Cloud storage and cloud computing are almost everywhere these days. Most of the apps you use are built in the cloud and most of your photos and videos are kept in the cloud — so much so that you don’t even think about it.Cloud storage services have made it possible to keep access not only photos and videos but all kinds of files on any device, no cables needed and synced instantly.
There are many more options out there that can offer the same service but with much greater storage capacity.
Here are top 5 cloud storage providers
1. Google Drive
Google Drive is one of the first thing that people think of when they look for Dropbox alternatives. That’s mostly because of the various features they had before Dropbox. One of them is the collaborating: multiple people can work on the same file simultaneously with Google Docs, Google Sheets etc. These services also allow you to leave comments, which is pretty neat. Another cool functionality, especially for people who write a lot, is that Google Docs has speech-to-text. This means that writing an article becomes much easier.
Google Drive gives you an initial storage of 15 GB, which is shared between all of the services in your Google Account (Gmail, Photos, etc.). Here’s a useful tip that you probably didn’t know about: Google will give you 100 GB of storage absolutely for free if you if you manage to get to level 4 in Google Local Guides (the service where you review review places you have been to and the reviews are added to Google Maps).
Last but not least, Google Drive supports integrations with most of the tools and apps that people use so this is a very big advantage to all other cloud storage services.
The interface is very clean and the apps and the web versions are so easy to use they are almost fool-proof. You have drag-and-drop functionality which helps you organize your account with just a few clicks.
You can of course share files and folders and set different permissions for the different people you collaborate with. It’s worth mentioning, however, that these functionalities could be improved by things like password protection and expiration dates on specific shared links.
Google Drive on your desktop computer has everything you have in the web version but a drawback is that it syncs the files to your local machine so they take of it’s storage.
2. Dropbox
Dropbox is one of the best cloud storages out there and when you take into account its ease of use and responsiveness, it beats most of the competition. From setting up the service for the first time to using it on a daily basis, it is the simplest cloud storage solution you can use. But, not everything is perfect in the world of Dropbox. There are certain flaws which might send you on a long journey, looking for its alternative. One such feature or rather lack of it is the absence of end-to-end encryption. Dropbox does not encrypt your files when you are uploading it to their cloud, thereby, creating a major security risk. Also, the free version provides an anaemic 2GB of cloud storage.
3. One Drive
OneDrive is Microsoft’s cloud storage and it’s a great Dropbox alternative for heavy Microsoft product users.
In fact, OneDrive comes with every new Windows 10 computer you buy — you don’t need to install anything. It is integrated to work very well with all Microsoft Office apps and it’s quite easy to get used to that.
They have apps for all kinds of devices and the web version is super easy to use as well.
This said, I was expecting OneDrive to support expiring links and password-protected ones but sadly, they don’t. Another thing I wasn’t impressed about was the fact that the PDF scanner is for premium users and you can use it only on a couple of devices if you are a free user.
With the Premium plan you get not only more storage but the traffic limit is also slightly higher. I guess Microsoft did this because a lot of users were abusing the service when they were on an “Unlimited storage” plan.
A cool thing is that with the Windows 10 update, OneDrive introduced the selective-sync which means that not all folders in your account have to be synced and be using your storage on your hard disk. To use the files, though, you still have to sync them.
If privacy is a major concern then it should be noted that Microsoft reserve the right to scan your files to look for what it would deem objectionable content. This could be copyrighted material or things of an explicit nature.
But as I said, a very good service if you’re a Microsoft power user.
4. Amazon Cloud Drive
Amazon Cloud offers up to 5 GB of free storage. It also allows users to add photos from a phone or tablet. As with the other cloud storage sites, all your files can be saved in the same place and be easily accessed.
One nice feature of Amazon cloud is that pictures that are taken with a phone can be saved there and can still be accessed once the picture is deleted from the phone. Amazon Cloud also has an automatic back-up feature that saves pictures in the cloud so they are safe even if the phone is lost or damaged.
5. BOX
Box was founded in 2005, 2 years earlier that it’s main competitor Dropbox.
It is primarily a business service but still offers some personal cloud storage options too.
The free package gives you 10 GB. That storage sound very good but Box limits the files upload size to 250 MB for free accounts so that’s a bummer when you try to send a larger file — a video, a bigger design file, etc.
The interface and the design of all the apps on the different platforms is very clean and very slick. The functionality is targeted to the business user making it very simple to work and organiзe files. With the web version, you can create and edit files either in Microsoft Office or Google Docs and work with them online via the free Box Plug-in.
A great thing about Box is that it’s integrated in most of the apps that people use in their business. There are programs that allow you to link Office directly to Box, so all files are saved there, an FTP app so you can migrate older data onto the site, and a whole host of others that are listed on the website.
Another thing I like about box is the speed. The service is feels very fast even when I am not using a very good wifi connection.
Hope this year we will see some new services and features.
Credits: beebom.com, medium.com, lifehack.org
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