Best cloud storage in 2024 (2024)

The best cloud storage allows you to free up space on your smartphone, laptop and other devices as well as store an extra copy of your most important files in the cloud.

Most of the best cloud storage providers offer a range of plans from free to personal to premium and business to give you plenty of options to choose from. While a free tier is a great way to test out a particular service, a personal or premium plan makes more sense if you have lots of files you want to store online. Besides cloud storage, you might also want to consider the best cloud backup services since they provide a simple, automated way to back up your computer.

Even though there are some great free cloud storage options, these are the best cloud storage services worth paying for based on our testing and reviews and many of them also fall under the best cloud storage for business.

The best cloud storage deals, right now

The Quick List

The best cloud storage overall

IDrive takes first in our list of the best cloud storage providers, and for good reason. It offers great value-for-money, provides highly secure cloud storage solutions, and has an option for every user.

The basic free-forever plan only supports 5GB of storage, but this should be enough for you to test it. Personal plans that support one user and unlimited devices cost $59.62 a year ($79.50 on renewal) for 5TB or $74.62 a year ($99.50 on renewal) for 10TB of storage.IDrive is also currently offering 10TB for a hugely discounted price of $3.98 for the first year — one of the most affordable high-capacity plans available, though you need to prove you're using a competitor as part of the signup.

All plans can be used on various desktop and mobile operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. You can set up continuous data backup if required, and it’s even possible to create a copy of external hard drives and NAS (network-attached storage) devices.

We found that files can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, and file sharing is extremely easy. All plans come with the innovative IDrive Express feature, which enables you to back up files and data to a physical storage device, which is then mailed to your chosen address. This is available once per year with the Personal plans.

Read our full IDrive personal cloud backup review, and our IDrive business review.

*All prices are based on undiscounted rates of the cheapest available annual plan. Monthly plans are only available via Business packags with 1.25TB or more, starting at $49.95 a month.
**Entry-level Team and Business plans shown: plans go up to 100TB and 100 users / 50TB and 50 users.
***IDrive is offering 10TB storage at a hugely discounted $3.98 for the first year

Best cloud storage for collaboration

Google’s cloud storage walks hand in hand with Android and Google Workspace. If these platforms are already a part of your workflow, Google Drive offers a feature-rich, affordable native backup-and-sync solution.

While not as barebones as some of the other options listed, we found Google Drive’s UI to be clean and intuitive. It is worth remembering, however, that it's more than cloud storage. It comes with companion apps including Google Photos, Docs, Sheets, and Slides—together known as Google Workspace—meaning you can create, edit, store, view, and synchronize files via this unified, web-based interface.

When you open a new account, Google offers you free storage of up to 15GB on Google Drive. This plan is yours to keep forever, and if you wish to upgrade to a higher storage plan down the road, you can do so. The paid plans, offered under the banner of Google One, start at $1.99 a month for 100GB. From there, you can upgrade storage to a maximum of 30TB for $299.99 a month.

The web interface, while very attractive, isn’t the easiest to use. This problem is easily solved however by downloading the Google Drive desktop application for Windows and macOS. This file explorer-based drag-and-drop system is not dissimilar to Microsoft OneDrive, which lets you back up, store, modify, and delete files directly from your desktop.

Read our full Google Drive review, our Drive Enterprise review, and our Google Cloud review.

Best cloud storage for file sharing

Dropbox is a fantastic choice for personal cloud storage. Plans are affordable, the user interface is impressive, and it integrates well with many third-party platforms.

It is a leader in file sharing, with several features helping to make it easy to share large files with others, whether they use Dropbox or not.However, one limitation we found is that you can’t back up external or network drives — Dropbox only stores what you transfer to the Dropbox folder on your device. This isn’t a major issue, but differentiates it from competitors like IDrive.

Security is impressive without being exceptional, with all files are encrypted at rest and in transit, though there is no end-to-end encryption. Accounts can also be secured with two-factor authentication (2FA).

It has a free plan with 2GB of storage, as well as two other personal plans. Of these, the Plus Plan is $9.99 a month for 2TB of storage, and enables you to send files up to 2GB per transfer. The Family Plan has the same storage and transfer capabilities, but for six individual users, for $16.99 a month. Despite its limitations, we think you could do much worse than Dropbox for cloud storage.

Read our Dropbox review and our Dropbox Business review.

Best cloud storage for security

Sync is a simple, fast and secure cloud storage service that will appeal to those on a budget.

In fact, you can get 5GB of free cloud storage with the service but by inviting friends, creating new folders and completing other tasks, you can bump this up all the way to 27GB. If you do want to sign up for a paid subscription though, all of Sync's plans are paid annually but there is a 30-day-money-back guarantee.

The service's Solo Basic plan costs $8 per month and gets you 2TB of secure storage along with advanced sharing options. Sync's Solo Professional plan increases the storage limit to 6TB and also includes custom branding along with advanced sharing features for $20 per month.

Unlike other cloud storage services, Sync as the name suggests syncs a single folder and the data it contains between your computers and the cloud. This limitation may be a deal breaker for some while others will appreciate the service's simplicity. There's also a Vault feature for files you want to store in the cloud that aren't synced with your other devices.

In terms of security, Sync provides end-to-end encryption for all of your files both in rest and while in transit. As for native clients, the service offers desktop apps for Windows and Mac as well as mobile apps for iOS and Android though you can also use its web interface to transfer files. Sync may not have the same level of polish as Google Drive or Dropbox but it does the basics really well with plenty of online storage space for the price.

Read our full Sync.com review.

Best cloud storage for backup

Zoolz offers high-quality cloud storage backed by the Amazon Web Services (AWS) ecosystem. It boasts excellent security, including full 256-bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption, and compliance with various legislative frameworks including HIPPA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and GDPR (the General Data Protection Regulation).

A fully-functional free trial is available with 50GB, enabling you to try the service before committing. Prices range from $14.99 a month for 1TB of storage to $674.99 a month for 50TB. Significant discounts are available with annual payments.

All business plans support unlimited users, unlimited server backups, and unlimited external drive connections. Users also have access to excellent 24/7 live support and a comprehensive help center.

The Zoolz desktop interface is neat and easy to navigate, and there are also mobile apps available for managing files on the go. Unfortunately, we found these are clunky and frustrating to use, while upload and download speeds can be slow, which could be an issue if frequently working with larger files.

Read our full Zoolz cloud storage review, and our Zoolz BigMIND review.

Best cloud storage for Windows

Microsoft OneDrive is the ultimate cloud storage solution for Windows 10/11 and Microsoft 365 users, and is also available for users of macOS, Android, and iOS. It's also available for Xbox, making it possible to store precious game save files safely in the cloud.

The platform balances high-capacity storage with functional user interfaces, powerful integrations with the entire Microsoft 365 suite, and a robust security framework. Once you’re set up, it will perform as described with no further effort or stress on your part.

We found the service to be very well integrated into Windows. In essence, it enables you take away any file or folder on your desktop and access it on a variety of other devices. It also offers the ability to share files and folders with users who don’t have OneDrive.

You can also edit files directly on the cloud, without the need to download them every time. From Outlook to AutoCAD, OneDrive is compatible with a variety of different other services, both internal and third-party. Security-wise, it offers the Personal Vault feature, which lets you lock away essential files safely via 2FA and Bitlocker encryption.

If you're a Microsoft 365 subscriber, you have up to 1TB free via OneDrive. Even if you aren’t, you can test it with a forever-free capacity of 5GB. You can always expand storage later via its personal plans, with 100GB for just $1.99 a month.

Read our full Microsoft OneDrive review, our OneDrive for Business review, and our Microsoft Azure review.

Best cloud storage for simplicity

pCloud is one of the only cloud storage providers offering a lifetime subscription, providing you with 500GB for a one-time payment of $175, or 2TB for $350.Alternatively, annual plans are available for $47.88 and $95.88 respectively.

Monthly payment options are also available, and there’s a fully-functional free plan with 10GB. You can also choose a family plan, which supports up to four users. All plans come with advanced collaboration and file-sharing features, and you can even back up files from a series of third-party platforms.

Additionally, we were impressed to find that all files are protected by TLS/SSL (Transport Layer Security/Secure Sockets Layer) security, with 256-bit AES encryption. Powerful Android and iOS apps are available for mobile management, and there are tools to help you set up automatic social media uploads should you require this.

Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, and Mac operating systems are supported, and there are also browser extensions for Opera, Chrome, and Firefox.On the flipside, it lacks competitors' collaboration tools, an in-built document editor, and a smoother interface.

Read our full pCloud review.

What is the best cloud storage service?

IDrive is the best cloud storage provider of premium solutions, offering great value-for-money across a range of highly-secure, feature-packed plans. It's also our top pick for the best free cloud storage, the best cloud storage for photos, and the best personal cloud storage provider.

Google Drive provides leading integrations with Google Workspace as well as slick mobile and desktop apps, while Dropbox continues to be one of the best cloud storage solutions thanks to ease-of-use and third-party app integrations.

Microsoft OneDrive provides integration with Microsoft 365, as well as premium plans for individuals, families, and businesses. Zoolz' high-quality cloud storage boasts excellent security, a great free trial, and 24/7 support. Finally, pCloud competes with industry giants via a lifetime subscription across family and business plans, secure file-sharing, and widespread app support across platforms.

*IDrive is offering 10TB for just $3.98 for the first year, currently

Best cloud storage benefits

Cloud storage FAQs

Want to learn more about cloud storage? We’ve covered all levels of questions in our frequently-asked questions below. Knowledge is power, and having as much information as possible before you sign up to the best cloud storage services will ensure you make the right choice for your needs.

The best cloud storage for business: what you need to know

Identifying the best cloud storage for business means looking for highly stable, secure systems that protect data at all times. End-to-end encryption and zero-knowledge architecture are particularly important, but also look for StaaS products, as they offer advanced cloud sync and collaborative features for seamless digital workflows, increased employee cooperation and productivity.

Powerful administrative features provided, such as access management, system auditing, 2FA, and roles-based permissions, are also worth keeping an eye out for, particularly for medium- and large-sized organizations.

What you need to know about free cloud storage

If you've got less complex storage requirements, or have a tight budget, most providers offer free plans. While less feature-rich, with smaller storage allowances and other limitations, free cloud storage can be more than sufficient for personal needs. You can store important documents and images, but should you want more capacity, you'll have pay to upgrade. However, the advantage is that you can try out different platforms for free before you do.

How we test the best cloud storage

When we review cloud storage providers, we test upload and download times for files, as these speeds are integral to performance and usage. We also look at how each provider's security stacks up, how responsive customer service teams are when there's a problem, at pricing, and at any additional features offered.

Our comprehensive reviews also make a point of comparing each cloud storage service to competitors, across key features and pricing, so you can benefit from as much information as possible before you make your choice.

Take a look at some of our other reviews of leading platforms, including:

• Box and Box for Business
• iCloud
• SpiderOak
• MEGA
• GoodSync
• Wasabi
• Egnyte
• Nextcloud
• Tresorit
• LiveDrive

Ready to purchase cloud storage? Make sure you check out our top cloud storage deals to get cloud storage space for less.

Next steps with cloud storage

Make sure to follow a cloud storage checklist when looking for a provider, and consider the most important factors when selecting an online storage service, as well as these tips for data backup and recovery. If you're unsure about the differences between cloud storage, cloud backup, and cloud sync,it's worth doing your research first.

If you're buying cloud storage on behalf of a small company, take a look at the best cloud storage for small business, but also learn the top reasons you should use small business cloud solutions; find out why small businesses should use cloud services; and understand why a multi-cloud strategy benefits businesses.

Are you an iPhone user of iCloud, and have no space left in your storage? Learn how to free up space if your iCloud storage is full.