Cloud storage has become one of the most popular storage solutions of our time.
But since cloud storage is a relatively new technology, it is not easy to know which cloud service provider is worth partnering with.
Before I show you the 8 best cloud service providers you can trust with all your storage (and security) needs, let’s take a brief look at what cloud storage is and what its benefits are.
The 8 Best Cloud Service Providers
Product | Image | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Google Drive |  | ||
Dropbox |  | ||
Onedrive |  | ||
Box |  | ||
IDrive |  | ||
Apple iCloud |  | ||
pCloud |  | ||
SpiderOak |  |
When looking at cloud service providers, you will need to be cognizant of the fact that although their basic function is to store your files, they all have different strengths that will ultimately determine which cloud service provider will be best for you.
Let’s look at the top 8 then, shall we?
Google Drive
Of all the cloud service providers, Google Drive is probably the most popular- it’s almost ubiquitous. And that is no wonder as it has many advantages that make it a very good all-round storage service.
But one of its biggest strengths is that it is an excellent online productivity suite as it easily works with Google’s G-Suite and many other Android apps.
And the best part?
It’s free.
Google Drive provides a lot of free storage, more than most of its competitors, making it the most sought-after cloud service provider.
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Dropbox
Next to Google Drive in ubiquity is Dropbox, one of the earliest cloud service providers.
But apart from that, Dropbox is simple, reliable, and user-friendly. Being a full-featured file-syncing and storage service with enhanced collaboration, it is a very versatile and secure place to store all your sensitive files, and edit them if need be.
Unlike Google Drive, however, Dropbox is not cheap.
You do get 2GB free but after that, you will have to fork out monthly fees for 1TB with Dropbox Plus, more with Dropbox Professional (which has some added extras), while businesses will have to invest money per user per month.
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Onedrive
One Drive has been known by many names over the years, such as SkyDrive, Live Mesh, FolderShare, and other things since its inception. And with each change in name, its features and functionality have improved, making it a sleek, user-friendly, and very powerful cloud service provider.
With its clear interface and ability to fetch any file from a PC, One Drive can fit in any situation, personal or business.
And when it comes to backup and security, One Drive is one cloud service provider you can trust.
To top it all off, One Drive has excellent offline capabilities.
With apps for Android and iOS devices, One Drive can work on any device. As for pricing, you get 5GB free. Then you pay upwards for 50GB, 1TB, and 5TB, both being month plans.
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$$ |
Box
Box (not to be confused with Dropbox) isn’t as famous as Dropbox as a cloud service provider. However, it does come close to being as good in terms of performance.
Being highly reliable and full-featured, it is best suited for businesses but it does serve home users well too. This is especially so since it is quite affordable, has tons of free storage space, and is able to connect to a wide variety of apps.
As for pricing, you get 10GB free (5x what you get with Dropbox), but the drawback is that there’s a 250MB file upload limit, making the free version unsuitable for designers, video editors, and others who work with large files.
Other plans include the Personal Pro plan, which allows you to upload files up to 5GB, and gives you 100GB of space.
For businesses, Box for Business is a powerful cloud storage tool that also offers exceptional security, easy interaction with Office 365, and efficient collaboration features. For 15GB a month, you get unlimited storage.
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IDrive
As said earlier, cloud service providers have their different strengths and weaknesses that help distinguish which is best for you.
But with IDrive cloud storage and syncing, you get the best of everything (well, nearly). Featuring large storage sizes and advanced backup features like Express Service (a service where IDrive sends you a physical hard drive if you happen to lose all your data). You also get the ease of use, which will ensure you wouldn’t want anything else.
And when it comes to working on multiple devices, IDrive gives a consistent experience across all platforms. This is something other cloud service providers need to work on.
When it comes to pricing, IDrive gives one of the best price-to-storage ratios on the market. Bear in mind that IDrive allows you to sync an unlimited number of devices and covers networks as well. That is a great value even before you get to see their prices.
Although you get 5GB free, if you are an individual user, I’d encourage you to get the Personal Plan which gives you 2TB. Businesses will get 250GB for an unlimited number of users, computers, and networks.
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$$ |
Apple iCloud
If you live and work in Apple’s ecosystem, then Apple’s iCloud could be the best cloud service provider for you.
Like all things Apple, the iCloud is sleek, efficient, but surprisingly affordable.
If you are a Windows user, fret not as you too can use iCloud for Windows using the official client.
Although not as good as Google Drive or One Drive, Apple’s iCloud is capable of offering excellent storage and syncing capabilities.
Pricing, as said, is quite affordable. The first 5GB is free and from there you start paying upwards from 50GB, 200GB, and 2TB.
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$$ |
pCloud
If you are looking for exceptional privacy, then pCloud is one of the cloud service providers you need to look into. They have strong privacy policies (as would be expected from a Swiss-based company), your data is safe from prying eyes. And if you need an extra layer of privacy, you can pay extra for pCloud Crypto, a service that allows you to lock and unlock individual files with passwords.
As a regular cloud storage service, pCloud offers free storage capacity that many service providers fall short of. You get 20GB free storage. This makes it especially suited to users who work with large files.
Paid services include monthly plans of 500GB and 2TB. If you don’t like being bothered with monthly or yearly plans (or just want to make a huge saving). pCloud also comes with lifetime plans of 500GB and 2TB.
PROS | CONS |
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SpiderOak
Another great cloud service provider that is security conscious is SpiderOak – it has a No Knowledge policy. This means not even the employees have access to your data.
With SpiderOak promising encryption even before syncing, making your information unbreachable. SpiderOak takes security so seriously your files are encrypted at all times. Including before the backup and restore processes.
SpiderOak recently revamped both its mobile and desktop applications and also adjusted their pricing. The new interfaces are brilliant, to say the least. However, it’s the pricing that leaves a lot to be desired. SpiderOak is one of the most expensive cloud service providers in its category.
PROS | CONS |
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Quality | Price | Rating |
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$$ |
Demystifying Cloud Storage
Let me demystify the concept of cloud storage (and cloud service providers) so that you can have a better understanding of this technology.
Not only will this make you smarter than your friends, but it will also help you know what you are paying for.
Ready for it?
Cloud storage simply means storing your data on someone else’s computer.
Yes. That’s what it is.
Cloud storage is storing your data on a cloud storage provider’s server. But before being stored, your data is encrypted, protecting it from unauthorized access. Once your data is uploaded to your cloud service provider’s server, you can easily access it via the internet.
5 Advantages of Using Cloud Service Providers
So what are the advantages of using cloud storage as opposed to your friend’s computer?
- Easy to Access
One of the biggest advantages of using cloud service providers is the ease of access you will have to your data. Wherever you may be in the world and at whatever time, as long as you have an internet connection, you will have access to your files.
- Can Serve as Back Up
Another big advantage of using cloud service providers is that, by nature of what cloud storage is, you have a backup solution in case of an eventuality.
- Syncing
Ok, so all the advantages of using cloud service providers are great. But this one is probably one of the best – syncing. Syncing simply means any change you make will automatically be effected across all affiliated devices.
- Safe and Secure
If you feel uncomfortable storing your sensitive data on a server shared with other users, you’ll be glad to know that cloud service providers take security very seriously. Cloud service providers add extra layers of security protocols to all files that are uploaded so as to prevent unauthorized access and loss.
- Easy Sharing
When it comes to sharing your files, this is where the cloud really comes into its element. Because your data is stored and accessible through the internet, all you have to do to share memories or memos is send a link via email or any other digital platform.
Cloud Service Providers – Streamlining Your Life
Even though all cloud service providers have their differences, they do have one thing in common. They help you streamline your life. With all your data stored in the cloud, there’s no need for you to lug a lot of hardware around, everything you value is in one secure and easy to access place.
So, take your pick from this list of the best cloud service providers of 2018 and make your life (or business) easier.