For the better part of last decade, the Cloud has become a very popular technology. Even if you don’t know what it is, you’ve likely already heard of it. The “Cloud” refers to online services that let you store your digital files to avoid losing them. The companies offering these services have their own servers, which they keep in secure locations. These servers have iron-solid protection against physical and cybernetic threats.
Perhaps one of the best-known cloud storage services is Dropbox. It was one of the first to become available for average users. The creators envisioned it as a convenient alternative to USB flash drives. Today, there are several more options to choose from. Most of these cloud services offer basically the same features. Prices vary too, aimed either at regular consumers or business users. Cloud storage services work on almost all computer platforms and smartphones, too.
Microsoft, Google, Apple, Amazon, and Dropbox are five of the biggest cloud storage providers today. They’re all geared for everyday users and have similar feature sets. Here’s a comparison, current as of February 2020:
Microsoft OneDrive
Free storage: 5GB
Lowest price: $1.99/month for 200GB of storage
Highest storage amount: 1TB per user at $9.99/month
Available for: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS; Linux via the website
Notes: OneDrive is an excellent cloud storage service, and one of the most affordable. The interface is also top notch and easy to use. OneDrive works with all kinds of files (documents, photos, music, etc.). There used to be a major limitation: you could not upload any file that was larger than 10GB. Now, you can upload files of up to 100GB each.
Google Drive
Free storage: 15GB
Lowest price: $19.99/year for 100GB
Highest storage amount: 30TB per user at $299.99/month
Available for: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS; Linux via the website
Notes: Google Drive gives Microsoft tough competition, offering triple the storage in its free tier. It also has compelling plans. They both offer similar features, including sharing certain files with an auto-generated link. Google does not have a file size limitation. Also, Google offers a whopping 30TB storage plan. It has a price to match, so the plan is obviously aimed at businesses. The largest storage plan for everyday Google Drive customers offers 2TB.
Apple iCloud
Free storage: 5GB
Lowest price: 99 cents/month for 50GB
Highest storage amount: 2TB at $9.99/month
Available for: Mac, iOS, Windows; Linux via the website
Notes: iCloud is the best cloud storage service...if you are a heavy Apple user. There isn’t an app for Android devices. iCloud can be accessed on a website, though. Microsoft’s and Google’s services are more solid as well. iCloud is a great service, but you’d be better served by the other options if you’re not deeply tied to the Apple ecosystem. iCloud’s highest storage amount is double that of OneDrive, at the same price.
Amazon Cloud Drive
Free storage: None (unlimited photo storage and 5GB for all other file types with an Amazon Prime subscription)
Lowest price: $19.99/year for 100GB
Highest storage amount: 30TB at $1,799.70/year
Available for: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS
Notes: With a focus on media files, Amazon Cloud Drive may be best suited for creative users. Unlimited photo storage makes for an extremely attractive deal. Amazon Cloud Drive also backs up your smartphone photos automatically. It lacks some crucial features, including file syncing and scheduled backups. Like Google, it offers a huge 30TB storage plan. Everyday customers are better served by the 2TB plan at $119.98/year.
Dropbox
Free storage: 2GB
Lowest price: $9.99/month for 2TB
Highest storage amount: 3TB at $16.58/month (for individuals); unlimited at $20/user/month for teams
Available for: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS
Notes: As a veteran in cloud storage, Dropbox remains one of the best services today. It offers all the features you could need from a cloud storage service. A slight downside is that Dropbox is pricier than its competition. It’s worth every penny, though. Dropbox also offers on-the-fly file encryption on all its paid plans. If you’re already using Dropbox, there’s very little reason to switch to another service.
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These are the best choices for most users. They all are straightforward to use, though Amazon’s offering falls a little behind. The first three are also rather integrated into their ecosystem. If you have an email address, chances are it’s from Microsoft, Google, or Apple. Having one of those means you already have access to their respective cloud storage service. Try it out, and if you need more space, you can buy a subscription.
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