19 Best Free Cloud Storage Services for Backup in 2024

MEGA gives out 20 GB of space. My other top picks are Filen, Google Drive, and pCloud

Here's a list of the best free online storage services I've tried and recommend. These cloud storage options are perfect for sharing files with friends and family, keeping your documents synced across all your devices, and more. And the best part? They're all free!

I last checked and updated this list in March 2024. There are definitely more than 19 options out there (I've tested dozens), but I've picked these because they have features that I think most people will find helpful.

Cloud storage is different from automatic cloud backup. The services listed below are great for keeping your files online for storage, sharing, and playback, but they won't back up your computer files online on a schedule like a true backup service will.

01
of 19

MEGA

Mega logo

Mega Limited  

What We Like
  • Lots of storage space.

  • Share public folders.

  • Mobile and desktop apps.

  • Clean and modern look.

What We Don't Like
  • Slow to prepare files for download.

  • Bandwidth limitations.

  • Might reduce storage capacity if you don't complete achievements.

You can get up to 20 GB of free cloud storage with MEGA. It offers secure end-to-end encryption to help combat a breach of privacy. If you complete tasks, you can get the full 20 GB without paying.

One interesting feature I haven't seen elsewhere is the ability to share links in a way where the recipient needs a second part of the URL, basically like a password, before they can decrypt the information.

It also supports labels, favorites, automatic media file organization, chat and meetings, and public folders where anyone can send you files.

Overall, MEGA is a great option if you're concerned about privacy and security. And, of course, the 20 GB of free space is an awesome bonus.

View and update your files through a browser, the desktop sync client, or the mobile app, so it can run on a variety of platforms like Android, iOS, Windows, and others.

Download For:

02
of 19

Filen

filen logo

Filen Cloud Dienste UG

What We Like
  • All the same features as the paid plans (except for storage).

  • Mobile and desktop apps.

  • Advanced link sharing.

  • You can preview media files.

What We Don't Like
  • Issues installing the desktop app.

If you want the benefits of a zero-knowledge cloud storage service without losing features or compromising on space, Filen is right up your alley. It's a great MEGA alternative that offers 10 GB of space at no cost, but you can upgrade to a paid plan or invite friends for more storage.

I just love the features here! The web app supports folder uploads, you can pause uploads even in the web app, it keeps old file versions, files can be shared with others even if they aren't a user (and media files can be streamed from a share), keeping track of your public links is easy, and files/folders can be favorited for easy access again. Of course, I can't forget to also mention 2FA and end-to-end encryption.

Besides web access, there's a mobile and desktop app for all platforms so you can upload and access your files from anywhere.

Download For:

03
of 19

Google Drive

Google Drive logo

Google

What We Like
  • Super user-friendly website.

  • Collaboration and file sharing.

  • Plenty of free storage.

  • Desktop and mobile apps.

What We Don't Like
  • Shared storage with other Google services.

  • Bare desktop sync client.

Google Drive is the cloud storage service offered by Google. Each new user gets 15 GB of free space. I used this for years on just the free storage, but I eventually did start paying for more (yes, it's really that handy).

The total storage is actually shared with other Google services, like Gmail and Google Photos. If you don't use these services, you can utilize almost all the space for Google Drive alone.

Desktop users can install a sync client, which supports folder and file uploads. There's also a mobile app that can send photos and videos to your account.

Folders and files can be shared with specific Google users via their email address or anyone with a public link. You can also make a file view-only.

Google Drive makes it really simple to collaborate with others. You can allow comments on a document or let files be opened and accessed by more than one person at a time. Since Google Workspace is available for everyone, you can also give collaborators admin control over file sharing via trust rules.

Get it for iPhone, iPad, Android, or your Mac or Windows computer.

Download For:

04
of 19

pCloud

pCloud logo

© pCloud

What We Like
  • Decent free storage amount.

  • Multimedia streaming.

  • No speed or file size limit.

  • 15-day file revisions.

What We Don't Like
  • Lacks file sharing security for free accounts.

pCloud offers 10 GB. Overall, I'd say it's a great app for collaboration. It works across several operating systems, the mobile app is very intuitive and easy to use, and it supports handy features when working with other people.

You can add files from a remote URL or upload them from your computer; whole folder uploads work, too. Desktop users can also import online content using the browser extension. The mobile apps can upload photos and videos directly to your account.

Both files and folders can be shared with non-users. Shared folders can even be downloaded as a ZIP archive.

Something else I like is how easy it is to import all my photos from Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox. You can even create automatic backups from Google Photos, Facebook, and Instagram.

This app runs on iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, and more.

Download For:

05
of 19

Dropbox

Dropbox logo

© Dropbox

What We Like
  • Earn lots of free storage.

  • Mobile and desktop apps.

  • Undelete files.

  • Intuitive file and folder sharing.

What We Don't Like
  • Small storage space.

  • Bandwidth limits on shared folders.

Most people have heard of Dropbox. It will start you off with 2 GB of free space with several simple ways of earning more, up to around 18 GB.

You can view and upload all your files from a desktop or mobile app and share whole folders with anyone, even if they don't have a Dropbox account.

If you have Microsoft 365 files stored in your Dropbox account, you can edit them from inside your browser for free using the web versions of the apps. Another unique feature is conversions—right-click a PowerPoint presentation, for example, and you're able to save all the slides to separate image files.

Get Dropbox for Android, iPhone, iPad, or your computer.

Download For:

06
of 19

MediaFire

MediaFire logo

© MediaFire

What We Like
  • Upload large files.

  • Zero bandwidth limitations.

  • Supports guest accounts.

What We Don't Like
  • Account expires after inactivity.

  • Ad-supported website.

You can instantly get 10 GB of free online file hosting with MediaFire, and increase it to 50 GB or more with things like friend referrals and application downloads.

There are sharing options for files and folders, and easy uploads of either single files or whole entire folders through the MediaFire website. A file upload can be as large as 4 GB. I also like the filtering options that make it simple to find only my videos, docs, public files, etc.

Guest accounts are supported if you'd rather not make a user account to upload files. However, it's limited to 1 GB of storage, and the files will be considered abandoned after 14 days of inactivity. I suggest going this route if you want to quickly try out MediaFire without bothering with a user account.

Mobile users can download an app to view and share files on the go or upload photos and videos.

You can use MediaFire on Android, iPhone, iPad, or a computer.

Download For:

07
of 19

OneDrive

The Microsoft OneDrive logo

Microsoft

What We Like
  • Many ways to upload files.

  • Control how files are shared.

  • Earn more storage for free.

What We Don't Like
  • Less storage than similar services.

OneDrive is Microsoft's version of online storage. It's likely already installed if you're running the Windows OS. Everyone gets 5 GB of free space when they sign up. Extra hosting is awarded if you follow certain instructions, like friend referrals and mobile photo syncing.

Probably the biggest benefit to using OneDrive is free access to online versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. You're probably familiar with their desktop counterparts. These are slimmed-down, but still very functional web versions of the same apps.

A desktop program lets you easily transfer folders and files of any type, making them accessible from a mobile device. The mobile app can also upload files—both images and videos.

It supports sharing both folders and files with non-registered users, and you can grant full editing privileges or viewing only via permissions.

You can get the OneDrive app for Windows, Android, iPhone, and iPad.

Download For:

08
of 19

Box

Box.com logo

Box.com

What We Like
  • Robust search tool.

  • Bulk file downloads.

  • Notes and spreadsheet integration.

  • Upload whole folders at once.

What We Don't Like
  • Limits upload file size.

  • Some features cost.

  • No password option for shared files.

10 GB of free online storage space is provided by Box (formerly Box.net). There are sometimes promotions where you can early more free space by doing something simple like signing up from the mobile app (I currently have 50 GB, all for free).

Box users can share whole folders of data or pick single files to share with a public link. The service also includes a built-in note-taking section, and Canvas for making mind maps, charts, and the like.

There's a mobile application for nearly all devices that lets you upload/download/share your content. The desktop sync client also makes it super simple to upload files to Box. Free users have a hefty 250 MB file upload limit.

Get it for Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows, or macOS.

Download For:

09
of 19

Internxt

Internxt logo

Internxt

What We Like
  • Zero-knowledge encryption.

  • Free from ads.

  • Direct file sharing (goes right to the file).

  • Cheap plans if you want more space.

  • Web app supports folder uploads.

What We Don't Like
  • Too simple of a search tool.

You can get another 2 GB of free storage when you sign up for Internxt. It's advertised as the "world's most private cloud storage" because it offers zero-knowledge encryption, which means that only you ever see your files. Even the site owner and workers can't access your data — I love that!

There isn't much to the website but a few buttons for you to upload files, make new folders, search, and share things. When you share files, you get a link that, when clicked, starts the download immediately. Recipients aren't looking around for a download button, which is really nice. You can also specify how many times each file can be downloaded.

You can unlock up to 10 GB of total space by completing things like installing the app, sharing a file, inviting friends, and subscribing to their newsletter.

Your data can be accessed from their website or the app for your computer, phone, or tablet. You can also back up files from the desktop app.

Download For:

10
of 19

Degoo

Degoo logo

Degoo Cloud

What We Like
  • Generous storage amount.

  • Multiple ways to earn more free storage space.

What We Don't Like
  • Website is hard to navigate.

  • Shows ads.

  • Must access your account every 90 days to avoid deletion.

This one gives out a 20 GB of free storage to anyone who makes an account. If you have lots of friends who want to use Degoo to store their files, you can get 5 GB more by referring them to make an account.

You can use your free cloud storage account with the mobile app for iPhone, iPad, and Android.

Download For:

11
of 19

Yandex Disk

Yandex.Disk logo

Yandex

What We Like
  • Features not found elsewhere.

  • Upload mobile images automatically.

  • Lots of apps.

What We Don't Like
  • Lots of website ads.

  • Cannot upload folders with the web app.

Yandex is a Russian company known mainly for its popular Yandex Search and Yandex Email services, but they also have others like Yandex Disk. It offers 5 GB of free cloud storage for anyone who creates an account.

I discovered plenty of useful features while I used Yandex Disk, such as public and private folder and file sharing, the ability to import photos via social networks, bulk downloads, automatic mobile uploads, and support for drag and drop. 

You can upgrade/pay to get more space, or monitor bonus space promotions for free upgrades.

Windows and Mac users can install a desktop program to upload files to Yandex Disk, and a mobile app is available for Android, iPhone, and iPad.

12
of 19

BestFile

bestfile logo
What We Like
  • Unlimited space.

  • Public share links.

  • Per-file password protection.

  • 5 GB max file upload size.

  • Supports two-factor authentication.

  • Basic activity stats.

  • Files can be set up to automatically delete.

What We Don't Like
  • Unclear business model (privacy is a concern).

  • Limits bulk uploads to five at a time.

  • No trash folder for files you accidentally deleted.

  • No folder organization.

  • Can't preview videos.

  • No mobile app access.

  • Can't pause an upload or minimize the upload panel.

  • Removes files after 80 days of inactivity.

BestFile is incredibly unique because it's completely free for unlimited space. I'm serious. You can even upload files without a user account, though I do recommend making one so you can take advantage of all the options.

The website is super simple. There's a section that houses all your files, so you can easily delete them or get share links. The dashboard keeps a record of your upload stats, so you can see how many files you have in your account and how many have been downloaded. The only noteworthy setting is to set up 2FA. 

By default, the files you upload are 'public,' which means they can be shared through a unique link. A password can be added to any shared file, or you can make a file private so that only you have access to it when you log in. 

Creating a user account gives you those benefits, but you can also use BestFile without ever logging in. If you do that, though, your files aren't stored online forever. Instead, you get a few options for when to autodelete them, and the longest option is 6 months. With an account, however, just choose 'Don't autodelete'.

Unfortunately, there are a few things I don't like. The automatic delete time can't be changed after a file has been uploaded, so if I make the mistake of setting that up, there's nothing I can do except re-upload and choose a different delete option (or none at all). I also can't organize files in any way because folders aren't allowed and there aren't sorting options beyond the default alphabetical sort.

Finally, I'm not sure how the company makes money. I'd think twice about storing sensitive files here, like bank statements, passwords, etc. But, by all means, take full advantage of the space for things like backups of your virtual machines, movies, and other huge files.

13
of 19

Blomp

Blomp file storage logo

Blomp

What We Like
  • Lots of free storage with opportunities for more.

  • Programs are easy to use.

  • Works with all the popular platforms.

  • No upload size limit.

What We Don't Like
  • Barebones apps; few features.

  • Must download media files to view them from your account.

  • Can't share files.

  • No trash bin for recovering recently deleted files.

Blomp provides a whopping 20 GB of storage to anyone who signs up.

The website and program are super slim with few features; you can create folders, upload files, and download your backed-up data. However, this makes them really easy to use and free from clutter, so I consider that a good thing.

There isn't a limit to how large a file can be when you upload it, as long as it doesn't exceed 20 GB (since that's the total storage amount). Bulk downloads and uploads are supported as well.

The website, desktop app, and mobile app won't preview the image files you've uploaded. You have to first download them to your phone or computer to see what they are. Most cloud backup tools let you preview videos, music, and images, so it's unfortunate this service doesn't work quite the same way.

However, 20 GB isn't bad at all when it's free. Plus, you can get up to 200 GB of free space if you refer friends to sign up.

Blomp runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux, as well as iOS and Android mobile devices.

14
of 19

Icedrive

Icedrive logo

Icedrive

What We Like
  • Has a helpful portable app for computers.

  • Lets you stream audio/video and preview PDFs and other documents.

  • Stores old versions of your files.

What We Don't Like
  • Encryption and advanced link sharing aren't free.

  • Limits bandwidth to 3 GB per day.

Icedrive provides 10 GB of free cloud storage. Your files are accessible through a really nice desktop program, mobile app, and website. My biggest complaint is the daily bandwidth limit, but it won't be an issue for you if your plan is to treat this as an archive for your data.

You can stream your music and videos straight from your account without having to re-download the files. This is also true for people you share your files with. They don't even need to be Icedrive users to download and stream the files you share.

There are also options to favorite specific files to quickly access them from the Favorites tab, control bandwidth in the desktop program, share via email addresses or public links, and download old versions of files you've made changes to.

Other features are supported, like encryption, password-protected share links, and WebDAV, but they aren't free to use.

This app works on Android, iPhone, and iPad devices. There's also a fully installable desktop program that makes your account look like a locally attached hard drive for easy use. A portable version for Windows, Mac, and Linux is available as well.

Download For:

15
of 19

UploadNow

UploadNow free online file storage account
What We Like
  • No user account necessary.

  • Lots of space.

  • Can share files with other non-users.

  • Supports previewing and streaming some media files.

What We Don't Like
  • Lots of ads.

  • Bulk downloads aren't free.

  • Can't pause uploads in progress.

  • Files expire after inactivity.

This option is vastly different from the other services in my list. While UploadNow does have a heaping 100 GB for you to use at no cost and includes neat features like media file previewing and password-protected file sharing, you don't actually get a personalized user account, just a guest account.

No account makes managing your files later and keeping track of them difficult. On the other hand, it's a lot of space that you get without needing to supply your email address or remember a password. This makes it ideal for one-time file sharing or as a sort of archive.

Since you don't have a user account (unless you pay), you can't delete the files you uploaded unless you do so from the same computer you uploaded them from. While they do provide a link to manage uploaded files, I wasn't able to get it to work from another browser or computer.

If your uploaded files aren't regularly downloaded, they will expire and be deleted after just seven days.

16
of 19

Sync

Sync.com logo

© Sync.com Inc.

What We Like
  • Complete tasks to earn more free space.

  • Web-based folder uploads.

  • Collaborate with team folders.

  • Password protect shares.

What We Don't Like
  • Not ideal for large files like videos.

  • Can't pause web uploads.

  • Minimal but functional website.

You get 5 GB of free cloud storage when you sign up for Sync.

Like some of the other services on this list, it can upload multiple files at once through both the website interface and the mobile and desktop apps.

You can build shared folders that other users can interact with, as well as share any folder or file with anyone, regardless if they're a Sync user.

Vault is a folder that you can put files into so they aren't synced across your other devices. This is useful if you just want to archive some files online but don't need them elsewhere.

See Sync's features page for a list of its features and some comparisons between the free and pro versions.

This service is available from the web and an app for Windows, macOS, iPhone, iPad, and Android.

Download For:

17
of 19

Jumpshare

Jumpshare logo

Jumpshare

What We Like
  • Intuitive uploading from your desktop.

  • Extra features like screen recording.

  • High upload file size limit.

What We Don't Like
  • Limited initial storage space.

  • More storage only after inviting friends.

  • Infrequent app updates.

  • No Android app.

Hundreds of file types can be uploaded to Jumpshare, with a total of 2 GB of free storage for every user. If you refer friends to join, you can get up to 18 GB for free!

The upload limit per file is 250 MB. The desktop program also lets you take screenshots and record your screen for one minute, a feature I've yet to see with any of these other cloud storage services.

A downloadable program is available for Windows and Mac users that allows really simple drag-and-drop and hotkey file-sharing capabilities. There's also an app for iPhones and iPads.

Download For:

18
of 19

Amazon Photos

Amazon Photos logo

Amazon

What We Like
  • Unlimited photo storage.

  • Upload from mobile and desktop apps.

  • Free 30-day trial.

  • Share with non-users.

What We Don't Like
  • Free only for Prime members.

Amazon.com has an online storage service called Amazon Photos, which offers Prime members unlimited, full-res photo storage plus 5 GB of space for videos.

Users can share files to create a public link accessible by anyone who uses it, even if they don't have an Amazon account. You can share albums, too, but bulk downloading by the recipient isn't allowed. I also like that uploads can be paused and resumed later to save bandwidth.

Files can be uploaded using the desktop client software or the web version, though only the former allows folder uploads. A mobile app is also available for uploading videos and photos from Android and iOS devices.

Download For:

19
of 19

TeraBox

TeraBox logo

Flextech Inc.

What We Like
  • Huge storage amount.

  • Quick account creation.

  • Advanced sharing options.

  • 4 GB /file upload limit.

What We Don't Like
  • Recipients who want to download your files are forced to make an account.

  • Only 20 files can be saved to free accounts.

Most competitive services don't offer a massive amount of storage. If it's free, and there's something they want you to buy, it's clear you won't get the best of the best at no cost.

What makes TeraBox (formerly Dubox) unique is that it provides a whopping 1 TB (1024 GB) for free. You can share files with an automatic expiration date and even require a password before the recipient can download it.

I like to use this service for huge files, but not really anything else. Backups of DVD-size home videos is what I've stored here, and I use the other, better cloud storage services for smaller items like documents and pictures.

Files can be uploaded individually or in bulk via folder uploads. Everything is automatically organized into sections to make it easy to find pictures, videos, music, etc.

Paying for premium gets you twice the storage space, faster downloads, max video playback quality, 20 GB upload size limit, no ads, a max of 50,000 files, and more.

There's an app for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

Download For:

Was this page helpful?