lack some configuration options you will find with other services. There are also no folder syncing or editing tools; it’s just a backup.
$9/month or $99/year for unlimited storage
★ Alternative: IDrive (10 GB free, 100 GB for $2.95/year) is a good value alternative with some extra features that also offer private encryption keys, 2FA, and wide platform support. On the downside, it can be slow and you must watch out for overage charges if you exceed your allowance.
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Courtesy of SpiderOak
Best for Privacy
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, and 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.
100 GB for $5/month or $59/year, 250 GB for $9/month or $99/year, 1 TB for $12/month or $129/year, and 5 TB for $25/month or $279/year
★ Alternative: Tresorit (5 GB free, 1 TB for $12/month) is fast, effective, and secure. There is support for end-to-end encryption and 2FA, comprehensive platform support, and a versatile set of features. However, it is expensive, slow to upload files, and lacks collaborative options.
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Courtesy of Dropbox
Best for Extras
Dropbox
One of the early players in cloud storage, Dropbox is accessible, boasts support for just about any device, and is reliable. I’ve been using it for more than a decade, mainly as an easy way to move files from one platform to another. It has many integrations and works well for collaboration (whether file-sharing or coauthoring and editing documents), especially when collaborators all use different platforms. But the extras elevate Dropbox; it has a solid password manager and digital signature support. I also like the built-in document scanner in the mobile app.
There’s no end-to-end encryption. Dropbox promises not to look, but it has the key to decrypt your files. It may comply with a government request for access, or a rogue employee could conceivably take a peek. Dropbox is also comparatively expensive, and the free version offers limited storage.
2 GB free storage (additional 500 MB for friend referrals up to 16 GB), 2 TB for $10/month or $120/year, 3 TB for $20/month or $200/year
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Courtesy of Bublup
For Visual Folks
Bublup
Cloud storage services tend to be utilitarian, with rows of folders and file names, but Bublup takes a refreshingly different approach. Pronounced “bubble up,” this service brings some much-needed flair and pizzazz to file-sharing and backups with a customizable interface that is visually interesting. You can drag and drop files using your web browser (there are also browser extensions and mobile apps) and create a visual mix of notes, documents, images, videos, web links, and more. It’s easy to share links, and group folders are ideal for things like vacation planning and interior design. There’s also a discovery tool that bubbles up related content based on what you have saved in a folder, as well as an option to share publicly.
Bublup uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) to store your data (everything is saved multiple times in multiple US locations). Data is AES-256 encrypted in transit and at rest, and web browser connections use the Transport Layer Security (TLS). Bublup also promises not to share or sell any of your info. Sadly, there is no 2FA, but you do get login alerts.
250 MB free storage, 2 GB for $4/month, 100 GB for $8/month, 1 TB for $10/month, 5 TB for $25/month
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Courtesy of Amazon
Honorable Mentions
Alternative Cloud Services
There are so many cloud storage services out there. Here’s a quick rundown on some of the best alternatives to our top picks.
- Amazon Photos: Amazon Drive no longer exists, but you still get 5 GB of free storage for photos and videos with an Amazon account in Amazon Photos and free unlimited storage with an Amazon Prime subscription.
- Box: You get 10 GB of free storage, though there is a 250 MB file size limit. Box also supports 2FA and end-to-end encryption, and it’s good for file-sharing.
- Sync: This service offers 5 GB of free storage, and reasonably priced Pro plans offer lots of collaboration, file-sharing, and other features, including end-to-end encrypted security.
- pCloud: You can get 10 GB of storage for free, and this is one of the few cloud storage services with a lifetime plan option (500 GB for $199).
- Jottacloud: You can get unlimited storage from $10/month with this cloud storage service that promises privacy, secure backups, and green data centers located in Norway.
- Icedrive: Offering 10 GB of free storage, Icedrive is based in the United Kingdom, and has a zero-knowledge policy and Twofish encryption. It starts from $3/month for 100 GB, but it lacks collaboration features.
- Mega: You can get 20 GB for free with Mega, and there’s end-to-end encryption, cross-platform support, built-in chat, and versatile file-sharing. However, paid plans are pricey, and collaboration options are limited.
- Internxt: Billed as an affordable privacy and security-focused option, Internxt boasts a zero-knowledge policy and end-to-end AES-256 data encryption, but it is slow and lacks collaboration features.
- TeraBox: Offering a whopping 1 TB of free storage, TeraBox is a fairly barebones backup service. There are limitations and throttling on free accounts, but the premium 2 TB plan is reasonable at $3.50/month when you pay annually.
- Nextcloud: You can host this open source platform yourself, and it offers backup, file syncing, loads of collaboration tools (including video chat), and some handy integrations.
- Wasabi: This versatile business-focused cloud storage service charges a transparent $7/month per TB and boasts several advanced security tools, end-to-end encryption, multi-factor authentication, file syncing and sharing, and more.
- Boxcryptor: This isn’t a cloud storage service, but rather an encryption tool that you can use with services that lack end-to-end encryption, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive.
- Zoolz: The free tier offers only 1 GB of storage, but you can get 1 TB for $150/year, and packages go up to 50 TB. The service offers a decent range of features.
- SugarSync: There’s no free tier, though you can get a 30-day trial, and prices are steep, starting from $7.50/month for 100 GB. SugarSync is very easy to use, and you can send files by email, which is handy sometimes.
- NordLocker: Better known for its VPN service, NordLocker offers 3 GB of cloud storage for free with end-to-end encryption and offers frequent discounts on premium plans at 500 GB or 2 TB.
- Degoo: Claim 20 GB of free storage with end-to-end encryption at Degoo, though it is short on features and a little slow. Upgrades to 500 GB or 5 TB are competitively priced.
