The 6 Best Online Data Storage Options
More and more people are seeing the benefits of moving away from storing their data on a memory stick or hard drive and using an online cloud storage service. Not only do you have more storage, but it is also far safer.
If you haven’t used a cloud storage service yet, you may not know which options are the best. Whether you need to store tons of work documents or just find the best way to organize cloud-storage folders, here are the best services out there.
Why Store on the Cloud?
The most significant benefit of using the cloud as a storage option is two-fold. The first benefit is that you can have an enormous amount of storage space for a fraction of the price of what an equal-sized flash drive or hard drive would cost. A 5TB hard drive can cost $100 or $200 and can also break; 5TB of cloud storage can cost as little as $10 a month.
Secondly, almost all cloud storage services offer some level of encryption and protection. A flash drive can be stolen, whereas someone will need to know your passwords and whatnot to access your cloud; storing data on the cloud is simply safer.
iDrive
While it isn’t free, unlike other options on this list, iDrive is widely regarded as one of the best online storage options out there. It offers users 5TB of storage if they choose the free tier, but the proper deal is getting 10TB of storage for only $3.99 a year.
Not only is there more storage than you will ever need, but the interface also makes file sharing incredibly quick and easy. The service will also store up to 30 previous versions of a file and also allows for unlimited devices connected to it.
Google Drive
The leading name in cloud storage, Google Drive, is excellent for home use and for those wanting to store photos and documents. The free tier only offers 15GB of space, but the subscription tier offers up to 2TB.
The interface isn’t the best, and finding and sharing files can be frustrating; however, it does its job well for a service that is integrated into a Google Account and basically comes as a default addition.
Dropbox
On the more expensive side of the spectrum, Dropbox offers a massive 5TB of storage space and also encryption and protection while your files are being stored, as well as when they are being shared.
The one aspect that sets Dropbox aside is it has app integration, unlike almost any other service. While the paid tier is expensive, the free tier is almost always more than enough for personal use, no matter what you store and share.
Microsoft OneDrive
OneDrive is another beloved storage option, despite it being relatively expensive and basic in a way. OneDrive comes standard with Microsoft 365 but can also be used on macOS, Android and iOS.
A very useful touch is being able to edit documents while they are still on the drive without having to download the file first. OneDrive offers up to 6TB of space, but you can also add an additional 100GB of space for just $1.99 a month.
Backblaze
A lesser-known storage option, but one that is most certainly worth your time, is Backblaze. There are so many positives to using Backblaze, but some of the biggest are that it is free when subscribing to ExpressVPN, and unlimited storage is available.
The one downside is that there is only one user allowed, and the other is that, as the name implies, it is a backup storage option. You can collaborate or sync files, but you can back up as much as your heart desires, with the addition of having one of the best VPNs at your fingertips too.
pCloud
Another lesser-known but still more than suitable storage option is pCloud. The service doesn’t have a monthly option but instead offers a once-off fee. You can purchase the Premium 500GB Lifetime option for $175 and then never pay again.
However, there are two monthly options, where you can pay $3.99 a month for the 500GB option and $7.99 for the 2TB option. There are no collaboration tools, but the service is easy to use and very affordable no matter your budget.