Skip to main content

10 free online storage services to claim your space in the cloud

It’s so easy to generate a mountain of digital files nowadays. We take more photos than ever, shoot hours of video, and love to share. Cloud storage provides convenient access wherever we may be, like a digital filing cabinet. It’s also great for collaborating on projects and providing a simple way of sharing files with selected family, friends, or business contacts. But it can also cost a pretty penny.

Below are our favorite cloud storage apps for iOS and Android and some tips on how to avoid paying for cloud storage at all.

Organize your files into groups, and use different services

Most cloud storage services offer you a limited amount of free space, hoping that you’ll upgrade when you run out and sign up for a subscription package. If you’re willing to do a little organizing, then there’s really no need to pay anything at all. Start by breaking your files down into groups. Split your photos and videos, organize by date, or pick a single service for your media. Also, keep your documents grouped, separate all your work-related files, and so on. Once you have your groups, take a look at how much space you need and create separate free cloud storage accounts for each category.

We’ve rounded up the best free cloud storage apps. All of these options can also be accessed from your desktop or laptop through an app or your web browser.
Note: These figures are correct at publishing, but the cloud storage space is competitive and limits and offers frequently change.

Most commonly used: Dropbox

dropbox app ios
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Dropbox is easy to use, very reliable, and one of the oldest players in cloud storage. There are few restrictions on what you can upload, and you can share folders with other Dropbox users or send links to allow people to access your files with 2GB of free storage. You can also create public folders if you wish. You can access previous versions of files for up to 30 days and access both a desktop client and the option to log in anywhere through your browser. You can get up to 1TB of storage with Dropbox Pro, which costs $10 per month.

Dropbox

The best option for photo backup: Google Drive

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The 15GB you get from Google spans Gmail, Google + Photos, and Google Drive. However, there are lots of exceptions that don’t count toward your limit. For example, photos smaller than 2,048 x 2,048 pixels and videos shorter than 15 minutes uploaded through your Google Photos app don’t count. You’ll also find that Google documents you create within Drive don’t count. You can access Google Drive through a client, mobile app, or your web browser. Deleted files go into your trash or bin, and they stay there until you either permanently delete them or restore them.

Google Drive

Best option for Windows users: OneDrive

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Microsoft’s OneDrive used to be called SkyDrive, and it comes pre-installed on Windows 10. You can access your files through a client or your web browser.  You can also create public folders, and deleted files go into the recycle bin for 30 days so that you can restore them during that period. Plans range from 5GB of storage for free to 5TB of storage for $100 per year. If you subscribe, you can use all the Microsoft Office apps with real-time notifications on edits for collaborations. It’s easy to configure the mobile app to back up things like photos automatically.

OneDrive

If you use Amazon, try: Amazon Drive

Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber, you get 5GB for free with Amazon Drive and free unlimited storage for photos. You can share files easily via URL. Deleted files go into your deleted items list and can be restored unless they are deleted permanently. Amazon also offers an Unlimited Storage plan with a free three-month trial, after which you’ll be asked to pay $60 per year.

Amazon Drive

For multi-device file access: Box

Image used with permission by copyright holder

You can easily share files with links or create collaborative folders with Box, allowing for shared workspaces with tasks and comments and 10GB of free storage. Files have a version history, so you can revert quickly if required. Deleted files go into the trash and can be restored for up to 30 days.

Box

For small iPhone/iPad backups: Apple iCloud

Image used with permission by copyright holder

You may as well use this if you own an eligible Apple device, but it has a lot of limitations. It’s unsuitable for sharing or collaboration, so use it to backup personal files. If you have an iPhone or iPad, it can automatically back up photos for the last 30 days via your Photo Stream. All iOS users have 5GB of free storage with the option to purchase more from Apple. If you don’t see the iCloud Drive icon on your home screen, open the App Store, and search for iCloud Drive.

iCloud

Keep private files private: SpiderOak

Image used with permission by copyright holder

This is a good option for personal files that you want to keep private. Your data is fully encrypted and can only be unlocked with your password, which SpiderOak doesn’t store. The zero-knowledge privacy policy ensures that even staff physically accessing the storage servers can’t see your files. There are no file size limits, and you can recover deleted files. There is a 21-day trial that gives you 250GB of storage. After the free trial, you have options from $6 per month for 150GB to $29 per month for 5TB.

SpiderOak

A little more free encrypted storage: Tresorit

Image used with permission by copyright holder

This service also boasts client-side encryption, secure data transfer, and a zero-knowledge policy on passwords. Sensitive photos or videos and private documents will be safe and sound. It also has secure sharing with folders, files up to 250MB, encrypted links, and 7 days of activity history. There’s a free 14-day trial period with 3GB of storage. After that, individual users can opt for a Premium package that offers 500GB of encrypted storage $10.50 per month when billed annually or a Solo package that offers 2.5TB of encrypted storage $24 per month annually.

Tresorit

Lots of free storage and encryption: Mega


Mega is a secure cloud storage option with private encryption keys that gives you a healthy 50GB of free storage. It allows you to share with contacts and even see their updates in real time. Be careful if you lose your password, though, because not even Mega will be able to reset it, and you will lose access to your files. If you need more storage, plans start with Pro Lite, which gives you 200GB of storage for $5 per month and go up to Pro III subscription, which gives you 4TB of storage and 8TB of bandwidth for $30 per month.

Mega

Auto Uploads and unlimited devices per account: IDrive

idrive ios cloud storage app
Image used with permission by copyright holder

IDrive is certainly a one-stop solution for all your backup needs. It has desktop, web, and mobile apps. It will backup and restore your contacts, photos, calendars, and even your health data. It even supports Facebook and Instagram backup. You can share files and folders, and you can also choose to have automatic backups turned on. Like any good secured service, the encryption key is private so that only you have access to your data. The free plan gives you 5GB of storage, while the IDrive personal plan gives you 1TB priced at $52.12 for the first year.

Editors' Recommendations

Simon Hill
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Simon Hill is an experienced technology journalist and editor who loves all things tech. He is currently the Associate Mobile…
The 5 best Wi-Fi adapters for PC in 2024
The Ugreen AC1300 Wi-Fi adapter in a desktop PC.

Whether you're designing it yourself or getting a pre-built PC, it can be easy to get a computer and realize that it doesn't have a native Wi-Fi adapter. Or, maybe it does, but you're internet speeds are getting faster, game downloads are getting bigger, you've already upgraded your router and need an adapter to match your newfound power requirements. No matter the situation, an external Wi-Fi adapter that you can add to your PC setup or even laptop setup will be worth your time. Here, we investigate the best Wi-Fi adapters for PC use. Most are incredibly affordable and just snap into a free USB port and start working.
The best Wi-Fi adapter for PC in 2024

Buy the

Read more
How to pin a website to the taskbar in Windows
A man sits, using a laptop running the Windows 11 operating system.

Windows includes many interesting tools, but if you’re like many people, more and more of your digital life is happening in your web browser and nowhere else. That being the case, you’ll want to keep your most important websites close at hand. The easiest way to access them in Windows is the Start menu and the taskbar, treating them more or less like programs in and of themselves.

Although easy overall, getting a website from your browser to your taskbar is slightly different depending on which browser you’re using.

Read more
This LG 34-inch QHD gaming monitor is discounted from $1,000 to $529
The LG UltraGear monitor on a table.

If you want a top-tier display to go with your gaming PC, check out the 34-inch LG UltraGear QHD curved gaming monitor. Not only will it be a worthy screen for your powerful gaming desktop, but it's also currently on sale from Walmart with a $471 discount that nearly halves its price to just $529 from $1,000. We're not sure how much time is remaining before this offer expires, but like most monitor deals of this caliber, it will probably end sooner than you think. Buy it now if you don't want to miss out.

Why you should buy the 34-inch LG UltraGear QHD curved gaming monitor
Gamers who are playing the best PC games should have a screen that will let you appreciate modern graphics. That's certainly the case with the 34-inch LG UltraGear QHD curved gaming monitor, as its quad HD resolution promises sharp details and lifelike colors, while its curved screen fills your peripheral vision for more immersive gameplay. The gaming monitor also features a 144Hz refresh rate, which is at the top of our computer monitor buying guide's recommended range, and 1ms response time. With these specifications, you'll enjoy smooth movements and quick reaction times, which are extremely important in multiplayer matches.

Read more