Saving our files in the cloud is something we’re already very used to. But not all cloud services are the same. If we use Google Drive, which works well, but we may be concerned about privacy, there are other options. Which one is the best? It depends on what we value most: security, integration, pricing, or even design. Let’s go over five strong and very different alternatives.
OneDrive: Perfect if we use Microsoft Office
If we work with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, OneDrive is one of the most practical options. It's fast, integrates seamlessly with the full Microsoft 365 suite, and lets us collaborate in real time.
It offers 5 GB of free storage to start with, but the most interesting part comes with the Microsoft 365 Personal or Family plans, as they provide 1 TB of storage per user. Very useful if we want to have all our files accessible and synced across multiple devices.
Box: Designed for team collaboration
Box is mainly aimed at professional environments. Its strength lies in permission management, collaboration, and team productivity tools.
Although it includes a free 10 GB version, its focus is clearly geared toward businesses. What stands out is its compatibility with both Google and Microsoft formats, along with its version control system. It works really well if what we need is to keep everything organized and securely shared with others.
pCloud: A secure option with one-time payment
If we prefer a one-time payment and want to avoid subscriptions, pCloud might be a very attractive choice. Its offer is clear: security, flexibility, and lifetime plans.
It includes optional encryption, individual and family plans, and lets us choose which folders we want to sync. The 500 GB plan costs €199, and the 2 TB plan is €399—both one-time payments. It’s a great long-term solution if we’re looking for something more cost-effective over time.
Proton Drive: The most privacy-focused alternative
Proton Drive is one of the newest options, but also one of the most secure. It offers end-to-end encryption, keeps no logs, and doesn’t use our files to train any systems. Plus, its interface is clean and very similar to Google Drive’s.
It’s ideal if we highly value privacy. The free plan gives us 2 GB, which can be expanded to 5 GB with a few simple steps. There’s also a 500 GB plan available for €9.99/month.
iCloud Drive: The natural choice for Apple users
If we live inside the Apple ecosystem, iCloud is the first and best alternative. It integrates automatically with the entire system and across all devices, letting us keep files, photos, notes, passwords, emails, contacts, calendars, and more in sync—almost effortlessly. Everything is connected. It’s our natural cloud.
We get 5 GB free to start with, but for many of us, that’s not enough. If we enable iCloud Photos, store backups, or work with files in iCloud Drive, we’ll probably need a bigger plan. Fortunately, the plans are flexible and can be shared with family.
Also, when we activate iCloud+, we get advanced privacy features like Hide My Email, Private Relay, and custom domain support in Mail. So, not only do we expand our storage, we also add an extra layer of security to our data.
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