The Best Cloud Storage of 2026

Yes. pCloud protects your files with TLS/SSL in transit and AES-256 encryption at rest, and its optional pCloud Crypto add-on layers on client-side, zero-knowledge encryption so that not even pCloud can read those files. …

A few things count against it. Zero-knowledge encryption isn't built in — you pay extra for the pCloud Crypto add-on rather than getting end-to-end privacy by default, unlike Proton Drive or Sync.com. …

pCloud is operated by pCloud International AG, a privately held company founded in 2013 with Swiss roots and offices across Europe. It isn't owned by any of the big tech platforms, which is part of its privacy appeal.

Your files wouldn't disappear overnight. Established providers give notice and an export window, letting you download everything before any shutdown. …

Yes. pCloud's free plan gives you up to 10 GB with no time limit — you start with a few gigabytes and unlock the rest through simple bonus steps like verifying your account and inviting friends. It's genuine free storage, not a trial. …

It depends on what you want. For privacy and flexibility, pCloud wins: it offers optional zero-knowledge encryption (via Crypto), a pay-once lifetime plan, and it doesn't lock you into a single ecosystem. …

Yes — it's one of the safest mainstream options. Sync.com encrypts everything end-to-end with zero-knowledge encryption, so not even Sync can read your files, and it's based in Canada under strong privacy laws. Just remember that with zero-knowledge, losing your password and recovery options can mean losing access.

Sync.com has a free plan with 5 GB, and paid personal plans start at US$8/mo (cheaper when billed yearly) with terabytes of encrypted storage. Business and team plans, which add admin controls and more space, cost more per user. …

Both sync, store and share files, but they take different approaches. Sync.com is end-to-end, zero-knowledge encrypted by default, so only you can read your data; Dropbox is not zero-knowledge and can technically access your files. Sync.com is also usually cheaper per terabyte. …

Yes. Sync.com offers a free plan with 5 GB of fully end-to-end encrypted storage and no time limit, and you can earn a little extra space through referrals. It's a real free tier, not a trial. Paid plans add far more space, longer file history and features like password-protected sharing.

Your files are encrypted on your own device before they're uploaded, and the keys are tied to your password and held only by you. Sync's servers store nothing but encrypted data, so neither the company nor anyone who breached it can read your files — that's what 'zero-knowledge' means. …

Right-click any file or folder in the web app, desktop client or mobile app and choose to create a share link. You can protect that link with a password, set an expiry date, and cap the number of downloads. …

Yes. Sync.com supports HIPAA compliance on its business and teams plans and will sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA), which its end-to-end encryption makes straightforward. That makes it a practical choice for clinics, therapists and others handling protected health information. …

Create an IDrive account, then install the desktop app for Windows or Mac (or the iOS/Android app) and sign in. Choose the folders, drives or devices you want to protect, and IDrive backs them up automatically in the background. …

Yes. IDrive has been an established US backup provider since 1995, encrypts your data with AES-256, and lets you set a private (zero-knowledge) key so that only you can read your files. It's widely used by individuals and businesses and holds recognised security certifications. …

You can view and manage your files three ways, all tied to one account: the web dashboard at idrive.com, the desktop app on Windows or Mac, or the mobile apps. From any of them you can browse folders, download files, restore earlier versions, recover deleted items and share links. …

iCloud is Apple's storage, built into the Apple ecosystem and designed mainly to sync photos, documents and device data across your iPhone, iPad and Mac. …

No. IDrive is owned by IDrive Inc. (formerly Pro Softnet Corporation), an independent US company based in California. It has no connection to Google — the similar-sounding name is just coincidence.

No. IDrive is an independent US company, IDrive Inc., with no ties to Apple. Apple's own cloud service is iCloud, which is entirely separate — IDrive simply works alongside it as cross-platform backup.

Yes. Proton Drive encrypts your files end-to-end by default, so they're scrambled on your device before upload and Proton can't read them. The apps are open source and have been independently audited, and the service is based in Switzerland under some of the world's strongest privacy laws. …

No. Proton Drive uses end-to-end, zero-knowledge encryption: your files, and even their file names, are encrypted on your device with keys only you hold. Proton stores nothing but encrypted data, so the company cannot see the contents or the names of what you upload.

For privacy, clearly yes. Proton Drive is end-to-end encrypted and open source, so not even Proton can read your files; Google Drive is not zero-knowledge and mines data for its own services. …

Yes — end-to-end encryption is on by default for your files, folders and even file names, with the keys held only by you. It's one of the few mainstream clouds where E2E is the standard rather than a paid add-on, which is exactly what makes Proton a favourite among privacy-conscious users.

Very safe. You get end-to-end, zero-knowledge encryption, open-source apps that have been independently audited, and Swiss jurisdiction with strict privacy protections. In practice that means no one but you — not Proton, not an intruder, not an advertiser — can read your files. …

Both are excellent, Swiss-based and end-to-end encrypted, so you can't go far wrong. Tresorit is the more mature choice for business, compliance and team administration, with granular access controls and a long enterprise track record. …

Icedrive is a cloud-storage service for keeping, syncing and sharing your files online through a clean, modern interface. It can mount as a virtual drive on your computer, so you work with cloud files as if they were on your hard disk without filling it up. …

It depends where you put them. Files you place in Icedrive's encrypted area use client-side, zero-knowledge encryption (with the Twofish algorithm), so only you hold the key and Icedrive cannot read them. …

For privacy and price, Icedrive has the edge: it offers an optional zero-knowledge encrypted folder and cheap plans, including pay-once lifetime options, with paid subscriptions from US$4.92/mo. …

Yes. Icedrive is a legitimate UK-based provider that has offered client-side encryption and a solid, reliable service since 2019. …

Icedrive's free plan gives you 10 GB of storage with no time limit — enough for documents and photos to try the service properly. If you need more, paid plans start at US$4.92/mo and scale up to 1 TB and beyond, and Icedrive also sells one-time lifetime plans that can work out cheaper than years of subscriptions. …

For privacy, yes: MEGA encrypts everything end-to-end by default, so it can't read your files, whereas Google Drive is not zero-knowledge. MEGA's free tier is also larger at 20 GB. Google Drive wins on collaboration, Docs and Sheets, search and its deep integration with Android, Gmail and the wider Google ecosystem. …

Yes — MEGA applies end-to-end, zero-knowledge encryption by default, so your files are encrypted on your device and MEGA can't read them. Its clients are open source, which lets researchers inspect the code. …

Yes. MEGA's free plan gives you 20 GB of encrypted storage (sometimes topped up through bonuses), one of the most generous free tiers anywhere, with no time limit. It's real free storage, not a trial. …

MEGA is free for the first 20 GB. Beyond that, its paid Pro plans start at €8.33/mo and scale up to multi-terabyte tiers with much higher transfer limits. Pricing can vary by region and by any promotions running, so check the current rates on MEGA's official site before subscribing. …

Yes. MEGA is a legitimate, widely used cloud service operated by Mega Limited in New Zealand, with tens of millions of users worldwide. Its end-to-end encryption and unusually generous free tier are genuine, not marketing gimmicks. It's a real, established company, not a scam.

MEGA is operated by Mega Limited, a New Zealand company launched in 2013. Although it was originally associated with its controversial founder, Kim Dotcom, he left years ago and no longer has any involvement in or control over the company.

No. MEGA uses zero-knowledge, end-to-end encryption, so your files are encrypted on your device with keys that only you hold. MEGA's servers store only encrypted data and cannot view the contents of what you upload — provided you keep your password and recovery key safe.

Yes. Internxt has apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and the web, all linked to a single account, so you can access and sync your files across as many devices as you like. Sign in on each device and your storage stays in step. …

Internxt encrypts your files on your own device and splits them into fragments before uploading, then distributes those encrypted pieces across its storage network — an approach it calls zero-knowledge, fragmented storage. …

Very safe. Internxt is open source, so anyone can audit its code, and it applies zero-knowledge, end-to-end encryption by default — your files are encrypted before they leave your device. It's based in Spain, so it operates under EU/GDPR privacy law. …

Internxt has a free plan with 1 GB to try it out. Paid subscriptions start at US$9.99/mo, billed annually, and it also sells one-time lifetime plans if you'd rather pay once than subscribe forever. Prices and promotions change, so check the latest on Internxt's official site. …

Internxt is a Spanish startup, founded in Valencia in 2017. Being EU-based means it operates under GDPR, which is a genuine plus for anyone who cares about strong, legally backed data privacy.

Backblaze Personal Backup is used to automatically and continuously back up everything on your computer to the cloud, with no storage limits, so you can recover your files if the device is lost, stolen or fails. …

Backblaze Personal Backup is a flat US$99/yr for unlimited backup of one computer — there's no storage cap and no per-gigabyte metering. Committing to a longer term, such as a two-year plan, lowers the effective yearly cost, and you can add extended version history for a small extra fee. …

A few limits stand out. Each licence backs up only one computer, so there's no shared storage pool across devices — multiple machines mean multiple subscriptions. It's backup, not file sync or sharing, so it won't replace Dropbox or pCloud for everyday collaboration. …

Yes. Backblaze is a well-known, publicly listed US company — famous for its long-running hard-drive reliability reports — and has been backing up data since 2007. It encrypts your data and offers an optional private encryption key so that only you can unlock it. …

Not a permanent one. Tresorit is primarily a paid, premium security service; it offers a free trial so you can test it, but its ongoing free storage tier has been discontinued, so there's no lasting free plan. Paid personal plans start at US$11.99/mo. …

Tresorit was founded in 2011, with roots in Hungary and Switzerland, and has been majority-owned by Swiss Post since 2021. That ownership reinforces its Swiss-jurisdiction, privacy-first positioning and gives it the backing of a stable national institution.

Yes. Tresorit is a legitimate, highly regarded Swiss security company used by businesses and professionals worldwide to store confidential files. …

Dropbox is a mainstream sync service with excellent collaboration, fast block-level sync and a huge range of integrations, but it isn't end-to-end encrypted — Dropbox can technically access your files. …

Tresorit is used to store, sync and share confidential files securely — particularly by businesses, law firms, healthcare providers and anyone handling sensitive or regulated data. …

NordLocker has a free plan with 3 GB of encrypted cloud storage, enough to try it and protect a few important files. Paid plans — from Nord Security, the makers of NordVPN — expand that to much larger tiers, up to 2 TB, and add more sharing and syncing features. …

No — and that's by design. NordLocker is zero-knowledge, so only you hold the keys to your files. If you lose your master password and your recovery code, not even NordLocker can restore access to your data. Store both somewhere safe, because there's deliberately no back door.

NordLocker is free for the first 3 GB. Its paid plans start at US$14.99/mo and include a 2 TB tier, with the exact price depending on the plan length and any promotion running. Because introductory offers and renewal rates change, check the current pricing on NordLocker's official site before you subscribe. …

VeraCrypt is free, open-source software for encrypting local drives and containers on your own machine — powerful and highly trusted, but technical to set up and with no cloud storage of its own. …

Yes. NordLocker applies end-to-end, zero-knowledge encryption (using AES-256 and other modern ciphers), so your files are encrypted on your device before they ever leave it and only you hold the keys. It comes from Nord Security, the well-regarded team behind NordVPN, and inherits their security engineering. …