There’s a lot to love about cloud storage services. Cloud storage is the most convenient way to back up your files, share them with others, and collaborate on a project.
With so many options in the mix, the most difficult aspect of uploading your digital files to the cloud is deciding which service to use. We’ve narrowed your choices to a few that will work for different people, devices, and scenarios.
Best for Google Services: Google One
Google Drive is a practical tool for backing up and syncing files accessible to anyone with a Google account. It’s fully compatible with Android and Chromebook devices, making it an obvious choice if you work with Google services such as Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Photos. Google Drive is simple to use, with version history and various file-sharing options. It’s accessible via a web browser, and mobile and desktop apps are available.
Unfortunately, Google Drive doesn’t support end-to-end encryption and is not the best option if you value your privacy. There’s also no way to add passwords or expiration dates to files shared via a link.
Best for Apple Devices: Apple I Cloud
iCloud is an obvious choice for anyone who only uses Apple devices. It’s well-polished, easy to use, and fully integrated with macOS and iOS. Files can be shared and edited online in Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. Documents can also be shared and password-protected.
There is no Android support for iCloud. Although it has improved, iCloud still feels bare-bones compared to most other cloud storage services. End-to-end encryption and file versioning are restricted to Apple’s productivity app files.
Best for Windows: Microsoft One Drive
OneDrive is packed with features. It’s an obvious choice for people who work primarily on a Windows PC and use Microsoft Office. It has impressive file-sharing capabilities, a powerful search tool, and great support for collaborative editing. OneDrive is the best option for reviewing or editing files because you can open anything within the app.
On the downside, free storage is limited, there is no end-to-end encryption, and the free and basic tiers have limited feature sets.
Best for Backups: IDrive
IDrive might be your best bet if you only need a digital locker to store files from various sources. It’s simple to use and works with most devices. With most plans, iDrive will ship you a physical external hard drive for a faster initial backup and then transfer the data to your online account. You will be given a private encryption key, preventing iDrive from decrypting your files even if law enforcement requires it.
IDrive provides limited file-sharing and collaboration capabilities. The app is relatively simple, and file uploads can be slow.
Best for Privacy: Spider Oak One
SpiderOak’s One Backup is recommended for those concerned about security and privacy. It has a zero-trust, no-knowledge policy, which means no one can access your data except you, and everything is encrypted end-to-end. SpiderOak also employs transport layer security to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks on data in transit. SpiderOak prioritizes security and has a transparent set of policies. There is support for Windows, Mac, and Linux, as well as reliable recovery options, file versioning, and a variety of file-sharing options, including self-destructing links.
There are no mobile apps available, and SpiderOak is relatively expensive. You must keep your password secure because others can access your files if they obtain it, and SpiderOak cannot reset it if you forget it.
