The End of Standalone OneDrive
In February 2026, Microsoft announced it is retiring standalone OneDrive for Business and SharePoint Online plans. Sales end in June 2026, and the services will be discontinued by December 2029. This affects users who signed up for OneDrive purely for affordable cloud storage without the full Microsoft 365 suite.
Why Microsoft Is Making This Change
Microsoft cited low customer demand and what it called unintended or nonstandard usage. Translation: users were buying cheap OneDrive standalone plans purely for cloud storage, bypassing more expensive Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Microsoft wants to push these users into full productivity bundles.
What It Means for Current Users
If you are on a standalone OneDrive or SharePoint plan, your service will continue until December 2029. However, you should plan to migrate before then. Microsoft recommends upgrading to Microsoft 365 Business Basic ($6/user/month), which includes 1TB OneDrive storage, Teams, and web versions of Office apps.
Alternatives to Consider
If you were using OneDrive standalone purely for storage, consider these alternatives. Google Drive offers 15GB free and 2TB for $9.99/month. pCloud offers lifetime plans starting at $199 for permanent storage. Sync.com provides 2TB with encryption for $8/month.
The Bigger Trend
This move reflects a broader industry trend toward bundling cloud storage with productivity tools. Google has done the same with Google One and Workspace. Pure cloud storage is becoming a feature of larger platforms rather than a standalone product. Independent providers like pCloud, Sync.com, and MEGA are the remaining standalone options.
Our Advice
If you need pure cloud storage without productivity tools, switch to an independent provider like pCloud or Sync.com before your standalone plan expires. If you use Microsoft tools regularly, upgrading to Microsoft 365 makes financial sense since you get much more than just storage for a modest price increase.
Timeline Summary
June 2026: Sales of standalone OneDrive and SharePoint plans end. December 2029: Service discontinuation for existing users. Between now and then: plan your migration to Microsoft 365 or an alternative provider.
