The cloud is an increasingly common way of storing files and accessing them from anywhere.
But which service should you use?
The best cloud storage services are those that offer a good combination of features, performance, and price.
Some cloud storage services offer more features than others, while some focus on performance or price. This article will help you find the right one for you.
Best Cloud Storage Services
What Are Cloud Storage Services
The cloud storage market is growing at a rapid pace, and it’s not just because of the increased demand for storage space.
It’s because people are increasingly using the cloud for their storage needs. The best cloud storage services offer a number of benefits to people who need extra storage space or want to access their files from anywhere in the world.
Cloud storage services have come a long way in recent years. They’re now much more affordable than they were when they first started offering these sorts of services. And because they’re so cheap, they’re easier than ever to get started with.
There are many different types of cloud storage services available today. Some are free while others charge monthly fees.
You can also choose between different plans that offer additional features such as higher upload speeds or free backup service options.
What Is The Best Cloud Storage?
Before we look at the best cloud storage services, let’s go over what kind of cloud storage is available.
There are two main types: synchronous storage and asynchronous storage.
- Synchronous storage means that if you upload a file to the server at 9am local time, it will be available at 9am GMT+2 (or whatever time zone you’re in).
- Asynchronous means that it may take longer for your uploaded files to be available for download. This makes sense if you’re uploading smaller files that don’t need to be immediately accessible by others.
Server software like Windows Server makes it easy to configure asynchronous file transfers in Windows Explorer so that users can continue working while files are being transferred rather than having to sit around waiting for them to complete (which could take minutes or hours depending on how fast your internet
1. Dropbox
Dropbox is a file hosting service operated by American company Dropbox, Inc. that offers cloud storage, file synchronization, personal cloud and client software.
Dropbox uses a freemium business model, where users are offered a free account with a set storage size, with paid subscriptions available that offer more capacity and additional features.
Dropbox is designed to be an invisible app. It gives you a folder on your computer that automatically backs up and syncs your files across all your devices—and also keeps them in the cloud so you can access them from any computer, anywhere in the world.
2. Google Drive
Google Drive is an online file storage service by Google. It allows users to upload and store files in the cloud, share them with others, and synchronize with other devices where the program is installed.
The service is built on several Google products, including Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Slides (online office suites), Gmail, and Google Photos. Google Drive is available for web browsers, Android and iOS devices (including iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch), while its desktop application is available for Windows 7+, MacOS 10.9+ and Chromebooks running Chrome OS 72+.
Google Drive offers 15 GB of free storage space for individual users who register with an email address or a Google account. The applications are available on iOS, MacOS and Android devices as well as the mobile site or native app for Windows Phone.
Google Drive is much more than just a cloud-based storage and syncing service with an excellent free storage plan.
3. iDrive
iDrive is BMW’s in-car infotainment system, which puts all your car’s functions at your fingertips. BMW’s iDrive system was first introduced in 2001, but it has been updated and improved many times since then.
iDrive works with both the central touchscreen display and the iDrive Controller, which looks like a little joystick to control the main functions of your car. It also has voice control for certain functions like navigation and media playback.
iDrive is built into the center console of most BMWs, so it can be accessed from the driver’s seat without taking your eyes off the road. The software is designed to be intuitive, so you can use it while driving without having to read a manual first or learn how to use a computer keyboard or touchscreen keyboard.
IDrive helps you to protect data through regular online backups. That way your data is available right when you need it, as well as stored safely off-site. While most other cloud services charge per device, IDrive protects multiple devices, at a single price.
4. Microsoft OneDrive
Microsoft OneDrive is a cloud storage service operated by Microsoft, that offers storage options to users of personal computers, tablets, and smartphones. OneDrive provides unlimited storage space to users, has the ability to sync files across multiple devices including Windows 10, Android, and iOS, and has its own application programming interface (API).
The service includes a new feature called Files On-Demand that allows users to open Office documents on their devices without downloading them.
OneDrive is a robust but simple-to-use cloud storage platform for small businesses, enterprises, and everything in between.
5. Apple iCloud
Apple iCloud is a cloud storage service from Apple Inc.
The iCloud service allows users to access their files from any Internet-connected device, such as an iPhone or iPad. Files are synchronized across all devices using a “smart” system that does not put too much strain on either local storage or bandwidth by only downloading new or changed files.
The service also keeps track of past versions of files so that they can be restored in case something goes wrong with a file or device.
In addition to storage space and file synchronization, iCloud includes other services such as “Find My iPhone”, which allows users to locate lost iOS devices, remotely lock them and even wipe them clean if necessary; and “Find My Friends”, which allows users to locate friends and family members through their phones’ location tracking services.
Files automatically sync to all devices signed in to your account, including iOS devices, Macs, and Windows PCs, but not Androids. iCloud Drive lets you create folders for your files and provides online storage for Apple's productivity apps, including Pages, Numbers, and Keynote.
6. Zoolz
Apple iCloud Zoolz is a free cloud storage service that offers 5GB of free storage. Apple iCloud Zoolz is a free cloud storage service that offers 5GB of free storage.
This can be increased to 50GB by referring friends to the service.
Apple iCloud Zoolz is integrated with Apple’s other online services, including iCloud Photo Library and iCloud Drive.
Apple iCloud Zoolz provides users with a range of features that allow them to manage their files and folders on the go from their iOS devices or Macs. Users can also create multiple profiles within their account to help organize content according to their needs.
7. Nextcloud
Nextcloud is a free and open source file hosting platform. It’s fully featured and easy to use, with integrated collaboration features.
You can host it on your own server or use the Nextcloud Box, a ready-to-use solution to get you started.
Nextcloud makes it easy to store and share your files, photos, videos and other documents. Using the Nextcloud desktop or mobile apps, you can even sync content between multiple devices rather than storing everything locally.
Nextcloud is built on top of popular open source technologies such as Apache 2.0 license, MySQL/MariaDB database and PHP 7.1+. It’s available in over 30 languages and offers users many unique features like versioning support for files, comments and sharing capabilities as well as its own user management system which allows for integration with LDAP or Active Directory authentication services.
NextCloud is a file sharing software that helps businesses in the healthcare, education, finance, government, legal, construction and other sectors collaborate with colleagues on various documents via text messages and audio or video conferences.
8. Icedrive
Icedrive is a cloud storage solution that offers you unlimited online storage for your important data and the peace of mind that comes with it. It lets you upload photos, videos, documents and other files to the cloud, where they can be accessed from any device at any time.
Icedrive’s web-based interface is easy to use and navigate. It enables you to drag-and-drop files into its window or select them from your computer’s local hard drive. Once uploaded, the files are encrypted and stored in a secure location on Icedrive’s servers.
The free version of Icedrive lets you store up to 2GB of files in the cloud, while its paid plans offer more storage space as well as other features such as file sharing, remote access to your data via an app or Web browser, automatic photo backups and more.
Icedrive is an affordable cloud storage platform that has a lot to offer for individual users. It's very easy to use, and supports file syncing, versioning, and sharing.
9. LiveDrive
LiveDrive is a powerful cloud storage for video based on the Amazon S3 and Glacier APIs. It enables you to store, share and stream your videos from anywhere with a global CDN infrastructure, ensuring that your videos are always on and accessible.
The LiveDrive API allows developers to integrate cloud based storage into their applications, enabling users to access their videos directly from within the app.
Its API provides an easy way to upload files to the cloud, download them back, list files in directories and more. The LiveDrive API is free of charge for private use (i.e. no commercial usage).
Livedrive is a cloud storage and backup solution that helps businesses capture, edit and share documents, photos, videos and other files with internal and external stakeholders.
10. BackBlaze Business Cloud Storage
BackBlaze Business Cloud Storage is a secure, reliable and affordable cloud backup solution. Back up to the cloud with confidence knowing that your data is protected with multiple copies, unlimited versioning and AES 256-bit encryption.
BackBlaze Business Cloud Storage offers an easy and affordable way for businesses to protect their data from any disaster and recover it quickly when needed. With unlimited storage, you can back up all of your business data for one low monthly price.
BackBlaze Business Cloud Storage will automatically back up new and changed files as they are added or changed on any computer in your business.
As a BackBlaze customer, you get:
- Unlimited storage at a fixed monthly cost – no per gigabyte charges
- A secure network of backup servers spread across the globe
- Automatic backup software installed on all computers in your business
- Simple recovery process – just log into the web portal to see what’s been backed up or restore any file from any computer in your network
Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage is a cloud service for storing files in the cloud. Files are available for download at any time, either through APIs or a browser.
What Is Cloud Storage?
Cloud storage is a method of storing data in a remote server that is accessed via the internet. It’s also called “cloud storage”, “online storage”, “virtual storage” or “remote backup”.
Cloud storage allows you to access your files from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. This means that you can access your files even when you’re not at home or at work, making it ideal for sharing large files or backing up important documents.
Cloud storage has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially among those who want to share large files with others online.
For example, if you want to send a file to someone without worrying about them receiving it on their computer, cloud storage provides an ideal solution.
You can upload the file directly into the cloud and send them a link to download it from there rather than sending them an attachment through email or messaging apps like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.
Many companies now offer cloud storage services for free; however, some charge for extra features such as increased bandwidth limits or extra storage space if needed.
Which Features Do You Need in a Cloud Storage Platform?
In the past, companies that needed to store data had limited options. They could use hard drives or tape drives, both of which were expensive and required special handling.
Cloud storage platforms provide businesses with a low-cost alternative to those legacy technologies. But which features do you need in your cloud storage platform?
A quick review of some of the most important features can help you decide if this type of solution is right for your business.
Data encryption: You should never trust anyone with sensitive data — including cloud providers. That’s why it’s important to encrypt all data before sending it to the cloud, and keep it encrypted at all times in case someone gets unauthorized access to your account.
Data encryption will also protect against ransomware attacks that might otherwise lock you out of your files until you pay up.
Backup recovery: If something goes wrong with your computer or storage device, you need an easy way to recover all your data quickly and easily. Cloud storage systems typically include backup recovery services that allow customers to restore lost files quickly and easily without having to worry about restoring deleted files from their own servers.
Security controls: In addition to data encryption and backup recovery, companies should look for security features like two-factor authentication.
How Do You Use Cloud Storage?
Cloud storage is a great way to keep your data safe and accessible from anywhere. Here are some of the most common ways people use cloud storage, and a few tips on how you can use it too.
I use it to back up my files
With the rise in ransomware attacks, many people are backing up their important files to the cloud. This can be done either manually or automatically, depending on your preferences.
I share documents with colleagues and clients
Many businesses use cloud storage to share documents with customers and colleagues. This is usually done using email attachments or links to folders that are shared through collaboration tools like Google Drive or OneDrive for Business.
I store photos and videos for easy access
You can upload photos and videos directly from your phone or camera into your cloud storage account. You can also use photo management apps like Flickr to help you organize all those photos!
Best Cloud Storage Services – Executive Summary
Cloud storage has become an essential part of the business world. It’s not just about storing files anymore; it’s about securely storing and accessing your data in a secure environment.
If you’re looking for the best cloud storage services, you’ve come to the right place! Our team has spent countless hours researching the market and researching our favorite providers, so we can offer you all the information you need to make an informed decision.
