The best cloud storage providers
The advantages of secure online storage mean that cloud storage providers are equally attractive for both private users and companies. Renting additional storage space for files and documents of all kinds saves your hard drive space, and ensures that your work or home PC, or smartphone, have enough space for the operating system and installed programs. In addition, the files in cloud storage are available anytime, anywhere (and with any device). A computer’s hard drive does not offer the same luxury. To find out what’s important when choosing the right service and which providers offer the best cloud package, check out the following cloud storage comparison.
HiDrive Cloud Storage with IONOS!
Based in Europe, HiDrive secures your data in the cloud so you can easily access it from any device!
Cloud comparison: What makes the best online storage service?
At first glance, there seems to be hardly any differences between the various storage services, which is why many turn to their prices when considering which option to choose. This is an important factor, but by no means the only one you should pay attention to. As with other web services, factors such as usability, or the security of your own data also play an important role. It may also be useful for companies to find out how well each cloud storage provider works for cooperative work. Finally, you should also take a close look at the reliability and support offered by the various providers.
The following criteria are what we will use to compare the various online file storage providers:
- Costs: Even the best cloud storage solutions shouldn’t get too pricey – even if there are so many possibilities for what they can do. Typically, providers offer a range of subscription models that differ mainly in terms of storage volume, but also in the range of functions offered. Therefore, it is recommended that you consider how much storage space you need in advance, and which features you really need – based on this information you can compare the different cloud storage providers properly. In most cases there is also a free basic tariff.
- Usability: Usability also plays an important role in cloud storage systems. You should be able to upload and download your files intuitively, no matter which device you are working with. This also applies to all collaborative working features provided by the service. If you want to share files with other users in the cloud, or work on documents together, you should be able to rely on a straightforward interface. If sharing in cloud storage is important to you, features such as tracking changes, and cross-device synchronization are especially important. The best cloud storage providers feature customized clients and apps with the best possible usability for the various devices.
- Security: Like any web application, cloud services are at risk to a certain degree. To prevent data loss or theft, it is the responsibility of a good provider to protect all files and user data well. Modern data centers, as well as firewalls and backup services are just as much a part of this as the encryption of the stored data and the data transfer itself. If data protection plays an important role for you, considering the server’s location becomes inevitable. Do you know where the data is physically stored? Otherwise, it cannot be guaranteed that sensitive information will be handled in compliance with data protection regulations.
- Reliability and support: With cloud storage, reliability and good support are even more important than with other online services. It is important that you always have access to your files and that you are informed in good time about any news, technical problems, and changes. Round the clock availability (online time) of the service is just as important as reliability – if you have to look around for a new service after half a year because your cloud storage is no longer offered, this can mean extra costs for you. The more established a provider is, the more professional the support, which should be available to you whenever you have questions and problems surrounding the online storage.
Best online storage comparison: Which storage services are available?
The perfect cloud storage would have a high level of security, simple and intuitive operation, and low offline times – but which provider checks all the boxes? Ideally, you’d also get a large amount of storage space for a low price. Depending on the intended use of cloud storage, and the know-how and financial situation of the user, there are various solutions that meet these requirements. We introduce you to some of the best cloud storage solutions.
HiDrive
IONOS’s HiDrive, offers cloud storage that is available in several different packages, ranging from as little as $1 a month to Pro solutions that cost $20 a month. 100 GB of storage space for one person costs $1 a month and is HiDrive’s “Basic” package. Business packages for up to 10 users with up to 2 TB storage volume ($20 per month) are particularly suitable cloud services for small businesses. IONOS stores data (transmitted in encrypted form (256-bit)) in ISO-27001-certified data centers, which are among the securest in the world.
HiDrive can be accessed via the web application or using the desktop or mobile apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. When you’re using one of these apps, you can also access your data offline according to the last time you synchronized. You can also easily share files saved in HiDrive with friends and acquaintances via a share link.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|---|
Affordable plans for every need, whether private or professional | No free version available |
All packages can be adapted at any time | |
256-bit AES encryption | |
Automatic text detection of smartphone pictures |
Box
Since 2005, the US’s own online cloud storage company Box has offered both private users and companies the possibility of central, outsourced file sharing and management in the form of its cloud service of the same name. Right from the off, the development team focused on features that make it easier to share users’ boxes. For example, you can use bookmarks (favorites) to easily exchange links, create tasks (to-do lists), or take notes on the files and tasks of your choice in real time. All changes are recorded in the action history so that you always know which user made them (including time stamp). Determining which user is allowed to access which cloud area can be individually regulated by controlling the access authorizations.
Box also does well in terms of security and data protection. The cloud service supports customer-managed file encryption using the AWS (Amazon Web Services) key management service. Companies even have the option of backing up necessary encryption keys themselves by using an optional hardware security module (HSM). In order to comply with regional data protection guidelines, the cloud provider uses data centers of international partners (e.g., in Germany, Ireland, Japan and Australia).
Like many other cloud storage systems in this comparison, Box offers desktop clients for macOS and Windows as well as mobile apps for iOS and Android with which you can access your cloud storage (Box Drive) or create notes (Box Notes) from the device of your choice. Box provides up to 10 GB of storage space free of charge for its users (upload size limited to 250 MB per file). You can, however, upgrade to a paid plan for more space and faster uploads.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|---|
First-class storage sharing features (previously in the business subscription) | Restricted functionality for home user accounts |
Box Zones help companies comply with regional data protection regulations | Comparatively expensive |
Google Drive
On April 24, 2012, the search engine giant Google launched its cloud service – Google Drive. At the time, the application expanded and replaced the office solution Docs, which was integrated into Drive right from the start. Five years later, at the Google I/O developer conference, the company announced that the storage service had reached 800 million users worldwide. To get Drive, you’ll need an active Google Account, which you’ll also need for other Google services such as Gmail or Google Photos – which also connect directly to the cloud through interfaces. To get started, you get free access to 15 GB of storage space. By taking out paid subscriptions you can increase capacities (100 GB for approx. $2, 30 TB for approx. $300 per month, or even unlimited storage in the business tariff).
A glance into the main menu shows why Google’s program is one of the best cloud solutions for cooperative working, management and file or document editing of all kinds. With one click, you can upload or download files, and access the popular office services “Docs” in the form of file documents, tables, drawings, presentations, sites and “My Maps” – and you can also link to hundreds of third-party apps. Google Drive automatically synchronizes the stored data on all devices you use to access the cloud. For this purpose, applications for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android are available for free download if you do not want to use the web application.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|---|
Links to numerous Google services and third-party apps (optional) | Storage on Google servers (without specific information about locations) |
Up to 15 GB of storage is available free of charge | Google only relies on 128-bit encryption to store the files |
Tresorit
Tresorit is an online storage service released in 2014 by the company of the same name with offices in Switzerland and Hungary. The Tresorit team did not choose the name for its cloud service at random. Thanks to end-to-end encryption, your files are already encrypted before transfer and as secure in the Tresorit cloud as in a vault – the word “tresor” is cognate of the English treasure, and the German word Tresor literally means vault. Thanks to encryption, password-protected file and folder links (up to 5 GB file size), definable expiration dates and differentiable user rights, file sharing is more secure than with almost any other provider in the cloud. It makes no difference whether access is via the Tresorit browser application, the desktop application (Windows, macOS, Linux) or the mobile app (iOS, Android) – the security package applies to all clients.
One of Tresorit’s greatest strengths is its comprehensive and yet clearly arranged admin center. Here, you get the perfect overview of your storage space and the users or devices accessing it. You can also manage individual user accounts and define security policies, such as blocking access to certain devices or IP addresses, or enabling two-factor authentication.
The certified data centers (ISO-27001) used by Tresorit are located in Ireland, Germany, and the Netherlands. Compliance with European data protection guidelines is therefore not a problem. Private users receive 500 GB of storage for around $11 per month (upgradeable to up to 2.5 TB for $27 per month). The price for teams starts at $14 per user per month (1 TB per user). There is no free basic variant that distinguishes many cloud storage systems in comparison. However, Tresorit offers a free service to securely send large files (up to 5 GB).
Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|---|
End-to-end encryption for browser application, desktop clients, and apps | No free storage version available |
First-class security management | Few features for working with saved files |
iCloud Drive
Owners of an Apple device should be familiar with the iCloud Drive storage service. This cloud solution is part of the standard software package of iOS and macOS, which is why it is automatically installed and usable. However, Windows users can also access iCloud Drive through the web interface or through the desktop application available for download from the Apple website. The only requirement is a valid Apple ID, which you can create free of charge at any time. Together with other services such as the word processing editor Pages or the spreadsheet program Numbers, Drive forms the iCloud suite. This cloud offering is aimed exclusively at home users who receive 5 GB of free storage as standard. This can be upgraded to 50 (approx. $1 per month) or 200 GB (approx. $3 per month). For families (up to five users), Apple offers a 2TB package for about $10 per month.
While cloud storage is not shareable compared to other solutions (except the family edition), iCloud’s office services mentioned above allow for teamwork. To-do lists, schedules, presentations, etc. can be easily shared with other users, provided they also have an Apple ID. All your data is encrypted by Apple both during transmission and on the server (minimum 128-bit AES). Additional protection is provided by optional two-factor authentication, which links your cloud password with a six-digit verification code. This will be sent to a trustworthy device of your choice.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|---|
Already integrated on Apple devices | Storage on Apple servers (uncertainty where the data will be stored) |
Inexpensive option for private users |
Dropbox
Dropbox has been one of the most popular and best cloud solutions for years. Founded in 2007 by students Drew Houston and Arash Ferdowsi, the company was one of the first providers to offer its users free online storage. Its special feature lies in the fact that the storage provided can be expanded by various actions such as inviting additional users. In this way, the standard 2 GB storage space of the free Basic Edition increases up to 20 GB. If you need more capacity, the “plus” (1 TB for approx. $10 per month) and “professional” (unlimited storage space for approx. $20 per month) plans would be the right solutions for you.
Dropbox Business is also part of the range, which is tailored to companies and provides access to additional administration and collaboration tools. For example, you can create user lists and define the access options for individual users. Activity reports tell you who shares, accesses, or deletes which files, and you can also see the space each person is using. For joint idea development and task management, Dropbox connects to the Microsoft Office suite, and has also integrated its own document tool “Paper”. Both during transmission (128-bit TLS) and on the server (256-bit AES), your files are encrypted by Dropbox. The data is stored on servers worldwide, making it virtually impossible to control security standards.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|---|
Free storage can be expanded up to 20 GB | Data is stored, processed, and transmitted at locations around the world |
Business plans with powerful administration features available |
Livedrive
In 2008, tech entrepreneur Andrew Michael founded the British company Livedrive (taken over by j2 Global in 2014), which has since made its product of the same name available to customers around the world. However, Livedrive is not your typical online storage solution, because “backup” provides you with a tariff that is only conditionally related to normal cloud storage and rather makes automatic backups of your local files (PC or Mac). The “briefcase” plan (2 TB for $10 per month), or alternatively, the “pro suite” package ($17 per month), which includes the described backup function (plus copies of data on mobile devices) in addition to 5 TB of storage space, provides you with the familiar online storage variant in which you can specifically determine which data you want to store in the cloud.
The business tariffs “express” and “standard” round off Livedrive’s portfolio. The former grants up to three users’ access to 2TB of storage and automatic backups ($35 per month), while the latter is aimed at teams of ten or more users (10TB for $110 per month). Team folders, where files can be shared, comments added and changes viewed, greatly improve the use of this shared storage. It does not matter from which device the access of the different participants takes place: desktop software for macOS and Windows is available as well as apps for iOS and Android. Alternatively, as with all cloud memories in the test, the path via the platform-independent web interface is possible.
Livedrive stores all data exclusively in certified data centers (ISO-27001) in Great Britain.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|---|
Very cost-effective storage and backup solution | No free storage version available |
Overview comparison of the best cloud storage services
Free storage | Monthly costs for 100 GB | Desktop clients and apps | Server location | Special features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Box | 10 GB | $5 | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Selectable (Ireland, Germany, Japan, Australia, among others) | Box Zones help users to comply with regional data protection guidelines |
Dropbox | Up to 20 GB | $0.50 | Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android | unknown | Free storage can be extended |
iCloud Drive | 5 GB | $2 | Windows, macOS, iOS | unknown | Preinstalled on Apple devices |
Google Drive | 15 GB | $2 | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | unknown | Connectable to other Google services |
HiDrive | - | $1 | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Germany | Server location in Germany |
Livedrive | - | $0.50 | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | UK | Backup services included in most packages |
Tresorit | - | $1.50 | Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android | Ireland, Netherlands, Germany, and others | End-to-end encryption |
The perfect team: cloud storage plus online backup
With online storage, you always have your important data with you. No matter what device you're using or where in the world you're working from - all you need is an internet connection and you'll have all your files at your fingertips. Cloud storage is also great for sharing documents or images. However, it does not offer much protection if your system is under threat from malware or experiences hardware errors.
An online backup is the right choice here. Your data is backed up to the cloud automatically and in regular intervals. You decide whether the service only backs up certain files and folders or creates copies of your entire system. If something does go wrong, there is no need to panic because the last backup may only be a few hours old. Both of these backup solutions can be worthwhile investing in in addition to your online storage.
MyDefender
Want to automatically backup all your data in ultra-modern, ISO-certified data centers? Then MyDefender from IONOS is the right solution. The secure online storage lets you plan the automated storage of your data precisely – irrespective of the device you’re using (computer, mobile phone, or smartphone). You determine the time of the backup. At the same time, you can rest assured that the backup only launches once your chosen device is logged into WiFi and does not use any mobile data for the upload. Files can be accessed at any time by logging into the central user interface.
MyDefender stores data in data centers with high security standards. The hardware is characterized by a high level of failure safety – security procedures such as ransomware protection and AES 256-bit encryption when uploading the backed-up data ensure the necessary data security and compliance with strict data protection guidelines.
Unlike most cloud storage alternatives, IONOS does not provide a free basic edition of its service. But the cheapest edition only costs $1 per month and includes 10 GB of data volume (one backup per device type). To protect an unlimited number of end devices, choose a more advanced package from $10 per month for 200 GB storage. MyDefender can be used with Windows computers as well as with macOS, Android, and iOS devices.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|---|
256-bit AES encryption during upload | No free option available |
ISO-certified secure data centers |
Cloud Backup
With Cloud Backup, IONOS is focusing specifically on cloud infrastructures. Whether virtual machines (VMs), file servers, Exchange servers, or workstations: the storage solution makes securing and protecting company data child’s play and guarantees continuous productivity of businesses. Backups can be managed and controlled centrally, so that you can easily leave administration in the hands of the IT department if necessary. Thanks to preconfigured backup agents, the effort is minimal – even complex server backups can be set up in a few minutes, and you choose when and how often backups are created.
In an emergency, IONOS Cloud Backup gets your company back on track within just a few minutes. The flexible recovery mode and version management enable rollback to older files or and if necessary complete data transfer to a new hardware. The secured data, which is always transmitted via SSL/TLS connection, is always 256-bit AES encrypted, to ensure the best possible protection against unauthorized access. You can also compress your backup files if necessary, to make the most of the available storage space.
IONOS provides two different subscription packages. The standard package is a fixed monthly fee that provides a certain storage quota in return. For $5 a month you have 50 GB of storage space available for your backups. 100 GB are available for $9 per month and 250 GB for $22 per month. Alternatively, with the Flex package ($0.12 per GB/month) you pay for what you actually use. Regardless of the package you choose, IONOS will provide you with a personal customer advisor who will support you with the setup and remains available as a central point of contact if you have any problems.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|---|
Backups of entire cloud infrastructures possible | No free solution available |
Simple setup thanks to pre-configured backup agents |
The online storage comparison shows how diverse the selection of digital storage solutions is. Established providers such as iCloud Drive, Dropbox, and Google Drive prove to be cost-effective and feature-rich services with first-class links to useful office applications, but they cause headaches when it comes to data protection due to the rather vague information on the server locations. Backup services like MyDefender or Cloud Backup and Clouds like HiDrive, whose servers are located in Germany, can dispel these concerns – however, these two solutions also lack end-to-end encryption, as offered by Tresorit. Globally operating companies will find Box to be a more than convincing cloud service, which is also appealing when it comes to its collaborative features. Meanwhile, the American investor j2 Global is launching an interesting mix of backup and cloud storage solution with Livedrive, developed in the UK.
If you want to be on the safe side when storing your files in cloud storage, you should encrypt all data on your own before transferring it to the cloud (unless the service already offers end-to-end encryption).