Icedrive Review in 2025: Cloud Storage Pricing & Features
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Icedrive Review in 2025: Cloud Storage Pricing & Features Review
Icedrive is new to the storage scene, but it’s already showing great promise with its tight security and great ease of use. It still has some rough edges, but you just can't beat 10GB of free space. Check out our full Icedrive review for the details.
Key Takeaways: What Is Icedrive & Is It Good to Use?
Icedrive is a cloud storage service that functions well and makes user privacy a priority.
The development team has done an excellent job of building and designing the app; however, they could make improvements to the mobile version.
Icedrive is one of the few services to offer lifetime plans. If you have the upfront cash, it can be a great long-term investment for access to cheap cloud storage.
Icedrive Review:Top Use Cases for Icedrive Cloud Storage
Protect sensitive files: With a dedicated encrypted folder, Icedrive is perfect for anyone uploading sensitive files to the cloud.
Secure file sharing: Thanks to client-side encryption and password protection, you can securely share files without worrying about anyone intercepting them.
Back up large files: There are no file size restrictions for uploads with Icedrive, making it an ideal solution for video creators.
Icedrive is a relative newcomer to the cloud storage scene, having launched in 2019. Despite that, it’s made a lot of noise, and many people are happy with what they’re hearing. It’s gone through several changes since its launch, so we’re revisiting the platform to check out its latest software version and features. We reveal how good Icedrive is in this updated review.
We’re strong proponents of Icedrive. Having tested all the best cloud storage services, we slot the platform nicely toward the top of the list of leading services. It boasts a beautiful design, comes with an easy-to-use interface and does everything right to keep our files secure and private.
It’s not without flaws, though. It will undoubtedly disappoint users looking for a cloud storage service that can boost productivity. There’s no document creator or option to integrate with third-party tools. For those who need to create work and also want the optimum level of privacy, check out our Sync.com review for a solid Icedrive alternative.
10/25/2021 Facts checked
Updated review with new speed tests and images.
07/20/2022 Facts checked
Updated review to reflect changes in the features and design of Icedrive’s cloud storage solution.
05/17/2023 Facts checked
Updated this Icedrive review to include new speed tests and images, as well as information about changes to lifetime plans and new file-sharing features.
03/08/2024 Facts checked
Company information verified.
Updated this review to note changes to Icedrive’s lifetime plans.
04/04/2024
Updated to note changes to Icedrive’s pricing plans.
07/08/2024 Facts checked
Added fresh Icedrive video review.
We updated this review to reflect the fact that Icedrive now has a sync folder.
12/30/2024 Facts checked
We have rewritten this review to reflect Icedrive’s latest features and software iteration.
What Is Icedrive & Who Is It For?
Icedrive is for consumers who value a well-designed software solution that doesn’t compromise on privacy and security. Industries managing and sharing sensitive files will benefit from the client-side encryption embedded into the software, as will anyone working with large media files thanks to the large amount of storage space on the lifetime plans.
Release date: 2019
Developer: ID Cloud Services
Platforms: Desktop, web and mobile apps
Operating systems: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android
Pricing: $215.76 (two-year plan); $8.99 per month for 3TB of storage space
The Cloudwards Expert Opinion
As a photographer and tech reviewer, not only do I value a cloud storage solution that is ideal for viewing files, but I also need it to be secure. Icedrive ticks both of those boxes. It’s one of the best options for sharing online files with my clients, too — I can password-protect their personal images, ensuring they have as much peace of mind as I do. It’s also one of the few providers to offer lifetime cloud storage plans, which means you can save if you use the service longer than a few years.
Icedrive doesn’t offer an abundance of features. However, the available features are implemented very well, and it provides all the core elements you’d look for in a cloud storage service.
Dedicated Sync Folder
Icedrive hasn’t done the best job of adding dedicated sync functionality to its desktop app.
Through what Icedrive calls “Sync pairing” you can now create a dedicated folder to sync all your Icedrive files. Although it will upload all future files you add to the local folder, you won’t be able to access files you uploaded previously through the web or mobile app, or a different computer. It’s not the best execution of the sync folder, but at least it’s there.
Encrypted Folder
The encrypted folder gives you more control over which files you want to have the optimum level of privacy, such as bank statements. You won’t have file previews and you’ll need to download them to view them. However, you can leave files you want to access quickly outside of the encryption folder, giving you the best of both worlds.
Icedrive lets you add files to a dedicated encrypted folder.
File Requests
File requests are the best way to receive files directly to your Icedrive account. You can send a folder link to the person sending the files, have them upload the files and then you can access them via the web app or desktop client. At the time of writing, it’s not possible to access these files via the mobile app.
You can send file requests to external users and manage them within the Icedrive apps.
File Management
Users can create separate folders and subfolders for different files. You can set specific files and folders as “favorite” and quickly access them via the “favorites” tab. For a little more panache, users can color-code their folders. There’s also a search bar, which allows you to find files by name.
There are several ways to manage files and put them in an order that suits you.
Version History
Free users can access up to three previous versions of a file within a 15-day period. Paid users can go back to 10 previous versions of a file for up to 180 days. This is a useful feature for anyone who regularly edits files and realizes they need to access a previous iteration.
You can access older versions of files for up to 180 days, depending on your plan.
For the most part, we enjoy using Icedrive. It does have some functionality bugs, such as not being able to create public links due an “IP error,” and the mobile app has some design flaws. Overall, though, Icedrive works well, and the day-to-day user experience is positive.
Icedrive on Desktop: macOS & Windows Apps
The virtual drive for desktop is similar to a dedicated sync folder. However, once installed, you can access all your files without having to download them. You can delete, edit and interact with files just like you would on your local drive. This was originally only available to Windows users, but Icedrive has now opened it up to both macOS and Linux users as well.
The portable app is different from the virtual drive. Simply download Icedrive, and you can use it on any desktop and enjoy the same user experience as the web variant. There are no overwhelming benefits — you still need an internet connection to access your files. It’s mainly an alternative for those who don’t want to open Icedrive via the web browser.
Icedrive on Mobile: Android & iOS Apps
The mobile app’s design isn’t quite to the same standard as that of the web app. File names are cut off at the edges of the screen, for example. You can create folders, and upload text and media files. It’s certainly not the worst mobile app we’ve tested, but in comparison to the likes of pCloud, Google and Dropbox, it’s not the most inspiring.
How to Install Icedrive
In this section, we’ll take you through each step of installing Icedrive’s virtual drive. We installed the app on our Mac device.
Download the Virtual Drive
Icedrive has two download options. Select the first one, “virtual drive,” and then select your operating system.
Install the Virtual Drive
Click“open” and authorize your computer to install the virtual drive.
Download macFUSE
You’ll need to download macFUSE, a drive-mounting software, in order to run your virtual drive.
Install macFUSE
To install macFUSE, drag and drop “install macFUSE”into the “extras” folder.
Mount the Virtual Drive
Return to the Icedrive virtual drive and mount it so you can begin using it.
How to Set Up & Use Icedrive
In this section, we’ll take you through the steps of installing and using Icedrive’s portable app.
Download the Portable App
Download the portable app via the “download” page and select the correct operating system.
Run the Portable App.
After the download is complete, click the Icedrive logo to run the portable app.
Upload Files.
Click the “upload” tab in the top right-hand corner to upload files and folders.
Icedrive Pricing: How Much Does Icedrive Cost?
90 % – Excellent
Icedrive offers excellent value on certain plans. Month-to-month options are pricey, but that’s by design, as most providers want you to sign up for long-term plans. Once you start considering the one- to two-year plans, Icedrive becomes one of the most cost-effective options on the market. We’ll break things down a little further below.
Icedrive ranks high in our selection of the best free cloud storage services. Users with a free account get 10GB of free storage space. There are no file size limits on uploads, making it ideal for anyone needing to upload a handful of videos. Frustratingly, there’s no zero-knowledge encryption for free — you’ll need to switch to one of Icedrive’s paid plans for that.
Pricing Plan Breakdown
Icedrive offers a range of pricing structures, which we really like. On top of monthly and yearly plans, you also have two-year plan and lifetime cloud storage plans. This gives you plenty of opportunity to drive down the monthly cost of storage space.
If you don’t want to make a lifetime commitment, we recommend jumping on a two-year plan for the best value. You can get storage space for as little as $2.99 for 100GB, which is cheaper than much of the competition. You also get a 14-day money-back guarantee when you sign up.
Icedrive Speed
95 % – Excellent
Icedrive tops our selection of the fastest cloud storage providers. We’ve put them all through our rigorous testing, which involves uploading and downloading a 5GB folder multiple times. We do this on a 100 Mbps internet connection to ensure consistency. Icedrive was the first to pass the post each and every time. We reveal the raw data below.
Icedrive Speed Test Results
Upload Speeds
1st Attempt
2nd Attempt
Average
0:07:12
0:07:06
0:07:09
Download Speeds
1st Attempt
2nd Attempt
Average
0:07:11
0:07:41
0:07:26
Notes From the Lab: Our Detailed Speed Analysis
Our Icedrive speed tests revealed some notable aspects to keep in mind. Firstly, during uploads via the Icedrive desktop app, the platform used around 100MB of memory, peaking at 180MB. This means other actions on your computer can slow down while uploads are in progress. For reference, standard memory usage on other platforms is around 60MB.
Despite high CPU usage at first, it remained low for the rest of our upload. The same isn’t true for downloads — we witnessed a spike in CPU load of around 40%, which can lead to unresponsiveness while carrying out other actions. That said, it wasn’t an overly notable issue, and we were still able to use our computer for other activities.
File Sharing & Syncing
80 % – Good
You can share files via the desktop, web and mobile apps. We did run into a technical issue when creating public links for our files, though. The error message “abusive IP range detected” would appear, making it impossible for us to create a public link. This seems to be a common issue, and we had to reach out to the support team to resolve it.
File Sharing Options
There are multiple security options when sharing a file, including password protection and user permissions. It’s possible to send file requests, too, allowing external users to upload files to a shared folder that you can access via your account.
File Syncing Options
Icedrive syncs your files across all device types, and you can separate encrypted files from standard files on the mobile and desktop apps. You can sync individual files, multiple files and folders across all platforms. The mobile app allows you to sync files directly from your photo app. However, it lacks other sync features, such as block-level for faster updates.
Security: Is Icedrive Safe?
90 % – Excellent
Icedrive users can benefit from some of the best security and privacy protocols in the cloud storage space. There are several features that show Icedrive’s clear commitment to putting user privacy first, as well as features that offer robust security for file sharing. Let’s break them down.
Icedrive Security Features
Icedrive has several security features to give your files more protection. You can password-protect your files and set expiry dates for access to files and downloads. Two-factor authentication is available, which you can set up through either Google Authentication or SMS messaging.
Icedrive is somewhat of a trailblazer when it comes to security. When your files are at rest, It uses Twofish encryption rather than the industry standard AES encryption. We can debate which is better all night, but the reality is they’re both impenetrable — your files are safe with either protocol. Icedrive uses TLS encryption when your files are in transit.
Privacy: Is Icedrive Private?
90 % – Excellent
Icedrive is one of the most private solutions and is perfect for those handling sensitive data. It puts several measures in place to ensure you have maximum control over the encryption of your files. Client-side encryption is included on paid subscriptions, meaning encryption takes place on your device before it reaches Icedrive’s servers. Let’s take a closer look.
Zero-Knowledge Encryption
Zero-knowledge encryption hides your encryption keys from everyone, including your service provider. Icedrive gives you the option to place specific files in an encrypted folder and separate your standard and encrypted files. The benefit to this is that encrypted files don’t have file previews or thumbnails. You need to download the files to view them.
Icedrive Privacy Policy
Icedrive has a very simple, easily digestible privacy policy that helps you understand what’s happening with your data. The good news is that Icedrive won’t sell your data, nor does it track your internet usage with third-party software. The platform is fully compliant with GDPR regulations, so you have total control over how your data is handled.
Icedrive Customer Support
80 % – Good
Icedrive offers support through its knowledgebase, community forum and email. There’s plenty of information in both the forum and the knowledgebase, and most common queries can be resolved with a quick search.
Icedrive has most necessary support streams but lacks telephone support.
Email Support Speed & Quality
Email response time is 24 to 48 hours. Icedrive upheld this, responding to our query within six hours. Despite the great response time, though, the support team didn’t resolve our query. We were unable to create public links and were told that “it’s likely that our system has detected your IP as being high risk.” The problem persisted with multiple IP addresses.
Icedrive vs Other Cloud Storage Services
As noted earlier, Icedrive is up there with the best cloud storage providers in almost every area. Below, we highlight how the platform compares to other leading platforms in the space.
Icedrive vs Sync.com
Sync.com is another privacy-focused cloud service. It offers zero-knowledge encryption, even on its free plan. Unlike Icedrive, Sync.com integrates productivity apps into its platform, offering Microsoft Word compatibility. It’s much slower than Icedrive in upload and download performance, though. Check out our Sync.com vs Icedrive comparison for more.
pCloud shares some negative qualities with Icedrive. They both charge for zero-knowledge encryption and lack powerful collaboration tools. However, they also share some positive aspects — for example, they’re both speed demons and offer excellent security measures.
pCloud has the slight upper hand in terms of features, though, mainly due to its native media player. You can learn more in our pCloud review.
It’s impossible for Icedrive to compete with Google Drive’s productivity features. You can create various document types, all of which sync to your cloud storage. Google Drive isn’t far behind in speed tests, either. However, it lacks zero-knowledge encryption, and it scans and sells your data. Read our Google Drive review for further information.
Community Feedback: Icedrive Reviews on Reddit & Social Media
Icedrive isn’t just popular in the tech review space — everyday users speak highly of it as well. In a community post on Reddit, one user wrote, “Icedrive is great speed wise,” while another said, “I highly recommend it, I’m using it daily for work purposes and it’s amazing…” Most comments about Icedrive were overwhelmingly positive.
The Verdict: Is Icedrive Worth It?
We remain big fans of Icedrive. For the right person, it’s certainly a good solution. The web interface is beautiful, and the incorporation of the virtual drive across all operating systems gives it more value. Overall, its privacy and security measures are top notch, and you can back up your files with confidence. Plus, the lifetime plan options offer amazing value.
It’s not a viable workspace like other cloud storage services, though, and productivity gurus should consider other options. You can check our selection of the best cloud storage for collaboration for inspiration.
Did you find this review useful? What has your experience with Icedrive been like? Is there another product you would like us to review? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading.
FAQ: Icedrive
Yes, Icedrive is a trustworthy platform that puts user security and privacy before any other feature.
One of Icedrive’s disadvantages is that, despite being a fast cloud storage service, it can put pressure on your computer’s memory and CPU, which may lead to a decrease in performance.
Yes, a lifetime Icedrive subscription can certainly be worth the upfront investment If you intend to use your plan for a long time (and the company stays in business).
Icedrive has the better design, but pCloud offers better features — most notably, its native media player.
Dan brings with him five years of experience in tech journalism. While traveling the world with his camera, he can found writing about tech and photography, all with a smile on his face. You can also read Dan's words TechRadar, The Phoblographer and TomsGuide. Aside from writing, editing and hosting podcasts, Dan also enjoys eating tacos—maybe a little too much!
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