Best Free Cloud Storage: How Much Do You Actually Get?
Can you get quality cloud storage without paying? We checked every major provider to see which ones offer free plans, what's included, and where the limitations are.
Some products are sponsored. Rankings reflect our honest assessment. See our affiliate disclosure
Key Findings
- 111 of 11 cloud storage products offer a free plan
- 2Google Drive has the highest-rated free plan (9.2/10)
Cloud Storage with Free Plans
These cloud storage products offer genuinely free plans — no trial period, no credit card required. Ranked by our overall rating.
Google Drive
Editor's ChoiceBest for collaboration with 15GB free storage
Pros
- 15GB free storage (best free tier)
- Excellent real-time collaboration
- Seamless Google Workspace integration
- Powerful AI-powered search with Gemini
Cons
- Privacy concerns with Google scanning
- Storage shared with Gmail and Photos
- Limited offline capabilities
Free tier • Paid from
$1.99/mo
- Excellent file syncing reliability
- Smart Sync saves local storage
- Great sharing and collaboration
- Only 2GB free storage
- Expensive compared to competitors
- 3-device limit on free tier
Free tier • Paid from
$11.99/mo
- Seamless Apple device integration
- Automatic photo and backup sync
- iCloud Keychain password manager
- Only 5GB free storage
- Limited Windows support
- Not ideal for non-Apple users
Free tier • Paid from
$0.99/mo
- Unlimited backup for one flat price
- Set-it-and-forget-it simplicity
- B2 storage at 1/5 AWS S3 cost
- No file sync feature
- Backup only (not general cloud storage)
- External drives must be connected monthly
Free tier • Paid from
$9/mo
- Excellent backup features
- Unlimited devices on one account
- Physical drive backup option
- Sync is secondary to backup
- Interface feels dated
- Slower upload speeds than competitors
Free tier • Paid from
$59.88/yr
- Seamless Microsoft 365 integration
- Personal Vault with extra security
- Real-time collaboration on Office docs
- Only 5GB free storage
- Best features require Microsoft 365
- Sync issues with large files reported
Free tier • Paid from
$1.99/mo
- Lifetime subscription option
- Swiss privacy laws
- Optional zero-knowledge encryption
- Crypto add-on costs extra
- No native document editing
- Fewer integrations than competitors
Free tier • Paid from
$49.99/yr
- End-to-end zero-knowledge encryption
- Swiss privacy laws protection
- GDPR, HIPAA, ITAR compliant
- Premium pricing
- Limited free plan
- Occasional app freezing issues
Free tier • Paid from
$11.99/mo
- Zero-knowledge encryption included free
- Canadian privacy protection
- Excellent file sharing controls
- Slower sync than competitors
- No Linux desktop app
- Fewer integrations available
Free tier • Paid from
$8/mo
- Enterprise-grade security and compliance
- 1500+ third-party app integrations
- Unlimited storage on business plans
- Expensive for small teams
- 10GB free storage limited
- Occasional sync slowdowns
Free tier • Paid from
$5/mo
- 20GB free storage (industry-leading)
- Zero-knowledge encryption included free
- No file size limits
- Transfer quotas on all plans
- Not ideal for collaboration
- Privacy concerns from 2022 security audit
Free tier • Paid from
$5.95/mo
Free Plan Comparison
What you actually get with each free plan, and what the upgrade costs.
| Product | Rating | Free Plan Includes | Paid Upgrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | 9.2/10 | 15GB storage, Shared with Gmail/Photos, Basic support | $1.99/mo |
| Dropbox | 8.8/10 | 2GB storage, 3 devices, Basic sharing | $11.99/mo |
| iCloud | 8.7/10 | 5GB storage, Basic sync, Find My | $0.99/mo |
| Backblaze | 8.7/10 | First 10GB free, $6/TB/month after, Free egress up to 3x storage | $9/mo |
| IDrive | 8.6/10 | 10GB storage, One device, Basic backup | $59.88/yr |
| OneDrive | 8.6/10 | 5GB storage, Basic sharing, Mobile apps | $1.99/mo |
| pCloud | 8.5/10 | 10GB storage, Basic sync, File sharing | $49.99/yr |
| Tresorit | 8.5/10 | Custom storage, 50+ users, SSO/SCIM | $11.99/mo |
| Sync.com | 8.4/10 | 5GB storage, Zero-knowledge encryption, Basic sharing | $8/mo |
| Box | 8.4/10 | 10GB storage, 250MB file upload limit, Basic sharing | $5/mo |
| MEGA | 8.3/10 | 20GB storage, Limited transfer quota, Zero-knowledge encryption | $5.95/mo |
Free vs Paid: What You're Missing
Free plans are great for getting started, but they typically limit key features. Among cloud storage with free plans, common limitations include reduced storage, fewer features, and branding on your content. If your needs grow, paid plans typically start at $0.99/mo.
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free cloud storage option?
Yes, 11 cloud storage products offer free plans: Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, Backblaze, IDrive, OneDrive, pCloud, Tresorit, Sync.com, Box, MEGA. Google Drive has the highest-rated free plan.
What are the limitations of free cloud storage plans?
Free plans typically limit storage, features, number of users, or add branding. They're good for individual use or testing, but businesses usually need to upgrade for full functionality.