File syncing and storage services, also called cloud storage services, are a huge convenience. They let you get your data—Word docs, PDFs, spreadsheets, photos, etc.—wherever you are. And they create a backup of all your files by default. Some also let multiple people edit files at the same time. PCMag has been testing and reviewing cloud storage services for more than 15 years. We rate them based on ease of use, reliability, whether they work on all major platforms, extra features, and price. Microsoft OneDrive is our top pick overall, earning our Editors’ Choice award and a rare five-star rating. But there are plenty of other compelling choices depending on your needs and budget, so read on for the best cloud storage services we’ve tested.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Best Overall
Microsoft OneDrive
Pros & Cons
Excellent interface
Clients for Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows
Well integrated with Windows and Microsoft 365
Strong online photo presentation and management
Powerful file sharing and collaborative editing
Less free storage than some competitors
Doesn’t back up all folders on drive
Why We Picked It
OneDrive is a great storage and syncing option for just about anybody. It works on all major devices. Its functionality and design have reached a point of slick usability and reliability. The cost is more than reasonable seeing as you can get added OneDrive storage by paying for a Microsoft 365, which includes office apps. Because it provides automatic backup for documents, photos and other files in Windows and syncs documents in Microsoft’s office apps, it’s a natural choice for Windows or Microsoft 365 users.
Who It’s For
If you use Microsoft 365 apps regularly, including the online version of the apps, using OneDrive for storage and syncing offers real benefits. And Windows users will be delighted that their Desktop, Documents, and Pictures are safely backed up to the cloud, and automatically restored when they get a new PC. It’s also a great option for anyone looking for value in an online syncing and storage service. Free users can take advantage of the 5GB of storage, which isn’t the most generous free version you can find, but it’s in line with the competition.
Specs & Configurations
Emphasis
Office Apps
File Size Limit
15GB
Free Storage
5GB
Learn More
Microsoft OneDrive Review
Pros & Cons
Free local backup
Unlimited devices per account
Fully encrypted
Fast upload speeds
Excellent value
Inexpensive add-on for backups of Microsoft and Google accounts
Storage isn’t unlimited
Limited Linux support
Complete disk image backup only for Windows
Why We Picked It
IDrive has long offered the best deal for online syncing and storage, giving you the most space per dollar and no limit on the number of devices you install it on. Beyond that, it’s also a solid service, with apps for all major platforms and a bevy of features. For example, you can set IDrive to back up files to an external hard drive or a network drive. There’s even support for creating a complete disk image, although it’s limited to the Windows version. Its archiving capability means you can always find your files, even if you deleted them on the local computer.
Who It’s For
IDrive is for anyone looking for the best price per TB for their online storage and syncing service. It’s also appealing to those who want to take advantage of its archiving and continuous backup features.
Specs & Configurations
Emphasis
Backup
File Size Limit
2GB
Free Storage
10GB
Best for Google Workspace Users
Google Drive
Pros & Cons
Generous free storage space
Excellent productivity suite collaboration
Includes desktop-to-desktop file syncing
Many third-party integrations
Cross-platform apps
No password protection for shared files
Anyone with your email can place items in your account
Multiple apps required for all related functions
Some privacy concerns
Why We Picked It
Over the years, Google Drive has become easier to use locally, though it’s always been a superb place to automatically store files you create using the Google Docs office apps. Google Drive has strong file sharing capabilities, and you get more free storage space than most competitors—15GB, though that space is shared with Gmail. If you go with Google Drive, look into paying for a Google One account. It’s a subscription plan for a bundle of services, including additional cloud storage (starting at $1.99 per month for 100GB), photo effects in Google Photos, support by phone or chat, discounts on Google products, and a VPN service. It’s rare and convenient to get that package bundled all together at a low price.
Who It’s For
Google Drive is the natural choice for anyone who regularly works in Google Docs, Sheets, and other online apps; it integrates with many third-party online apps as a cloud storage option. It’s also a great choice for people looking for a generous free online storage and syncing service.
Specs & Configurations
Emphasis
Full service file storage, sharing, syncing, and collaboration
File Size Limit
5TB
Free Storage
15GB
Learn More
Google Drive Review
Best for Simple, Straightforward Syncing
Sync
Pros & Cons
Simple and effective
No individual file-size limit
Client-side encryption means company can’t access your files
Works quietly and unobtrusively
Supports syncing on up to five devices
No direct local area network syncing
No Linux app
Limit of five devices per account, even paid
Why We Picked It
Sync is a reliable tool for storing your files online and syncing them among up to five devices. We love how user-friendly it is. Paid individual plans start at $96 per year for 2TB of storage space, which is a competitive price. It works on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and the web, but not Linux.
Who It’s For
Sync is a simple and straightforward service for anyone who doesn’t want to store their files with one of the big tech giants. It’s a great option for people who prefer simplicity over an excess of features. A free account comes with 5GB of storage space, making it competitive with most other major services. Linux users should look elsewhere, as Sync does not offer a Linux app.
Specs & Configurations
Emphasis
Simplicity, Ease of Use
File Size Limit
Unlimited
Free Storage
5GB
Best for Mac and iPhone Users
Apple iCloud Drive
Pros & Cons
Tightly integrated with Apple products
Capable Windows client and web access
Fast uploads
No Android or Linux clients
Can only share files with people who have an Apple ID
Why We Picked It
Apple iCloud is a must for iPhone and Mac users, since it backs up photos, documents, and settings on their devices. It’s among the simplest and most reliable storage and syncing services we’ve seen. It isn’t ideal for people who like to have a lot of control over storage and syncing and the web client lacks some basic tools such as search, but it is a no-brainer solution for people who don’t want to futz with it.
Who It’s For
Apple iCloud is best for Mac, iPhone, and iPad users who don’t want to think too hard about backing up and syncing their files, especially their photos.
Specs & Configurations
Emphasis
Apple Device Users
File Size Limit
15GB
Free Storage
5GB
Learn More
Apple iCloud Drive Review
Best Business Integrations
Box (Personal)
Pros & Cons
Flexible web app that can open files using desktop software
Integrations with over 1,500 applications
Support for offline syncing
Expensive for the amount of storage offered
Low file-size limit
Can’t configure location of desktop syncing app
Why We Picked It
Though Box isn’t highly competitive on price, it does offer dozens upon dozens of integrations with other services and a flexible web app that can open files using desktop software. The free version comes with a generous 10GB of storage space.
Who It’s For
Ultimately, we find Box is better suited to business use than personal use, based on its features. The two use cases are different enough that we have a separate review of Box for Business. Anyone who likes Box for Business and wants to use it for the personal files as well will likely be happy with this service. It is a great option, however, for anyone who doesn’t want to pay for online storage so long as they have less than 10GB’s worth of stuff to store.
Specs & Configurations
Emphasis
Business Use, Compatibility
File Size Limit
5GB
Free Storage
10GB
Learn More
Box (Personal) Review
Best Integration With Third-Party Services
Dropbox
Pros & Cons
Plenty of additional features
Integrations with thousands of applications
Fast upload speeds
Why We Picked It
Dropbox is an established player in the online storage and syncing space, and it continues to offer a reliable service that includes good, if sometimes tertiary, features (such as e-signatures).
Who It’s For
While Dropbox doesn’t offer anywhere close to the best price per TB of storage, it is a great option for people who are long-time users and don’t want to switch to another service, and those who need a healthy stable of integration options.
Specs & Configurations
Emphasis
Simplicity, Ease of Use
File Size Limit
Unlimited
Free Storage
2GB
Learn More
Dropbox Review
Best Privacy and Security
Proton Drive
Pros & Cons
All files fully encrypted
Flexible sharing options
Protected by Swiss privacy laws
Free tier available
Somewhat slow upload speeds
No Linux app
Why We Picked It
Proton Drive offers the best privacy and security of any of the services included here. Your files are fully encrypted at rest and in transit, and only you have the security key to unlock them. Even Proton employees are unable to access your files. You can even pay the company by sending cash through the mail, rather than using a credit card online, to protect your identity.
Who’s It For?
The service is clearly for the security-minded user. It’s not for those who want speed, as all that encryption exacts a performance hit. Proton Drive also lacks many convenience and productivity features, such as collaborative document editing, and there’s no macOS or Linux versions yet.
Specs & Configurations
Emphasis
Privacy
File Size Limit
Unlimited
Free Storage
5GB
Learn More
Proton Drive Review
Buying Guide: The Best Cloud Storage and File-Sharing Services for 2024
What Can Cloud Storage Do for You?The very best cloud storage services play nicely with other apps and online tools, making the experience of viewing and editing files that are stored online feel natural. Especially in business, you want the other software you use to be able to retrieve or access your content, so making sure you use a service that easily integrates with your existing tools is a big deal. Box and Dropbox are particularly strong in this regard.
(Credit: Google/Jill Duffy)
The range of capabilities of cloud-based storage services is wider than you may realize. Many of them specialize in a specific area. For example, Dropbox focuses on keeping a synced folder accessible everywhere and in sharing folders with colleagues outside your company. Proton Drive emphasizes secure cloud storage. If you mostly store images, you might want a storage service that specializes in hosting photos (two top options are Google Photos with a Google One account and Adobe Lightroom). Some cloud storage providers, such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft, are generalists, giving you not only folder and file syncing, but also media playing, device syncing, and backup. These products even double as collaboration software because they let multiple people edit the same file in real time.Distinct from but overlapping in some cases with cloud storage are backup services, particularly ones that create online backups. Some of them, such as Acronis Cyber Protect, specialize in data protection and recovery, while others, like IDrive, combine data protection with syncing and sharing capabilities.Most cloud services do give you some level of backup as a consequence of their intended function. Basically, any files uploaded to a cloud service are also protected from disk failures, since there are copies of them in the cloud. But dedicated backup services sometimes can create a full disk image of your machine so you can restore not just your files, but everything, including system settings and programs. Syncing, by contrast, is about backing up and managing selected files only.
(Credit: Box/PCMag)
What Is the ‘Cloud’ in Cloud Storage?There’s a half-joke in the tech world: “There is no cloud. It’s just someone else’s computer.” So, to clear up any confusion, the cloud part of cloud-based storage refers to storing files somewhere other than your computer’s hard drive. Usually, it means the service provider’s servers. Having data in the cloud gives you the ability to access your files through the internet. Your data is usually encrypted before making the journey over the internet to the provider’s servers, and it remains encrypted while it lives on those servers. Well-designed services don’t upload a brand-new copy of your files whenever you change one little thing. Instead, the file syncing service looks for changes to your files and uploads only them, saving your connection bandwidth.
(Credit: Dropbox/PCMag)
You can access your cloud files through an app or utility software installed on your computer. Once it’s installed, it usually shows a small notification icon and creates your synced folder structure that fits into Windows Explorer or the macOS Finder. You can also get to the files via your web browser. Of course, you need an internet connection for it to work, but if you are temporarily without a connection, that’s okay. The service waits until the next time you do have a connection and takes care of business then. For a deeper explanation, see our explainer on cloud computing.
Recommended by Our Editors
Free vs. Paid Cloud StorageMany services give you free cloud storage as part of their entry-level account. They usually come with some limitations, however, such as the amount of storage you get or a tight cap on the size of the files you can upload. We encourage you to sign up for the free tier of service first and try out the cloud service for several weeks before you commit to upgrading. This way, you can fully integrate the cloud service into your life for real-world testing. You get a feel for how it works and determine what might go wrong with your setup.
(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)
What could possibly go wrong? Human error accounts for a good deal of cloud storage tragedies, but the dropped internet connection is another common troublemaker. Not to mention that every internet service suffers the occasional outage. Ask around (or just look through our review comments), and you’ll hear sad stories of how cloud storage can go wrong. One of the benefits of paying for an account is that it usually comes with additional support from the provider, so if anything goes wrong, someone from the company can help you resolve the issue.There are many other reasons to pay for cloud storage, from getting a lot more space (a terabyte really doesn’t cost all that much anymore) to being able to upload huge files. That last benefit is relevant to graphic designers, video editors, and other visual artists who often host enormous files. Other perks of paying for your cloud storage often include increased access to file-version history (meaning you can restore an important business proposal to the version you had before your colleague made a bunch of erroneous changes), more security, and more features for collaboration and teamwork.
