How to Get Maximum Cloud Storage for Free
Cloud storage is likely an important part of your data management strategy, whether you use Google Drive just for documents or back up everything to a remote service. You can get a significant amount of space for a reasonable monthly fee, but if you prefer not to pay, you can combine free options to get a fairly large amount of free storage—around 80 GB (or more)—completely for free.
As a reminder, don’t rely solely on cloud storage for backups. Follow the 3-2-1 rule , which protects against single points of failure, such as account lockouts or issues with the service itself.
Google: 15 GB of free cloud storage
The most obvious option for free storage is Google Drive. Google offers up to 15 GB of storage per account, though this space is shared across all Google apps, including Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos, as well as Android backups. You can create multiple Google accounts, allowing you to combine the 15 GB of storage. Note that Google recently introduced a 5 GB free storage limit for some new accounts, but this can be circumvented by linking a phone number.
Apple iCloud: 5GB of free cloud storage
iCloud users automatically receive 5GB of free storage, distributed among backups, photos and files, as well as data from Messages, Mail, Contacts, FaceTime, Voice Memos, and Apple Invites. You candelete content to reduce the size of your iCloud backup and manage your available storage space. The cheapest paid plan, iCloud+, includes 50GB of storage for about $1 per month.
Microsoft OneDrive: 5GB of free cloud storage
Like iCloud, OneDrive offers 5GB of free cloud storage, and all you need is a Microsoft 365 account. This limit is shared between documents, files, and photos—Outlook gets a separate 15GB limit.
Includes: 10GB of free cloud storage.
Box’s free plan offers 10 GB of secure storage. There’s a 250 GB file upload limit, so it’s not the best option for media or large files. Furthermore, you only get access to one version of a file. Free users can request five electronic signatures per month, making Box a good choice for documents.
Dropbox: 2GB of free cloud storage
Dropbox’s free plan offers just 2GB of storage, which can be filled with photos, documents, and files from up to three devices. You can also use Dropbox to share files and collaborate with other users, and the service integrates with many third-party apps.
Proton Drive: 5GB of Free Cloud Storage
Proton is known for its privacy-focused products, so Proton Drive is a good choice for storing sensitive data, such as tax returns and legal documents. The free plan includes 5 GB of storage, and your storage is protected by end-to-end encryption.
MEGA: 20GB of free cloud storage
MEGA provides users with an impressive 20GB of free storage space, as well as automatic backups and 100 file versions, making it a great option for large archives and media files.
Other cloud storage services: Free storage amounts vary.
There are several other cloud storage providers offering free plans without intrusive ads, significant file size limits, or serious privacy violations. Other options include Sync.com (5 GB), Icedrive (10 GB), and pCloud (up to 10 GB), although some users on Reddit have noted issues with reliability and customer support with these services.
Password managers often include free storage.
Your password manager subscription may not be technically free, but if you’re already paying for it, you may have a small amount of secure file storage at no extra cost. Bitwarden’s premium plan includes 5 GB of encrypted storage, while many others (1Password, Proton Pass, and Dashlane, for example) offer 1 GB.
How to organize and make the most of your available storage space.
If you use multiple cloud storage services, you can distribute different types of content across them to maximize their capabilities and simplify access. Proton Drive and Sync.com are good choices for sensitive files that require security, although you can use a tool like Cryptomator (free and open-source) to encrypt your storage before syncing with services like Google Drive or Box.
Google Drive, OneDrive, and iCloud are best for files and documents you access regularly, including materials that require collaboration and sharing, as well as for device backups. MEGA can be a good option for cold storage—media files that don’t change or aren’t frequently accessed. And Box is useful for smaller documents like PDFs and receipts, given its file size limit.