What is Cloud Storage and the Best Service Providers in 2024

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Priya Naha

Senior Writer:

green tickReading Time: 8 Minutes
green tickPublished : May 18, 2022

Cloud storage is the best way to store online data. Every company owns an individual storage facility that helps generate user revenue. Customers purchase cloud storage services to streamline data.

In cloud storage work, the user stores the data in a remote location that you can access with an internet connection. Learn more about cloud storage solutions and the best cloud storage services with us. 

What is Cloud Storage?

What is Cloud Storage?Source

Cloud storage is a cloud computing concept that permits storing data access on the internet. It uses a cloud computing provider, which you can access on a global or private network. 

To guarantee that you can access data when you need it at a practically unlimited scale and with elastic capacity, the cloud storage providers securely store, operate and manage the memory systems, structure, and network.

With cloud storage solutions, you don’t need to buy and maintain your individual data storage infrastructure.

Moreover, cloud storage services offer flexibility, scalability, and durability. You can get access to your data anytime.  

What are the Top Cloud Storage Services?

There are multiple cloud storage services available in the market. Let’s take a look at the top 10 cloud storage systems.

1. Microsoft OneDrive

Microsoft OneDrive

Specifically designed for Microsoft users, Microsoft One Drive allows for the file storage of documents from Microsoft applications. OneDrive easily integrates with Microsoft Office. With these office applications, collaborating on documents has also become simple. 

You can share the documents you store in the cloud, and numerous users can collaborate on them in real time. All other co-authors can immediately see any changes made. Moreover, the changes are promptly saved to the cloud.

Pros

  • Amazing collaboration tools
  • Easy file sharing
  • Strong security
  • Multiple features

Cons

  • Limited file versioning
  • Synchronization limits
  • Privacy issues

Pricing

  • The pricing ranges between $19.99/year and 69.99/year.

Storage

  • The basic plan offers 5GB storage while the premium offers 1 TB.

2. IDrive

IDriveSource

IDrive is among the storage solutions offering online backup and cloud storage options. With backup features like courier recovery and disk imaging, IDrive has share features and the best file sync. 

You can save time and bandwidth with selective sync and designate any folder as a sync folder. IDrive is a good option for typical cloud storage solutions, but its backup features are amazing!

Pros

  • Both cloud storage and backup options
  • Fast uploading speed
  • Multiple features
  • Search and restore for lost data

Cons

  • Difficult user interface
  • Average customer support
  • Slow for unlimited backup

Pricing

  • The pricing ranges from $59.62/year to $2999.50/year.

Storage

  • The free plan offers 10 GB storage, and the premium offers 13 TB.

3. Google Drive

Google DriveSource

Google Drive is one of the top online cloud providers for integrated apps. It offers storage services that integrate with its suite of applications. With the built-in versioning features of Google, you can roll back to changes and leave comments. 

You can integrate grammar checkers and other productivity apps with an entire marketplace of Google drive apps. Moreover, you can also add Google Drive with Google Keep and Calendar.

Pros

  • Amazing tools for collaboration
  • Easy sharing 
  • Excellent user interface
  • Character recognition feature

Cons

  • Limited file size
  • Security risks
  • Does not work offline

Pricing 

  • The pricing starts from $1.99/month to $149.99/month.

Storage

  • The free plan offers 15 GB storage, and the premium offers 30 TB.

4. Dropbox

DropboxSource

Dropbox offers excellent collaboration with Google Docs and Microsoft. It is among the best options for businesses using both services. 

This business cloud storage works smoothly in both formats. Due to zero knowledge encryption, Dropbox can access your files.

Moreover, with Dropbox’s smart sync feature, you can store all your files online or locally. 

Pros

  • Can access the cloud on multiple devices
  • Smart Sync
  • Collaboration with Google & Office
  • Can share large files

Cons

  • Privacy concerns
  • Average customer service
  • Management sharing is not intuitive

Pricing

  • The pricing ranges from $119.88/per year to $288/per year.

Storage 

  • The free plan offers 2GB storage, and the premium one offers 2TB

5. SpiderOak One Backup

SpiderOak One BackupSource

SpiderOak One Backup offers scalable backup choices and excellent security features. It is more expensive than many alternatives, but there are no limitations on the amount of PCs you may back up with each account. The data you store in SpiderOak One Backup is encrypted end-to-end. 

Moreover, you have complete control over unlocking your data. With SpiderOak’s one-share room feature, you can share all your confidential data. It is highly secure and has network attached storage.

Pros 

  • Full-featured desktop application
  • Strong privacy features
  • Unlimited computer support per account
  • Versioning capabilities

Cons 

  • Average customer support
  • No multi-factor authentication options
  • No mobile apps

Pricing

  • The pricing ranges from $69 annually to $320 annually

Storage

  • The basic plan offers 150 GB, while the premium offers 5 TB.

6. Box 

Box Source

Box is a business cloud storage provider with multiple advanced features. It offers numerous app integrations and is a reliable cloud storage provider. It offers strong collaboration options with two-factor authentication. Moreover, it also offers project management and note-taking options.

The extensive menu of collaboration options that Box provides its users is unquestionably its most notable feature. Google Workspace and Microsoft Office are the two most crucial connections for this, but Box goes far beyond these two well-liked choices.

Pros

  • Supports offline syncing 
  • Integrations with 1500+ applications
  • Flexible web apps 
  • Excellent collaboration options

Cons

  •  Low file limit
  • Extra cost for private key management 
  • Expensive

Pricing

  • The pricing ranges from $60/year to $420/year.

Storage

  • The free plan offers 10GB, and the premium one offers $420/per year

7. Apple iCloud Drive

iCloud DriveSource

iCloud Drive is a simple online storage and syncing app for Macs, iPhones, and iPads. It is effective for Apple customers who have Windows PCs. iCloud is vital to maintain personal data from your devices secure, current, and accessible wherever you are.

You can access your images, files, and more at iCloud using any web browser. Your iPhone and other devices will sync any changes you make, keeping you up to date at all times.

Pros

  • Integrates easily with Apple products
  • Fast uploading time
  • Windows client and web access feature
  • Easy to share files, photos, and notes

Cons

  • No Linux or Android clients
  • Can share files only with Apple ID users
  • Lack of customizations

Pricing

  • The pricing ranges from ?75/month to ?749/month.
  • Storage 
  • The free plan offers 5 GB storage, and the premium offers 2 TB. 

8. Nextcloud

NextcloudSource

Nextcloud is among the cloud storage service providers that bring universal access to data through desktop, web interfaces and mobile devices. It is a self-hosted content collaboration platform that offers easy and quick deployment and advanced federation capabilities.

Its cloud storage security has multiple features like file organization, device management, user and role management, two-step verification and others. With Nextcloud, you can share, access and sync your existing data from your mobile devices and desktops. 

Pros

  • Open-source and free
  • Easy to set up
  • Self-hosted
  • Fast download speed

Cons

  • Difficult to change user tag
  • No pause option for sync on iOS or Android
  • Complex for beginners

Pricing

  • The pricing ranges from €36/user/year to €95.5/user/year.

Storage 

  • The free version offers 1 GB, and the premium one offers 100 GB.

9. pCloud

pcloudSource

 

pCloud is a great cloud storage software option for media lovers. The embedded features automatically create playlists by albums, artists or folders. Additionally, it has a rather sophisticated video player that allows you to modify the playback speed and convert video files to different formats.

The virtual drive offered by pCloud will be useful if the storage space on your device is filling up with media files. As part of its backup feature, Cloud enables you to back up photographs that you’ve already uploaded to your social media accounts.

Pros

  • Clean and easy-to-use UI
  • Sync with various devices
  • Secure
  • Easy to embed on websites

Cons

  • Takes time to upload data
  • No document integration
  • Pay extra for data encryption

Pricing

  • The pricing ranges from a $199 one-time payment to $150 billed every three years.

Storage

  • The free plan offers 10 GB, while the premium offers 10 TB.

10. Zoolz Cloud Backup

Zoolz Cloud BackupSource

Zoolz Home Cloud Backup uses Amazon Glacier as its backbone and is an intuitive online backup solution. Zoolz Home Cloud Backup offers exceptional security, privacy, and customer support, along with giving control over your files.

Zoolz has no option for creating a full disc image. It’s a dual-approach backup that uses cold and regular storage.

Pros

  • Excellent user experience
  • Offers hybrid backup
  • Easy file sharing
  • Streams video without buffering

Cons

  • Limited file versions
  • Average speed
  • Limited support

Pricing

  • The pricing ranges from $199.9/year to $999.9/year.

Storage

  • The basic plan offers 1 TB of storage, and the premium one offers 5 TB.

How to Choose the Best Cloud Storage Service?

You can choose the right cloud storage service using the following points:

How-to-Choose-the-Best-Cloud-Storage-Service

1. Location of Data Storage

The location of a cloud server may impact the performance and recovery of your backups. As a result, it is a crucial factor to consider while deciding on the best cloud transform service for your backup requirements.

You can notice poor data transfer speeds to and from the cloud server if it is far from your primary location. Any natural disasters might impair your business operations if the cloud server is too close to your principal site, resulting in data loss, time, and money.

Therefore, the choice of location should consider the data’s value, the kind of potential disasters, and the cost.

2. Performance

The evaluation of performance is crucial when choosing the best cloud service. Physical location, response time, processing time, latency, bandwidth, CPU, RAM, infrastructure, underlying storage, user-server distance, and procedures for dealing with scheduled and unforeseen downtime are a few elements that affect how well a cloud service performs.

Some cloud services provide various performance levels at various price points. 

3. Cost

When selecting a cloud automation service, the cost is a crucial factor. Before upgrading to paying plans, most cloud services offer free storage, so you can decide if they are the appropriate fit. As a result, you can evaluate various cloud services and pick the top service provider.

You should examine the price per GB of storage space, upload and download fees, and other hidden fees (like customer support) when comparing the storage costs of various cloud providers. Choose a provider that lets you pay only for the storage you use and that lets you add or remove services as needed.

Conclusion

Cloud storage  helps businesses streamline their work and boost productivity. With the mushroom growth of cloud storage systems, businesses may get confused about getting the most suitable one.

The options mentioned above will be of great help to business professionals. Let me know your favorite cloud storage software in the comments below.

Subscription Pricing FAQ's

The following cloud services offer the most free storage:

  1. Pcloud
  2. MEGA
  3. Degoo

The four types of cloud storage are:

  1. Private cloud storage
  2. Public cloud storage
  3. Hybrid cloud storage
  4. Multi-cloud storage

The following are among the best cloud storage providers:

  1. Internxt
  2. Sync
  3. Icedrive

The cost of 1TB cloud storage ranges from $4.99/per month to $6.99/per month.

The users don’t have to do anything. Every Google Workspace user will get free 1TB of cloud storage.

The disadvantages of cloud storage are:

  1. Internet connection is a must
  2. You need to pay for extra storage space
  3. Security and privacy concerns

Yes, but if you don’t want to pay for cloud storage, you can always try the free plans.

The purpose of cloud storage is to store data that you can access with an internet connection.

Yes, Google Drive is a cloud service.

Security concerns are the biggest problem with cloud storage.

Updated : February 28, 2023

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