8 products tested & ranked

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

Expert-tested reviews of the top cloud storage platforms for individuals and families in 2026

Featuring:

Google Drive·

Microsoft OneDrive·

pCloud·

Dropbox·

iCloud++3 more

Helping 12,000+ professionals choose the right tools

Quick Answer

Our Top 3 Picks at a Glance

See all reviews

Best Overall

9.2

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

8.9

Microsoft OneDrive

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.

Try OneDrive 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

Finding the Right Personal Cloud Storage

Choosing the best personal cloud storage depends on your ecosystem, budget, and how you plan to use it. Whether you need to back up family photos, sync documents across devices, or collaborate on files, there is a cloud storage solution that fits.

What We Evaluate

Our team tests each service across real-world scenarios including file upload and download speeds, mobile app quality, sharing features, and value for money. We also assess free storage tiers, privacy policies, and cross-platform compatibility.

Key Considerations

The best personal cloud storage balances generous free tiers with affordable paid plans. Look for strong mobile apps, seamless desktop integration, and reliable file syncing. Security features like two-factor authentication and encryption are increasingly important for protecting personal data.

0Products Tested

0+Hours of Testing

0+Years Experience

0Expert Reviewers

Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn affiliate commissions when you purchase through links on this site. This never influences our ratings or recommendations. Our reviews are based on independent, hands-on testing. We believe in full transparency about how we make money. Read our full disclosure →

Our Top Picks

#1 Top Pick

Google Drive

Best Overall

9.2

Excellent

Try Google Drive Free

#2 Runner Up

Microsoft OneDrive

Best Value

8.9

Very Good

Try OneDrive Free

#3 Also Great

pCloud

Best Lifetime Plans

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

value9.5

support8.5

features9.5

security7.8

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	Google Drive9.2/10	Microsoft OneDrive8.9/10	pCloud8.8/10	Dropbox8.7/10	iCloud+8.5/10	Sync.com8.6/10	MEGA8.2/10	Icedrive8.0/10
Starting Price	Free 15GB; 100GB $1.99/mo; 2TB $9.99/mo; Workspace from $6/user/mo	Free 5GB; M365 Personal 1TB $6.99/mo; M365 Family 6TB $9.99/mo	Free 10GB; 500GB $49.99/yr; 2TB $99.99/yr; Lifetime from $199 one-time	Free 2GB; Plus 2TB $9.99/mo; Professional 3TB $16.58/mo; Business from $15/user/mo	Free 5GB; 50GB $0.99/mo; 200GB $2.99/mo; 2TB $9.99/mo; up to 12TB	Free 5GB; 2TB $8/mo; 6TB $20/mo; Teams Unlimited $15/user/mo	Free 20GB; Pro I 2TB $11.14/mo; Pro II 8TB $22.30/mo; Pro III 16TB $33.46/mo	Free 10GB; 150GB $1.67/mo; 1TB $3.33/mo; Lifetime from $99
Free Storage	15GB	5GB	10GB	2GB	5GB	5GB
Starting Price	$1.99/mo	$6.99/mo	$49.99/yr	$9.99/mo	$0.99/mo	$8/mo
Maximum Storage	30TB	6TB	10TB	3TB	12TB	Unlimited
Ease of Use	9.4	9.0	8.8	9.2	9.5	8.5
Mobile App Quality	9.2	8.5	8.5	9.0	9.5	7.8
File Sharing	9.0	8.8	7.8	9.3	7.5	8.5
Cross-Platform Sync
	Try Google Drive Free	Try OneDrive Free	Try pCloud Free	Try Dropbox Free	Get iCloud+	Try Sync.com Free	Get MEGA 20GB Free	Try Icedrive Free

Detailed Reviews

Very Good

Microsoft OneDrive

Best ValueBest for Microsoft 365 and Windows users

value9.5

support8.5

features9.0

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

pCloud

Editor's Choice

Best Lifetime PlansBest for lifetime storage value

value9.5

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

Dropbox

Best File SyncBest for reliable file syncing and third-party integrations

value7.5

support8.5

features9.0

security8.0

Pros

Industry-leading file sync speed and reliability
Smart Sync saves local disk space by streaming files on demand
Excellent third-party integrations with Slack, Zoom, Adobe, and more
Clean, intuitive interface across all platforms

Cons

Only 2GB free storage, the stingiest among major providers
Plus plan at $9.99/mo is pricier than Google Drive 2TB
Not zero-knowledge encrypted by default
No monthly billing option for personal plans

Pricing: Free 2GB; Plus 2TB $9.99/mo; Professional 3TB $16.58/mo; Business from $15/user/mo

Pioneer of cloud file syncing with powerful collaboration tools, smart sync, and seamless third-party integrations for personal and business use.

Read Full Review →

Very Good

iCloud+

Best for Apple UsersBest for Apple ecosystem users

value8.0

support7.8

features8.8

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 →

Very Good

Sync.com

Editor's Choice

Most PrivateBest for zero-knowledge encryption by default

value8.5

support8.0

features8.2

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 →

Very Good

MEGA

Best Free EncryptedBest free encrypted cloud storage

value8.5

support7.0

features8.5

security9.0

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

Icedrive

Budget PickBest for affordable lifetime encrypted storage

value8.5

support7.0

features7.8

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 →

Our Testing Methodology

We test each personal cloud storage service over 30+ days, evaluating upload/download speeds, sync reliability, mobile app performance, sharing features, and overall value. Our scores reflect hands-on testing across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

Our Top 3 Picks at a Glance

Finding the Right Personal Cloud Storage

What We Evaluate

Key Considerations

Our Top Picks

Head-to-Head Comparison

Detailed Reviews

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Our Testing Methodology

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