If you’re looking for an end-to-end encrypted email, then you may be considering Proton Mail vs Gmail.

Proton offers end-to-end encryption, whereas Google only encrypts data in transit and on its servers.

But is Proton Mail the best alternative to Gmail?

You can find out more about both services in this article, as we cover:

• Proton Mail vs Gmail overview
• Proton Mail vs Gmail privacy comparison
• Proton Mail vs Gmail security comparison
• Pricing, features, and alternatives

If you’re looking for an alternative to Gmail, then you can learn more about Proton Mail vs Gmail from this article.

If you want the same end-to-end encrypted email as Proton, with the added benefit of post-quantum encryption, more cloud storage, and lifetime cloud storage plans, then you can learn more about Internxt Mail in this article too, or visit our website for more information.

Table of contents

Proton vs Google overview

Proton and Google both offer a large collection of online services, including Proton Mail, Proton Drive, calendars, alternatives to Google Docs and Sheets, and a VPN. The main difference is their underlying approach.

Proton is built around privacy and encryption as its core principles; it uses end-to-end encryption, is open source, and is based in Switzerland, which is known for its strong privacy laws.

Google is built around a much broader ecosystem and is built for convenience, collaboration, search, and integration between many different services. In return for that convenience and integration, Google doesn’t use end-to-end encryption for Google Drive or Gmail.

This allows Google to process and analyze data on its servers to provide features such as powerful search, spam and malware detection, and real-time collaboration, but your personal data is used by Google as a result.

In short, Proton is primarily trying to give you a private version of the services you already use online, and Google is primarily trying to give you a highly integrated digital ecosystem.

Proton Mail vs Gmail: What’s the difference?

Proton Mail and Gmail are the two email providers you can choose from and offer alternatives to Outlook, iCloud, or Yahoo.

Proton Mail is designed with end-to-end encryption as the default for your emails, so only you and your recipient can access the contents of confidential emails. Proton says its services do not contain advertising, and that Proton does not sell user data.

Proton is based in Switzerland and operates under Swiss law, which has similar data privacy controls for its customers as GDPR data protection offered by European tech companies like Internxt.

Gmail focuses heavily on integration with the Google Workspace, spam protection, search, and Gemini AI-powered features.

These features allow Gmail to analyze and process information within the service to provide things such as email summaries, suggested replies, natural-language searches, and assistance with drafting emails.

The result is a highly integrated and feature-rich email service that prioritizes convenience and functionality. However, this approach differs from Proton Mail's privacy-focused model, as Gmail's ability to provide many of these features depends on server-side processing and access to email data.

If you want a full privacy suite of mail and private cloud storage, with end-to-end encryption, then Internxt Mail offers encrypted email in its pricing plans that can meet the same privacy needs as Proton, with more privacy than you would get with Google.

Proton Mail vs Gmail pros and cons

Proton Mail pros

• Strong focus on privacy and data protection.
• End-to-end encryption.
• Zero-access encryption for stored emails.
• No advertising in Proton Mail.

Proton Mail cons

• Smaller ecosystem than Google.
• Fewer third-party integrations than Gmail.
• Some advanced features are less mature than Gmail's.
• Search functionality is affected by Proton's encryption architecture.
• If you send an email to someone not on Proton Mail, it won’t be E2EE encrypted by default.

Gmail pros

• Very strong spam, phishing, and malware protection.
• Extensive integration with Google Workspace.
• Works closely with Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Calendar, Meet, and Chat.
• Strong AI integration through Gemini.

Gmail cons

• Gmail messages are not end-to-end encrypted by default.
• Google can process standard Gmail messages on its servers.
• Server-side processing enables features such as search, spam detection, indexing, AI, and integrations, but requires greater access to email data.
• Gmail's privacy model involves more data processing than Proton's zero-access approach.
• Some users have privacy concerns about Google's broader ecosystem and data practices.

Proton Mail vs Gmail free and pricing plan comparison

Proton Mail pricing

To start with a Proton Mail vs Gmail pricing comparison, we’ll start with the free plans.

Proton Mail offers a free plan for basic encrypted email use and includes:

• 1 GB storage
• 1 user
• 1 encrypted email address

If you want to upgrade, Proton offers two paid monthly or annual plans. The monthly costs are:

Mail Plus, €4.99/month

• 15 GB storage
• 1 user
• 10 encrypted email addresses
• Support for 1 custom email domain
• Unlimited folders and labels
• 10 hide-my-email aliases
• Priority customer support

Unlimited, €12.99/month

• 15 GB storage
• 1 user
• 10 encrypted email addresses
• Support for 1 custom email domain
• Unlimited folders and labels
• 10 hide-my-email aliases
• Priority customer support

Gmail pricing

Gmail offers 15GB of free storage, shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Workspace, so if you want more free storage for your emails, Google offers 15GB for free, whereas Proton Mail Plus offers the same amount of storage for €4.99/month.

Google offers up to 2TB, while Proton offers up to 500GB with the Unlimited plan.

Google One pricing for its monthly plan are below.

Like Proton, Google offers savings if you pay annually, but neither offers a lifetime plan, so if you want an encrypted email with a one-time payment, Internxt offers the same zero-knowledge encrypted email with its lifetime cloud storage plans.

If you want lifetime access to 5TB of encrypted cloud storage, Mail, and more, then Internxt Ultimate plans include its full product suite for €4.49/ month.

Or you can avoid subscriptions completely with a lifetime cloud storage plan, starting from €285 with the Essential plan.

For the full Internxt product suite, which includes Mail, NAS, and Rclone support with full post-quantum encryption, get 85% off with the link below, where you can also check out the Internxt Essential, Premium, and Ultimate plans.

Proton Mail vs Gmail: which is cheaper?

Based on the monthly costs, for Proton vs Gmail pricing, Google is cheaper when comparing both plans, as shown below.

• Google Basic (€1.99) gives you 100 GB versus Proton Mail Plus at €4.99 for 15 GB.
• Google AI Plus (€4.99) costs the same as Mail Plus but gives 400 GB, compared with Proton's 15 GB.
• Google AI Plus (€9.99) gives 2 TB, while Proton Mail Plus remains 15 GB.
• Google AI Pro (€21.99) gives 5 TB plus Google's AI features and other benefits.

Choose Google One plans if you want better value for money if you're judging price, storage, and the number of features/services included.

Proton Mail is more expensive per GB, but choose this as a Gmail alternative.

Choose Internxt if you want 5TB of storage, VPN, Mail, and post-quantum encrypted services for maximum online privacy and security.

Proton Mail vs Gmail privacy comparison

End-to-end encryption

This is the main difference when deGoogling from Gmail and looking for a Google Drive alternative.

Google does not offer end-to-end encrypted storage, email, or Google Photos. Instead, it encrypts data in transit and at rest on its servers, meaning Google could access your files, emails, or photos.

When you make a new email  with Internxt and Proton, end-to-end encryption as is included for all email messages you send, so there's no need to learn how to send an encrypted email with additional setup or configurations. Internxt and Proton encrypt your messages directly on your device so nobody but you can see them.

Emails sent outside Proton

Proton's E2EE protection is strongest when both recipients use Proton Mail accounts

If you send a normal email from Proton to Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, etc., it is not automatically end-to-end encrypted. Proton offers password-protected emails and PGP for situations where you need E2EE with external recipients.

Likewise, if someone sends a normal Gmail email to Proton, it is not end-to-end encrypted, so Proton can receive the unencrypted message before storing it with zero-access encryption.

Gmail's server-side processing

Gmail doesn’t offer end-to-end encryption because it needs to analyse certain data to provide more advanced features such as:

• Spam and phishing protection
• Malware detection
• Email categorization
• Smart Reply and Smart Compose
• AI-assisted features
• Integration with other Google services

Gmail's architecture allows more server-side processing, while Proton and Internxt’s encryption architecture is designed to keep the contents of stored emails totally private.

Advertising

Neither Internxt nor Proton Mail uses advertising in their products; other big tech companies, like Outlook, show ads in the free plan, and Google uses how you interact with its services to show you personalised ads in Chrome, YouTube, and more.

Proton Mail vs Gmail security comparison

Account security

Proton Mail secures accounts with passwords, two-factor authentication, passkeys, recovery methods, session management, and protections against suspicious login attempts.

Gmail secures accounts with passwords, two-step verification, passkeys, security keys, login alerts, suspicious-login detection, session controls, and automated systems that detect and block potentially malicious activity.

Google also provides advanced security options such as Advanced Protection for users who need stronger account safeguards.

Open source

Like Internxt Mail and its other products and apps, Proton Mail is open source and is available to the public and security experts to check the code for potential security vulnerabilities or to check that there are no backdoors to user data.

Gmail is proprietary software, so its complete source code is not publicly available for inspection, meaning you have to trust Google that its software is implemented securely and that its security mechanisms work as they state.

Audited

Proton has been audited by Securitum, the same cybersecurity company that also audited Internxt, to verify that both services and infrastructure are secure, up to date, and that your data is protected from hackers.

Google conducts independent audits and assessments of its infrastructure and Google Workspace services against recognized security and compliance standards.

Compliance

Proton complies with the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) and the revised Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (revFADP), and provides GDPR-related protections for European users.

Google provides GDPR compliance commitments and contractual protections, including a Data Processing Amendment, and supports GDPR rights such as access, deletion, rectification, restriction, objection, and data portability.

Despite being GDPR compliant, Google has paid millions in fines due to violations of GDPR data handling practices relating to consent, so if you need a European cloud storage provider that protects your data in line with GDPR, HIPAA, ISO, and SOC 2, then Internxt is a secure and private option for your email and cloud storage.

Internxt vs Proton Mail vs Gmail: Which one should you choose?

When comparing Proton Mail vs Gmail, it’s important to note that both have different priorities, so the better fit depends on what you need from your online services.

Choose Proton Mail if you want Swiss-based data protection and end-to-end encryption for your emails.

Choose Gmail if you want integration with services such as Google Drive, Google Calendar, Google Meet, and Google Workspace.

Choose Internxt if you want to send an encrypted email protected with post-quantum cryptography, with 5TB of lifetime cloud storage, advanced cloud management with QNAP or Synology devices, and more.

Related products

https://internxt.com/vpn

https://internxt.com/drive

https://internxt.com/meet

Frequently asked questions about Proton Mail vs Gmail

Is Proton Mail more private than Gmail?

Proton Mail is designed with a stronger focus on privacy. It uses end-to-end encryption for messages between Proton users and zero-access encryption for stored mailbox data. Gmail encrypts messages in transit and at rest but does not provide end-to-end encryption for standard Gmail messages.

Is Proton Mail more secure than Gmail?

Both provide strong account security features such as two-factor authentication, passkeys, security alerts, and protection against suspicious logins. Their security models differ mainly in how they handle encryption, data access, and integration with other services.

Is Proton Mail safer from hackers than Gmail?

Neither service can guarantee that an account will never be compromised. Both provide security features designed to prevent unauthorized access, including multi-factor authentication, phishing protection, suspicious-login detection, and account recovery controls.

Does Proton Mail have end-to-end encryption?

Yes. Proton Mail automatically provides end-to-end encryption when both the sender and recipient use Proton Mail. Messages sent to external email providers can also use password-protected encryption.

Does Gmail have end-to-end encryption?

Standard Gmail does not provide end-to-end encryption for ordinary personal emails. If you want end-to-end encrypted emails with post-quantum encryption, Internxt is the best encrypted email for your privacy.

Which has better account security, Proton Mail or Gmail?

Both provide strong account-protection mechanisms. Proton Mail and Internxt Mail emphasize privacy-focused authentication and encryption, while Gmail provides extensive security controls including passkeys, security keys, suspicious-login detection, and Google's broader account-security infrastructure.

Can Proton Mail read my emails?

Proton states that its zero-access encryption prevents it from accessing the contents of encrypted messages stored in your mailbox. However, messages that Proton can decrypt, such as certain messages received from external providers, may not have the same protection.

Can Google read my Gmail emails?

Standard Gmail is not end-to-end encrypted, so Google technically has access to message content within its systems. There are options for confidential mode, but this is not the same as true end-to-end encryption.

Creating an email account usually seems simple until you’re asked for a phone number.

If you’d rather keep your number private, don’t have access to one, or simply want to keep your accounts separate, you may be wondering if there’s another option.

The good news is that Internxt lets you create an account without phone verification with an Ultimate Internxt plan, or create temporary emails for free with no phone number or other personal details required.

In this guide, we’ll explain how to make an email without a phone number, send private and encrypted emails, and how to keep your accounts secure without needing to share your phone number.

Table of contents

• The benefits of creating an email without a phone number
• Why do email providers ask for a phone number?
• Can you make an email account without a phone number?
• How to create an email without a phone number
• How to create a temporary email without a phone number
• How to protect an email account without a phone number
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

The benefits of creating an email without a phone number

An email that doesn’t require a phone number has many benefits for your online privacy and anonymity as well as convenience if you need a separate email meant for important messages only.

Privacy

Creating an email without a phone number can help protect your personal information by keeping your phone number separate from your email account.

This can limit how much personal data is associated if you use have a subscription to services like Gmail, who collect a large amount of your personal information, including your phone number.

What does Google know about me?

Security

Avoiding a phone number can reduce the risks associated with having your number linked to an online account. If your phone number is exposed or leaked in a data breach, it can potentially be used for unwanted contact or spam calls.

If you’re suspicious of spam calls, you can check the tips in our who is calling me article to identify if it’s a scam call.

Keep accounts separate

A separate email address without a phone number can help you keep different parts of your online life organized. For example, you can use one address for personal communication, another for work or subscriptions, and another for online services without connecting all of them to the same phone number.

Avoid spam and unwanted messages

If you want to avoid unwanted messages, newsletters, promotions, or other irrelevant emails to your account, not providing your phone number helps keep your inbox clean and marketing communications separate.

Why do email providers ask for a phone number?

The main reason email providers like Outlook, Gmail, or Yahoo ask for your phone number is to verify it’s a real person creating an account and prevent abuse of their systems.

Another important reason is for account security and recovery. With a phone number, you can receive a text message to verify it's you trying to access your email or to alert you to suspicious activity on your account.

If you lose your password, you can receive a message to help you recover your account or username and regain access to your account.

Even so, not all providers need a phone number to create an account.

Internxt Mail doesn’t ask for your phone number when creating your cloud storage account or private email; it still offers the same security, privacy, and account recovery without having to provide your personal information.

Can you make an email account without a phone number?

Yes, it is possible to create an email account without a phone number with Internxt Mail. Internxt only requires your email when you sign up for an Internxt account.

Therefore, if you want to know how to make an email without a phone number, then Internxt Mail offers an easy setup to get you started with an encrypted email to send a secure email in total privacy.

How to create an email without a phone number

Internxt offers an end-to-end encrypted email that doesn’t require a phone number. To get started, follow these steps.

1. Create your free cloud storage account at https://drive.internxt.com/new
2. Enter your email and create a strong password

Once you create an account, it’s important to download your backup key if you forget your password and need to recover your account. Internxt uses zero-knowledge encryption, and therefore only you can access your encrypted data and account recovery key.

Internxt Mail is part of Internxt’s monthly or lifetime Ultimate plan, so to access Mail, you can get 85% off all Internxt plans to access Mail, Meet, Photos, and all the features below of a paid Internxt plan.

Once you have your Internxt Ultimate plan, you get all the benefits of encrypted cloud storage, Mail, and backup your Photos with Internxt Photos, or back up your cloud with your NAS device, and much more.

To create your Internxt Mail account, visit https://mail.internxt.com/ and follow the steps on how to make a new email from our blog to learn how to create an email without a phone number and how to send an encrypted mail with Internxt.

How to create a temporary email without a phone number

If you want to know how to make an email without a phone number or by creating a separate subscription, another option to make an email that doesn’t require a phone number is a temporary email.

Internxt offers a free temporary email that you can use for a maximum of three hours without creating a permanent inbox. A temporary mail service offers an email that doesn’t require a phone number and is useful if you don’t want to share your personal email address with companies.

However, temporary email is not suitable for accounts that you need to access regularly. For email accounts you need to access over time, a permanent email is the better choice, and a temporary email should only be used for short-term, low-importance services.

How to protect an email account without a phone number

Now that you know how to make an email without a phone number with Internxt Mail or temporary email, the next step is protecting your accounts.

Even though you don’t need a phone number to create a private email with Internxt, there are still ways to recover and protect your accounts without one.

The first step is to use a strong password or passphrase for your Internxt account, which you can create using Internxt’s strong password generator.

Next, you can set up 2FA for your Internxt account via the security settings of your account using your preferred authenticator app that sends a unique code to your app to verify your login.

Finally, from the same security settings, you must download and save a copy of your Internxt backup key in case you forget your password.

Without it, your account can be recovered, but your files will be deleted because your encrypted files cannot be decrypted by Internxt, as the encryption keys are managed on your device.

Once you follow these steps, your Internxt Mail and cloud storage is secure, and all messages you send and files you upload are protected with post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption.

To keep your accounts safe, you will still need to avoid common security mistakes which could lead to compromised accounts. Therefore, avoid clicking on phishing email links, never share or use the same password for your accounts, and ensure you keep all apps up to date.

Related products

https://internxt.com/drive

https://internxt.com/vpn

https://internxt.com/meet

Frequently asked questions

Can I create an email without a phone number?

Yes. With Internxt Mail specifically, you only need an email and a strong password to create an Internxt account and send encrypted emails with an Ultimate plan.

What email is easiest to create without a phone number?

If you want to know how to make an email without a phone number with a permanent email you need constant access to, then Internxt Mail is the easiest. If you only need brief access to an email to temporarily sign up to a website, Internxt Temp Mail is the easiest way to create an email without a phone number that you only need to access briefly.

Can I create Gmail without a phone number?

Sometimes. Google may allow signup without phone verification, but it can require a phone number depending on the account, signup process, or security checks.

Can I create Outlook without a phone number?

Microsoft can request additional verification during signup. Requirements can vary depending on the circumstances.

Is an email account without a phone number safe?

Yes. An email account can be secure without a phone number if you use a strong, unique password and enable other available security methods, such as an authenticator app, security key, or recovery codes.

Can I recover an email account without a phone number?

Yes, depending on the provider and the recovery options you have configured. Internxt offers a backup key to allow you to regain access to your account without a phone number.

Making a new email address only takes a few minutes. But when creating a new email account, it's worth considering more than just how easy it is to sign up. Your email provider can determine how your messages, attachments, and personal information are protected.

This is why Internxt has added Internxt Mail to join its private cloud storage solution, VPN, and other products to guarantee your privacy online with end-to-end encryption.

So whether you’re a new user to Internxt or you currently have an Ultimate plan, this article will cover how to make a new email address so you can start sending private and encrypted messages and prevent big tech and AI surveillance of your private emails.

Table of contents

• Reasons to create a new, privacy-focused email
• How to make a new email with Internxt Mail
• Advantages of making a new, private email
• How to make a new email and keep it secure
• Get secure, private, and encrypted email for life
• Related products

Reasons to create a new, privacy-focused email

A privacy-focused email address can help reduce the amount of personal information you expose online and keep the messages you send confidential and only accessible between you and your recipients, protecting you from potential data breaches.

Creating a new email can also help reduce spam and unwanted marketing.

Keeping your main email address private and using a separate address for newsletters, shopping, sign-ups, and less trusted services means your primary inbox is less likely to become overloaded with promotional messages and reduces the risk of phishing attacks.

If you want to sign up to services without filling up your primary inbox or creating a new email account, then Internxt temporary email helps keep your email free from spam, marketing, and other unwanted emails.

If privacy is a priority, it is also worth considering how your email provider handles the contents of your messages.

Services such as Outlook, Gmail, and standard iCloud Mail generally do not provide end-to-end encryption for emails.

Messages are encrypted while being transmitted and stored, but the provider can generally access message contents because the service needs to process them on your behalf. If you want to send a secure email with Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo, there are steps or plans available, but by default, these emails don’t offer true privacy

This is different from true end-to-end encrypted email services, offered by Internxt Mail.

The same way Internxt’s encrypted cloud storage uses end-to-end encryption, Internxt encrypts your emails before it leaves your device, and only the intended recipient can decrypt them.

As Internxt does not hold the necessary keys to read the contents, it can never see your files or emails.

Creating a new email account with Internxt Mail combines private cloud storage, encrypted email, and much more, keeping your information private online.

How to make a new email with Internxt Mail

If you have an Ultimate plan with Internxt and want to know how to make a new email, then we’ll explain how to get started below.

If you want to create a private email and don’t have an Internxt plan yet, get started with a monthly or lifetime cloud storage plan to access Mail with 85% off all Internxt plans.

Once you have your plan, you can create your new email by following these steps:

1. Visit https://mail.internxt.com/

2. Enter the email address you want to create and choose between inxt.me, encrypt.eu, or inxt.eu

3. Create a strong password for your account and confirm your new email address

Once your email is created, you can send an encrypted email with Internxt straight away. There's no need to configure additional settings or take extra steps to encrypt your files; Internxt Mail encrypts your emails automatically on your device before they are sent.

Once your email is created, you can send an encrypted email with Internxt straight away. There's no need to configure additional settings or take extra steps to encrypt your emails; Internxt Mail encrypts your emails automatically on your device before they are sent.

Benefits of Internxt Mail

Internxt Mail uses post-quantum and end-to-end encryption to protect your messages from big tech surveillance, data breaches, and hackers. As Internxt encrypts your email automatically, sending a private email is quick, easy, and secure.

If you want to switch from Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo, or other email providers that don’t offer the end-to-end encryption you need to protect your emails, then Internxt Mail is the best alternative: fully open source, encrypted, and GDPR, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and SOC 2 compliant.

What’s included with Internxt Mail

But it doesn't stop there. Internxt Mail is just the beginning of what Internxt has to offer. With Ultimate, you get 5TB of encrypted cloud storage, VPN, Meet, and Internxt Photos.

For advanced cloud management, Internxt also offers WebDAV and Rclone support. If you have a QNAP or Synology device, you can also access cloud backups for NAS systems.

The full features of Internxt’s pricing plans are below, so you can choose the right plan to protect your privacy and claim your 85% discount below.

Claim your deal

Advantages of making a new, private email

Creating a new private email can provide several advantages beyond simply having another inbox. It can help protect your identity, reduce spam, limit tracking, and give you greater control over who has access to your personal information.

Anonymity and privacy

One major advantage is greater anonymity and privacy for your personal information. If you create a new email address with Internxt, you can use a pseudonym so you don’t reveal your real name when signing up for websites and online services. This makes it more difficult for companies, advertisers, and data brokers to link different accounts and activities back to you.

Reduce big tech surveillance

Another advantage is reducing tracking and profiling. Your email address is often used as an identifier across different services. Using a separate private address can make it harder for companies to build a detailed profile of your online activity.

Internxt Mail offers zero-knowledge encryption not offered by Gmail, Outlook, or iCloud Mail, which do not provide end-to-end encryption for personal emails, so they could technically access your emails and confidential messages.

Prevent data leaks

A separate email can also provide better protection against data breaches. If a website you registered with is hacked, the email address associated with that account may be exposed. Using a separate address limits the amount of information connected to your primary identity.

How to make a new email and keep it secure

When you create a new email with Internxt, the first thing to do to keep your email secure is to start with a strong, unique password or passphrase that is different from your other email accounts and store it in a reputable password manager.

Next, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for your Internxt account with your preferred authenticator app to add another layer of protection if your password is ever compromised.

To protect your Internxt account, it is crucial to download a backup key in case you forget your password. Due to Internxt’s zero-knowledge encryption, if you reset your password without the backup key, your files will be lost because Internxt does not have access to your password or the keys needed to decrypt your files.

Finally, learn how to identify phishing emails and suspicious links. Even the strongest email security can be undermined if you accidentally click on a malicious link.

Get secure, private, and encrypted email for life

Now that you know how to make a new email with Internxt, you can choose an Internxt lifetime plan and avoid subscriptions by getting cloud storage, VPN, Antivirus, and much more, all in one package!

Get 85% off your new private cloud storage with the option to split your payment plan with Klarna, or pay in privacy with cryptocurrency.

Related products

https://internxt.com/drive

Internxt Photos – Secure Cloud Storage for Photos

Internxt Photos is a private, secure photo storage app for automatic backups and syncing. Zero-knowledge, open source, and private.

https://internxt.com/meet

Although the differences between Outlook vs Gmail may seem small at first, if you dive deeper, there are differences between the two, especially for encryption, business plans, and additional features.

To make things easier, this article covers both email providers, giving you all the information you need to help you understand more about:  

• Gmail vs Outlook: pricing, security, features, and more
• Gmail vs Outlook for business email
• iCloud email vs Gmail vs Outlook comparison
• Alternatives to big tech emails

If your main focus is privacy, however, you may want to choose an end-to-end encrypted provider to ensure nobody can read your messages. For this, we will also cover the newly released Internxt Mail and how you can easily send emails without compromising your privacy.

Table of contents

• Gmail vs Outlook: What's the Difference?
• Gmail vs Outlook: Pros and Cons
• Outlook vs Gmail for Personal Email
• What is the best alternative to Outlook and Gmail?
• Gmail vs Outlook for Business Email
• iCloud Email vs Gmail vs Outlook
• Related products

Gmail vs Outlook: What's the Difference?

The main difference when comparing Gmail vs Outlook is the ecosystem. Gmail is designed around the Google Workspace, which includes Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Meet, and Google Calendar.

Outlook is closely connected to Microsoft 365, including Word, Excel, OneDrive, Teams, and Microsoft Calendar, and is designed around Microsoft’s productivity tools.

Gmail is mainly used via a browser or its mobile apps, whereas Outlook provides both a web-based service and a dedicated desktop application combined with calendars, contacts, tasks, and scheduling in one application.

Gmail vs Outlook: Pros and Cons

Below are the pros and cons to consider when comparing Gmail vs Outlook

Gmail pros and cons

Pros

• Built-in spam, phishing, and malware protection.
• Strong search features to find specific emails, attachments, senders, dates, and keywords.
• Available on the web, Android, and iOS.
• Strong integration with Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Meet, Calendar, Chat, and other Google services.
• Google Workspace provides business email with custom domains, centralized administration, security controls, and collaboration tools.

Cons

• Standard Gmail does not provide end-to-end encryption by default. TLS protects email while it is being transmitted, but this is different from end-to-end encryption.
• Gmail does not have a dedicated Gmail desktop application.
• Advanced security, compliance, administration, and encryption features require paid Google Workspace plans.

Outlook pros and cons

Outlook pros

• The desktop version combines email, calendar, contacts, tasks, scheduling, and other productivity functions in one application.
• Strong integration with Microsoft 365, including Word, Excel, OneDrive, Teams, SharePoint, and Microsoft Calendar.
• Strong folder, rule, category, and multiple mailbox management.

Outlook cons

• Standard Outlook.com does not provide end-to-end encryption by default.
• Some advanced encryption and compliance features are primarily designed for business or Microsoft 365 environments.
• Free plans include built-in ads

Outlook vs Gmail for Personal Email

Pricing and free plan

Gmail itself is free with a Google account. You get 15 GB of free cloud storage shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos.

If you need more storage, Google One starts with:

• 15 GB: Free, shared with Google Drive and Photos
• 100 GB: Google One Basic, $1.99/month
• 200 GB: Google One Standard
• Larger plans are also available, including AI plans with additional features, which you can check in more detail in our Google One pricing article

Outlook.com is also free for personal use. The free plan includes:

• 15 GB of Outlook email storage
• 5 GB of Microsoft cloud storage
• Web, desktop, and mobile access

If you want to upgrade your personal account, OneDrive plans start at €1.99/month for 100GB plans, and for more details, you can check our OneDrive pricing article.

Features

Gmail and Outlook offer many of the same core email features, including:

• Spam and junk filtering
• Google and Outlook Calendar
• Google Workspace and Microsoft Office
• Gemini AI and Copilot AI to draft and summarize emails

In 2026, Microsoft changed its service to include new Outlook and classic Outlook for Windows, and feature availability is not identical between them. Microsoft continues to add features to new Outlook, so some advanced functions may depend on which Outlook version you use.

If you had a qualifying Microsoft 365 subscription before 2024 and already had classic Outlook installed, you can continue using classic Outlook and switch to the new Outlook.

Security

Gmail and Outlook both provide strong baseline security, including spam and phishing protection, encryption in transit, and account security features such as two-step verification or multifactor authentication.

More advanced security features are available for business, which we cover in the Gmail vs Outlook for business section.

For more information, we cover is Gmail secure and is Outlook secure in our blog.

Privacy

Google and Microsoft are not open source, so you have to trust that both companies have the necessary protocols to protect your data.

Google and Outlook can technically process email content to provide features such as spam detection, search, automatic categorization, and smart features, as neither uses end-to-end encryption.  

Gemini and Copilot are integrated into both email providers and can use your emails, files, chats, meetings, people, and other Microsoft or Google data from your emails to generate responses.

With Microsoft, one privacy concern is the personalized advertising for free accounts. Microsoft uses searches, purchases, Microsoft product usage, and online activity associated with your Microsoft account to personalize ads.  

Aside from that, there are other privacy risks when using AI features with Outlook and Gmail, including:

• Personal information such as your name, email address, account details, contacts, device information, and, in some circumstances, location information.
• Email data, including message content, attachments, recipients, senders, and email metadata.
• How you use the service, performance information, device information, diagnostics, and interactions with features.
• Gemini can work with information from Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Contacts, and other connected Google services when users enable those features.

If you want a private, fully end-to-end encrypted email, free from AI and combined with secure cloud storage, Internxt Mail is the best alternative to Gmail and Outlook.

Encryption

Gmail and Outlook do not use end-to-end encryption as the default option for your emails. Instead, emails are encrypted in transit and on Google and Microsoft servers.

If you value the privacy of your emails but already have a Gmail and Outlook account, you can search for ways to learn how to send a secure email with your email provider.  

Outlook is slightly better, as you can encrypt your email via the settings of your Outlook account, but Google doesn’t have this option. Instead, it offers confidential mode, but this is focused on controlling what the recipient can do with a message, rather than providing true end-to-end encryption.

It allows you to set an expiration date, revoke access, disable forwarding, copying, downloading, and printing, and optionally require an SMS passcode.

What is the best alternative to Outlook and Gmail?

If you’ve considered the pros and cons of Outlook vs Gmail, and your main focus is to send emails privately, then the best alternative to Outlook and Gmail is Internxt Mail.

With Internxt Mail, your messages are automatically encrypted with post-quantum cryptography before they leave your device, giving you maximum privacy for your emails, as nobody but you and your recipients can view your messages.

Internxt does not hold the decryption keys for your email, so it can never view the emails you send.

Internxt offers three custom email domains for you to choose from when you create your email:

1. inxt.eu
2. inxt.me
3. encrypt.eu

Once you create your email, there are no complicated steps to send an encrypted email. Internxt takes care of everything for you, encrypting your message on your device, in transit, and on our servers.

Mail is part of the Internxt Ultimate monthly or lifetime cloud storage plan, which you can get for 85% off with your exclusive special offer.

Take control of your privacy with Internxt, the best alternative to Gmail, Outlook, and other big tech companies, to give you total control of your data.

Gmail vs Outlook for Business Email

Pricing

For Gmail business email, you need Google Workspace. The current Google Workspace plans are:

• Business Starter: $7 per user/month with an annual commitment. Includes 30 GB of pooled storage per user and a custom business email address.
• Business Standard: $14 per user/month with an annual commitment. Includes 2 TB of pooled storage per user.
• Business Plus: $22 per user/month with an annual commitment. Includes 5 TB of pooled storage per user and additional security and compliance controls.
• Enterprise: custom pricing, with additional security, compliance, administration, and storage options.

For Outlook, prices for businesses and enterprises are:

• Business Basic: $7/user/month, paid annually.
• Business Standard: $14/user/month, paid annually.
• Business Premium: $22/user/month, paid annually.
• Enterprise: custom pricing

Gmail vs Outlook for business compliance

For businesses looking to meet strict data protection standards for their data, Microsoft and Google meet the following compliance regulations:

Google Workspace supports standards and regulations including ISO 27001, ISO 27018, SOC 1, SOC 2 and SOC 3, as well as frameworks such as FedRAMP and HIPAA.

Google also supports GDPR requirements, although it has faced GDPR fines for violating GDPR standards for personal user data.

Microsoft 365 supports ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, ISO 27701, SOC 1, SOC 2 and SOC 3, as well as GDPR, HIPAA/HITECH, FedRAMP, PCI DSS, NIST-related frameworks and various industry-specific regulations. Microsoft also lists European frameworks including DORA regulation and Spain's ENS among its compliance offerings.

If your business plan includes either of these certifications, don't assume Gmail or Outlook is automatically compliant; the service must still be configured correctly to meet the requirements.

Encryption

For stronger email encryption, Google Workspace supports S/MIME and client-side encryption. This is the only option to gain private encryption with Google, as a Google Drive encrypted folder is not encrypted on your device.

S/MIME encrypts the contents of an email so that only the intended recipient can decrypt and read it. It can also digitally sign the email, allowing the recipient to verify that it really came from the stated sender and was not altered.

However, S/MIME encryption is not available in Business Starter, Business Standard, or Business Plus plans.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes Microsoft Purview Message Encryption. Microsoft also supports customer-managed encryption keys for certain Microsoft 365 services, although this is an advanced enterprise capability rather than a standard feature of every business plan.

iCloud Email vs Gmail vs Outlook

Another competitor to consider for email is iCloud email vs Gmail vs Outlook, especially if you are an Apple user integrated into the Apple ecosystem.

With iCloud email, you also have access to iCloud Drive and iCloud Photos, so it is similar to Google if you want to combine email with cloud storage for photos.

With iCloud email, you can create aliases, folders, rules, and Hide My Email. iCloud+ also allows users to use a custom email domain. However, iCloud Mail is encrypted in transit and while stored on Apple's servers, but Apple retains the encryption keys. This remains true even if Advanced Data Protection is enabled.

If you want end-to-end encrypted email, iCloud, Gmail, and Outlook do not provide this as the default option, whereas sending an encrypted email with Internxt Mail is automatic, protecting your emails with post-quantum encryption.

iCloud email vs Outlook vs Gmail: which one should you choose?

The first thing to consider when choosing between iCloud email vs Outlook vs Gmail is the type of devices you use on a day-to-day basis.

Choose iCloud Mail if you use Apple devices and need an email for personal use.

Choose Gmail if you want powerful search, flexible inbox organization, and close integration with Google Workspace.

Choose Outlook if you’re a Microsoft user and need an email that is particularly suited to businesses with a dedicated desktop app.

Choose Internxt if you want post-quantum encrypted email as the default, alongside a full suite of privacy products and encrypted cloud storage.

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Today, Deloitte released its prestigious Deloitte Technology Fast 50 list, which recognizes the 50 most scalable technology companies, based on their turnover, within the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Spain.

Internxt, for its part, has closed 2024 with a turnover of €3.4M and it expects to be close to €5M EUR this 2025. The company also has wide profit margins and achieved profitability in Q4 2024, which it intends to maintain for most of 2025.

Internxt expects to close 2025 with 40 people in its team and has received a CDTI from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology from the Government of Spain for €1.4M EUR.

Internxt has also received the Startup Award from the Spanish Data Protection Agency for achievements in protecting user data.

The list includes Internxt and other fast-growing companies such as Wallapop, Metrocool, SesameHR, Shakers, Voicemod, Taxdown, and others.

For more information, visit the Deloitte website.

Google Photos is part of Google’s product suite, but works differently from Google Drive, which focuses on storing your files and collaboration with others.

So how does Google Photos work?

Google Photos is dedicated to protecting your photos from accidental deletion or data loss by automatically uploading your photos to Google Photos, backing them up in the cloud, and making them accessible across all devices.

If you’re looking to learn more about how does Google Photos work, this article covers how Photos work, plus more important information about how your cloud storage for photos works, pricing, extra features, encryption, and other alternatives to Google Photos.

Table of contents

• What is Google Photos?
• What’s the difference between Google Photos and Google Drive?
• How does Google Photos work?
• Where are Google Photos stored?
• Is Google Photos safe?
• What is the best alternative to Google Photos?
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

What is Google Photos?

Google Photos is Google’s service for storing, organizing, viewing, and backing up photos and videos online. It is designed primarily for your personal photo and video library, rather than the general file storage Google Drive offers.

When backup is turned on in Google Photos, new photos and videos can continue to be backed up automatically as you create them without the need to manually upload, sync, or back up your photos.

If you don’t want Google to automatically back up your photos, you can stop this feature by checking out our how to stop Google Photos backup article.

If you have a free account with Google, this gives you 15GB of free cloud storage for Google Photos in a separate photo and video service, but the storage is shared between Google Drive and when you receive or sending secure emails with Gmail.

Google Photos also offers features such as automatic organization, smart search, albums, photo and video editing, and Gemini AI integration helps organize and search your library, edit photos, and recognize people, places, and objects.

What’s the difference between Google Photos and Google Drive?

Google Photos is specifically designed for storing, backing up, organizing, editing, and sharing photos and videos; it has a separate app, interface, and platform for managing your photos.

Google Drive is a general-purpose cloud storage service for storing and managing files and folders. You can upload documents, PDFs, spreadsheets, presentations, videos, photos, and other types of files. Drive lets you organize files into folders, share them with others, and access them across devices.

The key difference between Google Photos vs Google Drive is that Photos is optimized for managing a photo and video library, while Drive is designed for general file storage and organization.

How does Google Photos work?

Here is a simple overview of how it works:

1. Sign in and enable backup: You sign in to Google Photos with your Google account and enable backup on your phone from your account settings.
2. Google Photos detects your photos and videos: Once backup is enabled, Google Photos scans the photos and videos available on your device. It identifies which items need to be backed up and begins uploading them.
3. Your photos and videos are uploaded to Google's servers: Google Photos transfers copies of your photos and videos over the internet to Google's cloud infrastructure. The data is encrypted during transfer and while stored on Google's servers.
4. New photos are backed up automatically: After the initial backup, when you take a new photo or video, Google Photos can automatically upload it without you having to manually select it each time.

Once Google Photos has successfully backed up a photo or video, you can delete the local copy from your phone and keep the backed-up version in Google Photos, but you must make sure it has successfully backed up first to avoid accidentally deleting important photos.

Where are Google Photos stored?

Google Photos are stored in Google’s cloud infrastructure. When you enable backup, a copy of your photos and videos is uploaded to Google’s data centers and associated with your Google account.

The data is encrypted during transfer and while stored on Google’s infrastructure, so your photos are not end-to-end encrypted and could be decrypted by Google employees, severely limiting the privacy of Google Photos.

Google uses a global network of data centers, and data may be stored and processed across different locations depending on the service and your account.

The original photo can remain on your phone as a local copy. If you later delete the local copy after it has been successfully backed up, the cloud copy remains available in Google Photos.

Is Google Photos safe?

Yes, Google Photos is safe. It has many security protocols and features that you can activate for your account to gain extra security, including:

1. Encryption: Photos and videos are encrypted while being transferred between your device and Google, and while stored on Google’s servers, but photos are not encrypted on your device.
2. Account security: 2-Step Verification, Security Checkup, and Advanced Protection.
3. Secure sharing: You can share photos securely with shareable links.
4. Locked Folder: Sensitive photos can be placed in a protected folder that requires your device screen lock or authentication to access, but this vault is not end-to-end encrypted.
5. Location privacy: You can control whether location information is included when sharing photos.

These controls keep your account secure, but not necessarily private. As we covered in our Is Google Drive secure article, neither Google Drive nor Google Photos uses end-to-end encryption.

This means Google can technically process the stored content to provide features such as search, organization, and AI-powered features.

Therefore, if you want to keep your photos with private cloud storage solutions that back up your photos with zero-knowledge encryption, Internxt offers the best alternative to Google Photos with post-quantum and end-to-end encryption.

What is the best alternative to Google Photos?

Internxt

Internxt is a European cloud storage provider offering encrypted cloud storage to store, sync, and back up your files in total privacy.

Internxt secures your data by encrypting photos directly on your device with post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption for all plans. For transparency and peace of mind that your data is secure with Internxt, all products are open source, and Internxt is also GDPR, ISO 27001, SOC 2, and HIPAA compliant.

Aside from offering a private Google Drive alternative, Internxt also includes a full privacy suite and alternatives to other Google products, including

• Internxt Meet for secure video conferencing
• Internxt Photos for photo backups
• Internxt Mail, a private and encrypted email

The full features of Internxt’s paid plans and features can be found below, and you can get 85% off any plan by following this link to get your exclusive 85% discount.

Internxt Drive vs Internxt Photos

Internxt Drive is an alternative to Google Drive to store, sync, back up, and share folders online privately with zero-knowledge encryption.

Drive is available for web, Windows, Mac, and Linux, with advanced options available for WebDAV and Rclone, and NAS cloud backups for QNAP and Synology devices.

Internxt Photos is specifically designed around your photo library. It automatically backs up photos for Apple and Android devices, and is available with the Internxt Ultimate monthly or lifetime cloud storage plan.

Internxt vs Google

Below, you can view a quick comparison of Internxt vs Google Drive

To get full privacy for your cloud storage, photos, emails, and more, make the switch to Internxt with 85% off to start migrating your files from Google to Internxt.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Google Photos?

Google Photos is a cloud-based service that lets you back up, organize, manage, and access your photos and videos across your devices.

Is Google Photos free?

Google Photos can be used with a free Google account, which includes a limited amount of shared storage. Additional storage is available through Google One plans, which go up to 2TB.

How does Google Photos work?

Google Photos uploads copies of your photos and videos to Google’s cloud servers. Once backed up, you can access them from other devices by signing in to your Google account.

Does Google Photos automatically back up photos?

Yes. When Backup is enabled, Google Photos can automatically upload new photos and videos from your device. You can turn off automatic backups from your account settings.

Can I delete photos from my phone after backing them up?

Yes. Once you confirm that your photos are successfully backed up, you can remove the local copies from your device. Google Photos also has a Free up space feature that can help with this.

Can Google access my photos?

Google does not provide end-to-end encryption for standard Google Photos storage, which means Google’s systems can technically process your stored content. For private cloud storage for your photos with automatic backups, Internxt Drive and Photos offer the best secure alternatives to Google’s ecosystem.

Looking for the best VPN Black Friday deals of the year? Then you’ve come to the right place!

Internxt VPN is included with all our paid plans, which also include encrypted cloud storage, for a massive 87% off.

Not only do you get a VPN, but you can also choose from a privacy suite to get everything you need to protect your privacy online this Black Friday.

Interested? Find out the pricing of our Black Friday deals, features, storage, and more below.

Table of contents

When is Black Friday 2026?

Black Friday will take place on Friday, November 27, 2026.

Black Friday is always held on the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, which falls on the fourth Thursday of November. In 2026, Thanksgiving will be celebrated on Thursday, November 26, making November 27 the official date for Black Friday.

Although Black Friday is traditionally a single day, Internxt is offering early access to our best VPN Black Friday deals when you sign up on our website.

When you sign up, you’ll get priority access to the best Black Friday deals on VPN, Meet, Mail, and more.

So although Black Friday is on November 27, you can start protecting your data with Internxt’s secure cloud storage and encrypted VPN by signing up below!

Get priority access

Are Black Friday VPN deals worth it?

Yes, the benefits of using a VPN help you gain more privacy online. With it, you can hide your IP address and encrypt your connection to protect it from hackers when using public wi-fi.

The best Black Friday deals and discounts for VPN plans are often the biggest discounts companies offer, so if you’ve been considering using a VPN, Black Friday is the best time to do so.

How to choose the best Black Friday VPN deal

Subscription vs lifetime

Black Friday deals from VPN services often apply to monthly or annual subscription plans, but the deal usually renews at the full price once the initial renewal period ends, which means that in the future you are paying more than the initial deal.

If you like the service and want to stick with it after the initial deal, then be sure to check what price you are paying so you’re not surprised when your plan renews.

If you want the best Black Friday VPN deal where you only have to pay once, then you can choose a lifetime plan. Some VPN providers offer lifetime options, but this only includes a VPN.

With an Internxt Black Friday deal, however, you get an encrypted VPN as part of its encrypted cloud storage plans, and all paid lifetime cloud storage plans include Antivirus, backups, and a VPN.

So if you want the best cloud storage deals that include a VPN and a full privacy bundle, then Internxt’s Black Friday offer is the best bundle to protect your privacy online.

Encryption

Check which encryption standards and security protocols the VPN uses; without the right data encryption, you could be paying for something that still exposes your personal data to hackers.  

Some Chrome extensions, for example, can expose your data, so you need to check the best free VPN extensions for Chrome and check that they are actually encrypting your information, rather than collecting your personal data.  

Internxt VPN uses the same encryption standards as Drive, Send, and its other products, and it is totally open source and can be verified by security experts that its VPN protects your connection.

Supported devices

Check that the VPN works on all the devices you plan to use.

Most services support Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, while some also offer apps for Linux, routers, smart TVs, and other platforms. Also check how many devices can be connected at the same time.

Other features

If you just want a VPN, then you should check what features are included with your VPN service, such as:

• Kill switch
• Split tunneling
• Ad and tracker blocking
• Multiple server locations
• Support for streaming and P2P traffic

Compare which features are included in each plan before choosing a deal, as more advanced features may only be available with the more expensive plans.

Consider if you just want to pay for a VPN, or if you can find Black Friday VPN deals that include other services, such as encrypted email, cloud storage, or secure video conferencing, which are included with Internxt’s pricing plans

Support and money-back guarantee

If you’re new to VPNs or want to set up your VPN in a specific way, or just need to ask general questions, then you should check if the service offers live chat, email support, or help documentation.

You should also review the money-back guarantee, including how long you have to request a refund and any conditions that apply.

With an Internxt plan, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee period for all plans, and we are always here to help via our live chat (Monday-Friday) and email. We also have a dedicated help centre for all our products to help you get started.

Best Black Friday VPN deals 2026

Internxt monthly and lifetime Black Friday offers

Internxt offers the best Black Friday VPN deals for its annual (paid monthly) and lifetime plans, with its biggest deal of the year: 87% off all plans!

All paid plans include post-quantum encrypted cloud storage for up to 5TB, which you can stack with a lifetime plan, plus a VPN to protect your connection.

Internxt’s Black Friday offer applies to its Essential, Premium, and Ultimate plans. Below, you can find out more about each Internxt plan, features, storage, and cost to help you choose the best Google Drive alternative and other big tech companies to get the best private cloud storage with post-quantum encryption.

Essential

Internxt Essential offers 1TB of secure cloud storage and includes an encrypted VPN with the following features:

• Post-quantum encryption
• Zero-knowledge encryption
• Two-factor authentication
• Backup your computer
• Password-protected file sharing
• Encrypted VPN
• Antivirus

Black Friday price: €1.29/month lifetime €247

Premium

Premium includes everything in Essential, more VPN locations, 3TB of storage, and these features:

• Post-quantum encryption
• Zero-knowledge encryption
• Two-factor authentication
• Backup your computer
• Password-protected file sharing
• Invite, share & collaborate
• File versioning
• Encrypted VPN
• Antivirus
• Cleaner
• Internxt Meet

Black Friday price: €2.59/month lifetime €377

Utimate

Ultimate is Internxt’s full privacy suite, offering advanced cloud management tools, VPN, 5TB of storage, and these features:

• Try risk-free for 30 days
• Post-quantum encryption
• Zero-knowledge encryption
• Two-factor authentication
• Backup your computer
• Password-protected file sharing
• Invite, share & collaborate
• File versioning
• Internxt Photos
• CLI, WebDAV and Rclone support
• NAS cloud backups for QNAP and Synology
• Encrypted VPN
• Antivirus
• Cleaner
• Internxt Meet
• Internxt Mail

Black Friday price: €1.29/month lifetime €247

If you buy a lifetime plan, you can stack your storage and add more features, so if you want to start with an Essential plan and want extra features such as Internxt Photos, you can upgrade, and you will get 6TB of storage, plus all the features of Ultimate.

You can also split the cost of a lifetime plan with Klarna, or pay with cryptocurrency at checkout.

How much can you save with Black Friday VPN deals?

With Internxt, you can save 87% off all plans, and if you choose a lifetime plan, you only have to pay once to access your cloud storage, VPN, and extra features forever- no more subscriptions, just full privacy online.

More Internxt Black Friday cloud storage deals

Black Friday Cloud Storage Deals 2026: Save Big on Quality Cloud Backup

Black Friday Internxt 2026 — 85% off cloud storage, Antivirus, Cleaner, VPN, Meet, and Mail.

Internxt — Black Friday Personal Cloud Storage Deals 2025

Black Friday Internxt 2025 — 85% off cloud storage, Antivirus, Cleaner, VPN, Meet, and Mail.

Black Friday VPN deals FAQs

What is the best VPN deal for Black Friday 2026?

Internxt’s Black Friday VPN deal is the best deal if you want a full privacy suite of a VPN with encrypted cloud storage and more. Your 87% discount means you get the best VPN at an incredible price.

When do Black Friday VPN deals start?

Black Friday falls on November 27, 2026, but Black Friday deals are normally available a few days or a week before.

You can sign up for the Internxt newsletter to be the first to access our 87% Black Friday discount.

Are VPNs cheaper on Black Friday?

Yes. Many companies offer their biggest discounts during Black Friday, and Internxt is no different with its 87% Black Friday offer.

Can I cancel a VPN subscription after Black Friday?

Yes, if you purchase an Internxt plan, you can cancel your subscription at any time and request a refund if it falls within our 30-day money-back guarantee period.

Do VPN Black Friday deals renew at the same price?

Black Friday subscriptions are generally for a limited time and renew at the full price at the end of the first renewal period.

If you buy a lifetime plan from Internxt, there are no renewals; our one time payment cloud storage plans mean you pay once and access the services forever.

What should I look for in a VPN Black Friday deal?

Check the total cost after the first year, renewal price, length of the subscription, number of devices supported, server coverage, connection speeds, privacy policy, and whether the VPN is included with other features.

Wondering what the big deal is with Black Friday? And why does every business on earth seem to be obsessed with the quasi-holiday? Or are you just looking for great deals?

Black Friday has become a sort of global cultural institution. Everyone knows about it, some look forward to it, and a few go crazy for the big day.

It may be hard to believe, but Black Friday hasn't always been a thing, and it's actually a relatively recent development. Below, find out everything you wish to know about the weird, wild, and overtly consumerist holiday known only as Black Friday.

If you're looking for the best cloud storage Black Friday deals, this article also has you covered, as we're offering our biggest discount yet - 87% off all our cloud storage plans, which include Meet, Mail, Photos, and more!

And unfortunately, no, the origin of Black Friday has nothing to do with pirates…Sorry.

What is Black Friday?

Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving, making it the fourth Thursday in November. Black Friday is not an official holiday but a global phenomenon in which companies offer holiday discounts and sales.

Often, Black Friday are associated with American malls, department stores, and supermarkets, opening early in the morning to crowds of waiting customers hoping to cash in on exclusive savings.

Why Is It Called Black Friday?

The word "black" has often been applied to days that are infamous or experienced some kind of calamity or catastrophe in the past.

The use of the phrase in reference to shopping the day after Thanksgiving was initially coined by The New York Times on November 29, 1975, which used the term Black Friday to specifically refer to "the busiest shopping and traffic day of the year" in Philadelphia.

The phrase has since gradually gained steam, being adopted by US retailers for promotional purposes. Black Friday has become a cultural icon, for better or worse, thanks to media coverage of the often wild behavior of shoppers. Because of this hype, even retailers outside the US now promote the day to remain competitive with US-based online retailers and market their own sales.

History of Black Friday and How Black Friday Started

Why is the Friday after Thanksgiving known for shopping and crazy Black Friday deals? ​​

The day after Thanksgiving has been regarded as the beginning of the United States Christmas shopping season since the early 1950s. This is most likely due to the appearance of Santa Claus in many communities' Thanksgiving parades. The idea being that "Santa has arrived" or "Santa is just around the corner" because Christmas is always the next major Christian holiday following Thanksgiving.

Macy's and other big-name stores, and their national parade, likely had much to do with this being popularized. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Santa or Thanksgiving parades were indeed sponsored by department stores.

Eventually, it became an unwritten rule that no store would try doing Christmas advertising before the parade was over. Therefore, the day after Thanksgiving became the day when the shopping season officially started.

Thanksgiving's relationship with Christmas shopping led to controversy in the 1930s. Retail stores would have liked to encourage a longer shopping season, but no store wanted to break with tradition and be the one to start advertising before Thanksgiving.

Cyber Monday quickly followed in Black Friday's footsteps as an alternative sales day for online retailers. Also, in 2015, online book giant and cloud storage provider Amazon was the first to offer "Black Friday in July" deals on what they called "Prime Day." These Black Friday look-alikes have since been widely adopted by other companies looking to cash in on the trend by offering similar deals.

Black Friday Trends

Since 2020, Black Friday has been declining in favor of online shopping. The coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown have accelerated this process. The pandemic also resulted in holiday deals and coupon codes being offered over a more extended period of time, even as early as October.

Fewer people are now shopping in person on Black Friday as more and more businesses are taking the majority of their sales online.

Black Friday Predictions

Change is in the air, and Black Friday will be a little different this year. Below are five predictions for Black Friday:

Deals lasting longer than one day

After COVID, the public has become used to Black Friday deals spread out over a longer period. Many companies will be wary of trying to revert back to a one-day extravaganza too quickly. Consumers are over the 24-hour frenzy.

People will search out real value

Many people will only pull the trigger on items that have a very good value. A lot of the old tricks, like stating a false original price won't work anymore. Consumers are catching on and have become warier than in previous years.

Sustainability becomes a priority

Climate change is becoming more and more relevant with each passing day. Consumers will pass on anything that is bad for the environment, or at the very least, consider more planet-friendly options wherever possible.

A return to local businesses

Thanks to a backlash to poor business practices and bad press from some big-name retailers, many consumers are skipping Black Friday or instead choosing to shop local. Many local businesses are also realizing the benefits of participating in Black Friday deal-making.

Less spending overall

Times are tough. Inflation, COVID, and uncertainty about the future are hitting consumers hard this year, and many are deciding to cut back on non-essential spending. It's safe to expect holiday spending to be much more humble than in years past.

Best Black Friday cloud storage deals

Internxt

If you need secure cloud storage with end-to-end post-quantum encryption, then Internxt has the best Black Friday deal for you with 87% off all monthly and lifetime cloud storage plans.

All paid plans include backups, Antivirus, and VPN to protect your cloud from data loss, protect your device, and encrypt your internet connection.

With an Internxt Ultimate plan, you get 87% off Internxt's full product suite, which includes Internxt Mail for encrypted email and Internxt Photos for automatic backups.

For advanced cloud management, Ultimate plans include WebDAV and Rclone support, and NAS cloud backups for QNAP and Synology devices.

You can get early access to our 2026 Black Friday deal from the link below, and be the first to access our biggest deal of the year!

To claim the best cloud storage deal this Black Friday, click on this link, choose your plan, and your discount will automatically apply at checkout.

If you want to view the full features of our Black Friday deals, check out our Essential, Premium, and Ultimate plans to find the right deal for you.

How to choose cloud storage Black Friday

Pricing

Cloud storage Black Friday deals are the best time to upgrade your storage as it's the time of year companies offer their biggest deals, and Internxt is no different.

With your 87% discount, you can start protecting your files from just €1.29/month for 1TB of storage, backups, Antivirus, and VPN included with your deal.

If you want to avoid subscriptions entirely and choose one-time payment cloud storage, then Internxt's lifetime plans start at €247, and if you need to stack your plan later, you can upgrade your plan to get more storage or features, such as Mail, Photos, and NAS support.

Features

Cloud storage Black Friday deals are popular because if you choose correctly, you get additional features included with your storage.

Google One pricing plans include advanced Gemini features, Google Photos, and access to Google Workspace.

However, Google does not offer end-to-end encrypted cloud storage, and other cloud companies, such as pCloud, include this feature as a paid add-on.

Therefore, if you want a cloud storage deal that includes zero-knowledge and post-quantum encryption, and a full product suite for your privacy, choosing Internxt's Black Friday deal is the best choice to meet your privacy needs.

Storage

Based on your needs, you may need cloud storage plans from 1ooGB to store and back up photos, or larger plans between 3 and 5 TB if you need cloud storage for videos.

When choosing your storage, you should account for your future needs and whether your storage plan will be enough to store and back up your files in the future, so you don't have to buy another plan.

Privacy

To protect your files and data from data breaches and big tech surveillance, you need a Black Friday deal that includes end-to-end encryption.

This form of data encryption encrypts files on your device, and you hold the keys, so only you can access your files.

Internxt offers post-quantum encryption included with all plans, protecting your privacy against future cybersecurity threats, and all products are open source for total transparency to ensure your files remain safe, and your data secure.

What is the best cloud storage Black Friday?

Internxt's 87% discount is the best cloud storage deal for Black Friday in 2026, it includes post-quantum encryption and a complete privacy bundle to secure your emails, video calls, internet connection, and back up your photos.

With lifetime storage, it's the perfect investment: pay once and never have to worry about rising subscriptions, and you can upgrade whenever you need more storage and features.  

For the best Black Friday deal for your online privacy, choose any Internxt plan, protect your files, and get the most private cloud storage, email, and more for 87% off on our website.

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Every year, people wait for the perfect time to grab the best Black Friday deals on tech, beauty, clothing, and more. Well, this year, Internxt has something special for you, offering you the best cloud storage deal that includes our new products: Internxt Mail, Meet, Photos, and more.

Right now, you can sign up to get 87% off  our Black Friday deals and discounts for all Internxt plans and get access to everything Internxt has to offer, which we will go into more detail about later in this article.

If you can’t wait, then head over to our website, choose your perfect plan, and get our biggest discount ever on the most secure cloud storage, and more.

Table of contents

• Why wait for the best cloud storage Black Friday deals
• Best cloud storage Black Friday deals
• How to get the best cloud storage Black Friday deals
• Advantages of our best cloud storage Black Friday deals
• More Black Friday deals

Why wait for the best cloud storage Black Friday deals

Many people wait for Black Friday cloud storage deals as it’s the perfect time to save money, upgrade their current storage, or get access to new products. People may also choose Black Friday because they no longer want to keep a subscription model from other companies.

Here’s why it makes sense to wait for the best cloud storage Black Friday deals:

• Many providers wait for Black Friday to offer their best discounts, so it’s the best time to save.
• You can get more storage at a lower price before regular rates increase.
• Waiting gives you time to compare providers and features like encryption, sharing tools, device syncing, and backup reliability.
• For long-term use, especially for businesses or families, buying during Black Friday reduces the cost per gigabyte and gives better value.
• You are more likely to get extra features not available from other providers.

This is why many people search for alternatives to Dropbox, Google Drive, and other big tech services and choose to switch to Internxt.

Internxt Black Friday deals include 87% off all of its lifetime plans, meaning you get access to cloud storage forever, and only have to pay once. No more subscriptions, just a lifetime of cloud storage.

Sign up to be the first to access Internxt Black Friday discounts from our website

Even if you already have an Internxt account, you can still take advantage of the deal by getting more storage for your current lifetime plan or the features of a Premium or Ultimate plan.

Best cloud storage Black Friday deals

Internxt's Black Friday deal will be live soon.

By visiting our website and signing up for our newsletter, you'll get 87% off any monthly or lifetime cloud storage plan and start storing, sharing, backing up, and syncing your files with maximum security.

With this deal, you can choose from any of Internxt’s plans shown below.

Internxt Essential

Internxt Essential is Internxt’s entry tier to cloud storage, and includes access to the following features:

• 1TB storage
• Zero-knowledge & post-quantum encryption
• Two-factor authentication
• Backups
• Password-protected file sharing
• Encrypted VPN (FR)
• Antivirus

Essential plans cost €1.92/month or €247 for a lifetime plan.

Internxt Premium

Everything in the Essential plan, plus:

• 3TB storage
• Zero-knowledge & post-quantum encryption
• Two-factor authentication
• Backups
• Password-protected file sharing
• Encrypted VPN (FR, DE, PL)
• Antivirus
• Invite, share & collaborate
• File versioning
• Cleaner
• Internxt Meet

Premium plans cost €2.59/month, or €377 for a lifetime plan.

Internxt Ultimate

Internxt’s Ultimate plan includes everything from Premium and Essential, offering you everything you need to protect your privacy online. With Ultimate, you get:

• 5TB storage
• Zero-knowledge & post-quantum encryption
• Two-factor authentication
• Backups
• Password-protected file sharing
• Encrypted VPN (FR, DE, PL, CA, UK)
• Antivirus
• Invite, share & collaborate
• Cleaner
• Meet
• CLI & WebDav support
• NAS & Rclone support
• Cleaner
• Meet
• Mail
• File Versioning
• Photos

Ultimate plans cost €3.89/month, or €507 for a lifetime plan.

How to get the best cloud storage Black Friday deals

Your 87% discount is automatically applied at checkout, so to get it, you just need to follow these steps:

1. Create an Internxt account
2. Select your plan
3. Head to checkout and enter your details
4. Select your payment method
5. Click “Pay”

Then you’re good to go!

You can now start protecting your files with post-quantum and end-to-end encryption, plus enjoy the other benefits of your Internxt account.

For lifetime plans, we also accept crypto payments or Klarna, allowing you to split the cost and pay later for your new lifetime plan.

Advantages of our best cloud storage Black Friday deals

Choosing this deal is the first step to protecting your online privacy, but it also includes many other benefits.

Higher savings

Cloud storage subscriptions can add up over time, so discounts, lifetime plans, or annual offers help users save significantly. It also helps you avoid increased subscription costs if the company decides to raise prices during your subscription period.

Below, you can see the savings you can benefit from if you invest in an Internxt Ultimate plan when compared to a Google One annual plan.

Internxt Ultimate: 5TB €506
Google AI Pro: 2TB €219.99
Internxt cost per GB: €0.1012 per GB
Google cost per GB: €0.109995 per GB

Cost per GB savings: Internxt offers about 8% savings on cost per GB compared to Google, without paying for further subscriptions, and without big tech surveillance thanks to Internxt's zero-knowledge encryption.

Return on investment

If you choose to get an Internxt lifetime account, when taking into account a Google AI Pro subscription, it won’t take long for you to start saving money with Internxt over a subscription with Google.

The following table shows how much you could save over a period of 5 years with Internxt compared to a yearly plan with Google.

Security and privacy

Choosing an Internxt plan is not only a solid investment for your wallet, but also for the future security of your data.

As Internxt uses post-quantum encryption, this cryptography will protect your data from the future threat of quantum computers, which could potentially break current encryption technologies used by other cloud companies.

This, alongside Internxt’s zero access policies, means that nobody but you can view or access your files, as the encryption keys are managed on your device, meaning not even Internxt can view what you store in the cloud.

Scalability

Never worry about cloud storage full messages again, as all lifetime plans can be stacked, giving you as much storage as you need so you ever run out of a secure space to store your documents, photos, or videos.

Access to new features

As Internxt is becoming the most secure alternative to big tech companies, its product suite is growing alongside demand for cloud storage that values your privacy.

If you buy an Ultimate plan with this discount, you will also get access to Internxt’s upcoming features, such as:

• Native rclone support
• Mail
• NAS cloud backups
• Photos
• File versioning

Compliance

Finally, to demonstrate its commitment to your privacy, Internxt is fully compliant with:

• GDPR
• ISO 27001
• HIPAA
• SOC 2

Ensuring the highest security standards are met when you sign up for Internxt, now and in the future.

More Black Friday deals

Choosing the right cloud storage deal is important to protect your files in an age where data leaks and breaches are becoming more common.

So if you’re considering what the best cloud storage Black Friday deals are for you, Internxt is a solid option. Not only for its 87% discount, but also for its commitment to protecting your privacy and creating a more ethical and safe internet for everyone.

For more Black Friday deals, check out our article below, which has a list of special offers for you to enjoy.

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Amazon is well-known for its streaming and online shopping services, but you may not know that if you have a Prime membership, you also get access to Amazon Photos.

Now that Amazon Drive is no longer active, Amazon’s cloud storage offerings are down to AWS object storage and Amazon Photos.

If you’re interested in cloud storage for photographers, Amazon Photos is an attractive option as your Amazon Prime subscription includes unlimited cloud storage for photos.

In this article, we answer the question of how does Amazon Photos work, and how it compares to other cloud storage options for photos available.

Table of contents

• What is Amazon Photos?
• How does Amazon Photos work for Prime customers?
• How does Amazon Photos work?
• How does Amazon Photos work to protect your photos?
• What is the best alternative to Amazon Photos?
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

What is Amazon Photos?

Amazon Photos is Amazon’s cloud storage service for storing, backing up, organizing, and sharing photos and videos online. It was originally launched as Prime Photos, and Amazon also offered cloud storage for documents with Amazon Drive, but this service has since been discontinued.

Now, Amazon focuses on cloud storage for photos so you can automatically back up your photos and videos from your phone, computer, or tablet. Amazon Photos also integrates with its Alexa products to display your photos on compatible Echo Show devices and other supported screens.

Amazon Photos is a different cloud storage model than AWS, which is meant for object storage for enterprises, whereas Amazon Photos is meant for personal use or families to back up and protect their photo albums.

How does Amazon Photos work for Prime customers?

If you’re already signed up for Amazon Prime, then your account includes unlimited cloud storage with your subscription, available at no extra cost, and no separate subscription is required.

To access Photos, you can download the app or log in via the website using your Prime membership credentials, and you can start using the platform to back up your photos in the cloud.

How does Amazon Photos work for non-Prime members?

If you don’t have an Amazon Prime membership, you can still use Amazon Photos. When you visit their website, you can sign up for a free account, and you will get 5GB of free cloud storage for photos and videos.

If you want to upgrade your free plan but don’t need the unlimited storage included with a Prime membership, Amazon offers monthly plans at the following rates.

For all plans, including the unlimited tier, Amazon Photos has a storage limit of 5GB for videos, so if you need to back up large videos in the cloud that are over this limit, you may want to consider a more robust cloud storage for videos option that meets your storage demands.

How does Amazon Photos work?

Once you set up your Amazon Photos account, you can start backing up your photos in the cloud by following these steps.

1. Install the Amazon Photos app on your smartphone or tablet, or access Amazon Photos through a web browser on your computer.
2. Allow the app to access your photos and videos when prompted. This permission allows Amazon Photos to see the media you want to back up.
3. Enable automatic backup if you want your photos and videos to be uploaded automatically. The app can then upload new photos and videos as they are added to your device.
4. Leave the app to upload your files. Depending on your settings, internet connection, number of files, and file sizes, the initial backup can take some time.
5. Once uploaded, your photos are stored in your Amazon Photos cloud library. The original files remain on your phone unless you choose to delete them yourself.
6. Open Amazon Photos on another device and sign in with the same Amazon account. Your uploaded photos can then be accessed from that device.
7. You can also manually upload additional photos or videos whenever you want instead of relying only on automatic backup.
8. If you stop using a device, lose it, or replace it, the photos that were successfully backed up remain available in your Amazon Photos account, so you can access them from another supported device.

Amazon Photos therefore works in the same way as Internxt Photos, iCloud Photos, and Google Photos.

You can learn more about these in our blog, where we also cover how does iCloud Photos work, and Amazon Photos vs Google Photos.

Unlike Amazon, iCloud, and Google, Internxt Photos is the only service offering end-to-end and post-quantum encryption for your photos, guaranteeing that only you can view your photos.

How does Amazon Photos work to protect your photos?

Security

As your Amazon Photos account is also connected to your Prime account, it’s especially important to keep your accounts secure to prevent unauthorized access to your Photos and Prime account.

To secure your account, you must first start off with a strong password, which you can create for free with Internxt’s password generator.

From there, Amazon has the following security measures:

1. Two-step verification: Amazon allows you to enable two-step verification on your account. When enabled, signing in can require both your password and an additional verification method, such as a code sent to your phone or generated through an authenticator app.
2. Passkeys: If supported on your account and device, Amazon can also allow you to use a passkey for sign-in. This can provide an alternative to entering your password.
3. Device and session access: You should review which devices and applications have access to your Amazon account and remove access from devices you no longer use or recognize.
4. Account recovery information: Keeping your recovery email address and phone number current is important because Amazon can use them to help verify your identity and recover your account.

Encryption

Amazon Photos is not end-to-end encrypted, and although it is secure in the sense that it encrypts data in transit and on its servers, your photos are not encrypted directly on your device.

This makes Amazon Photos a less private option than secure cloud storage options like Internxt Drive and Internxt Photos. Internxt encrypts files on your device before they are sent to our European cloud data centers, so only you and nobody else can view your photos, backups, or folders you share.

In contrast, as photos are stored on Amazon’s servers, they hold the encryption keys to your photos, meaning Amazon employees or law enforcement agencies can request and gain access to your photos.

For a private cloud storage solution for your Photos, Internxt offers the best cloud storage to protect photos from data loss and to keep your information free from AI and big tech surveillance.

Photo sharing

Amazon Photos gives you several ways to share your photos online while keeping control over what you share and who can access your shared photo albums.

You can select individual photos, multiple photos, or entire albums and share them with other people. This allows you to share specific content without giving someone access to your entire Amazon Photos library, and you can restrict access whenever you need.

However, like when you share photos or files with Google, Amazon Photos does not have password-protected file sharing, so anyone with access to a shared link could access and download your photos.

If you need to share photos privately, Internxt Drive allows you to set a password when sharing photos online via a link or email to prevent unauthorized access to your photos. If you need a free file sharing service, Internxt Send offers the same encrypted file sharing for photo albums up to 5GB, which you can use as many times as you like.

What is the best alternative to Amazon Photos?

Internxt Photos is the best alternative to Amazon Photos thanks to its emphasis on privacy with post-quantum, end-to-end encryption, password-protected photo sharing, and automatic cloud storage backups.

Internxt Photos is part of the Internxt Drive product suite, which offers European cloud storage built on open-source and security-audited software to give you peace of mind that your photos and personal data are safe.

Unlike Amazon and Google Photos, photos that you automatically back up in Internxt Photos are free from AI tools that can use your photos for data profiling. With Internxt, your photos are backed up for restoration in case of accidental data loss and encrypted to guarantee your privacy.

While Amazon Photos is focused on cloud storage for Photos, Internxt’s Ultimate plan gives you everything you need to protect your privacy online, including an encrypted email, secure video conferencing, an encrypted VPN, and more.

To get Internxt’s full product suite, or to see what other features we have to offer, visit our website and click the link below to get your 85% discount on any Internxt monthly or lifetime cloud storage plan.

Get 85% off

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Frequently asked questions

Is Amazon Photos free?

Yes. Free Amazon Photos accounts include 5GB of free storage. Amazon Prime members get unlimited photo storage, or you can create an account and pay for cloud storage separately.

Can Amazon Photos replace Google Photos or iCloud Photos?

Yes, Amazon offers automatic backups, but it only includes photo storage, whereas Google Photos and iCloud Photos offer more features.

None of these services are end-to-end encrypted, so if you want secure photo storage and a full privacy suite, Internxt Photos is the best alternative.

Do Amazon Prime members get unlimited photo storage?

Yes. Prime members receive unlimited photo storage, subject to Amazon’s current terms.

iCloud Photos is part of Apple’s cloud storage, its purpose is to store, sync, and back up your photos from your camera roll.

If you’re interested in knowing how does iCloud Photos work compared to iCloud Drive or backups, this article covers everything you need to know about cloud storage vs syncing vs backup with iCloud, including security, encryption, privacy, and the benefits of choosing Internxt Photos to back up your photos with the protection of post-quantum cryptography.

Table of contents

• What is iCloud Photos?
• How does iCloud Photos work?
• Where are iCloud Photos stored?
• Is iCloud Photos safe?
• What is the best alternative to iCloud Photos?
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

What is iCloud Photos?

iCloud Photos is Apple’s iCloud Drive cloud storage service for photos and videos to store, sync, and back up your files, allowing you to access your photo library across your mobile, tablet, or laptop.

iCloud in general is Apple’s broader cloud storage to store, sync, and back up files, contacts, notes, and app data, whereas iCloud Photos is specifically designed to manage your photos and videos.  

When iCloud Photos is enabled, the photos and videos are automatically uploaded to the cloud and synchronized in the cloud.

Any photos you take, or changes you make to your photos, such as editing or deleting photos, are also synchronized across the devices where you are logged in with the same iCloud account, avoiding the need for manual transfers or uploading the edited file again.

iCloud Photos is available on the following devices:

• iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro
• Windows PCs through iCloud for Windows
• iCloud.com using a web browser.

When you sign up for iCloud, you get 5GB of free storage. If you want to upgrade, iCloud pricing plans offer monthly payments for up to 12TB of storage.

iCloud vs. Photos vs Backups: What's the difference?

Apple’s cloud storage has three different functions when you store photos or any other files in the cloud: general iCloud storage, Photos, and backups. Each is similar, but works in different ways.  

iCloud is the overall cloud storage system that allows Apple devices and apps to store, synchronize, and access information through Apple's servers. For example, contacts can be synchronized through iCloud so that the same contacts appear on an iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

iCloud Photos main purpose is to keep your photos and videos synchronised across devices when iCloud Photos is enabled.

For example, if you take a photo on your iPhone, it can appear on your iPad and Mac. In the same way, if you delete your photo, this will delete it across the other devices linked to your iCloud account. If you edit the photo, the edit can synchronize across your devices.

iCloud Backup creates a backup of your iPhone or iPad that can be used when restoring the device. If you lose your iPhone or buy a replacement, iCloud Backup can help you restore the backed-up information, photos, settings, and other relevant device data to the new iPhone.

Below is an overview of how iCloud Photos work, compared to cloud storage and backups.

How does iCloud Photos work?

1. Photos and videos are uploaded to iCloud

When you take a new photo or record a video on an iPhone with iCloud Photos enabled, the original photo or video is automatically uploaded to iCloud.

Apple stores the photos and videos in their original formats and at full resolution, rather than treating iCloud Photos as a simple low-quality copy of your library.

If you want to save storage space in iCloud Photos, you can visit our article on how to reduce file size on iPhone to optimize your storage so it doesn't fill up so quickly.

The upload happens in the background, so you normally do not need to manually transfer each photo to iCloud.

The time it takes depends on factors such as your internet connection and the size of your photo library. Once the upload has completed, the photo becomes part of your iCloud Photos library and counts towards your storage quota.

2. Photos are synced across devices

Once your photos are stored in iCloud Photos, the service keeps your library synchronized across compatible devices. If you use the same Apple Account and have iCloud Photos enabled, you can access the same library from your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and iCloud.com.

3. Edits and deletions are synced automatically

iCloud Photos does not just synchronize the original files. It also synchronizes changes you make to your photos and videos. For example, if you crop a photo on your iPhone, the edited version can appear automatically on your iPad, Mac, and iCloud.com.

When you delete a file, this is also reflected across your devices. Apple keeps these in the recently deleted section of iCloud Photos in case you want to restore them, but they will be permanently deleted after 30 days.

If you ever want to revert to the original photo, iCloud retains the original version, so you can go back to the first version.

Where are iCloud Photos stored?

iCloud Photos are uploaded and stored in Apple's iCloud infrastructure rather than being stored only on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. If Optimize iPhone Storage is enabled, your iPhone can keep smaller, space-saving versions of your photos locally while the full-resolution originals remain in iCloud.

For users in the United States, iCloud data is subject to Apple's US privacy and data protection practices, as well as applicable US laws and regulations. Apple may store and process data using infrastructure located in the United States and other locations as part of its global cloud infrastructure.

For users in Europe, Apple's handling of personal data is subject to the General Data Protection Regulation where applicable, and Apple provides information about international transfers and the safeguards it uses when personal data is transferred outside the European Economic Area.

Is iCloud Photos safe?

Account security

The security of your iCloud account and Photos primarily depends on your password, but if this is compromised, Apple has additional measures in place.

Apple uses two-factor authentication when you sign in to your Apple Account on a new device or in a new location.

For additional security, Apple also uses trusted devices, which Apple recognizes as belonging to you and can verify your identity with verification codes to approve certain security-sensitive actions.

Standard vs Advanced Data Protection

iCloud has two modes of data encryption, standard and advanced, with standard being the default for your cloud, photos, and cloud storage backups.

Standard encryption means your data is encrypted in transit and at rest, but this is not end-to-end encrypted. Apple keeps the encryption keys to help with account and data recovery, and it is the same encryption used for Amazon Photos and Google Photos. Without end-to-end encryption, these providers could technically access your photos.

To learn more about iCloud and big tech companies, such as Google Photos, check out our Google Photos vs iCloud article.

Advanced Data Protection is optional but provides stronger protection and greater privacy. It makes iCloud Photos end-to-end encrypted, and the encryption keys are kept on your trusted devices so Apple cannot decrypt that protected data.

This is similar to Internxt’s secure cloud storage and Internxt Photos; the difference is that Internxt offers encrypted cloud storage as the default option, and Internxt is the first cloud storage to use post-quantum encryption to future-proof the security and privacy of your files.

Transparency

Apple is not fully open source, so the main disadvantage is reduced transparency. Users and independent security researchers must rely more heavily on Apple’s claims, security testing, and disclosures because they cannot examine the complete source code themselves and verify there are no backdoors to your data.

What is the best alternative to iCloud Photos?

Internxt Photos and Internxt Drive are the best alternatives to iCloud and other big tech companies, offering European cloud storage, open-source software, and end-to-end encryption.

Internxt Photos is part of Internxt Drive’s private cloud storage solution that backs up your photos automatically from your camera roll for iOS and Android.

Internxt secures your data and photos with zero-knowledge and post-quantum encryption for all plans, without any extra steps to set it up, making it the best end-to-end encrypted cloud storage for Photos.

With Internxt Photos, you can upload and back up photos from your Apple device and delete the originals knowing that a copy is stored with Internxt. When you store photos in Internxt, they are synced across the mobile, desktop, and web platforms.

Internxt Photos is part of Internxt’s Ultimate product suite, which includes 5TB of storage, VPN, Mail, Meet, and advanced cloud management platforms such as NAS cloud backup support for QNAP and Synology, plus WebDAV and Rclone support.

To get started with Internxt Photos and more, claim your exclusive 85% discount on any monthly or lifetime cloud storage plan below.

Get 85% off Internxt

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Frequently asked questions

Does iCloud Photos use end-to-end encryption?

iCloud Photos uses standard in-transit and at-rest encryption as the default, it is not end-to-end encrypted unless you activate Advanced Data Protection from your account settings.

Does iCloud Photos automatically save photos?

Yes. When iCloud Photos is enabled, new photos and videos are automatically uploaded to iCloud.

Are iCloud Photos stored in full resolution?

Yes. iCloud stores your photos and videos in their original, full-resolution format.

Does deleting a photo from iCloud delete it from my iPhone?

Yes. If iCloud Photos is enabled, deleting a photo on one device deletes it from your other synced devices as well. Deleted photos remain in Recently Deleted for 30 days.

Does iCloud Photos count toward storage?

Yes. Photos and videos stored in iCloud Photos use your available iCloud storage. iCloud comes with 5GB of free storage when you create an Apple account, which you can later upgrade.

Does iCloud Photos reduce photo quality?

No. iCloud Photos keeps the original quality. However, your iPhone can use Optimize iPhone Storage, which stores smaller versions on the device while keeping the full-resolution originals in iCloud.

Can I access iCloud Photos from Windows?

Yes. You can access iCloud Photos on Windows using iCloud for Windows or through iCloud.com.

Can I view iCloud Photos without an iPhone?

Yes. You can view your iCloud Photos through iCloud.com or on other Apple devices where iCloud Photos is enabled.

Is iCloud Photos a backup?

No. iCloud Photos is primarily a synchronization service, not a separate backup. Deleting a photo from iCloud Photos also deletes it from your synced devices, so it should not be treated as an independent backup.

Amazon Photos is a dedicated cloud storage service for photos included with an Amazon Prime membership, with separate plans available.

Google Photos automatically syncs and backs up photos to your device, which you can use for free or as part of a Google One subscription.

So which one is best for you?

We compare Amazon Photos vs Google Photos in detail in this article, including pricing, features, privacy, and the features of both services.

So whether you’re a photographer or simply need extra storage for your photos, we compare both Amazon and Google and how Internxt stands out as an end-to-end encrypted alternative to both services.

Table of contents

Amazon Photos vs Google Photos overview

Amazon Photos and Google Photos are both popular cloud photo storage services that offer options to back up your photos in the cloud, but they focus on different strengths, which we’ll cover later in this article.

Amazon Photos is a good option for Amazon Prime members, who get unlimited full-resolution photo storage included with a Prime membership. Amazon used to offer Amazon Drive, but the service has since been discontinued.

Google Photos offers stronger photo organization, search, sharing, and AI-powered editing features. Google Photos is shared between Drive, Gmail, and Workspace, whereas Amazon Photos is dedicated to cloud storage for photos only.

Amazon Photos vs Google Photos pros and cons

Amazon Photos pros

• Unlimited photo storage with Amazon Prime
• Full-resolution photo storage
• Automatic photo backup and organization

Amazon Photos cons

• Not end-to-end encrypted
• Limited free storage for non-Prime users
• Video storage is limited to 5GB even with Prime

Google Photos pros

• Includes access to the full Google Workspace
• Automatic backup and syncing across devices
• Powerful AI editing and photo-management features

Google Photos cons

• Not end-to-end encrypted
• Photos and associated data are processed within Google’s ecosystem
• AI and automated systems can analyze and scan photos for features, objects, faces, and organization

Amazon Photos vs Google Photos pricing

Google Photos vs Amazon Photos free plan comparison

Amazon Photos offers 5GB of free cloud storage when you sign up, but it’s important to note that even with a paid Amazon plan, the storage limit for videos is 5GB.

Google Photos is part of the Google product suite, which includes 15GB of free storage. Google Photos storage is shared across Drive, Google Sheets, Docs, and Gmail, so if you use these services, your photo storage is shared across the Google product suite.

If you want a dedicated platform for photos, then Amazon’s free plan may be enough, but if you want more services and have a larger photo collection, then Google Photos is the better option.

Amazon Photos pricing

Amazon Photos offers storage plans starting at 5GB (free), with the option to upgrade your plan to a 100GB, 1TB, or 2TB plan, which are charged on a monthly basis, with no annual or lifetime storage available.  

If you’re already an Amazon Prime member, you’re in luck: your plan includes unlimited cloud storage with your Prime account, so no need to create a separate subscription.

For Amazon Photos pricing for those who don’t have a Prime account, you can choose from the prices shown below.

Google Drive pricing

To upgrade your Google Photos storage, you can choose from one of the Google One plans, which offer storage from 200GB to 2TB with monthly and annual plans, shown below.

Amazon Photos is cheaper than Google if you specifically want cloud storage for photos at €89.90/year for unlimited photo storage, streaming, and Prime delivery, whereas Google charges roughly the same amount for only 2 TB, but it does include more features other than Google Photos.

Internxt vs Amazon Photos vs Google Photos pricing comparison

Internxt offers lifetime cloud storage if you want to avoid subscription costs, which includes Internxt Photos, the best alternative to Google Photos to back up your files and protect them with end-to-end encryption.

For monthly plans, Internxt offers an 85% discount for the first month for its 1TB, 3TB, or 5TB plans, which you can see in the Internxt vs Amazon Photos vs Google Photos comparison below.

If you choose an Internxt Ultimate plan, you get 3TB more storage for your photos than Google and Amazon Photos, access to Internxt’s full product suite, which includes Meet, Mail, and VPN.

If you invest in lifetime cloud storage from Internxt, you could save hundreds of euros over the years instead of choosing a subscription.

Claim your 85% discount on all Internxt plans, and choose from our Essential, Premium, or Ultimate plans below.

Amazon Photos vs Google Photos: What are you paying for?

Amazon Photos features

With an Amazon Prime membership, you get access to Prime Video, Prime Reading, and Prime delivery with your unlimited cloud storage.

An Amazon Photos plan includes cloud storage for your photos and videos (up to 5GB, with automatic backup from your phone and computer. Photos can be stored at full resolution and accessed from Amazon’s mobile, desktop, and web apps.

If you want to share private photos with family, Amazon allows you to create a family vault for up to six members, with each member getting their own account.

Like Google Photos, Amazon uses AI features for image recognition, advanced searching, and recognizing products in your photos, which you can then check out via the Amazon store. If you own an Echo Show, you can also use voice-based photo search to find photos by describing the photo.

Google Photos features

With Google Photos, you also get access to all of the features of Google One and Google Drive.

The features you get with Google Photos include:

• Automatic photo and video backup
• 15 GB of free storage shared with Google Drive and Gmail
• Automatic organization, advanced search, and facial recognition by people, pets, places, objects, and dates
• AI photo editing
• Gemini-powered Ask Photos for searching and interacting with your library
• AI-generated and personalized photo creations
• Shared albums and photo sharing
• Locked Folder for sensitive photos

Amazon Photos vs Google Photos: Are your photos secure?

Security

Both options offer controls to secure your accounts; Amazon includes two-step verification, login alerts, and account security controls, plus the ability to manage devices and account access.

Google offers more security controls, especially with business plans, including suspicious-login alerts, device/session management, and account recovery options.

If you’re looking for the best way to share photos online privately with others, both Google and Amazon Photos allow you to share and restrict access to photos with others, but neither offers password-protected file sharing nor end-to-end encryption.

Amazon and Google encrypt your photos in transit and at rest on their servers, so neither offers end-to-end encryption. Both services offer secure cloud storage, but privacy is limited, as both could technically access your files because they hold the encryption keys to your photos.

Privacy

Amazon and Google don’t use end-to-end encrypted cloud storage for their services; instead, privacy is exchanged for features needed to access photo data and provide features such as search, organization, and AI tools.  

If you want to ensure your photos remain private, secure, and free from big tech surveillance, then Internxt Drive and Internxt Photos encrypt everything you upload on your device with post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption so nobody but you can view your photos.

Transparency and compliance

Amazon and Google Photos are not open source, so the security of their code is hidden, so it’s impossible for independent security experts to verify the privacy and security of your photos and data.

Amazon and Google comply with applicable privacy and data-protection laws, including GDPR. Google offers ISO and SOC 2 compliance, but Amazon does not have any published content related to that, but its object storage solution, AWS, complies with many security and compliance standards.

What is the best alternative to Amazon and Google Photos?

Internxt is the best Google and Amazon Photos alternative with its encrypted cloud storage and backups for photos with end-to-end encryption for all free and paid plans.

It offers more storage than Amazon and Google Photos with its 5TB plan, which you can later stack if you have an Internxt lifetime plan.

Internxt also includes Internxt Photos to protect your memories from data loss with automatic backups and a full privacy product suite, which includes Internxt Mail, Meet, VPN, and more, giving you a fully private Google Drive alternative and an alternative to Amazon Photos.

Internxt secures your data with advanced encryption, password-protected photo sharing, and keeps your personal information safe thanks to GDPR, ISO, and SOC 2 compliance. Internxt is also fully open source and independently audited.

So whether you need private photo storage or a full privacy suite, Internxt is the best alternative to both Amazon and Google Photos, and you can get started by claiming your 85% discount below.

Amazon Photos vs Google Photos: Which one should you choose?

Choosing between Amazon Photos vs Google Photos depends on whether you just want cloud storage for your photos or more photos integrated into your plan.

As we have looked at both Amazon and Google in detail, here is an overview of how to choose the best cloud storage for you.

• Choose Amazon Photos if you want unlimited cloud storage or already have an Amazon Prime subscription.
• Choose Google Photos if you want AI features, 15GB of free cloud storage, or need an extra backup for your photos.
• Choose Internxt if you want to store your photos in total privacy, 5TB lifetime storage, and access to a full privacy suite of products.

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Frequently asked questions

Are Amazon Photos and Google Photos the same thing?

No. Amazon Photos is primarily focused on photo storage and is especially useful for Amazon Prime members, who get unlimited full-resolution photo storage. Google Photos offers more advanced photo organization, search, sharing, and AI-powered editing, while its storage is shared with other Google services.

Is Amazon Photos better than Google Photos?

It depends on what you need. Amazon Photos is better if you already have Amazon Prime and want unlimited full-resolution photo storage. Google Photos is better if you prioritize advanced organization, search, AI editing, and integration with Google services.

Does Amazon Photos have unlimited storage?

Amazon Photos offers unlimited full-resolution photo storage with Amazon Prime. However, Prime members only receive 5GB of storage for videos and other files.

Are Amazon Photos and Google Photos secure?

Yes, both are secure, but neither uses end-to-end encryption, so the privacy of your photos in these providers is lacking. If you want private and encrypted storage for your photos, Internxt is the best encrypted cloud storage alternative to both.

If you have a large collection of photos you don’t know what to do with, and need a fast, efficient way to store and keep your memories protected, then cloud storage may be the option for you.

Moving your photos to cloud storage is a simple way to store, back up, and manage your photo library without relying only on your phone, computer, or physical storage devices. But how do you move photos to the cloud, do your photos automatically get backed up, and how much cloud storage do you actually need?

This guide explains how to move photos to cloud storage securely and privately, how automatic backups work, and the best ways to store your photos for the long term.

Table of contents

Why people choose cloud storage for their photos

Cloud storage offers many benefits for your photos, from keeping backups of your memories and sharing with friends to keeping your memories safe. Below are the top reasons people choose cloud storage to save their photos online.

Access your photos from anywhere

Cloud storage lets you access your photos from your phone, computer, or other devices wherever you have an internet connection.

Look for cloud storage that offers support for multiple platforms, such as Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. If you only use your cloud storage on your phone to store your photos, then check if it has automatic backup features to keep photos protected from data loss.

Free up device storage

Taking photos from your phone can quickly use up your cloud or device storage, especially if they are being backed up without you knowing. If you use Google Photos, for example, you may want to check how to stop Google Photos backup to free up storage space.

When you move photos to the cloud, it helps free up space on your device and can help improve device performance as a result.

Automatic backups and data protection

Many cloud storage services can automatically back up new photos, such as Internxt Photos, the best alternative to Google Photos for encrypted cloud storage and backups.

Automatic backups reduce the risk of losing your important memories, and even if your device is lost or stolen, your photos remain accessible in the cloud.

Easy photo sharing

Cloud storage makes it simple to share private photos with family, friends, or colleagues without sending large files directly.

Store large photo libraries

Cloud storage provides additional space for growing photo collections, which you can organize into folders and albums to make large photo libraries easier to manage.

This is especially useful for cloud storage for photographers, as higher storage plans allow for high-resolution images and RAW files to be stored in the cloud without using up the device storage.

Benefits of moving your photos to cloud storage

Reduced reliance on physical devices

USBs or hard drives can become corrupted, lost, or stolen, and if you didn’t encrypt your hard drive, someone with access to it could access your private photos.

Storing your photos in the cloud means you gain extra security and privacy, and can access photos from anywhere without having to bring your own device wherever you go to view your photos.

Search and find photos faster

Many cloud photo services can search by dates, locations, people, objects, or keywords, so you can find a specific photo without manually looking through hundreds or thousands of files.

Archive your memories

Cloud storage lets you archive your memories so you can free up your cloud storage for new photos and keep old memories backed up in the cloud and accessible whenever you need them.

How to move photos to cloud storage

Below, you can find out how to move photos to cloud storage with the Internxt app for iOS, Android, and Desktop.

iPhone and Android

1. Open the Internxt app
2. Give the app permission to access your photos
3. Select the photos you want to upload, or take a picture and upload it to Internxt
4. Tap the upload or backup option
5. Wait for the upload to finish
6. Check your cloud storage to confirm your photos uploaded successfully

Desktop

To manually back up your photos, or to store photos in the cloud with Internxt Drive so they sync across your devices, follow these steps.

1. Go to internxt.com/drive and download the app for Windows, Mac, or Linux
2. Sign in to your account.
3. Select the folder containing the photos you want to move.
4. Upload the photos or drag them into your cloud storage folder.
5. Wait for the files to finish uploading and syncing.
6. Open your cloud storage and verify that the photos are available.

To back up your photos in the Internxt app, select the “Backups” option from the app, and select the folder of the photos you want to back up.

How to move photos to cloud storage from Google

If you want a more private Google Drive or Google Photos alternative, then you can migrate your photos from Google Drive via the Google Takeout option. Once you choose the photos, Google will email you a link to your photos, which you can download and upload to your preferred Google Drive alternative.

To learn more about the privacy and security of your photos in Google Drive, and why you may want to move your photos to another cloud storage, visit our is Google Drive safe for private photos article.

Do my photos automatically go to the cloud?

No, your photos do not automatically get stored in the cloud unless you turn on automatic syncing and backups. If automatic backup is disabled, your photos remain stored on your device until you manually upload them to a cloud service.

What is the best way to store photos?

If you want additional protection for your files, there are other methods to keep your photos safe, from USBs to NAS cloud backups; each has its advantages and disadvantages, which you can see below.

How much cloud storage do you need for photos?

For basic family use, 100 GB to 200 GB is usually enough for several years of photos, especially if you mainly store phone photos and do not keep large amounts of video.

For hobby photographers, 500 GB to 2 TB is a better range. RAW files, high-resolution images, and larger photo collections can quickly require more space than a typical phone photo library.

For professional photographers, 2 TB to 10 TB or more may be appropriate. Professionals often need to store RAW files, edited versions, client galleries, and project archives, so storage needs can grow significantly over time.

For enterprise use, storage requirements can reach tens or hundreds of terabytes, or even petabytes, depending on the number of users, projects, files, and retention requirements. Businesses should also consider scalability, access controls, redundancy, and backup policies when choosing storage capacity.

Internxt Drive offers encrypted cloud storage for Photos to meet all these needs, with 1TB, 3TB, and 5TB plans available. If you purchase a lifetime cloud storage plan, you can stack these to meet your needs in the future if your photo collection continues to grow.

Internxt plans are enough to store the following amount of photos, depending on the format.

Internxt also offers Internxt S3, a cloud object storage solution for enterprises where you pay a fixed fee of €7/TB/month, with no data transfer costs and no limit on the amount of storage you can buy, so it’s the perfect option for enterprises that need to store large amounts of data.

What is the best cloud storage for photos?

Internxt Drive and Internxt Photos offer end-to-end encrypted cloud storage with Drive and backups with Internxt Photos.

Internxt also includes secure file transfer with Internxt Send, so you can send large files securely via the internet for free and as many times as you like.

Aside from offering the best cloud storage for photos, Internxt plans include everything you need to stay secure online and protect your privacy with its Essential, Premium, and Ultimate plans, which you can view below.

Choose from any plan to store, share, and secure your photos by clicking this link to get 85% off all plans.

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Frequently asked questions

How to keep photos safe in cloud storage

To keep your photos safe, keep backups of important memories, and ensure your account is protected with a strong password and 2FA enabled. When you share photos, make sure you have the right privacy permissions available to prevent unauthorized access.

What is the best way to store photos for the long term?

The best long-term approach is to keep multiple copies in different places: one on your computer or NAS, one on an external hard drive, and one with Internxt Drive and Photos. Ideally, follow the 3-2-1 rule: three copies, on two different types of storage, with one copy kept off-site. Check the backups periodically and replace aging drives every few years.

Will moving photos to the cloud delete them from my device?

Usually, uploading photos to cloud storage does not delete the originals from your phone or computer. If you back up your photos with Internxt Photos, you can safely delete the photos from your local storage, and they will remain in the cloud.

Google Drive offers cloud storage for photos and a wide variety of collaboration platforms and workspace features, which makes it a popular option for personal and business cloud storage.

But, is Google Drive safe for private Photos?

This article covers Google Drive security and how it protects your photos with account security, encryption, and more.

If you want to know how to secure your photos in Google Drive, or if you need a more private cloud storage for photos service, this article covers everything you need.

Table of contents

Google Drive safety and security features

Google Drive has many security features, which you can learn more about in our is Google Drive safe article. For your photos, Google has the following security features.

Account security

Google offers two-factor authentication as an additional security layer on top of your password in case your password is leaked online or compromised by hackers.

You can also set up a passkey, which is a form of biometric authentication that uses your fingerprint, face, or PIN to authorize your login and prove it is you trying to access your account.

Access controls

When you share a folder within Google Drive, you can set who can view, edit, or comment on the document, and restrict access from your account.

However, it is not possible to password-protect a shared file with Google Drive, so if you want the best way to share photos online privately, other alternatives offer this service, like Internxt allow you to share private photos with family, employees, or friends in total privacy.

Account activity and security alerts

Google monitors your account for unusual activity, such as sign-ins from unfamiliar devices, locations, or sudden changes to security settings. If something suspicious is detected, Google may send you a security alert so you can review the activity and take action, such as changing your password or securing your account.

Malware and spam protection

Whenever you upload photos or download files from Google Drive, Google scans them for malware, viruses, or other harmful content that could infect your device or compromise your personal data.

If a file is detected as dangerous, Google will warn you before you open or download it.

Compliance

Google is GDPR compliant; however, it has paid millions in fines for violations of a country's data privacy laws for not complying with GDPR standards.

One example is a €10 million fine from the Spanish data protection authority, which fined Google for violating GDPR by passing identifying information of people who requested deletion to third parties without consent.

Google Drive security and privacy concerns you should know

Something something

When considering is Google Drive safe for private photos, it’s important to realise that while Google is responsible for having strong security controls for your account, it also depends on what you do to keep your account protected as well.

Therefore, you should be aware of the following when saving private photos on Google Drive:  

1. Unsecure networks or public wi-fi: When you are accessing Google Drive, an unsecured network such as public wifi can leave you exposed to hackers. If you need to access Google Drive on an unfamiliar network, you should use an encrypted VPN to protect your connection
2. Wrong sharing setting: If you share a file and leave the link under public settings, anyone with the link can access your files, exposing your private photos.
3. Third-Party Applications: Google integrates with many third-party applications, but connecting your account to a malicious or untrusted application can create security risks. These applications may gain access to your Google Drive files or other account information, depending on the permissions you grant them.
4. Accidental deletion: If files are not backed up in the cloud, or you accidentally delete them, they could be lost forever.

Privacy

Google Drive is safe for private photos in the sense that it has many security controls to protect your photos in the cloud. What Google Drive is not well known for, however, is privacy.

This is because Google collects the following personal information when you create an account with them:

• Name, phone number, gender, date of birth
• Your email addresses
• Where you live
• Where you work
• Your interests
• Things you search for
• Websites you visit
• Videos you watch
• Ads you click on or tap
• Your location
• Places you've visited around the world
• Device information
• IP address and cookie data
• Your YouTube search history and recently watched videos
• What you've said to the Google Assistant, including via smart speakers

When asking is Google Drive safe for private photos specifically, Google uses the following information when you use Google as cloud storage for photos.

• Personal information: Photos can reveal your face, family members, friends, home, workplace, location, and daily activities.
• Location data: Some photos contain GPS information showing exactly where and when a photo was taken.
• Sensitive content: Photos may contain private documents, medical information, identification, financial details, or other information you did not intend to share.
• Cloud storage: Your photos are stored on Google's servers, which are not end-to-end encrypted, so you are relying on Google's security systems and trusting them not to decrypt your files.

Gemini AI and privacy

With Google One offering Gemini features in its free and paid plans, this causes additional privacy concerns if you store your photos in Google Drive or Google Photos.

Google's AI systems have additional access to and the ability to analyse information contained in your photos, such as:

• Image analysis: Gemini can analyse photos you give it and understand objects, people, text and other details in the image.
• Details about your personal life: A photo can reveal your face, location, relationships, activities, documents, and other sensitive information about you and people in group photos. AI can potentially identify and organise these details at scale.
• Access across services: If you connect Google Photos or other Google services to Gemini, Google says Gemini may use photos, files, and information derived from them to create personal insights about your interests, relationships, and locations.

Encryption

Google Drive, and its whole product suite of Gmail, Google Docs, etc, does not use end-to-end encryption, which is the biggest privacy feature you should look for when asking is Google Drive safe for private photos.

Google Drive encrypts folders in transit and on servers it manages. This means Google could access your photos, or give law enforcement access to them as Google manages the encryption keys.

The best way to store your photos in total privacy is with end-to-end encrypted cloud storage, like Internxt Drive, which encrypts your files on your device, so nobody, including Internxt can access them.

Transparancy

As Google is not open source, most of the underlying code is kept private, so you have to rely on Google to identify vulnerabilities, explain how its security works, and fix problems.

With open-source services like Internxt, the code is available to everybody, meaning security experts can verify updates, security, and encryption, and there are no backdoors to your data. Internxt is also independently audited by Securitum to confirm Internxt as the best secure cloud storage services.

How to protect your photos in Google Drive

If you've had your Google Drive account for a long time and have accumulated a lot of photos stored in Google Drive and want extra security, you can follow these steps to keep your photos private in Google.

• Enable 2FA combined with a strong password or passphrase.
• Encrypt your files before uploading them to Google Drive with services like Cryptomator
• Back up your photos to protect against data loss
• Check your third-party app integrations
• Monitor your Google activity history

If you’re worried about the privacy of your photos in Google, then below you can learn how to migrate your photos and other folders to zero-knowledge cloud storage services.

How to move photos from Google Drive to private cloud storage

To migrate your photos or any other documents to a Google Drive alternative, like Internxt, follow these steps:

1. Go to Google Takeout and sign in to your Google account.
2. Click “Deselect all” so you don't export unrelated Google data.
3. Tick the box next to Drive.
4. Click “All Drive data included”. If you only want your photos, you can select only the folder(s) containing your photos.
5. Under “Delivery method”, select “Send download link via email”. This will give you a download link when Google has prepared your files.
6. Choose “Export once” and then click “Create export”.
7. Wait for Google to prepare the export. If you have a lot of photos, this can take some time. Google will email you when it is ready.
8. Open the email and click “Download your files”. Download the ZIP file(s) to your computer.
9. Extract the ZIP file. Inside, you should find your exported Drive files and folders.

Once Google has created your link, you will receive a ZIP file in your email, which you then extract and upload to Internxt via its web or desktop apps for Windows, Mac, or Linux.

From the Internxt help centre, you can also learn how to migrate your files from OneDrive or Dropbox. With an Internxt Ultimate plan, you can also use the native rclone feature to migrate your files.

If you use Google Photos and have switched from Google, you can also learn how to stop Google Photo backups to free up your storage and back up your photos with end-to-end encryption with Internxt Photos.

With private cloud storage solutions like Internxt, you don’t have to worry is Google Drive safe for private photos, as Internxt Drive gives you everything you need to switch from Google to gain more privacy, including Internxt Photos, VPN, Mail, Meet, and more.

Learn more about the features of Internxt plans below and use this link to get 85% off any Internxt plan.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Google Drive safe for private photos?

Google Drive is generally safe for private photos because it uses encryption, two-step verification, access controls, security alerts, and malware protection. However, it does not provide end-to-end encryption by default, meaning Google manages the encryption keys and your photos are stored on Google’s servers.

For highly sensitive or private photos, a zero-knowledge or end-to-end encrypted cloud storage service like Internxt can provide greater privacy.

What is the best alternative to Google Drive for photos?

Internxt Drive and Google Photos offer an alternative to Google Photos and Drive with post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption. If you want to keep your photos private and safe from big tech surveillance, Internxt is the best private alternative to Google.

Are photos stored on Google Drive encrypted?

Yes. Google encrypts files while they are being transferred and while they are stored on its servers. However, Google Drive does not use end-to-end encryption, meaning Google manages the encryption keys.

Can Google Gemini access my photos?

Gemini can analyse photos that you provide to it. Depending on the Gemini features and services you have connected, it may also use information from Google Photos or other Google services.

How can I make my Google Drive photos more private?

Use two-step verification, a strong password or passkey, review sharing permissions, remove unnecessary third-party app access, and consider encrypting photos before uploading them.  

Sharing photos is an important part of our lives, as it lets us share our memories with friends, family, and colleagues.

It allows you to stay connected, relive special moments, and strengthen relationships by letting others experience your life visually.

However, when sharing photos online, especially on social media, you have to be careful, as photos can disclose information you don’t want others to know, such as your location, where you work, where your kids go to school, or your daily routines.

For this reason, we’ve written this guide to help you learn the best ways to share private photos with family via cloud storage, messaging, secure file sharing, and other methods to give you the best ways to share photos online privately.

Table of contents

• What to consider before sharing family photos online
• How to share private photos with family
• More tips on how to share private photos with family
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

What to consider before sharing family photos online

Here are some important things to consider when you share photos with family, or anyone online.

Privacy

One of the first things to consider when you’re thinking about how to share photos with family is privacy.

For family photos, especially, you want to think about the internet safety of your family and children's online safety. If not, there is the risk of online predators or cyberbullying.

Identity theft is another major risk of sharing photos because images can reveal personal information like full names, birthdates, locations, and even school names or license plates.

Even the smallest amount of information can be used to piece together a profile of you or your family member to build a profile for fraud. For this reason, knowing how you can protect your privacy online should be the top priority whenever you share family photos online to avoid identity theft.

Security and encryption

Related to the privacy of your photos are the security measures you take to secure your accounts and the data encryption used to protect your files.

For security, you should have the following security measures in place:

• Combine a strong password or passphrase with 2FA
• Use private links instead of public sharing
• Set passwords on shared links when available
• Set an expiration date for shared links

Choosing an end-to-end encrypted service like Internxt ensures that when you share or store family photos, they can only be viewed by you or the person you grant access to the photos.

This is because photos are encrypted on your device and managed by you, not the providers, so they cannot decrypt, view, or give access to your photos.

Ease of use

Different generations of your family will be more tech-savvy than others, so sharing photos with family online may be more challenging than with younger members.

The best way to share private photos with family is via a shared link, which you can send via message or email.

Protection with backups

To reduce the risk of losing your photo albums due to accidental data loss, corruption, or other issues, you should choose options that offer cloud storage backups, so you always have an extra copy of your photos available to share, even if they are accidentally lost or corrupted.

For this, you will need to choose a service that allows you to back up your photos, so you always have a copy available to redownload if you lose or accidentally delete them.

How to share private photos with family

From cloud storage to physical devices, below we cover everything on how to share private photos with your family.

Internxt: best for privacy, sharing, and automatic backups

Internxt encrypted cloud storage offers the best way to share private photos with family members, as all your photos are encrypted on your device before sending, and you manage the encryption keys so nobody but you and your family members can see your photos.

With Internxt Drive, you can send large files securely, up to 10GB via email, or an encrypted link to send via message or email. You can also set passwords and restrict access to folders at any time.

Internxt Send is the second-best way to share photos with family if you’re looking for a free file-sharing service or an alternative to WeTransfer.

It uses the same end-to-end encryption as Internxt Drive, so your photos remain private with a secure email or link to your photos. You can send up to 5GB of photos and photo albums with Send for free, and there is no limit to the number of times you can share your photos with family.

Finally, Internxt Ultimate plans also include Internxt Photos, a secure cloud storage for Photos to back up your photos directly from your Android or Apple device. With Photos, you can keep copies of your most important memories protected from data loss and accessible whenever you need to share them with family.

If you want the best way to share photos with family, then Internxt offers the most secure file transfer options, and secure cloud storage and backups for your family photos.

Pricing: from €4.49/month or €285 lifetime using this special offer link

Pros:

• End-to-end and post-quantum encrypted for maximum privacy
• Share photos with family via Drive or Internxt Send
• Automatically backup photos
• Internxt Photos is included with a full privacy suite of VPN, Meet, Mail, and more

Google Photos: best for free storage

Google Photos is a popular option and the best way to share photos with family if you want a generous amount of free cloud storage and integration in the Google Workspace.

While Google Photos offers many features such as AI integration and a free plan of 15GB, in exchange you have to give up the privacy of your family photos.

Google Photos is not end-to-end encrypted, including when you share photos, so Google can at any time access the photos you store in the cloud. As Gemini AI is becoming a more integral part of Google One plans, it can also scan your photos and gain information about your family members, location, and personal information connected to your Google account.

So while Google Photos is a popular option, if you want the best way to share photos privately and keep your personal and family data private, it's best to consider a private alternative to Google Photos and Google Drive.

Pricing: from €1.99/month for 100 GB of storage

Pros

• Automatically backs up photos and videos
• Powerful search using faces, places, objects, and dates
• Useful photo organization and album features
• Built-in editing tools for photos and videos

Cons

• Not end-to-end encrypted
• AI analysis may reveal information about people, locations, objects, and activities
• Less control over your data compared with a privacy-focused cloud storage provider

Messaging apps: Best for family groups

Outside of cloud storage, one of the best ways to share photos with family members is via WhatsApp, especially family groups, because it’s quick, convenient, and almost everyone has it.

However, WhatsApp has file size limits when sending photos, and some people have concerns if WhatsApp is safe for private photos due to the company being owned by Meta, who aren’t really known for its privacy.

So while WhatsApp may be a good place to share some photos, you may want to consider sending photos via a link to bypass file limits, or use a more private messaging app.

Pricing: free

Pros

• Very easy for family members to use
• Excellent for quickly sharing photos and videos from a phone
• Family groups make it easy to share photos with multiple people at once

Cons

• Not designed as a dedicated photo storage or photo management service
• Photos shared in chats can become difficult to organize as conversations grow
• Compression can reduce photo and video quality unless sent using the appropriate file/document option
• Group members can download, forward, or otherwise share photos with others, limiting privacy

Email: best for individual photos

Sending photos via email can also cause some problems, such as file limits or compressing your images to meet the size requirements, but this will reduce their quality as a result.

There are also some concerns about the privacy of some email providers, as they could still make your metadata available, or they don’t use zero-knowledge encryption.

If you want to send a few photos via email attachments, however, Internxt Mail offers end-to-end encrypted emails and is the best way to share private photos with family via email. You can attach your photos to the email, or copy a link from Internxt Drive or Send to send large files securely with Internxt Mail.

Pros

• Simple and familiar for most family members
• Works across almost all devices and platforms
• No need for everyone to use the same photo-sharing app
• Easy to send photos to one or several people

Cons

• Low file size limits, so not suitable for large photo albums
• File attachments may reduce quality of image
• Not suitable if you want to organize photos

SmugMug: best for unlimited cloud storage

Aside from cloud storage and file sharing, there are also websites specialising in photo sharing services, such as SmugMug.

Although this service is mostly aimed at cloud storage for photographers, it also has many useful features if you want to share your professional photos with family members so they can check out your projects.

For example, it offers unlimited cloud storage for photos to store and sell your photos, or create professional-looking galleries of your photo albums. Therefore, if anyone in your family is interested in online tools for photography and building a portfolio, they can use this platform to create and share their projects or photos with the family.

Pricing: $24.17/month billed annually

Pros

• Unlimited storage
• Integrates with Lightroom
• Privacy controls

Cons

• Aimed at photographers rather than specifically sharing photos with family
• Not a true end-to-end encrypted photo storage service
• More expensive compared to other services

Digital photo frames: best for sharing family photos in the home

Digital photo frames are another useful way to share photos with your family, and are an easy way to create an album of your favourite memories that you can display around the house.

They make a great gift for grandparents, as they can enjoy your photos without needing any tech knowledge, as you do all the work for them.  

With these, you can send new photos directly to the frame from your phone, even if your relatives live far away. This makes them especially helpful for grandparents or family members who don’t use smartphones or social media, allowing them to stay connected and see new memories as they happen.

However, there are still some privacy risks to be aware of. If you choose this method, make sure you:

• Ensure your wifi account is protected to prevent hackers
• Check the privacy policy or settings of the device
• Check if the product uses cloud storage or any third-party apps, which may collect data or share it with advertisers

Pricing: Depends on the brand

Pros

• Easy way to display and share family photos at home
• New photos can be sent directly to the frame from a phone
• Helps grandparents and relatives stay connected to family memories
• Does not require the person using the frame to have a smartphone or social media

Cons

• Requires a reliable Wi-Fi connection for remote photo sharing
• Photos may be stored in the cloud, creating privacy risks
• Device companies or third-party apps may collect personal data

USBs and hard drives: best for offline sharing

Finally, if you want the best way to share private photos with family without using cloud storage, file sharing, or other online methods, the final option is with USBs or HDDs.

They’re a good way to share photos with the family without relying on technology, but they can be lost, broken, or corrupted if not handled carefully. Some physical devices may not be encrypted unless set up beforehand, which could expose your photos to anyone if the drive is lost or misplaced.

Even so, they can offer extra insurance to back up your photos outside of cloud storage, to reassure you that you will always have an extra copy of your photo albums, just in case.

Pricing: Around €70 to €100 for a standard 1TB external hard drive.

Pros

• Good for transferring and sharing photos
• No internet connection is needed
• Can be kept as a physical backup

Cons

• Easy to lose or damage
• Usually has less storage than hard drives
• Photos can be accessed by anyone if not encrypted
• Photos can be lost if the USB fails and there is no other backup

More tips on how to share private photos with family

Now that you know several methods on how to share photos with family securely and privately, here are some additional privacy tips to keep in mind to keep your photos private, secure, and backed up.

• Organize your albums: name albums clearly by event or date to stay organized so everyone can easily access your photos.
• Compress large photos: if you’re using a service with file limits, compress images to avoid these and slow loading times, but keep backups of full-quality versions.
• Scan old printed photos: if you have old photos from family members, you can digitize older family photos using a scanner or a scanning app to preserve them forever.
• Ask before sharing photos publicly: even in family groups, always check if others are okay with you sharing certain photos on social media, especially if the photos include children under 16.

If you follow this, as well as using privacy-focused services such as Internxt, Send, and more, you and your family will have the best service to stay secure online!

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to share private photos with family?

Internxt Drive is the best encrypted cloud storage to share photos; it also offers automatic photo backups and Internxt Send, offering everything you need to share photos privately with family members.

Is Google Photos a good way to share family photos?

Google Photos offers automatic backups, photo organization, and 15GB of free storage. However, it is not end-to-end encrypted, so it provides less privacy control than privacy-focused alternatives such as Internxt.

How can I share family photos securely online?

Use private links, strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and end-to-end encrypted services. Avoid using public links when sharing private family photos.

Is it safe to share family photos on social media?

Sharing family photos publicly can create privacy risks because photos may reveal locations, schools, workplaces, routines, or other personal information. To keep photos private on social media, you should check and regularly update your privacy settings.

How can I share large photo albums with family?

For large photo collections, cloud storage or encrypted file-sharing services can be more suitable than email or messaging apps because they can handle larger files and allow photos to be shared through links.