Carrying a small flash drive or hard drives around may be handy, but you could easily lose your data in a snap. To make sure all your files are stored somewhere safe, there are cloud storage services to help you out.
Unlike hard drives, cloud storage has a higher maximum storage capacity, and managing your data is easier since you only need a reliable internet service to access them.
Take a look at our top 5 best cloud storage software to store your business or personal files securely.
What Cloud Storage Means?
Whether you're in the field of enterprises or just want to store files for personal purposes, the last thing you want is to lose them all at once. This is where cloud storage becomes a great deal.
As the term implies, cloud storage refers to a cloud- or internet-based storage where you can access and store files on remote servers. In return, you can easily back up and manage your data remotely anytime and anywhere. And, there's only one thing you need: the internet.
Cloud storage puts your data in a secure, password-protected environment, so anyone who doesn't have your password can't access the files you upload or share. Plus, it offers the ability to recover data that has been accidentally deleted.
Essentially, it has many capabilities that cannot be found in traditional data storage methods such as flash drives, hard drives, PCs, etc.
But it's worth noting that some cloud storage services are limited. However, you can pay a subscription fee per month or on a per-use basis to access better features.
Which is the Best Cloud Storage?
The evolution of technology allows us to manage and keep our content up-to-date using an innovative method. The top 5 cloud storage services we reviewed can prove that.
#1 pCloud
pCloud is a Switzerland-based company established in 2013 and has been seeing constant rapid growth in popularity. That's not the main reason why more than 14 million users put their trust in its best cloud storage services-but its heightened and guaranteed data privacy and security.
It has two different data centers that let you choose where to store your files and valuable data, either in the United States located in Dallas, Texas, or the European Union in Luxembourg. Arguably, unlike many of their competitors, pCloud owns its data centers.
Additionally, it does not have a file size limit, making it ideal for media storage, although the service has some bandwidth limitations. With pCloud Transfer, you can send up to 5GB for free, and it works on all platforms with a web-based login.
Features
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Sync and Backup: Backups are automatically created for any files or folder you select from your computer to your pCloud account. Any changes you make are synced in real-time, and a deleted file will be automatically moved to 'Trash'. pCloud also provides direct backup for third-party apps like Facebook, Google Photos, One Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.
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Encryption: pCloud ensures the safety of your files by using TLS/SSL encryption when data is shared from your device to the pCloud servers. Your files are stored on at least three servers located in a highly secure data center.
As an option, you can subscribe to pCloud Crypto, which offers specific file encryption and password protection. Or, Client-side encryption ensures that only you have the keys to decrypt your files.
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File-Sharing: Whether you collaborate with other pCloud users or not, pCloud's web interface and applications offer multiple ways of sharing files. Get Invite to Folder, Shared links, File requests, and Direct links.
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File Management: All your files are easy to manage, regardless of how you access them via the web, desktop, or mobile.
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File Versioning: If you need to track down an older version of your work, pCloud keeps it all right there for you. You can also search through the actions you've taken and easily stay on top of your online activities in the cloud.
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Digital Asset Management: Unlike other cloud storage services, pCloud uniquely offers a complete and secure digital asset management software designed for all your files and photos. This allows you to store, organize, and share digital assets with your brand from one secure and easy-to-use platform.
Overall, pCloud frontlines an appealing, highly-functional interface that stores files easily via desktop and mobile apps, as well as pCloud's website. It offers simple file-sharing features and also provides the ability to even share files and other data with non-pCloud users.
Thanks to its myriad of features, pCloud is particularly helpful for both business and personal purposes. When it comes to pricing plans, this cloud storage has a lifetime subscription which is not often seen in other services. All plans include unlimited remote upload bandwidth and unlimited trash history for 30 days, but storage and download links vary depending on which plan is purchased.
Pros
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Free 10GB storage
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Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
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Offers advanced file-sharing features
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Offers different ways to secure your files
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Provides seamless file management and versioning
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Has high-speed performance
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Syncs and backs up files from third-party apps
Cons
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The freemium plan lacks useful tools
As a whole, pCloud is a great choice thanks to its affordable and reasonable pricing, optimal security features, comprehensive backups, and intuitive interface for beginners. It is no wonder why it is currently classified as the best cloud storage for business and personal purposes.
Want to get your hands on the best free cloud storage today? You can sign up now and enjoy a free 10GB storage.
#2 IDrive
Cloud storage providers like IDrive are among the best available for premium users, offering excellent value for money as well as a highly-secure storage solution. Among all, it's one of the best-encrypted and the most secure, so you won't have to think twice when investing in it.
The most helpful advantage of this cloud storage is that it provides backups for network drives as well, making it easy to cover everything from servers to mobile devices. Besides storing files, you can also share them via email, Facebook, and Twitter.
But while everything seems easy and convenient, uploading large files takes relatively slower than usual, even though your internet connection is strong.
Moreover, IDrive restores up to 30 versions of your backups. At the same time, if you lose all your data, IDrive Express provides you with a hard drive to back it up. However, it does not remove cloud files if you delete something on your hardware, so you won't accidentally erase your data.
IDrive is also one of the best cloud storage for photos. If you're a photo guru and want to see your photos on every device you have, you'll be happy to hear that it uses facial recognition to organize and sync images across multiple devices.
Key Features & Benefits
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Up to 5TB cloud storage capacity
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Unlimited devices
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Secured with end-to-end encryption
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Offers file versioning
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Best cloud storage for photos
#3 Google Drive
Google Workspace and Android users, Google Drive's cloud storage services make it a perfect choice for personal and professional file storage.
If you've been using Office Suites, integrating Google drive will let you create and store documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and even high-quality images on your mobile devices via Google Photos.
Additionally, it's also one of the best free cloud storage which offers a 15 GB storage capacity. But you can maximize that when you buy more storage through Google One. Take note that you can share each subscription plan for free with up to five friends.
Despite its lackluster web interface and poorly executed user interface, the native Windows and Mac clients allow users to add files more easily via drag-and-drop. Files are also not password protected and do not expire, so you must manually delete some files if your storage reaches its limits.
Nevertheless, Google Drive is relatively easy to set up. It's a good start for people who want to start saving files in the cloud.
Key Features & Benefits
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Up to 2TB cloud storage capacity
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Unlimited number of devices
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Free 15 GB storage
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Integrates with professional Google apps
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Offers AI and search technology for photos
#4 Microsoft One Drive
Microsoft One Drive has become a go-to cloud storage provider since Windows 10 launched. It is directly integrated into the file explorer and provides instant access to online backup within minutes.
Since it's a Microsoft platform, you can sync photos across your devices, particularly with the use of Office 365, or selectively sync, locate, edit, and delete files stored on your hard drive. What classifies it as one of the best cloud storage is its accessibility. Currently, there is a mobile app for Android and iOS devices and one for Mac users with interesting features.
One Drive's free plan offers 50GB of storage, but if you have a Microsoft 365, you can get 1TB of space right away. The way it integrates with Microsoft Office apps is one of its best selling points. Regardless, cloud storage can still be used for collaborative purposes without being exclusive to One Drive users.
Speaking of integration, one setback for One Drive's cloud storage services is it has limited integrations. In fact, it provides no backup for Apple users. The number of allowed devices is only up to 30. Plus, compared with others, One Drive is the most expensive.
Key Features & Benefits
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Up to 6TB storage capacity
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Offers end-to-end encryption
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Provides smooth PC backups
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Integrates with Microsoft 365 for more features
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Available for Android, Apple, and PC users
#5 MEGA
MEGA is one of the most secured and best cloud storage providers. Once you upload files to MEGA, everything will instantly be secured by an encrypted connection, and you can even maintain control of the encryption key.
One of the best advantages of MEGA's encryption key is that it prevents others from scanning your contents, including MEGA. Additionally, the system's sync client is open-source and is subject to vulnerability testing.
Like most cloud storage providers, it also offers a free plan of 50GB. Equipped with an easy-to-use, drag-and-drop, and intuitive interface, people with no experience storing data on cloud storage, will easily get the hang of it.
There are two ways you can conveniently access and use MEGA. First, through a mobile app, you can store, edit, and delete files and photos. Second, through a desktop application where you have access to sync clients. Moreover, its business plan, which can store up to 15TB of data and provide unlimited data transfer, is also one of the best cloud storage services in the market.
Key Features & Benefits
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Up to 15TB
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Unlimited number of devices
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Easy-to-set up encryption setting
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Has a built-in chat function for business teams
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Recommendable cloud storage for businesses
Best Cloud Storage Software for Business and Personal Use
With the best cloud storage in the market, you won't have to let your devices take up valuable storage space or worse-risk losing valuable data over security issues and such. Some of the features of cloud storage services above may have shown some limitations, but all of them suit your personal needs.
But when it comes to business, it's a whole different story. For that, we strongly recommend these cloud storage providers with a particular order: pCloud, Microsoft One Drive, IDrive, MEGA, and Google Drive.
