Rather than trying to predict the amount of storage you are going to need in the future, why not go for an unlimited cloud storage provider? That way there are no upper limit restrictions. You never know what you might need to back up in the future, and with so many massive files being created from videos to games, more space is always better.
Although there are a few great unlimited file storage providers out there, as always – they differ on how they structure their business. Some offer a monthly or annual fee and others will charge you for how much space you use.
There is a difference between a cloud backup provider and a cloud storage provider. I'll quickly outline each type of storage below so that you have an idea of the difference.
What is the difference between Backup, Storage and Sync?
With the increasing demand for cloud storage and the fact that they are becoming more affordable, the services are becoming more specialized. Often providers will offer a few of these services, however, it's a great idea to get informed. Here are the three types of cloud storage that you should know about:
- Cloud Sync
- Cloud Backup
- Cloud Storage
When you synchronize your device with a cloud storage provider, the files that you choose to sync are backed up on the cloud. We'd always advise having multiple copies of your files, especially ones of high value that you cannot replace.
What is Cloud Backup?
Unlike Cloud Sync, cloud backup doesn't require you to select the folder/s that you want to store. Cloud backup is normally automatic and it backs up your entire device. Think of cloud backup like the good old fashioned CD or DVD that you use to make a backup of your data.
What is Cloud Storage?
Cloud storage is a highly available data storage service. These services can be accessed by web developers via an API (application program interfaces).
Who is Cloud Storage For?
Cloud storage is a brilliant solution for anyone wanting to keep their data in a secure, accessible place. Great for both businesses and individuals alike, plus they are really easy to use (in most cases).
In this article, we'll explore the pros and cons of the top 7 UNLIMITED cloud file storage providers. For example – if they offer a FREE TRIAL, ease of use and price are all considerations. You'll need to be uploading and downloading a lot with your cloud storage provider, so the speed of transfer is also something to check out.
On the subject of file transfer – block-level transfer is a great feature, as it will allow you to only upload the parts of files that you have changed – saving time. These are our top six considerations when selecting the top unlimited file storage solution providers:
- User Experience
- Ease of Use
- Free Trial Offered
- Pricing
- Speed of Transfer
- Block-level transfer
1. OpenDrive (5GB FREE)
OpenDrive are one of the only providers that we've seen that Unlimited Storage on a personal plan. What's more, you can add up to four users on the personal plan, which is just $9.95 per month. If you sign up to their annual service you get two months free. The Business Plan from OpenDrive is $29.95 per month and is white label – so you can add your business branding. They offer account manager to help you, should you need it. They also offer a reseller plan so that you can effectively make your File storage service and sell it which is just $59.95 – quite an attractive proposition! The only downside to this is that you get charged for every user that you add onto your reseller account.
- Important features: Cost effective, Unlimited Personal Plan, Personal account manager, Reseller/ white label services, easy and secure file sharing, and intelligent classification and categorization of files
- Cost: FREE up to 5GB, or plans starting at $ 5 per month for 500GB
- Website: Unlimited Cloud storage | Cloud Backups | Cloud Drive
2. Box (10GB FREE)
Counting more than 70% of the Fortune 500 as customers, Box is a highly scalable file hosting option for those with demanding requirements. The company offers an intriguing 10GB free plan for individuals, but we found much more value in the company's other packages. For just $5 per month more than the somewhat restrictive Personal plan, customers can unlock unlimited storage and additional security and reporting tools to enjoy a more transparent and protected experience.
- Important features: Automated workflow, collaboration, and machine learning tools, plus 1,500 third-party integrations, easy and secure file sharing, and intelligent classification and categorization of files
- Cost: FREE up to 10GB, or plans starting at $10 per month for 100GB
- Website: Secure File Sharing, Storage, and Collaboration | Box
3. ElephantDrive (2GB FREE)
One of the first and most popular applications built on Amazon Web Services S3 (Simple Storage Service), ElephantDrive leverages powerful technologies and partnerships with leading network attached storage (NAS) manufacturers to provide a multi-faceted cloud storage virtualization and online backup solution. Sure, the 2GB free plan isn't all that exciting, but its reasonably priced introductory plan gives users 10 times more storage space for only a dollar or two more per month. Plus, each premium ElephantDrive plan comes with a 30-day free trial.
- Important features: Native integration with many NAS devices, automatic syncing across devices, compatibility with Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android, as well as 256-bit AES and 128-bit SSL encryption
- Cost: FREE up to 2GB, or plans starting at $10 per month for 1TB
- Website: ElephantDrive – Never Forgets.
4. IDrive (5GB FREE)
In the data backup and storage game since 1995, IDrive offers a robust set of features that help users accomplish complicated processes within easy-to-use online dashboards. The cloud storage, online backup, and remote access specialists provide incremental and compressed snapshots of unlimited PCs, Macs, and mobile devices to ease bandwidth consumption and increase performance. Plus, IDrive gives users 5GB of free storage — not as much as competitors do, but we always appreciate a well-appointed no-cost option.
- Important features: Real-time file syncing, data retrieval and restoration by mailing a physical drive, remote computer management, 256-bit encryption, server backup scripts, and bare-metal disaster recovery services
- Cost: FREE up to 5GB, or plans starting at $52.12 per year for 2TB
- Website: IDrive Cloud Backup
5. Microsoft OneDrive (5GB FREE)
Closely intertwined with Office 365, Microsoft OneDrive similarly blends superb productivity and collaboration tools with ample amounts of cloud storage and file syncing. The platform comes with significantly less free storage than Google Drive, and the next step up — a storage-only option for 100GB for $1.99 per month — isn't much better. Customers won't really start to see the advantages of OneDrive until they reach the Office 365 Personal plan with 1TB of storage for $69.99 per year.
- Important features: Offline access, SSL encryption, multi-device compatibility, the ability to set an expiration date on shared links, locally installed versions of Office, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook, ransomware detection and recovery
- Cost: FREE up to 5GB, or plans starting at $1.99 per month for 100GB
- Website: Microsoft OneDrive - Access files anywhere. Create docs with free Office Online.
6. Google Drive (15GB FREE)
Combining the most popular email platform in the U.S. with an incredible amount of cloud storage, Google Drive is a tough option to beat. Perfect for individuals and small businesses, the platform boasts some of the best productivity tools in the industry and lets users create, edit, share, and save across multiple devices and programs. The familiar interface is a natural extension for current Gmail users, and upgrading to unlock more resources is extremely affordable.
- Important features: Compatibility with multiple files and devices, intuitive search, data loss prevention rules, and more than 100 productivity apps that cover everything from forms to sketches
- Cost: FREE up to 15GB, or plans starting at $1.99 per month for 100GB
- Website: Free Cloud Storage for Personal Use - Google Drive
7. MediaFire (50GB FREE)
Every month, more than 840 million people use MediaFire to send and receive files. Boasting 50 million registered users, the file hosting and cloud storage experts provide one of the best deals around. For less than $5 per month, users receive a whopping 1TB of room to store their documents and other content. MediaFire's well-appointed free plan comes with 10GB of storage, but users will see several display ads when downloading files. However, those free users can earn up to 40GB more storage as reward for tasks like connecting a Facebook or Twitter account or referring friends.
- Important features: Password-protected files, one-time links, detailed security logs, social media sharing, unlimited bandwidth and downloads, plus bulk downloads
- Cost: FREE up to 50GB, or plans starting at $3.75 per month for 1TB
- Website: MediaFire
8. Dropbox (2GB FREE)
Created as a personal solution when the founder got frustrated with always losing his USB drive, Dropbox has since become one of the most recognizable names in the cloud file hosting industry. The company originally concentrated on reaching individuals and small businesses but is now expanding into the enterprise market. Dropbox remains one of the more affordable options out there, especially given the huge amount of space available. In addition to the 2GB free plan for individuals, business plans come with a 30-day FREE trial.
- Important features: Remote device wipes, two-factor authentication, 256-bit and TLS encryption, Microsoft Office 365 integration, administrative console and audit logs
- Cost: FREE up to 2GB, or plans starting at $9.99 per month for 2TB
- Website: Dropbox Business
9. pCloud (10GB FREE)
Attracting more than 8 million users in less than a decade of existence, pCloud excels at providing individuals and businesses a solution that balances cutting-edge cloud technologies with user-friendly, simple interfaces designed for efficiency. We especially appreciate how users can customize and brand their download links and pages, providing a consistent and professional appearance to colleagues, collaborators, and external customers.
- Important features: Customizable download links, optional client-side encryption, selective offline access, built-in video and audio players, 30-day file versioning, and unlimited file size limits
- Cost: FREE up to 10GB, or plans starting at $3.99 for 500GB
- Website: pCloud - Best Secure Encrypted Cloud Storage
10. AWS S3 (5GB FREE)
AWS is Amazon's cloud storage service. It can be scaled up to whatever you need to in effect you have access to unlimited storage space. You can store your data on AWS for cost $0.004 per gigabyte per month. They operate a Pay-as-you-go service model and they also offer volume discounts if you need to store a tonne of data on the AWS cloud. They have some handy calculators to figure out how much space you are using. You can use as much as you want, and that is why we have put it on the list, it is unlimited, however Pay-as-you-go.
- Important features: Free tier, Pay only for what you use, easy and secure file sharing, and intelligent classification and categorization of files
- Cost: FREE up to 5GB, or plans starting at $0.004 per gigabyte per month
- Website: Cloud Object Storage | Store & Retrieve Data Anywhere | Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3)
11. Hightail (2GB FREE)
Geared for businesses with large teams and even larger files to share, Hightail considers itself the leader in the enterprise information management sector. With the company's high-powered platform, organizations can move faster, streamline information governance procedures, and reduce security risks. Hightail is focused on helping users securely send and share files as large as 100GB with real-time notifications of when that data is received, downloaded, and accessed.
- Important features: File delivery and download tracking, custom branding, password protection, real-time comments and discussions, side-by-side version compare, approval routing, and task management
- Cost: FREE up to 2GB, or plans starting at $12 per month for unlimited storage
- Website: File sharing & creative collaboration
12. MEGA (50GB FREE but most storage expires)
Built under the mantra that cryptography must not interfere with usability, MEGA pushes browser-based performance with end-to-end encryption. Impressively, the company gives users control of their encryption keys, meaning MEGA is a zero-knowledge file hosting service that has no idea what information and data users are storing on their servers. The company doesn't exactly lead the way in file sharing and collaboration features because of the attention to security and privacy, but its secure sharing and communication methods help mitigate that loss.
- Important features: End-to-end encryption, desktop and mobile apps, command line tool, plus secure messaging and audio or video calls.
- Cost: FREE up to 50GB, or plans starting at $5.45 per month for 200GB
- Website: MEGA
13. Backblaze B2 (10GB FREE)
With Backblaze B2 you get 10GB for free – which is a great bonus. After you use this space up then you get a gigabyte for $0.005 per month. They also offer you 1GB download for free, but after this you'll pay $0.004 per 10,000 downloads – certainly a pretty cheap option. They don't have international servers like other hosting providers and store all of your files in their Californian servers. This can make transfer speeds slow and put you under the jurisdiction of US data laws.
- Important features: Dirt Cheap, Scalable storage
- Cost: FREE up to 10GB, or plans starting at $5.58 per month for 100GB
- Website: Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage
14. Apple iCloud (5GB FREE)
Like its Microsoft rival, Apple's iCloud gives you 5GB of free online storage – not nearly enough to back up your iPhone, but plenty of space for stashing your photos. However, its paid plans come at a very reasonable price. As you'd expect from Apple, iCloud integrates well with the MacOS and iOS ecosystems, making it easy to store files through Finder, and documents from the iWork suite are saved to iCloud so that you can access them from all your devices. There's also a Windows client, which seems to perform better than the Mac version of OneDrive.
- Important features: Built into MacOS and iOS, Good value and No good for sharing
- Cost: FREE up to 5GB, or plans starting at £0.79 per month for 50GB
- Website: iCloud
Where Can I Host Files for Free?
Most of the options on our list of the best file hosting services include some sort of a free option. It may be a trial period that gives you time to get comfortable with the platform's features and interface, or a no-cost plan that restricts your storage capacity or the tools available for you to use. Here are the best free file hosting plans on our list:
- Box (10GB with a 250MB file upload limit)
- pCloud (Up to 10GB with no file upload limits)
- Google Drive (15GB with no relevant file upload limit)
- MediaFire (Up to 50GB with a 4GB file upload limit)
- MEGA (Up to 50GB but most storage expires)
Whichever free option you choose, even if it's not on our list, be sure to do your homework about a platform's security, privacy, and technology features. Free web hosting plans can be notorious for cutting corners in these departments, sacrificing both your personal information and your data's integrity and safety.
