Best Free Cloud Storage in 2024

Not being able to afford additional storage means you’ll have to get rid of some files to make room for the others. Thankfully, the best free cloud storage will prevent you from destroying your fond memories by keeping your videos, photos, and music intact.

The greatest thing about free online storage is that there are no catches. This means we’re talking about REALLY free cloud storage providers that can be used right away. The only requirement is a free account, after which, you can store your important data.

Of course, paid cloud storage is much better. However, if you don’t have huge demands and storage requirements, complimentary options are pretty good. In today’s guide, you’ll see numerous options with plenty of storage, excellent performance, and rock-solid security.

Best Free Cloud Storage of 2024: Our Top 6 Picks

Later in this guide, we’ll explain our criteria for selection. But we first must clarify one thing. We didn’t make this list only according to the storage size you’re getting. We took into account things like security, speed, ease of use, transfer limits, and so on.

Our experts tested dozens of providers before assembling this ranking. As a result, every free cloud storage option we presented was carefully evaluated and examined before making it to the list.

Here’s what makes our favorite free cloud storage services special.

1. pCloud

pCloud’s initial free cloud storage is 5 GB. However, as you verify your email and do a few more easy things, you get 10 GB in total. pCloud is easily the fastest cloud storage that you can use for free. Unlimited transfer speeds are just the tip of the iceberg.

This free option offers excellent 256-bit encryption and data centers in the US and Europe. It also uses triple redundancy, which means your files are copied across multiple data centers to ensure they’re always available if one data center malfunctions.

We love pCloud’s apps too. Its web app is the most popular but it also works on Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, and Linux. Moreover, pCloud offers a few multimedia features, such as previewing photos, watching videos, and making bespoke playlists for music!

pCloud also allows for 15 days of file versioning, upgradable to 30 in the paid plan. The free version allows for file sharing as well, alas, with fewer options compared to the paid variant. Online backups are there in case you want swift file recovery.

pCloud has the Rewind tool. This allows you to rewind your entire account up to 15 days in the past. The free cloud storage from pCloud is undoubtedly great and resembles its paid version but with a few missing features. For instance, the paid version offers up to 10 TB of cloud storage.

As the best free cloud storage, pCloud also offers automatic uploads on your phone, but again, you’ll be limited to 10 GB. If you find its free version insufficient, consider checking out the paid version of pCloud. The service even offers Business and Family plans with zero-knowledge encryption.

More information about the service and its features can be found in our pCloud review.

Visit pCloud website

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2. Internxt

Internxt won’t blow you away with its features but it’s one of the most respectable free cloud storage providers. The 10 GB storage size is enough for some music, videos, and photos. Our tests indicated that Internxt is nearly as fast as pCloud, which is amazing!

Internxt’s main appeal is the interface. It’s extremely simple and snappy, resulting in a top-tier experience. The free version is just as fast and you can expect zero-knowledge encryption to safeguard your files from unauthorized access.

What about sharing?

Glad you asked! Internxt’s free version allows for password-protected links and full-on file sharing, so it’s pretty handy. Free users can download Internxt on any platform – Windows, macOS, iOS, Android or Linux.

Internxt isn’t great for collaboration and multimedia. It can’t preview larger videos and there’s no file versioning. Documents also can’t be edited, so you’ll have to use a third-party tool or simply download the document and edit it. However, Internxt is trustworthy.

Its apps are open-source and underwent a few audits. We also find Internxt Send valuable. this free service lets you share files in complete privacy without tracking and scanning. This is due to end-to-end encryption that makes shared data untraceable.

Internxt also has a great premium version, as outlined in our Internxt review. It’s a lot better storage-wise because it allows for 10 TB and has a Lifetime plan. However, its non-paid version proved to be very reliable, hence its #2 spot on our free cloud storage list.

Visit Internxt website

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3. NordLocker

NordLocker isn’t a champ of storage size. With only 3 GB, you can’t store large 4K videos, movies, and FLAC audio files. You can – but not much. NordLocker’s appeal lies in its end-to-end zero-knowledge encryption available in its amazing free cloud storage.

You just have to register for free, get NordLocker, and encrypt your files in so-called Vaults. Drag and drop the file, and voila, they’re encrypted. NordLocker’s apps are intuitive and its Windows and macOS apps look like another explorer window, which we liked a lot.

Furthermore, NordLocker supports local file encryption. This means you can encrypt files on your computer that don’t have to be on the cloud. The free version supports file sharing and automatic backups, so nothing important is lost. File syncing is there as well.

Thanks to syncing, you can make files available across all devices. NordLocker’s transfer speeds aren’t the best – upload speeds in particular. On the brighter side, this reputable provider is one of the most secure online storage apps that you can use for free.

If you care about the privacy and security of your files, don’t think twice. However, if you need collaboration and productivity features, it’s far from the best. Consider pCloud as a slightly better option or even Dropbox which excels in this category.

NordLocker’s paid plans include more storage – up to 2 TB, so you’re getting plenty of space. On top of that, it’s pretty affordable and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Business users also have a dedicated plan that supports multiple users.

Visit NordLocker website

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4. MEGA

MEGA is revered by many as a superior free cloud storage provider because of its huge storage. It used to offer 50 GB back in the day but even its 20 GB in 2024 is impressive.

It’s the best free cloud storage you can get size-wise in 2024. Is it safe? Well, you could say so.

MEGA is known for zero-knowledge encryption that safeguards your files with utmost privacy. This provider is also relatively fast, albeit, still slower than pCloud. Ease of use is impressive, especially in its web app where you can drag and drop files to upload them.

We also love the inclusion of collaboration features, such as chatting and video and voice calling. Multimedia options are numerous. You can preview photos, videos, and audio files. MEGA also includes the “Photos” menu that serves as a photo album.

MEGA’s apps are available for all platforms. Its mobile apps, in particular, are great, because they allow for automatic uploads. This means every taken photo or video is backed to the cloud and fully secured with MEGA’s end-to-end encryption.

Trash History is 15 to 30 days, so if you accidentally delete a file, it’s easy to restore it. File versioning is there too, so you can rewind files to their previous versions, as you see fit. MEGA can preview documents but there’s no editor, so productivity isn’t the best.

Its paid plans are somewhat expensive, which makes MEGA viable only as one of the best free cloud storage services. However, if you want to pay, you’re looking at up to 16 TB of storage for 1 user and up to 10 PB of storage for teams – generous offers, indeed.

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5. Google Drive

If you’ve spent your entire life in a cave, Google Drive doesn’t ring any bells. For others, it’s a well-known free online storage service with 15 GB of highly usable storage. Its highlights are the apps like Google Docs, Sheets, Tables, and other Office-like tools.

This makes Google Drive excellent for productivity and file sharing. Users can share documents and presentations with one click, assigning editing/viewing permissions in the process. The Drive itself is easy to grasp and allows for swift file uploads and downloads.

In our test, Google Drive was fast thanks to numerous worldwide data centers. Additionally, the provider offers the option to preview photos, watch videos, and listen to music from the cloud. Google Photos, an addition to Drive, also allows for basic photo edits!

We love this service for its apps on Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS. Again, its web app is the most impressive. It allows for swift device backups, for example, so if the device is broken or malfunctions, recovering your files is pretty quick.

The main concern with Google Drive is privacy. Allegedly, it uses 256-bit encryption but zero-knowledge encryption isn’t an option. Google is known for its anti-privacy “policy”, which means it can and will spy on our files on its free cloud storage.

Documents can also be scanned by Google, which removes the sense of security. This provider’s premium plans are there for more features and up to 2 TB of storage. If you prioritize productivity, collaboration, and functionality over privacy, it’s a good option.

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6. Dropbox

Dropbox offers the least storage out of all free online cloud services on the list. With only 2 GB, you’ll be constrained in terms of file size that you can upload. However, Dropbox is even better than Google Drive for collaboration, productivity, and business.

It offers the App Center where you’ll find third-party apps that can be installed directly on Dropbox for added convenience. It’s also easily combined with Google and Microsoft Office tools so that you can make and edit presentations, spreadsheets, and text documents.

Dropbox’s interface is brimming with functional features. All files can be restored to their premium versions. Better yet, you can reproduce media and convert videos, audio files, and photos to several formats. Dropbox’s transfer speeds are top-tier, rivaling pCloud.

This allows for swift uploads and even quicker downloads on any device. Dropbox’s backups make their return and file syncing works smoothly to ensure your files’ availability on all devices. Dropbox’s free plan supports file sharing but with no password protection.

Like Google Drive, Dropbox’s free and paid plans lack zero-knowledge encryption, so they’re far less secure than pCloud, Internxt, NordLocker, and MEGA. Dropbox’s data breach incident in 2012 also taints this free cloud service provider’s reputation.

If you opt for its premium version, you’ll pay top dollar. Overall, it’s perhaps one of the best free cloud storage for work, communication, and speed. However, its expensive price, questionable security/privacy, and no unlimited storage don’t make it too attractive.

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How Did We Rank the Best Free Cloud Storage Services?

As you saw, all 6 free online storage solutions offer incredible features, with some downsides. Well, when you’re working with 100% free providers, that’s common. This meant we had to be meticulous when ranking our complimentary cloud storage providers.

During the testing procedure, our team used the following criteria for selection:

• Storage size. You saw that not all providers excel in storage size but most offer enough. You’re looking at 2 GB to 20 GB of storage, great for documents, photos, MP3 files, and HD videos. This is as best as you can get without cost.
• Performance. All 6 providers perform well in uploads and downloads. We avoided Sync.com whose transfer speeds are disappointing. Instead, you have excellent performers like pCloud, Internxt, and Dropbox.
• Security. Some providers offer weaker security than others but all are more than great in this regard. 256-bit encryption and worldwide data centers with physical protection are what you can expect. pCloud, Internxt, and MEGA also include zero-knowledge encryption for the highest level of protection.
• Ease of use. Our favorite free cloud storage providers are simple to set up and use. They work on all devices and have incredible web apps for easy file access. pCloud even works on Linux, which is a huge advantage compatibility-wise.
• Upgradability. This one is important if you want to switch to the premium option instead. We ensured you have a litany of premium plans with a heap of storage to pick from. On average, you can get up to 10 TB (pCloud) or even 16 TB (MEGA) of storage if your demands increase.

Which Free Service Has the Most Storage?

If you’re looking to maximize your storage and other criteria aren’t that important, MEGA is the best option overall. With 20 GB of free cloud storage, it’s great for storing HD videos, photos, music, e-books, and even business-related files.

The second-best option in this regard is Google Drive. With 15 GB of really free cloud storage, you can comfortably store your important files. At under 15 GB of space, we have pCloud with 10 GB that’s our overall favorite provider.

Internxt also has 10 GB, while NordLocker and Dropbox have 3 GB and 2 GB respectively, making them the least favorable options for big storage lovers. The beauty of all of these is that they can be combined. Nothing stops you from using multiple providers.

If you take all 6 best free services and register for each, you can get up to 60 GB of free cloud storage. For your convenience, we left a table where you can get more information about each provider’s storage size to aid your decision-making process.

	Max Free Cloud Storage Size	Max Paid Cloud Storage Size
MEGA	20 GB	16 TB
Google Drive	15 GB	2 TB
pCloud	10 GB	10 TB
Internxt	10 GB	10 TB
NordLocker	3 GB	2 TB
Dropbox	2 GB	5 TB

Are 100% Free Cloud Storage Providers Legit?

While discussing free VPNs and their shortcomings, we mentioned that most of them aren’t legit and usually sell your data. Well, the situation is a lot different with the best free cloud services in 2024. That’s because no cloud storage is strictly free.

Every company offers its paid plans as the main offer, which is how they make money. Free plans are on the side and are used only by people whose demands for storage are low. You’ve noticed that free options have less generous storage limits, for example.

MEGA offers 20 GB and that’s the most you’ll get. On the other hand, pCloud’s premium plans go up to 10 TB, which is 500 more. Our experience with complimentary cloud storage providers was excellent in terms of safety and security, so they’re indeed legit.

Some providers have weaker security but all of them are legit and can be used without fear. The 6 choices we presented fall in this category too. They’re well-known brands and companies serving millions of users worldwide, so all can be used without risk.

Can I Get Unlimited Cloud Storage for Free?

Unlimited cloud storage is very rare if we’re talking about single-user plans. Such demands are usually proposed by businesses that require a lot more storage than an average user. Paid providers rarely offer it – Sync.com is one of the best options at the moment.

The best free cloud storage is never unlimited, however. There’s no such thing as unlimited AND free online storage. First, it sounds idyllic, and second, it makes no sense for companies to offer that much storage without charging you a cent.

Here’s a curiosity. According to Spiceworks and research about business data storage needs, 79% of small businesses store less than 50 TB of data. On the contrary, 63% of enterprises store more than 100 TB of data, while 78% of mid-sized companies store less than 100 TB.

This research doesn’t specify which type of storage the companies used. However, having in mind that storage needs range from 50 TB to 100 TB for businesses, most people will make do with 1 to 10 TB, and this range is covered by pCloud, Internxt, NordLocker, and others.

Of course, we’re talking about premium plans. Free cloud storage is, as said, for low-demand users who use this type of storage occasionally.

Summary

After our thorough guide on the most popular 100% free cloud service providers, it’s a good moment to digress and see where we stand.

• pCloud is the best free cloud storage service overall, with the strongest privacy, fastest speeds, and flexible premium plans with zero-knowledge encryption.
• Internxt comes with intuitive apps, solid performance, and end-to-end encryption for improved security.
• NordLocker offers only 3 GB of free cloud storage but includes end-to-end encryption, secure File Vaults, and affordable Personal and Business plans.
• MEGA is the most generous provider with 20 GB of free storage, strong security, communication options, and reliable file sharing.
• Google Drive is the second largest service with 15 GB of storage. Users also get full access to its productivity apps, photo editing, and exclusive apps for all platforms.
• Dropbox. An ultimate choice for cloud-based file management, speed, and ease of use. Sadly, it’s let down by poor security and only 2 GB of free cloud storage.

Neither of them requires any upfront payments, so you can immediately pick one and start using it. Or perhaps, register for all 6 and get up to 60 GB of storage for nothing.

Try pCloud for free

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Q&A

Here are our answers to some of the frequently asked questions about free cloud storage.

Is it worth upgrading my free cloud storage plan?

If you find yourself removing files from your cloud space to make room for more, it is. Paid plans also include more options for file sharing, better security, and often superior customer support. If you need these conveniences, then a paid plan is worth getting.

How to get more free online storage?

You can do that by signing up for more providers or doing some “tasks” that the provider requires. For example, you’re awarded 1 GB of space when you verify your email on pCloud. Another 1 GB is added when you download its mobile app, and so forth.

Some providers offer more storage for referrals, so you can invite your friends and family and benefit additionally. For larger storage sizes, buying a premium plan is mandatory.

Are there other great free options I can try?

There are tons of them but we don’t deem them the best. Some other options worth trying in 2024 are:

• Microsoft OneDrive (5 GB)
• Sync.com (5 GB)
• Icedrive (10 GB)
• iCloud (5 GB)
• MediaFire (10 GB)