If you want your digital work stored safely away from hackers or physical damage caused to your PC while still being easily accessible from wherever you are, reliable cloud storage is a necessity. Personal cloud storage has been around since 2007, with just one well-known provider in the space, but now dozens of cheap or free cloud storage services are available.How do you choose which one is right for you? You could just pick based on how much free storage space you get, but a cloud storage service's real value is how well it works for you or your business, how accessible it is, and how the provider approaches customer security. As you'll see, some work much better with some operating systems and business plans than others.What is the best cloud storage service right now?I've tested and researched every cloud storage service on this list. My top pick for best cloud storage overall is iDrive for its backup and storage options, easy pairing and compatibility, as well as its affordability.See how iDrive stacks up to our other recommended cloud storage services of 2025 below. Sort by All Best cloud storage services of 2025 Show less View now at IDrive IDrive is for everyone who wants an all-in-one cloud backup and storage package. Its main job is backing up small businesses, but it also works well for personal cloud storage and file sharing.Unlike many other cloud backup services, iDrive doesn't lock you down to a single computer. You can use one account to back up your Windows and macOS desktops, Android smartphone, iPhones, tablets, and your network drives. There's also a Linux backup optionfor Linux servers, but you can still use it with a little elbow grease on your desktop Linux.For now, iDrive has a killer deal. It's the most storage for the least amount of money you'll find today. I use it to back up my massive media library of 1930s and 1940s movies.Typically, iDrive offers 10GB free, but if you want to make the most its backup power, the real deal is in its Personal iDrive offerings. These start at 5TB for $70 per year, or an even better deal -- 10TB for $105 annually. There are also business packages with unlimited users, but the price goes up for less storage.IDrive also caters to customers who want the most affordable storage possible, with 100GB available for only $2.95 per year.If you're looking for a personal or small business backup, iDrive is a great choice. It's easy to use and inexpensive. It's also good for cloud storage, and I'm very happy with it.iDrive features: Free storage:iDrive starts its offers with 10GB for free | Variety of storage plans | Multiple user support | iDrive for Office | Snapshots and versioning Pros Great price Works well for backups and storage Excellent pairing of storage and office services Cons Relatively slow download speeds IDrive is for everyone who wants an all-in-one cloud backup and storage package. Its main job is backing up small businesses, but it also works well for personal cloud storage and file sharing.Unlike many other cloud backup services, iDrive doesn't lock you down to a single computer. You can use one account to back up your Windows and macOS desktops, Android smartphone, iPhones, tablets, and your network drives. There's also a Linux backup optionfor Linux servers, but you can still use it with a little elbow grease on your desktop Linux.For now, iDrive has a killer deal. It's the most storage for the least amount of money you'll find today. I use it to back up my massive media library of 1930s and 1940s movies.Typically, iDrive offers 10GB free, but if you want to make the most its backup power, the real deal is in its Personal iDrive offerings. These start at 5TB for $70 per year, or an even better deal -- 10TB for $105 annually. There are also business packages with unlimited users, but the price goes up for less storage.IDrive also caters to customers who want the most affordable storage possible, with 100GB available for only $2.95 per year.If you're looking for a personal or small business backup, iDrive is a great choice. It's easy to use and inexpensive. It's also good for cloud storage, and I'm very happy with it.iDrive features: Free storage:iDrive starts its offers with 10GB for free | Variety of storage plans | Multiple user support | iDrive for Office | Snapshots and versioning Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Microsoft OneDrive is baked into Windows, and they're delicious together. As far as a Windows user is concerned, OneDrive is just another directory in the File Explorer -- talk about easy. Anyone can use it on the web, a desktop app for Mac and earlier versions of Windows, as well as OneDrive apps for Android, iOS, Windows Phone, and Xbox. Yes, Xbox.Linux? No, not yet. The InSync client, which I've long recommended for Google Drive, also works with OneDrive. This program costs $40 for an individual lifetime subscription and $160 for a team license.Microsoft OneDrive's real selling point -- besides working hand-in-glove with Windows -- is that it integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Office programs. With Microsoft 365, you can also collaborate in real time with your partners in documents and spreadsheets.OneDrive comes with 5GB of free storage. Microsoft 365 users get an extra terabyte per user starting with the $6 monthly subscription. Microsoft 365 Family users get a terabyte per user up to 6TB for $130 a year.Microsoft 365 Business Standard users get access to the full online versions of Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, plus a TB of storage at $12.50 per user per month with an annual subscription. If you need additional storage, check out the Office 365 Extra File Storage plan, but this can become very expensive quickly.That said, if you're already a Microsoft 365 user, this is a no-brainer. OneDrive is perfect for anyone who uses Windows and Microsoft Office daily.OneDrive features: Free storage:OneDrive starts its offers with 5GB for free | Variety of storage plans | Multiple user support | Multi-platform | Productivity apps | CoPilot add-on Pros Perfect for Windows users Works great for Microsoft 365 Excellent for file sharing Cons No native Linux support Can be very expensive OneDrive is baked into Windows, and they're delicious together. As far as a Windows user is concerned, OneDrive is just another directory in the File Explorer -- talk about easy. Anyone can use it on the web, a desktop app for Mac and earlier versions of Windows, as well as OneDrive apps for Android, iOS, Windows Phone, and Xbox. Yes, Xbox.Linux? No, not yet. The InSync client, which I've long recommended for Google Drive, also works with OneDrive. This program costs $40 for an individual lifetime subscription and $160 for a team license.Microsoft OneDrive's real selling point -- besides working hand-in-glove with Windows -- is that it integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Office programs. With Microsoft 365, you can also collaborate in real time with your partners in documents and spreadsheets.OneDrive comes with 5GB of free storage. Microsoft 365 users get an extra terabyte per user starting with the $6 monthly subscription. Microsoft 365 Family users get a terabyte per user up to 6TB for $130 a year.Microsoft 365 Business Standard users get access to the full online versions of Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, plus a TB of storage at $12.50 per user per month with an annual subscription. If you need additional storage, check out the Office 365 Extra File Storage plan, but this can become very expensive quickly.That said, if you're already a Microsoft 365 user, this is a no-brainer. OneDrive is perfect for anyone who uses Windows and Microsoft Office daily.OneDrive features: Free storage:OneDrive starts its offers with 5GB for free | Variety of storage plans | Multiple user support | Multi-platform | Productivity apps | CoPilot add-on Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Box Like most cloud storage services, Box has clients for Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android. It doesn't support Linux, but the third-party program, ExpanDriveenables Linux users to work with Box.The Business Starter Plan, which costs $5 per month, lets you upload files up to 2GB and provides 100GB of space. Personal users start with a 10GB free plan, but you can get 100GB of storage for $120 a year when you upgrade to the Personal Pro plan.One helpful feature for working users is the ability to keep multiple file versions. The Personal Pro edition allows you to keep 10 versions, while the Business Starter plan gives you 25.While Box is a fine cloud storage service, it really shines as a groupware or workflow application. The service enables you to share files with colleagues, assign tasks, leave comments on someone's work, and get file change notifications. It's integrated with Microsoft Office and Teams, Salesforce, Google Workspace, Slack, and more.Box starts out with a free cloud storage account and 10GB of storage. Box business plans start at $15 a month for three users and unlimited storage.Box features: Free storage:Box starts its offers with 10GB for free | Variety of storage plans including unlimited | Secure sharing |SOC 1/SOC 2/SOC 3 compliance | 1500+ integrations Pros Supports many platforms Excellent pairing of storage and office services Very affordable paid plan Cons Desktop clients can be confusing Like most cloud storage services, Box has clients for Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android. It doesn't support Linux, but the third-party program, ExpanDriveenables Linux users to work with Box.The Business Starter Plan, which costs $5 per month, lets you upload files up to 2GB and provides 100GB of space. Personal users start with a 10GB free plan, but you can get 100GB of storage for $120 a year when you upgrade to the Personal Pro plan.One helpful feature for working users is the ability to keep multiple file versions. The Personal Pro edition allows you to keep 10 versions, while the Business Starter plan gives you 25.While Box is a fine cloud storage service, it really shines as a groupware or workflow application. The service enables you to share files with colleagues, assign tasks, leave comments on someone's work, and get file change notifications. It's integrated with Microsoft Office and Teams, Salesforce, Google Workspace, Slack, and more.Box starts out with a free cloud storage account and 10GB of storage. Box business plans start at $15 a month for three users and unlimited storage.Box features: Free storage:Box starts its offers with 10GB for free | Variety of storage plans including unlimited | Secure sharing |SOC 1/SOC 2/SOC 3 compliance | 1500+ integrations Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Dropbox Dropbox came first, so it's no wonder that so many of us have accounts. Sure, Dropbox Basic only has 2GB of free storage, but you can use it on any platform.You can get your files from Dropbox's website, desktop applications for Mac, Windows, and Linux, the native file systems, as well as the iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire mobile apps. It's a snap to set up, and you don't need to worry about syncing files as Dropbox is one of the most user-friendly options on our list.If you need more storage, Dropbox's personal plans increase to 2TB for $10 per month. An individual Dropbox Business plan costs $16.58 monthly for 3TB of storage. The Business Team Plans start with 9TB of storage at $15 a user per month for a minimum of three users. As always, Dropbox shines for its sheer simplicity and the fact that you can use it on almost any platform. If you value simplicity, speed, and ease, Dropbox should be your first choice.Dropbox features: Free storage: Dropbox starts its offers with 2GB for free | Variety of storage plans including individual & business| Multi-platform | PDF editing | Team management | Password protection Pros Simple to use Useable on essentially all platforms Free plan Cons It can be pricey Dropbox came first, so it's no wonder that so many of us have accounts. Sure, Dropbox Basic only has 2GB of free storage, but you can use it on any platform.You can get your files from Dropbox's website, desktop applications for Mac, Windows, and Linux, the native file systems, as well as the iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire mobile apps. It's a snap to set up, and you don't need to worry about syncing files as Dropbox is one of the most user-friendly options on our list.If you need more storage, Dropbox's personal plans increase to 2TB for $10 per month. An individual Dropbox Business plan costs $16.58 monthly for 3TB of storage. The Business Team Plans start with 9TB of storage at $15 a user per month for a minimum of three users. As always, Dropbox shines for its sheer simplicity and the fact that you can use it on almost any platform. If you value simplicity, speed, and ease, Dropbox should be your first choice.Dropbox features: Free storage: Dropbox starts its offers with 2GB for free | Variety of storage plans including individual & business| Multi-platform | PDF editing | Team management | Password protection Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Google Google Drive used to be just storage before Google took its online office suite, Google Docs, and pasted them together into Google One. If you're a little confused because Google Workplace is also available, you're in good company.To clarify, Google Workspace Individual is meant for small business owners, while Google One is a consumer subscription plan that gives you more storage across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.A Google account alone gives you 15GB of free storage and an excellent office suite. It's good enough that many businesses and Chromebook owners now use it as their complete cloud-based office. If you buy a Chromebook and are a new Google One customer, you'll get 100GB of free cloud storage for a year. With both kinds of free storage, it's shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos.Google Drive comes with clients for most operating systems, except Linux. Google promised long ago that there would be a Linux client, but it's yet to arrive. There is, however, an excellent third-party Linux commercial client, Insync.Need more storage? No problem. Under the name Google One, Google Drive storage offers 100GB for $2 per month or $20 per year, or 200GB for $3 per month or $30 per year. For 2TB, you pay $10 per month or $100 annually. You can share your storage with up to five other people using any of these plans.You can also use the Google One app on both Android and iOS devices to automatically back up your smartphones. This includes your device data, multimedia messages, as well as photos and videos in their original quality.One of Google Drive's best features is its integration with Google Search. So, for example, if you've lost track of a file but remember a couple of words in it, it's easy to find. I use this feature almost every day.Google Drive features: Free storage:Google Drive starts its offers with 15GB for free | Variety of storage plans including individual & business| Secure sharing | Multi-platform | AI tools Pros Great storage Excellent additional services Good pricing Includes a free plan Cons The web interface can be complicated Google Drive used to be just storage before Google took its online office suite, Google Docs, and pasted them together into Google One. If you're a little confused because Google Workplace is also available, you're in good company.To clarify, Google Workspace Individual is meant for small business owners, while Google One is a consumer subscription plan that gives you more storage across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.A Google account alone gives you 15GB of free storage and an excellent office suite. It's good enough that many businesses and Chromebook owners now use it as their complete cloud-based office. If you buy a Chromebook and are a new Google One customer, you'll get 100GB of free cloud storage for a year. With both kinds of free storage, it's shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos.Google Drive comes with clients for most operating systems, except Linux. Google promised long ago that there would be a Linux client, but it's yet to arrive. There is, however, an excellent third-party Linux commercial client, Insync.Need more storage? No problem. Under the name Google One, Google Drive storage offers 100GB for $2 per month or $20 per year, or 200GB for $3 per month or $30 per year. For 2TB, you pay $10 per month or $100 annually. You can share your storage with up to five other people using any of these plans.You can also use the Google One app on both Android and iOS devices to automatically back up your smartphones. This includes your device data, multimedia messages, as well as photos and videos in their original quality.One of Google Drive's best features is its integration with Google Search. So, for example, if you've lost track of a file but remember a couple of words in it, it's easy to find. I use this feature almost every day.Google Drive features: Free storage:Google Drive starts its offers with 15GB for free | Variety of storage plans including individual & business| Secure sharing | Multi-platform | AI tools Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Nextcloud Nextcloud Files is an open-source program that enables you to set up your own cloud storage service using your existing servers and hard drives. This do-it-yourself cloud is for everyone who values security and privacy.You can use Nextcloud to set up cloud storage on an office server or your own external server. When it comes to storage, it's merely a question of how much you want. I have a 4TB Nextcloud drive in my office and another terabyte off my co-hosted server rack.Still, while NextCloud is easy for a Linux power user to set up, it would prove a challenge to people who don't know the operating system that well.Nextcloud is also evolving. It started as a standalone Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) file storage cloud. It's been adding more services, making it more of an all-in-one office suite like those offered by Google and Microsoft.These days, Nextcloud comes in four parts: Nextcloud Files, the original cloud file server; Nextcloud Talk, an audio/video conferencing and text chat program; Nextcloud Groupware, which integrates Calendar, Contacts, Mail, and other productivity features; and Nextcloud Office a LibreOffice-based online office suite. Businesses can integrate all of them together with Nextcloud Hub.Nextcloud comes with a free and a business edition. With the free version, you set it up using your own computers. You get as much storage as you have available on your machines.If you don't want to run it yourself, the business version,Nextcloud Enterprise, comes with basic support starting at 100 users and costs 37.49, or about $39, per user per year.This cloud storage solution is for anyone who wants the maximum amount of control over their cloud and doesn't mind doing some extra work to get it just right. I highly recommend it.Nextcloud Filesfeatures: Free storage:DIY unlimited| Open source | DIY option | Business plan available Pros Open source Free Offers a variety of services Cons It can be difficult to set up Nextcloud Files is an open-source program that enables you to set up your own cloud storage service using your existing servers and hard drives. This do-it-yourself cloud is for everyone who values security and privacy.You can use Nextcloud to set up cloud storage on an office server or your own external server. When it comes to storage, it's merely a question of how much you want. I have a 4TB Nextcloud drive in my office and another terabyte off my co-hosted server rack.Still, while NextCloud is easy for a Linux power user to set up, it would prove a challenge to people who don't know the operating system that well.Nextcloud is also evolving. It started as a standalone Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) file storage cloud. It's been adding more services, making it more of an all-in-one office suite like those offered by Google and Microsoft.These days, Nextcloud comes in four parts: Nextcloud Files, the original cloud file server; Nextcloud Talk, an audio/video conferencing and text chat program; Nextcloud Groupware, which integrates Calendar, Contacts, Mail, and other productivity features; and Nextcloud Office a LibreOffice-based online office suite. Businesses can integrate all of them together with Nextcloud Hub.Nextcloud comes with a free and a business edition. With the free version, you set it up using your own computers. You get as much storage as you have available on your machines.If you don't want to run it yourself, the business version,Nextcloud Enterprise, comes with basic support starting at 100 users and costs 37.49, or about $39, per user per year.This cloud storage solution is for anyone who wants the maximum amount of control over their cloud and doesn't mind doing some extra work to get it just right. I highly recommend it.Nextcloud Filesfeatures: Free storage:DIY unlimited| Open source | DIY option | Business plan available Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at pCloud I'm always cautious about "lifetime" subscriptions to anything, especially computer services. After nine years in business, I'm inclined to give the Switzerland-based pCloud the benefit of the doubt. I also like that pCloud comes with clients for Linux, macOS, and Windows, as well as Android and iOS smartphones.PCloud offers 4GB of free storage for starters. You can also add more storage, at 1GB a go, for installing a desktop app, a smartphone app, storing your smartphone's videos and photos to pCloud, as well as getting others to subscribe to pCloud. You can max this out at 10GB of free storage.If you're really serious about your storage, you can get 500GB of storage forever for a one-time payment of $199, or 2TB for $399. That's a sweet deal. Need more? 10TB is priced at $1,190.Another nice feature is that pCloud comes with client-side-only file encryption. With pCloud Crypto, you encrypt your files using 256-bit AES, and no one except you can read them. When they say "no one," they mean "no one." If you lose your password, you lose your data. These files are stored in the Crypto folder. This feature costs $50 per year, or $150 for a lifetime plan. It's included for free on business plans. You can also opt to store your data in the more privacy-conscious European Union servers.If you have some files you want to share with others -- but do not share your password with them -- you can store unencrypted folders in the same account with your secured files and folders.The business service starts with 1TB for $8 per seat per month (paid annually) with a minimum of three users annually.If privacy and paying once for cloud storage for a very long time appeals to you, check out pCloud.pCloud features: Free storage:pCloud starts its offers with up to 10GB for free | Variety of storage plans including lifetime options | Shared link traffic | Client-side encryption | Password manager Pros Lifetime contract Best of breed security Multi-platform Cons It's expensive unless you're sure that pCloud will be able to meet its support promise I'm always cautious about "lifetime" subscriptions to anything, especially computer services. After nine years in business, I'm inclined to give the Switzerland-based pCloud the benefit of the doubt. I also like that pCloud comes with clients for Linux, macOS, and Windows, as well as Android and iOS smartphones.PCloud offers 4GB of free storage for starters. You can also add more storage, at 1GB a go, for installing a desktop app, a smartphone app, storing your smartphone's videos and photos to pCloud, as well as getting others to subscribe to pCloud. You can max this out at 10GB of free storage.If you're really serious about your storage, you can get 500GB of storage forever for a one-time payment of $199, or 2TB for $399. That's a sweet deal. Need more? 10TB is priced at $1,190.Another nice feature is that pCloud comes with client-side-only file encryption. With pCloud Crypto, you encrypt your files using 256-bit AES, and no one except you can read them. When they say "no one," they mean "no one." If you lose your password, you lose your data. These files are stored in the Crypto folder. This feature costs $50 per year, or $150 for a lifetime plan. It's included for free on business plans. You can also opt to store your data in the more privacy-conscious European Union servers.If you have some files you want to share with others -- but do not share your password with them -- you can store unencrypted folders in the same account with your secured files and folders.The business service starts with 1TB for $8 per seat per month (paid annually) with a minimum of three users annually.If privacy and paying once for cloud storage for a very long time appeals to you, check out pCloud.pCloud features: Free storage:pCloud starts its offers with up to 10GB for free | Variety of storage plans including lifetime options | Shared link traffic | Client-side encryption | Password manager Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Apple I didn't like iCloud for years, even when I used it on my Macs. The service finally fixed enough bugs that I can say Mac, iPhone, or iPad users can trust it with their data. In the bad old days, iCloud was supposed to offer seamless integration and ease of use for any iGadget. In practice, it was a cranky mess. Today, it's much better.Owning an Apple product gives you 5GB of free iCloud storage. One good feature is that anything you buy from the iTunes Store doesn't count against your storage limit. You can use iCloud to automatically back up all your Apple devices' data onto its servers.Of course, 5GB won't cut it for serious backups. Instead, you'll need to upgrade to one of three iCloud+ plans: $1 per month for 50GB, $3 per month for 200GB, or $10 per month for 2TB. ICloud+ plans also include security features such as Cloud Private Relay,Hide My Email, and HomeKit Secure Video. While it's not a big selling point, iCloud is also integrated with iWork, Apple's low-end productivity suite. It's no Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, but it's okay for something simple like schoolwork. I'm still not crazy about iCloud -- I doubt I ever will be -- but if you're already an Apple user all the time, it's finally worth using iCloud.Apple iCloudfeatures: Free storage:Apple iCloud starts its offers with up to 5GB for free | Variety of plans | Private Relay | Email masking | Secure video storage Pros Free 5GB with any Apple device Works hand-in-glove with iWorks Good interface Cons High prices Has experienced technical problems I didn't like iCloud for years, even when I used it on my Macs. The service finally fixed enough bugs that I can say Mac, iPhone, or iPad users can trust it with their data. In the bad old days, iCloud was supposed to offer seamless integration and ease of use for any iGadget. In practice, it was a cranky mess. Today, it's much better.Owning an Apple product gives you 5GB of free iCloud storage. One good feature is that anything you buy from the iTunes Store doesn't count against your storage limit. You can use iCloud to automatically back up all your Apple devices' data onto its servers.Of course, 5GB won't cut it for serious backups. Instead, you'll need to upgrade to one of three iCloud+ plans: $1 per month for 50GB, $3 per month for 200GB, or $10 per month for 2TB. ICloud+ plans also include security features such as Cloud Private Relay,Hide My Email, and HomeKit Secure Video. While it's not a big selling point, iCloud is also integrated with iWork, Apple's low-end productivity suite. It's no Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, but it's okay for something simple like schoolwork. I'm still not crazy about iCloud -- I doubt I ever will be -- but if you're already an Apple user all the time, it's finally worth using iCloud.Apple iCloudfeatures: Free storage:Apple iCloud starts its offers with up to 5GB for free | Variety of plans | Private Relay | Email masking | Secure video storage Read More Show Expert Take Show less What is the best cloud storage service? Personally, I prefer iDrive, Google Drive, and Nextcloud -- but those meet my needs best. Here is a look at how all the services compare in vital metrics:Cloud storage serviceApple iCloudBoxDropboxGoogle DriveiDriveNextCloudOneDrivepCloudFree Storage5GB10GB2GB15GB5GBVaries5GB10GBFocusPhoto storage and storageOffice work and storageStoragePhoto storage, storage, office workStorage and backupStorage, office work, and backupOffice work and storageStorage and backupSpecial FeaturesMac and iPhone integrationOnline office integrationMost support for uncommon platformsGoogle One integrationBackupOpen source and securityMicrosoft 365 and Windows integrationSecurityThere are a variety of options to suit many different purposes. So, whether you want to backup family pictures or keep business docs secure, we have a service for you. Show more Which is the right cloud storage service for you? Choose this cloud storage service..If you want or need..iDriveThe best cloud storage service overall. iDrive is one of my favorites as it provides an excellent pairing of storage and office tools.OneDriveA cloud storage solution with a Microsoft flair. OneDrive works well with Microsoft 365 and provides a fair amount of storage for an affordable price.BoxA cloud storage solution to help with productivity. Box's benefits include the storage of multiple file types and versions.DropboxA free, limited cloud storage option. If you want a simple, well-known, cross-platform solution, Dropbox may suit you.Google DriveA business-ready cloud storage service. Google Drive provides 15GB of space to free users and a variety of storage options and solutions for businesses worldwide.Nextcloud FilesAn open source solution. Nextcloud Files is your best bet if you want a do-it-yourself cloud storage option.pCloudA lifetime subscription to a cloud storage service. PCloud has a variety of plans, including personal and business subscriptions.Apple iCloudA cloud storage service solution for iOS users. While it's far from my favorite, Apple iCloud provides some free storage and operates well with iWork. Show more Cloud storage services FAQs How does cloud storage work? When it comes to cloud storage, a cloud really is just someone else's hard drive. Despite the endless stories of how clouds are insecure, your data is encrypted while traveling over the internet to your providers' servers. Once there, it's encrypted on those servers. Your data is probably safer there than it is at your home or office.It's invisible to you, but behind the scenes, the best cloud storage services don't upload a completely new copy of your files every time you modify them. Instead, they only ship the changes to your files. This saves you time and bandwidth. Show more Is cloud storage safe? Generally speaking, cloud storage services are safe. The cloud storage services on this list all store your files on encrypted cloud servers. This means that your data and files are scrambled to make it harder for cybercriminals to access the information.However, it's also vital to protect data on your end too. You can do this by refraining from using a public Wi-Fi connection and changing your passwords regularly.Also: Protect your privacy from hackers, spies, and the government Show more How do I connect to cloud storage? How you connect to and access your cloud storage depends on the provider. For example, you may need to access your storage through a browser or mobile app. In most cases, you will need to log in and authenticate using your account credentials -- and potentially a two-factor authentication method. Alternatively, some cloud storage providers have dedicated desktop software for easy file management and access. Show more Is Google Drive a cloud storage service? Google Drive is a cloud-based storage service that allows users to store up to 15GB of files, documents, and pictures for free. Best of all, it's very easy to use.Also: How to organize your Google DriveIt also offers users built-in protection from threats like malware, ransomware. Think of it as your digital security guard ensuring your data remains safe from the prying eyes of cybercriminals. And for work, it offers easy integration with programs like Microsoft 365. Show more Do I still own my data when it's on the cloud? Yes, you do. And, no, the company can't read or use it for their own purposes. So, for example, a cloud company shouldn't be able to use your documents to train an artificial intelligenceprogram without your consent. Show more Should I still secure my data? Yes, you should. Just because a company says your data is safe doesn't mean that it can't be hacked. So, if privacy and security is important to you, choose a cloud storage service that uses robust encryption both in transit and at rest.For additional security, turn on two-factor verification to ensure that no one can break into your online files. Show more Can you get 100GB of free storage? Several services offer huge amounts of free storage, but I don't trust any of them. It falls under the adage you get what you pay for, and the tradeoff could be your privacy and security. Google offers the most free storage at 15GB. Show more What's the most trustworthy cloud storage provider? It's a tie between NextBox and pCloud. Do you want to be sure as anyone can be that your data's safe from prying eyes? If so, I recommend either building your own cloud storage service with NextCloud or using the high-security pCloud. With NextCloud, you decide where to keep your data.I use both my own in-house servers and an offsite server. With pCloud, you can decide between U.S. or E.U. servers to store your data safely. Either way, with pCloud, you get the best available data encryption. Show more Didn't Amazon offer a personal cloud storage service? Yes, they did. It was called Amazon Cloud Drive, but Amazon closed it down at the end of 2023. Of course, serious businesses with big storage needs use services likeAmazon Web Services (AWS) S3 and Amazon FSx. These services are not meant for ordinary users. Show more Are there alternatives to cloud storage services worth considering? Sure. It's fine to use Network Attached-Storage (NAS) for backups -- I do -- but you're always one house fire or burglary away from kissing your data goodbye. If you want a serious backup, you can turn to alternative long-time cloud backup champions for more security.You face the same problem with using portable drives and USB sticks for extra on the road storage. If someone grabs your drive, your data is gone forever.All these are worthwhile in their own right, but they also all have security worries. Show more Are there other worthwhile cloud options? Indeed there are. Here are some of my favorites. Show more Further ZDNET Tech Coverage Smartphones Smartwatches Tablets Laptops TVs Other Tech Resources ZDNET Recommends