Best cloud storage of 2024 - TechRadar
It's May 2024 and, like clockwork, we've kept this page updated with the best offers we can find for the cloud storage services we most recommend.
Strictly speaking, you don't need a cloud storage solution, but for peace of mind in an enterprise setting, it's advised to back up data according to a '3-2-1' backup strategy, and cloud backup is an affordable way to get there.
After all, per a nice aphorism we found online recently, there are two types of physical drives: those that have failed, and those that have yet to fail.
Back in March, in celebration of World Backup Day 2024, we published a new write-up with all the facts, and a discussion of why backups are important for sensitive data in a business setting, that should stand the test of time.
Cloud storage is also commonly bundled with online collaboration tools, such as Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, which have become commonplace amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
In practice, it's often more cost-effective, especially in an enterprise setting, to opt for these kinds of 'all-in-one' services when choosing cloud storage solutions for business. Offering plenty of storage capacity and more besides, they make it easy to secure, access, and share files, photos, and email wherever you are, online, on desktop, and on mobile.
However, you might have reservations about opting for a Big Tech company's cloud offering. That could be down to data privacy concerns, not wanting to put all of your eggs in one basket, or to feel more confident that pricing won't gradually skyrocket. 
Accounting for budget is so important to us, in fact, that we've listed the best free cloud storage services, plus lifetime cloud storage deals, which charge a large one-off sum for unlimited access to a hefty data allowance.
When reviewing the best cloud storage services, our main concerns while testing were ease of set-up, security, sync speeds, and sharing performance. We also checked file recovery and versioning options, so everyone's on the same page.
The best cloud storage services of 2024 in full:
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you're buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Best overall
✔️  You want a cloud storage service that is feature-rich: IDrive boasts a significant number of features, including Snapshots, which lets you store up to 30 different versions of your files and a physical recovery option.
✔️ Flexible backup options: With IDrive, users can back up an unlimited number of devices – computers, mobile phones, servers – to a single account.
✔️ You need cloud storage you can trust with your life: With IDrive's end-to-end encryption protocols, you can be confident that any files you store are safe from prying eyes. 
❌ You're on a strict budget: IDrive isn't the cheapest cloud storage on the market, with some of the more  appealing price points only available for a "limited time only" 
❌ You've got ambitious growth plans: There's no unlimited storage options, which could be an issue for some enterprises.
❌ You want a slick interface: The user interface of the desktop client does leave a little to be desired.
IDrive is a terrific cloud storage solution - a fantastic all-rounder with an easy-to-use backup option. It offers a great balance between security, usability and performance. 
Check out our in-depth IDrive review for a closer look at the service, and see why it's our top cloud storage pick for 2024.
IDrive tops our best cloud storage charts with its appealing mix of easy-to-use desktop and mobile apps, excellent backup features, strong security and great value.
Signing up gets you from 10TB (personal) to 50TB (business) , but pure storage is just the start. Sync support keeps files up-to-date across all your hardware, and excellent backup features enable protecting everything from individual files and folders to full SQL, Exchange, SharePoint and other servers. We found this was very easy to use, and our tests revealed iDrive's performance was a close match to Google Drive and the other top contenders.
The service is strong on the security fundamentals, with end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication to protect you from attack. 
It also excels at extras, such as an option to transfer your data to iDrive on a physical device, ideal if you've a slow internet connection and 50TB to protect. IDrive sends you the drive, pays return postage (in the US), but it's still free once a year for personal users (three times for business plans.)
The free tier gives you a decent 10GB of storage, more than enough to try the apps and get a look at what iDrive has to offer. And if you like what you see, right now there's a spectacular deal offering 10TB storage for only $4.98 for the first year, amounting to little more than $0.01 a day.
Read our full IDrive cloud storage review.
Performance: This is an area where IDrive really shines. It boasts fast upload speeds and a file recovery feature that is especially handy if you think you've lost some important data. IDrive also provides block-level syncing when you are syncing files from a device, such as a smartphone or tablet, to the cloud. 
Other backup features, including disk image backup, NAS backup and server backup, are useful additions depending on what you're looking for from your cloud storage.
Security: IDrive is certainly no slouch on the security front. It comes with two-factor authentication and end-to-end encryption to protect your data. This works via a private key that is unique to you, so look after it!  
There's also the offer of standard encryption, which although not as secure as end-to-end encryption, still provides protection against most potential breaches. It also means a bit less responsibility for the end user as iDrive keeps hold of the encryption key, so you can restore your data whenever you need to, without having to remember a private key.
Expand to read our expert technical analysis of IDrive ↓
IDrive's Express service lets you put your data on all the best hard drives and post them off - for when you want the added protection that comes with physical storage.
Customer support: IDrive has several support options so you should be able to contact the company should an issue arise. There's live chat functionality, as well as the option of contacting support via either telephone or email. As with many companies, some users have complained that response times vary, but we've been pleasantly surprised by some fast remediation whenever a problem emerged. 
Features: IDrive offers users the possibility of backing up their files across an unlimited number of devices, from computers to mobile devices, as well as NAS drives. 
Real-time syncing and backup scheduling, are both great for ensuring you never forget to back up the latest version of your files. You can also opt to receive desktop or email notifications informing you when your backups are completed. 
Link-sharing is robust here. You can configure links to expire after a set period - up to a maximum of 30 days - or a number of downloads. All of your active share links are also visible through the IDrive dashboard so there's complete clarity over what you're sharing with, say, external partners. 
Usability: IDrive does boat some good usability on the whole, although a revamp of its design and interface in certain areas could improve this. Menu and setting screens are pretty clear, so you shouldn't have too much trouble configuring IDrive exactly to your liking. 
There are some differences here depending on the type of device you are accessing IDrive through. For instance, there are fewer options if you're using the iOS version. 
While the Android app lets you backup SMS messages, this isn't possible with the iPhone and iPad versions, which are limited to contact, calendar, photos and videos. While this may be more of an Apple issue than an IDrive one, it will still affect usability for certain users.
Price: IDrive offers 5GB of free storage, with no . After that, you'll probably want to look at the Persona, which costs $59.62 a year for 5TB, and there's the option of a $15 upgrade for twice the amount of storage (10TB).
If the Business plan is more likely to suit your needs, you can gain cloud storage fpr an unlimited number of users and devices. This is available from $74.62 a year for 250GB, increasing to $8699.62 for 50TB of space per user. Alternatively, there's the Team plan, which comes in several versions. Here, the cheapest plan starts at $74.62 for one year.
It's also worth remembering that TechRadar readers can get 10TB of cloud storage from iDrive for $4.98 for the first year. You can grab this exclusive deal by clicking here. 
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | A bit lacking in places - especially outside the desktop version | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of use | Not always the most intuitive, but worth the effort. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | Fast upload speed and great feature set. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Security and privacy | IDrive offers end-to-end encryption | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Customer support | 24/7 live chat, telephone and email support | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Additional features | Single sign-on, server cloud backup, remote computer management | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Time to upload 1GB | 4m22s - very fast | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Time to download 1GB | 2m27s - still very respectable | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Platforms | PC, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Versions kept | 30 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Price | Not the cheapest but a great free plan | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Best lifetime value
✔️ You want a free plan without restrictions: pCloud implements zero limitations on file size or speeds for their plans.
✔️ You need social media integration: You can back up images and videos on your accounts, like Facebook and Instagram,  directly within pCloud.
✔️ You want block-level syncing: This means upload speeds will be much quicker as only the parts of your files that have changed will be synced.
❌ You need a built-in document editor: This isn't included in pCloud, so if you need one you might be better off going with rivals like Google Drive or Microsoft Onedrive. 
❌ You use a lot of devices: With pCloud, it's recommended that no more than five devices are connected to a single account - this may not be enough for individuals with a lot of devices on the go at once.
❌ The user interface is important to you: This can feel a little old-fashioned but there's a six-step wizard to help you get started.
pCloud is a great value cloud storage service with a fantastic free plan and the kind of social media integration that few of its rivals can match. 
Check out our in-depth pCloud review to see why this cloud storage service is worth your consideration.
Swiss-based pCloud stands out from the cloud storage crowd for its hugely advanced file sharing features. If regular download links aren't enough, you can create special download pages with custom messages, build slideshows of shared images, even stream audio or video files directly from your storage space.
There's no monthly pricing model, but annual plans are fair value at $49.99 for 500GB (very economic, in our opinion), $99.99 for 2TB when we last checked in May 2024. 
Even better, pCloud's lifetime plans give you 500GB forever for a one-off $199, 2TB for $399, or 10TB for $1190. There's a 10GB free plan, too, though beware: as with many providers, you must sign up friends, install the app and do other tedious tasks to get the full amount.
We found the service very easy to set up and use. Sample folders and files helped us immediately try out its powerful file management and sharing features. We had no issues connecting our account to Facebook, Instagram and other social media accounts, and backing up their content. 
The desktop app adds a Dropbox-like virtual drive to your file manager, simplifying operations, but Internxt's mobile app can make life even easier by (optionally) automatically uploading pictures and videos direct from your phone.
There's also offline functionality, so you can access your shared files via your computer or mobile even if you don't have a working connection. Then, as soon as the connection is restored, there'll be an automatic sync. Browser extensions are also available for Firefox, Chrome, and Opera, allowing you to save audio, video and pictures directly from a web page to your pCloud account.
There's a lot to like here, but we also noticed one or two issues. The desktop interface is a little dated - not quite as slick as some of the competition. 2TB isn't a lot of storage by today's standards, either, and iDrive's Personal plans can give you up to 20TB for only a little more.
Read our full pCloud Cloud Storage review.
Expand to read our expert technical analysis of pCloud ↓
Performance: Our tests found that pCloud's upload speeds fared well against competitors like iDrive, Internxt, and  Apple iCloud. 
File recovery also performed well, but it's worth keeping in mind that the free version of pCloud only stores file revisions for up to 15 days. If you need longer than this, you'll have to select a paid plan.
Security: All file transfers involving pCloud use a TLS/SSL encrypted channel for added protection and files are stored across five different server locations as a safeguard against data loss. In fact, pCloud is so confident regarding the security credentials that it offered a $100,000 reward for anyone that could crack their defenses as part of the 'pCloud Encryption Challenge'. No one was successful.
Customer support: This is an area where pCloud can find itself lacking. Response times can vary a lot and if you want to contact pCloud directly, you have to pick up the phone. Unfortunately, the head office is in Switzerland, so US customers have a sizeable time difference to battle against. You can also send an email, but the addition of a live chat option would help speed up their customer service.
Features: Sharing files is straightforward with pCloud and there are a couple of additional features worth talking about too. One of these is Extended History, which extends the time that pCloud retains deleted files to 360 days. Another is pCloud Crypto, which adds client-side encryption to your account. These features do have to be paid for, however, costing $80 a year and $50 respectively.
Usability: Some users have complained pCloud's software is not short of a bug or two, which diminishes its usability significantly. When things are working well, however, the desktop client is pretty intuitive so as long as you aren't scuppered by a technical mishap, this is a cloud storage platform that is pretty easy to get to grips with. 
Price: A strong point for pCloud is its competitive price points. There's a generous free plan offering 10GB of storage (although you will have to complete a few simple tasks to unlock the full amount, such as recommending friends). 
In terms of paid plans, the Premium subscription comes with 500GB for $50 a year while the 2TB Premium Plus is priced at $100 a year.
Interestingly, pCloud also offers not just one-time 'lifetime' payment plans, but the ability to stack one lifetime allowance on top of others. That's certainly an investment, but we like that the option is there, because it could pay off over time with enough use.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Some bugs aside, pretty intuitive | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of use | Clear, and a set-up wizard to get you started | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | Holds up well against competitors, but versioning is restricted somewhat | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Security and privacy | Good security protocols and confident about its safeguards | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Customer support | Somewhat lacking. A live chat option would be handy. | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Additional features | Extended History, crypto drive, file manager | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Time to upload 1GB | 4m4s - very fast | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Time to download 1GB | 1m15s - rapid | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Platforms | All | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Versions kept | - | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
| Price | Reasonable and the lifetime-options are a bonus. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Best for syncing
✔️ You need a team-friendly platform: Microsoft 365 integration allows for live editing and there's strong control regarding who can see your files.
✔️ You need strong security protections: End-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication are both on offer with Sync.
✔️ You want a cloud platform that's easy to set up: Recently revamped desktop clients and mobile apps make it straightforward to get going with Sync.
❌ You want more advanced interface options: Aside from progress indicators and a recent changes list, there's not much going on with Sync's desktop dashboard. 
❌ Single folder syncing is an issue: Some competitors provide block-level syncing but not Sync.
❌ You need reliable customer support: While there is user forum and knowledgebase to help with troubleshooting, the only way to directly contact Sync is via email. 
Sync is a competitively priced cloud storage platform that has some solid features. It's only let down by limited customer support and the absence of block-level syncing.
Check out our in-depth Sync cloud storage review for insights on why this cloud storage platform offers such reliable out-of-the-box security.
Sync.com may not have the range of features you'll see elsewhere, but, as the name suggests, it excels at simple file syncing, delivering an easy-to-use, speedy and secure service that works for personal and business users.
There's still plenty of power here. Sophisticated file sharing allows creating read-only, password-protected or expiring links, set download limits and more. Sync.com's versioning supports restoring files from at least the last 180 days (most providers stop at 30.) 
The mobile apps can automatically sync photos and videos as you take them, while two-factor authentication and end-to-end encryption keep your account and data safe.
Elsewhere, we found Sync.com's apps and web interface slick and easy to use, and performance was a real highlight, with both upload and download speeds amongst the best we've seen.
Sync.com particularly impressed us with its team-friendly features, including the ability to add comments to file-sharing links, share folders with groups of people, open and edit Office documents direct from your Sync space (if you've Office 365) and manage all your users from a central console.
There are the rudimentary file and folder sharing features you'd expect here but there's also support for more advanced sharing controls, including the option of adding password protection and expiry dates on any links you do share. 
In addition, if you subscribe to a team account, you'll find that your files gain added security from protocols like HIPAA, GDPR, and PIPEDA. PIN code locks are also provided for the Sync mobile apps. 
Prices start higher than most providers, with a 2TB personal plan costing $96 a year. However, demanding teams can get unlimited storage for only $360 per user per year (minimum two users), which works out at $15 per user per month.
As of late April 2024, the company is offering $100 off annual bills for its Solo Professional and Teams+ Unlimited plans until May 6.
There's a 5GB free plan for you to try out, and you can expand this to 27GB by carrying out various tasks (some as simple as creating a folder. We're not huge fans of this kind of busywork generally, and always suggest buying in if you have a pressing need to store sensitive data at scale.
Read our full Sync cloud storage review.
Expand to read our expert technical analysis of Sync.com ↓
Performance: Sync offers some impressive upload and download speeds - although this is, of course, just for a single folder. A nice feature is the way it lets users control these speeds, throttling them where necessary. This means you can ensure that Sync doesn't affect your other commuting tasks if you haven't got the best connection. This added control you have over Sync's performance is a handy addition.  
Security: Sync takes cloud security very seriously. The service isn't interoperable with third-party apps (like collaboration tools) and doesn't make its API available for others to use externally. 
While this does prohibit potentially useful integrations, it also reduces the possible attack vectors for outside actors to exploit. Sync has even published a white paper explaining how it uses 2048 Bit RSA encryption keys to keep your data safe. Two-factor authentication is also easily enabled for your account.
Customer support: Starting with the positives, Sync does come with an extensive Help Center that provides support regarding setting up your account, creating shared folders and more. Unfortunately, finding help any other way is more of a challenge. There's no community forum and you can only get directly in touch with Sync via an online form. When we did go down this route, however, we did receive a helpful response pretty quickly. 
Features: On a fundamental level, Sync's primary feature is the way it lets users maintain a single folder on their device, or devices, of their choosing that is automatically synced with the cloud. In terms of other features, versioning is offered but the length of time that files are kept for will vary depending on your subscription. The lack of more advanced features may disappoint some but Sync has chosen to focus on its cor...
Comments
Post a Comment