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Best Free Cloud Storage in 2025

Free cloud storage is about more than just storage space, but finding the best option for you doesn’t have to be difficult. Check out our list of the best free cloud storage services to discover the one that best suits your needs.

Aleksandar KochovskiAleksander HougenIgor Kurtz

Written by Aleksandar Kochovski (Writer)

Reviewed by Aleksander Hougen (Co-Chief Editor)

Facts checked by Igor Kurtz (Fact-checking editor)

Last Updated: 2025-02-10T21:49:32+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All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing.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 Free Cloud Storage Providers

  1. pCloud — Offers 10GB of free cloud storage, with excellent file-sharing and media playback features.
  2. Sync.com — Provides 5GB of free cloud storage, with strong encryption and privacy-focused features.
  3. Icedrive — Grants 10GB of free cloud storage, with a sleek interface and fast speeds.
  4. MEGA — Gives 20GB of free cloud storage, with end-to-end encryption and additional bonuses for referrals.
  5. Google Drive — Comes with 15GB of free cloud storage shared across Google services like Gmail and Google Photos.
  6. Filen — Offers 10GB of free cloud storage — expandable to 50GB with referrals — with client-side encryption.
  7. Koofr — Provides 10GB of free cloud storage, with easy integration with other cloud accounts.
  8. TeraBox — The only service with a gargantuan 1TB of free cloud storage.
  9. OneDrive — Includes 5GB of free cloud storage tied to Microsoft services and productivity tools.
  10. Dropbox — Gives 2GB of free cloud storage, with smooth file syncing and well-crafted apps.
  11. iCloud — Offers 5GB of free cloud storage for Apple users, and is integrated into the Apple ecosystem.
  12. Degoo — Provides 20GB of free cloud storage but has ads and few features.

Facts & Expert Analysis About Free Online Storage:

  • Average storage capacity: Free cloud storage services offer around 10GB of storage on average, with a few outliers that offer much less or much more.
  • Largest free cloud storage plan: With 1TB of free storage, TeraBox offers the largest free cloud storage plan out of the box, though its privacy and security are lacking. On the other hand, Filen is a secure alternative that makes it easy to get up to 50GB of free storage via referrals.
  • Safety of free cloud storage: Free cloud storage is safe to use, as long as it comes from a reputable provider and not an unknown service that claims to offer 100GB or 1TB of storage for free.
Best Free Cloud Storage

If you’re strapped for cash but still need cloud storage space, you’re likely looking for free storage. Unfortunately, the free cloud storage scene can be confusing, with many options out there. Don’t worry, though. We’ve put together this list of the 12 best free cloud storage services to help you find the right one.

We’ll weigh different factors, such as the amount of free storage space, speed performance, security and ease of use, as well as the limitations cloud storage providers put on their free plans. Our top choice is pCloud, a secure, free cloud service that ranks second on our list of the best cloud storage. Read on for the full list and detailed reviews of each service.

  • 06/06/2022 Facts checked

    Updated and expanded ranking with new providers and information.

  • 06/24/2022 Facts checked

    Updated Sync.com’s plan and storage information.

  • 07/29/2022 Facts checked

    Removed Amazon Drive as an option following Amazon’s announcement that the company was shutting Drive down in 2023.

  • 08/15/2022 Facts checked

    Added new information regarding MEGA’s security architecture.

  • 05/25/2023 Facts checked

    Updated the article to remove IDrive as an option, due to changes in the free storage allotment.

  • 10/18/2023 Facts checked

    We added more information about our testing and evaluation practices, and updated the information about MediaFire.

  • 03/15/2024 Facts checked

    Added new and up-to-date video round-up

  • 03/21/2024 Facts checked

    Updated to reflect Icedrive’s changes in pricing plans and cloud storage offers.

  • 04/12/2024 Facts checked

    Updated the amount of free storage Degoo offers.

  • 09/26/2024 Facts checked

    Added video reviews of top 9 free cloud storage providers,

  • 01/18/2025 Facts checked

    Added a comparison of data backup solutions and cloud storage terminology.

  • 02/10/2025 Facts checked

    We completely rewrote this article to reflect the current free cloud storage landscape.

Cloudwards’ Choice: pCloud

Aleksandar Kochovski is a Cloudwards expert in cloud storage.

pCloud is my choice for the best free cloud storage. As someone who works with video editing, I appreciate the lack of file size limits. In addition, as one of the few people who still purchases albums, I love pCloud’s music player, which sorts your music and lets you create playlists. I’m also a fan of the virtual drive, which I feel is superior to other syncing methods. 

You can get 10GB of free cloud storage with pCloud, and all paid plans come with a 14-day money-back guarantee.

Which Cloud Storage Gives the Most Free Space?

TeraBox gives you 1TB of free cloud storage, which is more than any other legitimate competitor. However, no free cloud storage service can afford to offer 1TB of storage for each user without making sacrifices; it simply isn’t economically feasible. 

Cloud services offering unusually large amounts of free storage space—or even unlimited storage for free—usually turn out to be insecure at best (as is the case with TeraBox) or scams at worst. 

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If a deal sounds too good to be true, it just might be. The service could share some of your information with third parties (like TeraBox), or the service might delete your data (as alleged with Degoo), or it could even just shut down without warning (like Treasure Cloud).

How to Choose the Best Cloud Storage Services for Free 

There are a few steps you can take to find the best service for your needs and make sure you don’t fall for a free cloud storage scam. These are the top factors to consider when choosing a free cloud storage solution:

  • Free storage space: Evaluate your storage needs. Most cloud services give you around 10GB of free storage. If you need more than that, go with MEGA for 20GB. Alternatively, you can pay for a cheap cloud storage plan if 20GB still isn’t enough.
  • Security: The service you choose must be encrypted; this is non-negotiable. Services like MediaFire, which doesn’t mention anything about encryption on its website, are untrustworthy. Look for two-factor authentication for extra security.
  • Privacy: The ultimate privacy feature is client-side encryption (also referred to as zero-knowledge encryption), which prevents the cloud company from seeing the contents of your files. Another plus is if the company’s servers are based in the EU or in a country with strong privacy laws.
  • Feature limitations: Cloud services usually limit features or speeds on free plans. Make sure the features you need are not locked behind a paywall.

The 12 Best Free Cloud Storage Services: Comparison Chart

Cloud App:Free StorageBest PriceServer LocationsClient EncryptionCollaborationAdvanced SharingSecurity
10GB$8.33 per month
(2TB)
EU
U.S.
*3AES-256
TLS/SSL
5GB$8 per month (2TB)CanadaMicrosoft Office33
AES-256
TLS/SSL
10GB$4.99 per month
(1TB)
EU
U.S.
*Twofish
TLS/SSL
20GB$8.76 per month
(2TB)
EU
Japan
Canada
N. Zealand
AES-256
TLS/SSL
10GB$7.50 per month
(2TB)
EU*AES-256
15GB$8.33 per month
(2TB)
GlobalGoogle WorkspaceAES-256
TLS/SSL
10GB$2 per month
(100GB)
EUMicrosoft Office33AES-256
XSalsa20
TLS/SSL
1TB$4 per month
(2TB)
JapanAES-256
TLS/SSL
5GB$5.83 per month
(1TB)
GlobalMicrosoft OfficeAES-256
TLS/SSL
2GB$9.99 per month
(2TB)
U.S.1Microsoft Office
Google Workspace (add-ons)
3Unknown
TLS/SSL
5GB$9.99 per month
(2TB)
GlobalPartialAES-256
AES-1284
TLS/SSL
20GB$7.99 per month
(5TB)
Sweden2*AES-256
TLS/SSL
*Separate folder
1. Enterprise plan only
2. Server location unclear, but based in Sweden
3. Paid feature
4. On older devices

Detailed Cloud Storage Speed Comparison

We run stringent speed tests here at Cloudwards. For cloud storage, we use a 5GB test folder with various file types and sizes. We upload and download the folder twice over a 100 Mbps symmetrical connection (throttled from 1 Gbps to ensure stability), then average the results. We also monitor the upload and download process, noting any quirks or specifics.

For this article, we took the results of our fastest cloud storage guide and included the free services (for example, TeraBox has two speed options for paid vs free plans, and SmugMug doesn’t have a free plan). Most services were similarly fast for downloads. The results of our upload test were more varied, with a wider margin between the top and bottom results. 

We run our tests from Dublin, Ireland, which makes transfers from European services faster due to proximity. Here are our test results.

#Cloud Service:Average Upload
1.0:07:09 (very fast)
2. 0:07:15 (very fast)
3.0:07:18 (fast)
4.0:07:20 (fast)
5.0:07:31 (average)
6.0:08:29 (average)
7.0:08:32 (average)

8.
**0:08:51 (average)
9.0:10:04 (slow)

10.
0:11:18 (slow)
11. 0:12:25 (very slow)
12.*0:16:55 (very slow)
#Cloud Service:Average Upload
1.0:07:09 (very fast)
2. 0:07:15 (very fast)
3.0:07:18 (fast)
4.0:07:20 (fast)
5.0:07:31 (average)
6.0:08:29 (average)
7.0:08:32 (average)

8.
0:08:51 (average)
9.0:10:04 (slow)

10.
*0:11:18 (slow)
11. 0:12:25 (very slow)
12.**0:16:55 (very slow)

*Degoo lacks a desktop app, so we were limited to uploading through the web app using a 1GB test folder, then multiplied the time by five. This is not fully comparable to the other services.
**TeraBox offers two speed options, a slower speed for the free plan and faster speeds on the paid plan.

1. pCloud— Best Free Cloud Storage

Access your files anywhere, anytime. Cloud storage deals: Save 24% on 2TB of cloud storage with pCloud. 

Pros:

  • Kodi integration
  • Backup feature included
  • Advanced music features

Cons:

  • No document editing
  • Paid client-side encryption

pCloud Free Plan

  • Base free storage: 2GB
  • Max free storage: 10GB

pCloud Free Plan Limitations

  • No client-side encryption
  • No passwords or expiry dates for sharing links

Who Is pCloud For?

  • Best free cloud app for Linux users
  • Best free cloud storage for music lovers
  • Best free cloud storage for videographers and video production

What Does pCloud Do?

According to our experts, pCloud is the best free cloud storage provider. It’s great for storing music in the cloud thanks to its advanced music player, which lets you stream songs directly. It also integrates with Kodi to offer a fully featured entertainment package. This, plus its lack of file size limits, makes pCloud one of the best cloud storage options for video.

Though pCloud offers 10GB of free storage in total, you get only 2GB out of the box. There are a few minor tasks you need to complete to unlock the rest of the storage, such as installing the apps.

pCloud Hands-On Testing

pCloud web app
pCloud sports a clean look and proudly displays its Swiss roots on its web interface.

If you own multiple devices, you’ll be happy to hear that pCloud has mobile and desktop apps for all major operating systems. That includes a native app for the oft-forgotten Linux, which makes pCloud the best cloud storage for Linux as well.

If you want to sync files between all your devices, the pCloud desktop app offers a classic sync folder. You can upload files to the cloud and sync them just by copying the file to this folder. 

If you want to save some space, you can also mount a virtual drive, which lets you access cloud files by temporarily downloading them. Alternatively, you can even use pCloud’s backup feature to back up folders you don’t want to sync to the cloud.

Notes From the Lab: pCloud Speed Test Results

First TrySecond TryAverage
Upload 0:08:360:08:280:08:32 (slow)
Download0:07:180:07:250:07:22 (fast)

Despite once being one of the fastest cloud storage services, pCloud’s speed performance dropped in our last testing round. Though it impacted CPU load only slightly, it fell below our average for upload speeds and was just above average for downloads, landing it somewhere in the middle of our test group for overall performance.

Notes From the Lab: pCloud Security Analysis

pcloud encryption
pCloud’s client-side encryption add-on costs extra,
but it’s worth paying for the added security.
Feature:Encryption Protocols Used
Client-side encryptionYes (paid add-on), single folder
Encryption at restAES-256
Encryption in transitTLS/SSL
JurisdictionSwitzerland, EU, U.S.
Applicable privacy lawsDPA, GDPR (EU servers only)

Key Security & Privacy Features:

  • Swiss privacy laws
  • Two-factor authentication
  • GDPR compliance (EU users)
  • Client-side encryption (single folder, not free)
  • Additional password protection for Crypto files

pCloud is one of the most secure cloud storage providers, but users will be disappointed to learn that client-side encryption is not included with any plan. Instead, you have to purchase a subscription to pCloud Crypto — its private encryption add-on. Thankfully, you can choose to store your data in the EU, where GDPR regulations ensure your privacy.

pCloud Pricing & Value

As with most cloud services, pCloud’s 2TB plan is its best value. pCloud offers 2TB of storage for just $8.33 per month if you subscribe for a year up front — a pretty sweet deal considering all the features you get. You can also get a 2TB lifetime plan for a one-time payment of $399. Check out our full pCloud review for more.

2. Sync.com— Best Free Cloud Storage for Personal Use

Keep your files secure for cheap and save $100 on 6TB of cloud storage with Sync.com.

Pros:

  • Client-side encryption
  • Great value for money
  • Offers unlimited cloud storage
  • Integrates with Microsoft Office

Cons:

  • Free plan is only 5GB
  • Slower than competitors

Sync.com Free Plan

  • Base free storage: 5GB
  • Max free storage: additional 25GB via referrals 

Sync.com Free Plan Limitations

  • 5GB sharing limit
  • No document previews
  • Versioning lasts 30 days
  • No Microsoft Office 365 integration

Who Is Sync.com For?

  • Best free cloud storage for lawyers
  • Best free cloud file sharing for small business 
  • Best free encrypted cloud storage for security-minded users
  • Best unlimited cloud storage for small businesses and power users

What Does Sync.com Do?

Though Sync.com tops our list of best cloud storage providers, its relatively small 5GB free plan plants it firmly in second place this time around. However, despite its modest free offering, Sync.com is still a privacy powerhouse. It offers private encryption for all your files, even if you’re a free user, making it the best cloud storage with client-side encryption.

Sync.com is also great for productivity, letting you edit and collaborate on Microsoft Office documents within a secure environment. If you need secure file sharing, Sync.com gives you a broad range of options, including setting passwords and expiry dates for sharing links, limiting or disabling downloads, and activating notifications for activity on shared files.

Sync.com Hands-On Testing

sync.com web app
Sync.com’s apps are easy to use, with virtually no learning curve.

Sync.com offers apps for all major operating systems apart from Linux. It uses the traditional sync folder method for file syncing, but sadly there’s no option to sync other folders on your device. Mobile users can access and upload files remotely, and the apps can automatically upload your photos to the cloud, but that’s about all they do.

While the web interface is solidly designed, we don’t recommend using it to upload files, as it breaks the client-side encryption by including an intermediary to handle your keys and encrypt your files. Sync.com still can’t access your files, but it adds unnecessary complications and opens a potential vector for cyberattacks.

Notes From the Lab: Sync.com Speed Test Results

First TrySecond TryAverage
Upload 0:10:200:09:470:10:04 (very slow)
Download0:15:170:14:550:15:06 (very slow)

Sync.com has never been known for its speed, and our latest round of tests reinforces that. Its speeds can be unstable when uploading multiple small files, though it handles larger files well. Its download speeds are more consistent but still not as fast as we’d like. Our testers noted that the indexing stage alone took an entire minute on our virtual machine setup.

Notes From the Lab: Sync.com Security & Privacy Analysis

sync.com security settings
Sync.com is one of the most secure cloud storage providers.
Feature:Encryption Protocols Used
Client-side encryptionYes, whole storage
Encryption at restAES-256
Encryption in transitTLS/SSL
JurisdictionCanada
Applicable privacy lawsPIPEDA

Key Security & Privacy Features:

  • Client-side encryption
  • Two-factor authentication
  • HIPAA compliance possible
  • GDPR compliance (EU users)
  • Canadian privacy laws (PIPEDA)
  • Collaboration in zero-knowledge environment
  • Duplicate files across servers for data loss protection

In addition to offering client-side encryption, Sync.com is based in Canada, where a law called PIPEDA protects your privacy. The service is also HIPAA compliant, which means it’s deemed secure enough to store sensitive medical information. It even duplicates your files across multiple servers to protect your data from natural disasters.

Sync.com Pricing & Value

A free account with Sync.com comes with only 5GB of storage, but its paid plans are among the most affordable. You can get 2TB of cloud storage space for just $8 per month on a yearly plan. Sync.com is also one of the few providers to offer unlimited storage space. Read our full Sync.com review for more.

Free
  • 5GB
More plans
Pro Teams Standard
  • Price includes 3 users
  • 1TB
Pro Teams+ Unlimited
  • Monthly price for 1 user (3 users minimum) Yearly price for 3 users
  • Unlimited GB
Enterprise
  • Minimum 100 users, custom requirements, account manager, training options

3. Icedrive— Fastest Secure Cloud Storage Platform

100GB – 3TB$2.99 / month
(save 40%) (All Plans)

Enjoy blazing-fast speeds with Icedrive’s 3TB cloud storage plan at a 27% discount.

Pros:

  • Fastest uploads
  • Client-side encryption folder
  • Lifetime cloud storage plans

Cons:

  • No client-side encryption on free plan
  • No collaboration or productivity features
  • Client-side encryption storage localized to one folder

Icedrive Free Plan

  • Base free storage: 10GB
  • Max free storage: 10GB

Icedrive Free Plan Limitations

  • No sharing options
  • No client-side encryption

Who Is Icedrive For?

  • Cheap cloud storage for those on a budget
  • Secure free cloud storage for the privacy-minded
  • Fastest free cloud storage for uploading large files

What Does Icedrive Do?

Icedrive is a simple cloud storage service that aims to provide a sleek user experience, rather than overwhelming users with extra features. It’s pretty fast as well, making it the best cloud storage for balancing speed and features. 

Its free plan comes with 10GB of cloud storage and, thankfully, has few limitations on features. However, one limitation is the lack of client-side encryption for free users, so those seeking free privacy would be better served by Sync.com. 

Icedrive Hands-On Testing

icedrive web app
Icedrive’s apps feature some of the best-designed user interfaces.

Icedrive has apps for all major operating systems, featuring some of the best UI design we’ve seen in our years of reviewing cloud storage. As for file syncing, you have a few options. The first is the classic sync folder method, with the added option to sync any folder on your device.

One feature Icedrive shares with pCloud is the inclusion of a virtual drive that can help save space on your device. The desktop app also has a portable version that requires no installation. 

Notes From the Lab: Icedrive Speed Test Results

First TrySecond TryAverage
Upload 0:07:120:07:060:07:09 (very fast)
Download0:07:110:07:410:07:26 (average)

As we mentioned, Icedrive is really fast. Much larger names with worldwide server networks are usually the fastest, but Icedrive managed to crack the top three in our latest test, showing the second-fastest uploads. However, downloads were average. Additionally, CPU and RAM usage were a bit high during testing, though the CPU load eased off quickly.

Notes From the Lab: Icedrive Security Analysis

icedrive security page
Icedrive offers client-side encryption via a special folder in your storage.
Feature:Encryption Protocols Used
Client-side encryptionYes (not on free accounts), single folderwhole storage
Encryption at restTwofish 256-bit
Encryption in transitTLS/SSL
JurisdictionU.K., EU, U.S.
Applicable privacy lawsGDPR (EU servers only)

Key Security & Privacy Features:

  • Two-factor authentication
  • GDPR compliance (EU users)
  • Less common Twofish encryption
  • Client-side encryption (single folder, not free)

Like pCloud, Icedrive offers private encryption on paid plans, but just for one folder. Thanks to servers in Germany, Icedrive complies with the GDPR. However, users closer to the U.S. will have their files stored in the States, which is not ideal. Icedrive uses Twofish encryption, which is theoretically harder to crack than the standard AES-256 that most competitors use.

Icedrive Pricing & Value

Icedrive’s free tier comes with 10GB of cloud storage space, and its paid plans are among the cheapest cloud storage offered. You can get 3TB of storage for $8.99 on a two-year plan, and you can sign up for a lifetime plan if you want to save even more. Read our Icedrive review for more.

Free
  • Bandwidth limit: 50GB
  • 10GB
More plans
Lifetime – LIFE 500
  • 512GB
Lifetime – LIFE 2K
  • 2TB
Lifetime – LIFE 10K
  • 10TB
Lifetime Add On – Stack 100
  • Additional 128GB storage for users who purchased the Lifetime Plan
  • 128GB
Lifetime Add On – Stack 500
  • Additional 512GB storage for users who purchased the Lifetime Plan
  • 512GB
Lifetime Add On – Stack 2K
  • Additional 2TB storage for users who purchased the Lifetime Plan
  • 2TB

4. MEGA— Biggest Free Cloud Storage for Security

2TB – 100TB$8.76 / month
(save 16%) (All Plans)

Pros:

  • Large free plan
  • Encrypted sharing links
  • 100GB for regular paid plans

Cons:

  • Lacks features
  • Paid plans are expensive
  • No third-party integrations

MEGA Free Plan

  • Base free storage: 20GB
  • Max free storage: 30GB (one year, referrals not included)

MEGA Free Plan Limitations

  • No password manager

Who Is MEGA For?

  • The most secure cloud storage for free users
  • Power users needing a large storage capacity

What Does MEGA Do?

Much like its name suggests, MEGA is the free cloud storage provider with the largest free plan — at least out of those we can safely deem secure. This generous free online storage provider offers 20GB of storage for free users, expandable to 30GB for a year. You can expand your free storage further with referrals, though each expansion lasts only a year.

MEGA is known for its massive storage plans (to the tune of 10PB — yes, petabytes), but it offers a couple of other goodies as well. It’s decently secure, with client-side encryption protecting all of your files, even on a free plan. It also has an encrypted chat client and offers sharing links. Paid users get access to a password manager.

MEGA Hands-On Testing

MEGA web app
The main method of interacting with MEGA is through its browser extension.

MEGA offers support for Windows, Mac and Linux devices, as well as mobile devices running iOS and Android. MEGA’s desktop apps aren’t very easy to use, as there’s no sync folder option, and setting up syncs can be complicated for new users. Thankfully, its browser extension works well and is much easier to grasp.

Notes From the Lab: MEGA Speed Test Results

First TrySecond TryAverage
Upload 0:07:160:07:240:07:20 (fast)
Download0:08:140:08:020:08:08 (slow)

MEGA is not the fastest cloud storage provider, but it’s decent. In fact, it ranks right in the middle of our testing lineup. Our testers noted that MEGA had minimal impact on CPU and RAM.

Notes From the Lab: MEGA Security Analysis

mega encryption
MEGA lets you control your own encryption keys.
Feature:Encryption Protocols Used
Client-side encryptionYes, whole storage
Encryption at restAES-256
Encryption in transitTLS/SSL
JurisdictionEU, Canada, New Zealand, Japan
Applicable privacy lawsGDPR (EU), PIPEDA (Canada), Privacy Act (NZ)

Key Security & Privacy Features:

  • Open-source apps
  • Client-side encryption
  • Encrypted sharing links
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Password manager (paid users only)
  • GDPR compliance (extends to all users)
  • End-to-end encrypted text and video chat

Though MEGA is zero-knowledge, its architecture has been audited and proven to have some vulnerabilities under certain circumstances. Thankfully, these vulnerabilities have since been patched out, making MEGA a truly secure storage option. Plus, MEGA complies with the GDPR and even extends this protection to users outside the EU.

MEGA Pricing & Value

MEGA’s generous free plan is its standout feature. Its paid subscriptions can be pricey, but its high-capacity plans are a unique offer on the market. MEGA’s best deal is its 2TB plan, which costs $8.76 per month on a yearly subscription. Read our full MEGA review for more.

Free
  • 20GB
Pro I
  • File transfer: 2TB (Monthly plan) 24TB (yearly plan)
  • 2TB
Pro II
  • File transfer: (monthly plan) 96TB (yearly plan)
  • 8TB
More plans
Pro III
  • File transfer: 16TB (monthly plan) 192TB (yearly plan)
  • 16TB
Business
  • Price per user (minimum 3) 3TB Transfer quota
  • 100TB

5. Google Drive— Best Cloud Storage for Collaboration

100GB – 30TB$1.67 / month
(save 16%) (All Plans)

Pros:

  • Google Workspace integration
  • Great sharing & collaboration tools
  • Video player with advanced features

Cons:

  • No Linux support
  • No client-side encryption
  • Google harvests user data

Google Drive Free Plan

  • Base free storage: 15GB
  • Max free storage: 15GB

Google Drive Free Plan Limitations

  • None

Who Is Google Drive For?

  • Best free cloud storage for video
  • Best free cloud storage for Google Workspace users
  • Best cloud storage with fast upload and download speeds

What Does Google Drive Do?

Google is a global household name, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that its cloud storage service ranks on our list of the best free cloud storage. Google Drive is a cloud storage juggernaut, with more than three billion users worldwide. It is the storage hub for all Google apps, like Google Docs and Gmail. Anyone with a Gmail account also has a Drive account. 

It’s a great service for collaboration for your files online, offering secure file sharing, offline access and many other productivity benefits. Besides deep integrations with Google Workspace apps, it also has a store for integrations with third-party apps, expanding Google Drive’s functionality even further. Best of all, a Google Drive free plan comes with 15GB of free storage and has no limitations on features.

Google Drive Hands-On Testing

google drive apps
Google Drive lets you create any kind of Workspace document within its storage space.

Google Drive has multiple apps, including Mac and Windows desktop apps (no Linux support, sadly), and mobile apps for Android and iOS. However, the desktop app is pretty barebones, and our readers often complain about its poor syncing. This solidifies that Google Drive is meant to be used in a browser, in conjunction with other Google apps.

Its mobile app is a bit fussy, as it doesn’t automatically upload photos — you need to install Google Photos for that. Note that photo syncing is two-way, so if you have syncing on and you delete a photo from your phone, it’s gone from the cloud as well.

Notes From the Lab: Google Drive Speed Test Results

First TrySecond TryAverage
Upload 0:07:050:07:250:07:15 (fast)
Download0:07:160:07:190:07:18 (fast)

Google Drive’s speeds are seriously impressive, logging the second highest overall score in our testing. The desktop app had a high impact on our CPU, which decreased gradually as testing went on.

Notes From the Lab: Google Drive Security Analysis

Google Drive privacy policy
Google Drive belongs to a corporation whose primary
business is user data — bad news for privacy.
Feature:Encryption Protocols Used
Client-side encryptionNo
Encryption at restAES-256
Encryption in transitTLS/SSL
JurisdictionU.S.
Applicable privacy lawsNone

Key Security & Privacy Features:

  • Hardened servers
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Independent security audits

There’s no question that Google Drive is secure, as it is a crucial part of Google’s multi-billion-dollar operation. However, Google Drive is not private. There is no client-side encryption, which means Google can (and will) scan all your files for any information it might find useful for its advertising business. 

Google Drive Pricing & Value

If you want to upgrade your 15GB free plan, you can get 2TB of Google Drive storage for $8.33 per month on a yearly plan, which is decently affordable. However, keep in mind that when using any Google product, you pay the full price with your personal data, not dollars. Read our full Google Drive review for the scoop.

15GB
  • Free plan
  • 15GB
Standard 200GB
  • *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

6. Filen — Best Secure Cloud Storage

100GB – 10TB$0.83 / month
(save 17%) (All Plans)

Pros:

  • Open-source apps
  • Generous referral program
  • Client-side encryption for all files

Cons:

  • Limited collaboration

Filen Free Plan

  • Base free storage: 10GB
  • Max free storage: 50GB

Filen Free Plan Limitations

  • No file sharing

Who Is Filen For?

  • Best secure free cloud storage for personal files

What Does Filen Do?

FIlen is a client-side-encryption cloud storage service. It makes our list of the top free cloud storage services thanks to its large free plan. Though it technically provides only 10GB, you can get an extra 10GB if you click on someone’s referral link (easy to do with a quick Google search). 

You can also earn up to 30GB by referring up to three friends to the service, for a total of 50GB of free cloud storage. This makes Filen the secure cloud storage service with the most free space, if you can hit all the requirements.

Filen Hands-On Testing

filen web app
Filen’s web app sports a clean design, if not the most attractive.

Filen offers apps for Windows, Mac and Linux on desktop, and for Android and iOS on mobile. It even has a fully scriptable command-line interface for the techies out there. Filen’s desktop app looks and functions nearly identically to the web app, with the addition of a separate tab to set up syncs and the option to create a network drive.

Although Filen doesn’t create a sync folder on your computer, it does let you sync any folder on it. The setup is a bit complicated, but it’s the most flexible one we’ve seen. You can upload files only to the cloud, sync files both ways or sync only from the cloud to your device. There are also options for local and cloud-based backups, similar to cloud backup software.

Notes From the Lab: Filen Speed Test Results

First TrySecond TryAverage
Upload 0:13:060:11:430:12:25 (very slow)
Download0:07:470:08:100:07:59 (average)

Filen’s upload speeds are among the worst, with only one other service having slower uploads. Thankfully, downloads are reasonably fast and CPU load is low while performing tasks.

Notes From the Lab: Filen Security Analysis

filen security page
Filen offers client-side encryption and GDPR protection for your data.
Feature:Encryption Protocols Used
Client-side encryptionYes, whole storage
Encryption at restAES-256
Encryption in transitTLS/SSL
JurisdictionEU
Applicable privacy lawsGDPR

Key Security & Privacy Features:

  • Encrypted notes
  • Hardened servers
  • Open-source apps
  • Client-side encryption
  • Two-factor authentication
  • GDPR compliance (all users)
  • End-to-end encrypted text chat
  • Files stored on multiple servers

Besides client-side encryption, Filen is one of the most transparent free cloud storage services we’ve tested. Its apps are open source, allowing anyone to audit them for flaws. It also offers encrypted notes and chats, but they aren’t the most useful security features. Being a German provider with EU servers, it complies fully with the GDPR.

Filen Pricing & Value

Filen’s free plan might be the real head turner, but its paid plans are equally attractive. The 2TB plan costs just $7.50 per month with a yearly commitment — the cheapest 2TB plan on this list. There are also lifetime plans, though they aren’t available year round. Read our Filen review for more.

7. Koofr— Best for Multiple Cloud Storage Accounts

10GB – 20TB$0.50 / month

Pros:

  • Microsoft Office integration
  • Multiple cloud management
  • Remote file access without syncing

Cons:

  • Very expensive

Koofr Free Plan

  • Base free storage: 10GB
  • Max free storage: 10GB

Koofr Free Plan Limitations

  • No Microsoft Office integration

Who Is Koofr For?

  • Best free cloud storage for users of multiple cloud services

What Does Koofr Do?

Koofr is a unique service that lets you manage multiple providers in a single cloud storage solution. It integrates with the three major cloud providers — Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox — and lets you manage files within them. In addition, Koofr offers collaboration via Microsoft Office, as well as a client-side vault for sensitive files.

Koofr’s free plan is decent, with 10GB of storage offered and with no limitations on features for free users. 

Koofr Hands-On Testing

koofr desktop app
Koofr’s desktop app is easy to understand thanks to copious feature explainers.

Koofr offers apps for all major mobile and desktop operating systems, as well as a command-line tool. 

Notes From the Lab: Koofr Speed Test Results

First TrySecond TryAverage
Upload 0:07:530:09:040:08:29 (average)
Download0:08:320:07:500:08:11 (average)

Koofr isn’t the fastest cloud storage service, posting below-average performance for both uploads and downloads. Though RAM and CPU usage was low during our testing, large files caused it to choke.

Notes From the Lab: Koofr Security Analysis

Koofr privacy page
Koofr offers client-side encryption and collects no cookies except to maintain logins, and its German servers provide GDPR protection for your data.
Feature:Encryption Protocols Used
Client-side encryptionYes, separate vault
Encryption at restXSalsa20 (private vault only), AES-256
Encryption in transitTLS/SSL
JurisdictionEU
Applicable privacy lawsGDPR

Key Security & Privacy Features:

  • Uses only login cookies
  • Two-factor authentication
  • GDPR compliance (all users)
  • Client-side encryption (single folder)
  • Data duplicated across three servers

Though its client-side encryption implementation doesn’t cover your whole account, Koofr is a very private service. It is based in the EU, where it also hosts its servers, so your data is protected by the GDPR. As a gesture toward increasing user trust, Koofr’s website doesn’t use any cookies, apart from one that keeps you logged in.

Koofr Pricing & Value

Koofr’s paid plans aren’t the cheapest. It’s obvious that it’s geared toward users with few storage requirements, as its smaller plans are affordable. However, prices ramp up quickly, with its 1TB plan costing $10 per month — more than twice the price per terabyte than most other providers on this list. Read our full Koofr review to learn more.

Free Starter 10GB
  • 10GB
Briefcase S – 10GB
  • *Prices in Euro
  • 10GB
Briefcase M – 25GB
  • *Prices in Euro
  • 25GB
More plans
Suitcase L – 100GB
  • *Prices in Euro
  • 100GB
Suitcase XL – 250GB
  • *Prices in Euro
  • 250GB
Suitcase XXL – 1TB
  • *Prices in Euro
  • 1TB
Crate XXXL – 2.5TB
  • *Prices in Euro
  • 3TB
Crate 5XXL – 5TB
  • *Prices in Euro
  • 5TB
Crate 10XXL – 10TB
  • *Prices in Euro
  • 10TB
Crate 20XXL – 20TB
  • *Prices in Euro
  • 20TB

8. TeraBox — 1TB Free Cloud Storage

Pros:

  • 1TB cloud storage for free
  • Automatically sorts files by type

Cons:

  • Poor privacy
  • Ads on free account
  • Greatly reduced speeds for free users

TeraBox Free Plan

  • Base free storage: 1TB
  • Max free storage: 1TB

TeraBox Free Plan Limitations

  • Ad-supported
  • Reduced speeds
  • 4GB file size limit

Who Is TeraBox For?

  • Free cloud storage with the most space, ideal for data hogs

What Does TeraBox Do?

As its name suggests, TeraBox offers a full terabyte of free cloud storage. What more could you want? Plenty, as it turns out. Free users have to deal with throttled speeds, and you’re out of luck if you need to store files larger than 4GB. Plus, if you want to store your video collection, you’re limited to viewing them in 480p. To top it all off, there are ads in the apps.

Still, TeraBox seems like a legitimate service that just so happens to offer a fantastic amount of free storage. There’s not much we can say in its favor beyond that, though.

TeraBox Hands-On Testing

terabox file management
TeraBox’s apps are replete with ads and other small annoyances.

TeraBox can be a bit of a mess to use, at least as a free user. The desktop apps (for Windows and Mac) can’t sync your files, so you still have to upload everything manually. The mobile apps (for Android and iOS) are even worse — they’re dogged by unskippable video ads. We at least appreciate that TeraBox separates files by type for easier navigation.

Notes From the Lab: TeraBox Speed Test Results

First TrySecond TryAverage
Upload 0:08:290:09:120:08:51 (average)
Download0:40:430:42:370:41:40 (very slow)

As we mentioned, TeraBox throttles speeds for free users, but it appears this is the case for downloads only. Its upload speeds aren’t exactly the best, but they’re just below average. However, downloads are painfully slow, and you can download only one file at a time. CPU loads are low, at least.

Notes From the Lab: TeraBox Security Analysis

terabox security page
TeraBox claims to protect your data, but it is
unclear how exactly it encrypts your files.
Feature:Encryption Protocols Used
Client-side encryptionNo
Encryption at restUnknown
Encryption in transitTLS/SSL
JurisdictionJapan
Applicable privacy lawsNone

Key Security & Privacy Features:

  • Vault with two-factor authentication

As you might expect from a service offering so much storage for free, its privacy and security aren’t the best. Despite repeated questions from our reviewers, TeraBox remained mum on its use of at-rest encryption, so you should probably use a third-party encryption app with this provider. Its privacy policy isn’t much better, as it’s full of vague language.

TeraBox Pricing & Value

In addition to having a massive free plan, TeraBox has very affordable paid plans. Its 2TB plan costs just $47.99 on a yearly subscription, which is much cheaper than the other services on this list. Please exercise caution when using TeraBox, though — encrypt your files and keep copies of them elsewhere as well. Read our full TeraBox review for more.

9. OneDrive— Integrated Cloud Storage for Windows

100GB – 6TB$1.67 / month
(save 16%) (All Plans)

Pros:

  • Paid plans come with MS Office
  • Comes preinstalled with Windows

Cons:

  • No client-side encryption
  • Microsoft harvests user data
  • Up to 1TB cloud storage only

OneDrive Free Plan

  • Base free storage: 5GB
  • Max free storage: 5GB

OneDrive Free Plan Limitations

  • Three vault files only

Who Is OneDrive For?

  • Integrated cloud storage for Windows users
  • Best free cloud storage for Microsoft Office users

What Does OneDrive Do?

OneDrive is Microsoft’s cloud storage service, coming preinstalled on Windows computers and integrating deeply with Microsoft Office and SharePoint. Like Google, Microsoft is a data hog, which means using OneDrive comes at the cost of its parent company scanning your files for personal information. Free users get only 5GB of storage.

OneDrive Hands-On Testing

onedrive file sharing
OneDrive integrates well with both Windows and Mac,
letting you share files directly from your desktop.

OneDrive supports Windows (surprise, surprise) and Mac on desktop, plus iOS and Android on mobile. The desktop apps use the sync folder method, with no option to sync other folders. Thankfully, the “on demand” feature lets you set certain files as online-only to save space.

Notes From the Lab: OneDrive Speed Test Results

First TrySecond TryAverage
Upload 0:07:260:07:350:07:31 (average)
Download0:07:180:07:160:07:17 (very fast)

With Microsoft’s worldwide server infrastructure, it’s no surprise that its speeds were some of the fastest in our test, taking the gold for download speeds and tying with Icedrive for third place overall. RAM usage was higher than we’d like, but CPU load remained low throughout.

Notes From the Lab: OneDrive Security Analysis

onedrive privacy policy
OneDrive doesn’t offer client-side encryption, and
Microsoft is a notorious data hoarder.
Feature:Encryption Protocols Used
Client-side encryptionNo
Encryption at restAES-256
Encryption in transitTLS/SSL
JurisdictionU.S.
Applicable privacy lawsNone

Key Security & Privacy Features:

  • Two-factor authentication
  • Password protection for vault files

Like Google Drive, OneDrive is a poor choice for privacy-minded users. It offers no client-side encryption and adds a vault that protects only some files with an additional password. Free users get to keep only three files in their vault, though. 

OneDrive Pricing & Value

OneDrive’s pricing is a bit confusing. First of all, you can’t get more than 1TB of cloud storage on a personal plan. Second, you can’t just buy extra OneDrive storage — you have to purchase it bundled with Microsoft 365 at $5.83 per month on a yearly plan. Read our OneDrive review for more.

Want a deeper dive into OneDrive? Check out our Cloudwards OneDrive course.

Microsoft 365 Free (5GB)
  • For one person
  • 5GB
Microsoft 365 Personal (1TB)
  • Comes with Office 365 Personal
  • 1TB
More plans
Microsoft 365 Family (6TB)
  • Comes with Office 365 Home
  • 6TB
OneDrive for Business (Plan 1)
  • Price per user
  • 1TB
Microsoft 365 Business Basic
  • 1TB
Microsoft 365 Business Standard
  • Price per user
  • 1TB

10. Dropbox — Best Cross-Platform Apps

2TB – 5TB$9.99 / month
(save 16%) (All Plans)

Pros:

  • Reliable syncing
  • Streamlined apps
  • Microsoft Office integration
  • Google Workspace integration

Cons:

  • Not the cheapest
  • Past security breaches

Dropbox Free Plan

  • Base free storage: 2GB
  • Max free storage: 18.5GB

Dropbox Free Plan Limitations

  • No vault
  • No Dropbox Sign
  • Only three devices
  • No remote device wipe
  • Dropbox Transfer limited

Who Is Dropbox For?

  • Best free cloud storage for beginners

What Does Dropbox Do?

Though Dropbox is one of the better cloud storage providers out there, it sits low on our list due to offering only 2GB of cloud storage for free. You can expand this to 18.5GB via referrals, though referring people can be a tougher sell with Dropbox than with larger-capacity free services like MEGA and Filen.

However, it’s still a decent choice if you need to store only documents. In fact, it integrates with two suites of office apps: Google Workspace and Microsoft Office, making it the most flexible free cloud storage when it comes to online collaboration.

Dropbox Hands-On Testing

dropbox web app
Dropbox offers the most pristine user experience of any cloud storage service.

Dropbox offers desktop and mobile apps for all major operating systems. You can install it on multiple computers to cover all the devices you own and sync files between them. As our readers inform us, the apps are finely polished and work perfectly every time — a benefit of Dropbox’s age and maturity as a cloud storage service.

Dropbox invented the sync folder, so it’s no surprise that it’s the service’s syncing method of choice. Its “smart sync” feature is a welcome space-saving addition that lets you set files as online-only.

Notes From the Lab: Dropbox Speed Test Results

First TrySecond TryAverage
Upload 0:07:030:07:320:07:18 (fast)
Download0:07:160:07:280:07:22 (fast)

Dropbox’s speeds are decent, ranking fifth overall behind Icedrive and OneDrive. Keep in mind that all the services in the top five are very close in terms of performance, though. CPU load was low throughout our test run.

Notes From the Lab: Dropbox Security Analysis

Dropbox privacy policy
Dropbox employees can access your data due to the
company’s lack of client-side encryption.
Feature:Encryption Protocols Used
Client-side encryptionYes (Enterprise plan only)
Encryption at restAES-256
Encryption in transitTLS/SSL
JurisdictionU.S.
Applicable privacy lawsNone

Key Security & Privacy Features:

  • Two-factor authentication

Like the other U.S.-based big names, Dropbox is not the best free cloud storage for privacy. It’s had a few leaks and scandals over the years (enough to fill a Wikipedia page), and was even allegedly considered for the PRISM surveillance program. Needless to say, there’s no client-side encryption, either — at least not for personal users.

Dropbox Pricing & Value

If the previous paragraph didn’t have you scrolling down to the next provider and you’re still set on purchasing a Dropbox plan, you’ll find it’s not the cheapest cloud storage provider. Its 2TB plan costs $9.99 per month on a yearly basis. Read our full Dropbox review for more.

Free
  • 1 user
  • 2GB
More plans
Dropbox Essentials (aka Professional for professionals)
  • (Formerly Dropbox One) 1 user Signature requests and eSignature templates
  • 3TB
Dropbox Business (aka Standard for teams)
  • 3 users minimum
  • 5TB
Dropbox Business Plus (aka Advanced for companies)
  • 3 users minimum
Dropbox Enterprise

    11. iCloud — Free Cloud Storage Integrated With Mac & iOS

    50GB – 12TB$0.99 / month

    Pros:

    • Easy to use
    • Preinstalled on Apple devices

    Cons:

    • Lacks features
    • Little free storage
    • Had major security breaches

    iCloud Free Plan

    • Base free storage: 5GB
    • Max free storage: 5GB

    iCloud Free Plan Limitations

    • None

    Who Is iCloud For?

    • Best cloud storage for iPhone 
    • Best cloud storage for Apple users

    What Does iCloud Do?

    Apple iCloud is difficult to recommend, even for free users. Its free plan gives you only 5GB of storage, is slow and has had several security scandals, including the 2014 celebrity nude photo leak. In fact, it’s not even the best cloud storage for Mac. The only positive comment we can make is that it recently added end-to-end encryption, though even that is limited.

    iCloud Hands-On Testing

    icloud account
    iCloud Drive comes preinstalled on all macOS devices.

    iCloud Drive (iCloud’s syncing app) comes preinstalled on Mac and iOS devices and supports Windows, but it lacks Android and Linux support. The desktop app uses the standard sync folder, and it uses selective syncing to save space.

    Notes From the Lab: iCloud Speed Test Results

    First TrySecond TryAverage
    Upload 0:10:400:11:560:11:18 (slow)
    Download0:08:280:08:210:08:25 (slow)

    iCloud had the third slowest upload speeds, fourth slowest download speeds and some of the worst overall performance in our latest round of speed tests. Our tester noted nothing unusual about the CPU load or RAM use.

    Read Notes From the Lab: iCloud Security Analysis

    icloud security
    iCloud lets you set end-to-end encryption for almost all of your data.
    Feature:Encryption Protocols Used
    Client-side encryptionYes (except email, calendar, contacts and some metadata)
    Encryption at restAES-256 (AES-128 on older devices)
    Encryption in transitTLS/SSL
    JurisdictionU.S.
    Applicable privacy lawsNone

    Key Security & Privacy Features:

    • Two-factor authentication
    • Client-side encryption (with exceptions)

    iCloud Drive recently added client-side encryption called “advanced protection.” However, we still don’t recommend it for privacy, as its implementation is only partial. Notably, it leaves files’ original checksums unencrypted. The goal is to combat CSAM distribution and copyright violations, but it raises questions about how airtight Apple’s implementation is.

    iCloud Pricing & Value

    A 2TB iCloud plan costs $9.99 per month, with no long-term plans or the discounts that usually come with them. Plans go all the way up to 12TB, though we can’t recommend purchasing that much storage with a provider offering so few features. Our full iCloud review has more information on Apple’s cloud service.

    iCloud+ 50GB Plan
    • 50GB
    iCloud+ 200GB Plan
    • 200GB
    More plans
    iCloud+ 2TB Plan
    • 2TB
    iCloud+ 12TB
    • 12TB

    12. Degoo — Best Free Cloud Storage for Mac & iOS

    degoo review uploading-files
    500GB – 5TB$2.39 / month

    Pros:

    • 20GB free storage

    Cons:

    • No file sync
    • No desktop app
    • Ad-supported free plan

    Degoo Free Plan

    • Base free storage: 20GB
    • Max free storage: 25GB

    Degoo Free Plan Limitations

    • Ad-supported
    • No client-side encryption
    • No advanced backup features
    • No full-resolution photo backup
    • Account inactivity period is 365 days

    Who Is Degoo For?

    • Best for users who need large file storage capacity for free

    What Does Degoo Do?

    We’ve included Degoo on this list of free cloud storage providers, but it is actually a backup service, with no file syncing, sharing or any other features you’d normally find in a cloud storage service. Its main selling point is its 20GB free plan, which unfortunately does not come with client-side encryption, despite Degoo offering it on paid plans.

    Its free plan is also severely limited, with no full-resolution photo backup and no advanced backup options. Most annoyingly, it serves you ads. We can’t recommend it over other high-capacity free cloud storage services like MEGA and Filen.

    Degoo Hands-On Testing

    degoo account
    Degoo’s web app is the only way to interact with the service.

    Degoo has no desktop client, offering only a web interface and mobile apps for Android and iOS. This means there is no way to automatically upload files to the cloud, which is unfortunate, as the web interface is poorly designed.

    Notes From the Lab: Degoo Speed Test Results

    First TrySecond TryAverage
    Upload 0:21:400:12:050:16:55 (very slow)
    Download0:09:250:07:300:08:30 (very slow)

    Degoo had the slowest uploads and the second slowest downloads in our speed test, placing it dead last on our list. The service took quite a while to get started, and it paused after each file was processed. 

    Notes From the Lab: Degoo Security Analysis

    degoo review privacy policy
    Degoo’s privacy policy may allow Degoo to scan your files,
    despite claiming to adhere to the GDPR.
    Feature:Encryption Protocols Used
    Client-side encryptionYes (paid users only)
    Encryption at restAES-256 (AES-128 on older devices)
    Encryption in transitTLS/SSL
    JurisdictionEU
    Applicable privacy lawsGDPR, Swedish Personal Data Act

    Key Security & Privacy Features:

    • Two-factor authentication
    • Client-side encryption (paid users only)
    • GDPR compliance (suspicious application)

    Degoo offers client-side encryption on paid plans, but free users have no such protection. You will certainly need it, though, as Degoo’s privacy policy allows it to freely scan your uploaded content and private information. It does this despite adhering to the GDPR. The law allows companies to do so as long as users consent, which you must do on account creation.

    Degoo Pricing & Value

    As this is a cloud backup service (not a fully fleshed-out cloud storage service), storage space is a bit cheaper. A 5TB Degoo plan costs just $7.99 per month on a monthly plan. However, there are still better cloud backup providers, such as Backblaze, which offers unlimited storage for cheaper. Read our full Degoo review for more. 

    Free
    • *Prices are in GBP
    • 20GB
    Pro
    • *Prices are in GBP
    • 500GB
    Ultimate
    • *Prices are in GBP
    • 5TB

    Our Methodology: How We Tested the Best Free Cloud Storage Providers

    Our expert reviewers spend extensive hands-on time using all the software we test in order to give an objective assessment. When judging the quality of a service, we place the most weight on security and privacy, while also taking into account factors that directly impact most users, such as speed, usability and cost.

    • Free plan: We analyze each free plan and judge it based on storage capacity and feature availability.
    • Security and privacy: We look for security-related features, including encryption methods, to assess a service’s security. We also take a close look at the service’s privacy policy, looking for any dodgy language.
    • Speed: We run periodic speed tests on a virtual machine by uploading and downloading a 5GB test folder to the cloud twice and averaging the results. 
    • CPU and RAM usage: While running our speed tests, we use SysGauge to log and calculate average CPU loads, RAM usage and thread counts.
    • Ease of use: During our week of testing, our reviewers assess how easy it is to use the service and note any oddities, peculiarities or foibles with the software.
    • Price: We weigh the value of a service, including its security, speed and feature set, against its cost per terabyte to come to a conclusion about its price.

    Final Thoughts

    When it comes to the best free cloud storage options, your choice will ultimately depend on your specific needs. Whether you’re prioritizing generous storage limits or robust security and privacy, or simply looking for something that integrates with your productivity apps of choice, our list should have a solution for you.

    pCloud took first place thanks to its large storage capacity and advanced media playback capabilities. Sync.com finished second, in no small part due to offering full coverage with client-side encryption. Speed demon Icedrive came in third.

    What’s your favorite free cloud storage service? Have you used any of the services on our list? What are your opinions on them? Please let us know in the comment section below. As always, thank you for reading.

    FAQ: Free Cloud Space

    • pCloud is the best free cloud storage service, offering 10GBof storage and an advanced media player.

    • You can’t get 100GB of storage for free — at least not on one account. Providers that claim to offer more than 20GB of free storage are generally scams, but you can string together multiple accounts with services offering large capacities of free cloud storage (like MEGA and Filen) to get to a total of 100GB of free storage.

    • You can get 1TB of cloud storage for free with a TeraBox account, though we don’t fully endorse its security and privacy measures.

    • Your best chance to get 200GB of storage for free is to use four Filen accounts, with 50GB of storage each, assuming you max out the referral quota for each account.

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