What is Cloud Storage?

Cloud technology is often cited as the Next Generation technology or the future of IT.  As we are all well aware, digital information is stored on hard drives or physical storage, such as a CD or External Drives. Cloud storage (often referred to as the “cloud”) simply represents digital storage space where anyone can store or download, their files.

Unlike the above-mentioned physical Drives, the “cloud” grants you convenient access to your files from any device, anywhere in the world.

According to 2023 statistics, Data creation is booming and continues to reach exponential growth to the point where your local storage cannot keep up with the number of files you need to store on it. Here is where Cloud storage services like pCloud outshine competitors because they offer more than 16 TB of storage space.

There is a strong advantage to using cloud storage in terms of collaboration and accessibility, combined with robust security and other useful file management tools. You can view your files from any phone, tablet, or computer that’s connected to the Internet. One can easily lose important files due to computer crashes or phone issues. This can be easily prevented by creating a Backup of the most important or crucial documents.

Using the cloud is a no-brainer, but picking which service to use is a bit more difficult. There are some important factors one must consider when choosing the cloud provider that fits their needs:

• Interface: Is it User- Friendly enough?
• Features: Are they intuitive enough?
• Design of functionalities: Do they let you utilize the service to its full capacity?
• Smaller Learning Curve: Is it easy to start off immediately?
• Preventing Data loss: Are you able to restore or revert back to older versions of files?
• Easy access to files: Can you access the files when using the service, or do you need to first download them locally?
• Shareable links: Are you able to share links to specific files to save time?
• Privacy & Security: Some cloud services compromise Security and Privacy in their goal to provide more features, which do not comply with their design.
• Backup options: How and when do your files get Backed up or Synchronised automatically? Do you have control over this process?
• Speed and Size Limits: Having to deal with specific limitations is in direct conflict with the primary goal of the “cloud”- to transfer any files, anywhere you go, anytime, from any device.
• Pricing models: Cloud storage is meant to improve your life while optimizing your digital tasks and protecting your information. This cannot be achieved without cost-effective payment options.
• Data Centers’ Location: There are specific Data Protection and Privacy Laws in different countries. The tougher the Laws for Data Protection a company complies with, the more reliable it actually is. Switzerland, for example, is known for its toughest laws.
• Supported devices and OS: Does the cloud service work on any OS or does it come with limited platform support?

 

Using a free account can easily help get familiar with a service. It is one of the best options when choosing the right product for you. Online reviews could be prejudiced sometimes. That is why we have compiled an up-to-date list of the top 10 most reliable cloud storage services for 2023. It includes Google Drive, Dropbox, pCloud, and OneDrive, all of which can securely back up your data. They each have advantages and disadvantages. Reading this article will help you understand which provider could meet your expectations, and showcase features and differentiators.

NOTE: We always take into account the Community feedback and most recent and recurring discussions online, available for anyone to read. They reveal the true nature of unbiased opinions and help us compile our professional verdict.

 

Go to: Cloud storage providers comparison table

 

pCloud

pCloud is a Swiss cloud storage company, trusted by more than 17 million happy users.

Acknowledged as the leading alternative to Dropbox, it’s in competition not only with that longstanding tech industry giant but with Google, Apple, and Microsoft, all of whom offer broadly the same service as pCloud.

Opening a new account with pCloud will give you a respectable up to 10GB of free storage (twice that of OneDrive, and five times Dropbox’s basic offering). This can quickly be achieved by receiving incentives for minor intuitive tasks such as recommending friends.

They say you cannot put a price on happiness. The same applies to security and privacy.

Coming with a plethora of Premium options, pCloud is used for single and multiple user accounts. One of the Business Options (Pro) offers Unlimited storage.

One of pCloud’s main advantages over its competitors is the option to pay a flat, one-time fee for lifetime access. It comes with all Premium features for users, who wish to invest only once. That is especially convenient for 2023. These are the most generously discounted rates, too, with a lifetime 500 GB plan costing $199 and a 2 TB for $399. Currently, the top-selling cloud storage plan for lifelong use is pCloud’s 10 TB offering for just $1190, letting you save more than $5000.

 

 

A special Client-side encrypted Folder called “Crypto Folder” is available for Lifetime use for $150. Some services have this type of encryption available by default.

pCloud is primarily associated with top Privacy and unbreakable encryption. They expanded on their offerings with a brand new product called pCloud Pass, which further extended their innovative security-focused culture. While Lifetime plans are sometimes debatable, one should research the company’s reliability, but it looks like pCloud is here to stay, disrupting the cloud storage industry.

The Family plan, meanwhile, comes in two options: 2 TB for $595 and 10 TB for $1499. That’s a lot of storage for up to five users – or, to put it another way, slightly higher than $100 each for a lifetime of storage and other premium features. A great incentive to use the Family plan is the fact that every “Family member” gets the Crypto Folder for free, provided that the account owner has a Lifetime plan for it.

Subscription deals are very competitive: 2 TB for $9.99/monthly, $99/yearly.

pCloud imposes no file size restrictions, so you can upload anything that your storage space allows. This is done in an impressively quick fashion, with syncing proving fast and efficient. All data transfers between the pCloud servers and your machine are handled with TLS/SSL encryption, so they should be safe on their travels. Availability on any device and OS is of high importance for our review: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and Web- Browser access.

It turns out not all of the top 5 cloud services support those platforms.

There are Third- Party import (Backup) options that can automatically transfer files from other cloud services including Dropbox and Google Drive, which is convenient if you’re switching from one or simply want an extra backup of important files.

One unique feature of pCloud is called the pCloud Drive where the service creates a virtual drive on your device. Everything that you put inside the drive is instantly uploaded to pCloud’s servers and does not take up any of your local space. To use the files you don’t have to wait for them to download as the pCloud Drive acts like an external drive, giving you access to your files with just a click.

24/7 Technical Support service is conveniently available for any user, requesting assistance with their account. Development Roadmaps are publicly available, letting you stay tuned for upcoming updates. This is often noted as one of the many advantages pCloud has.

PROS

• Cost-effective value
• Zero-knowledge encryption
• Fast syncing
• Sync any folder
• Integrated media player
• Lifetime plan options
• Native Audio Player
• Mobile Backup

CONS

• Encryption costs extra
• No document integration

 

Dropbox

Listing Dropbox within the first position is not an arbitrary decision. It is they who brought the cloud storage phenomenon to the mainstream in 2007 giving users something they never thought they needed so much!

16 years later, Dropbox remains a true market leader with recognizable success, establishing the first industry standards. A whole history of what it used to be and what it represents now can be tracked from 2008 to the present time. One could write a Business or Product Development Manual based on its evolution through the years.

The service works by creating a local folder on your device or PC that then syncs with an online version. This means you have all your data available whether you are on or offline. This doesn’t apply to mobile devices, though. You can make selected files available offline on your tablet or smartphone, and offline editing is among the best we’ve seen.

Dropbox has effectively cemented its position and was initially renowned for its ease of use and user-friendly interface. One of its main advantages is that it comes with seamless integration of some of the most used third-party applications, such as the Microsoft Package, Adobe, and even Zoom. This makes it very easy to share files while scheduling a meeting. Accessibility to collaboration features makes it a great option for teams and Businesses.

Despite being the grandfather of cloud storage, users are reportedly switching between providers, as if looking for a cheaper or up-to-date alternative.
The reality is, though, that while Dropbox has several hundred million users, many of them may be better off looking elsewhere. One of the many reasons is the high pricing, which continuously spiked through the years. It might have rightfully grown to be an expensive cloud storage tool in the days of old, but keeping up with the current competition is always an extremely crucial task.

Reliable newcomers have had the opportunity to study and research the established market in order to meet the proper Product Market Fit by filling the missing gaps of older cloud storage services. If the new kids on the block were previously revisiting Dropgox to keep track of the trends and features, they now might have outclassed and schooled the master.

According to our research among the unattended Dropbox user community, it is outshined by Google Drive for productivity usage. For security, file sharing, and overall value, pCloud and Sync.com are both better options.

Compared negatively with the previous providers, Dropbox offers the least free space- only 2GB. That is not enough to get familiar with the service, while Premium features and more storage come only after an expensive upgrade. Might be suitable for smaller documents, but if you want to store any kind of media like photos, music, or video – it will disappear very fast. You can get 2TB storage space for €11.99 per month or €119.88  per year.

Starting with 1 TB for €9.99/monthly, €99/yearly is another option, but no Smart Sync (similar to pCloud Drive) is available for free and regular premium users.
For the same price, pCloud gives 2 TB, which is double the space.

Privacy concerns are not excluded, just like with Google Drive. Some users are alarmingly disliking their data being stored on third-party servers, and the company’s data retention and sharing policies, which seem to persist since the beginning. 

PROS

• Plenty of additional features
• Integrations with thousands of applications
• Fast upload speeds

CONS

• Expensive
• A once-simple service has become too complex
• Missing Technical/ Customer Support

 

Google Drive

Google Drive is a file storage and syncing tool which is available after creating an account with Google. You might have already used it without even knowing that.

Simple use of Google Workspace can leave you with the impression that the “Drive” component is a portion of a huge suite of services, including well-known apps such as Google Docs, Sheets, and others. Every time you create a Google Doc, it gets saved to Google Drive.

Because of this, Google Drive is considered one of the most convenient cloud collaboration tools available, being widely preferred for Businesses.

Google Drive offers a substantial 15GB of free cloud storage. Premium upgrade options max out at 30TB. One of the most often used plans that give 2TB can be purchased for €9,99 per month or €99.99 per year. Prices: 100 GB for $2/monthly is the starter plan.

The initial Google Drive app has been replaced by Backup & Sync for Windows and macOS, with mobile versions for Android and iOS. Files can be easily uploaded with selective sync, so you can choose which folders sync on each PC or laptop.

While Google Drive is widely recognized for its high efficiency in team collaboration, it is not as strong regarding synchronization, protection, and backup options. Moreover, as it’s a Google product, users have reportedly raised awareness about activity tracking, resulting in privacy concerns that drive users to constantly look for better alternatives.

Newer cloud storage providers offer enhanced file transfer with both Selective and Block-level Sync, while the former is not present in Google Drive.
This can impact upload and download speed. Files can be shared via Share links, but there is a certain scarcity in customization. The highly important possibility to put a password on your shared links and statistics of your shares and bandwidth are still to be improved.

PROS

• Generous free storage space
• Excellent productivity-suite collaboration
• Includes desktop-to-desktop file syncing
• Many third-party integrations
• Cross-platform apps

CONS

• No password protection for shared files
• Mobile apps could do more; multiple apps are required for all related functions
• Some privacy concerns
• Lacks Block- Level Sync

 

Sync.com

Sync.com undoubtedly deserves a top spot on our list.

Often reviewed as one of the best top 5 cloud storage services, it has proved its worth in the highly competitive scene.
The reasons for this are many. At first glance, Sync.com delivers almost the full package out of the box for a very reasonable price. Nevertheless, nothing is perfect in life and Sync.com is a great example of how you can’t have everything.

Using this service means that you have access to a lot of features, and ease of use both for personal and business needs. The recent integration of Microsoft Office adds more value to the table for collaboration with teams.

Named after one of its top features, Sync.com makes syncing a very pleasant experience. It lets you keep a folder on your system in sync with the cloud and any other computers it is installed on. The user-friendly setup hides the complexity of robust security Sync.com should be proud of. It simply helps the user work with their files effortlessly, while performing sophisticated Backend operations, invisible to their eyes.

The Free plan is convenient for testing because it lets you get familiar with the service quickly.
Sync.com comes with end-to-end encryption across all of its plans, which some competitors offer only within Premium upgrades.

Some competitors struggle to match the reasonable pricing of Sync.com. Being affordable enough, it definitely rivals the key players in the cloud storage market:

Individual use:
– Free: 5 GB
– Solo Basic: 2 TB for $8 per month, billed annually
– Solo Professional: 6 TB for $20 per month, billed annually

For Teams:
– Teams Standard: 1 TB for $6 per month, billed annually
– Teams Unlimited: $15 per user, per month, billed annually (or $18 per user, billed monthly)

We need to address the Unlimited plan for teams since it reminds us of pCloud’s Business Pro plan. This is due to the fact that it comes with:

The newest Business plan is called “Enterprise” unsurprisingly. To get it, you would also have to contact the sales team to avail of all the value it offers:

– Minimum 100 users
– Custom requirements
– Account manager
– Training options

Sync.com supports file version control. You can always revert back to a previous version of files conveniently, because they are kept for 180 or 365 days, depending on your subscription type. Sync.com decided to be generous with their “Time Machine”- like function because the older file versions do not count against the user’s stroage quota.

Free accounts are limited to 30 days, which is reasonable given that in this form it is an unpaid service. The situation is the same with pCloud for free accounts while unlocking the 365 days of “time travel” is a paid feature. On the other hand, pCloud does not limit the number of times one could access older versions, whereas MEGA and Box have a 100-version limit.

Icedrive is the worst in this regard because they are limiting even the Premium accounts to 10 versions for up to 180 days.

Their renowned Sync might be widely known, but it offers Single- folder sync only, whereas services like pCloud let you Sync numerous folders and sub-folders, letting you form a mirrored connection between the local storage space and the files on the cloud.

As one would expect from a robust security-centered cloud storage service, Sync.com is not the best for collaborations. Nevertheless, it is widely recommended, regardless of recent bugs and limitations raising concerns on Social Media platforms.

It is officially stated by Sync.com that there are specific File size limits:

• Desktop/Mobile: 40 GB
• Web- Browser: 500 MB

They also transparently revealed hard limits on the maximum number of files to use for a Sync or store in a folder:

• Synchronisation: 300 000
• Maximum files in a folder: 100 000

Obviously, it is great to see that they are willing to go fully transparent with their userbase, but the hard limits are indeed disappointing and putting Sync.com in a disadvantageous position behind pCloud and OneDrive, the former having NO Limits at all and the latter imposing a 250 GB limit.

Due to some similarities, the Community often suggests Sync.com as a pCloud or Dropbox alternative, or vice-versa, depending on individual preferences and needs.

PROS

• Excellent security
• Competitive Pricing
• Unlimited file sizes
• 365-day versioning
• Clear privacy policy
• Good for teams

CONS

• Basic interface- needs work
• Slower sync speeds
• Single-folder sync

 

IDrive

We mentioned the vital role that cloud storage plays in our everyday activities and digital life.

Regardless of the professional field you are working in, quick access to documents from any device has become the strict standard for team management and file sharing. When entrusted with important documentation, one must always rely on high-quality Backup to prevent data loss.

iDrive is a great solution that combines cloud storage and online backup services that comes with great features and very reasonable pricing compared to the competition. Single transfers are quite fast, accompanied by both backup and restore. Solid compression and security. An important difference worth mentioning is that all versions of IDrive, including the free version, can back up files locally to an external or network drive. Many services don’t offer local backup.

iDrive has settled for a more tech-savvy user base, keeping in mind the type of features available. It is geared towards users that need to perform online backups via disk image backup (only for Windows), NAS, and Server backup.

It gives 10 GB of free storage and multiple paid plans:

• 2 TB personal account is available for $59.62 per year
• 10 TB for $74.62 per year

Speaking of the negatives, it lacks monthly subscription plans and its interface is not the easiest to use. Most competitors have tried ensuring an easy learning curve, to help the user get started as quickly as possible. Additionally, the upload and download speeds are not the best you can get on the market, despite the way they are pitching themselves.

Other services have ensured accessibility on most or every existing major OS, while iDrive still has Limited Linux support. The Community often mentions Backup disruptions, explaining that a continuous connection would be preferred.

 

PROS

• Unlimited devices per account
• Free local backup
• Fully encrypted
• Fast upload speeds
• Disk Image Backup
• NAS
• Server Backup

CONS

• Storage isn’t unlimited
• Limited Linux support
• Complete disk image backup only for Windows

 

MEGA

MEGA is widely appreciated for its great security features, decent usability, and speed. We could rank it first or second (competing with pCloud) in terms of Privacy and Robust Security. Your entire account comes with an additional layer of security with Zero- Knowledge Encryption, whereas pCloud charges extra for their Crypto Folder.

The standard free plan comes with an impressive 20 GB of storage space. If this isn’t enough you can upgrade for more storage and increased bandwidth with each package so you can share files back and forth with friends. It is the best solution for Free cloud storage seekers.

Something specific that differentiates MEGA from the other cloud services mentioned in this article is their native Secure Chat, which MEGA has been advertising heavily lately.

 

Premium models are tailored separately towards Individual use and Teams, available with monthly and annual subscriptions:

• 400 GB €49.99 per year
• 2 TB €99.99 per year
  
• 8 TB €199  per year
  

The monthly prices compare almost equally with some of the more expensive services like Dropbox.

It is worth commenting on some of the most recently discussed cons MEGA has to deal with the highest priority. Minor but yet persisting bugs with file sharing are raising awareness among the most popular cloud storage-related websites and industry authorities.

While it might seem that cloud storage unlocks freedom and convenience for teams all over the world, MEGA firmly lags behind in this regard, taking a step back in perhaps the most favorable period for cloud storage during remote work. It is in this aspect that other providers have been thriving for the last few years, observing rapid growth.

MEGA’s emphasis on privacy and security disables most standard or popular collaboration features and integration with third-party apps such as Google Docs. For those who need to work on cloud-based files with others, Google Drive might be a better option. While understandable, some users might not be happy with the limitations of means to work with teams and would rather compromise with security strictness.

Extensive encryption standards come with an additional toll on upload/ download speed, since the encryption occurs during these transfer processes, generating an encryption key to be stored on your device.

A service like this is more suited for cold storage, meaning that you can preserve your most important files without fear of losing them. However, file sharing is an integral part of everyday life for 90% of digital devices and IOT / ICT (Internet of Things/ Information and Communication Technology) users.

PROS

• Zero-knowledge encryption
• Encrypted sharing links
• Plenty of free storage
• Previews for media & documents
• Secure Chat

CONS

• High prices for paid plans
• Not good for collaboration
• Basic business support
• Limited extra apps and add-ons
• Extensive Security limits speed

 

OneDrive

OneDrive is Microsoft’s alternative to Dropbox.

Widely appreciated by Office 365 users, it finds it difficult to rise up to the highest standards of others, thus ranking somewhere in the middle between previously mentioned services. It includes a variety of tools such as Office, Skype, OneNote, and Outlook that are seamlessly integrated into it.

Designed to serve existing Microsoft users and their range of applications, OneDrive does not appear often in Community threads or Official Honest reviews on the web. It feels like OneDrive is operating in its own playground, without the need for other bystanders. That is understandable, considering the fact that this cloud storage extension is just an amenity or incentive for the uncountable Microsoft users.

OneDrive provides fast performance and a wide range of features, making it extremely convenient to use with apps for Business needs in corporate enterprises. The number of people using OneDrive for their work towers highly above the smaller pool of average cloud storage users.

Despite all mentioned positives, it has a significant drawback in terms of privacy. The service does not have zero-knowledge encryption, which means that it is vulnerable to unwanted access. While files are protected by encryption, the absence of zero-knowledge encryption allows Microsoft to access and share the user’s data when it deems it appropriate, similar to Google and Dropbox.

Microsoft’s OneDrive is supposedly the obvious cloud storage service for Windows users because it is built into Windows 10. However, the basic account offers only 5 GB of free storage. That’s enough for some people, making the previous four services the preferred ones in this regard.

Falling behind the rest, which offers at least double the space, with their Free plan, OneDrive gives 1 TB to Microsoft Office 365 users:

• 200GB of space for $1.99/month
• 400GB of space for $3.99/month
• 600GB of space for $5.99/month
• 800GB of space for $7.99/month
  
• 1TB of space for $9.99/month

 

You can get 1TB of storage space for 69€ per year which includes all Premium platform features.

Note: If you don’t have an Office 365 subscription, Microsoft is also increasing the 50GB storage plan to 100GB for the same $1.99 per month.

PROS

• Excellent interface
• Clients for Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows
• Well-integrated with Windows and Microsoft 365
• Strong online photo presentation and management
• Powerful file-sharing and collaborative editing

CONS

• Less free storage than some competitors
• Doesn’t back up all folders on the drive

 

icedrive

Last, but not least, we cannot miss talking about the real new kid on the block- ice drive.

Icedrive is a new cloud storage service that boasts a user-friendly design and strong security and privacy features, particularly its implementation of Zero-Knowledge Encryption. While the free plan is generous with 10 GB of storage, it currently lacks some important features such as collaboration tools and integration with third-party apps. Despite this, Icedrive shows potential as a promising newcomer in the cloud storage market.

Icedrive offers monthly, annual, and lifetime plans. Community opinion states that ice drive has, perhaps, followed the innovative Lifetime approach, initially pioneered by pCloud.

You can get 150 GB for $19.99 per year, 1 TB for $49.99 per year, or one of their lifetime plans available with 3 TB ($499 one-time payment) and 10 TB ($999 one-time payment). With its clear interface and easy-to-use apps, focus on security and privacy Icedrive shows a big potential of becoming one of the best cloud storage service providers.

However, it still lacks important cloud storage features, and there are great alternatives on our list of the top cloud storage providers for 2023.

Being a young company means that it promises to bring more features in the future while meeting the highest standards of users. If you’re looking for a fully fleshed-out service right now, though, you might want to check out some better alternatives, like pCloud or Dropbox.

PROS:

• Excellent privacy & security
• Generous free plan
• Zero-knowledge encryption
• Beautiful user interface
• File previews
• Virtual drive on desktop
• Good pricing

CONS:

• Lacks collaboration options
• No chat support
• No block-level sync
• Not good for productivity

 

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Box.com

Box.com is a cloud storage service that offers a wide range of features and integrations. It comes with built-in integrations with Google Workspace, Office 365, and Slack, which work directly in the Box interface. It also includes Box Notes and a task manager that allows collaboration with others on notes within the Box app.

The free package gives you 10GB of free space. This isn’t quite as good as it sounds though, due to the fact that Box limits files to 250MB for free accounts. However, many of the features come with paid add-ons or through third-party integrations. It’s just a shame that many of the best features – such as versioning – are only available to paying customers.

The Free package gives you 10 GB free space. This isn’t quite as good as it sounds though, since Box limits files to 250MB for free accounts and only one file version.

Paid plans start at €12 per month (or €108 per year) for 100 GB but there you will also find upload file size restrictions (5 GB) as well as limits on the number of file versions. Box.com offers one of the most expensive cloud storage services for individual users on the market.

 

PROS

• Flexible web app that can open files using desktop software
• Integrations with over 1,500 applications
• Support for offline syncing

CONS

• Expensive for the amount of storage offered
• Low file-size limit
• Can’t configure the location of the Desktop syncing app
• 1 file version and file size limits with the free plan

 

Tresorit

Tresorit is a European-based cloud storage solution provider, solid and highly secure, Tresorit may be too expensive for the average user. It targets mainly businesses that want to invest in security and for which privacy is of utmost importance. There is no free plan and paid plans start at 11.99 € per month or 119.88 € per year for 1 TB storage space.

One of the reasons that Tresorit is so secure comes down to the way files are encrypted. With a local client installed on either your Windows or mac OS machine, your data is encrypted locally, then sent to the Tresorit servers where it remains encrypted. In addition to storing files, Tresorit lets you sync them between devices. Computer sync clients are available on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Tresorit offers excellent file-sharing options, file versioning, and sync features.

PROS

• Highly secure
• Native apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS & Android
• Network drive support
• Extensive user management options
• Clear privacy policy
• Multiple support options

CONS

• Expensive
• No block-level sync
• Some limitations of security

 

SpiderOak

SpiderOak may be the most secure cloud storage provider out there but has some weaknesses when it comes to speed and ease of use. It focuses on security and privacy. If these are the most important elements you require then it is one of the best choices for you (Together with pCloud). It may lack the sophistication and integration of some rivals, but it does the job very well.

It is a great choice for online backups and it offers sync and share features. However, SpiderOak is a bit pricey compared to other providers with a 150 GB plan at $6 per month ($69 per year) or a 5 TB plan at $29 per month ($320 per year). It does not offer free cloud storage, only a 21-day free trial.

PROS

• Strong privacy features
• Supports an unlimited number of computers per account
• Excellent versioning capabilities
• Includes file-sharing and folder-syncing options
• Well-designed, full-featured desktop application

CONS

• Lacks multi-factor authentication option for web logins
• No longer offers mobile apps

 

Provider	Rating	Free Storage	Premium Plans	File size limit	Storage limit	File Recovery	Apps
pCloud	⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑	10 GB	500 GB- 4.99 €/month 2 TB- €9.99/mon |€99/yearly |€399 Lifetime(!) 10 TB- 1190 € Lifetime(!)	NO LIMITS	16 TB	✓	Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux
Dropbox	⭑⭑⭑⭑⭒	2 GB	2 TB- 11.99 €/month 2 TB- 119.98 €/year	2 TB	3 TB	✓	Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux
Google Drive	⭑⭑⭑⭑⭒	15 GB	2 TB- 9.99 €/month 2 TB- 99.99 €/year	5 TB	30 TB	✓	Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android
Sync.com	⭑⭑⭑⭑⭒	5 GB	2 TB for $8/month, billed annually 6 TB for $20/month, billed annually	Desktop: 40 GB Mobile: 40 GB Browser: 500 MB	6 TB	✓	Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android
Tresorit	⭑⭑⭑⭒⭒	NO	1 TB- 11.99 €/month 1 TB- 119.88 €/year	10 GB	4 TB	✓	Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux
Icedrive	⭑⭑⭑⭒⭒	10 GB	150 GB- $19.99/year 3 TB- $499 lifetime 10 TB- $999 lifetime	NO LIMITS	10 TB	NOT RECOVERY	Windows, iOS, Android, Linux
IDrive	⭑⭑⭒⭒⭒	10 GB	2 TB- $59.62/year 10 TB- $74.62/year	10 GB	20 TB	✓	Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android
One Drive	⭑⭑⭒⭒⭒	5 GB	1 TB- 69 €/year	250 GB	1 TB	✓	Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android
SpiderOak	⭑⭑⭒⭒⭒	NO	150 GB- $6/month | $69/year 5 TB- $29/month | $320/year	10 GB	5 TB	✓	Windows, MacOS, Linux
Mega	⭑⭑⭒⭒⭒	20 GB	400 GB- 4.99 €/month | 49.99 €/year 2 TB- 9.99 €/month | 99.99 €/year	NO LIMITS	16 TB	✓	Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux
Box	⭑⭑⭒⭒⭒	10 GB	100 GB- 12 €/month 100 GB- 108 €/year	2 GB	100 GB	✓	Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android

 

FINAL VERDICT

SUMMARY:

One service can’t have everything. There will always be advantages and disadvantages, based on the primary features and focus of the cloud storage provider.
It all depends on the individual needs of the user and asks the question “Am I willing to compromise X for Y, or stick with both, but in a limited manner?“.

UNBIASED ADVICE:

• For people looking for accessibility to third-party integrations like Google Sheets and Docs or communication apps like Zoom, we would point the direction of Google Drive and Dropbox, if user data collection and tracking is something you do not mind.
• Tech-savvy digital nomads would actually prefer MEGA as an acceptable option for extensive security if willing to compromise collaboration and speed. It will also be preferred by those in need of Free cloud storage space.
• iDrive would also be similar to MEGA users’, differing with specific setup requirements, but providing Server and Disk image Backup, for NAS lovers.
• We know there are a lot of you, looking for the right amount of everything between collaboration and security for the best price. To further compliment those, pCloud comes with a rich list of additional features and tools, to enhance your user experience and optimize your digital tasks, regardless if you are a Free, Premium subscriber or using their pioneered Lifetime (one-time payment) plan. Suitable for Businesses as well, pCloud seems to put a checkmark on all boxes, successfully hitting the happy medium. An alternative to pCloud would be Sync.com.
• If you do not fall in either of the above-mentioned categories, we think that any of the remaining cloud storage services covered in this article would suffice, provided that you make the right decision based on features and the price for their value. OneDrive seems to have them in check if you are a Windows user. Be reminded that privacy is not their most vital asset.
• Ones and Zeros for thought:
  Customer support should be an indivisible part of such sophisticated technology services, but not every provider mentioned offers it efficiently, if at all.

Stay safe and make sure your most valuable asset nowadays (your information) is protected in the most secure way possible, while being able to access and share it anywhere you go, anytime, from any device. Do bear in mind current Global economic changes lead to the need for a more cost-effective option.