The 5 Best iCloud Alternatives: Top Storage Options for Your Photos and Files in 2025
iCloud is an effective tool created for Apple product users. However, sometimes even Apple users need an iCloud alternative that offers more features. This guide highlights the top five iCloud alternatives on the market.
Written by Grace Micere (Writer)
Reviewed by Valentina Bravo (Editor)
Facts checked by Goran Nikolić (Fact-checking editor)
Last Updated: 2024-10-29T11:08:19+00:00
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways: These Are the Best Cloud Storage Alternatives for iCloud
- Sync.com — Best iCloud alternative overall.
- pCloud — Best iCloud alternative for photos.
- Icedrive — Easiest iCloud alternative to use.
- Dropbox — Best iCloud alternative for Android.
- Google Drive — Cheaper alternative to iCloud.
Facts & Expert Analysis About Alternatives to iCloud:
- iCloud Documents and Data discontinued: In February 2024, Apple discontinued the iCloud Documents and Data feature, moving all its user files to iCloud Drive. 1
- The U.K. plans to restrict encryption: The U.K.’s Online Safety Bill seeks to restrict the end-to-end encryption that online apps offer. 2
- pCloud launches Business Pro: pCloud announced the release of Business Pro, which unlocks more storage and robust collaboration tools.3
We use our devices to create and store files, folders, photos, videos and other media, so we need reliable cloud storage to keep it secure. Though iCloud is effective for Apple users, non-Apple users need an iCloud alternative. Even Apple users who want more storage at an affordable price, or anything beyond basic cloud storage features, need an alternative.
iCloud offers only 5GB of free storage, which is limited compared to competitors like Google Drive, which offers 15GB. iCloud also lacks robust collaboration features that allow teams to work on documents together in real time. In addition, iCloud has limited integrations with other tools. The iCloud Calendar integration with Google Calendar was all we could find.
We routinely test and research many cloud storage applications, so we’ve compiled a list of the five best iCloud alternatives for photos, security, collaboration, pricing and more. These services are available on more platforms and offer expansive storage space at affordable prices. What’s more, all these tools made our list of the best cloud storage services.
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08/31/2024
Added video reviews for cloud storage providers in the list.
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10/29/2024 Facts checked
We rewrote this roundup to include up-to-date information on features, pricing and industry news.
Cloudwards’ Choice: Sync.com
Of all the tools we researched, Sync.com was the only one to tick all the boxes. We particularly like the 365-day file recovery, which can help prevent huge data losses. iCloud offers only 180 days of file recovery. Sync.com is also more private than iCloud, offering end-to-end zero-knowledge encryption on all accounts.
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The 5 Best Alternatives to iCloud Storage Compared
| Cloud Service | Free Storage | Price | Server Locations | End-to-End Encryption | Online Collaboration | Advanced Sharing | Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 5GB | From $8 per user per month | Toronto and Scarborough (Canada) | Yes (all accounts) | SOC 2 Type 1, zero-knowledge encryption, GDPR, HIPAA & PIPEDA compliant | ||
 | 10GB | $5.53 | Dallas (U.S.), Luxembourg (EU) | Yes (sold separately) | Zero-knowledge encryption, AES 256-bit, TLS/SSL | ||
 | 10GB | From $2.99 per user per month | U.K., Germany, U.S. | Yes (only on paid plans) | Zero-knowledge, client-side & Twofish encryption | ||
 | 2GB | From $9.99 per user per month | U.S., Australia, EU, Japan, U.K. | No | AES 256-bit, TLS/SSL | ||
 | 15GB | From $1.67 per user per month | North America, South America, Europe, Asia | No | AES 128-bit, 256-bit, 2FA & TLS |
1. Sync.com — Best iCloud Alternative Overall
Sync.com is the best iCloud alternative we could find. It’s the most secure cloud storage service and features end-to-end encryption, has SOC 2 Type 1 certification and uses no third-party tracking. All users can access the two-factor authentication feature for added account security.
Sync.com offers advanced share controls. As you send files to others, you can choose to enable download limits, expiry dates and read-only access. You can also transfer your entire account to someone else. Additionally, advanced sharing is available for all paid plans.
Sync.com Hands-On Testing
Sync.com focuses on syncing your files seamlessly across up to five devices.In addition, it refrains from sending users constant prompts to upgrade the app. Sync.com is what we imagine the ideal cloud storage service to look like.
Sync.com has apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android, which we found quite simple to use. However, it lacks some desktop convenience functionalities, like the ability to drag and drop files. Instead, you’ll have to use the menu options to move your files. In addition, Sync.com doesn’t have a Linux app.
Sync.com Pricing & Value
Sync.com offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for all its plans. Its free version provides 5GB of storage and other essential features. Of all the paid versions, we recommend the Solo Basic plan. It unlocks more functionalities, including a multi-user admin console, role delegation and a 2FA enforcement policy. Our Sync.com review has more details.
- 5GB
- 200GB
- 2TB
More plans
- 6TB
- Price includes 3 users
- 1TB
- Monthly price for 1 user (3 users minimum) Yearly price for 3 users
- Unlimited GB
- Minimum 100 users, custom requirements, account manager, training options
2. pCloud — Best iCloud Alternative for Photos
pCloud lets you play media online without having to leave the platform. It has a built-in video and audio player with playlists. Unlike iCloud, pCloud allows you to collaborate with teammates by choosing shared files or folders to which you can add comments. Non-pCloud users can also be collaborators.
pCloud lets you recover lost files with its “rewind” feature. This tool covers up to 15 days on the free plan and up to 30 days on premium plans. The coverage is pretty low compared to competitors like Sync.com and Dropbox, which offer up to 180 days or more. You also have to pay extra to access more advanced pCloud security features.
pCloud Hands-On Testing
We found the pCloud interface easy to set up and use. You can sign up using your Facebook or Google account, or by adding an email address and setting a strong password. pCloud has apps for all major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. The apps are simple to navigate and use.
We liked that the “fair sharing” collaboration feature lets people add unlimited files without using up their own storage space. Only the original sharer’s personal storage space is impacted. In addition, you can use pCloud to play videos online, which we believe makes it the best iCloud substitute for storing media files.
pCloud Pricing & Value
pCloud has a free version that offers up to 10GB of storage space. It has a 14-day money-back guarantee for all its paid plans, including pCloud Premium and Premium Plus.
Based on our analysis, pCloud is the best cloud storage for images due to its lifetime subscriptions. These subscriptions allow you to pay once and get up to 10TB of file, folder and media storage space. We recommend pCloud Premium 500GB for personal file syncing; its basic features are apt for individual users. Learn more in our pCloud review.
- 10GB
- 500GB
- 2TB
More plans
- + FREE Encryption
- 2TB
- + FREE Encryption
- 10TB
- Price per user (minimum 3)
- 1TB
- Price per user (minimum 3)
- 2TB
- Encryption for pCloud Drive
3. Icedrive — Easiest iCloud Alternative to Use
saving and sharing sensitive documents.
Icedrive is easier to use than iCloud because everything is simple to find on its airy user interface. Its left-hand menu lists all essential functionalities. The free version provides a generous 10GB of storage, which is much more than some cloud services, like Sync.com and Dropbox.
However, it’s important to note that Icedrive’s free plan doesn’t offer client-side encryption. We therefore recommend that you use it to send less sensitive files only. You’ll have to pay to unlock additional features like advanced admin controls and zero-knowledge encryption.
Icedrive Hands-On Testing
We were impressed that Icedrive lets you choose to store files off your hard drive. This helps free up space on your device and keep it functioning optimally. In addition, the user interface is delightfully simple to navigate. Unlike Sync.com, you can easily drag and drop files to move them around on Icedrive.
Icedrive has Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS apps. It’s one of the few cloud services that offers an app for Linux devices. Note that Icedrive offers two distinct desktop applications — a portable app and a mounted app.
The difference between these two apps is that you can mount the mounted app like you would an external hard drive. It also has a web app that functions just as well as the designated device apps. If you don’t need to sync any files with your hard drive, the web app will suffice.
Icedrive Pricing & Value
Icedrive’s free version offers 10GB of storage and 50GB of monthly bandwidth. You can use the 14-day money-back guarantee to take the tool for a spin. We suggest going with the Lite plan — it’s more affordable, and it unlocks client-side encryption and 10 times more storage than the free version. Read our Icedrive review for more details.
- Bandwidth limit: 50GB
- 10GB
- Bandwidth limit: 250GB
- 100GB
- Bandwidth limit: 2TB
- 1TB
More plans
- Bandwidth limit: 8TB
- 3TB
- 512GB
- 2TB
- 10TB
- Additional 128GB storage for users who purchased the Lifetime Plan
- 128GB
- Additional 512GB storage for users who purchased the Lifetime Plan
- 512GB
- Additional 2TB storage for users who purchased the Lifetime Plan
- 2TB
4. Dropbox — Best iCloud Alternative for Android
If you compare Dropbox vs iCloud, you’ll see that Dropbox is the best iCloud alternative for Android devices. It incorporates classic Android icons and functionalities like the “share” and “plus” icons. It also integrates with multiple apps, including Microsoft Office, HubSpot and Google Workspace. Dropbox has apps for Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
Unfortunately, Dropbox Sign experienced a data breach in April 2024 that compromised customer information. This information included user emails, usernames and account settings. Fortunately, this breach was isolated to Dropbox Sign only, and the company contacted all users.
Dropbox Hands-On Testing
on this list.
Dropbox offers robust features such as an online document editor, screen recording and e-signatures. The e-signature feature lets you send a request to other users to sign a document by adding their name, signature and the date. The online document editor allows multiple users to work on the same Word, Excel or PowerPoint document simultaneously.
Additionally, Dropbox looks very similar to Sync.com. However, it is not quite as simple to use as other cloud services on this list. Beginners may find themselves getting lost in the interface while trying to find advanced features that aren’t on the main menus.
Dropbox Pricing & Value
Dropbox’s Basic plan offers 2GB of storage, plus basic features like connecting up to three devices and 30-day file recovery. You can try out the Plus plan with a 30-day free trial. Dropbox has no money-back guarantee, and we found its paid versions to be quite pricey. The Plus plan is a great option for personal use. Find out more in our Dropbox review.
- 1 user
- 2GB
- 1 user
- 2TB
- up to 6 users
- 2TB
More plans
- (Formerly Dropbox One) 1 user Signature requests and eSignature templates
- 3TB
- 3 users minimum
- 5TB
- 3 users minimum
5. Google Drive — Cheaper Alternative to iCloud
Google Drive is one of the most popular Apple iCloud alternatives, especially for personal use. Unlike iCloud Drive, Google Drive offers 15GB of free storage space, robust collaboration features and multiple integrations, making it the best free iCloud storage overall. Google Photos works great for Windows, Android, iOS, Linux and macOS.
Though it facilitates easy file sharing with others, Google Drive isn’t the best option for data privacy. It doesn’t provide zero-knowledge encryption, and it’s notorious for logging user data. Unlike iCloud Safe, you can’t password-protect shared files on Google Drive. It also lacks advanced file- and photo-sharing protections that many other cloud services offer.
Google Drive Hands-On Testing
on this list.
Google Drive is easy to use, and its airy interface is simple to navigate. It’s essential to note that Google Drive is part of the Google Workspace. Much like Microsoft OneDrive, the Workspace includes Google Docs, Sheets, Photos, Gmail and more. All of these apps share the same storage space that you get with Google Drive.
We were impressed by the sheer number of integrations that the Google Suite offers for other apps. It integrates with ClickUp, Dropbox, Slack and Zapier, to name a few. However, though Google Drive is great for collaboration, we don’t recommend sharing sensitive files with it.
Google Drive Pricing & Value
Google Drive’s free version offers 15GB of storage. For more storage across the Google Suite, you must subscribe to Google One. Paid plans include a 90-day free trial. We recommend Basic for personal use, as it is the cheapest. Premium is great for businesses because it unlocks advanced admin controls. Learn more in our Google Drive review.
- Free plan
- 15GB
- 100GB
- *The plan is “hidden.” To find the 200GB plan, you need to be subscribed to one of the other plans, upgrade or downgrade to the 200GB through your account’s settings.
- 200GB
More plans
- 2TB
- 2TB
- 5TB
- 10TB
- 20TB
- 30TB
Our Methodology: How We Tested the Best iCloud Alternatives
The ideal iCloud substitute should be accessible on multiple channels beyond the ones that Apple provides. It should be simple to use and highly secure, and it should facilitate safe file sharing among team members. Consider these factors when choosing an alternative to iCloud.
- Ease of setup: The application should be simple to download and configure on all platforms and devices, including mobile devices and desktops.
- Robust security: The service should have provisions for two-factor authentication, end-to-end encryption, file access controls and more.
- User-friendly interface: The ideal solution will have a colorful and appealing interface that’s easy to use. It should automatically sync files across all your devices without a fuss.
- Cross-platform compatibility: A great iCloud substitute should provide apps for all the major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, iPadOS and Linux.
- Third-party integrations: This solution will integrate seamlessly with most of the other apps that you use, including productivity apps and the best project management apps.
- Collaboration tools: The ideal iCloud alternative will let you send files to others through secure channels and control team access to files and folders.
- Price: The application should be affordable while giving you access to all the essential features.
Why You Need an Alternative to iCloud Storage
You should consider an alternative to iCloud if you are seeking robust collaboration features and more integrations. You should also pick an iCloud alternative if you plan to store and share sensitive documents like bank details, health information and social security numbers.
Free iCloud backups are quite limited in terms of space, so choose an iCloud substitute if you need a reliable cloud service with more free storage.
Final Thoughts: What’s the Best Alternative to iCloud?
The best alternative to iCloud is Sync.com. It has robust security features, and it’s available on all major platforms except as a Linux desktop client. It also has a 30-day money-back guarantee. When choosing the best cloud storage service for you, seek one that supports multiple platforms, allows collaboration and has multiple third-party integrations.
iCloud was created to cater to Apple users, but it’s not the only choice. If you want to move beyond the Apple ecosystem, all the options listed above offer robust security, privacy, integrations, and sharing and collaboration features.
Which cloud service are you currently using? Have you used any of the apps listed above? How was your experience? Let us know in the comments, and as always, thank you for reading.
FAQ: iCloud Drive Alternatives
Yes, Sync.com is a better alternative to iCloud. It’s much more secure, offers more robust features and doesn’t have a personal file size limit.
You can back up your iPhone on other cloud apps like Sync.com, Dropbox, Icedrive, pCloud or Google Drive.
Google Drive, pCloud and NordLocker are cheaper alternatives to iCloud.
Yes, you can use Microsoft OneDrive, Sync.com, pCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox or Icedrive as an alternative to iCloud storage.