Carbonite and Backblaze both offer the same service: unlimited backups in the cloud.

But there are some differences to be aware of when choosing which one is best, so we will cover Carbonite vs Backblaze considering the following:

• Features
• Pricing
• Security and privacy
• Alternatives to both

Table of contents

• Carbonite vs Backblaze overview
• Carbonite vs Backblaze features
• Carbonite vs Backblaze pricing
• Encryption and security
• Where is your data stored with Carbonite and Backblaze?
• Carbonite vs Backblaze: which one should you choose?
• What is the best alternative to Carbonite and Backblaze?
• Related products

Carbonite vs Backblaze overview

Carbonite and Backblaze are cloud storage backup solutions that protect your files by automatically backing them up online.

Both offer methods to back up your files in the cloud, so you can recover your files if your device is lost, stolen, damaged, affected by hardware failure, or ransomware. With both services, you can recover your data, and nothing is lost.

Backblaze is known for its simplicity and unlimited cloud storage backups for a single computer. It automatically backs up files with minimal setup and offers options for restoring data through downloads or shipped drives.

Carbonite also offers automatic cloud backup, with plans designed for individuals and businesses. Its features vary by subscription, which we will cover next.

Both services primarily focus on backup, so if you want personal cloud storage with file syncing and backups, secure file transfer, and more extensive features, then you should consider cloud storage plans like Internxt.

You can also check out our article on cloud storage vs cloud backup vs cloud sync to find out which would best suit your needs.

Carbonite vs Backblaze features

Overview

As both services focus on backups, their plans are limited outside of this. Below is a comparison of what both services offer.

Platforms

Both are available on Windows and Mac, but not Linux. We cover Linux cloud backup solutions if you need a solution to back up files on your Linux system.

Neither offers backups for your mobile devices, but the Backblaze app is available on iOS and Android to view and manage your files via mobile.

Both services also offer NAS cloud backups, included with a Backblaze plan but only available with a more premium Carbonite plan.

File versioning

File versioning means that a cloud backup service keeps older copies of your files when you change them, so you can restore an earlier version if you make a mistake, overwrite something important, or need to recover previous content.

With Backblaze's 30-day retention, you can potentially recover a version from several weeks ago, but not one that has aged beyond the retention window.

With Carbonite's 12-version limit, you can potentially recover one of the 12 retained earlier versions. If you make changes frequently, the version you need could be pushed out sooner than you expect.

File sharing

For sharing large files securely online, Backblaze has this feature, whereas Carbonite does not. To share a file from Backblaze Computer Backup, you must enable Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage.

You can then select a backed-up file, choose “Share with Link,” and send the generated URL to someone else.

If file sharing isn’t an important feature for a Backblaze plan, you can choose other encrypted file sharing services from our best free file sharing services article.

Courier recovery

If you want a way to recover your device via physical hard drives, then both Carbonite and Backblaze will send you a USB to restore your files.

Backblaze offers this service for 256 GB or less with USBs and up to 8 TB with an external hard drive. Carbonite has no limit; the size of the hard drive depends on the amount you want to restore, so if you want to restore 1 TB, you’ll get a 1 TB Drive; if it’s 5 TB, you get a 5 TB drive, and so on.

For Carbonite vs Backblaze courier prices, Carbonite charges ~99 per request, regardless of the size, whereas with Backblaze it would cost you $99 for under 256 GB and $189 for up to 8TB.

Transparency

Neither provider is open source; they use proprietary software, so their code is hidden. This means you have to trust the encryption and security of the platforms and that there are no backdoors or access to your data and files.

Carbonite vs Backblaze pricing

Carbonite offers 1, 2, and 3-year plans, and the discount increases the longer your subscription.

Plans are broken down into Basic, Plus, and Prime, and all include unlimited storage for automatic backups in encrypted cloud storage; the prices for the annual plans are below.  

• Basic $76.79/year
• Plus $85.79/year
• Prime $105.29/year

Backblaze offers a free trial before you sign up for a monthly, annual, or bi-annual plan, which all offer unlimited backups for PC and Mac.

Backblaze costs $9/month, $99/year, or $189 for two years, so it’s slightly cheaper than Carbonite’s most expensive plan, and slightly more than its mid-tier plan. If all you want is automatic backups, then Backblaze is the cheaper option overall.

Encryption and security

Backblaze and Carbonite both encrypt backed-up files during transmission and while stored in the cloud. In terms of end-to-end encryption, for both services, the answer depends on the product and encryption settings you use.

With both services, you have two options for encryption:

1. The services manage the encryption key needed to restore your data. This means the service can facilitate file recovery without requiring you to manage a separate encryption key yourself. However, they manage the key; the default configuration does not provide strict end-to-end encryption in which only the customer holds the decryption key.
2. Personal Encryption Key (PEK). When you enable it, you supply a passphrase that Backblaze does not store. The passphrase protects the backup's encryption key, and Backblaze states that it cannot decrypt or restore the backup without the passphrase.

So while both offer encrypted backups, the encryption process is not identical to a typical client-side E2EE cloud storage service.

For account security, both offer MFA to add security, which you should use combined with a strong password/passphrase.

Where is your data stored with Carbonite and Backblaze?

Both providers store your backups in the US, which is something you should take into account for the privacy of your files, due to the US’s poor cloud privacy laws such as the Patriot Act, the PRISM program, and the intelligence-sharing network, Five Eyes.

With Backblaze, you can choose to store your data in the Netherlands, but if you want a European provider for your backups, there are other options available. Such as Internxt, Filen or pCloud, and others listed in our European cloud storage providers article.

Carbonite vs Backblaze: which one should you choose?

If you need backups for your desktop (PC or MAC), both offer similar services, but based on your needs, you should:

• Choose Carbonite if you prefer its file-management interface, selectable restore options, and recovery features such as restoring files after a malware infection on eligible plans.
• Choose Backblaze if you want unlimited backup for one computer, support for external hard drives, file version history, and a simple way to back up large amounts of data without managing storage limits

You should choose an alternative to Backblaze and Carbonite if you want cloud storage backups that include syncing, collaboration, and other features to secure your files online.

What is the best alternative to Carbonite and Backblaze?

One popular alternative to Backblaze and Carbonite is iDrive, but for a European, open-source, and end-to-end encrypted solution for your cloud backups, Internxt offers two solid options.

Internxt Drive

Internxt Drive offers private cloud storage with post-quantum and end-to-end encryption. It has data centers located throughout Europe, where multiple copies of your files and backups are stored, and it is also fully open source.

For backups specifically, Internxt offers file versioning and backups of files for desktop apps, including Linux, with the option to back up files via WebDAV, Rclone, or NAS. All files you store and back up in the cloud are end-to-end encrypted and cannot be accessed by Internxt, nor anyone else.

Internxt also includes Internxt Photos, an alternative to Google Photos for you to automatically back up your photos from your mobile, keeping them private and free from AI scanning.

So if you need an alternative to Carbontie or Backblaze, with cloud storage, backups, and a full privacy product suite, Internxt plans start at €1.49/month for 1TB plans, with lifetime plans up to 3TB also available.

Plans also include an encrypted email, VPN, and much more, which you can get for 85% off from our special offer page.

Internxt S3

For businesses who want greater flexibility and control over their storage setup, object storage can be an excellent alternative to Carbonite or Backblaze.

With Internxt cloud object storage, you can automate backups, file versioning, retention policies, and recovery from accidental deletion or data corruption. Internxt S3 also offers immutable backups, which prevent stored data from being changed or deleted during a defined retention period.

This object storage plan is fully scalable, so you can get petabytes of data at a fixed cost of €7/TB with no costs for moving data in or out of the cloud. To get started with the best enterprise cloud storage and backups for your business, visit our website to contact our sales team for more information.

Related products

https://internxt.com/cloud-object-storage

https://internxt.com/mail

https://internxt.com/meet

Secure remote storage offers a solution to store your important files, including videos, photos, and more, remotely online, so you can access, share, back up, or edit your files online across multiple devices.

Throughout this article, we will offer secure remote storage options, explain what are the benefits of using remote storage, and explain how it works, and the different types of storage methods available.

Table of contents

• What is remote storage?
• Is remote storage the same as cloud storage?
• What are the benefits of using remote storage?
• Is remote storage secure?
• What is the best secure remote storage?
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

What is remote storage?

Remote storage lets you store files, documents, photos, or videos on remote servers rather than exclusively on your computer, phone, or other personal device. These servers are accessed over the internet and are usually managed by a cloud storage provider.

When you upload a file to remote storage, the file is transferred from your device to the provider's servers. Once uploaded, you can access it via the cloud provider’s web, desktop application, mobile app, or supported protocols such as WebDAV and Rclone, depending on the service.

Remote storage is commonly used for personal cloud storage, business documents, collaborative projects, media libraries, backups, and long-term archiving.

Is remote storage the same as cloud storage?

All cloud storage is remote storage, but not all remote storage is cloud storage.

Both refer to storing data somewhere other than directly on your local device. However, they differ slightly in how the storage infrastructure is provided, managed, and accessed.

• Cloud storage: Online storage provided and managed by a service provider, such as Internxt Drive.
• Remote storage: Any storage located on another device or server that you access through a network, such as a QNAP or Synology NAS device, a home computer, or a company file server.

The main differences between the two, therefore, relate to how the infrastructure is managed, how the service is delivered, and how much responsibility the user has for maintaining it.

What are the benefits of using remote storage?

Access files remotely

Remote storage allows you to access your files from different devices through a network connection. Instead of keeping everything on your computer, you can store files on a remote server and access them from any device, which is perfect for businesses or personal use.

Free up local storage

In terms of cloud storage vs local storage, remote storage allows large files, such as 4K photos or RAW photo albums, to be stored in the cloud or remotely without using up the local space on your device.

Secure file sharing

Remote storage allows for secure file transfers and large file sharing online by creating a secure link that you can send via email or your preferred method.

Sharing files via remote storage is a secure way to send files online, as they are protected via encryption and can also have added security controls such as password protection, access controls, or link expiration.

Scalability

As your storage requirements increase, remote storage makes it easy to add more storage to your cloud storage plan, and the best NAS devices allow you to add more hard drives.

This is especially useful for businesses, and cloud storage plans for large enterprises, such as object storage, allow businesses to add more storage to meet their growing demands.

Data availability

Remote storage makes it possible to access your files from another device if your primary computer becomes unavailable, increasing data reliability and security. For example, cloud storage backups can be downloaded from another device should your main device become lost, damaged, or stolen.

Improved data protection

Keeping files on a separate storage system can protect them against certain problems affecting your local device, such as hardware failure, theft, or accidental damage.

Some remote storage systems also support access permissions, encryption, and version history to help protect your data. However, remote storage alone does not guarantee complete protection, so reliable backups and appropriate security measures are still important.

Cost efficiency

The costs of remote storage vary between providers and depend on the storage offered, subscription plans, and whether the plans come with additional features or cloud storage alone.

Location can also matter, as cloud storage costs in the UK may be different from US pricing.

You should also consider remote storage as a long-term investment, so for this, you may consider local storage costs vs cloud storage costs, and subscription vs lifetime plans to get the best value for money over time.

Is remote storage secure?

Yes, remote storage is secure, as storage providers must follow compliance regulations and security protocols to ensure data is protected.

Many cloud storage services use in-transit and at-rest encryption to protect your files in the cloud; this is the method used by Google Drive, Dropbox, and many others. While this is secure, the cloud providers can access your files if requested by law or if they suspect you breach their terms and conditions.

Providers with an emphasis on private cloud storage will use end-to-end encryption, or zero-knowledge encryption, which encrypts files on your device and ensures nobody but you can access them.

Internxt, for example, offers encrypted cloud storage with zero-knowledge and post-quantum cryptography to offer the most secure remote storage via its desktop, mobile, and web apps, as well as via WebDAV, Rclone, and support for NAS cloud backups for QNAP and Synology.

Even with the highest security standards, you should always take additional methods to protect your data, starting with a secure password, enabling two-factor authentication, and regularly monitoring your accounts for suspicious activity.

What is the best secure remote storage?

Internxt Drive

Internxt Drive is a secure, encrypted, and private cloud storage based in Europe, built on open-source software for total transparency and peace of mind that data and files stored in Internxt are protected from data breaches and hackers.

Internxt allows you to access your storage via its desktop apps, including Linux, and for advanced cloud management, native rclone support and WebDAV access are also available to sync, store, and back up your files in the cloud.

For users with a NAS system, you can also get secure remote storage by connecting your Internxt Drive to your NAS device, combining the privacy of your home cloud storage and Internxt’s private encryption.

To learn more about how Internxt protects your data, we explain this in more detail in our Is Internxt Safe article.

Internxt pricing starts at €1.49/month, or lifetime plans are also available with a one-time payment, giving you access to the features of your chosen plan forever.

Check out the full feature list below, and use the link to get 85% off all plans.

Internxt S3

For enterprises that need remote storage for petabytes of data, file versioning, backups, and secure storage with compliance, Internxt cloud object storage is an alternative to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

Internxt S3 is a fully scalable storage solution for €7/TB/month, with no ingress or egress fees, allowing your business to plan your storage without any unexpected costs.

Related Products

https://internxt.com/cloud-object-storage

https://internxt.com/mail

https://internxt.com/photos

Frequently asked questions

What is remote storage?

Remote storage is a way of storing files on a separate device or server that you can access through a network or internet connection, rather than storing everything locally on your device.

What are the benefits of using remote storage?

Freeing up space on your devices, file sharing, accessibility, and backing up important files are all benefits you can gain from using secure remote storage.

Can I access my remote storage from multiple devices?

Yes, you can access your remote storage from multiple devices, such as computers, smartphones, and tablets.

How much storage space do I get with remote storage?

Storage space depends on the provider. Internxt offers plans from 1 to 3TB, which you can stack to get more storage if you have a lifetime plan.

How much does remote storage cost?

Internxt plans start from just €1.49/month or €7/TB/Month for object storage. For other pricing, Google One prices, OneDrive plans, or iCloud plans are available on their website.

Is remote storage secure enough?

Yes, remote storage can be secure when it uses encryption, strong passwords, and proper access controls. For full privacy, use end-to-end encryption and the necessary security measures to protect your accounts.

Is remote storage suitable for backing up my data?

Yes, remote storage is suitable for backing up important files and protecting them against local hardware failure or data loss. For additional protection, keep multiple backup copies and ensure at least one is stored separately from your main device.

The reliability of data is crucial when managing files in the cloud, especially for businesses, enterprises, and even the data reliability of your own personal files.

In this article, we’ll cover everything about data reliability: what it is, why it’s important, assessing the reliability of data, and cloud storage solutions to keep your data protected, accurate, and complete.

Table of contents

• What is data reliability?
• Why data reliability is important
• What makes data reliable?
• Assessing the reliability of data
• How to ensure data reliability with Internxt
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

What is data reliability?

Data reliability relates to how trustworthy data is when stored in the cloud and can be explained in three parts:

1. Accuracy: Files uploaded to the cloud remain the same as when you saved them, without unexpected changes or errors.
2. Completeness: Files and contents are stored in full, with no missing folders lost during the upload process.
3. Consistency: When you access files across different devices, the data remains the same across all platforms without unexpected changes, differences, or conflicting versions.

Cloud storage providers help maintain data reliability through the following measures:

1. Data redundancy: Data is stored in multiple cloud data centers to protect against data loss; if anything happens to one center, data is backed up in another location.
2. Integrity checks: Detect corrupted files or unexpected changes.
3. Backups: Allow data to be recovered in case of accidental deletion or system failure.

In short, data reliability means you can trust that the information you store in the cloud remains intact, complete, and consistent whenever you retrieve or use it.

Why data reliability is important

Data reliability matters because people and businesses depend on stored information to stay trustworthy over time. Without reliability of data, it can result in lost photos, damaged documents, missing business records, or incorrect information being used to make decisions.

Checking data reliability offers significant value for businesses, including:

• Greater efficiency: Organizations spend less time correcting or looking for data errors and more time using information productively.
• Better compliance: Reliable data helps organizations meet industry standards and fulfil legal and regulatory requirements such as GDPR, SOC 2, or ISO 27001.
• Improved risk management: Trustworthy data enables organizations to identify potential risks more accurately and take appropriate steps to reduce them.

When data is reliable, users can trust that their files have been preserved correctly and that the information they retrieve reflects what was originally stored or updated. This is particularly important for businesses that rely on accurate records, financial information, customer files, and operational data.

What makes data reliable?

Data reliability comes from the methods used to collect, transfer, store, verify, and maintain information. This depends on whether a provider’s cloud storage requirements can preserve data correctly despite hardware failures, software errors, interrupted uploads, or accidental deletion.

For example, when a file is updated, the storage system must ensure that the new version is saved properly and that interrupted operations do not leave it in an incomplete state. Version history and recovery mechanisms can help restore earlier versions after accidental changes or deletion.

Assessing the reliability of data

Assessing data reliability involves regularly evaluating whether information is trustworthy, accurate, complete, and suitable for its intended purpose. Businesses can do this by conducting regular data quality assessments, validation tools, performing statistical analysis, and conducting regular audits.

Several factors help determine how reliable data is:

• Accuracy: Whether the information correctly represents the real-world facts, events, or conditions it describes.
• Completeness: Whether all the necessary information is present, without missing values, records, or essential details that could affect the results.
• Consistency: Whether information agrees across different datasets, systems, and records, without unexplained contradictions or discrepancies.
• Validity: Whether data follows the required formats, rules, definitions, and acceptable ranges, ensuring it meets the requirements for its intended use.
• Uniqueness: Whether each record is represented appropriately, without unintended duplicates that could distort analysis or lead to incorrect conclusions.

For personal use, you can check the reliability of data in your cloud account by reviewing personal files and records for errors or missing information, verifying that saved files have not been corrupted, and ensuring that backups can be restored when needed.

How to ensure data reliability with Internxt

Internxt offers two types of cloud storage for data reliability in the cloud for personal, business, and enterprise use.

Internxt Drive

If you need reliability of data for cloud storage for personal use or small business needs, then Internxt Drive encrypted cloud storage is a secure and reliable cloud storage solution for your files, photos, and videos.

Internxt is a European cloud storage provider, governed by GDPR and follows SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HIPAA, ensuring data reliability and security for all industries. It ensures data reliability for your files through data redundancy by storing and backing up your files across multiple data centers.

All paid plans also include cloud storage backups, so your files are protected against data loss and accessible across all devices for you to download.

Ultimate plans also include Internxt Photos for automatic backups of your photos, keeping your memories secure in the cloud and private thanks to Internxt’s zero-knowledge encryption.

With Premium and Ultimate plans, you can get extra reliability of data with file versioning, ensuring you can revert to former versions of your files in case they are accidentally changed, so you always have the up-to-date version of your data.

Internxt S3

For enterprise cloud storage solutions and data reliability, Internxt offers S3-compatible cloud object storage. It offers the same compliance standards as Internxt Drive to protect and secure data for all industries, and the following measures to ensure data reliability:

• Object Lock: Protects objects from being deleted or overwritten for a specified retention period. It helps preserve data integrity and availability, particularly for backups and important records. Depending on the implementation, it supports retention policies and legal holds.
• Durability: Data is protected from loss or corruption with technology that guarantees 99.999999999% (11 9s) of data durability and availability for each object.
• Redundancy: Data is stored and backed up in multiple data centers.
• Object versioning: Retains previous versions when objects are overwritten or deleted, making it possible to recover earlier data. Versioning must be enabled, and retention policies managed appropriately.
• Access controls and permissions: Use identity policies, bucket policies, and access restrictions to prevent unauthorized users or applications from deleting, overwriting, or improperly modifying objects.
• Immutable backups: Combine Object Lock with retention policies to protect backup copies from tampering, ransomware, and accidental deletion during the protected period.

As a European tech company, Internxt S3 offers a cheap and sovereign object storage solution to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. As there are no ingress of egress fees, you only pay for the storage you need, which is fully scalable and allows for petabytes of data storage at a flat fee of €7/TB/month.

To get started with cloud storage for your business, visit our website to contact one of our sales experts.

Related products

https://internxt.com/cloud-object-storage

https://internxt.com/nas

Frequently asked questions

What is data reliability?

Data reliability is the ability to trust that information remains accurate, complete, consistent, and dependable over time.

What makes data reliable?

Reliable data is accurate, complete, consistent, up to date, and collected and maintained using dependable methods.

What is the difference between data reliability and data integrity?

Data reliability refers to how consistently data can be trusted, while data integrity focuses on maintaining its accuracy and preventing unauthorized or unintended changes.

How do you assess data reliability?

You can assess data reliability by checking for errors, missing information, inconsistencies, outdated records, and unexpected changes.

How does cloud storage ensure data reliability?

Cloud storage providers like Internxt use redundancy, integrity checks, automated repair, versioning, and backups to protect stored information.

Cloud storage comes in many forms, and not all of them are the same or will suit your needs. Some cloud services can be too complex for personal use, and for businesses, they can become too costly or lack the needed features to run your business efficiently.

So, if you’re interested in finding out more about all the types of cloud storage available or if you need a new cloud storage solution or infrastructure, then this article will go into detail about how these types of cloud storage work and how much does cloud storage cost for each type, so you can decide which is right for you.

Table of contents

• What is cloud data storage?
• Why you should choose cloud storage
• 7 types of cloud storage
• How to choose from the different types of cloud storage
• Related products

What is cloud data storage?

Cloud data storage is a service that allows businesses or personal cloud storage users to save their data on remote servers managed by a cloud provider, rather than relying solely on physical devices such as hard drives.

Once the data is stored in the cloud, the customer can access the data from the internet, normally from any device or desktop application.

Cloud providers are responsible for managing the cloud infrastructure and often keep copies of data in multiple cloud data centers to improve availability and reduce the risk of data loss.

Cloud storage can hold many types of information, including documents, photos, videos, backups, and application data.

For example, a business could store petabytes of data with object storage, allowing for immediate access to large amounts of data with S3 object storage, and individual users can store their photos, videos, or documents in the cloud.

Why you should choose cloud storage

There are many benefits of cloud storage for personal and business use, which include:

• Security: All cloud providers encrypt your files to prevent data breaches and unauthorized access to your data by hackers. Cloud storage backups ensure additional security against data loss.
• Cost savings: Businesses can avoid large upfront investments in physical storage equipment and pay for the storage capacity they need. Costs can also be adjusted as the business grows or its requirements change. Personal users can avoid subscriptions, with some services offering a one-time payment lifetime cloud storage plan.
• Scalability: Cloud storage makes it easier to increase or reduce storage capacity to meet future storage needs.
• Accessibility and reliability: You can access your data from the cloud on any device, so files are always accessible to view, download, or share.
• Data compliance: GDPR cloud storage offers secure processing of all personal and business data from European cloud storage providers, while other cloud providers offer other compliance standards for businesses, such as ISO 27001, SOC 2, and HIPAA for healthcare data.

There are four types of cloud storage covered in this article, including:

1. Public
2. Private
3. Hybrid
4. Community

There are also different types of cloud storage that describe how data is organized and accessed, which is relevant to this article when choosing the type of storage you need. These types are:

1. Object storage
2. File storage
3. Block storage

All have similarities, differences, pros, and cons, so deciding which is best for you depends on your personal or business data management strategy.

7 types of cloud storage

These are the different types of cloud storage available to meet personal, business, or enterprise needs.

Alongside an explanation of how they work, we will also cover the advantages, disadvantages, and use cases for each type of cloud storage.

Public

Public cloud storage provides storage, servers, and applications over the internet by a third-party provider. Public cloud resources are hosted, owned, and maintained by the provider in data centers and shared with other users (tenants). The tenants use the same infrastructure while keeping their data separate and secure.

The types of cloud storage related to the public cloud include:

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): IaaS provides virtual machines, storage, and networking. Popular platforms that offer IaaS are Amazon Web Services, IBM, and Microsoft Azure.
• Platform as a Service (PaaS): Offers tools for developers to build and deploy applications without handling the underlying infrastructure.
• Software as a Service (SaaS): Delivers software applications like cloud storage over the internet, such as Internxt Drive. Internxt provides cloud storage that can be accessed from any device with an internet connection for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and via WebDAV, Rclone, and NAS devices

Pros of public cloud storage

• There are subscriptions, pay-as-you-go, or pay by GB, and other customizable ways to manage your subscription so you can choose the right option to fit your budget.
• The public cloud ensures data security and protection with end-to-end encryption. For additional privacy, other cloud providers offer zero-knowledge encryption, so the keys are managed and owned on your device, and only you can access them.
• All you need to set up cloud storage is an internet connection; once your account is created, you can store, sync, and back up files in the cloud with little to no additional setup required.

Cons

• There is less configuration or control as the provider manages cybersecurity protocols.
• It may be difficult to switch providers due to proprietary technologies and data migration complexities.
• Not all public cloud storage uses zero-knowledge encryption, so providers could potentially access your files.

Public cloud use cases

Public cloud storage is the most popular and common kind of cloud storage for individuals and businesses due to its convenient and easy way to store, access, and share personal files from different devices.

For personal use, public cloud storage offers easy setup, and everything is managed by the cloud provider, so you can store and secure your documents in the cloud with little tech knowledge.

Small to medium-sized businesses looking for storage solutions for multiple users from one cloud account or to manage large amounts of data without the cost and maintenance of physical servers can benefit from a public cloud model.

Private

Private cloud storage is an on-premises cloud solution dedicated to a single organization; hardware, security, maintenance, and storage planning are all managed in-house by the company and its employees.

Private cloud storage offers higher control, security, and customization, so businesses with highly private and confidential data can choose this option to meet strict compliance requirements and higher protection against data breaches.

Pros of private cloud storage

• Security is handled in-house by a dedicated team to manage these protocols, reducing the risk of breaches and unauthorized access.
• A private cloud environment can be tailored to meet specific requirements and meet storage, performance, and compliance needs.
• Businesses can add and scale storage when required, and costs can be more predictable.

Cons of private cloud storage

• Setting up a private cloud can be too expensive for smaller businesses, which we cover in our cloud storage vs local storage article.
• Managing a private cloud requires skilled IT staff for configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting, which can increase operational complexity and can lead to greater problems if not appropriately managed.
• Private clouds can incur extra costs, such as energy consumption, that also need to be considered.

Private cloud storage use cases

This cloud storage model can benefit healthcare, legal, finance, government agencies, and any business with sensitive and private data. Private cloud storage is also available for individual users with the right knowledge to self-host their cloud for total control of the privacy of their files.

Hybrid

Hybrid cloud storage is one of the best types of cloud storage if you want the benefits of a private and public cloud, as data can be shared between both these models. A hybrid cloud model means storing sensitive data in a private cloud and less sensitive data in a public one.

One example is using your own personal NAS device for cloud storage, connected to a public cloud with NAS support such as Internxt.

Pros of hybrid cloud

• Helps industries meet compliance laws with a private cloud model.
• Combines a full private storage model with a public, more affordable model to reduce costs.
• Businesses can choose where to store their data based on security needs: private cloud storage for confidential documents, and public for general documents.
• Better disaster recovery options to ensure business continuity through extra data backup and recovery options.

Cons

• Complex management across private and public cloud environments can be challenging, requiring specialized knowledge to ensure smooth integration, security, and performance.
• Integration challenges can be complex and require additional tools and resources, increasing overall costs.

Hybrid cloud use cases

Large enterprises or businesses with storage needs can benefit from a hybrid cloud model as it combines privacy with the cost-efficiency and scalability of a public cloud model.  

For personal users, hybrid cloud storage can be used to keep private files on personal devices while backing up photos, videos, and documents to the cloud. It also allows frequently accessed files to remain locally available while other files are stored online.

Community cloud storage

Community cloud storage is a shared cloud infrastructure within several organizations, such as healthcare, government, or finance, using the community cloud to store and manage data.

The community can manage community cloud storage or use third-party providers, and it’s a way for organizations to save money and meet data storage and security needs.

Pros of community storage

• Cost efficiency: by sharing resources, organizations get a reduced cost for storage without compromising security.
• Compliance and security with regulators such as HIPAA.
• Collaboration between different departments or industries is easier for the community.

Disadvantages of community storage

• Limited control is one disadvantage of these types of cloud storage, as the shared model means there is less control over data than in a private cloud.
• Increased security risks may occur if the proper access controls and security protocols are not implemented.
• Depending on the community, performance or security issues in one community could spread to the others.

Community cloud storage use cases

Governments, education, NGOs, and any industry that must meet compliance requirements and store and share data privately.

Object storage

Object storage is a method of storing data where files are saved as individual "objects." Each object contains the data, metadata, and a unique identifier, making it easier to locate and retrieve.

Object storage uses a flat structure, so data is accessed by its unique identifier, which makes it easier to scale, manage, and access large amounts of data.

For more information, you can check out all the details of this type of cloud storage in our What Is Object Storage article.

Pros of object storage

• Easy access and retrieval, as each object is accessed by its unique identifier.
• Object storage offers flexibility and speed for unstructured data, such as videos.
• Another advantage is cost efficiency, as many services offer payment plans that allow customers to pay only for the storage they use and need.

Disadvantages of object storage

• Object storage is better for large, unstructured data; storing many small files can lead to inefficiencies and unnecessary costs.
• Hidden costs for data fees may also be included as an additional cost, which may not be in your company's budget.
• Due to the proprietary nature of the services, migrating to a different provider or system can be complex and costly.

Object storage use cases

Businesses or individuals who need to store large amounts of unstructured data, such as files, backups, or archives, are served well by object storage plans.

Internxt offers S3-compatible cloud object storage with a fixed pay-as-you-go pricing model of €7/TB/month. Compared to AWS or Azure, Internxt S3 could save you up to 80% in comparison. There are no additional charges for data transfer, and you can scale your storage to meet your company's needs.

File storage

File storage stores data in a hierarchical system organized in folders and subfolders. It is one of the types of cloud storage that works like a traditional computer’s file system.

Each file is stored with its name, extension, and location in the directory structure, making data easy to organize and retrieve.

Pros of file storage

• Files can be organized and accessed simply from a hierarchical structure.
• It can be accessed from most devices and operating systems.
• File storage can include password protection and other password controls for added security.

Disadvantages of file storage

• File storage is less flexible for handling large and unstructured data than object or cloud storage solutions.
• As data grows, file storage can become challenging to manage and scale, especially when dealing with large volumes of files.
• Large amounts of data or multiple users accessing the system simultaneously may lead to slowdowns or delays in file retrieval.

File storage use cases

File storage is also ideal for users who prefer a familiar, easy-to-manage system for organizing and retrieving their data without dealing with more complex storage models.

Block storage

The last entry in the types of cloud storage is block storage. Unlike file storage, which organizes data in a hierarchy, block storage stores data in fixed-sized blocks, each acting as an individual data storage unit.

Now we know about the different types of file storage, you can compare the three in this object vs file vs block storage article, which goes into more detail so you can pick the best option.

Block storage use cases

Block storage is commonly used by enterprise-level organizations that run databases, virtual machines, or high-performance applications that need low-latency data access.

How to choose from the different types of cloud storage

Although there are many types of cloud storage to choose from, based on the specific needs of you, your team, business, or enterprise, one or two options will meet your requirements.

Below is a summary of the different types of cloud storage to give you a general idea of how cloud infrastructure is deployed or shared and how data is organized and accessed with file, block, and object storage.

For encrypted cloud storage with a full privacy suite for your online privacy, Internxt Drive offers private cloud storage across all devices, with full security and privacy guaranteed with post-quantum encryption.

To protect your personal cloud, you can get 85% off all Internxt plans, which offer monthly or lifetime cloud storage plans, and check out the additional features included with these plans below.  

For object storage or personal use, Internxt Drive and Internxt S3 offer a GDPR cloud storage solution protected with zero-knowledge encryption for guaranteed privacy against data breaches.

Related products

https://internxt.com/cloud-object-storage

https://internxt.com/nas

https://internxt.com/webdav-rclone

Finding the cheapest personal cloud storage doesn’t mean compromising on privacy or security.

In this guide, we compare the best and most affordable cloud storage options for personal use in 2026, covering free plans, monthly subscriptions, storage capacity, security features, and lifetime deals to help you find the best value for your needs.

If you ned the best and cheapest cloud storage for personal use, now is the best time of the year, as Black Friday deals will soon become available, which you can prepare for by signing up for our newsletter, or checking out the best cloud storage Black Friday deals from our blog where you can get early access to Internxt’s biggest deal ever.

Table of contents

• Free vs paid cloud storage for personal use
• How to choose the best and cheapest cloud storage for personal use
• Cheapest cloud storage for personal use by storage capacity
• Cheapest personal cloud storage lifetime plans
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

Free vs paid cloud storage for personal use

Free cloud storage is a good option for personal use if you need an extra backup for smaller files such as PDFs, photos, or other documents. It’s not suitable for large files such as videos or RAW photo libraries, as these can fill your cloud storage quite quickly.

Other things to be aware of with free or cheap cloud storage are limited features, unlocking more storage, and whether a free plan includes end-to-end encryption.

Below are the options for free cloud storage plans, including storage, features, and privacy.

Internxt is the best free cloud storage option if you want end-to-end and post-quantum encryption for smaller-sized files or photo albums. As it’s the only option for cloud storage for personal use that includes end-to-end encryption, you can store your files in total privacy, where nobody can access them.

Terabox has the largest free plan, but these plans include promotional advertising, restricted speeds, and other privacy concerns, which you can learn more about in our is Terabox safe article.

How to choose the best and cheapest cloud storage for personal use

Backing up photo albums

If you need automatic backups for your photo albums to keep your memories safe and accessible on your phone, choose personal cloud storage with photo backup to keep copies in the cloud.

Protecting personal documents

Keep personal documents, such as IDs, financial statements, contracts, or other sensitive information, secure in the cloud with encrypted cloud storage to ensure maximum privacy and that only you can access these sensitive and private documents.

Prevent data loss

Cloud storage plans that include file versioning and backups will keep current copies of your data safe and accessible across all your devices. If your device is stolen, lost, damaged, or corrupted, backed-up copies remain in the cloud so you can recover them when needed.

Share files privately

Cloud storage allows you to share photos with family members and colleagues via a secure link or email. Check for providers that offer secure file transfer with password protection and end-to-end encryption so files remain private between sender and recipient.

Avoid subscriptions

When choosing the cheapest cloud storage for personal use, you will want to consider subscription plans vs lifetime plans. If you regularly store your files in the cloud, then investing in lifetime cloud storage could save you more money over time with a one-time payment plan instead of annual or monthly subscriptions.

Cheapest cloud storage for personal use by storage capacity

For the cheapest cloud storage for personal use, we will start with the lowest storage normally offered, at 100GB, and move up to 5TB and more, which is enough for heavy personal use such as cloud storage for videos or cloud storage backup solutions.

50GB to 1TB plans

How much can you store?

Cloud storage costs for 50GB to 1TB are as follows

For the cheapest personal cloud storage per GB for plans up to 1TB, Internxt is the cheapest and most secure option at €0.00149/GB/month, while the most expensive per GB is an iCloud 50 GB plan at €0.0198/GB/month.

2TB to 5TB plans

How much data can 2 to 5TB plans store?

Costs for 2 to 5TB plans can be seen below.

Cheapest per GB: Internxt 5 TB at €0.000898/GB/month (€4.49/month).

Most expensive per GB: Outlook 2 TB at €0.009995/GB/month (€19.99/month).

6TB plans and more

Beyond 5TB the best and cheapest cloud storage for personal use becomes more limited, as not many providers offer more than this plan.

Below are the cheapest personal cloud storage options if you need more than 6TB or up to 12TB, with Apple iCloud pricing plans.

Filen vs pCloud for 10TB plans: pCloud pricing offers a cheaper option, but does not include zero-knowledge encryption. Filen is more expensive, but is an open-source and end-to-end encrypted pCloud alternative, like Internxt.

Cheapest personal cloud storage lifetime plans

If you want to avoid subscriptions completely the best investment you can make for your cloud storage is a lifetime plan.

If you choose a 5TB lifetime plan with Internxt, you get zero-knowledge and post-quantum cryptography, automatic backups for photos, and an encrypted email included with a one-time payment.

Ultimate plans also include support for QNAP and Synology, and WebDAV and Rclone support, so you can manage, sync, and back up your cloud from any device and any platform.

Internxt lifetime plans include 1, 2, or 5TB of storage, but if you need 10TB of lifetime storage, then you can stack your plan to get more storage whenever you need.

With your exclusive 85% discount, Internxt offers the cheapest personal cloud storage for subscription and lifetime plans, and offers all the features, privacy, and security to meet your personal cloud storage needs.

Related products

https://internxt.com/photos

https://internxt.com/mail

https://internxt.com/meet

Frequently asked questions

What is the best and cheapest cloud storage for personal use?

Internxt Drive is the cheapest personal cloud storage, with prices for 1TB plans starting from €1.49/month, which equals €0.00149/GB/month. All plans include end-to-end encryption, backups, VPN, and Antivirus, with a full privacy suite available if you need to upgrade your plan.

Is cheap cloud storage secure?

Affordable cloud storage can offer strong security, but features vary by provider. Look for end-to-end encryption, secure file sharing, and reliable backup options. Internxt combines competitive subscription pricing with end-to-end encryption and additional security features.

How much does personal cloud storage cost per month?

Prices vary between providers and depend on promotional offers, storage capacity, and additional features. Prices for 100GB can start from €0.99/month and can go up to €59.99/ month for a 12TB plan with iCloud.

How much cloud storage do I need for personal use?

The amount you need depends on the files you store. A smaller plan may be enough for documents and everyday photos, while 1TB to 2TB can suit larger photo libraries and video collections. Plans of 5TB or more are useful for extensive personal archives and frequent backups.

What should I look for when choosing cheap personal cloud storage?

Compare monthly prices, cost per GB, storage capacity, encryption, automatic backups, file versioning, and secure file-sharing options. A low price is most valuable when the plan also provides the features you need to protect and manage your files.

If you’re looking for alternatives to US tech giants spying on your data and need a secure, private cloud storage solution for your files, then these best cloud storage for UK customers offer the best alternative to major cloud companies, with the added advantage of extra features, and no more subscriptions with lifetime options.

To help you choose the what is the best cloud storage in the UK and Europe, this article covers:

• Cheapest cloud storage UK prices
• Storage, encryption, extra features
• Best cloud storage for photos (UK)
• Comparison of different cloud providers and features

With the options covered in this article, you will get all the information you need to choose the best and most affordable cloud storage to meet your security and online privacy requirements.

Table of contents

• What is the best cloud storage in the UK?
• Cheapest cloud storage UK prices
• Best cloud storage UK prices comparison
• Related products

What is the best cloud storage in the UK?

The best cloud storage UK options listed are all alternatives to big tech, as they are based in Europe, offer generous storage plans, with lifetime plans also available, and a range of different features based on your online privacy needs.

Internxt Drive

Features: post-quantum encryption, VPN, Meet, Mail, Photos, and more

Cloud storage plans: Between 1 and 5 TB

Internxt Drive encrypted cloud storage is the best cloud storage for UK users, as Internxt is a European tech company and therefore follows GDPR plus ISO, SOC 2, and HIPAA regulations to ensure safe and secure handling of all types of UK customer data from healthcare, business, or financial files.

Internxt secures your cloud storage with post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption, which is included in all plans, including the free cloud storage Internxt plan, so there is no need to pay extra for private encryption.

Internxt plans start at 1TB and move up to 5TB with the Ultimate plan, which you can stack if you purchase a lifetime cloud storage plan.

With a 5TB plan, you also get access to automatic backups for your photos, which are protected with the same post-quantum cryptography as Drive, offering the best cloud storage for photos for UK users, combined with everything else Internxt has to offer.

All paid plans include backups, VPN, and Antivirus, offering extra security on public Wi-Fi and protection against malware, combining private cloud storage with full online privacy, data loss protection, and device security.

To get started with Internxt, create a free Internxt account or choose a monthly or annual plan, and get 85% off with your exclusive offer below.

Icedrive

Features: Cloud storage, VPN

Cloud storage plans: Between 2 and 6 TB for subscriptions, 500GB or 2 TB lifetime

Icedrive is a UK-based company, offering monthly and annual plans from 2 to 6 TB, or 500 GB and 2 TB for lifetime plans. Icedrive also offers a VPN, available as a separate subscription or lifetime plan.

Icedrive only includes zero-knowledge encryption for its paid plans, so unlike Internxt, its free plans don’t include zero-knowledge encryption; if you only need a free cloud storage plan to store files privately, you should consider an Icedrive alternative that is open source, and includes ZKE for all plans.

pCloud

Features: Password manager, Docs, Photos, Crypto

pCloud is headquartered in Bulgaria and offers storage locations in the US and Luxembourg; although it states it follows Swiss privacy laws, it doesn’t necessarily mean your files are stored in Switzerland or protected by Swiss privacy laws.

pCloud also isn’t open source, and therefore lacks the transparency or security verification of other open-source cloud storage providers like Internxt.

Paid pCloud plans also don’t offer cloud storage with zero-knowledge encryption; this is a feature you have to pay separately for, either for monthly, annual, or lifetime plans. With this additional cost, pCloud isn’t the cheapest cloud storage for UK users, nor is it the most private without paying for zero-knowledge encryption.

However, if you need a password manager or music streaming, pCloud does offer these features, but if you want a private pCloud alternative, there are cheaper encrypted cloud storage providers available, such as Internxt.

Cheapest cloud storage UK prices

Now we’ve covered the best cloud storage for UK customers to help you switch to more private alternatives to Google Drive, Dropbox, and other big tech companies, below we cover the cloud storage costs in the UK for Internxt, and others.

Internxt

Prices start from: €1.49/month, €285 lifetime

Internxt offers 1GB of free cloud storage, or you can start with 1TB for just €1.49 per month. Lifetime plans can be split into payments with Klarna or paid for in total privacy with cryptocurrency at checkout.

Internxt offers cloud storage solutions for up to 5 TB, or with a lifetime plan, you can stack this whenever you need to get 10, 15, or up to 100 TB of storage to meet your cloud storage for photos, videos, and privacy needs.

Internxt’s Ultimate plan includes the full privacy suite of NAS cloud backups, Internxt Mail, Meet, Photos, and more.

The full product suite and pricing for all Internxt plans are below, which you can get for 85% off on our website.

pCloud

pCloud pricing starts at £4.99/month for 500GB, £9.99/month for 2TB, and £29.99/month for the largest 10TB plan.

If you want to avoid subscriptions, pCloud offers lifetime plans from £219 for 500 GB or £1499 for 10TB. All paid plans include access to pCloud Photos and Docs, but pCloud does not include zero-knowledge encryption for paid plans without pCloud Crypto, so your files are not truly private, which you can read more about in our is pCloud safe article.

If you want to pay for zero-knowledge encryption, the added costs on top of the pCloud plan are:

• £4.99/month
• £49.99/year
• £150/one-time payment (lifetime plans)

pCloud Pass is also an additional feature, so if you want a password manager included with your cloud storage, you should take this extra cost into consideration, too.

Icedrive

All Icedrive plans include zero-knowledge encryption, so it's another pCloud alternative if you need one of the cheapest cloud storage options in the UK.

Prices start at £9.99/month (2 TB), £14.99 (4 TB) or £24.99 (6 TB). Icedrive’s one time payment cloud storage plans offer less storage and fewer options; these cost £349 for 500GB or £599 for 2TB.

These lifetime plans are not the cheapest cloud storage for UK users; they are more expensive and offer fewer features than Internxt or pCloud.

Other features, like Icedrive’s VPN, are available with a separate subscription. If you want an encrypted VPN included in your cloud storage plan, then all Internxt plans include a VPN without needing a separate subscription.

Best cloud storage UK prices comparison

For the best cloud storage in the UK in terms of pricing, below you can find a comparison of what is the best cloud storage for UK customers looking for cheap cloud storage.

Best cloud storage UK monthly prices

cheapest lifetime uk

What is the best cloud storage for UK pricing?

Based on the costs of the monthly and lifetime plans, Internxt is the best cloud storage in the UK in terms of affordability for all plans.

• Monthly: Internxt Premium offers 87.4% savings against the listed 2 TB monthly alternatives from pCloud and Icedrive.
• Lifetime: Internxt Premium 2 TB offers 59.7% savings against Icedrive's 2 TB lifetime plan.
• More storage: Internxt Ultimate provides 5 TB for £494.91 lifetime, which is 17.4% less than Icedrive's £599 lifetime 2 TB plan while offering 2.5 times the storage.

With Internxt, you get the first cloud storage with post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption for your files, ensuring nobody but you can see what you store in the cloud.

But with an Internxt plan, you get much more than cloud storage, you also get an encrypted email, VPN, and advanced cloud management with NAS, WebDAV and Rclone support.

Internxt Ultimate plans also include automatic backups for photos and videos with Internxt Photos to back up and save photos in the cloud combined with the best cloud storage for UK customers who need an alternative to Google Photos with zero-knowledge encryption.

For the best cloud storage in the UK and much more, switch to Internxt and claim your 85% discount to get started from just £1.49 a month.

Related products

https://internxt.com/meet

https://internxt.com/vpn

https://internxt.com/antivirus

If you’re looking for a comparison of cloud storage costs in the UK, you’ve come to the right place!

We cover how much does cloud storage cost for the most popular cloud storage providers, including Internxt, Google, and more.

In this article, you can compare monthly, annual, and lifetime plans from different providers, storage amounts, and additional features so you get the best cloud storage at the best prices.

Prices are based on current conversion rates at the time of writing.

Table of contents

• How much cloud storage do you actually need?
• Comparison of cloud storage costs (UK) from the best cloud providers
• Which plan offers the cheapest cloud storage costs in the UK?
• Related products

How much cloud storage do you actually need?

Occasional users

100 GB–200 GB is enough if you need cloud storage for documents, PDFs, a small photo library, and occasional device backups. This provides plenty of room for everyday files without paying for storage that may go unused.

Average cost: around £2–£4/month

Smartphone photographers

500GB–2 TB is enough because smartphone photos and videos can accumulate quickly, especially when automatic backups are enabled. This range gives you enough space for several years of cloud storage for photos and videos while leaving room for future files.

Average cost: £3–£10/month.

Internxt cost: 1TB, £1.26/ month, 2TB, £2.11/month

Freelancers

1 TB–2 TB is enough because most freelancers need to store work documents, client files, presentations, project folders, and backups. This provides a comfortable amount of space for active projects and archived work without requiring a larger business-level plan.

Average cost: £5–£10/month.

Internxt cost: 1TB, £1.26/ month, 2TB, £2.11/month

Photographers and creatives

2 TB–5 TB+ is enough because high-resolution photos, RAW files, 4K videos, and design projects can consume large amounts of storage. This range allows professionals to keep active projects, completed work, and backups without constantly having to delete or move files elsewhere.

Average cost: £10–£30+ per month

Internxt cost: 5 TB, £3.80/month

Small, medium, and large businesses

Between 2 TB–10 TB+ is enough for small business may need to store shared documents, customer files, project data, media, and backups for several employees.

10 TB takes into account a company's future data storage needs as storage needs grow.

10 TB+ is enough for many larger businesses because they typically generate significantly more data across employees, departments, projects, applications, and backups.

Cloud storage costs for UK businesses, as costs are calculated on a per-user basis.

Enterprises

100 TB+ is a good starting point for enterprises to manage a large amount of data across thousands of employees, departments, offices, applications, and long-term archives.

Enterprises may also require substantial capacity for backups, compliance records, databases, and large media files, so their storage needs can extend well beyond 100 TB and even up to petabytes of data.

For this, object storage plans are the best solution. Internxt S3 is a European cloud object storage for enterprises, with a fixed cloud storage cost of €7 (around £5.94) per month, per terabyte, with no ingress or egress fees.

For enterprise cloud storage, Internxt S3 is an affordable, scalable, and secure cloud storage solution for managing large-scale data and backups in the cloud.

Comparison of cloud storage costs (UK) from the best cloud providers

Internxt

Internxt cloud storage UK costs cover monthly plans, or lifetime cloud storage plans if you want a one-time payment cloud storage option.

Internxt cloud storage plans start from 1TB to 5TB, with the option to stack lifetime plans if you need more storage in the future. If you choose a lifetime plan, you can split the cost with Klarna, or pay via cryptocurrency at checkout.

All plans include zero-knowledge and post-quantum encryption for the best encrypted cloud storage to store your files with maximum privacy.

Below you can view the cloud storage cost for UK Internxt pricing, including which features you get with each plan.

All plans have an 85% discount, which you can claim using the link below.

Claim your 85% deal

Essential (1TB)

Essential plans cost £1.26/month or £241.11 for a lifetime plan. Features include:

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

Get Essential

Premium (2TB)

For twice the storage, and access to more features, the Internxt Premium plan costs £2.11/month or £367.41 and includes all the features of Essential, plus:

• Invite, share & collaborate
• File versioning
• Encrypted VPN (France, Germany, Poland)
• Antivirus
• Cleaner
• Meet

Get Premium

Ultimate (5TB)

For access to all Internxt features, including advanced cloud management with NAS, Rclone, encrypted email, and automatic backup for Photos, Internxt Ultimate plans cost £3.80/month or £494.91 for a lifetime plan.

With this plan, you get everything you need to protect your privacy online with all the features of Essential and Premium, plus:

• Photos
• CLI & WebDAV support
• NAS & Rclone support
• Encrypted VPN
• Antivirus
• Cleaner
• Meet
• Mail

Get Ultimate

Google cloud storage costs in the UK

For cloud storage, Google offers Google Drive and Google One; they are essentially the same thing, but you can learn more about the differences in our Google One vs Google Drive article.

Google Drive is for storing and managing files, while Google One pricing plans provide additional storage shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos, along with extra benefits.

Google Drive free plan

Before considering the Google cloud storage costs in the UK, it's worth noting that Google Drive has a generous free cloud storage plan at 15GB. This storage is shared across Photos, Gmail, and Google Workspace (Google Docs, Google Sheets, etc).

If your Google Drive cloud storage is full, then you can upgrade to a Google One plan.

Monthly and annual Google One cloud storage costs (UK)

Google One cloud storage costs in the UK include monthly and annual plans. With annual plans, you can save more by paying for the full year, and plans go up to 5TB with the Google AI Pro plan.

iCloud storage costs (UK)

iCloud plans start at 5GB of free storage, and with an iCloud+ plan you can upgrade your plan to storage plans ranging from 50GB up to 2TB of storage, which also includes email and iCloud Photos.

OneDrive cloud storage costs (UK)

OneDrive pricing starts with 5GB of free storage and offers a product suite similar to Google, with Outlook, Teams, and Microsoft Office, with personal, family, and business plans available for up to 6TB at the following pricing:

pCloud pricing (UK)

pCloud offers up to 10GB of free storage, but you start with 2GB when you open your account, and to unlock the full 10GB you have to complete different tasks to unlock the maximum free storage.

pCloud offers plans for up to 10TB. It offers zero-knowledge encryption, but only if you pay for a pCloud Crypto plan, which makes plans more expensive, so if you need zero-knowledge encryption at no extra cost, Internxt is the best pCloud alternative.

For cloud storage only, pCloud pricing plans cost:

With the additional cost of pCloud Crypto, the total cost with encryption is below:

Which plan offers the cheapest cloud storage costs in the UK?

Below are the cloud storage costs for UK pricing of the cloud storage providers we have covered in this article.

If you want the best cloud storage for your privacy, and a full product suite of email, photos, VPN, and more, get started with Internxt for free, or claim your 85% discount on any plan below.

Claim discount

Related products

https://internxt.com/drive

https://internxt.com/mail

https://internxt.com/photos

Your phone holds years of memories, and it only takes one lost device, one failed backup or one hacked account to lose them. So if you are asking "how do I save my photos in the cloud?", you are already ahead of most people. The harder question is how to do it securely and privately.

Internxt Drive and Photos make uploading and backing up your photos easy, with the added benefits of zero-knowledge encryption, open source software, and data sovereignty.

In this guide, we will show you how to save your photos in the cloud with Drive and Photos, giving you the most convenient, secure, and private experience.

Table of contents

• Why you should store and back up photos in the cloud
• How do I save my photos in the cloud on desktop and web?
• How do I save my photos on mobile?
• How do I save my photos in the cloud automatically?
• How do I save my photos in the cloud with encryption?
• Related products

Why you should store and back up photos in the cloud

First, we will cover the benefits of cloud storage for your photos for data protection, convenience, accessibility, security, and privacy.

Free up space on your devices

Photos stored on your mobile can quickly lead to cloud storage full messages. You may not want to delete these photos to free up space on your phone, so cloud storage is an effective solution to this problem.

When you store photos in the cloud, you can delete them from your mobile or desktop, and the files will still be available in your cloud account to view or download whenever you need them.

Access photos from anywhere

Cloud storage offers web, desktop, and mobile apps, so wherever you are, you can access your photos from any device, even if the original photos were taken on a different device.

Share photos easily

When you take photos from your phone or camera, you may want to know how to share photos with family members who don’t have a cloud account.

Internxt is the best way to share photos online privately with a secure and encrypted link you can send via your preferred messaging app or via email without sending large attachments or copying files to physical storage devices.

It’s also a useful way for photographers, freelancers, and businesses that regularly need to send a large amount of photos online.

Protection against data loss

Photos can be lost in many ways, so keeping cloud storage backups of your photos means you can still access them even if your device is lost, stolen, or damaged.

With Internxt Drive, you can back up your photos and other files in the cloud and download them from any device when you need to restore them.

Internxt Photos offers automatic backups for your full photo library, so you always have a copy of your important memories secured in the cloud.

Avoid AI and big tech surveillance

Mainstream cloud storage, such as Google Photos, integrates heavily with AI to offer advanced search features. The cost of this convenience, however, is your privacy and data. Google Photos privacy is limited due to its lack of end-to-end encryption and integration with Gemini AI.

Google Photos works uses algorithms to detect faces and estimate whether different images contain the same person can use Gemini to answer questions about your photo library, such as finding photos of a particular person, identifying what you ate on a trip, or summarizing events and memories.

Google therefore has data on who you spend time with, where you live, where you travel, your relationships, your workplace, your children, your interests, and potentially sensitive documents or other personal information.

For an AI-free experience and secure cloud storage for photos, you can move photos to cloud storage with Internxt, which uses zero-knowledge encryption to keep your photos private and are totally free from AI to keep your photos and personal information secure.

How do I save my photos in the cloud on desktop and web?

How to save photos in the cloud with Internxt Drive

Internxt Drive is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, which you can download from our website.

To upload files via the web, follow these steps

1. Log in to https://drive.internxt.com/
2. Drag and drop the photo(s) onto the drive platform or click upload folders

1. Wait for the photos to finish uploading to the cloud

1. Once uploaded, your photos are safely stored and synced across all your devices to view or download

How do I save my photos on mobile

Internxt Photos

Internxt Photos is an encrypted cloud storage and backup solution to automatically back up your photo library, free up local storage, and share photos with others.

Photos is available on iOS and Android and is available with the Internxt Ultimate plan, offering 5TB of private cloud storage, VPN, NAS support, Meet, and Mail to send encrypted emails.

iOS and Android

If you need to know how do I save my photos in the cloud via mobile, then follow these steps to upload and save your photos directly in the Internxt app:

Download the app via the Google Play or App store

Open the app and click the + icon

Select from the list of options and wait for your files to upload to the cloud.

How do I save my photos in the cloud automatically?

With an Internxt Ultimate plan, all photos you take will be automatically backed up in the cloud, so you don’t have to manually upload each new photo you take.

To turn on this setting, follow these steps:

Open the Internxt mobile app

Tap the Photos section

Choose Allow Full Access to back up your full photo library from your mobile

Choose Allow Limited Access to manually select the photos you want to back up

You can change the backup preferences of your photos by searching the Internxt app in your device settings.

Once you back up your photos, you can delete them from your local storage, and your photos will remain secure with Internxt Photos.

How do I save my photos in the cloud with encryption?

All cloud storage providers offer encryption automatically when you store and upload photos to the cloud, but not all offer the same level of privacy for your photos.

Google Drive and OneDrive encrypt your files in transit and at rest, but do not offer end-to-end encryption. Other services offer end-to-end encryption, but as a paid upgrade, as is the case with pCloud.

If you have a Google Drive account or another platform that doesn’t use E2E encryption and are wondering how do I save my photos in the cloud with zero-knowledge encryption, then you can encrypt your photos before uploading them to the cloud with third-party tools such as Cryptomator.

Internxt, on the other hand, offers post-quantum and zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage for all plans. This encryption happens automatically on your device, so no need to configure additional settings, or use third-party tools.

So if you want the best cloud storage for your photos to save them in total privacy, choose any Internxt monthly or lifetime cloud storage plan, and claim your 85% exclusive discount below.

Claim your discount

Related products

https://internxt.com/mail

Internxt Meet - Private Video Call | Secure Video Conferencing

Experience secure video conferencing with end-to-end encryption. Start a private video call today and ensure your conversations remain confidential with our encrypted video call technology.

Secure Video Conferencing

https://internxt.com/vpn

Google Photos is a popular app by Google to store, share, sync, and backup your photos, albums, and keep your memories in the cloud.

Like Google Drive and its lack of privacy features, many are wondering whether Google Photos and privacy are possible with a Photos account.

This article will help you answer this question by investigating:

• Photos vs Google Drive
• Photos features, pricing
• Google Photos and privacy
• The best privacy alternative to Google Photos

By the end, you won’t have to worry about companies spying on your photos or data again, as Internxt Photos has everything you need to store and automatically backup your photos and protect their privacy with post-quantum encryption.

Table of contents

• What is Google Photos?
• Is Google Photos free?
• Difference between Google Photos and Google Drive
• Is Google Photos safe?
• Google Photos and privacy concerns
• Store your photos with maximum privacy with Internxt
• Internxt vs Google Drive overview
• Related articles
• Frequently asked questions

What is Google Photos?

Google Photos is a cloud storage for photos service that’s part of the Google ecosystem. It lets you store, organize, edit, and share photos and videos.

Google Photos was released on May 28, 2015, allowing you to automatically back up your media from your phone or computer, so you can access it from any device signed into your Google account.

Is Google Photos free?

Yes, Google Photos is free to download and use. It lets you store up to 15GB of photos, which, depending on the size and format of your photos, is enough for:

• High-quality JPEG (~3 MB each): ~5,000 photos
• Full-resolution RAW (~25 MB each): ~600 photos
• Medium-resolution JPEG (~1 MB each): ~15,000 photos
• Small/resized photos (~500 KB each): ~30,000 photos

However, this free storage applies across the rest of Google’s services, so your Gmail and Google Drive storage will also take up this storage. If you need more storage, monthly or annual subscriptions are available with a Google One plan.

Difference between Google Photos and Google Drive

Google Photos is for media management with smart organization and editing for photos, while Google Drive is for general file storage and collaboration.

When to use Google Photos: to store, organize, and manage photos and videos. It is ideal if you want automatic backups in Google Photos, AI-powered search by people, places, or objects, quick editing tools, and features like albums, collages, and memories.

When to use Google Drive: Use it when you need general cloud storage for all file types, such as documents, spreadsheets, PDFs, images, and videos. It is best for folder-based organization, file syncing, offline access, and sharing or live collaboration with others.

Google Photos features

Google Drive features

Is Google Photos safe?

Google Photos, Drive, and its other services use several security protocols to secure your data, but it still lacks the technology needed if you want to store photos in the cloud privately.

Below are the features, technology, and protocols you should be aware of when considering Google Photos and privacy concerns.

We have previously covered is Google Drive safe for private photos, if you are looking to store photos in Google Drive only.

Encryption

Google Photos, Drive, and its other services use AES-256 encryption and TLS protocols to protect your photos as they are transferred and stored in the cloud.

This is the industry-standard encryption and security required to protect files from hackers or data breaches.

Despite this encryption, Google, like many other companies, does not use zero-knowledge encryption, so Google and its employees can see your data, photos, emails, and other types of information when you use its services.

Internxt, on the other hand, uses post-quantum combined with zero-knowledge encryption to offer end-to-end encryption and maximum privacy to ensure only you can see your data, and nobody else, even Internxt, can view it.

Google has shown it doesn’t value the privacy of its customers’ data, as shown by the millions it has paid in the past due to GDPR and privacy law violations.

A past vulnerability in 2019 with Google Takeout (the service that allows you to download all your Google data) caused users to receive videos from other people’s Google Photos libraries, exposing private content to unintended recipients and raising serious privacy concerns about data segregation in Google’s export systems.

Security

To secure your accounts, you can enable Two-Factor Authentication to add extra security to your password.

Other security features include:

• Locked Folder: Move sensitive photos and videos into a PIN-protected folder on your mobile that doesn’t appear in the main feed or search results.
• Private sharing controls: You can share individual photos, albums, or links with specific people, and revoke access at any time.
• Phishing and malware protection: Google’s systems scan for known threats and warn users if a link or file could be unsafe.

So while Google may be secure, Google Photos and privacy features are lacking in comparison to other privacy-focused companies, like Internxt.

Google Photos and privacy concerns

Scanning your photos

When you upload photos to Google, they contain metadata that contains information related to:

• Timestamps of the date and hour the photo was taken
• Location
• Device information

But it doesn’t stop there; Google also integrates AI features such as facial recognition and other activity-based personalization to organize your library to show your most viewed albums, and organize photos based on people, places, friends, family, pets, or certain events.

How to prevent this:

1. Use Internxt's free Metadata remover if you store photos in Google to delete the added information from your photos.
2. Your Google Account button → Photos settings → Preferences. This will stop future AI organization of your photos, but Google still has data on how it was used in the past.

Photos used for AI training

Google has combined its Gemini AI model into photos to allow you to search through your photo history using prompts with its Ask Photos feature.

For example, searching for “Paris Trip”  will find your photos that best match the context and content.

While it is not clear how far this AI feature analyzes or uses your content, it likely combines with Gemini’s privacy policy, where humans can monitor your Gemini chats to provide extra training for its AI model.

How to prevent this: Turn off the Ask Photos feature by going to  Photos settings > Preferences > Gemini features in Photos.

Unverified security

Google is not open source; therefore, Google Photos and privacy features, such as how it protects your data, secures your accounts, and encrypts your files is hidden from public view.

This means it's impossible to verify any of the Google Photos and privacy features designed to protect your data; instead, you have to trust Google when it comes to how they protect your data and files.

How to prevent this: switch to open source software and European tech companies like Internxt. Everything is open source and verifiable via the Internxt GitHub page.

Internxt has also successfully passed two independent security audits, verifying the security of its platform for your data and files.

Account deletion and potential legal consequences

As Google can access your data and photos, it can also take action if it decides you go against its terms and conditions, even if you haven’t.

One example happened to a Father from Houston, Texas, in 2021. The father took a screenshot of his child for the doctor to more easily diagnose the condition. Google flagged the images as potential child abuse during automated scanning and notified the police.

The father was clear of any wrongdoing, but Google still disabled his entire Google account, deleting years of emails, contacts, and files.

In 2024, an Indian engineer lost access to his Gmail, Google Drive, and photos after Google’s AI content scanning flagged a photo of him as a young child. Attempts to get back his accounts proved unsuccessful after contacting Google.

How to prevent this: Use cloud storage with zero-knowledge encryption that automatically encrypts photos before they are uploaded to the cloud to prevent unauthorized content scanning by AI.

Store your photos with maximum privacy with Internxt

For a fully private alternative to Google Photos, and other Google products such as Google Meet, Drive, and Gemini, Internxt Photos offers automatic backups for your photos from your mobile device, and Internxt Drive offers zero-knowledge and post-quantum encryption for photos stored on web or the Internxt Drive app.

Nobody can view your files, not even Internxt, so if you want maximum privacy for your photos and data, Internxt is the best solution to protect your files and secure your online privacy.

Internxt Photos

Internxt Photos is a secure alternative to Google Photos to automatically back up your photos in the cloud, protected with zero-knowledge encryption.

Photos and all Internxt's products are open source, and everything is encrypted on your device before being uploaded to the cloud, so nobody can access your photos, and AI models cannot scan the contents of your photo albums.

With Internxt Photos, you can automatically back up your entire phone library to back up your photos and free up your device storage, as deleted photos from your device remain in the cloud with Internxt.

You can also manually select photos if you want to back up and protect certain photos or albums.

Internxt Photos vs Google Photos overview

Internxt Drive

Internxt Drive launched post-quantum encrypted cloud storage in 2025, making it the first cloud storage with the most advanced and private encryption possible, making it the best private Google Drive alternative.

With Drive, you can store, sync, and back up your photos in total privacy with up to 5TB plans available. If you buy a lifetime plan, you also get the option to stack these plans for more storage.

With 5TB, you can store hundreds of thousands of photos, but it can also serve as your main storage for all file types, and you can even stream videos on the web platform.

You can also share photos securely with Drive, secure them with a password, and revoke access whenever you need, all protected with our zero-knowledge encryption.

Aside from cloud storage for Photos, Internxt paid plans include everything you need to keep your files protected and secure with:

• Encrypted backups
• 2FA
• Password-protected file sharing
• File versioning
• WebDAV, NAS, Rclone support

And that’s just for cloud storage; with Internxt, you get a full product suite, and get the best privacy online.

Below, you can find all the features of our Essential, Premium, and Ultimate plans for monthly and lifetime cloud storage.

Meet

Internxt Meet is a private video calling platform and an alternative to Google Meet to host meetings with friends, family, or colleagues in total privacy.

Your videos and chats are kept totally private, so you can host calls knowing that whatever you share or talk about in the call is between you and your participants.

Mail (coming soon)

Ultimate plans will also include Internxt Mail, a private, encrypted email service where you can send emails in total privacy, where nobody but you and your recipients can read its contents.

With Mail, you can switch from Gmail and other big tech companies that scan your emails, messages, and attachments, and switch to Internxt for the best privacy suite.

More features

Aside from Internxt Drive, Internxt has an abundance of free tools available to everyone to ensure accounts stay safe, devices remain protected, and your online privacy is the best it can be.

On our website, you can use the following free tools to meet your privacy needs:

• Temporary email: Protect your email from spam
• File Virus Scanner: Scan files to protect your device from malware
• Password Generator: Create strong passwords or passphrases
• Password Checker: Ensure your passwords are protected from hackers
• Dark Web Monitor: Check if your email or other data has leaked online

Combine these with your Internxt Drive account, and you don’t have to worry about Google or other big tech companies like Google, Dropbox, or others profiting or spying on you online anymore.

Join Internxt for 85% off with our special offer below!

Related articles

• Is Google Drive safe
• iCloud vs Google Drive
• Google Photos vs iCloud
• Alternative to Google Photos

Frequently asked questions

What data does Google Photos collect?

Google Photos collects photos, videos, metadata like location and device information, and usage data to organize and improve its services.

Can Google see my photos?

Yes, Google’s systems can access your photos for features like automatic organization, search, and personalized suggestions.

Google will also scan for content that may violate its terms and conditions, and delete accounts if they suspect any violations of these terms.

Is Google Photos encrypted?

Photos are encrypted in transit and at rest on Google servers. However, Google holds the encryption keys, so it can technically access your data.

What is the best Google Photos alternative?

Internxt Photos is the best alternative to Google Photos for automatic cloud backups on mobile.

Internxt Drive is the best alternative to Google Drive if you want to store photos using web or desktop apps. Both services use post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption so nobody but you can access your photos.

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

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

But is Proton Mail the best alternative to Gmail?

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

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

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

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

Table of contents

Proton vs Google overview

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

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

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

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

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

Proton Mail vs Gmail: What’s the difference?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Proton Mail vs Gmail pros and cons

Proton Mail pros

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

Proton Mail cons

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

Gmail pros

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

Gmail cons

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

Proton Mail vs Gmail free and pricing plan comparison

Proton Mail pricing

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

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

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

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

Mail Plus, €4.99/month

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

Unlimited, €12.99/month

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

Gmail pricing

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

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

Google One pricing for its monthly plan are below.

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

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

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

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

Proton Mail vs Gmail: which is cheaper?

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

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

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

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

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

Proton Mail vs Gmail privacy comparison

End-to-end encryption

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

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

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

Emails sent outside Proton

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

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

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

Gmail's server-side processing

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

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

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

Advertising

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

Proton Mail vs Gmail security comparison

Account security

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

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

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

Open source

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

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

Audited

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

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

Compliance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related products

https://internxt.com/vpn

https://internxt.com/drive

https://internxt.com/meet

Frequently asked questions about Proton Mail vs Gmail

Is Proton Mail more private than Gmail?

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

Is Proton Mail more secure than Gmail?

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

Is Proton Mail safer from hackers than Gmail?

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

Does Proton Mail have end-to-end encryption?

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

Does Gmail have end-to-end encryption?

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

Which has better account security, Proton Mail or Gmail?

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

Can Proton Mail read my emails?

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

Can Google read my Gmail emails?

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

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

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

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

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

Table of contents

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

The benefits of creating an email without a phone number

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

Privacy

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

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

What does Google know about me?

Security

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

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

Keep accounts separate

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

Avoid spam and unwanted messages

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

Why do email providers ask for a phone number?

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

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

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

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

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

Can you make an email account without a phone number?

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

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

How to create an email without a phone number

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to create a temporary email without a phone number

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

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

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

How to protect an email account without a phone number

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related products

https://internxt.com/drive

https://internxt.com/vpn

https://internxt.com/meet

Frequently asked questions

Can I create an email without a phone number?

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

What email is easiest to create without a phone number?

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

Can I create Gmail without a phone number?

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

Can I create Outlook without a phone number?

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

Is an email account without a phone number safe?

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

Can I recover an email account without a phone number?

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

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

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

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

Table of contents

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

Reasons to create a new, privacy-focused email

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to make a new email with Internxt Mail

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Benefits of Internxt Mail

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

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

What’s included with Internxt Mail

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

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

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

Claim your deal

Advantages of making a new, private email

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

Anonymity and privacy

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

Reduce big tech surveillance

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

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

Prevent data leaks

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

How to make a new email and keep it secure

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

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

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

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

Get secure, private, and encrypted email for life

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

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

Related products

https://internxt.com/drive

Internxt Photos – Secure Cloud Storage for Photos

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

https://internxt.com/meet

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

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

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

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

Table of contents

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

Gmail vs Outlook: What's the Difference?

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

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

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

Gmail vs Outlook: Pros and Cons

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

Gmail pros and cons

Pros

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

Cons

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

Outlook pros and cons

Outlook pros

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

Outlook cons

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

Outlook vs Gmail for Personal Email

Pricing and free plan

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

If you need more storage, Google One starts with:

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

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

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

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

Features

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

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

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

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

Security

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

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

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

Privacy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Encryption

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

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

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

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

What is the best alternative to Outlook and Gmail?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gmail vs Outlook for Business Email

Pricing

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

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

For Outlook, prices for businesses and enterprises are:

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

Gmail vs Outlook for business compliance

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

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

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

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

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

Encryption

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

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

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

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

iCloud Email vs Gmail vs Outlook

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related products

Internxt Drive – Secure Cloud File Storage

Internxt Drive offers the ultimate secure cloud storage solution. Store, share, and back up your files and photos using our open-source, end-to-end encrypted platform for guaranteed privacy.

Internxt VPN — Encrypted and Private VPN

Get Internxt VPN the ultimate private vpn service for total anonymity. Use our secure vpn to enjoy an encrypted vpn connection. Private vpn download available now for private vpn online browsing

Internxt Meet - Private Video Call | Secure Video Conferencing

Experience secure video conferencing with end-to-end encryption. Start a private video call today and ensure your conversations remain confidential with our encrypted video call technology.

Secure Video Conferencing

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

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

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

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

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

For more information, visit the Deloitte website.

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

So how does Google Photos work?

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

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

Table of contents

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

What is Google Photos?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How does Google Photos work?

Here is a simple overview of how it works:

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

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

Where are Google Photos stored?

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

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

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

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

Is Google Photos safe?

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

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

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

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

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

What is the best alternative to Google Photos?

Internxt

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

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

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

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

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

Internxt Drive vs Internxt Photos

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

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

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

Internxt vs Google

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

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

Related products

Internxt VPN — Encrypted and Private VPN

Get Internxt VPN the ultimate private vpn service for total anonymity. Use our secure vpn to enjoy an encrypted vpn connection. Private vpn download available now for private vpn online browsing

Internxt Antivirus — Protect your devices from malware

Internxt Antivirus scans and removes viruses from your files. Protect your devices from malware and ensure complete security in the cloud.

Internxt Cleaner — Optimize and Clean your Computer

Find and clear junk files to boost device speed, responsiveness, and performance.

Frequently asked questions

What is Google Photos?

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

Is Google Photos free?

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

How does Google Photos work?

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

Does Google Photos automatically back up photos?

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

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

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

Can Google access my photos?

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