General cloud storage and photo storage for photographers are similar in the sense that photos are stored in the cloud, but professional photographers have different requirements when choosing the best cloud storage for photographers.

For this reason, this article covers cloud storage for photography enthusiasts, whether you do it for a hobby or professionally; we cover everything, including:

• Features, pricing
• RAW photo cloud storage
• Best cloud backup for photos
• How much storage photographers need
• Which is the best cloud storage for your needs
• How to choose the right storage option

Table of contents

• How much cloud storage do photographers need?
• What is cloud storage for photographers?
• How to choose the best cloud storage for photographers
• The 12 best cloud storage for photographers
• What’s the best cloud storage for photographers?
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

How much cloud storage do photographers need?

Depending on how you work in photography, you will need to consider small or larger plans to meet your current and future needs.

The guide below gives you a general idea based on how many and the types of photos you take.

• Hobbyist: Between 100 GB and 500 GB (enough for~20,000–100,000 standard JPEG photos or ~2,000–10,000 RAW photos)
• Enthusiast: Between 500 GB and 2 TB (enough for ~100,000–400,000 standard JPEG photos or ~10,000–40,000 RAW photos)
• Professional: Between 2 TB and 10 TB (enough for ~400,000–2,000,000 standard JPEG photos or ~40,000–200,000 RAW photos)
• Wedding photographer: From 10 TB+ (enough for ~2,000,000 standard JPEG photos or ~200,000 RAW photos)
• Commercial studio: From 20 TB+ (~4,000,000 standard JPEG photos or ~400,000 RAW photos)

What is cloud storage for photographers?

General cloud storage is an online service that lets you store, access, sync, and share files over the internet.

Cloud storage for photographers offers the same core functionality but is specifically designed for managing photo libraries, with features such as RAW photo support, client galleries, editing integrations, and automatic photo backups.

Cloud storage for photos focuses on the complete photography workflow. Instead of simply storing files, these platforms help photographers organize their libraries, protect their work with automatic backups, share galleries with clients, sell prints, and collaborate on projects.

Below, you can find a more detailed comparison between general and photo storage for professionals.

How to choose the best cloud storage for photographers

RAW photo cloud storage and why it's important

RAW photo cloud storage is designed to store original, uncompressed image files captured by DSLR and mirrorless cameras.

Unlike JPEGs, RAW files preserve all the image data recorded by the camera sensor, giving photographers much greater flexibility when editing exposure, color, white balance, and other settings.

RAW files are significantly larger than standard photo formats, ranging from 20 to 100 MB, so photographers need hundreds of gigabytes at the very least or even several terabytes of cloud storage to back up their work.

Secure backups

Your cloud storage should automatically back up your photos to protect them from accidental deletion, hardware failure, theft, or ransomware.

The best cloud backup for photos includes automatic syncing, such as Internxt Photos or Google Photos, to ensure your latest photos are safely stored without requiring manual uploads.

Storage capacity

Photo libraries grow quickly, especially if you need RAW cloud storage specifically. For this, free cloud storage probably isn’t enough, so you should choose a provider with enough storage for your current collection and future shoots.

Many photographers start with 1 TB, while professionals often require several terabytes of storage.

If you need more than 10TB of storage, services like Internxt S3 let you scale storage to adapt to your needs, or you may want to consider unlimited cloud storage options.

End-to-end encryption

If privacy is your main concern for your photos, you may want to avoid mainstream cloud storage and choose a provider with end-to-end encryption like Internxt.

End-to-end encryption is included in the best secure photo apps and ensures only you can access your files because they are encrypted before they leave your device.

This provides a higher level of privacy than standard cloud encryption, making it ideal for photographers storing sensitive client work or personal photo libraries.

Client sharing and album sharing

If you work with clients, look for cloud storage that lets you create shareable galleries or albums with password protection, download permissions, and proofing features. These tools make it easier to deliver photos professionally, collaborate with clients, and send large files securely.

Lightroom compatibility

If you edit your photos in Adobe Lightroom, choose a service that integrates with Lightroom to sync photos, upload, and organize edited images more efficiently.

Pricing

If you do photography as a hobby, then a free cloud account or free trial that has a limit of 1,000 photos may be enough.

Compare both the storage included and the monthly or annual cost, or whether lifetime cloud storage is worth the investment. Consider whether you're paying for storage alone or additional tools like client galleries, print sales, portfolio websites, or editing integrations.

The 12 best cloud storage for photographers

Internxt Drive & Photos (best for photographers who need privacy)

Internxt offers encrypted cloud storage for photos for photographers who need end-to-end encrypted storage and automatic backup and syncing for their photos and albums.

Best for:

• Professional photographers
• Freelance creatives
• Privacy-conscious users
• Long-term photo backup
• RAW photo cloud storage
• Secure client file delivery

Features:

• Zero-knowledge, post-quantum encryption
• Sync your photos across all devices
• Automatic backups
• Secure file sharing via link or email
• Includes a full privacy suite of Meet, Mail, and more

Plans:

• 1GB free storage
• From €1.99/month or €285 for lifetime (1TB Essential plan with 85% special offer)

Overall ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Google Photos (Best for Android users)

Google Photos is a popular option due to its high free storage plan, automatic photo backup, AI-powered organization, and easy sharing across all their devices.

Best for:

• Family
• Travel
• Everyday photography
• Photography hobbyists

Features:

• Automatic backup
• AI photo search
• Magic Editor
• Cross-device syncing

Plans:

• 15 GB free storage
• Google One starts at US$1.99/month (100 GB)

Overall ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

iCloud (Best for Apple users)

If you’re considering Google Photos vs iCloud, then iCloud offers automatic photo syncing, seamless integration across Apple devices, and secure backup for Apple users.

Best for:

• iPhone photographers
• Apple users
• Family
• Mobile photography

Features:

• Automatic photo syncing
• Shared Albums
• Original-quality photo storage
• RAW support
• End-to-end encryption for supported data with Advanced Data Protection enabled

Plans:

• 5 GB free storage
• Starts at US$0.99/month (50 GB)

Overall ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pic-Time (Best overall photographer platform)

Pic-Time offers photo storage for professionals among other features for those who need beautiful client galleries, secure photo delivery, proofing tools, and integrated print sales to manage and share their work professionally.

Best for:

• Wedding
• Portrait
• Family
• Commercial

Features:

• Unlimited client galleries
• Beautiful client experience
• Print store
• AI sales automation
• Album proofing
• Video support
• Lightroom plugin

Plans:

• 3 GB free storage (free plan)
• Starts at ~US$10/month

Overall ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pixieset (Best for client galleries)

Pixieset offers client galleries, proofing tools, online stores, and business management features to deliver, share, and sell their work professionally

Best for:

• Wedding
• Portrait
• Family
• Event

Features:

• Unlimited client galleries
• Print store
• Mobile gallery apps
• Custom branding & domain
• Video support
• RAW photo uploads (Pro plan and above)

Plans:

• 3 GB free storage (free plan)
• Starts at US$8/month

Overall ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Adobe Lightroom Cloud (Best for Adobe photographers)

Adobe Lightroom Cloud is one of the most popular photo storage for professionals as its plans include RAW editing, cloud syncing, AI-powered organization, and access to their photo library across desktop, mobile, and web.

Best for:

• Professional
• Landscape
• Travel
• Wildlife
• Commercial

Features:

• Cloud-based RAW photo storage
• Lightroom Classic integration
• AI-powered search
• Automatic cloud syncing
• Shared albums
• Adobe Camera Raw support

Plans:

• No free storage plan
• Starts at US$11.99/month (1 TB Lightroom plan)

Overall ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mylio Photos + (Best for photographers with multiple devices)

Mylio Photos+ offers photo management for photographers who need to organize, sync, and back up their photo libraries across multiple devices without relying on a single cloud provider.

Best for:

• Travel
• Wildlife
• Hobbyist
• Family
• Professional

Features:

• Sync across unlimited devices
• Works with NAS devices
• Automatic backup
• AI features
• Offline access
• Duplicate photo detection
• RAW file support

Plans:

• Free plan available
• Starts at approximately US$14.99/month (Photos+)

Overall ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Zenfolio (Best for photography businesses)

Zenfolio offers client galleries, proofing, online sales, and business management tools to showcase and sell their work professionally.

Best for:

• Wedding
• Portrait
• Family
• School

Features:

• Unlimited photo storage
• Client galleries
• Online proofing
• Invoicing
• Custom domains
• Lightroom integration

Plans:

• No free storage plan
• Starts at approximately US$9/month (annual billing)

Overall ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

SmugMug (Best for unlimited photo storage)

SmugMug is popular as it offers unlimited cloud storage for photographers who need secure photo backup, client galleries, portfolio websites, and print sales in one platform.

Best for:

• Wedding
• Portrait
• Landscape
• Wildlife
• Commercial

Features:

• Unlimited photo & video storage
• Client galleries
• Password-protected sharing
• Lightroom integration
• Watermarking
• Privacy controls

Plans:

• No free storage plan
• Starts at US$20/month (annual billing)

Overall ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Flickr (Best for photo sharing)

Flickr is a community and cloud platform for those who need a large online photo library, community exposure, and photo sharing alongside secure cloud backup.

Best for:

• Hobbyists
• Landscape
• Travel
• Wildlife
• Street

Features:

• Photographer profiles
• Public and private sharing
• RAW file uploads
• Statistics
• Unlimited storage with Pro
• Flickr community discovery

Plans:

• Free plan (up to 1,000 photos)
• Flickr Pro starts at approximately US$10.44/month (annual billing)

Overall ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Backblaze (Best for automatic photo backup)

Backblaze also offers unlimited cloud backups for photographers who need automatic, secure, off-site protection for their RAW photos and photo libraries without having to manually manage their backups.

Best for:

• Professional photographers
• Photography enthusiasts
• RAW photo backup
• Long-term photo archives
• Disaster recovery

Features:

• Unlimited and unlimited cloud backups
• File version history
• Optional private encryption key
• Restore by download
• USB drive restore
  

Plans:

• No free storage plan (15-day free trial)
• Starts at US$9/month or US$99/year (Personal Backup)

Overall ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Amazon Photos (Best for Amazon Prime members)

Since Amazon Drive is no longer available, Amazon Photos is the alternative option for photo backup, automatic syncing, and unlimited photo storage with an Amazon Prime membership.

Best for:

• Photography enthusiasts
• Family
• Travel
• Mobile photography
• Amazon Prime members

Features:

• Unlimited full-resolution photo storage (Prime members)
• Automatic photo backup
• Automatic syncing across devices
• RAW photo support
• Family Vault (share with up to five family members)

Plans:

• 5 GB free storage (When you create an Amazon account)
• Unlimited photo storage + 5 GB video storage with Amazon Prime
• Additional storage plans start at US$0.99/month (50 GB)

Overall ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

What’s the best cloud storage for photographers?

Now that we’ve covered the best photo storage for professionals, individuals, hobbyists, and others, choosing which is the best cloud storage for photographers depends on your workflow, budget, and priorities.

Here are the best options based on different needs.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best cloud backup for photos?

If you're looking for secure, privacy-focused backups, Internxt is an excellent choice thanks to its end-to-end encryption and automatic photo backup. If you need unlimited automatic backups for large photo libraries, Backblaze is one of the best options available.

For additional protection, you choose the best cloud backup for photos that meet your needs and follow the 3-2-1 backup rule by keeping your photos on your computer, an external hard drive, and in the cloud.

How much storage do photographers need?

As a general guide, hobbyists usually need between 100 GB and 500 GB; amateur photographers are better suited to between 500 GB and 2 TB.

Professional photographers typically need 2 TB to 10 TB or more, especially if they regularly shoot in RAW or cover weddings, events, commercial projects, or other high-volume work.

Is cloud storage safe for RAW files?

Yes, cloud storage is safe for RAW files as long as you choose a reputable provider.

If privacy is your top priority, choose a provider that offers end-to-end or zero-knowledge encryption, such as Internxt, so only you can access your RAW files.

What is the cheapest cloud storage for large photo libraries?

Internxt offers one of the lowest entry prices, with plans starting from €1.99/month for 1 TB.

Google One plans start at US$1.99/month for 100 GB, while iCloud starts at US$0.99/month for 50 GB, although these smaller plans are better suited to casual photographers than large photo libraries.

Amazon Photos also provides unlimited full-resolution photo storage as part of an Amazon Prime membership.

SmugMug is the most expensive entry-level option, starting at US$20/month for unlimited photo and video storage alongside photography-specific features such as client galleries, portfolio websites, and print sales.

If you're asking is Internxt safe for your cloud storage, it's natural to ask whether it's safe enough to trust with your personal or business data.

Security is one of Internxt's biggest selling points, and privacy for everyone is Internxt’s mission.

With features like post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption, independent security audits, and GDPR and other compliance certifications, Internxt is designed to keep your files private and accessible to nobody but you.

In this article, we'll explain:

• Internxt security for your accounts and data
• Is internxt legit?
• Is Internxt safe to use
• Internxt encryption

If you have more questions about Internxt encryption, security, or features, you can also reach out to our support team at hello@internxt.com

Table of contents

• How Internxt protects your account
• How Internxt protects your files
• How Internxt protects your data
• Is Internxt legit?
• Is Internxt safe to use?
• Why choose Internxt?
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

How Internxt protects your account

Internxt protects your data and account from hackers in various ways to ensure your files remain secure and accessible only to you.

Internxt security for your accounts focuses on the following methods:

1. Secure password: Internxt offers a free strong password generator and password checker to set up your account with a password that is protected from brute force or dictionary attacks that could breach your account.
2. Two-Factor authentication: Once you create your account, you can add additional security by connecting Internxt to your preferred 2FA app.
3. Backup recovery key: Internxt’s zero-knowledge encryption means we cannot reset your password or decrypt your files because only you have the keys needed to access them, so you must download your Internxt backup key to avoid losing your files if you forget your password.
4. Password hashing: A password salt is a random piece of data that is added to your password before it is hashed. This makes every password hash unique, even if two users choose the same password.

How Internxt protects your files

Internxt Drive has the following features to protect your files in the cloud.

Backups

All Internxt paid plans include cloud storage backups to protect from ransomware or if your original files are lost, deleted, or corrupted. In this case, you can recover your data from your backups via the Internxt desktop apps, available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Rclone, WebDAV, or NAS devices.

To ensure your backups are up to date, you can schedule your files to be backed up every hour and up to every 24 hours.

Antivirus

Internxt Antivirus is included with all Internxt plans and protects your files by detecting, blocking, and removing malicious software before it can infect your device.

The best antivirus software prevents malware from stealing, encrypting, corrupting, or deleting your files, helping keep your data safe from common cyber threats.

File versioning

Internxt Premium and Ultimate plans offer additional protection and security for your files to ensure you always have access to the copy of the file you want in case accidental changes are made.

If you accidentally edit, overwrite, delete, or corrupt a file, Internxt lets you restore an earlier version instead of losing your work.

Secure file sharing

Internxt Drive allows you to share large files privately and protected with zero-knowledge encryption, so your files are encrypted and secure before they leave your device. You can also add a password to protect shared files, and monitor and revoke access to files once they are shared.

You can send files via a secure link or email, allowing you to share large videos or other files easily via email or messaging apps.

Internxt also offers Internxt Send, a free file sharing service with the same zero-knowledge encryption for files up to 5GB.

Internxt encryption

Internxt released post-quantum encryption for its cloud storage in 2025, making it the first cloud storage with Kyber-512 and AES-256 encryption.

The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) mandates that all traditional encryption systems (like RSA and ECC) be completely phased out and replaced with Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) algorithms by 2035.

By storing your files with Internxt Drive, you get post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption for all plans. All files stored or shared with Internxt are encrypted on your device so only you can access your files.

Even if requested by law enforcement or other agencies, neither Internxt nor anyone else can access your files, as encryption keys are managed on your device.

Internxt’s advanced encryption therefore makes it the best encrypted cloud storage for all your files.

File sharding

Once Internxt encrypts your data, the file is divided into smaller pieces and distributed across multiple servers or storage nodes.

As no single server stores a complete copy of your encrypted file, it makes it significantly harder and close to impossible for an attacker to access or reconstruct your data, as they can only access a small piece of an encrypted file.

Data redundancy

Internxt’s cloud data centers are based in Europe, and multiple encrypted copies of these files are stored in different data centers for additional data redundancy and security.

This means if anything happens to one data center, such as a fire or power failure, your files are still accessible and available in the cloud.

How Internxt protects your data

European privacy laws

Internxt is based in Spain and therefore complies with GDPR, which is known as one of the best privacy laws to protect your personal information in the following ways:

• Gives users control over their data by allowing them to access, correct, delete, and transfer their personal information.
• Requires clear consent before collecting or processing personal data.
• Limits data collection so organizations only gather information that is necessary for a specific purpose.
• Requires organizations to protect personal data with appropriate security measures, such as encryption and access controls.
• Mandates data breach notifications so affected users and regulators are informed if personal data is compromised.
• Holds organizations accountable through strict compliance requirements and significant fines for GDPR violations.

Compliance

Aside from offering GDPR compliant cloud storage, Internxt offers multiple compliance certifications for businesses, healthcare, and enterprises because it meets the following compliance standards:

• ISO 27001: Covers information security management, helping organizations protect data through risk management, security policies, access controls, and continuous monitoring.
• SOC 2: Covers how service providers protect customer data by evaluating security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy controls.
• HIPAA: Covers the protection of sensitive health information by requiring safeguards for the privacy, security, and confidentiality of medical data.

So whether you need personal or enterprise cloud storage, Internxt offers a broad range of data protection for all industries and data.

Transparency and Internxt security audits

Internxt’s mission is based on transparency, security, and a private internet for everyone.

For total transparency, Internxt is open source and available for any security experts to review the platform’s security, ensuring there are no backdoors to your data and no security vulnerabilities.

For extra peace of mind, Internxt has also passed two successful security audits by Securitum, which tested, reviewed, and passed Internxt’s platform as a secure and private cloud storage for your files.

Is Internxt legit?

Yes.

Internxt’s security architecture, privacy-first approach, and transparent audit reports make it a credible option if you value data privacy.

Internxt was founded in 2020, and since then, it has grown its user base and become a profitable, high-value company in the cloud storage market.

Due to its rapid growth, Internxt has achieved numerous awards, including being recognized as one of the top 50 fastest-growing companies by Deloitte.

Internxt is also the official cloud provider of Levante UD, offering the football club secure cloud storage and backups, and solidifying Internxt’s position as one of the best European cloud providers available.

Internxt also provides cloud storage for:

• Prosegur: for enterprise backups and secure data retention
• Europa Press: for media storage and archive distribution
• SPAR: for distributed business and infrastructure backups

By serving well-known organizations with secure cloud storage, it highlights Internxt’s reliability, security, and ability to meet enterprise standards.

You can read more about what companies and people are saying about Internxt from the website below.

Is Internxt safe to use?

Yes.

Internxt is safe to use and a trusted, reliable cloud storage solution for your files. As one of the few cloud providers to offer zero-knowledge encryption for all plans, you can store and share all your personal files with Internxt.

All of Internxt’s products follow strict security standards and data protection laws to provide you with the safety you need to protect your files and personal information.

As with any online service, to ensure maximum security, you should follow the necessary steps to secure your accounts:

• Protect your account with a secure password
• Download your Internxt backup key
• Enable two-factor authentication
• Regularly back up your files

Why choose Internxt?

Internxt is a private and European alternative to big tech companies, and is designed with your privacy and security in mind.

It was founded to provide users with an alternative cloud storage to Google Drive, as Google can access your files and contents as it manages the encryption keys.

As big tech profits from your data, Internxt gives you back control of your data and provides a wide range of products to ensure your devices, files, and personal information remain private and secure.

By switching to Internxt, you get access to these features for monthly or lifetime plans, from Antivirus to native rclone support.

Make the switch to Internxt, and get 85% off all plans from our website.

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Frequently asked questions

How does Internxt encrypt my files?

Internxt encrypts your files on your device before they are uploaded using end-to-end, zero-knowledge Kyber-512 and AES-256 encryption, ensuring only you have access to the encryption keys.

Each file is assigned a unique encryption key, split into encrypted segments, and uploaded securely to the cloud. When you access your files, the encrypted segments are downloaded, reassembled, and decrypted locally on your device, so your data remains encrypted throughout the entire process.

Where is Internxt based?

Internxt is based and operates in Valencia, Spain, and is GDPR compliant and follows strict European privacy laws to protect its users' personal information and content in the cloud.

What jurisdiction is Internxt under?

Internxt is subject to Spanish and European Union (EU) jurisdiction.

Headquartered in Valencia, Spain, Internxt operates under Spanish law and must comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Spain is considered a privacy-friendly jurisdiction, with strong data protection laws and independent judicial oversight, making it a more privacy-focused alternative to providers based in countries subject to broader government surveillance laws.

Has Internxt been independently audited?

Yes, Internxt has been independently audited twice by Securitum, who has also audited companies like Proton Drive, DuckDuckGo, the National Bank of Poland, SimpleLogin, and many others.

Internxt’s code is fully open source and available for any security experts to verify the platform’s security.

Can Internxt see my files?

No.

Internxt can never see or access your files because it uses zero-knowledge encryption.

Your files are encrypted on your device before they're uploaded, and only you hold the encryption keys needed to decrypt them. This means Internxt cannot access, read, or view the contents of your stored files.

Europe is home to some of the world's most privacy-focused cloud storage providers, offering secure alternatives to services operated by large US technology companies.

Whether you're looking to protect personal files, store sensitive business documents, or keep your data under European jurisdiction, choosing the right provider can make a significant difference to your online privacy and the security of your personal information.

While US providers often excel in ecosystem integration and collaboration tools, European services are increasingly closing the gap and placing greater emphasis on data protection.

In this guide, we'll compare the best European cloud storage providers, evaluating their privacy features, security, pricing, and overall value to help you find the right service for your needs.

If you’re looking for cloud storage in Europe or other alternatives to US tech companies, check out our comprehensive list of European tech companies in our article below.

Table of contents

• Why choose European cloud storage providers?
• European cloud storage providers vs global providers
• The 8 best European cloud storage providers
• Which of the European cloud storage providers is right for you?
• Tips when switching to a European cloud storage provider
• What is the best European cloud provider?
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

Why choose European cloud storage providers?

Stronger data privacy protection

GDPR compliant cloud storage gives you more control over how companies collect, process, store, and share personal information, so when you have an account with a European tech company, or any other business based in Europe, your data has the following protection:

• Clear consent requirements: Companies must obtain valid consent before collecting or processing your personal data in many situations, and consent must be freely given, specific, informed, and easy to withdraw.
• Right to access: You can request a copy of the personal data a company holds about you and understand how it is being used.
• Right to delete data ("Right to be Forgotten"): You can contact the company to request that your personal data be erased when it is no longer needed, you withdraw consent, or there is no lawful reason to keep it.
• Transparency: Companies must clearly explain what personal data they collect, why they collect it, how long they keep it, and who they share it with.
• Data minimization: Companies should collect only the personal data that is necessary for the intended purpose, rather than gathering excessive information.
• Security requirements: Organizations must implement appropriate technical and organizational measures, such as encryption and access controls, to protect personal data from unauthorized access, loss, or breaches.
• Breach notification: If a data breach poses a risk to individuals, companies are generally required to notify the relevant supervisory authority within 72 hours and, in some cases, inform affected users.

Data sovereignty

Many European organizations want their data to remain within Europe for regulatory, contractual, or policy reasons.

A European provider may offer:

• Storage exclusively in EU countries and cloud data centers.
• Guarantees that customer data won't be transferred outside the European Economic Area without authorization.
• Compliance with industry-specific European regulations.

This is especially important for governments, healthcare, finance, education, and legal sectors, as they must comply with regulations to store and manage sensitive information such as financial transactions or confidential legal documents that need to remain in specific jurisdictions.

Reduced exposure to your files

Choosing a European alternative to Google Drive, OneDrive, or other mainstream cloud storage providers means your files are protected with stronger encryption, like zero-knowledge policies, which means nobody but you can access your files.

As Google, Dropbox, and others maintain control over the encryption keys, these companies or government agencies can technically access or scan your files in line with their own policies.

Alignment with European regulations

Cloud storage in Europe is built on services around EU standards and certifications, making compliance easier for businesses operating in Europe.

Examples include:

• GDPR
• ISO 27001
• EU Cloud Code of Conduct
• Sector-specific compliance requirements

Less reliance on Big Tech

Many mainstream cloud storage services are part of extensive technology ecosystems that combine file storage with communication, productivity, and AI tools such as Gemini or Copilot.

By choosing cloud storage in Europe, you can reduce your dependence on these all-in-one platforms and adopt a storage solution that prioritizes privacy, data sovereignty, and regulatory compliance.

European cloud storage providers vs global providers

The 8 best European cloud storage providers

Internxt

Based: Valencia, Spain

Internxt Drive offers private cloud storage protected with post-quantum encryption and secure file sharing.

Key features:

• AES-256 and Kyber-512 end-to-end encryption
• Open-source and independently audited
• GDPR, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and SOC 2 compliance
• Paid plans include access to a full online privacy suite
• Also offers S3 cloud object storage

Best for: Individuals, businesses, and professionals who want end-to-end encrypted cloud storage, strong regulatory compliance, and an all-in-one privacy solution.

Proton Drive

Based: Geneva, Switzerland

• End-to-end encrypted
• Open source and audited
• Aligns with GDPR
• Includes editors for documents and spreadsheets
• Part of Proton’s secure suite of products

Best for: Individuals and businesses looking for end-to-end encrypted cloud storage that integrates seamlessly with secure email, VPN, password management, and productivity.

Tresorit

Based: Zurich, Switzerland

• End-to-end encrypted
• Share files securely with links, passwords, and revoke access
• GDPR, HIPAA, NIS2 compliance
• Option to choose your data residency

Best for: Businesses and professionals that need highly secure file storage, sharing, and collaboration.

Icedrive

Based: Legally based in Gibraltar, operates from Wales

• Twofish encryption and zero-knowledge encryption (paid plans)
• Offers monthly, annual, and lifetime plans
• Secure file sharing

Best for: Simple, easy-to-use cloud storage as additional protection for your files with a paid plan.

Internxt vs Icedrive

pCloud

Based: Legally based in Baar, Switzerland; operates from Sofia, Bulgaria

• TLS encryption for data transfers and AES-256 encryption
• Zero-knowledge protection available as paid add-on
• Media streaming for music and videos
• Family plans available

Best for: Families that want to share storage, or to stream your music and video libraries.

Jottacloud

Based: Oslo, Norway

• AES-256 encryption at rest and TLS encryption in transit
• Offers unlimited storage plans
• Recover lost files with version history
• Data centers located in Norway

Best for: Individuals and families who want secure cloud backup, file syncing, or a sustainable cloud storage solution.

Filen

Based: Recklinghausen, Germany

• End-to-end, zero-knowledge encryption
• Open source
• Encrypted notes feature
• End-to-end encrypted chats feature

Best for: Privacy-conscious users who want zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage with secure messaging and note-taking.

Koofr

Based: Ljubljana, Slovenia

• AES-256 encryption at rest
• TLS encryption in transit
• Optional zero-knowledge encryption with Koofr Vault
• Integrates with Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox

Best for: Individuals looking for a European alternative to Google Drive where you can integrate your files to cloud storage in Europe.

Which of the European cloud storage providers is right for you?

The best European cloud provider depends on what you need most.

Some services are built around maximum privacy, others focus on secure file sharing, while some are better suited for businesses or generous free cloud storage. Use the recommendations below to quickly find the provider that best matches your priorities.

• Best for maximum privacy: Internxt Drive or Proton Drive offer zero-knowledge encryption, and additional products for your privacy, including VPN, Mail and Meet.
• Best for secure file sharing: Internxt Drive to share large files online, or Internxt Send for free file sharing. For advanced file sharing features, Tresorit.
• Best for businesses: Proton Drive for private cloud storage for businesses, or Internxt S3 for cloud object storage.
• Best for free storage: Filen for 10GB of zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage or Icedrive for 10GB without zero-knowledge encryption.

Tips when switching to a European cloud storage provider

Below are some tips when you’re migrating files from Google Drive or your current cloud provider. This advice also applies if you’re starting with a fresh account also.

Transfer private files

Start with your private, most confidential files first. This way, you get the benefits of private encryption straight away, to ensure only you can access your files.

Keep backups of your folders

Keep multiple copies of your files stored in different European cloud providers for additional redundancy for important files. For best cloud backup protection, follow the 3-2-1 rule:

• Keep three copies of your data
• Store them on two different types of media
• Keep one copy off-site, such as in encrypted cloud storage

This protects your files against hardware failure, accidental deletion, ransomware, and other data loss.

Try the free account

Test the service for upload speeds, performance, features, and syncing. This gives you the best insight into how the service works and how it handles storing your files before paying for a subscription.

Remove duplicate files

Before you migrate your files to any European cloud storage providers, check your current storage and free up space in the cloud to optimize your new cloud storage plan. Delete duplicate or unwanted files and then migrate from your current to the new cloud storage provider.

Sync your files

Install the desktop and mobile apps, and test how the service syncs across devices. This allows you to access and manage your cloud from anywhere and access your files offline.

If you created an Internxt account or purchased an Internxt plan, follow the steps in our article below on how to migrate your files.

What is the best European cloud provider?

Internxt Drive is the best cloud storage in Europe that meets GDPR, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and SOC 2 compliance, offering full data protection thanks to European and other compliance laws to ensure all data is secure.

Internxt is the best European alternative to Google Drive, OneDrive, and other big tech providers, as all files and folders are protected with Internxt’s award-winning post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption.

When you store or share files with Internxt, everything is encrypted before leaving your device, so neither Internxt nor anybody else can access its contents without your permission.

Unlike the other European cloud providers on this list, Internxt is the only service that combines cloud storage with device protection and other privacy products to keep you safe online.

From antivirus to NAS support, Internxt’s comprehensive product suite offers everything you need to manage your cloud storage and privacy online.

Prices start from €1.99/month for 1TB of storage, or you can choose a lifetime cloud storage plan, available for up to 5TB, with the option to add more storage whenever you need.

You can check the full details of Internxt’s plans below, and claim 85% off any plan from our website.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a European cloud storage provider?

European cloud storage providers are companies based in Europe that store, manage, and protect your files on remote servers.

These providers typically operate under European privacy laws, such as the GDPR, and often offer data storage within Europe to help users meet privacy, security, and data sovereignty requirements.

Are European cloud storage providers better for privacy?

Yes. European cloud storage providers are generally considered better for privacy because they operate under the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), one of the world's strictest privacy laws.

That said, privacy ultimately depends on the individual provider. Not all European cloud services offer end-to-end encryption. If maximum privacy is your priority, choose a provider that combines European jurisdiction with end-to-end encryption like Internxt Drive.

Can cloud storage providers access your files?

Yes, cloud storage providers can often access your files if they are encrypted only at rest or in transit, since the provider manages the encryption keys; companies like OneDrive, Google, Dropbox, or any others that don’t provide zero-knowledge encryption can access your files.

This allows them to process files for features such as previews, search, sharing, or to comply with legal requests.

What is the best European alternative to Google Drive?

Internxt Drive is the best secure cloud storage to store files in privacy due to its post-quantum encryption and zero-knowledge policies.

It is open-source and audited, and includes additional features in its cloud storage plans, such as NAS support, Mail, VPN, and more.

Google One offers 15GB of free storage, but what is Google One?

Google One is a paid subscription to Google’s additional storage and Gemini AI features, offering monthly and annual plans in case you run out of cloud storage or need more storage or features with your Google account.

We will go into detail about all of the Google One plans, costs, features, when to choose Google, or when to choose a private alternative.

Table of contents

• Difference between Google One and Google Drive
• Is Google One free?
• How to increase your Google Drive space
• How much do Google One plans cost in 2026?
• Features included in Google One plans
• How much do Google One plans cost for business?
• Which Google One plan should you pick?
• When to choose a Google Drive alternative
• What’s a private alternative to Google?
• Internxt vs Google Drive cost
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

Difference between Google One and Google Drive

Google Drive is the cloud storage service that comes with 15 GB of free cloud storage when you sign up for an account.

Google One is the paid plan that upgrades your storage and adds extra perks.

Google Drive is where you store and access your files, such as documents, photos, videos, and backups.

Google One is the paid service that gives you access to other features, such as more advanced Gemini AI features.

To learn more about the differences, we cover this in more detail in our Google One vs Google Drive article.

Is Google One free?

No. Google One is a paid subscription service that offers more storage and access to Google features such as Gemini AI.

However, every Google account includes 15 GB of free storage shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.

You only need Google One if you want more storage or its additional benefits.

How to increase your Google Drive space

If you want more Google Drive storage, you will have to purchase a Google One subscription, but by following the tips and tricks below, you can use them to get the most out of Google’s free 15 GB storage plan.

Compress large files

One easy trick you can use to save space and get more out of your Google Drive space is compressing files.

There are many tools available, such as Internxt’s free file compressor, which compresses many file formats, from MOV files to Excel file compression.

On Windows, you can compress files by:

1. Select your folder, then right-click > Compress to > Additional options.
2. In the new window, set Archive format to ZIP and slide the Compression Level to Smaller (9). Make sure to check the Retain symbolic links box.
3. Now, click Create, and you are all set.

You can also use tools like 7-Zip, which is a free tool to compress larger files to help you save space for videos or large photo albums, and then compress ZIP files with Internxt to take up even less storage.

Manage your photos

To manage the space with Google Photos and free up storage, follow these steps:

1. Open Google Photos.
2. Review your photos and videos, and delete any you no longer need.
3. Empty the Bin to permanently remove deleted items and free up storage.
4. Go to Settings > Backup quality and select Storage Saver to reduce the storage used by future uploads.

Delete hidden data

Some third-party apps that we connect to our Google Drive, such as WhatsApp, can take up your storage without you knowing due to hidden app data or automatic backups.

To delete this unnecessary data, follow these steps:

1. Open Google Drive and go to Settings.
2. Select Manage Apps to see which apps are using storage in your Drive.
3. Review the apps and identify any unnecessary or outdated data.
4. Delete old backups, data from apps you no longer use, or backups and app data you no longer need to free up storage.

If after following these steps you still need more storage, you may want to consider upgrading to a Google One plan, the prices and details of which are below.

Or you may want to consider choosing a private alternative to Google Drive, with a cheaper cloud storage cost and end-to-end encryption, such as Internxt.

How much do Google One plans cost in 2026?

With a Google One subscription, all your storage is shared across Drive, Photos, and Gmail, so depending on how heavily you use these services, you may need to upgrade your Google Drive free account to a 100GB or 2TB plan.

You can also share storage with up to five others, so this should also be taken into account when checking the Google One cost.

Google One plans (Monthly)

Google One offers monthly plans; when you sign up, you get a discount for the first three months; afterwards, you pay the full price, both of which are shown below.

Google One plans (Annual)

With annual plans, you can save up to 37% depending on which plan you pick. The discount applies for the first year; afterwards, you pay the full price. The discounted year and full price are shown below for all Google One plans.

Features included in Google One plans

The Google One basic plan only covers cloud storage, so you get 100GB of storage shared between Drive, Photos, and Gmail.

Both AI Plus plans include:

• 2x higher usage limits and access to the Gemini 3 Flash thinking model
• Google Flow: Google’s AI filmmaking tool
• Gemini in Gmail
• NotebookLM to conduct research

For more advanced AI features, the Google AI Pro plan includes:

• 4x higher usage limits and access to the Gemini 3 Pro model, deep research, and more
• Google Flow: Google’s AI filmmaking tool with expanded access
• Gemini in Gmail, Docs, Vids and more
• NotebookLM to conduct research
• Google Health Premium

How much do Google One plans cost for business?

Finally, Google One also offers business plans, offering a professional email and premium business versions of tools you already know, like Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, and more, with AI in every plan, with storage plans going up to 5TB.

Starter

• €7/user/month
• 30 GB of pooled storage
• Custom emails
• Generate AI videos
• Up to 300 users
• Integrated Gemini features

Standard Includes all of Starter, plus:

• €14/user/month
• 2 TB of pooled storage
• Custom emails
• Generate AI videos
• Up to 300 users
• Integrated Gemini features
• E-signature with Docs and PDFs
• Data migration tools

Plus includes all of Standard, plus:

• €22/user/month
• 5 TB of pooled storage
• Custom emails
• Generate AI videos
• Up to 300 users
• Integrated Gemini features
• Advanced endpoint management
• Enhanced security and management controls

Enterprise includes all mentioned features, plus:

• Contact sales for pricing
• 5 TB of pooled storage
• Data loss protection
• Enhanced customer support
• Enterprise data regions
• No minimum or maximum user limits

Which Google One plan should you pick?

Based on the Google One cost and storage offered for each plan, you should choose the following plans to meet your needs:

Choose Basic (100 GB) if you only need extra cloud storage for Google Drive, Photos, and Gmail and without needing the additional features of Gemini.

Choose Google AI Plus (400 GB) if you want AI tools such as Gemini in Gmail, Google Flow, and NotebookLM, and need to store documents or photo albums without needing large amounts of storage.

Choose Google AI Plus (2 TB) if you need significantly more storage for videos while keeping the same AI features as the 400 GB plan.

Choose Google AI Pro (5 TB) if you need the most storage and Google's most advanced AI features, including Gemini 3 Pro, higher usage limits, expanded Google Flow access, Google Health Premium, and Gemini across more Google apps.

Choose a Google One Business plan if you need professional email, shared storage for a team, business productivity tools, and administrative features. Business plans support up to 300 users, while Enterprise is designed for larger organisations that require advanced security, data protection, and dedicated support.

If you’re an Apple user looking for cloud storage, then you can check out our iCloud vs Google One and iCloud pricing articles.

When to choose a Google Drive alternative

For private files

If you need to store sensitive information such as work documents, NDA’s, or other confidential and private files, you should choose a different cloud provider than Google.

Google encrypts your files but manages the decryption keys on servers they own, so your data and the contents of sensitive and personal files can be accessed by Google at any time and can lead to them deleting your account without notice.

For end-to-end encryption

Cloud providers with end-to-end encryption, such as Internxt Drive encrypted cloud storage, offer a private solution to ensure nobody but you can access your files.

Instead of the company managing the encryption keys, Internxt encrypts files directly on your device, and you manage the keys, meaning nobody but you can access your files.

This can be verified thanks to Internxt’s open source model, meaning security experts can verify the privacy and security of Internxt Drive.

More online privacy

Not only is Google Drive’s lack of E2E encryption concerning, but when you sign up for a free Google Drive account, you are giving them more than access to your personal files.

Google collects your data from Google Drive but also Gmail, Google Photos, Search, Maps, Chrome, Android, and YouTube, to personalise your experience, improve its products, and show relevant ads.

We cover this in more detail in our Google activity article below:

We also cover other services to switch from Google to help you deGoogle your life, which you can check in this article:

Avoid subscription costs

If you want to avoid subscriptions and prices that can increase over time, there are lifetime cloud storage options available with a one-time payment, giving you access to cloud storage for a lifetime.

For a full list of lifetime providers, we cover these in our blog, which you can check below.

What’s a private alternative to Google?

Internxt Drive

Internxt Drive is a European, open-source, and private cloud storage solution offering an alternative to Google Drive and other US Big Tech companies like OneDrive or Dropbox.

Unlike these companies, Internxt protects your cloud storage with AES-256 and Kyber-521 post-quantum zero-knowledge encryption, protecting your data against the future threats of quantum computers and giving you total control over your data, storage, and shared files.  

You can get started with Internxt for free, with no credit card details required. For maximum privacy online, you can choose from Internxt’s monthly plans, which start at €1.99 for the first month, or choose from any of our lifetime plans, which you can stack to get up to 100TB of cloud storage.

Paid plans include additional features to take control of your privacy online, including Antivirus, VPN, Meet, and NAS support.

For full details, check out our website or pricing plans below.

To get started with a paid Internxt plan, get your exclusive 85% special offer from our website below.

Internxt vs Google Drive cost

Below is a monthly comparison of Internxt vs Google One monthly subscription costs.

When choosing an Internxt Ultimate plan, you get 5TB of cloud storage with a one-time payment, plus access to all of Internxt’s features.

Compared to Google’s 5TB annual plan, the following table shows how much you can save over time when investing in a lifetime plan.

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Frequently asked questions

How much is Google One per month?

Google One plans start at €1.99/month for 100 GB of storage. Higher-tier plans cost €4.99/month for 400 GB, €9.99/month for 2 TB, and €21.99/month for 5 TB. New subscribers receive a discounted price for the first three months.

Google One vs Google Drive - what's the difference?

Google Drive is Google’s cloud storage service. Google One is the subscription plan you pay for additional storage and features.

Is Google One worth it?

A Google One free plan offers a generous amount of storage, but it comes in exchange for your privacy, as you pay with your personal data. If you want to store general files that don’t need the additional privacy of E2E encryption from services like Internxt, Google Drive may be worth it.

What's the cheapest Google One plan?

The cheapest Google One plan is the 100 GB monthly plan, which is €0.49 for the first three months, and €1.99 per month after the third month.

pCloud offers monthly, annual, and lifetime plans which include cloud storage, syncing, backups, and media streaming.

pCloud plans start from €4.99/month and €199.99 for lifetime plans for 500GB of cloud storage. However, some additional features and products are not included with a pCloud plan, so these extra costs should be factored in if you’re interested in choosing this service.

To make things clear, this article will cover:

• pCloud plans, features, and pricing
• pCloud lifetime price
• Security
• Cheaper alternatives

By the end of this article, you will have all the options to choose a free, paid, or lifetime storage plan, either with pCloud or more secure and private alternatives.

Table of contents

• Does pCloud offer a free plan?
• pCloud pricing explained
• What features do pCloud plans include?
• What pCloud plans DO NOT include
• What is the pCloud lifetime price for all features?
• Is pCloud secure?
• pCloud vs Internxt - which is better value?
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

Does pCloud offer a free plan?

A free pCloud plan starts at 2GB; this is the storage you get when you create a pCloud account. If you want more storage, you have to complete the following onboarding tasks:

• Verify your email address: + 1GB
• Upload a file: + 1GB
• Download the pCloud desktop app: + 1GB
• Download the mobile app: +1GB
• Enable automatic uploads from mobile: + 1GB

Total storage = 7GB

From there, you can refer your friends to get an extra free gigabyte of space, taking your free plan to 10GB.

Another thing worth noting is that pCloud automatically adds a getting started document and demo audio files to your account, which you have to delete if you want the full 2GB, which is quite annoying.

So a free pCloud plan is for 2GB, if you want more free cloud storage without spending your time doing the manual tasks, check out our list of free cloud storage options below.

pCloud pricing explained

The following are pCloud’s cloud storage plans, whereas other features and products are available as a separate service or paid add-on, which we will cover later in the article.

For now, these are the pCloud pricing plans for its monthly, annual, and lifetime cloud storage plans.

Monthly

Premium 500 GB

• €4.99/month
• 500 GB shared link traffic

Premium Plus  2 TB

• €9.99/month
• 2 TB shared link traffic

Ultra 10 TB

• €29.99/month
• 2 TB shared link traffic

Annual

Or you can choose an annual pCloud plan and save around 16% compared to paying monthly.

Premium 500 GB

• €49.99/month
• 500 GB shared link traffic

Premium Plus  2 TB

• €99.99/year
• 2 TB shared link traffic

Ultra 10 TB

• €299.99/year
• 2 TB shared link traffic

Lifetime

If you want to avoid subscriptions altogether, pCloud offers one-time payment cloud storage plans at the following prices:

Premium 500 GB

• €199.99
• 500 GB shared link traffic

Premium Plus 2 TB

• €399.99/year
• 2 TB shared link traffic

Ultra 10 TB

• €1190.99/year
• 2 TB shared link traffic

Lifetime plans can also be stacked, so if you start with a 500 GB plan and want to add 2 TB in the future, you will get 2.5 TB total.

What features do pCloud plans include?

Below are the features you get when you purchase a lifetime plan with pCloud.

• File management: Restore previous versions of your file from up to 30 days
• File sharing: Share files with password-protected links and branded links
• Streaming: Stream music or videos from pCloud’s media player
• Backups: Back up your files in the desktop app, or automatically from your phone

What pCloud plans DO NOT include

Zero-knowledge encryption

All paid plans bought from pCloud use the standard encryption used by Google Drive, Dropbox, and others, so files are not encrypted on your device and can be accessed or deleted by pCloud or other external parties.

If you want cloud storage with zero-knowledge encryption with pCloud, it will cost extra on top of your subscription or lifetime plan.

For pCloud Crypto, it will cost:

• Monthly: €4.99/month + cost of your storage plan
• Annual: €49.99/year + cost of your storage plan
• Lifetime: €150 one-time payment

If you purchase pCloud Crypto, then a separate folder is created in your pCloud account. From there, you drop or upload your files into this folder, and they become client-side encrypted.

As a result, your files are split between two storage areas:

1. Files stored outside the Crypto folder use standard server-side encryption
2. Files manually placed in the Crypto folder receive zero-knowledge encryption.

If you accidentally upload sensitive files to the regular storage area, they will not have the same level of privacy protection.

If you don’t want to pay extra for this level of protection on top of your subscription or lifetime investment, there are alternatives to pCloud available that offer zero-knowledge encryption for its free and paid cloud, which we discuss in our article below.

If you’re specifically looking for lifetime plans with zero-knowledge encryption, then Internxt is the best private cloud storage and pCloud alternative that offers post-quantum and end-to-end encryption for its free and paid plans.

There’s no need to purchase any add-ons or create separate folders; all folders uploaded to Internxt Drive are encrypted on your device, and nobody except you can read their contents.

pCloud Pass

pCloud Pass is another separate service from pCloud you can add to your subscription. A free option is available, which offers the password manager for 1 device, or the following plans are available, again, with monthly, annual, or lifetime options available.

pCloud Pass Premium

• Monthly: €2.99/month
• Annual: €29.99/year
• Lifetime: €149 one-time payment

Features of pCloud Pass Premium:

• Unlimited active devices
• Unlimited secured sharing
• Unlimited contact list
• Secure password generator
• All other features included

pCloud Pass Family

• Monthly: €4.99/month
• Annual: €49.99/year
• Lifetime: €253 one-time payment

Features of pCloud Pass Family:

• Up to 5 members
• Unlimited active devices
• Unlimited active devices
• Unlimited contact list
• Secure password generator

You can purchase this password manager on its own as a subscription or lifetime account, or combine it with a pCloud lifetime plan and pCloud crypto. The costs of all of these combined are covered below so you get a real idea of the pCloud lifetime price when all features are included.

What is the pCloud lifetime price for all features?

Now that we have covered all pCloud plans for its cloud storage, these are the additional products or features you can add on top of a lifetime plan.

One-time add-ons:

• pCloud Crypto Lifetime: €150
• pCloud Pass Premium Lifetime: €149
• pCloud Pass Family Lifetime: €253

With that in mind, below are the pCloud lifetime prices when combined with these additional features.

Based on those prices, a pCloud plan is, on average, about €251 more expensive than the base lifetime storage plan once you factor in the additional lifetime services (Crypto, Pass Premium, Pass Family, or combinations of them).

Is pCloud secure?

pCloud has had several issues in the past, which makes people wonder is pCloud safe to use. Below you can find the main problems and issues users have experienced when using pCloud.

Account termination

Due to the lack of zero-knowledge encryption for all paid plans without pCloud Crypto, the risk of your files being accessed and deleted by pCloud is already high.

In fact, when searching across Reddit, the following topics come up for pCloud:

• Accounts being suspended or terminated with little or no explanation.
• Support citing violations of the Terms of Service without specifying which files triggered the action.
• Losing access to both their data and their lifetime purchase.

While some of these files may have been deleted due to violating pCloud’s conditions, it is still concerning that your files or account could be deleted if you don’t meet their terms.

Synchronization privacy

Earlier in 2026, another incident was reported on Reddit with numerous users reporting seeing data from other users in their accounts, including:

• Folders belonging to other users,
• Filenames,
• Metadata,
• In some cases, files they claimed were not theirs.

pCloud support privately described the issue as a "rare synchronization anomaly" and said it was under investigation, but it is still unclear what happened.

Lack of transparency

Since pCloud isn't open source, its apps and encryption cannot be independently verified by the public.

Users therefore have to rely primarily on the company's own claims, reputation, and security certifications (ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO 9001)  rather than being able to inspect or independently verify the software themselves.

pCloud also claims Swiss privacy laws, but its day-to-day operations are ran in Bulgaria, and its data centers are in Luxembourg and the United States, so those data protection laws apply.

With this in mind, and past security incidents, you may want to consider an alternative to pCloud, with zero-knowledge encryption included in all plans, plus a wider range of products and tools to protect you online.

pCloud vs Internxt - which is better value?

Internxt offers post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption included for free and paid plans, with additional features such as VPN, Antivirus, Meet, and Mail, making it a more well-rounded and private pCloud alternative.

The full list of features with Internxt plans is available below.

All files are encrypted on your device, so you never have to worry about unauthorized access to your files.

For pricing, below is a comparison of pCloud plans vs. Internxt lifetime plans. Since Internxt offers zero-knowledge encryption at no extra cost, the cost comparison includes pCloud Crypto.

Based on this pCloud vs Internxt cost comparison, Internxt offers the best overall value, with more storage for your money than the equivalent pCloud + Crypto plans.

1 TB: Internxt Essential offers better value. For only €30 more than pCloud 500 GB + Crypto, you get twice the storage.

3 TB: Internxt Premium offers better value. For only €30 more than pCloud 2 TB + Crypto, you get 1 TB of extra storage (50% more).

5 TB: Internxt Ultimate offers better value. For €230 more than pCloud 2 TB + Crypto, you get 2.5× more storage.

The only exception is pCloud's 10 TB + Crypto plan, which has the lowest cost per GB. However, you can stack an Internxt lifetime plan to get 10TB of lifetime storage, and you get more features with an Ultimate plan, such as NAS and Rclone support, plus Meet and Mail.

To get started with Internxt Drive and its fully encrypted cloud storage, get your 85% discount on all plans by following the link below.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does pCloud cost?

A pCloud lifetime price starts at 500 GB: €199.99 for 500GB, and up to €1,190.99 for 10TB, without pCloud crypto or pCloud Pass, which require separate payments, increasing the overall cost.

Is pCloud end-to-end encrypted?

No. pCloud is not end-to-end encrypted by default.

All paid pCloud plans use standard server-side encryption, meaning your files are encrypted on pCloud's servers rather than on your device. If you want end-to-end (zero-knowledge) encryption, you must purchase the optional pCloud Crypto add-on and add your files to this separate encrypted folder.

Is pCloud lifetime worth it?

pCloud has been around for ten years, so a lifetime plan may be worth the investment, but there are cheaper, more secure alternatives with zero-knowledge encryption at no extra cost, such as Internxt Drive.

Is pCloud trustworthy?

pCloud is not open source, so you have to trust them with your data as it cannot be verified by security experts. Plus, past issues of deleting lifetime accounts without warning makes users less trusting of pCloud.

If you want an open-source and audited cloud storage solution, an alternative cloud storage to pCloud that also offers lifetime plans, choose Internxt Drive

How much is pCloud Crypto?

pCloud Crypto is available as a monthly, annual, or lifetime add-on for €4.99/month, €49.99/year, or a €150 one-time payment.

Box is a cloud storage solution for businesses and enterprises, although personal plans are available, they can be quite expensive, starting at €12/ per month for 100GB, and have restrictions on uploads.

In this article, we will cover:

• Box.com pricing
• Personal and business plans
• Privacy
• Features
• Alternatives to Box

By the end of this article, you will understand Box business pricing and for personal use, encryption, privacy, and an alternative cloud storage solution to meet all your needs.

Table of contents

• What is Box cloud storage?
• Does Box offer a free cloud storage plan?
• Box.com pricing plans for individuals
• Box business pricing
• Which Box storage plans should you pick?
• Are there cheaper alternatives to Box?
• Is Box worth it?
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

What is Box cloud storage?

Box Drive is a cloud storage and content management platform designed to help individuals and organizations store, share, and collaborate on files securely.

It combines file storage with tools for document collaboration, workflow automation, and enterprise-level security, making it more than just a place to back up files.

Its main features include:

• Cloud storage
• File sharing
• Real-time collaboration
• Box AI
• Version history
• App integrations like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
• Electronic signatures
• Compliance certifications

Box is primarily aimed at businesses, enterprises, healthcare providers, educational institutions, and organizations that need to manage large volumes of files while meeting strict security and compliance requirements.

Although individuals can use Box, its features are geared toward teams and organizations rather than personal cloud storage, as it offers unlimited cloud storage for businesses, and personal plans only go up to 100GB.

If you only need personal cloud storage for photos, documents, or videos, with an emphasis on privacy, alternatives to Box, like Internxt, may be a better fit.

Does Box offer a free cloud storage plan?

Yes, Box offers a free cloud storage plan of 10GB, which is more than iCloud and OneDrive, but less than Google Drive, which offers 15GB.

With a free 10GB Box plan, it is enough to store

With a free plan, features include:

• Storage Capacity: 10 GB
• Max File Upload: 250 MB per file
• Versioning: 1 active file version stored
• Signatures: 5 Box Sign requests/month
• Access from Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and the web
• Box manages the encryption keys, so no zero-knowledge encryption

When you should use a free Box plan: if you work with documents rather than large media files that do not contain sensitive information. 10GB is suitable for PDFs documents, spreadsheets, or other small files due to the 250 MB file limit.

When you should use Box alternatives: if you’re looking for cloud storage for video editors and regularly upload large files such as 4K videos, HD videos, RAW photos, or large project files.

Box is not zero-knowledge encrypted and manages the encryption keys itself, so you should use a private cloud storage, like Internxt Drive.

Box.com pricing plans for individuals

Box offers monthly and annual plans for individuals, with a chance to save up to 25% if you choose an annual plan.

Individual plans have a maximum storage of 100GB, which is pretty low when you consider other cloud storage plans offer terabytes of storage.

Box is, however, one of the businesses that offer unlimited cloud storage, but this is only for business plans, which we will cover later in this article.

For individual Box storage plans, the prices are as follows:

When you pay for a Box plan, you also get these features included with all plans

Box storage plans are quite limited regarding the amount of storage it offers, and 100GB isn’t enough if you have a large number of files to store in the cloud, especially if your main use case is cloud storage for videos.

The Business Starter plan looks cheaper at €6 per user per month, but you have to buy at least three users, so the minimum cost is actually €18 per month.

This, combined with the upload limits of each plan, may make you consider cheaper cloud storage plans, cloud storage for business, or other alternatives.

Box business pricing

Box business pricing is attractive as it offers unlimited cloud storage, so for businesses with large or growing storage needs, Box may be a viable option.

Box.com pricing for business plans is also charged on a monthly and annual rate, with the same savings of 25% on annual plans applying to this type of Box subscription.

Below are the Box business pricing options for monthly plans:

Business

• €18/user/month
• Unlimited storage
• 5GB file upload
• External collaborators (pay per each)
• Integrated Box AI
• Unlimited e-sign requests
• 1,500+ integrations
• AI integrations
• Built-in security and SOC 1/2/3 compliance support
• 50K API calls per month*

Business Plus

• €30/user/month
• Unlimited storage
• Unlimited external collaborators
• 15GB file upload

Everything in Business Plus:

• Advanced admin controls

Enterprise

• €42/user/month
• Unlimited storage
• 50GB file upload

Everything in Business and Business Plus, with additional features such as:

• 1K AI units per month
• Advanced workflows
• Advanced security
• Content portals with Box Hubs
• Threat detection and other security alerts
• FedRAMP moderate, HIPAA, SOC 1/2/3 compliance
• 100K API calls/month

Enterprise Plus

Finally, Box business pricing also includes Enterprise Plus, but this is only available for annual plans, not monthly, and includes everything in the previous Box plans at a cost of €45/user/month plus:

• Unlimited storage
• 150GB file upload
• 2K AI units per month
• Threat detection rules and alerts
• 24-hour support

Which Box storage plans should you pick?

Box storage plans are clearly designed for businesses that need collaboration, security, compliance, and unlimited storage.

But there are use cases for these plans, so you should:

Pick the Free plan if you're trying Box for basic document storage

However, the 250MB upload limit makes it unsuitable for large media files such as videos, RAW photos, or project files. Since Box manages your encryption keys instead of using zero-knowledge encryption, it's also not the best option for storing highly sensitive or private data.

Pick Personal Pro if you only need a small amount of cloud storage

If you're an individual who wants additional storage without needing business collaboration tools, Personal Pro gives you 100GB of storage and larger file upload limits.

That said, 100GB is relatively small compared to many competitors that offer several terabytes of storage at similar prices, so if you need to scale your storage, you should choose a higher plan.

Pick Business Starter if you're a small team

Business Starter is aimed at small businesses that want secure file sharing and collaboration without paying for advanced enterprise features.

Although the advertised price looks affordable, keep in mind there's a minimum purchase of three users, making the actual starting cost higher than it first appears.

Pick Business if you need unlimited storage

For many organizations, the Business plan offers the best balance of features and price. It includes unlimited cloud storage, integrated Box AI, enterprise security features, thousands of app integrations, and generous upload limits.

Pick Business Plus if your team works with larger files

Business Plus is ideal for creative teams, engineering firms, marketing agencies, and other organizations that regularly upload large files.

Pick Enterprise or Enterprise Plus if your organization has advanced security and compliance requirements

Enterprise plans are designed for large organizations that require advanced security, workflow automation, compliance certifications, and AI-powered content management.

Are there cheaper alternatives to Box?

Yes, there are cheaper than Box storage plans for business and personal use, and if you need more free cloud storage, there are other options available, too, which you can check in our following articles:

Cheap cloud storage

OneDrive pricing

Dropbox pricing

iCloud pricing

In general, if you want a small amount of storage, many cloud providers offer plans from 100GB and up to 5TB.

But if you need more storage at a cheap cost, Internxt plans start from €1.99/ month for 1TB of cloud storage with a VPN and Antivirus included.

Is Box worth it?

While Box is an excellent platform for business collaboration, it isn't the strongest choice for personal cloud storage. Individual plans offer relatively little storage, and Box controls your encryption keys rather than providing zero-knowledge encryption.

If your priority is storing personal files, photos, videos, or backups with stronger privacy protections, you need cloud storage with zero-knowledge encryption.

What is a more private alternative to Box?

Internxt Drive

Internxt Drive is a private cloud storage solution, and unlike Box, Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive, your files are protected with AES-256 and Kyber-512 encryption.

Box manages the encryption keys on its servers, so employees or external agencies can view your private and confidential files.

With Internxt, you don’t have this problem.

Internxt protects your data by encrypting everything on your device, and you hold the keys, so nobody can ever access your files unless you share access with them. Internxt’s security can be verified as it is an open source platform, which has also been independently audited by security experts.

For businesses, Internxt offers GDPR, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and SOC 2 compliance to protect all kinds of data, no matter what kinds of files you need to store in the cloud.

With Internxt, you can also avoid the monthly subscription costs of Box storage plans by purchasing a lifetime plan, giving you access to Internxt’s features with a one-time payment.

Or, you can get started for €1.99/month and choose your plan to get VPN, Antivirus, NAS backup support, and more.

Internxt S3

Internxt also offers S3 object storage for enterprises, allowing you to store petabytes of data at a scalable and fixed cost.

Internxt S3 offers the same military-grade encryption and compliance at a fixed fee of just €7/TB/month, with no data transfer fees for moving data in or out of the cloud.

This pay-as-you-go model can be changed whenever you need, and it isn’t charged by user, making it a more scalable and affordable solution than Box, and even AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.

Visit our website to contact a member of our sales team to help you get started with our object storage plans.

Box vs Internxt overview

Below is a comparison of Box vs Internxt, with the major difference being that Internxt can never access your files.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does Box cost?

Paid plans for individuals start at €12.99 per month for 100GB, while business plans start at €18 per user per month and include unlimited storage. Annual plans offer a discount over paying monthly.

Is Box free?

Box offers a 10GB free plan, with limited features and an upload limit of 250MB

Box vs Dropbox pricing?

Box is more expensive for individual plans, with 100GB costing €12.99 per month.

Dropbox offers 2TB starting at €11.99 per month, making it significantly better value for personal storage.

For businesses, Box includes unlimited storage on its paid plans, while Dropbox Business plans have different storage limits depending on the plan.

Is Box good value for privacy-focused users?

Box is secure and a good option for businesses and enterprises needing unlimited cloud storage, but as it is not end-to-end encrypted, it is not suitable for privacy; instead, other options like Internxt Drive offer zero-knowledge encryption for the best privacy for confidential files.

OneDrive pricing starts free with 5 GB and scales through Microsoft 365 bundles: Basic (100 GB) at $1.99/month, Personal (1 TB) at $9.99/month, and Family (6 TB) at $12.99/month, each cheaper if you pay yearly. Business plans run $5 to $12.50 per user per month.

There's no storage-only OneDrive plan, so paid storage is tied to a Microsoft 365 subscription. (Prices as of June 2026.)

Prices aren't the whole story this year, though. Microsoft is scrapping a couple of OneDrive plans and pushing through a price rise in July, so the timing of an annual plan matters more than usual. Everything below is current, with what each plan actually includes.

Table of contents

• How much does OneDrive cost in 2026?
• What's changing with OneDrive pricing in 2026?
• Is OneDrive free, and how much storage does it offer?
• What do the OneDrive personal plans cost?
• What do OneDrive for Business plans cost?
• Which OneDrive plan should you pick?
• Is OneDrive cheaper than Google Drive, iCloud, and Dropbox?
• Is OneDrive worth it, and what are you actually paying for?
• What's a more private alternative to OneDrive?

How much does OneDrive cost in 2026?

Every current OneDrive plan is in the table below. OneDrive isn't sold as standalone storage anymore; you're buying a Microsoft 365 subscription, and the storage comes bundled in.

Prices in USD, as listed on Microsoft's US pricing pages, June 2026.

The free tier is just 5 GB (more on that in a second). Paying yearly knocks roughly two months off versus paying monthly.

Personal is the one most people land on: 1 TB plus the Office apps for one person. Family is the best deal if you've got people to share cloud storage with, since 6 TB split across up to six accounts for $12.99 works out cheaper per person than Personal.

Worth pausing before you lock in an annual plan, though, because some of these prices and plans change later in 2026.

What's changing with OneDrive pricing in 2026?

Two things are shifting this year, and most of the older pricing roundups haven't caught up to either.

Microsoft is retiring its standalone OneDrive for Business plans. In early 2026, Microsoft confirmed it's discontinuing the standalone SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business plans, Plan 1 and Plan 2, as The Register reported.

The timeline it gave:

Microsoft's stated reasons were "low customer demand" and "higher operational costs." So if you were using the cheap $5/user OneDrive for Business Plan 1 just to give a team storage, that door is closing, and the alternatives Microsoft points to are the larger, pricier Microsoft 365 suites.

(Some of the named replacements, like capacity packs and pay-as-you-go storage, didn't even have published pricing months after the announcement.)

There's also a Microsoft 365 price increase landing in July 2026, reported in late 2025, that raises prices on parts of the lineup. So the numbers in the table above are a snapshot, and a few of them tick up mid-year.

Both moves point the same direction: Microsoft would rather sell you a bundle than cheap storage on its own. If you're about to commit to a year of OneDrive, check the live price at checkout. And remember, "storage only, paid once" isn't something Microsoft sells anymore.

Is OneDrive free, and how much storage does it offer?

Yes, there's a free tier. The catch is that it's only 5 GB.

Five gigabytes fills up fast. A few hundred phone photos, a couple of video clips, and you're done. Microsoft knows this, which is why the free plan exists mostly as entry-level storage.

Once OneDrive starts backing up your desktop and photos automatically, you hit the ceiling, and the upgrade prompt shows up. It works for trying the service out, but you wouldn't run your backups on it long term.

What do the OneDrive personal plans cost?

Here are the consumer plans one by one:

• Microsoft 365 Basic, $1.99/month (or $19.99/year), 100 GB. The cheapest paid step. You get 100 GB, ad-free Outlook email, and some added security features. No desktop Office apps, though.
• Microsoft 365 Personal, $9.99/month (or $99.99/year), 1 TB. The popular one. A full terabyte for one person, plus the desktop and web versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, and Microsoft Defender. If you want Office and storage together, this is the default pick.
• Microsoft 365 Family, $12.99/month (or $129.99/year), 6 TB. Same as Personal, but shareable with up to six people, each getting their own 1 TB. For three dollars more than Personal, it's the best value in the lineup if you have anyone to share with.
• Microsoft 365 Premium, $19.99/month (or $199.99/year), up to 6 TB. The top consumer tier: up to 6 TB shared across six people, plus Microsoft's full Copilot AI features.

Every paid plan bundles Office apps and email, whether you need them or not. If you live in Word and Excel, great. If you just wanted somewhere safe to put your files, you're paying for a lot of software you'll never open.

What do OneDrive for Business plans cost?

If you're buying for a team, the storage comes through Microsoft 365 Business plans:

Business Basic covers the web and mobile Office apps, custom email, and Teams. Business Standard adds the desktop Office apps. Both give each user 1 TB. The "no Teams" versions are a little cheaper, for regions where Microsoft now sells Teams separately.

That last line, OneDrive for Business Plan 1, is the standalone $5/user storage plan, and it's the one that's disappearing. If you're shopping for a team, don't build around it.

New sign-ups stop on 31 May 2026.

Which OneDrive plan should you pick?

Quick version, by what you actually need:

• You just want to back up photos and a few files. Start on the free 5 GB and see how fast you fill it. If you spill over, Basic at $1.99/month (100 GB) is the cheapest real plan. No Office apps, just storage and email. Plenty for one phone's worth of photos.
• You use Word, Excel, or Outlook regularly. Personal at $9.99/month (1 TB) is the obvious pick. You're getting the desktop Office apps and a terabyte for one person. This is the default for most individuals.
• You're covering a household. Family at $12.99/month (6 TB) is the value play, full stop. Three dollars more than Personal, but up to six people each get their own 1 TB and their own Office apps. If even two of you will use it, Family wins.
• You're buying for a team. Business Basic at $6/user if you only need web and mobile apps, Business Standard at $12.50/user if you need the desktop apps too. Skip the standalone OneDrive for Business plan. It's being retired (see above), so you'd be buying into something with an expiry date.

The yearly plans save you roughly two months versus monthly, but they lock you in right as the July 2026 price increase lands, so check the live rate at checkout. And if your honest answer to "do I need Office?" is no, then every one of these plans is charging you for software you won't open. Worth sitting with, especially since storage-only options can do the same job for less.

Is OneDrive cheaper than Google Drive, iCloud, and Dropbox?

Roughly, the big four cluster around the same price for a terabyte. They mostly compete on what's bundled, not on raw cost. OneDrive's edge is the Office apps thrown in. iCloud leans on tight Apple integration, and Google has its own app ecosystem. Dropbox tends to charge more for pure storage.

Rather than restate every competitor's price here (they change often), we've broken each matchup down separately:

• OneDrive vs iCloud
• Dropbox vs OneDrive
• OneDrive vs Google Drive

None of them really compete on privacy, though, and that's worth a closer look before you pay.

Is OneDrive worth it, and what are you actually paying for?

If you already live in Microsoft 365, OneDrive is a fair deal. The Office bundle is genuinely useful, Family at 6 TB is good value, and it's deeply baked into Windows. Credit where it's due.

But be clear about what your subscription does and doesn't buy you. OneDrive is not zero-knowledge. Microsoft holds the encryption keys, which means Microsoft, not just you, can technically access your files.

That's how features like online file preview and search work, and it's also why your data sits under US legal jurisdiction.

It also hasn't been the smoothest year for OneDrive's reputation. Users have complained about it quietly hijacking local folders, and there are reports of files going missing once an account is over its storage limit, plus a file-sharing security flaw.

Add the ongoing questions about how big tech uses customer data to train AI, and a pattern shows up. None of it is unique to Microsoft. It's the basic trade-off of trusting your files to a company that holds the keys.

It doesn't show up on the price tag, but it's part of what you're paying. Worth weighing before you hand over your files.

What's a more private alternative to OneDrive?

If your honest answer to "do I need Office?" was no, there's a cheaper way to get private storage. Internxt encrypts every file on your device before it's uploaded, using zero-knowledge AES-256 and Kyber-512 post-quantum encryption.

So unlike OneDrive, no one but you can read your data.

Below is a comparison for 1 terabyte of cloud storage, side by side:

Same ballpark on price, with two real differences: your files actually stay private, and you can buy storage with a one-time lifetime payment instead of renting it forever.

With the July 2026 increase coming, that's worth a second look. If you rely on Word and Excel, OneDrive's bundle still wins.

But if you just wanted somewhere safe for your files, Internxt is free to try, offering post-quantum and zero-knowledge encrypted file storage.

If you're interested in a paid plans, you can see the full list of Internxt's features below, and get an 85% discount on all monthly plans, starting at €1.99/month, or avoid subscriptions with an Internxt lifetime plan.

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FAQ

Is OneDrive free?

Yes. OneDrive includes 5 GB of free storage with a Microsoft account. It fills up quickly, so it works better as a trial than a permanent plan. Paid plans start at $1.99/month for 100 GB.

How much does 1 TB of OneDrive cost?

1 TB of OneDrive costs $9.99/month (or $99.99/year) through the Microsoft 365 Personal plan, which also includes the Office apps. There's no way to buy the 1 TB on its own.

Can you buy OneDrive storage without Microsoft 365?

Not really. OneDrive storage is bundled with Microsoft 365 subscriptions, and there's no standalone consumer storage-only plan. The standalone OneDrive for Business plans that did exist are being retired in 2026.

Is OneDrive being discontinued?

OneDrive itself isn't going away, but Microsoft is retiring its standalone SharePoint and OneDrive for Business plans: no new sales after May 2026, no renewals after January 2027, and full retirement by December 2029. Consumer plans aren't affected.

Is OneDrive cheaper than Google Drive?

They're priced similarly for a terabyte. The difference is what's bundled. OneDrive includes Office apps, Google includes its own apps. Neither is meaningfully cheaper on storage alone.

Is OneDrive private?

No, not in the zero-knowledge sense. Microsoft holds the encryption keys to your OneDrive files, so it can technically access them, and your data falls under US jurisdiction. Providers like Internxt use zero-knowledge encryption, so only you can read your files.

Is OneDrive worth paying for?

If you use Microsoft Office, yes. You're getting the apps and the storage together. If you only want cloud storage, you're paying for a bundle you may not need, and a more private, storage-focused alternative may cost the same or less.

When choosing your cloud storage provider, you may be considering zero-knowledge encryption vs standard encryption.

In this case, two services may come up: Sync.com and Dropbox. Both offer cloud storage, but Sync uses end-to-end encryption, whereas Dropbox does not.

This is just one difference between the two services; in this article, we will cover:

• Sync.com vs Dropbox security
• Pricing and features
• Free plans
• Alternatives

• Sync vs Dropbox free plan
• Sync.com vs Dropbox pricing and features comparison
• Sync.com vs Dropbox security
• Sync.com vs Dropbox: Which is more secure?
• Sync.com vs Dropbox: Which one to choose
• Alternatives to Dropbox and Sync.com
• Sync vs Dropbox vs Internxt overview
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

Table of contents

Sync vs Dropbox free plan

Sync offers 5GB of free storage, which, on average, is enough for:

• 4K video: ~10 minutes
• HD (1080p) video: ~50 minutes
• Photos: ~1,000 photos
• Documents: ~10,000+ documents

Dropbox has a free cloud storage plan of 2GB, which is enough for:

• 4K video: ~4–5 minutes
• HD video: ~20 minutes
• Photos: ~400–500
• Documents: ~4,000–5,000

Below is an overview of what a free plan includes from Sync and Dropbox

Who wins?

Sync wins for its bigger free cloud storage plan, which includes end-to-end encryption for greater privacy.

Dropbox wins if you need cloud storage with multiple compliance options in its free plan, and you need a large number of documents.

Sync.com vs Dropbox pricing and features comparison

If you’re interested in Sync.com vs Dropbox pricing, then both offer monthly and annual plans for individuals and teams, but neither offer lifetime cloud storage plans.

Below is a comparison of Sync.com vs Dropbox pricing for both of their individual monthly plans.

Who wins?

If you need 150 GB–5 TB of storage, Sync is better value. It offers lower monthly prices, unlimited data transfer on every paid plan, and includes privacy-focused features like no third-party tracking

If you need more than 5 TB of storage, Dropbox offers a maximum of 15 TB with advanced business features such as team administration, compliance tracking, and enterprise management.

If you need lifetime storage of up to 100 TB, with a full privacy suite combined with post-quantum encryption, Internxt monthly plans start at €1.99/month, or €285 for lifetime plans.

Sync.com vs Dropbox security

Sync.com vs Dropbox encryption

Both Sync.com and Dropbox encrypt your files, but, like Google Drive, OneDrive, and others, Dropbox is not end-to-end encrypted, whereas Sync.com includes zero-knowledge data encryption for its free and paid plans.

Sync.com uses:

• AES-256 encryption for files stored on its servers (encryption at rest)
• TLS encryption for data being uploaded or downloaded (encryption in transit)
• End-to-end encryption (E2EE)
• Zero-knowledge encryption

With Sync.com, your files are encrypted on your device before they are uploaded. Only you hold the encryption keys, meaning Sync.com cannot read your files, scan their contents, or decrypt them.

Dropbox uses:

• AES-256 encryption for files stored on its servers (encryption at rest)
• TLS/SSL encryption for data in transit
• Server-side encryption
• No end-to-end encryption
• No zero-knowledge encryption

Dropbox manages the encryption keys, so the company can decrypt files when necessary or if asked by law enforcement or government agencies.

Who wins?

To store confidential files, Sync offers encryption that is better for your privacy with end-to-end encryption.

If you’re wondering is Dropbox safe, then yes, it uses industry-standard encryption, but it can still access your files.

Neither Sync nor Dropbox uses post-quantum encryption for its cloud storage, meaning in the future your files could be decrypted by quantum computers, which have enough power to break current encryption protocols.

Internxt Drive, however, uses post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption for free and paid plans, ensuring nobody can access your files and that your data is protected against future cybersecurity threats.

Account security

Sync cloud security offers these features:

• Two-factor authentication (2FA) via authenticator apps
• Strong password hashing so Sync.com cannot read user passwords
• Zero-knowledge account design, where account access is tied to user-controlled keys
• Limited account recovery options to maintain stricter security model
• Ability to log out of all sessions and remove trusted devices

Dropbox is more flexible, with stronger recovery options and includes:

• Two-factor authentication (2FA) using authenticator apps, SMS codes, and hardware security keys
• Login alerts for new devices or unusual sign-in attempts
• Active session and device management with the ability to revoke access
• Password recovery through email-based verification and account recovery systems
• Automated monitoring for suspicious login behavior
• Control over connected third-party app access

Who wins?

Sync.com wins for a more privacy-focused approach, with stronger limitations on recovery and access to preserve a zero-knowledge model.

Dropbox is more flexible, with stronger recovery options, broader 2FA methods, and more advanced login monitoring tools.

Transparency

Neither Dropbox nor Sync is open source, so it is not possible for the security of the platform to be checked or verified.

Instead, you have to trust that Sync uses zero-knowledge encryption, and that neither service has backdoors that could access your files or data.

If transparency is important to you, Internxt is an open source alternative to Sync and Dropbox, with all its code available on GitHub, which has also been independently audited by a leading cybersecurity company.

Privacy and data protection

Due to its zero-knowledge policies, Sync has stronger privacy measures in place to protect and limit the amount of data it has on you by not sharing your data with third parties, and the following privacy measures:

• Collects minimal user data
• No access to file content for indexing or feature-based analysis
• Limits metadata exposure
• Reduced internal visibility into user activity and stored information
• Focus is on limiting what the provider can observe about user behavior and stored data

Dropbox collects more user data to support features like search, previews, sharing, and collaboration; it may also collect:

• File-related metadata and content signals to improve functionality and security features
• Uses user activity data to improve service performance and detect abuse or malware
• Dropbox supports third-party integrations, which can expand how user data is accessed and shared within connected apps and increase the risk of data breaches
• Provides transparency controls and privacy settings, but still relies on data processing to enable features

Who wins?

Sync.com wins for privacy and data minimization.

File sharing

Both Sync and Dropbox offer secure file sharing and include options for setting passwords, expiration dates, and restricting downloads.

Dropbox file sharing is built more for collaboration and flexibility. You can share files and folders through links, shared folders, and team spaces.

Dropbox also supports features like file previews, comments, and integrations with apps like Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.

Who wins?

Sync wins for private file sharing due to its zero-knowledge encryption; Dropbox is better if you want to collaborate with others or integrate with other apps.

Backups and file versioning

To protect against ransomware and accidental data loss, Sync and Dropbox offer file versioning for up to 180 days on the highest plan or 30 days on basic plans to restore changed files to past versions.

Backups protect against ransomware by storing additional copies of your files in the cloud, which can be recovered even if your device is attacked by ransomware or files are lost due to malware.

Who wins?

Sync vs Dropbox security in relation to file versioning and backups is pretty equal, but if you want more private cloud storage, then Sync is the better option overall.

Sync.com vs Dropbox: Which is more secure?

Sync and Dropbox both implement strong security measures and encryption for all plans, so rather than which is more secure, the most important thing is what you want from your cloud storage and how you want to store and protect your files.

If you want privacy and confidentiality, Sync’s zero-knowledge design will be more secure for sensitive files, but for general storage, Dropbox has many security controls to protect your files.

Sync.com vs Dropbox: Which one to choose

Choose Sync.com if: you want zero-knowledge encryption, 5 GB of free storage, strong control over file access, and lower-cost storage with unlimited transfer on paid plans.

Choose Dropbox if: you want the best collaboration features, strong account recovery and security tools, deep app integrations, and extra collaboration for teamwork and productivity.

Choose Internxt if: you want a privacy-focused open source and the best encrypted cloud storage with zero-knowledge encryption and post-quantum encryption.

If you want full protection online, Internxt monthly and lifetime plans include Antivirus, VPN, NAS support, Meet, Mail, and more.

Alternatives to Dropbox and Sync.com

Internxt Drive

Internxt Drive is a secure cloud storage service with post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption based on open-source software. It’s designed to store, sync, and backup files in the cloud and ensure nobody but you can access your files.

Internxt is based in Valencia, Spain, and is GDPR, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and SOC 2 compliant, offering the best data protection and security for all industries.

It offers monthly and lifetime plans, so if you want to avoid the subscription charges mentioned in our sync.com vs Dropbox pricing, then you can get a greater investment with an Internxt lifetime plan.

All paid plans offer backups, Antivirus, and VPN, and for more features, you can check out our paid plans and get an 85% discount on all Internxt plans.

Sync vs Dropbox vs Internxt overview

Now we’ve covered Sync vs Dropbox in detail, if you’re looking for an alternative to Dropbox or Sync, below you can compare both services to Internxt.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Sync.com safer than Dropbox?

Sync.com and Dropbox are secure services with strong encryption and security protections. However, Sync.com and Internxt Drive are more private because they use zero-knowledge encryption.

Sync.com vs Dropbox pricing?

Sync.com is cheaper overall, starting at around $4/month for 150 GB, with lower-cost plans per GB and no extra cost for unlimited data transfer on paid plans.

Dropbox is more expensive, starting at about €11.99/month for 2 TB, but it includes stronger collaboration tools, integrations, and business features.

For lifetime plans or monthly prices starting at €1.99 per month, Internxt is an alternative option to both Sync and Dropbox.

Does Sync.com have end-to-end encryption?

Yes. Sync.com uses end-to-end, zero-knowledge encryption by default, meaning your files are encrypted before they leave your device and only you can decrypt them.

It doesn’t use post-quantum encryption, however, so if you want to future-proof the protection of your files, Internxt Drive offers PQE combined with zero-knowledge encryption.

Need to send a file quickly online but not sure which service to use?

This article covers WeTransfer and Dropbox, and when you should pick a file-sharing service, or if you should send via your cloud storage provider instead.

So, if you’re considering WeTransfer vs Dropbox, there are a few things to consider beforehand, which we will cover extensively, with topics including:

• WeTransfer vs Dropbox differences
• When to choose file sharing or cloud storage
• Free vs paid plans
• Pricing
• Security and encryption
• Private alternatives to both

Table of contents

• WeTransfer vs Dropbox: What’s the difference?
• WeTransfer vs Dropbox free and paid plans
• WeTransfer vs Dropbox file size limits and what you can send (real-world examples)
• Dropbox vs WeTransfer, which one should you choose?
• WeTransfer vs Dropbox: how safe is your personal data?
• Alternatives to WeTransfer and Dropbox
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

WeTransfer vs Dropbox: What’s the difference?

WeTransfer is for sending files quickly to other people.

You upload files, get a link, and share it. It is best for one-time transfers and does not focus on long-term storage or organization and is not designed for ongoing access or collaboration.

Dropbox, on the other hand, is for storing, syncing, and organizing files over time.

It also offers file sharing features for files or folders by sending a link or inviting people. They can view, download, or edit depending on permissions, and the file stays stored in your account so it can be updated over time.

In short, WeTransfer is for quick sending, while Dropbox is for cloud storage rather than single transfers.

WeTransfer vs Dropbox free and paid plans

WeTransfer free plan

A WeTransfer free plan is enough for occasional use, as it has the following restrictions:

• Share and receive up to 3 GB / month
• 10 transfers per month
• Transfer expiry up to 7 days

This means that:

• If you send one 3 GB file, you've used your entire 30-day data allowance.
• If you send three 1 GB files, you've also reached the 3 GB limit.
• If you send ten 200 MB files, you'll hit the 10-transfer limit even though you've only sent 2 GB.

Therefore, if you need to send large video files regularly between clients, WeTransfer may be enough for one video, but you will hit your data allowance and can’t use it for another 30 days.

If you need unlimited file sharing, with no login or payment details required, Internxt Send is a secure and encrypted alternative to WeTransfer, allowing you to send up to 5GB of files for free, as many times as you like.

WeTransfer paid plans

Starter (for individuals)

€8/month

• Share and receive up to 300GB per month

Ultimate (for individuals)

€23/month

• No limits on the transfer size
• Unlimited transfers per month
• Unlimited transfer expiration
• Custom branding per transfer
• Automatic malware scanning
• Subscribers benefits
• Recover expired transfers

Teams (up to 50 users)

€19/user/month, minimum of 2 users

• Everything in Ultimate, plus:
• Team creation
• Up to 50 members in your team
• Centralized billing

Enterprise (50+ users)

Contact support for pricing

• Everything in Teams, plus:
• Unlimited members in your team
• Custom transfer rules
• Premium support
• Single sign-on (SSO)
• Advanced access management
• Usage and security logs

Additional features include:

• Custom links
• Custom transfer wallpapers
• Shared branding
• Social links

While WeTransfer may be a suitable option for teams or enterprises, €23/month to get unlimited file sharing is a heavy investment when free file sharing options with zero-knowledge encryption are available for free with Internxt Send.

Dropbox vs WeTransfer free & paid plan

The main differences when checking WeTransfer vs Dropbox are that WeTransfer focuses entirely on file sharing features, whereas Dropbox offers file sharing, cloud storage, and more.

With a free Dropbox plan, you get:

• 2 GB of cloud storage
• Share files and folders using shareable links
• Create shared folders for collaboration with other users
• Option to leave comments on shared files and folders
• Access to files from web, mobile, and desktop apps
• Basic file recovery and version history (up to 30 days)

Some advanced sharing features are not included in the free plan, such as:

• Password-protected shared links
• Custom link expiration dates
• Advanced access controls and analytics
• Higher storage and larger collaboration capabilities

Dropbox paid plans start at €11.99/month and go up to €21.50/ month for the most advanced plan, so it is significantly cheaper than WeTransfer.

For more details on Dropbox pricing and its cloud storage features, check out our article below.

WeTransfer vs Dropbox file size limits and what you can send (real-world examples)

A free WeTransfer plan allows 3GB of file sharing per month, which is enough for:

• About 1 to 3 minutes of 4K video (4K video is very large, often 1 GB per minute or more depending on compression)
• Around 30 to 100 HD photos (depending on resolution and file format; RAW files are much larger, JPEGs are smaller)
• Hundreds to thousands of documents (PDFs, Word files, etc., since they are usually very small in size)

For unlimited file sharing, a paid WeTransfer account is required.

Dropbox is for storing and syncing files over time, so the free cloud storage of 2 GB is shared across everything you keep, including file sharing, so 2 GB will allow for roughly the same size to share videos, photos, or documents.

For larger file sharing, Internxt Send offers up to 5GB of file sharing for free, without needing to create an account, so if you need to send large videos, photo albums, or documents, Internxt is the better option.

Dropbox vs WeTransfer, which one should you choose?

When to use WeTransfer: when you need to quickly send large files to someone once, without creating an account or setting up storage. It is best for one-time sharing and simple delivery.

When to use Dropbox: when you need cloud storage or collaboration on files and folders over time. It is better for organizing files, syncing across devices, and working with others regularly.

When to use an alternative: For zero-knowledge encrypted file sharing, which neither Dropbox nor WeTransfer offers, you should use Internxt Send or Internxt Drive to share files online securely and in total privacy.

WeTransfer vs Dropbox: how safe is your personal data?

Encryption

For data encryption, Dropbox and WeTransfer both use encryption in transit with TLS (HTTPS) and encrypt files at rest using AES-256.

However, neither option offers zero-knowledge encryption for its file sharing or cloud storage services, meaning:

• WeTransfer or Dropbox can access your files if required for legal, security, or service reasons
• Files are encrypted, but the company holds the encryption keys, so it is not end-to-end encrypted
• Data could be scanned for abuse detection, compliance, or service improvement
• If accounts are compromised, attackers may access more data because decryption is possible on the server side
• Government or legal requests can force access to stored content in some cases

Therefore, if you need to send private documents and ensure maximum confidentiality and privacy, the best alternative is a service with zero-knowledge encryption, such as Internxt Send or Internxt Drive, a private alternative to Dropbox and WeTransfer.

Privacy policy: what data do WeTransfer and Dropbox collect?

WeTransfer collects a lot of data about you from:

1. Information you provide,
2. Information collected automatically
3. Information received from other sources.

According to its privacy policy, WeTransfer collects a lot of data about you, your devices, including:

• Files, photos, videos, audio, metadata, messages, comments, reviews, and descriptions.
• Device model, OS, IP address, system language, device ID, and uses this to determine your approximate location.

WeTransfer also faced criticism when updating its privacy policy, with many users voicing their concerns that the company was using data from their files to train its AI and machine learning models.

Similarly, Dropbox also collects data on:

• Account information such as name, email, password, and billing details
• Files you upload, store, or share on the platform
• Metadata about your files such as file names, size, type, and when they were created or modified
• Usage data like how you interact with Dropbox, device information, IP address, and logs of activity
• Sharing data such as who you share files with and when links are accessed

Therefore, if you want your data handled privately, neither WeTransfer nor Dropbox is the best option, so you are best choosing a company that protects your data, rather than profits from it, like Internxt.

Transparency

Open source software allows security experts to verify the security of platforms, check for vulnerabilities, updates, or if there are any backdoors to your data.

Dropbox and WeTransfer are not open source, so you have to trust that they have no access to your personal data and that their platform is secure.

Data breaches

Both Dropbox and WeTransfer have faced security breaches in the past, which put user accounts, emails, and shared files at risk.

Dropbox leaked 68 million user passwords in 2012, and in 2019, a system error with WeTransfer caused emails to be leaked, and many people received the wrong shared files, leaking potentially confidential information.

Alternatives to WeTransfer and Dropbox

Internxt Drive

Internxt Drive offers post-quantum and zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage and file sharing to share private videos, photos, and more in total privacy.

With Internxt, you have total control over who can access your files, as the encryption keys are held on your device, so not even Internxt can see them.

When you share files, the recipient doesn’t need an Internxt account to download them, and you can send up to 10GB of files, enough for:

• About 6 to 10 minutes of 4K HD video (depending on quality and compression)
• About 10 to 25 minutes of HD video (1080p, depending on bitrate)
• Around 100 to 300 HD photos (fewer if RAW, more if compressed JPEG)
• Several thousand documents such as PDFs, Word files, and spreadsheets

Additional features include password-protected file sharing, view and revoke access, and file collaboration.

Internxt is fully open source, and GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001, and SOC 2 compliant, and independently audited to ensure maximum data protection and security for individual and enterprise use.

Aside from that, Internxt offers a more expanded product suite than WeTransfer and Dropbox, with Antivirus, VPN, Meet, Mail, and more available, which you can discover with our full list of features below and get started from just €1.99/month.

So if you want to combine secure cloud storage with full privacy online, visit the Internxt website for 85% off all monthly and lifetime plans, and pick your perfect plan.

Internxt Send

You can combine your Internxt Drive plan with our free service, Internxt Send, to get the same zero-knowledge encryption when sending files securely online.

Once you upload your files, you can send the link via email or message, and everything is encrypted on your device for maximum privacy. Files will automatically expire after 15 days, and there are no file transfer limits for the number or size of files you want to share, so you can use the service as often as you want.

No login or other details are required to use Internxt Send, so you know your personal data is protected with Internxt, and your files are protected with the best encryption available and accessible to nobody.

Related products

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Frequently asked questions

WeTransfer vs Dropbox: which is faster?

WeTransfer is generally faster for one-time file transfers because you simply upload a file and share a download link. It is designed specifically for sending large files quickly.

Dropbox can take longer for the initial upload because it stores and syncs files to your cloud storage. However, once files are uploaded, sharing them is fast, and only changes to files are synced, making it more efficient for ongoing collaboration.

If you need to send a file once, WeTransfer is usually faster. If you regularly access, update, and share files, Dropbox is the better long-term option.

Is WeTransfer safer than Dropbox?

Neither WeTransfer nor Dropbox is inherently safer than the other. Both use TLS encryption for data in transit and AES-256 encryption for data at rest.

The main difference is privacy, not security. Neither service uses zero knowledge encryption by default, so both companies hold the encryption keys and can technically access your files if required for legal, security, or operational reasons.

If your priority is secure file transfers, then you should choose more private alternatives such as Internxt Send or Drive.

What's the largest file WeTransfer and Dropbox allow?

The largest file size you can send depends on your plan.

With WeTransfer, the free plan lets you send up to 3 GB per transfer, while the Starter plan increases this to 300 GB. Ultimate supports transfers up to 1 TB, and Enterprise plans offer custom limits.

With Dropbox Transfer, the free Basic plan allows transfers of up to 2 GB. Paid plans increase this to up to 250 GB, depending on your subscription.

If you need free file sharing for large files, Internxt Send offers large file transfers for up to 5GB.

If you’re looking for free, enterprise, or zero-knowledge cloud storage, two options that may have made your list are Dropbox and MEGA.

Both have been in the cloud storage industry for a long time, and serve different pricing plans and features depending on your storage, privacy, or business cloud storage needs.

For this reason, we will cover Dropbox vs MEGA in detail and discover more about what each service offers in terms of:

• Security and encryption
• Compliance
• Dropbox vs MEGA free plans
• Dropbox pricing & features
• MEGA pricing and features
• Are MEGA and Dropbox safe?
• Alternative to both services

So by the end of this article, you will know more about what each cloud service has to offer, and whether a more privacy-focused cloud storage or file sharing solution, like Internxt, would be the better choice for the security of your files.

Table of contents

• Dropbox vs MEGA overview
• Dropbox vs MEGA free plans
• Dropbox vs MEGA paid plans and features
• Are Dropbox and MEGA safe?
• Alternatives to MEGA and Dropbox
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

Dropbox vs MEGA overview

To get started, below is a general overview of the storage, privacy, encryption, and features offered by Dropbox and MEGA.

Security

Dropbox provides strong enterprise-grade account security controls, including:

• Two-factor authentication
• Support for hardware security keys via WebAuthn,
• Single sign-on integration for enterprise customers
• Login activity monitoring
• View and revoke connected devices
• Remote wipe for linked devices
• Granular session controls

MEGA also provides account security controls, such as:

• Two-factor authentication
• Authenticator apps
• Biew and terminate active sessions
• Basic device tracking for logged-in devices
• Password recovery via a backup key due to its privacy-oriented design

Who wins?

Dropbox offers more advanced and centralized account security controls, especially for organizations, with stronger administrative and device management capabilities.

MEGA provides solid basic account security for individual users, but it is less feature-rich in enterprise identity and access management.

Dropbox vs MEGA encryption

Dropbox encryption

• In transit: TLS (HTTPS)
• At rest: AES-256
• Model: Server-side encryption (Dropbox holds the keys)
• Not end-to-end encrypted by default

MEGA encryption

• In transit: TLS (HTTPS)
• At rest: AES-128 / AES-256 (implementation-dependent)
• Model: End-to-end encryption (zero-knowledge, user holds the keys)
• Encrypted before upload on the user’s device

While MEGA uses end-to-end encryption, which is an advantage over Dropbox, it has had security vulnerabilities with its encryption, as found by security professionals, which we will cover later in this article.

Who wins?

MEGA encryption is better for privacy, as Dropbox could technically access your files.

Neither option, however, offers post-quantum encryption. Internxt is the first cloud storage to combine zero-knowledge AES-526 and Kyber 512 encryption for all plans, which will soon be the industry standard to protect data in the cloud.

So, for the most private and best encrypted cloud storage, Internxt wins for privacy and security with Internxt Drive.

Compliance

As Dropbox offers cloud storage for enterprises and has many enterprise security controls implemented in its cloud service, it also offers the following compliance options for businesses:

Dropbox offers the following three ISO compliance options:

• ISO 27001: International standard for information security management systems (ISMS).
• ISO 27018: Focuses on protecting personally identifiable information (PII) in public cloud environments.
• ISO 27701: Helps organizations manage personal data in compliance with privacy regulations.

For SOC compliance, Dropbox offers:

• SOC 1 Type II: Assesses controls relevant to customers' financial reporting.
• SOC 2 Type II: Evaluates controls related to security, availability, confidentiality, processing integrity, and privacy.
• SOC 3: A public summary of the SOC 2 assessment that provides general assurance about Dropbox's security controls.

Depending on your location, different compliance laws apply, so Dropbox complies with:

• GDPR: Supports compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation for organizations processing personal data of individuals in the European Economic Area.
• CCPA and CPRA: Supports compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act and the California Privacy Rights Act for organizations handling California residents' personal information.

Finally, Dropbox offers compliance for the healthcare industry, the most targeted sector for data breaches, phishing, and other cyberattacks.

• HIPAA: Offers support for organizations handling protected health information (PHI) in the United States through Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) on eligible plans.

MEGA offers fewer compliance options, complying with:

• SOC 2 type II
• ISO 27001
• GDPR
• New Zealand Privacy Act

Who wins?

Dropbox is stronger for regulatory compliance and enterprise readiness, while MEGA is more focused on encryption-based privacy for individual users rather than formal compliance frameworks required by regulated industries.

Dropbox vs MEGA free plans

If you’re just considering a free cloud storage plan with Dropbox or MEGA, then choosing which is better will depend on your storage needs.

Dropbox offers a 2GB free cloud storage plan, but MEGA offers more free storage at 20GB with limited transfer.

If you need free cloud storage for large videos, MEGA is the best option; if you need cloud storage for photos, Dropbox’s 2GB plan may be enough.

Dropbox vs MEGA paid plans and features

One of the highest priorities on your list when comparing Dropbox vs MEGA is pricing. Both offer monthly and annual plans, with business plans available for both.

MEGA also offers separate plans for VPN and MEGA’s password manager, which are offered via a separate subscription or combined with your cloud storage plan, which you can check on its website.

For now, we will cover Dropbox vs MEGA for its cloud storage plans, starting with Dropbox.

Dropbox pricing

Dropbox Plus 2TB €11.99/month (Personal use)

• For 1 user
• 30 days to restore deleted files
• Transfer files of up to 50GB
• Edit PDFs and get signatures

Dropbox Standard 3TB €14.50/user/month (Teams and Professionals)

• For 1 person or more
• 180 days to restore deleted files
• Transfer files of up to 100GB
• File branding for shared files
• Password-protect files
• Manage team sharing
• Admin controls

Dropbox Advanced 15TB €21.50/user/month (For companies)

• For 3 people or more
• 1 year to restore deleted files
• Transfer files of up to 100TB
• File branding for shared files
• Password-protect files
• Manage team sharing
• Admin controls
• Tiered admin management
• Advanced key management
• Compliance tracking

MEGA pricing

MEGA Pro I

• 3TB cloud storage
• 3TB uploads & downloads
• €9.99/month
• File versions up to 30 days
• 1-hour video calls
• Basic support

MEGA Pro II

• 10TB cloud storage
• 10TB uploads & downloads
• €19.99/month
• File versions up to 60 days (100 versions)
• Password-protected links
• Link expiration
• Unlimited video calls
• Priority support

MEGA Pro III

• 20TB cloud storage
• 20TB Uploads & downloads
• 29.99/month
• File versions up to 60 days (100 versions)
• Password-protected links
• Link expiration
• Unlimited video calls
• Priority support

If you need more storage, MEGA offers a Pro Flexi plan that is charged monthly, where you can add the storage and transfers you need for up to 10 petabytes of data.

It starts at €15.00 per month, and additional storage and transfer are charged at €3.03 per TB.

Dropbox or MEGA? Which plan is more affordable?

Cheaper overall: MEGA (Pro I is the lowest entry price, and even higher tiers stay generally cheaper than Dropbox per TB for most plans)

Best price per GB (cheapest): MEGA (especially Pro I and Pro II tiers)

Mega is around ~17%–35% cheaper than Dropbox overall, depending on the plan comparison level (bigger savings at higher storage tiers).

If you want to avoid subscription plans entirely and opt for lifetime cloud storage plans, neither Dropbox nor MEGA offers these.

Internxt offers lifetime plans from 1 to 5TB, with the option to stack plans to get up to 100TB of storage. Monthly plans are also available, starting at €1.99 for 1TB of post-quantum encrypted cloud storage.

Choose the perfect plan for your online privacy for 85% off via our website.

Are Dropbox and MEGA safe?

However, neither service is perfect for maximum privacy. Dropbox is not end-to-end encrypted, meaning the provider technically has access to encryption keys, which can allow data access under certain conditions, like legal requests or internal processes.

If this puts you off, check out our article for a list of Dropbox alternatives below.

MEGA, while zero-knowledge for file content, is not fully open source and has less enterprise compliance certification compared to Dropbox and Internxt, which can be a concern for regulated industries or strict audit requirements.

So while both are safe for everyday use with strong security features, users seeking the highest level of privacy control or full transparency may prefer Internxt’s fully zero-knowledge, open source, and independently audited privacy suite.

Dropbox safety concerns

While Dropbox offers multiple compliance and industry-standard encryption, the main concern when asking is Dropbox safe is its lack of zero-knowledge encryption.

Aside from this, Dropbox has had a past of security breaches, including 68 million passwords being leaked online and sharing data with third parties without user consent.

For more information about these past security breaches, and for a secure, private alternative to Dropbox with full zero-knowledge encryption, switch to Internxt and get 85% off with the link below.

MEGA safety concerns

While MEGA doesn’t have public security breaches to the extent of Dropbox, it does have a past of security vulnerabilities due to the encryption it used. Security researchers found the following vulnerabilities with MEGA’s data encryption:

• RSA Key Recovery Attack: MEGA can recover a user’s RSA private key in only 512 login attempts.
• Plaintext Recovery: MEGA can decrypt other vital materials, like node keys and use them to decrypt users' files and communication.
• Framing Attack: MEGA can insert dummy files into the user's storage.
• Integrity Attack: MEGA can accomplish the same result as q framing attack but an integrity attack is much less stealthy.
• GaP-Bleichenbacher Attack: MEGA can decrypt RSA ciphertexts, which are used for encryption, making them ineffective.

The full report can be read below.

Vulnerability Analysis of MEGA Encryption Mechanism

While MEGA now uses end-to-end encryption, it is not open-source, so these claims can’t be verified. MEGA also hasn’t been independently audited, so you would have to trust MEGA’s claims that it offers zero-knowledge encryption.

The previous co-founder of MEGA, Kim Dotcom, also has this to say about why he is no longer involved with MEGA:

“I’m not involved in Mega anymore. Neither in a managing nor in a shareholder capacity. The company has suffered from a hostile takeover by a Chinese investor who is wanted in China for fraud [...] As a result of this and a number of other confidential issues, I don’t trust Mega anymore. I don’t think your data is safe on Mega anymore.” - Kim Dotcom

Whether you trust Kim Dotcom or not, when a founder publicly says they are no longer involved and no longer trust the company, it raises concerns about changes in ownership, governance, and long-term direction.

This, combined with past encryption concerns, may be enough for you to consider an open-source and audited MEGA alternative or for you to check a list of other MEGA alternatives for full peace of mind that your files are encrypted, secure, and there are no backdoors to your data.

Alternatives to MEGA and Dropbox

Internxt Drive

Internxt Drive offers post-quantum encryption combined with zero-knowledge policies, making its cloud storage a much safer, secure, and private cloud solution to Dropbox and MEGA, as neither option offers the same encryption as Internxt.

For security and privacy, it offers:

• Two-factor authentication
• Password recovery via a backup key due to ZKE
• Access controls for file sharing
• Password-protected file sharing
• Encrypted backups
• AES-256 and Kyber-512 encryption
• GDPR, ISO, HIPAA, and SOC compliance
• Open source and independently audited

For advanced cloud management, such as hybrid cloud setups combined with your local storage, Internxt offers NAS support for QNAP and Synology devices, or WebDAV and Rclone support.

While Dropbox focuses on cloud storage, and MEGA offers additional privacy tools, Internxt offers a full privacy product suite, including Antivirus, Meet, Mail, Cleaner, and much more.

So if you need an alternative to MEGA, Dropbox, or any other big tech companies that could access your private files, like Google Drive, Internxt is the best, most private solution.

Internxt vs MEGA vs Dropbox overview

Internxt, Dropbox or MEGA?

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Frequently asked questions

Is MEGA safer than Dropbox?

MEGA is generally safe because it uses end-to-end encryption, meaning only you can access your files. Dropbox is generally safer for enterprise security, but it does not use end-to-end encryption for stored files.

However, as neither is open source, it’s hard to verify the security and safety of these platforms.

For a safe, secure, and private alternative to both, Internxt Drive is your best option thanks to its zero-knowledge and post-quantum encryption.

Is MEGA cheaper than Dropbox?

Yes, MEGA is cheaper than Dropbox, and the more storage you buy, the cheaper it works out. MEGA costs €1.35/TB/month, and Dropbox costs €5.53/TB/month.

Internxt's monthly plans, which include post-quantum and zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage, plus VPN, Antivirus, and password-protected file sharing, start at €1.99/month for 1TB, or avoid subscriptions with its lifetime plans.

Does Dropbox have end-to-end encryption?

No, Dropbox does not offer true end-to-end encryption. Your files are encrypted in transit and at rest, but Dropbox controls the encryption keys, meaning they can technically access your data.

MEGA vs Dropbox: which is better for sensitive files?

MEGA is better because it uses end-to-end encryption, but it has had security vulnerabilities found in its encryption protocols in the past.

For guaranteed privacy of your files, zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage, like Internxt Drive, is the best option to store sensitive files in total privacy.

If you’re considering cloud storage from a company that has been in the industry for a long time, or a cloud storage provider that offers the biggest amount of free storage, then you may be thinking of TeraBox vs Dropbox.

TeraBox offers a tempting free cloud storage plan, but it is heavily restricted. Dropbox has been around for longer, offers more features, but may not be a safe option to store confidential files in the cloud due to its encryption.

To help you make your decision if you’re considering TeraBox vs Dropbox for your cloud storage, this article will cover the following topics:

• TeraBox vs Dropbox features comparison
• Pricing, security, pricing, and free plans
• Are TeraBox and Dropbox secure for private files
• TeraBox vs Dropbox alternatives

We will also offer an alternative to both companies, if you want secure cloud storage that includes zero-knowledge encryption, like Internxt, which also includes a full privacy suite to protect you online.

Table of contents

• TeraBox vs Dropbox comparison
• TeraBox vs Dropbox overview
• Alternative to TeraBox and Dropbox
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

TeraBox vs Dropbox comparison

Below is all the information you need when comparing TeraBox vs Dropbox.

Free storage

If you’re just looking for free cloud storage and want to know which offers more when considering TeraBox vs Dropbox, then TeraBox offers more with its free 1 terabyte plan, whereas Dropbox offers 2GB of free storage.

To get a free storage plan with either service, you simply need to create an account on the Dropbox or TeraBox website.

For Dropbox, free plans include:

• Free storage: 2 GB
• Number of devices: Up to 3
• File Sharing: Create shared links for large files that recipients can view and download without needing a Dropbox account.
• Collaboration: Access file previews for over 175 file types and leave comments.

TeraBox free plans include:

• Free storage: 1 TB of free cloud storage
• Automatic backups: Auto-upload photos and videos from your smartphone directly to the cloud.
• File sharing: Share files and folders with others using secure links (including password protection and access time limits).
• AI: Free trials of TeraBox AI features

TeraBox free plans do come with restrictions, which are worth taking into account if you want its free storage.

These limitations include:

• Upload restrictions of 4GB
• Reduced video definition for streaming
• Reduced upload and download speeds
• Download restrictions and waiting times

Free TeraBox plans also include ads on its platform, which track your app usage, clicks, device info, and sometimes location to show targeted ads. This data is shared with advertising partners and used to build a behavior profile from your TeraBox account.

For more details about TeraBox safety, you can visit our article below.

Who wins?

TeraBox wins for having a bigger amount of free storage in general, but it may not be worth it due to the restrictions on the use of ads.

If you want to store Photos, documents, or other small files, Dropbox has a stronger reputation, fewer restrictions, and enough free storage for smaller files.

Neither Dropbox nor TeraBox offers zero-knowledge encryption, so if you want free cloud storage with maximum privacy, you can sign up for an Internxt account, which offers post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption so nobody but you can access your files.

Terabox vs Dropbox Pricing

For TeraBox vs Dropbox paid plans, both offer monthly and annual plans, with Dropbox offering more storage, at 15TB.

Below are the pricing, storage, and feature comparison of TeraBox and Dropbox paid plans for monthly plans.

TeraBox pricing

Premium 2TB €3.99/month

• Features: 4K video definition
• 30 days to restore deleted files
• No download/upload restrictions
• Ad free
• Photo editing & compression

Premium Plus 5TB €3.59/month

Everything in Premium, plus:

• AI features (research, transcribe, writer, etc)
• Format conversion
• PDF editing, encryption, and signatures
• Add watermark
• File conversion for Excel and PowerPoint

Dropbox vs TeraBox plans

Dropbox Plus 2TB €11.99/month (Personal use)

• For 1 user
• 30 days to restore deleted files
• Transfer files of up to 50GB
• Edit PDFs and get signatures

Dropbox Standard 3TB €14.50/user/month (Teams and Professionals)

• For 1 person or more
• 180 days to restore deleted files
• Transfer files of up to 100GB
• File branding for shared files
• Password-protect files
• Manage team sharing
• Admin controls

Dropbox Advanced 15TB €21.50/user/month (For companies)

• For 3 people or more
• 1 year to restore deleted files
• Transfer files of up to 100TB
• File branding for shared files
• Password-protect files
• Manage team sharing
• Admin controls
• Tiered admin management
• Advanced key management
• Compliance tracking

Who wins?

TeraBox is roughly 40 to 88 percent cheaper per GB than Dropbox, depending on which Dropbox plan you compare it to, with the biggest advantage on the mid-tier Dropbox plans.

However, Dropbox has more advanced features, such as video and productivity tools, and is a better cloud storage for multiple users.

Neither option offers lifetime cloud storage plans, so if you are interested in secure cloud storage with a one-time payment, and a full privacy suite of Mail, Meet, and more, you can check Internxt’s plans below, starting from €1.99/per month.

Dropbox vs TeraBox encryption and privacy

For data encryption, both Dropbox and TeraBox use the industry-standard encryption to protect your files when they are transferred to the cloud and when they are stored on their servers.

Dropbox encryption

• In transit: TLS (HTTPS)
• At rest: AES-256
• Model: Server-side encryption (Dropbox holds the keys)
• Not end-to-end encrypted by default

TeraBox encryption

• In transit: TLS (HTTPS)
• At rest: AES-256 (commonly stated in cloud storage terms)
• Model: Server-side encryption (TeraBox holds the keys)
• Not end-to-end encrypted

If private encryption is high on your list when looking at Dropbox vs Terabox privacy, then neither Dropbox nor TeraBox implements zero-knowledge encryption.

Both Dropbox and TeraBox control the encryption keys and can technically access file contents under certain conditions, for example, legal requests, abuse investigations, or internal processing.

Who wins?

Both TeraBox and Dropbox use the same encryption, but as neither uses zero-knowledge encryption, both could technically access your files.

For encryption that keeps your files in total privacy, so nobody else can access them, you can consider secure cloud storage with zero-knowledge encryption, like Internxt Drive.

Security

This Dropbox vs Terabox overview of security shows that Dropbox offers more advanced security, as it is built with advanced enterprise-grade security controls, such as:

• Account security: 2FA, login alerts for new devices
• Access controls: link controls, file activity tracking
• Data protection: Remote wipe of data from stolen devices
• Enterprise security: Single Sign-On (SSO) integration, advanced admin roles and permissions, Audit logs for compliance tracking, security policy enforcement for organizations

In comparison, TeraBox offers more basic security features, such as 2FA, shareable links with basic permissions, and file recovery for deleted files.

Who wins?

Dropbox wins for security, with more advanced security features for enterprises, and for more advanced control over accounts.

Compliance

For Dropbox vs TeraBox compliance, Dropbox also wins, as it publicly maintains a strong set of internationally recognized compliance certifications, which include:

• SOC 1, 2, and 3
• ISO 27001, 27017, and 27018
• GDPR (EU users)
• CCPA (California users)
• HIPAA and FedRAMP

TeraBox does not have the same compliance certifications as Dropbox; it is mainly a legal baseline (like GDPR applicability) for EU users, and there is less transparency about its compliance.

Another privacy concern is where TeraBox is located.

TeraBox is operated by Flextech Inc., which is registered in Japan, but it is also closely tied to a broader China-linked technology and cloud ecosystem through its parent company structure and infrastructure partners.

With these links to China, the privacy of your data is at a higher risk than European tech companies because companies can be subject to laws that require cooperation with government data requests.

These requests may not have the same level of public transparency or independent oversight you would typically expect in the EU under GDPR, so TeraBox may hand over access to your personal files without you being aware.  

Who wins?

Dropbox wins from a privacy and compliance perspective due to its stronger regulatory compliance, greater transparency, more independent security audits, and stronger legal accountability.

Neither Dropbox nor TeraBox is open source, so the security of their platforms cannot be verified by independent security experts, unlike open source alternatives like Internxt Drive, which is fully open source and independently audited.

TeraBox vs Dropbox overview

Dropbox and TeraBox privacy concerns

Dropbox has been around since 2007, but during that time, it has been involved in numerous data breaches, which may make you consider storing your files in the cloud with this service.

If you're interested in more Dropbox alternatives, such as MEGA, then check out our Dropbox vs MEGA article.

This began in 2011, when a security bug allowed any password to access any Dropbox account for four hours, provided a hacker had access to the email or username, causing all Dropbox accounts to be vulnerable during this time.

A year later, 68 million Dropbox usernames and passwords were leaked online, and in 2022 In November 2022, a phishing attack of a Dropbox employee stole and leaked emails and passwords from numerous employees online.

While TeraBox has not experienced the same data breaches as Dropbox, there are numerous reports online of deleted TeraBox accounts, lost files, and inaccessible accounts.

Both companies, therefore, have a high risk of your data being leaked, accounts being terminated, or your files being hacked due to a lack of zero-knowledge encryption.

For more secure cloud storage, you may want to consider an alternative to Dropbox or an alternative to TeraBox.

Alternative to TeraBox and Dropbox

Internxt Drive

Internxt Drive is the best secure cloud storage to protect your files from Big Tech, data breaches, and data collection.

Internxt is the first cloud storage to protect files in the cloud with post-quantum Kyber 512 encryption combined with AES 256. This protects your files from future cybersecurity attacks that could break current encryption protocols with the power of quantum computers.

Unlike Dropbox and TeraBox, Internxt does not store the encryption keys to your data; everything is encrypted directly on your device, and you hold the keys, so nobody but you or people you choose to share files with can access your data.

Thanks to Internxt’s encryption, your files are protected from hackers, data breaches, and Internxt can never access your data, even if requested by law or government agencies.

All Internxt’s code is open source and available to verify on GitHub, and it has also been independently security audited by a penetration testing company to verify the security of its platform.

To push Internxt’s mission for a private internet for everyone, safe from Big Tech companies spying on your data, Internxt paid plans offer encrypted backups, VPN, and Antivirus.

You can choose from monthly or lifetime plans, which are stackable for up to 100TB, and Ultimate plans include everything you need for your privacy, such as Rclone and NAS support, encrypted and private video calling with Meet, Mail, and more.

To get started with the best encrypted cloud storage and everything you need for full privacy online, visit the Internxt website below to claim an 85% discount on all plans.

Internxt vs TeraBox vs Dropbox overview

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Frequently asked questions

Is TeraBox safer than Dropbox?

Both TeraBox and Dropbox offer the same end-to-end encryption, but TeraBox is linked to Chinese companies, meaning they could access or delete files from your account.

Unlike Dropbox, TeraBox places ads in its free plans, meaning they monitor your activity and share your data with third parties to provide personalized ads.

For a safe alternative to TeraBox or Dropbox, Internxt offers zero-knowledge cloud storage for maximum privacy.

Does TeraBox have a free 1TB plan?

Yes, TeraBox offers a free plan, but it comes with slower download and upload speeds, upload, and streaming restrictions, and free plans feature heavy banner and pop-up ads.

TeraBox vs Dropbox: which has more storage?

TeraBox offers more free cloud storage, with 1TB plans, which feature heavy restrictions, whereas Dropbox offers a smaller, 2GB free plan. For paid plans, TeraBox offers a maximum of 5TB, whereas Dropbox has plans of up to 15TB.

If you need more storage, Internxt offers lifetime plans with a maximum storage of up to 100TB.

Is TeraBox safe for confidential files?

Because TeraBox does not offer zero-knowledge encryption, any confidential files you store with TeraBox could be accessed by TeraBox, law enforcement, or other external agencies.

So TeraBox is not recommended to store confidential files; instead, you should choose a cloud storage with zero-knowledge encryption, like Internxt.

Each year, there are increasing risks to the security of cloud data and our online privacy. Cloud storage statistics help us understand these risks in the cloud, how to prevent them, and which is the best cloud storage you can choose to protect your data.

Throughout this article, we will cover:

• Cloud security statistics
• Data privacy statistics
• Online privacy statistics
• Internet privacy statistics
• How to protect your security and privacy online

By understanding the common security risks in the cloud, we can also learn how to prevent them with cloud storage services and online privacy tools.

Table of contents

• Cloud security statistics
• Data privacy statistics
• Online privacy statistics
• Internet privacy statistics
• How to ensure the best cloud security
• Best cloud storage to protect your data
• Related tools

Cloud security statistics

Below are cloud security statistics from 2026, covering data stored in the cloud, how organizations store data, and the common threats to cloud environments.

1. 88% of organizations operate in hybrid or multi-cloud environments.
2. 66% of organizations are not confident in their ability to detect and respond to cloud threats in real time
3. 70% cite misconfigured cloud services as a major cloud security risk.
4. 66% cite data exposure as a major cloud security risk.
5. 81% of organizations rely on two or more cloud providers for critical workloads.
6. More than 200 cyber incidents affected the UK's critical national infrastructure in the past year, and roughly 75% were linked to state actors.
7. Around 100 zettabytes of data are expected to be stored in the cloud by 2026.
8. Cloud storage accounts for 80% of all data storage worldwide.
9. Zero‑trust architectures (never trust, always verify) are being widely adopted to secure cloud workloads, replacing traditional perimeter‑based models.
10. Compromised identities account for over 70% of cloud breaches, and this trend will accelerate as attackers exploit AI to automate credential harvesting and privilege escalation attacks.

Importance of cloud security statistics

As data stored in the cloud continues to grow, enterprises and businesses face the challenge of how to store this data and the best way to protect it.

One of the most effective methods for cloud storage or hybrid cloud storage models is a zero-trust model.

This security model is based on a “never trust, always verify” philosophy. So unlike traditional security protocols that automatically trust users and devices, a zero-trust model will always require security verification, regardless of the device and previous access.

Data breach cloud security statistics

Data breaches are a major threat to all companies. If data is leaked, it costs companies millions in compliance fines and puts customer data at risk of phishing, spam, and personal information leaking online or via the dark web.

Below are cloud security statistics regarding data breaches and common threats to cloud data.

1. Ransomware attacks hit 78% of companies over the past year, with projected growth of 40% by the end of 2026 based on disclosed incidents. Attackers now target cloud backups directly,
2. The average cost of a data breach globally stands at $4.44 million, while US organizations face $10.22 million average costs driven by regulatory fines and detection expenses.
3. Breaches spanning multiple cloud environments take an average of 276 days to identify and contain, with healthcare incidents taking an average of 279 days.
4. Human error drives 88% of all data breaches, with phishing as the most prevalent cloud breach vector affecting 73% of organizations.
5. 45% of all data breaches now occur in cloud environments (public, private, or hybrid).
6. 39% of cloud incidents directly expose sensitive data such as PII, financial records, or intellectual property.
7. Over 70% of cloud breaches originate from compromised identities, establishing identity compromise as the dominant breach vector. Stolen credentials, session hijacking, and credential stuffing attacks
8. Insider threats represent the costliest breach category, averaging $4.92 million, while phishing-related breaches average $4.8 million. Both attack types exploit human vulnerabilities and continue to affect organizations regardless of technical investment.

Data breach protection methods

From the above statistics, we can see that ransomware combined with phishing often appears in cloud security statistics as the main threat to companies, employees, and personal data.

For protection against ransomware, one of the most effective ways is cloud storage backups, which allow you to restore backed-up versions of files, plus the following cloud security benefits:

• File versioning: You can roll back to earlier, uninfected file versions.
• Immutability/object lock: Backups are made read-only for a set period and can’t be modified, so ransomware can't delete or encrypt them.
• Isolation from endpoints: Cloud backups are separated from your local network, so malware on your devices can't directly reach them.
• Rapid recovery: Data can be restored quickly without having to pay cybercriminals the ransom, reducing downtime and saving the business money.

For phishing protection, businesses should carry out regular employee training on how to identify phishing attacks, as well as AI scams, which are becoming more common and more advanced.

For security tools, phishing can be prevented with

• Encrypted email with advanced spam and phishing filters
• Enforce MFA for additional account protection
• Identity and access controls to prevent unnecessary access to sensitive data

Cloud security challenges statistics

Cloud security has quickly become one of the most critical areas of modern cybersecurity as organizations continue shifting workloads, applications, and data into cloud environments.

While cloud storage is considered a secure and controlled alternative to on-premises infrastructure, it is now the primary target for attackers, with cloud-related breaches officially surpassing traditional data center incidents, as shown by the statistics below.

1. Cloud security breaches have officially surpassed on-premises data breaches.
2. Malicious actors tend to target user IDs, customer phone numbers, comments, and private information.
3. Cloud security statistics reveal that 25% of the world’s total cyber attacks are cloud security attacks.
4. Cloud infrastructure attacks are climbing 21% year-over-year. Identity breaches are at the top, and misconfigurations are found in nearly 38% of breaches. APIs are the backbone of cloud apps and link to 31% of cloud data breaches.
5. 63% of organizations report that storage and data-management costs force them to protect less data than they believe they should.
6. 77% identify identity and access management (IAM) complexity as the top cloud-native security challenge.

As we can see, Identity and access management (IAM) is critical because most cloud breaches start with compromised credentials or misused access. Strong IAM reduces this risk by ensuring only the right people and systems can access the right resources, limiting damage even if an account is compromised.

Data privacy statistics

Related to cloud security, data privacy statistics from 2026 highlight how the switch to online privacy is becoming more common and important for people’s online lives.

1. 85% of global consumers say they want more control over how their personal data is used.
2. 72% of people are more concerned about data privacy now than they were two years ago.
3. 63% of consumers have stopped using a service due to concerns about how their personal data is handled.
4. 73% of consumers are more likely to trust companies that clearly explain how their data is used.
5. 67% of users actively adjust privacy settings on platforms when given the option.
6. 89% of European consumers are concerned about online privacy.

If you’re looking to switch from Big Tech companies to private alternatives, Internxt offers everything you need to stay protected online.

Plans include secure cloud storage, protected with post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption, backups, VPN, Antivirus, Meet, Mail, and more.

Unlike other companies, Internxt’s mission is built on privacy. Internxt can’t see files you store or share in the cloud, and never uses your data for profit.

Online privacy statistics

As more companies face threats to data, more people are becoming concerned about their online privacy and how to protect it, as demonstrated by these online privacy statistics.

1. 90% of consumers say protecting personal data is important, but only 55% feel confident doing it effectively.
2. 57% of users believe their personal data has already been compromised at least once.
3. 86% of consumers report increasing concern about how their data is being used online.
4. 63% of users feel their data is less secure than it was five years ago.
5. Only 37.6% of users actually read privacy policies before sharing personal data.
6. 39% of users actively check whether websites are secure before submitting data.

Internet privacy statistics

When browsing the internet, we may feel like we are browsing in privacy, but the following internet privacy statistics show otherwise.

1. Over 75% of tracking activity occurs before users even interact with cookie consent banners.
2. More than 55% of websites continue tracking users even after explicit opt-out requests.
3. 87% of large advertising platforms continue tracking users even when opt-out signals are enabled (in audit tests).
4. Browser fingerprinting can uniquely identify users with high accuracy even without cookies.
5. Modern tracking methods allow user re-identification across sites even in private/incognito mode.
6. 31% of global internet users use a VPN at least monthly.
7. Only 40% of users feel fully protected online, even when using privacy tools like VPNs.
8. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can still log browsing activity even when users are in incognito mode.
9. Websites often increase tracking activity after users reject cookies instead of reducing it.
10. Accepting cookie banners can increase the number of trackers on a page by up to 70 additional tracking scripts.
11. Only 29% of users correctly understand that VPNs do NOT provide full anonymity online.

As we can see, we may think our privacy is protected online, but there are still ways our browsers can track our data.

To prevent this, we recommend downloading a secure and private browser, combined with Internxt VPN, to hide your IP address and secure your internet connection.

How to ensure the best cloud security

Encryption

Data encryption is the best and only way to ensure data is protected online in the cloud or local storage.

With encryption, even if a hacker accesses a system, the only thing they will see is scrambled text, protecting personal and confidential information.

Encryption is the standard for all forms of communication online, from messaging, cloud storage, and email.

For the best and most secure encryption, choose companies like Internxt, which offers zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage. By choosing this method of encryption, everything is encrypted on your device, ensuring nobody, not even Internxt, can access your files.

Zero-trust approach

Zero trust can reduce the impact of stolen credentials, insider threats, and lateral attacks in a cloud environment by continuously verifying user identity before granting permission to data.

Employee training

According to cloud storage statistics, human error is a major cause of cloud security issues. By carrying out regular training sessions on how to identify phishing attacks and using a secure email, it will significantly lower the risk of security vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit.

Select the right cloud model

Depending on your cloud storage budget, security, and storage needs, you must take into account the following when choosing the right type of cloud storage:

Choose a public cloud for: scalability, low upfront cost, and managed infrastructure. It is ideal for personal use, startups, web applications, testing environments, and workloads that need to scale quickly without maintaining physical hardware.

Choose a private cloud for: maximum control, security, and compliance. It is typically used by organizations handling sensitive data, such as healthcare, finance, or government, where strict regulatory requirements or data sovereignty rules apply.

Choose a hybrid cloud for: a balance of private and public cloud. Keep sensitive workloads in a private environment while using the public cloud for less critical or highly scalable workloads.

Best cloud storage to protect your data

Internxt Drive

Internxt Drive is a zero-knowledge and post-quantum encrypted cloud storage for secure backups, storage, syncing, and sharing large files.

It is open source, audited, and GDPR compliant, ensuring the platform is able to be verified for its security, and data is handled with the best European privacy laws.

It offers up to 5TB of storage, with lifetime plans having the option to add more storage if your storage runs out.

It also offers advanced sharing controls with password-protected file sharing for large videos or business projects, as well as WebDAV and Rclone support. Ultimate plans also include NAS support for QNAP and Synology, allowing you to set up your local and cloud storage together for increased security and privacy.

Aside from cloud storage, Internxt offers a full privacy suite for online and device protection with VPN, Cleaner, and Antivirus, with Meet and Mail also available.

To get started with Internxt, visit our website, check out our best cloud storage prices below, and get 85% off all our annual and monthly plans to get started.

Internxt S3

For enterprise cloud storage, Internxt offers S3 cloud object storage to store petabytes of data, backup files, and access large amounts of data quickly.

Internxt S3 is a European-based object storage solution and alternative to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, offering a fixed storage plan of €7/TB/month, with no egress or ingress fees, offering an 80% cheaper alternative to these Big Tech companies.

All Internxt plans are GDPR, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and SOC 2 compliant, offering the best data protection and security for all types of data.

To get started with Internxt S3, you can visit our website to contact a member of our sales team to get the best cloud security, scalability, and affordable cloud storage for your business.

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In 2026, the world is expected to generate roughly 450 to 500+ million terabytes of data per day due to continued rapid growth in:

• Video streaming and short-form content
• AI model training and inference data
• IoT devices and sensors
• Cloud services and enterprise data systems

All this data needs to be stored somewhere, but is cloud storage or local storage best to manage your data?

Throughout this article, we will cover

• Cloud vs local storage
• Cloud storage vs local storage security
• Cloud storage vs local storage: pros and cons
• Cloud vs local storage costs

This way, you will gain a deeper understanding of both storage models and determine which best suits your personal, business, or enterprise use case.

Table of contents

• What is cloud storage?
• What are the different types of cloud storage?
• Pros & cons of cloud storage
• What is local storage?
• Cloud storage vs local storage: pros and cons
• Pros & cons of local storage
• Cloud storage vs local storage: quick comparison
• Best cloud storage alternative to local storage
• Internxt Drive
• Internxt S3
• Internxt cloud storage vs local storage cost
• How to choose between cloud storage vs local storage
• Related articles
• Frequently asked questions

What is cloud storage?

Cloud storage is a way to store your files on remote servers rather than on your own device. These servers are owned and managed by a cloud provider and are accessed over the internet.

When you upload a file to the cloud, it is stored in a secure data center and can be accessed from any device, anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection.

Below, we will cover the different types of cloud storage available, so when comparing cloud vs local storage, you have an in-depth idea of how both storage models work.

What are the different types of cloud storage?

When you’re choosing between cloud vs local storage, some of the most popular options for storing files in the cloud come from big tech companies (Google Drive, OneDrive, etc), but there are other options you can choose from, depending on your use case.

Public, hybrid, and private

Cloud storage stores data on remote servers that are accessed over the internet instead of relying only on local hard drives.

For the deployment model, data is stored in servers in data centers managed either by third-party providers or the organization.

The three main types of cloud storage are public, private, and hybrid cloud.

Public

In a public cloud model, such as Internxt Drive secure cloud storage, storage and computing resources are run in European data centers, encrypted on your device, and sent to its servers to ensure nobody can access your files.

Public cloud storage is commonly used for personal cloud storage backups, file syncing across devices, media storage, web applications, and large-scale data storage, where strict control over infrastructure is not required.  

Choose a public model for: low cost, simplicity, and scalability

Private

For private cloud storage, the infrastructure runs on dedicated servers used by a single organization. It can be hosted on-premises in a company’s own data center or by a provider in a dedicated environment.

Choose a private model for: maximum security, control, or compliance

Hybrid

A hybrid cloud storage model is a combination of private and public cloud environments that are connected together. You choose this model when you need to separate your data.

Sensitive or regulated data stays in the private cloud, while large-scale storage, backups, testing, or temporary workloads run in the public cloud.

It is commonly used by businesses that have mixed requirements, such as keeping customer or financial data secure while using public cloud resources for scaling, analytics, or cost efficiency.

Object, block & file storage

Cloud storage can also be classified by storage type, which describes how data is organized and stored.

The three main storage types are

1. Object storage
2. Block storage
3. File storage.

Object Storage

Cloud object storage, such as Internxt S3, stores data as individual objects containing the file, metadata, and a unique identifier to quickly retrieve data.

Objects are stored in a flat structure, so it has unlimited availability and is a cost-effective solution used by enterprises for backups, archives, photos, videos, media libraries, cloud storage services, and large datasets.

Choose object storage for: scalability and storing terabytes or petabytes of unstructured data.

Block Storage

Block storage stores data in fixed-size blocks, each of which has a unique address, allowing applications to access and modify data quickly, providing high performance and low latency.

This storage is commonly used for databases, virtual machines, and enterprise applications.

Choose block storage for: high performance and low latency

File Storage

File storage stores data in a hierarchical structure using files, folders, and directories. If you use Windows, macOS, or Linux file systems, it’s the same organizational model, making it familiar and easy to manage.

File storage is commonly used for shared drives, team collaboration, document management systems, network-attached storage (NAS), and applications that require traditional file paths.

Choose file storage for: shared access and file management

Pros & cons of cloud storage

When choosing between cloud vs local storage, it’s important to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

Accessibility: Access files from anywhere with an internet connection, making it easy to work from any device or when working remotely.

Backups: Protect data from common threats to data, such as ransomware, hardware failures, theft, or accidental deletion.

Scalability: Cloud storage plans offer terabytes of storage. With Internxt Drive plans, you can get 5TB to up to 100TB of storage.

File sharing and collaboration: Share large files and folders quickly and securely via a secure link or email.

Redundancy: Cloud storage stores your data across multiple servers or locations to improve reliability and availability, and ensure you can always access your files

Synchronization: Keep files updated across computers, smartphones, and tablets automatically so you always have the most recent version of your files available.

Security: Encryption (end-to-end or zero-knowledge), access controls, and 2FA are all handled by the provider to ensure your files are kept secure.

Disadvantages

• Reliance on an internet connection: Accessing, uploading, and syncing files typically requires a stable internet connection, which may not be convenient or totally secure if using public wifi.
• Ongoing subscriptions: Monthly or annual fees can become more expensive than local storage over time, but you can avoid this with an Internxt lifetime plan.
• Privacy: Data is stored on third-party servers, requiring trust in the provider's security and privacy practices. Some companies hold the encryption keys to your data, meaning they could access your files without your knowledge.
• Vendor lock-In: Migrating data to the cloud can be time-consuming and costly.
• Storage limits: Plans often include storage caps, requiring upgrades as data requirements grow, although some services offer unlimited cloud storage
• Compliance: Certain industries may face legal or regulatory requirements that limit where and how data can be stored.

What is local storage?

Local storage stores data directly on physical hardware rather than on remote cloud servers, such as:

• Hard drives
• SSDs
• USB drives
• On-premises servers (data stored on an infrastructure or device owned by you or an organization)

Local storage can also include internal or external hard drives, file servers within a company, Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems such as QNAP or Synology devices.

The key difference between local storage vs cloud storage is that data remains physically close to the user or organization, giving full direct control over how it is stored, secured, and managed.

Unlike cloud storage, local storage requires the owner to handle all maintenance, upgrades, backups, and security. This includes managing hardware failures, software updates, and physical protection of the systems.

While it offers high control and potentially faster local access speeds, it also comes with higher responsibility and upfront hardware costs.

Cloud storage vs local storage: pros and cons

Pros & cons of local storage

Like cloud storage, local storage has its benefits and disadvantages, which you can consider when making your decision between local storage vs cloud storage.

Advantages

• No internet required: Files can be accessed anytime without needing an internet connection, offering more reliability and convenience in offline environments.
• Control over your data: Users or organizations have complete control over where data is stored, how it is managed, and who can access it.
• One-time Hardware Cost: Storage is typically a one-time investment in physical hardware, but costs may increase over time if more storage is required
• Faster access: Data can be accessed at high speed over local networks or directly from the device, reducing latency.
• More predictable and reliable performance: As local storage is not affected by internet speed or cloud infrastructures, it is often more reliable.
• Custom security: Security measures can be fully customized and managed internally based on specific needs or policies.
• No subscription costs: After the initial hardware investment, there are no monthly costs for the storage capacity.
• Better for compliance: Local storage offers complete control over your data, so for businesses with compliance needs and regulatory standards like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HIPAA, this can be a better option.

Disadvantages

• High initial investment: Requires significant initial investment in hardware such as servers, hard drives, and networking equipment.
• Limited Scalability: Expanding storage requires purchasing and installing additional physical hardware.
• Risk of damage or loss: Local storage is at high risk of hardware failure, theft, fire, or other physical damage, meaning properly backing up data is essential.
• Maintenance: All updates, repairs, and system management must be handled internally, which could compromise the system if improperly managed.
• IT management requirements: Local storage requires skilled personnel to manage infrastructure, security, and performance, all of which add to business costs.
• Slower Collaboration: Sharing and accessing files across different locations can be less efficient compared to cloud storage.

Cloud storage vs local storage: quick comparison

Now that we’ve covered cloud storage vs local storage in detail, you can check below for a quick overview of both storage models.

Best cloud storage alternative to local storage

Internxt Drive

Encryption

Internxt Drive is a secure cloud storage solution that protects your data with AES-256 zero-knowledge encryption, and it’s the first cloud storage to implement post-quantum encryption for all free and paid plans.

All files are encrypted on your device before they are sent to Internxt’s cloud data centers, and only you hold the keys, meaning Internxt nor anybody else can access your files.

This makes Internxt stand out from cloud providers such as Google Drive, which can access or hand over your files to law enforcement if required.

In contrast to local storage, Internxt handles all the security and encryption, meaning you never have to worry about your files being hacked.

Backups & redundancy

All paid Internxt plans offer encrypted backups that you can schedule to ensure your files are protected against ransomware or accidental data loss. From Internxt’s side, all your files are stored in multiple data centers to ensure a copy of your file always remains accessible.

File versioning

Premium and Ultimate plans also offer file versioning of up to 30 days, allowing you to store, track, and restore different versions of a document.

Secure sharing

Thanks to Internxt’s award-winning encryption, you can store your files privately and also share large files in total privacy with Internxt’s advanced sharing features.

You can protect files with a password, control access, restrict who sees your files, and share large files with an encrypted link. With zero-knowledge encryption, nobody but you and those you choose to share your files with can access them.

Full privacy suite

Aside from post-quantum encrypted cloud storage, Internxt also offers several features to protect your privacy online, and advanced cloud management features such as WebDAV and Rclone support.

For the full list of features of a paid Internxt plan, such as Internxt VPN, Meet, Mail, and more, visit our website to claim your 85% Internxt special offer on all annual and lifetime plans, and check the full list of features below.

Hybrid cloud support

If you own your own QNAP or Synology NAS device, you can connect your Internxt Drive to your NAS system, giving you a secure way to sync, back up, and access your cloud files directly from your local storage environment.

Compliance

Internxt is based in Valencia, Spain, and follows GDPR compliance, giving you total control over your personal data.

Internxt is also ISO 27001, SOC 2, and HIPAA compliant, meaning it offers total security for all types of business and enterprise data.

Open source and audited

To validate Internxt’s security, Drive has been audited twice by an independent security company, Securitum, verifying that the platform is secure against cyberattacks.

All Internxt’s products are open source, so anyone with the right knowledge can check and verify the security of Internxt’s privacy suite.

Internxt S3

Internxt S3 is a cloud object storage solution for enterprises that need to store, backup, and access petabytes of data.

Unlike AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure, Internxt S3 offers a fixed price of €7/TB/month, with no additional data transfer fees.

Choose Internxt Drive if you need zero-encrypted cloud storage, and Internxt S3 if your enterprise needs secure, scalable, and affordable object storage for large amounts of data.

Internxt cloud storage vs local storage cost

If you choose an Internxt 5TB lifetime plan, you only need to pay once to access your storage and features forever. After that, there are no recurring storage fees as Internxt handles infrastructure, updates, redundancy, and maintenance, so the cost stays fixed over time.

With local storage, say you choose a 5TB NAS system, the initial cost ranges from €500 to €760, not including ongoing electricity usage, and upgrading your hardware for more storage over time.

As local storage only includes cloud storage, with Internxt, you get more privacy online and more value for your money.

Internxt S3 cloud vs local storage cost

For object cloud storage vs local storage, we will consider Internxt S3 and local storage for the cost of 50 terabytes of storage.

Average initial local storage costs

• NAS/server: €1,000 – €5,000
• 10TB enterprise HDDs (6–10 drives): €1,500 – €4,000
• RAID redundancy overhead (lost capacity): +20–40% extra drives

Total upfront cost: €2,500 – €9,000

Ongoing costs (annual)

• Electricity: €100 – €400
• Cooling / infrastructure: €100 – €500
• IT maintenance/support: €500 – €3,000+
• Drive replacement (every 3–5 years): €1,500 – €4,000 (amortized yearly: ~€300 – €1,000)

Total yearly ongoing: ~€1,000 – €5,000+

Internxt S3 (50TB)

• €7 / TB / month × 50TB = €350/month
• €4,200/year

Includes storage, redundancy, infrastructure, maintenance, and scaling.

• Enterprise local storage: €2,500 – €9,000 upfront + €1,000 – €5,000+ yearly
• Internxt S3: €4,200/year, no hardware or maintenance costs

Savings over 5 years for 50TB:

• Low-end enterprise setup: Internxt S3 is ~44% more expensive
• Mid-range enterprise setup: Internxt S3 is ~0% to 30% cheaper
• High-end enterprise setup: Internxt S3 is ~38% to 70% cheaper

For more information about local storage vs cloud storage costs, visit our article below.

How to choose between cloud storage vs local storage

Choosing between cloud storage and local storage depends on how you need to access your data, how much control you want, and how much you are willing to manage.

Cloud storage is best when you need flexibility, remote access, and automatic backups.

Local storage is better when you want full control, faster local performance, and no reliance on the internet.

Another option for personal or business cloud storage is a hybrid approach, using cloud storage for flexibility and local storage for sensitive or high-performance workloads.

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Frequently asked questions

Is cloud storage better than local storage?

Neither option is universally better. Cloud storage like Internxt Drive offers accessibility, scalability, and easy collaboration, and a full product suite included for extra online privacy.

Local storage provides greater control, faster access speeds, and independence from an internet connection.

What is the difference between cloud storage and local storage?

The main difference is where the data is stored. Cloud storage keeps files on remote servers accessed online, while local storage keeps files on physical devices such as hard drives, SSDs, or network storage systems.

Cloud storage vs local storage security: which is more secure?

Both can be secure when managed properly. Cloud storage providers invest heavily in security measures, while local storage gives users direct control over data protection. Security ultimately depends on how each solution is configured and maintained.

Is cloud storage cheaper than local storage?

Cloud storage typically has lower upfront costs but ongoing subscription fees, which you can avoid if you choose a cloud storage lifetime plan like those offered by Internxt Drive.

Local storage usually requires a larger initial investment but may cost less over the long term, depending on storage requirements.

What are the risks of local storage vs cloud storage?

Local storage can be vulnerable to hardware failures, theft, accidental damage, and data loss if backups are not maintained. Without redundancy, a single device failure can result in lost files.

Cloud storage risks include service outages, account compromises, vendor lock-in, and dependence on internet connectivity. These risks can often be reduced through proper security practices and backup strategies.

Data encryption is a complex, but crucial aspect to protect your data, either in the cloud, in your private cloud storage, or when you send messages, emails, or send or transfer any information via the internet.

To help simplify this topic, this article will cover:

• What is data encryption
• How encryption protects data
• Best way to protect and encrypt data

We will also cover the best encrypted cloud storage to protect your data in the cloud, and which encryption methods are best for your privacy.

Table of contents

• What is data encryption?
• Benefits of data encryption
• Different types of data encryption
• Data encryption algorithms
• Data encryption standards
• Can encrypted data be hacked?
• How Internxt Drive encrypts and protects your data
• Related articles
• Frequently asked questions

What is data encryption?

Data encryption is the process of converting readable information (plain text) into a coded form (ciphertext) so that only authorized people can access it. It protects data by making it unreadable to anyone who does not have the correct key to unlock it.

When data is encrypted, it looks like random characters instead of meaningful information, such as this example:

5b1d3f9a7c2e8d91a4f6b0c3e8d2f7a1

To turn it back into its original form, you need a decryption key.

Encryption is used everywhere in cloud storage, messaging apps, banking, and websites. It protects data when it is being sent over the internet and when it is stored on servers.

Benefits of data encryption

Prevents data breaches

As data encryption turns sensitive data into unreadable text, even if attackers gain access to a system, they cannot easily use the data, leak the data online, or use it in phishing or AI scams.

Supports compliance

By implementing encryption, businesses can meet and follow strict regulations to protect sensitive data.

To ensure maximum data security and protection, Internxt offers zero-knowledge and post-quantum encryption to meet GDPR compliance, HIPAA for healthcare data, ISO 27001 certification for establishing and maintaining a structured information security management system, and SOC 2 compliance, which verifies that the company has strong controls in place to protect customer data, ensure availability, maintain confidentiality, and guarantee data integrity.

Secures data at rest and in transit

In transit encryption protects your data when it is transferred over the internet to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks.

At rest encryption protects data in servers or anywhere the data is stored, to ensure nobody can access the data even if the systems are compromised.

Cloud storage protection

One of the biggest challenges for individuals, businesses, or enterprises is protecting data with secure cloud storage and backups.

While all cloud providers offer encryption, not all provide zero-knowledge protection, so in some cases, like with Google Drive, employees or law enforcement can access the files you store in the cloud.

This is why Internxt Drive and Internxt S3 cloud object storage encrypt files directly on your device to ensure maximum data protection, and secure cloud backups to protect against ransomware.

Protects intellectual property

Encryption also offers business security by protecting intellectual property by encrypting sensitive business data such as designs, research, and trade secrets, preventing unauthorized copying or theft.

Different types of data encryption

Symmetric (private encryption)

Symmetric encryption protects data with one single secret key that is used to encrypt data (turn it into ciphertext) and unlock information (return it to its original form).

This makes it very fast and efficient, which is why it is widely used to protect large amounts of data, such as files in cloud storage, databases, and backups.

The most common example of symmetric encryption is AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), especially AES-256, which is considered the standard for all data encryption methods.

Symmetric encryption is fast and strong for protecting data, but it depends heavily on keeping a single secret key safe.

To protect the secret key, cloud storage providers use separate data encryption keys that are protected by secure key management systems and hardware security modules, so the main keys are never directly exposed.

Asymmetric (public encryption)

Asymmetric encryption is a method of protecting data that uses two different but mathematically linked keys: a public key and a private key.

The public key can be shared openly with anyone with multiple people and via the internet because only the owner of the private key can decrypt the information.

The most commonly used types of asymmetric encryption are:

1. RSA = Rivest–Shamir–Adleman
2. DSA = Digital Signature Algorithm
3. ECC = Elliptic Curve Cryptography

Data encryption in transit

Data encryption in transit protects information while it is being sent between devices, servers, or online services.

It works by scrambling the data into a coded format that cannot be read by anyone who intercepts it during transmission. Only the intended recipient, who has the correct key to unlock the data, can read the original information.

For example, when you log into a website, send an email, or upload a file to the cloud, encryption in transit helps prevent hackers, internet providers, or other unauthorized parties from viewing or stealing your data as it travels across the internet.

This is commonly achieved using secure protocols such as HTTPS and TLS, which create a protected connection between you and the service you are using.

Data encryption at rest

Once your data reaches its destination, encryption at rest protects data when it is stored on a device, server, or cloud storage system. It converts information into an unreadable format, so if a server is compromised or a storage device is stolen, the encrypted data remains protected because it cannot be read without the key needed to unlock it.

Data encryption algorithms

Advanced Encryption Standard 256 (AES)

Advanced Encryption Standard 256, usually called AES-256, is a method used to protect data by turning it into unreadable code (ciphertext), so only someone with the correct key can unlock it.

It is a type of symmetric encryption, and is the current encryption standard used by all major cloud storage companies, from Google Drive to OneDrive.

The “256” refers to the size of the encryption key, which is 256 bits long. This makes it extremely difficult to guess or break using brute force methods, which is why it is considered very secure and is widely used by cloud providers and security systems around the world.

Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC)

Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) is a method used to protect data and secure communication by using mathematical curves to create encryption keys, and is used by Proton Drive.

ECC is based on the difficulty of solving problems involving points on an elliptic curve. This makes it much more efficient while still being very secure.

In cloud systems, ECC is mainly used for key exchange and digital signatures, not for encrypting large files directly. It helps two systems securely agree on a shared secret key, which is then used with faster symmetric encryption like AES-256 to actually protect the data.

The main advantage of ECC is that it provides the same level of security as older systems like RSA, but with much smaller keys. This means faster performance, lower computing power, and less bandwidth usage, which is especially important in cloud storage, mobile devices, and large-scale systems.

Kyber 512 post-quantum encryption (PQE)

Kyber-512 is a post-quantum cryptographic algorithm designed to securely exchange encryption keys. The National Institute of Standards and Technology recommends that all companies switch to post-quantum encryption by 2035 to prevent the threats of quantum computers.

Today's data encryption systems, like ECC and RSA, are used to securely share encryption keys over the internet.

These rely on mathematical problems that are very hard for normal computers to break, but a sufficiently powerful quantum computer running algorithms like Shor’s algorithm could solve them much faster, effectively breaking the encryption that protects your data.

Kyber-512 avoids this risk by using a completely different kind of math called lattice-based cryptography.

Instead of relying on number factorization or elliptic curves, it is based on the difficulty of solving structured problems in high-dimensional grids of numbers. These problems are believed to remain hard even for quantum computers because there is no known efficient quantum algorithm that can solve them.

Due to the importance of future-proofing data from future cybersecurity threats, Internxt is the first encrypted cloud storage to protect your data with Kyber-512 and AES-256 encryption.

The major difference between Internxt Drive and other cloud companies is that Internxt combines PQE with zero-knowledge policies. This means all files are encrypted on your device, and only you hold the encryption keys, so nobody but you or those you share your files with can access them.

Even if law enforcement or government agencies requested access to your files, Internxt’s encryption makes this impossible, and all of Internxt’s security can be verified with its open source software.

Internxt’s data encryption and security have also passed an independent security audit by Securitum, a professional penetration testing company that also audits Proton, Bitwarden, NordVPN, and other privacy-focused services.

Choosing Internxt Drive gives you full privacy of your files, the most advanced encryption, and a future-proof way to store, backup, and share files in the cloud.

SHA-256 (hashing algorithms)

Hashing algorithms are different from data encryption, but still work to protect your data. While encryption hides your data, hashing algorithms verify that the data has not been altered.

In cloud storage, SHA-256 is used to check if data has been changed or corrupted. A file gets a hash when it is uploaded, and later the system checks it again. If the hashes match, the file is unchanged.

SHA-256 is also used in password security. For example, instead of storing actual passwords, systems store the hash of the password. When you log in, your entered password is hashed and compared to the stored hash. If they match, access is granted, but the system never needs to store or reveal the real password.

As Internxt uses zero-knowledge encryption, it cannot access your password, so for added account security, we recommend downloading a backup key to recover your account, which you can download when creating your Internxt account and following the steps below.

Download Internxt backup key

Data encryption standards

NIST

NIST data encryption standards are security guidelines created by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology to define how data should be protected in government, industry, and cloud systems.

The most important current standard is AES, which NIST selected as the official standard for symmetric encryption. It is used to encrypt data at rest and in transit, with AES-128, AES-192, and AES-256 being the approved key sizes. AES-256 is the most commonly used for high-security systems.

Common Criteria (CC) for Information Technology Security Evaluation

Common Criteria does not create encryption rules, but it independently verifies how secure a product is and how well it uses encryption and other security mechanisms.

It is the international standard used to evaluate and certify the security of IT products, including encryption systems, software, and hardware.

Can encrypted data be hacked?

Data encryption can be hacked, and due to the sensitive nature of encrypted data, hackers try many ways to try and access data.

Common risks include:

• Accidental exposure: If the secret encryption key is accidentally exposed or fails to be protected,  attackers can gain access to protected data.
• Social engineering attacks: the most common way cybercriminals attempt to access encrypted data is via social engineering, such as phishing attacks or AI scams.
• Insider threats: A severe threat to encrypted data is the possibility that an employee with high access levels will access sensitive data, or that data can accidentally be leaked.
• Malware: Attackers can compromise devices using malware and use it to decrypt data on your device.

So, although encryption is a strong and effective security measure, it should still be treated as another layer of protection that you must add additional security methods to, such as strong passwords and secure file sharing.

How Internxt Drive encrypts and protects your data

Internxt is the only cloud storage with Kyber 512 and AES 256 encryption, combined with zero-knowledge policies. All data is encrypted on your device, and you hold the encryption keys, so nobody but you can access your data.

Internxt Drive features include:

• Encrypted backups
• File syncing
• 2FA
• Password-protected file sharing
• Rclone, WebDAV, and NAS support

All plans include the same advanced encryption, and with paid plans, you can build a privacy-focused plan alongside your cloud storage with annual and lifetime plans, which you can get for 85% off by following the link below.

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Frequently asked questions

Why is data encryption important?

Encryption protects sensitive information from unauthorized access, helping prevent data breaches, identity theft, and cyberattacks.

What is the difference between encryption at rest and encryption in transit?

Encryption at rest protects data stored on servers, devices, or cloud storage. Encryption in transit protects data while it is being transferred between systems or over the internet.

Can encrypted data be hacked?

Strong encryption is extremely difficult to break. However, weak passwords, stolen keys, or security vulnerabilities can still expose encrypted data.

What is a decryption key?

A decryption key is a secret piece of information used to convert encrypted data back into its original, readable form.

What is the difference between encryption and hashing?

Encryption can be reversed with the correct key to recover the original data. Hashing is a one-way process used to verify data integrity and cannot be reversed.

How does encryption protect cloud storage?

Encryption ensures that files stored in the cloud remain unreadable to unauthorized users, even if the storage system is compromised.

What is post-quantum encryption?

Post-quantum encryption uses cryptographic methods designed to remain secure against future quantum computers that could break some of today's encryption systems.

Does encryption affect performance?

Modern encryption has a minimal impact on performance. Most devices and cloud services are designed to encrypt data efficiently without noticeable slowdowns.

Is encrypted data completely secure?

Encryption greatly improves security, but it should be combined with strong passwords, access controls, and other security measures for maximum protection.

Which industries rely on data encryption?

Healthcare, finance, government, legal services, technology companies, and any organization that handles sensitive information rely on encryption to protect data and comply with regulations.

Is it even worth talking about Amazon Drive in 2026? Not really, on its own, because the service no longer exists. Yet thousands of people still type "Amazon Drive vs Dropbox" into Google every month, unsure where their files are supposed to live now.

Amazon Drive shut down for good on December 31, 2023, and Amazon moved everything to Amazon Photos, which only keeps images. So your files need a new home.

If you want privacy, Internxt Drive encrypts everything so only you can read it. If you want easy syncing and sharing, Dropbox does that well. Google Drive and OneDrive work if you already live in those worlds, and there's a cheaper S3 option for developers further down.

If you came to pit Amazon Drive against Dropbox, we still do that below. But with Drive gone, the bigger question is which service to move to, and that's what most of this guide covers. Amazon has clearly moved on as well, giving Amazon Photos a major AI-powered redesign in May 2026 while leaving Drive behind.

Table of contents

• Is Amazon Drive still available?
• Why did Amazon discontinue Amazon Drive?
• What happened to my files when Amazon Drive shut down?
• Is Amazon Drive free for Prime members?
• Amazon Drive alternatives compared: which should you migrate to?
• Amazon Drive vs Dropbox: how did they compare?
• Why is Amazon S3 more expensive than Dropbox?
• Where Dropbox still falls short
• The private alternative: how Internxt compares
• Which should you choose now?
• FAQ

Is Amazon Drive still available?

No. Amazon Drive is gone, and it went in stages:

• October 31, 2022: the Amazon Drive app was pulled from the App Store and Google Play.
• January 31, 2023: Amazon stopped letting users upload new files.
• December 31, 2023: the service shut down for good. After that date you could no longer view or download files through Amazon Drive.

Photos and videos were moved over to Amazon Photos, which is still running. Everything else, meaning your documents, PDFs, zip files, and anything that wasn't an image or video, had to be downloaded by hand before the deadline, or it was gone.

Why did Amazon discontinue Amazon Drive?

Amazon's official reason was focus.

It would rather pour everything into Amazon Photos than keep two overlapping storage products limping along. And honestly, Drive was always the neglected sibling: confusingly branded (it spent years as "Amazon Cloud Drive"), thin on features, and buried so deep in Amazon's menus that most people never knew it was there.

It's a small thing, but it matters. Amazon Drive didn't fail, exactly. It just stopped earning its place inside a company with bigger bets elsewhere. When you hand your files to Big Tech, you're trusting that the product stays profitable enough to keep around, and that call gets made in a boardroom, not by you.

What happened to my files when Amazon Drive shut down?

If you stored photos or videos, they were moved to Amazon Photos automatically, and they're still there.

The downside is that Amazon Photos only takes images and videos, not the documents and general files Drive used to hold. (If you'd rather not leave your photos with Amazon either, here's our take on the best Amazon Photos alternatives.)

Anything else, you had to download before December 31, 2023, because none of it was migrated. If you're only finding out about the shutdown now, whatever non-media files you kept on Amazon Drive are no longer recoverable from Amazon.

Either way, you'll need somewhere new to put your files.

Is Amazon Drive free for Prime members?

This one trips people up, so let's be precise. Amazon Photos, which is still running, gives Prime members unlimited photo storage and 5GB for videos as part of the membership. Amazon Drive, which is gone, used to have its own separate 5GB free tier with paid plans on top.

So if what you're really asking is "do I still get free Amazon storage with Prime?", the answer is yes, but only for photos and videos, through Amazon Photos. For documents and general files, Prime now gives you nothing.

Amazon Drive alternatives compared: which should you migrate to?

Here's how the main consumer options stack up. Amazon Drive is in the table only as a reference point, since you can't actually sign up for it anymore.

Internxt's annual plans are billed yearly, and the €1.99/mo (1TB) rate is a current promotional price (80% off the €9.99/mo standard rate). A one-time lifetime plan (€379.99 for 1TB) is also available. Google One 2TB and Microsoft 365 Personal (1TB) are the closest comparable paid tiers, and both also offer 100GB plans at $1.99/mo.

If you just want the easiest mainstream replacement with solid syncing and team features, Dropbox is the natural pick. If part of why you're leaving Amazon is that you'd rather not hand your files to another US data giant, Internxt is built around exactly that worry.

For a wider look at the field, see our full guide to the best Dropbox alternatives, or the head-to-heads on Dropbox vs OneDrive and Box vs Dropbox.

Amazon Drive vs Dropbox: how did they compare?

If you specifically came for the head-to-head, here it is, with the obvious asterisk that one of the two is no longer breathing.

Amazon Drive was cheap and plugged into the Amazon ecosystem, and that was about the end of its charm.

It was barebones: clumsy sharing, no real sync, and hardly any collaboration tools. Dropbox is the opposite. Sync and sharing are the whole point; it works smoothly across every device, and it has shared folders, version history, and file requests that Amazon Drive never bothered to build.

On price, Dropbox Plus runs $9.99 a month (billed yearly) for 2TB and a single user. That's more than Amazon Drive used to charge, but you're paying for something that's actively maintained and genuinely good at its job. (We break down all the tiers in our Dropbox pricing guide.)

Not everyone typing that comparison was looking for somewhere to keep holiday photos, though. A fair number of people mix up Amazon Drive with Amazon S3, Amazon's storage built for developers, and get stuck on a strange question: why does 1TB on S3 cost about $276 a year when Dropbox sells 2TB for $120?

Why is Amazon S3 more expensive than Dropbox? (and the cheaper S3 alternative)

It looks backwards until you realise S3 and Dropbox aren't the same kind of product at all.

Amazon S3 is raw infrastructure. You pay per gigabyte stored, plus per API request, plus egress fees every time you pull data out. It's priced for developers building applications, where that granular billing makes sense. Dropbox is a finished consumer product with flat, bundled pricing, and it runs at enormous scale.

In fact, Dropbox moved the bulk of its storage off Amazon S3 onto its own infrastructure, "Magic Pocket," back in 2015 and 2016, shifting more than 500 petabytes of user data and cutting operating costs by tens of millions a year. So Dropbox isn't reselling S3 at a markup. It's running its own, cheaper stack.

The real sting with S3 is those egress fees. Pulling data out can quietly dwarf your storage bill, something we get into in our breakdown of Amazon S3 storage costs. That's exactly where an S3-compatible alternative earns its keep:

Internxt's S3-compatible object storage is an alternative to AWS for storage and charges zero ingress or egress fees, while staying compatible with the S3 tooling you already use. For predictable bills on real workloads like media archives, backups, and data retention, that gap adds up fast.

Where Dropbox still falls short

Back on the consumer side, Dropbox is a polished product, and for collaboration it's hard to fault. But it has two real weaknesses worth being clear about.

The first is privacy.

Dropbox encrypts your files with 256-bit AES and protects them in transit with SSL/TLS, but it isn't zero-knowledge. Dropbox holds the keys, which means Dropbox and anyone who can legally compel Dropbox, can technically get at your files.

End-to-end encryption only shows up on its top-tier Advanced business plan. For most people, that means your files are private from other users, but not private from Dropbox itself.

The second is jurisdiction. Dropbox is a US company under US data law. If part of why you left Amazon was unease about how Big Tech handles data, moving to another big US provider doesn't really fix that.

None of this is a dealbreaker for everyone. If you just want files that sync and a team that can work together, Dropbox is great. But if privacy was ever the point, it's worth looking at something built for it.

The private alternative: how Internxt compares

Internxt is a privacy-first cloud storage company based in Valencia, Spain, and the whole product is built around one stubborn idea: your files should be readable by you and nobody else, us included.

Here's what that means in practice. Your files are encrypted on your device before they ever leave it, using zero-knowledge AES-256 encryption with post-quantum protection.

Internxt also splits each file into encrypted shards, so no server ever holds a whole file. We don't store your password, and we genuinely can't read your data. The code is open source on GitHub, and the service has been independently audited by Securitum, one of Europe's leading penetration-testing firms.

On the practical side, there's a free plan with 1GB, and paid plans at 1TB, 3TB, and 5TB starting from €1.99 a month (billed annually, on a current promotion).

Internxt also does something almost no mainstream rival offers: lifetime plans, where a single one-time payment (1TB for €379.99, up to 5TB) keeps your storage for good. Being EU-based, it's fully GDPR-compliant, with HIPAA, ISO 27001, and SOC 2 compliance on top.

FAQ

Why did Amazon discontinue Amazon Drive?

Amazon shut down Amazon Drive on December 31, 2023 to focus on Amazon Photos instead of maintaining two overlapping storage products. Photos and videos were migrated to Amazon Photos, while other file types had to be downloaded before the deadline or were lost.

Which is better, Amazon Drive or Dropbox?

Amazon Drive no longer exists, so Dropbox wins by default between the two. When both were running, Dropbox was far stronger for syncing, sharing, and collaboration, while Amazon Drive was cheaper but barebones. For privacy specifically, neither is zero-knowledge, so Internxt is the better pick.

Is Amazon Drive free for Prime members?

Not anymore. Amazon Photos still gives Prime members unlimited photo storage and 5GB for videos, but Amazon Drive, which had its own 5GB free tier for general files, was shut down at the end of 2023.

Where should I migrate from Amazon Drive?

For privacy, Internxt (zero-knowledge, EU-based, lifetime plans). For mainstream syncing and collaboration, Dropbox. For Google or Microsoft users, Google Drive or OneDrive. For developers needing object storage, Internxt's S3-compatible storage.

Why is Amazon S3 more expensive than Dropbox?

Amazon S3 is raw developer infrastructure billed per gigabyte plus request and egress fees, while Dropbox is a flat-rate consumer product running its own large-scale infrastructure.

They serve different needs. For cheaper S3-compatible storage, Internxt Object Storage costs about 80% less than AWS with no egress fees.

Is Dropbox zero-knowledge?

No. Dropbox uses 256-bit AES encryption and SSL/TLS in transit, but it holds the encryption keys, so it is not zero-knowledge. End-to-end encryption is only available on its top-tier Advanced business plan. Internxt is zero-knowledge by default on every plan.

Which should you choose now?

So which one should you actually pick? It depends on what you care about most.

• If privacy matters most, go with Internxt: zero-knowledge encryption, EU jurisdiction, open source, and a lifetime option so you're never at the mercy of a subscription, or another shutdown.
• If you want the smoothest mainstream sync and collaboration, Dropbox is the safe, polished choice, as long as you're fine with US jurisdiction and non-zero-knowledge encryption.
• If you already live in Google or Microsoft's world, Google Drive or OneDrive will be the easiest move.
• If you're a developer who needs S3 storage, Internxt Object Storage gives you S3 compatibility with no egress fees and a much lower storage bill.

Whatever you land on, remember what Amazon Drive made obvious. A tech giant can switch off a service whenever it suits them, and your files go with it. You're better off with a company that's genuinely built around protecting your data and plans to stick around.

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Keep your email account free of unwanted mail with Internxt’s Free Disposable Temporary Email. Temp Mail provides a temporary, secure, anonymous, and free email address.

Internxt – Free Online File Virus Scanner

Free tool for scanning files for viruses and malware. Protect your personal documents, data, and hardware from online fraud with a quick and easy scan.

Internxt Metadata Remover – Clean Your File’s Metadata Online

Remove hidden data from your files in seconds. Internxt’s Metadata Remover cleans your documents for maximum privacy before sharing.

Internxt — Strong Password Generator

Free and secure password generator. An easy and effective tool to instantly create random and secure passwords to keep your accounts safe.