What Is the Best Cloud Service? 10 Available Options

The cloud has revolutionized the way that we store and access our digital data.
As more people move away from physical hard drives and towards the cloud, it is no surprise that many of us are searching for a reliable cloud storage option.

While there is no single “best” solution for everyone’s needs, a few services outpace their competitors regarding pricing, features, and overall user experience.

Google Drive

Google Drive is one of the original cloud storage services and is still the most popular among specific demographics.

Users get 15GB of free storage space with their account, but additional storage can be purchased for a reasonable fee. Google Drive offers powerful collaboration tools, making it an ideal choice for teams or businesses looking to share files in real-time.

It also integrates with Gmail and other Google applications, including Docs, Sheets, Slides and Forms.

Dropbox

Dropbox has been a leader in cloud-based file sharing since its launch in 2008. With 2GB of free space (up to 16GB with various promotions) and optional paid plans offering up to 1TB of space, Dropbox is a great option if you’re looking for basic storage without bells and whistles.

It’s reliable and easy to use—a viable choice for both personal users as well as small business owners who need simple file-sharing capabilities.

OneDrive

Microsoft’s popular OneDrive service comes pre-installed on Windows 10 machines and offers 5GB of free space plus up to 1TB with a paid plan (including Office 365 subscriptions).

OneDrive syncs across all devices associated with your Microsoft account—so you can easily access your data from anywhere—and allows collaboration on Word documents through its Office Online feature set.

pCloud

pCloud stands out among its competitors by offering lifetime plans which give users either 500GB or 2TB of storage depending on their needs — at cheaper rates than most subscriptions over a long period of time.

Its ‘Crypto Folder’ feature adds an extra layer of security by encrypting selected files locally before they’re uploaded online; this makes them much more difficult to access by hackers or anyone else who might be trying to gain access without permission.

iCloud

Apple’s iCloud offering includes 5GB for free and additional paid tiers up to 2TB (available through Family Sharing).

Designed for use primarily with Apple products such as iPhones or iPads, iCloud seamlessly syncs across devices so that you can always keep your data within reach no matter where you are or what device you’re using at any given moment in time. Not to mention that there are more ways than one to access the contents.

Box

Box takes a slightly different approach compared to other cloud storage services by focusing on enterprise-level users rather than consumers.

Meaning it offers powerful features such as complete control over sharing settings per folder or document and integration options, including Salesforce and NetSuite, alongside 100GB+ paid plans at competitive prices when compared to similar offerings from other providers.

SpiderOak

SpiderOak differs from most other services by allowing users unlimited version history — meaning previous versions of files stored in their accounts will never be deleted unless specifically requested — along with up to 21 days between backups (as opposed to just once daily).

It also has some unique security features like zero-knowledge encryption, which keeps everything within your account completely private, even from SpiderOak itself – making it ideal if privacy is important to you.

MediaFire

MediaFire specializes in digital media management, so if you have large collections of photos or videos, this could be worth considering—especially since its base plan includes 10GB of free storage alongside 50GB+ paid tiers at competitive prices.

Features include password protection per upload (for added security), integration options, such as Adobe Lightroom Classic CC, along with granular management for the sharing settings.

Mega

Developed by the now infamous hacker Kim Dotcom, Mega offers 50 GB of free storage right off the bat – making it one of the largest initial allocations available – alongside encrypted communication tools known as ‘MegaChat’, built right into its web interface.

Additional features include secure file link creation, bandwidth limits per user, plus integration options like Zapier.

Icedrive

Icedrive focuses more heavily on privacy than most other solutions, claiming “zero knowledge” encryption, meaning they can’t see anything stored inside user accounts- only those holding private keys will have access.

The service also comes with 10 GB of free space alongside advanced backup functionality, plus it supports streaming music and video directly from within the web.

Conclusion

No matter what type of data you need to store securely online, there’s sure to be an option amongst these top 10 cloud services that fit your needs perfectly, taking advantage not only of their features and compatibility but also of their competitive pricing and generous free storage allocations.