Key points
- Google Drive offers 15GB of free storage, which is perfect for collaborating and organizing with colleagues, especially if you already use Google services.
- pCloud offers easy access and can boost storage capacity to more than 15GB with simple tasks or a one-time purchase, making it a cost-effective option.
- MediaFire is great for sharing files with others and has a generous 10GB of free storage, although batch downloading may require the premium service.
Cloud storage is a useful way to access your files from anywhere you have an internet connection. If you’re short on money, there are free cloud storage sites on the internet that allow you to upload files at no extra cost. Let’s explore the best free cloud storage solutions to store your files online.
If you use Google services a lot, you'll get a lot of benefits from Google Drive. Not only does it offer generous storage space at no extra cost, but it also works well with other Google services. If you've used Google Docs in the past, you're already using Google Drive!
Google Drive is a great way to organize your work and business files. When you use Google's online office suite, all the files you create are stored in Google Drive for easy access. And if you have an Android phone, you can download the Drive app and stay up to date on the go.
Google Drive is the best free cloud storage solution for collaborating with other coworkers. You can use Drive to create a folder full of documents and spreadsheets to work on, and then share a link to the folder with your colleagues. Anyone with the link can access and edit the documents inside. So, Google Drive is a great tool for those who work remotely.
Please note that 15 GB Space is shared across all Google apps, including Gmail, Docs, and Photos.
2. pCloud (up to 10GB free storage)
pCloud is a simple and easy-to-use entry on this list. On the first page, enter an email and password, and you're ready to go. Then you have 10 GB To play at no extra cost.
pCloud is generous with extra space. At the time of writing, checking your email with pCloud gives you an extra 1GB to use, and uploading a file gives you an extra 5GB. You can get a total of 5GB for completing simple tasks and then an extra 1GB for referring a friend.
This makes pCloud an easy way to get over 15GB of storage without paying anything.
You’re probably looking for free cloud storage services because you don’t like the idea of paying for a subscription. It’s not great to have all your data stored on one service and then be “forced” to pay monthly to maintain that storage.
The unique feature of pCloud is that you can make a one-time purchase to get a permanent boost to your storage capacity. The price is quite high, but if you plan to use the online storage for several years, it will be cheaper in the long run than maintaining a subscription.
the pCloud encryption The service is an additional layer of security that is also offered as a subscription.
With its generous storage space, MediaFire is an excellent data storage service. However, using MediaFire as a file storage site alone does not fully exploit its potential.
MediaFire's sharing capabilities make it one of the best ways to share files for others to download. Hover over the item you want to share, click the arrow to the right, and then click ShareYou will then get a link that you can share with others to download the file from.
MediaFire determines the size of the uploaded file to 4 GB per file.
Unfortunately, when you try to do this with a folder of files, MediaFire will prompt you to purchase their premium service to download the files in batches. Fortunately, you can bypass this limitation by compressing the folder you want to share to your desktop and then uploading it.
4. OneDrive (5GB free storage)
OneDrive doesn't offer a lot of storage space, but it earns points because it requires the least amount of installation and setup compared to the other entries on this list. For example, if you have a PC running Windows 10 or 11, you're already set up to use OneDrive.
When you open Explorer in Windows, you should see OneDrive in the left sidebar. Any files dragged here will automatically upload and sync to the OneDrive server. You need to have the OneDrive app running for it to sync, so look for the OneDrive icon in your taskbar. If you can't see it, click the Start button and type “OneDrive” to start it.
If you don't use Windows 10, you can still use OneDrive to store your files. You need to create a Microsoft account before you can use it, but once you have one, you can use the site's interface to upload and share files.
OneDrive also has a special feature. subscriber A folder that keeps records of which files are shared and who can share them, so you can keep track of who can see your data.
If you'd like to learn more, check out our guide on what is OneDrive.
5. Dropbox (2GB+ free storage)
One of the oldest apps on this list, Dropbox, specializes in syncing your desktop files to the cloud. You can use Dropbox as a traditional cloud storage service, but its real power comes when you set up a private Dropbox folder on your desktop using the client.
When you drop files into this particular folder, Dropbox will automatically notice the addition and upload them to the cloud. This also applies if it notices that a file has changed. So you can put a text document in the folder and edit it over time, and Dropbox will automatically update the cloud version of the file every time you save it.
You can also set up a shared folder and invite others to use it. When other people upload or edit files in that folder, Dropbox will update it on your end. If you have the Dropbox client, your friend's edits will automatically update the folder on your computer.
If you're disappointed with Dropbox's 2GB offer, you can complete tasks and refer friends to get more space. Referring a Dropbox friend gives you 500MB per referral Max 16GB, completing tasks gives you 250MB and up to about 1.5GB extra space.
If you really want to, be sure to check out how to access Dropbox (and Google Drive) from a Windows drive letter.
Why not create your own cloud server?
If you’re concerned about cloud storage costs, you can cut out the middleman and create your own cloud storage service. The upfront costs are high, as you have to buy a server and set it up at home. However, once you pay the deposit, you have full control over a large amount of storage without paying anything extra.
There are many reasons to create your own server. The next time you feel anxious when you see your free cloud storage space filling up, consider paying for a more long-term solution.
If you’re looking for a free way to store your data in the cloud, there are plenty of great options out there, including creating your own. While there aren’t any free unlimited cloud storage services on our list, the best options still give you plenty of space to upload photos, documents, and videos.