Given the popularity of remote work in the last five years, cloud storage platforms have become an essential. It’s the quickest way for businesses to share and store documents and presentations, allowing team members to access it from wherever they are.
Even beyond business, students use them to back up assignments or perhaps you’re just an individual trying to keep your photo and video memories organised. Without a doubt, it’s the most convenient option to keep your files online without taking up space on your device’s hard drive.
What Do Cloud Storage Platforms Actually Do?
Most cloud storage platforms, including Dropbox, store your files online. It’s secure, syncs across all your devices and you can access them from anywhere. What’s more, you can even share them with others.
Now, the great platforms go beyond just the basics. They can sort multiple versions of files so you can access each one, you could collaborate in real-time with colleagues if you wanted to and a lot of them even have integrations with other tools.
Essentially, it’s one of the safest and most effective ways to store any important information.
Top Alternatives To Dropbox
Launched in 2007, Dropbox has been the go-to for cloud storage for nearly two decades. Back then, it was way ahead of its time and with its sleek design and reliability, it was a no-brainer to use.
These days, people are starting to consider other alternatives. Some want more integrations, others want affordability or more free storage.
So if you are wondering what other platforms are out there, here are some options worth looking into.
1. Google Drive
Google Drive forms part of the Google family and integrates easily with Google Slides, Docs and Gmail. So if you already use these tools, it makes sense to utilise Google Drive as well for smoother cross-working. The platform allows multiple team members to work together in real time and share files through links.
It has 15GB of free storage which can suit both teams and individual users for personal use. And if you need a bit more, 100GB starts at £1.59/month.
2. iCloud
iCloud is a great choice if you use Apple products like an iPhone or Mac. Since its already part of the Apple ecosystem, it automatically syncs your files, photos, videos and even notes. If you need to access your files, you’ll find them in the Files app on mobile or Finder on Mac.
While it’s not really built for collaboration, it’s ideal for quick access to personal files and you get up to 5GB free storage. 50GB starts at £0.99/month.
3. OneDrive
For the Microsoft 365 users who live on Word, PowerPoint and Excel, OneDrive is the natural choice. It forms part of the Windows and 365 suite, meaning all of your files will automatically be saved to the cloud for easy access from anywhere.
The platform also offers collaboration features that are built-in as well as secure sharing to give teams peace of mind. While you get free storage for up to 5GB, the Microsoft 365 Personal plan at £5.99/month will give you 1TB of storage.
4. Sync.com
Sync.com is a Canadian-based platform that focuses on end-to-end encryption to protect the privacy of users’ files. It’s different from Dropbox and other platforms in that it can’t actually access your files even if it wanted to. And if you want to share files, it’s completely secure with additional password-protected links and limits on how many times your files can be downloaded.
For those who want strong file protection, it’s a strong contender and you get free storage up to 5GB. Plans start at around £6/month for 200GB.
5. Box
Box is very similar to Dropbox but it’s particularly geared towards business users as opposed to individual use. In addition to file collaboration, it can be integrated with more than 1,500 apps including Salesforce and Slack. But what makes it really stand out is its focus on compliance and security.
So if you’re a company that handles sensitive information that requires user permission controls, Box is definitely worth considering. It has free storage of up to 10GB while the Business Plan starts at £12/user/month.
6. pCloud
pCloud is a platform offering something that others don’t and that is a lifetime plan. Users only pay once and then they have storage for life. It’s ideal for those in photography or creatives who have big media files to store and want to avoid paying monthly fees. Additionally, you can even stream media files straight from the cloud.
If you wanted to pay the monthly fee, it’s £3.59 but the once-off lifetime fee is £159 for 500GB.
7. Tresorit
Tresorit is one of the most secure cloud-storage platforms on the market. Like Sync.com, only you have access to your files thanks to its zero-knowledge encryption and not even Tresorit staff can see them. While it is a little pricier than other options out there, it’s definitely worth the investment if you work in industries like healthcare or law where sensitive data is dealt with on a daily basis.
The free trial has limited storage and plans start at £8.50/month for 1TB.
