8 products tested & ranked

We Tested 8 Free Cloud Storage — Here's What's Actually Worth It

Maximize your free storage with the most generous cloud storage plans in 2026

Featuring:

Google Drive·

MEGA·

pCloud·Icedrive·

Microsoft OneDrive+3 more

Helping 12,000+ professionals choose the right tools

Quick Answer

Our Top 3 Picks at a Glance

See all reviews

Best Overall

9.4

Google Drive

Free 15GB; 100GB $1.99/mo; 2TB $9.99/mo; Workspace from $6/user/mo

Google's cloud storage platform with 15GB free, deep integration with Google Workspace, and affordable paid plans up to 30TB.

Try Google Drive Free

Best for Small Teams

9.0

MEGA

Free 20GB; Pro I 2TB $11.14/mo; Pro II 8TB $22.30/mo; Pro III 16TB $33.46/mo

New Zealand-based cloud storage with 20GB free, end-to-end encryption by default, and generous storage plans up to 16TB.

Get MEGA 20GB Free

Best Value

8.8

pCloud

Free 10GB; 500GB $49.99/yr; 2TB $99.99/yr; Lifetime from $199 one-time

Swiss-based cloud storage with unique lifetime plans, optional client-side encryption, and a built-in media player for music and video.

Try pCloud Free

Getting the Most Free Storage

Free cloud storage is a great way to back up essential files, sync documents, and share photos without spending anything. Most major providers offer free tiers ranging from 2GB to 20GB, with some offering ways to earn additional space.

What to Expect From Free Plans

Free cloud storage plans typically include basic file syncing, sharing, and mobile app access. However, they often come with limitations on file size, bandwidth, collaboration features, and customer support compared to paid plans.

When to Upgrade

If you regularly run out of space, need advanced sharing controls, or want priority support, it may be time to consider a paid plan. Many providers offer affordable entry-level plans starting under $3 per month.

0Products Tested

0+Hours of Testing

0+Years Experience

0Expert Reviewers

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Our Top Picks

#1 Top Pick

Google Drive

Best Overall (15GB)

9.4

Excellent

Try Google Drive Free

#2 Runner Up

MEGA

Best Encrypted (20GB)

9.0

Excellent

Get MEGA 20GB Free

#3 Also Great

pCloud

Great All-Rounder (10GB)

8.8

Very Good

Try pCloud Free

#1 Our Top Pick

Editor's Choice

Free 15GB; 100GB $1.99/mo; 2TB $9.99/mo; Workspace from $6/user/mo

Google Drive

Best for Google ecosystem users and families

Read Full Review →

Excellent

value9.8

support8.5

features9.2

security7.8

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	Google Drive9.4/10	MEGA9.0/10	pCloud8.8/10	Icedrive8.5/10	Microsoft OneDrive8.2/10	Sync.com8.0/10	iCloud+7.8/10	NordLocker7.5/10
Starting Price	Free 15GB; 100GB $1.99/mo; 2TB $9.99/mo; Workspace from $6/user/mo	Free 20GB; Pro I 2TB $11.14/mo; Pro II 8TB $22.30/mo; Pro III 16TB $33.46/mo	Free 10GB; 500GB $49.99/yr; 2TB $99.99/yr; Lifetime from $199 one-time	Free 10GB; 150GB $1.67/mo; 1TB $3.33/mo; Lifetime from $99	Free 5GB; M365 Personal 1TB $6.99/mo; M365 Family 6TB $9.99/mo	Free 5GB; 2TB $8/mo; 6TB $20/mo; Teams Unlimited $15/user/mo	Free 5GB; 50GB $0.99/mo; 200GB $2.99/mo; 2TB $9.99/mo; up to 12TB	Free 3GB; 500GB $3.99/mo; 2TB $8/mo (annual)
Free Storage Amount	15GB	20GB			5GB
File Size Limit	5TB	No limit			250GB
Bandwidth Limit	Unlimited	Limited			Unlimited
Desktop App
Mobile App
Upgrade Value	9.5	8.5			9.5
	Try Google Drive Free	Get MEGA 20GB Free	Try pCloud Free	Try Icedrive Free	Try OneDrive Free	Try Sync.com Free	Get iCloud+	Try NordLocker Free

Detailed Reviews

Excellent

MEGA

Best Encrypted (20GB)Best free encrypted cloud storage

value9.5

support7.0

features9.0

security9.5

Pros

20GB free storage with end-to-end encryption — best encrypted free tier
Zero-knowledge encryption included by default on all plans
Up to 16TB storage for power users at competitive prices
Open-source client-side code published on GitHub

Cons

Transfer quotas can limit heavy downloaders on free plans
Controversial history connected to Kim Dotcom and Megaupload
Uses AES-128 instead of the stronger AES-256
Customer support is limited and slow for free users

Pricing: Free 20GB; Pro I 2TB $11.14/mo; Pro II 8TB $22.30/mo; Pro III 16TB $33.46/mo

New Zealand-based cloud storage with 20GB free, end-to-end encryption by default, and generous storage plans up to 16TB.

Read Full Review →

Very Good

pCloud

Editor's Choice

Great All-Rounder (10GB)Best for lifetime storage value

value9.0

support8.0

features8.5

security8.0

Pros

Unique lifetime plans eliminate recurring subscription costs
Generous 10GB free storage tier
pCloud Drive provides virtual drive access without local storage use
Built-in media player for music and video streaming from cloud
Swiss-based with choice of EU or US data center

Cons

Zero-knowledge encryption (pCloud Crypto) costs extra
File versioning limited to 30 days on standard plans
No built-in document editing or collaboration tools
Download traffic limits on annual plans

Pricing: Free 10GB; 500GB $49.99/yr; 2TB $99.99/yr; Lifetime from $199 one-time

Swiss-based cloud storage with unique lifetime plans, optional client-side encryption, and a built-in media player for music and video.

Read Full Review →

Very Good

Icedrive

Modern Pick (10GB)Best for affordable lifetime encrypted storage

value9.0

support7.0

features8.0

security8.5

Pros

Beautiful, modern interface that is a joy to use
Affordable lifetime plans starting at just $99 for 150GB
10GB free storage with no credit card required
Virtual drive mounts cloud storage as a local drive

Cons

Relatively new company with limited track record
Slower sync speeds compared to established providers
Limited collaboration features
Free plan has 3GB daily bandwidth limit

Pricing: Free 10GB; 150GB $1.67/mo; 1TB $3.33/mo; Lifetime from $99

Modern cloud storage with a sleek interface, zero-knowledge encryption, 10GB free, and competitive lifetime plans starting at $99.

Read Full Review →

Very Good

Microsoft OneDrive

Best Upgrade Value (5GB)Best for Microsoft 365 and Windows users

value8.0

support8.0

features7.5

security8.2

Pros

Incredible value when bundled with Microsoft 365 (1TB + Office apps)
Deep Windows 11 integration with Files On-Demand
Personal Vault adds identity-verified security for sensitive files
Best-in-class real-time co-authoring in Office documents
Family plan offers 6TB total for just $9.99/month

Cons

Only 5GB free storage, less than Google Drive
Standalone plans being retired in favor of Microsoft 365 bundles
macOS and Linux experience lags behind Windows
Not zero-knowledge encrypted

Pricing: Free 5GB; M365 Personal 1TB $6.99/mo; M365 Family 6TB $9.99/mo

Microsoft's cloud storage tightly integrated with Windows 11 and Microsoft 365, offering 5GB free and up to 6TB with family plans.

Read Full Review →

Very Good

Sync.com

Editor's Choice

Most Private (5GB)Best for zero-knowledge encryption by default

value7.5

support7.8

features7.8

security9.5

Pros

Zero-knowledge encryption included by default on all plans, even free
180-day file versioning on paid plans — industry-leading retention
HIPAA, GDPR, and PIPEDA compliant for regulated industries
Data stored exclusively in Canadian data centers

Cons

Sync speeds are slower than Google Drive or Dropbox
No built-in document editing or collaboration tools
Mobile app is functional but basic compared to competitors
No Linux desktop app available

Pricing: Free 5GB; 2TB $8/mo; 6TB $20/mo; Teams Unlimited $15/user/mo

Canadian zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage with excellent privacy, 5GB free, and affordable plans starting at $8/month for 2TB.

Read Full Review →

Good

iCloud+

Apple Users (5GB)Best for Apple ecosystem users

value7.0

support7.5

features7.5

security8.5

Pros

Seamless integration with iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch
Advanced Data Protection enables true end-to-end encryption
iCloud Private Relay and Hide My Email add real privacy value
Affordable entry at just $0.99/month for 50GB

Cons

Only 5GB free storage, quickly consumed by device backups
No Android app — poor for cross-platform households
Limited Windows support with a basic iCloud for Windows app
No Linux support whatsoever

Pricing: Free 5GB; 50GB $0.99/mo; 200GB $2.99/mo; 2TB $9.99/mo; up to 12TB

Apple's cloud storage with seamless iPhone, iPad, and Mac integration, iCloud Private Relay, and family sharing for up to 12TB.

Read Full Review →

Good

NordLocker

NordVPN Users (3GB)Best for easy-to-use encrypted storage

value7.5

support7.5

features7.0

security9.0

Pros

Dead-simple interface — just drag files into an encrypted locker
Backed by Nord Security, a trusted name in cybersecurity
Local encryption works even without internet connection
Great bundle value with NordVPN and NordPass

Cons

Only 3GB free storage — enough for documents but not media
Limited file sharing and collaboration features
No file versioning or recovery features
Smaller storage plans compared to mainstream providers

Pricing: Free 3GB; 500GB $3.99/mo; 2TB $8/mo (annual)

From the makers of NordVPN, NordLocker offers end-to-end encrypted cloud storage with 3GB free and plans starting at $3.99/month.

Read Full Review →

Our Testing Methodology

We test free plans for 30+ days focusing on actual usable storage, file size limits, bandwidth restrictions, feature limitations, and upsell pressure. We also track if free tier terms change over time.

Our Top 3 Picks at a Glance

Getting the Most Free Storage

What to Expect From Free Plans

When to Upgrade

Our Top Picks

Head-to-Head Comparison

Detailed Reviews

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Pros

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Our Testing Methodology

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