Storing things online has become as integral to the internet as cat pictures and phishing scams. From photos and videos to documents and files, your device is likely filled with a wide range of digital assets that need to be stored somewhere.
That’s where cloud storage comes in handy. It allows users to keep all these digital assets online, so they can be accessed at any time from any device. Even better, there are plenty of free cloud storage platforms on the market that will allow you to store them at no cost.
In this guide, you’ll learn about what cloud storage is, what kind of free platforms are available, and whether or not a paid plan is a better fit for your particular needs.
What Is Cloud Storage?
Cloud storage is an online-based storage system that allows for users to store digital assets, like documents, files, pictures, videos, and anything else on the web. This allows you to access the assets from anywhere with access to the platform you use, like smartphones and tablets.
Cloud storage platforms are scalable, allowing users to add more storage options to the service. However, many platforms require you to pay for additional storage, so the free services below won’t be free for long.
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Best Free Cloud Storage Platforms by Storage Space
Now that you know what cloud storage is, it’s time to find a free cloud storage solution that works for you. Here are some of the best cloud storage platforms available today, ranked by free storage space:
1. Mega
Free storage: 20GB
Paid version: $10.84 per month for 2TB
When it comes to sheer storage space, it’s hard to beat Mega. Not only do free users get gifted 20GB, it’s also possible to increase this through Mega’s ‘achievements’, which rewards users an extra 5GB storage for acts such as downloading the app and inviting others to sign up. These rewards only last a year, but it’s hard to complain.
Mega also offers a few extra features that you won’t find on every cloud storage service, such as video calls and messaging, and even allows for screen sharing. It’s also easy to share files and folders with people who don’t have a Mega account.
It’s worth noting that for free users, Mega does set transfer limits, meaning that there is a cap on just how much you can upload/download within a six hour period. This is dependent on factors such as your location and Mega’s network capacity at the time, but it’s unlikely to be an issue for anyone but the heaviest of users.
2. Google Drive
Free storage: 15GB
Paid version: $2 per month for 100GB
Whether you have a Gmail account or not, there’s a good chance you’ve come across Google Drive in the past. This popular feature from Google is a go-to solution for a wide range of businesses, as it offers seamless integrations with other Google services like Gmail, Google Photos, and Google Workspace.
As far as what the free plan offers, you’ll get 15GB across all Google services, so you can store whatever you need. Additionally, you’ll get built-in protections against malware, spam, and ransomware, with helpful warnings when something seems suspicious. The service also integrates with other Google services like Docs, Sheets, and Slides, so you can manage your storage where you actually use it.
If you want a paid plan, you have a lot of options with Google Drive. The service, called Google One, provides eight different pricing plans, offering increasing limits that range from 100GB to 30TB for between $2 per month and $150 per month.
3. Rakuten Drive
Free storage: 10GB
Paid version: $7.99 per month for 1TB
Chances are, you haven’t heard of Rakuten, but the Japanese tech giant has it’s finger in many tech pies, from messaging app Viber, to streaming services. Alongside those, is Rakuten Drive, its cloud storage solution.
New customers to Rakuten Drive can grab a very generous 10GB of storage for free, right out of the gate, and while it’s ongoing paid for subscription service isn’t as cheap as some of the others on our list, it does net you a whopping 1TB of data a month, for $7.99.
One of Rakuten Drive’s plus points is the ability to edit Microsoft Office documents directly in the system, including Word, PowerPoint and Excel files. The feature, introduced in November last year, could be a massive boon to MS die hards who are looking for more free storage than Microsoft’s own solution offers.
4. Apple iCloud Drive
Free storage: 5GB
Paid version: $1 per month for 50GB
Yes, iPhone users are likely quite aware of the iCloud, but it’s not exclusively available to those already in the Apple ecosystem. You can still access this popular cloud storage system by simply heading over to the website and signing up with an email address.
Unfortunately, iCloud Drive is not nearly as robust as Google Drive when it comes to the amount of storage you actually get. In fact, iCloud is one of the lowest on this list as far as storage, offering only 5GB to free users. Luckily, given Apple’s notoriety for security, you can be sure that your data is safe, no matter what you put in there.
For paid plans, Apple iCloud doesn’t offer as many plans or as much storage, but you can still get 50GB for only $1 per month, which is a lower starting point than Google One. Apple also offers 200GB, 2TB, 6TB, and 12TB plans, which can get as expensive as $60 per month, although pricing varies from country to country.
5. Microsoft OneDrive
Free storage: 5GB
Paid version: $2 per month for 100GB
Microsoft takes a slightly different approach to free cloud storage, requiring users to sign up for the full-on Microsoft 365 package to get access. This means you’ll also get access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote, all in a single hub.
OneDrive follows Apple’s lead when it comes to the amount of free cloud storage allowed for non-paying users, offering a mere 5GB per person. However, you do get 15GB of mailbox storage through Outlook, but if you’re looking to store anything other than emails, you’re out of luck.
Microsoft offers a vast array of Microsoft 365 plans for different business needs, but for cloud storage, you have an assortment of options for personal and business use, starting at $2 per month for 100GB of storage and getting as high as $10 per month for 6TB.
6. NordLocker
Free storage: 3GB
Paid version: $3 per month for 500GB (yearly)
NordLocker is the cloud storage service provided by the maker of NordVPN and NordPass, two security services that are lorded as some of the best available today. Given that fact, it’s safe to say that NordLocker is a secure bet when it comes to storing your digital assets in the cloud.
You don’t get a whole lot with the free plan from NordLocker, though, with only 3GB of cloud storage included without a paid plan. You do get end-to-end encryption for all your data, as well as email support if you have any issue accessing the platform for your stored items.
When it comes to pricing, NordLocker is also a bit more expensive than the big tech firms, with two pricing plans at $8 per month for 500 GB and $20 per month for 2 TB. However, you can save a lot of money if you opt for a yearly contract, taking it down to only $3 per month for 500GB and $7 per month for 2TB if you sign up.
7. Dropbox
Free storage: 2GB
Paid version: $12 per month for 2TB
While certainly not considered a big tech firm like Google or Microsoft, Dropbox is one of the original cloud storage services, founded in 2007. It provides a simple, straightforward cloud storage experience that isn’t burdened by robust tech ecosystems like previous entries on the list, but that does mean it’s a bit more limited in functionality the others.
For example, it offers the least amount of storage on this list at only 2GB, which is not much if you’re storing videos and photos. You’ll also be limited to accessing Dropbox on only three devices, so if you have more than that, you might be out of luck.
The paid versions are pretty expensive too, with the starting price of $12 per month for 2TB. Still, the ceiling is a lot higher for Dropbox, with the most expensive plan going for $30 per month for 15TB, much more than any other platform on the list.
Best Free Unlimited Cloud Storage
If you’re searching for a cloud storage provider that offers unlimited storage, then there are plenty of options. Likewise, if you want cloud storage for free, there are some great choices, as our list above shows. If you’re looking for the holy grail of unlimited AND free cloud storage, then we’ve got some bad news.
Cloud storage is expensive – while many of us view the cloud as our files just sitting somewhere out there on the internet, the reality is that all our data is stored on huge server farms, which are power hungry, and require maintenance, all of which costs money. This is why free and unlimited cloud storage is something of a pipe dream.
While some providers do offer it, the perk is usually reserved for business accounts, and as part of a package for other subscriptions.
Should You Purchase Cloud Storage?
If you plan on using cloud storage for a massive amount of digital assets, you’re likely going to have to pay for cloud storage. As you can see, many of the options on the list above have a limit to how much you can store for free, so you’ll need to expand with a paid plan to get the amount you want.
Additionally, paid plans from the above services come with in-depth features, including additional users, advanced editing, and even VPN usage, so if you need that kind of functionality for your cloud storage, it’s likely best to pay for it.
Luckily, cloud storage isn’t that expensive. In many cases, you’ll be paying around $20 per year for a lot more storage, so don’t hesitate too much if you think that a paid plan is a better fit.
