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

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

Table of contents

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

What is iCloud Photos?

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

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

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

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

iCloud Photos is available on the following devices:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How does iCloud Photos work?

1. Photos and videos are uploaded to iCloud

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

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

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

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

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

2. Photos are synced across devices

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

3. Edits and deletions are synced automatically

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

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

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

Where are iCloud Photos stored?

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

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

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

Is iCloud Photos safe?

Account security

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

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

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

Standard vs Advanced Data Protection

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

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

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

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

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

Transparency

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

What is the best alternative to iCloud Photos?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Get 85% off Internxt

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 Mail - The Best Encrypted Email for Privacy.

Internxt Mail is an encrypted email solution that keeps your inbox safe. Thanks to post-quantum encryption, Internxt is the most secure email service for privacy.

The Best Encrypted Email for Privacy.

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

Frequently asked questions

Does iCloud Photos use end-to-end encryption?

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

Does iCloud Photos automatically save photos?

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

Are iCloud Photos stored in full resolution?

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

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

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

Does iCloud Photos count toward storage?

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

Does iCloud Photos reduce photo quality?

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

Can I access iCloud Photos from Windows?

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

Can I view iCloud Photos without an iPhone?

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

Is iCloud Photos a backup?

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

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

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

So which one is best for you?

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

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

Table of contents

Amazon Photos vs Google Photos overview

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

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

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

Amazon Photos vs Google Photos pros and cons

Amazon Photos pros

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

Amazon Photos cons

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

Google Photos pros

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

Google Photos cons

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

Amazon Photos vs Google Photos pricing

Google Photos vs Amazon Photos free plan comparison

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

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

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

Amazon Photos pricing

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

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

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

Google Drive pricing

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

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

Internxt vs Amazon Photos vs Google Photos pricing comparison

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon Photos features

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

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

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

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

Google Photos features

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

The features you get with Google Photos include:

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

Amazon Photos vs Google Photos: Are your photos secure?

Security

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

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

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

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

Privacy

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

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

Transparency and compliance

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

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

What is the best alternative to Amazon and Google Photos?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related Products

Internxt Mail - The Best Encrypted Email for Privacy.

Internxt Mail is an encrypted email solution that keeps your inbox safe. Thanks to post-quantum encryption, Internxt is the most secure email service for privacy.

The Best Encrypted Email for Privacy.

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

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

Frequently asked questions

Are Amazon Photos and Google Photos the same thing?

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

Is Amazon Photos better than Google Photos?

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

Does Amazon Photos have unlimited storage?

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

Are Amazon Photos and Google Photos secure?

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

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

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

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

Table of contents

Why people choose cloud storage for their photos

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

Access your photos from anywhere

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

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

Free up device storage

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

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

Automatic backups and data protection

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

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

Easy photo sharing

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

Store large photo libraries

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

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

Benefits of moving your photos to cloud storage

Reduced reliance on physical devices

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

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

Search and find photos faster

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

Archive your memories

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

How to move photos to cloud storage

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

iPhone and Android

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

Desktop

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

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

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

How to move photos to cloud storage from Google

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

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

Do my photos automatically go to the cloud?

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

What is the best way to store photos?

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

How much cloud storage do you need for photos?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is the best cloud storage for photos?

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

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

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

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

Related products

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

Internxt Mail - The Best Encrypted Email for Privacy.

Internxt Mail is an encrypted email solution that keeps your inbox safe. Thanks to post-quantum encryption, Internxt is the most secure email service for privacy.

The Best Encrypted Email for 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

Frequently asked questions

How to keep photos safe in cloud storage

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

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

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

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

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

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

But, is Google Drive safe for private Photos?

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

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

Table of contents

Google Drive safety and security features

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

Account security

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

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

Access controls

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

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

Account activity and security alerts

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

Malware and spam protection

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

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

Compliance

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

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

Google Drive security and privacy concerns you should know

Something something

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

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

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

Privacy

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

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

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

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

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

Gemini AI and privacy

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

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

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

Encryption

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

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

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

Transparancy

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

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

How to protect your photos in Google Drive

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

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

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

How to move photos from Google Drive to private cloud storage

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related products

Internxt Mail - The Best Encrypted Email for Privacy.

Internxt Mail is an encrypted email solution that keeps your inbox safe. Thanks to post-quantum encryption, Internxt is the most secure email service for privacy.

The Best Encrypted Email for Privacy.

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

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.

Frequently asked questions

Is Google Drive safe for private photos?

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

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

What is the best alternative to Google Drive for photos?

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

Are photos stored on Google Drive encrypted?

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

Can Google Gemini access my photos?

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

How can I make my Google Drive photos more private?

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

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

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

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

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

Table of contents

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

What to consider before sharing family photos online

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

Privacy

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

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

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

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

Security and encryption

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

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

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

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

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

Ease of use

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

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

Protection with backups

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

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

How to share private photos with family

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

Internxt: best for privacy, sharing, and automatic backups

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pros:

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

Google Photos: best for free storage

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

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

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

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

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

Pros

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

Cons

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

Messaging apps: Best for family groups

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

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

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

Pricing: free

Pros

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

Cons

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

Email: best for individual photos

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

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

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

Pros

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

Cons

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

SmugMug: best for unlimited cloud storage

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

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

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

Pricing: $24.17/month billed annually

Pros

• Unlimited storage
• Integrates with Lightroom
• Privacy controls

Cons

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pricing: Depends on the brand

Pros

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

Cons

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

USBs and hard drives: best for offline sharing

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

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

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

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

Pros

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

Cons

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

More tips on how to share private photos with family

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

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

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

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 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

Internxt - Secure File Transfer

Internxt offers a secure file transfer service to encrypt and secure files so you control who can access your data.

Secure File Transfer

Frequently asked questions

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

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

Is Google Photos a good way to share family photos?

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

How can I share family photos securely online?

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

Is it safe to share family photos on social media?

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

How can I share large photo albums with family?

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

Internxt Mail is now available!

With this new release, the Internxt product suite is finally complete and offers you everything you need to protect your privacy online.

Internxt Mail is part of Internxt’s encrypted cloud storage, VPN, Meet, Antivirus, and Photos. With Mail, you can send end-to-end encrypted emails to ensure nobody but you and your recipients can view the contents.

To get Mail, get 85% off all Internxt plans, including Ultimate plans using the link below.

Like Internxt Drive, Mail is fully end-to-end encrypted and protected with post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption, so your emails are encrypted directly on your device before sending.

There are no additional steps to take, like sending a secure email via Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo; end-to-end encryption is the default with Internxt Mail.

To start sending private emails with Internxt, this article will cover everything you need to know, including:

• How to send an encrypted email with Internxt
• How to set up your Internxt email address
• How to get Internxt Mail
• Features included with Internxt Mail

Before we cover how to send an encrypted email, first, you will need an Internxt account, which you can create from our website to access your free cloud storage and upgrade to get access to Mail, Photos, and more.

Table of contents

• How to create your Internxt Mail account
• How to send an encrypted email with Internxt
• Features included with Internxt Mail
• Frequently asked questions

How to create your Internxt Mail account

To access Internxt Mail, you will need an Ultimate plan from Internxt. You can choose from a monthly or lifetime plan and get 85% off using this link.

If you already have an Essential or Premium plan with Internxt, you can upgrade to an Internxt lifetime plan with the same 85% discount, and this will stack your storage and unlock the Ultimate features for your account, including Mail, rclone, Internxt Photos, and more.

Once your Ultimate plan is activated, follow these steps to send an encrypted email with Internxt.

1. Go to https://mail.internxt.com/
2. Choose your email address; the following options are available: inxt.eu inxt.me and encrypt.eu

Once you have added your email, click “Save new email”

3. From there, confirm the password of your Internxt account and confirm to activate your new email address.

4. Once activated click “Save new email”

Now your Internxt email is ready; let's learn how to send an encrypted email with your new private email provider.

How to send an encrypted email with Internxt

Now that you’ve created an account, you can start sending end-to-end encrypted and private emails with Internxt easily by following these steps.

1. Go to mail.internxt.com and create your account
2. Click “New message”

3. Add your recipient(s), subject, and message

4. Click CC or BCC to add extra people you want to send the email to.

5. Add any attachments you need to send

6. Click “Send” and your encrypted email will be encrypted on your device and sent to your recipient

7. If you want to send the email later, then hit the cross button, and it will save to your drafts to send later, or you can delete it if it’s no longer needed.

And that’s how to send an encrypted email with Internxt: simply create your message, and hit send. We take charge of the encryption for you, so you can send secure emails knowing they can never be hacked or accessed by anyone but you and the people you send them to.

Unlike other email services, there are no extra steps to take to send secure emails, and even with Gmail, there is no option to send emails with end-to-end encryption unless you have a Google business plan.

If you have an email account with Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo, and you want to combine it with your Internxt Mail, then below you can find out how to send an encrypted email in our article.

How to send a secure email with Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo

For post-quantum encrypted emails, Internxt Mail is the best encrypted email for business or personal use to send messages in total privacy.

Features included with Internxt Mail

Internxt Mail is included with an Internxt Ultimate plan, which offers 5TB of secure cloud storage and the following features.

Internxt VPN: A secure, encrypted email

Internxt Antivirus: Protect your device from malware

Internxt Meet: Secure, encrypted video calls

Internxt Photos: Automatic backups for photos

NAS cloud backups: Access Drive from QNAP or Synology devices

WebDAV and Rclone support: Command-line access to Internxt Drive  

With an Ultimate plan, you get everything you need as a Google Drive alternative, and alternatives to other big tech companies to protect your cloud storage and online privacy with a full privacy suite, which you can get for 85% off using the special offer link below.

Frequently asked questions

Is Internxt Mail end-to-end encrypted?

Yes, Internxt Mail uses post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption that encrypts your emails and attachments directly on your device before they are sent to your recipients. Because of this, nobody, not even Internxt, can access your emails.

How do I access Internxt Mail?

Internxt Mail is included with an Ultimate plan available from the Internxt pricing page.

How much does Internxt Mail cost?

With an Internxt monthly plan, you can access Mail and all the features of an Ultimate plan for €4.49/month. You can also access all of Internxt’s products, including cloud storage and Mail with a one-time payment of €585.

How to send an encrypted email?

With Internxt Mail, encryption happens on your device from the moment you hit send. No need for third-party encryption tools or modifying your settings; everything happens automatically with Internxt’s encrypted email.

Is Internxt Mail an alternative to Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo?

Yes, Internxt is a secure and private alternative to Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo. It can never access your emails because of its encryption, and Mail is totally open source for complete transparency.

MEGA and Google Drive are both popular options for cloud storage, but both are very different in terms of privacy, storage, and additional features they offer.

If you’re considering MEGA vs Google Drive, this article covers everything you need to know about both. Whether you want to compare pricing, features, security and encryption, we cover it all so you can choose the best option to meet your needs.

Table of contents

MEGA vs Google Drive overview

MEGA offers end-to-end encrypted cloud storage, with high storage plans for monthly and annual subscriptions, which include additional products like a VPN or secure video conferencing.

Google Drive is not end-to-end encrypted, so it’s less private than other encrypted cloud storage options. It does, however, have a generous free plan, live collaboration, and includes email and access to the Google Workspace.

Google Drive vs MEGA pros and cons

Google Drive pros

• Integration with Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Google Photos.
• Strong real-time collaboration and document editing.
• Easy file sharing with flexible permissions.
• 15 GB of free storage included with every Google Account.

Google Drive cons

• 15 GB can fill up quickly with photos, videos and email attachments.
• Some advanced features require a paid plan.
• Not end-to-end encrypted, so Google could access your files.
• Heavy users may need to manage storage across multiple Google services.

MEGA pros

• End-to-end encryption means MEGA cannot access the contents of your files.
• Offers more free storage than Google Drive, at 20 GB
• Large storage plans available, including 3 TB, 10 TB and 20 TB

MEGA cons

• Free accounts have limited transfer allowances
• Some advanced features and higher transfer limits require a paid plan
• Collaboration and document-editing features are less extensive than Google Drive
• Transfer speeds and availability can be affected by MEGA's bandwidth and quota restrictions

MEGA vs Google Drive pricing

Google Drive vs MEGA free plan comparison

MEGA offers 20GB of free cloud storage, and Google Drive offers 15GB, so MEGA wins if you just want free storage.

However, free MEGA plans have limited transfers, and your free Google storage is shared across Google Docs, Sheets, Photos, and Gmail, so it may become full quickly.

MEGA pricing

Monthly

Annual

Like Google, you can save up to 17% if you choose an annual plan. MEGA offers more plans under the annual plan, starting with a lower 200GB plan, so if you don't need as much storage, you can consider the following plans.

Google Drive pricing

Google Drive offers 15GB of free cloud storage. If you want to upgrade, you can choose from Google One pricing options. For monthly and annual individual plans, the pricing is below.

Monthly

Annual

Depending on the plan you choose, you could save up to 37% if you choose to pay for the following annual plans.

Google Drive vs MEGA: Which is cheaper?

Based on the costs of Google Drive vs MEGA monthly plans, choosing which one is best value for money depends on your storage needs as highlighted below.

• Best value under 1 TB: Google One 400 GB at €48.36/year.
• Best value around 1–3 TB: MEGA Pro I — 3 TB for €99.96/year. That's only €2.58 more per year than Google's 2 TB plan, while providing 50% more storage.
• Best value for 5 TB+: MEGA Pro II — 10 TB for €242.02/year. That's roughly double Google's 5 TB storage for only €27.64 more per year.
• For very large storage needs: MEGA Pro III gives 20 TB for €756.25/year.

MEGA also offers a VPN and password manager included in its plans, which Google doesn’t, so if these features are important, then a MEGA plan may be better for you.

Internxt vs MEGA vs Google Drive pricing comparison

For Internxt pricing plans, we compare the cost of Internxt’s monthly plans vs MEGA and Google Drive, at the current special offer rate of 85 off available from here.

If you want cheap cloud storage that offers terabytes of storage with additional features such as VPN, Antivirus, and backups, then Internxt is a cheap MEGA alternative, as it is 70% cheaper than MEGA’s 3TB plan and 79% cheaper than Google Drive’s 5TB plan.

Unlike MEGA and Google, Internxt also offers 85% off all its lifetime plans, so if you want to avoid subscriptions entirely and have the option to stack your storage, then a lifetime plan is best for you.

Check out all of Internxt’s features and pricing options below, or by visiting our website.

Get 85% off

Internxt vs MEGA vs Google Drive features

Encryption

Google Drive is not end-to-end encrypted, nor are any of its other services, including Google Photos privacy terms.

It uses in-transit and at-rest encryption, but as Google manages encryption keys on its servers, they could access your files at any time.

There are workarounds you can use to send a secure email with Gmail and share a Google Drive encrypted folder with tools such as Cryptomator, but if you want encrypted cloud storage as the default option, better alternatives to Google Drive are available.

MEGA uses zero-knowledge encryption, so they can’t access your files, as everything is encrypted on your device before upload. However, they have had reports of cryptography vulnerabilities in the past, which you can read more about in our is MEGA safe article.

Internxt also offers end-to-end encryption combined with post-quantum cryptography, which isn’t available with MEGA or Google Drive.

Internxt’s post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption is included in all plans, and protects your files against the future threats of quantum computers.

Who wins? Internxt wins for its post-quantum and end-to-end encryption, guaranteeing private cloud storage for your sensitive documents, photos, and videos.

Open source and transparency

Neither Google Drive nor MEGA is open source, so you have to trust the company that the software does what it claims, as security experts cannot review the code to ensure it’s secure, and there are no backdoors to your data.

So if open source and transparency are important to you when considering MEGA vs Google Drive, then choose Internxt, as it is fully open source and audited twice by Securitum to verify your data is secure against hackers.

Who wins? Internxt is the only open source option when considering Google vs MEGA transparency.

Photo backups

Both Google Drive and MEGA offer cloud storage for photos and backups of your memories. However, if you want more features in your photos app when choosing between Google Drive vs MEGA, then Google Photos has more advanced features.

If you want the best alternative to Google Photos, with zero-knowledge encryption, then Internxt Photos is available for all Ultimate monthly and lifetime cloud storage plans.

Who wins? Internxt for zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage for photos and automatic backups, free from AI scanning your private photos.

Platforms

Both offer Windows, Mac, and mobile support for iOS and Android.

But for more advanced cloud management, For MEGA vs Google Drive in terms of advanced cloud management, Internxt and MEGA offer more support, such as NAS cloud backups.

Who wins? Both Internxt and MEGA offer the same support for Linux, WebDAV and Rclone, and NAS for QNAP and Synology.

Compliance

Google Drive is based in the US, but does cover GDPR compliance for European customers, and MEGA is based in New Zealand but also follows the GDPR privacy framework.

Google, MEGA, and Internxt offer ISO and SOC compliance, but Internxt is the only European cloud storage option between the two.

Who wins? Internxt if you want your data hosted in Europe. Google has paid millions in GDPR fines for violations of data privacy.

Additional features

Google Drive plans include access to its whole Google Workspace, which you cam view in our Google One vs Google Drive article.

For MEGA, you also get,

• MEGA VPN
• MEGA Pass
• Meet

Both the VPN and password manager can be purchased with a separate subscription, or they are included in a cloud storage plan.

Internxt also offers an encrypted VPN, a Google Meet alternative with Internxt Meet, plus Internxt Mail, Photos, and everything you need to keep you secure online.

Who wins? Internxt for its encrypted and private alternatives to Google services, such as Gmail. If you want a password manager, then MEGA includes this in its subscriptions, or separately.

MEGA vs Google Drive: Which one should you choose?

Now we’ve covered all the information you need to know when choosing between MEGA vs Google Drive.

So which one should you choose?

• Choose Google Drive if you want the integration of Google’s products, live collaboration, or extra backups for files that do not contain private or sensitive information.
• Choose MEGA if you want higher storage plans, end-to-end encryption, and features like MEGA pass.
• Choose Internxt if you want a European and open-source cloud storage with post-quantum encryption, private email, secure video calls, and automatic photo backups included in one lifetime or monthly plan.

Related products

Secure Cloud Object Storage (S3 Compatible) — Internxt S3

Internxt S3 offers secure, private, and affordable cloud object storage. Scale your storage needs with our S3-compatible cloud based object storage solution.

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 Mail - The Best Encrypted Email for Privacy.

Internxt Mail is an encrypted email solution that keeps your inbox safe. Thanks to post-quantum encryption, Internxt is the most secure email service for privacy.

The Best Encrypted Email for Privacy.

Cloud storage goes far beyond just uploading your files online and leaving them there. You can do much more with your files to protect, collaborate, and keep your files updated with the proper cloud storage.

Two popular approaches for file management are file syncing and backups, which are different methods that you should know how and when to use to get the best from your cloud service provider.

This article will explain what sync and backup are, how they work, which one to use, and how to sync and backup files using Internxt Drive.

By the end of this article, you should know the difference between cloud sync vs backup in cloud storage so you can make an informed decision about protecting your data.

Table of contents

What is data sync?

Data synchronization, or syncing, keeps your files and documents consistent across multiple devices or locations in real time whenever changes are made.

If you make changes to your files with the Internxt Drive app, for example, the changes will automatically be applied to the Web platform and other connected devices.

Syncing is helpful for teams or businesses as it keeps everybody up to date with the changes so everyone has the most current version of the files.

There are two different kinds of syncing:

1. One-way sync, or mirroring, copies files from one location to another without altering the source document.
2. Two-way or bidirectional sync means changes made on one device are applied to others.

You can use file-syncing when working with other users working on the same file to keep your documentation updated, improve productivity and efficiency, and get access to recent versions of files across different devices.

However, syncing is not the same as backup. If a file is deleted or changed and that change is synchronized, the same change may occur on all connected devices.

For protection against data loss, syncing should be used alongside reliable cloud storage backup solutions.

What is data backup?

The idea behind a data backup is simple: you make a copy of an important file on your desktop, tablet, or mobile and store it separately from the original data. You can make backups of documents, photos, videos, emails, or any other digital files.

Data backups are important because it it allows you to recover your data in an emergency. For example, if you have important documents and you accidentally delete the original, you can recover it from the backed-up location.

Another benefit is that cloud backups protect you from ransomware. If you lose photos, documents, or other files due to a ransomware attack, you can recover them from the backed-up location.

In short, backups add a layer of protection to prevent permanent data loss. It can also free up your storage if your cloud storage is full by deleting files you don’t access so often, and you can access the backed-up files should you need them later.

What is the difference between backup vs sync?

Below you can see a general overview of cloud sync vs backup in the cloud, and which is best depending on what you want to achieve.

Advantages of backup vs sync

Advantages of backup

• Protects your files from accidental deletion
• Helps recover data after hardware failure
• Protects against file corruption or ransomware
• Keeps an additional copy of important files
• Useful for long-term data protection
• Allows you to restore lost or damaged files

Disadvantages of backup

• Backups can require significant storage space
• Files may not be immediately available on other devices
• Restoring large amounts of data can take time
• An outdated backup may not contain your latest files

Advantages of sync

• Keeps files up to date across multiple devices
• Makes files easily accessible from different locations
• Automatically reflects changes across synced devices
• Useful for working with files across computers and phones
• Makes collaboration and file sharing easier
• Reduces the need to manually transfer files

Disadvantages of sync

• Deleting a file can remove it from synced locations
• Changes can be synchronized before you notice a mistake
• Can use significant bandwidth when syncing large files
• May consume storage space on multiple devices

When to use backup vs sync?

When we look at the difference between sync and backup features in cloud storage, they seem similar, but you need to use them differently to get the best from each use.

Data syncing is about access and consistency, while backup is about protection and recovery

Use data sync when you want to make changes to files and keep them up to date in the cloud across multiple devices, and keep the version up to date, so data syncing is especially useful when editing documents and you want to keep the most recent version of your files.

Use data backup when your main goal is protecting your files against loss.

The main cloud backup advantages are that they allow you to recover files that have been accidentally deleted, corrupted, lost due to hardware failure, or affected by ransomware.

It is particularly useful for important documents, photos, archives, and other data that you cannot afford to lose.

How often should I back up my files?

The amount of data you manage and whether you have personal or enterprise cloud storage will likely help you decide how often to back up your files. We recommend the following:

• Critical data: It's recommended that highly important files, such as business records or sensitive personal documents, be backed up daily. This reduces the risk of data loss and captures the most recent changes in files.
• A weekly backup may be sufficient if you make changes less frequently to less critical data and your files don’t change often.
• Large databases or system Backups: For larger systems or databases that change frequently (e.g., websites, application data), multiple backups per day may be necessary. This can include hourly or real-time backups to ensure no data is lost during active periods.

For large databases or system backups, we recommend Internxt S3 storage for enterprises as it allows you to manage and back up large datasets from data stored in buckets for ease of access.

How to sync and backup files with Internxt Drive

You don’t have to choose between sync vs backup services; with Internxt Drive you can sync and backup your files directly from your preferred Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android.

Internxt also offers cloud NAS backups for QNAP and Synology devices, as well as WebDAV and rclone support, so if you’re choosing between backup vs sync, Internxt offers everything you need to make managing your files in the cloud easily and accessible on all apps and devices.  

Internxt Drive offers private cloud storage, syncing, and backups for all file formats, and for secure cloud storage for photos, Internxt also offers Internxt Photos to automatically back up your photos in the cloud, preserving your memories in the cloud and securing them against data loss.

Internxt Photos, Drive, and other products of Internxt pricing plans include post-quantum, zero-knowledge encryption. This means nobody can access your photos, backups, or synced files, offering the best encrypted cloud storage to keep your files protected from hackers, data loss, and cyberattacks.

How to sync files with Internxt Drive

To sync your files from your Internxt account across your devices, follow these steps:

1. Ensure you have the most recent version of the app installed.
2. Create a file and upload the files you want synced to your cloud.
3. Two blue arrows show that syncing is in process.
4. A green arrow will show that your files have been synced to your web account from the app or different devices.
5. You can check the status of file syncing from the app on the bottom left, which will show “Syncing files” or “Fully synced.”

If you accidentally make changes to a synced file, Internxt Drive also includes file versioning, so you can restore your files to a previous version before the changes were made.

How to backup files with Internxt Drive

To back up your files to ensure their future availability and protection, follow these steps:

1. Make sure you have the most recent version of the app installed.
2. Go to Settings > Preferences > Backups
3. Select Backup now

You can then schedule your backups to automatically update every 1,6, or 12 hours, or manually back them up whenever you need.

Whenever you need to access your backed-up files, simply log in to your Internxt account, go to the “Backups” section, where you can view your devices and download your chosen files.

To back up your files with your NAS Synology or sync files to your QNAP device, follow the instructions in our help center.

Internxt automatic backup for Photos

Internxt automatic backup is available with Internxt Photos, a secure cloud storage for photos service to back up your photos and protect them in the cloud.

To use the Internxt automatic backup feature, ensure you have the latest version of the iOS or Android app installed on your device, and follow these steps:

1. Log in to your account
2. Navigate to Photos in the bottom right corner of the app
3. Allow full access, or select the photos you want to back up to the cloud
4. Once backed up, your photos are stored in the cloud, accessible at any time

Internxt Photos is the best alternative to Google Photos if you want to stop Google Photos backup and switch to privacy.

Photos is available for the Ultimate monthly or Internxt lifetime plan, which gives you 5TB of secure cloud storage and access to all of Internxt’s features, which you can view below.

For an exclusive 85% discount on all Internxt plans, claim your offer by clicking the link below.

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 Mail - The Best Encrypted Email for Privacy.

Internxt Mail is an encrypted email solution that keeps your inbox safe. Thanks to post-quantum encryption, Internxt is the most secure email service for privacy.

The Best Encrypted Email for Privacy.

Frequently asked questions: Cloud backup vs sync

What is the difference between cloud sync vs backup?

Cloud sync keeps your files updated and accessible across multiple devices, whereas cloud backup stores copies of your files online so they can be recovered if the originals are lost or damaged.

What is the main difference between sync and backup?

Sync is for accessing and updating files across devices; backup is for protecting and recovering files.

Can I use sync and backup together?

Yes. Using both provides convenient access to your files and an additional layer of protection.

Does cloud sync require an internet connection?

An internet connection is generally required to synchronize changes between devices and the cloud.

Do cloud backups use storage space?

Yes. Backup copies consume cloud storage according to the amount of data being backed up.

Which is better, cloud sync or backup?

Neither is universally better. Sync is better for everyday access, while backup is better for data protection and recovery.

What’s the difference between file sync and file transfer?

File sync keeps files updated across multiple devices or locations, so changes made in one place are automatically reflected in the others. Secure file transfer simply moves or copies files from one location to another without keeping them synchronized afterward.

Sending an email is easy, but sending an email securely with the right settings can be time-consuming or difficult if you’re unsure how to configure the right settings. Even so, securing your emails protects your business from phishing attempts and ransomware.

If you use an email for personal use, the same risks of email scams apply, so the techniques you learn in this article will keep your personal and business information secure from hackers.

This article will show you how to send a secure email in Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo with the tools and features each offers to send secure emails online.

We’ll also explain how to send a secure email with Internxt Mail, which gives you post-quantum and zero-knowledge encrypted emails so nobody but you and your recipients can view them.

Table of contents

Why securing your emails matters

Our email is one of the most common entry points for cyberattacks. A compromised email account can expose private conversations, personal information, passwords, financial details, and access to other accounts.

Microsoft detected approximately 8.3 billion email-based phishing threats during Q1 2026, while 78% of email threats were link-based, so without the right email security protocols, your business and personal email could be at risk.

Advantages and risks of securing emails

Advantages

• Privacy: Keeps your emails, attachments, and sensitive personal or business information protected from unauthorized access.
• Protection from interception: Data encryption makes it much harder for attackers to read emails if they are intercepted.
• Reduced phishing risk: Strong security measures can help protect against malicious messages and account compromise.
• Compliance: Helps organizations meet data protection and privacy requirements (HIPAA, ISO, SOC 2)

Risks

• Phishing: Attackers can trick you into revealing passwords, financial details, or other sensitive information.
• Account takeovers: A compromised email account can be used to reset passwords and access other accounts.
• Data exposure: Insecure email can leave private messages, attachments, and personal information vulnerable to unauthorized access.
• Identity theft: Stolen personal information can be used to impersonate you or commit fraud.
• Financial loss: Compromised email accounts can be used to access financial accounts or facilitate fraudulent transactions.
• Malware: Malicious links and attachments can infect your device with malware or ransomware.

How to send a secure email in Gmail

Gmail is a secure email service; it does not use the end-to-end encryption that other services use, like Internxt Mail.

As a result, Google employees, or anyone with access to Google’s servers, can decrypt and view your emails. The steps below will cover how to send a secure email in Gmail to help you gain more security and peace of mind.

To learn more about security, encryption, and privacy in Gmail, check out our article below.

Is Gmail secure

Confidential mode

Confidential mode isn’t end-to-end encryption, but it still uses the standard Google security techniques to protect your emails.

To enable confidential mode, follow these steps:

1. Open Gmail and click “Compose.”
2. At the bottom of the window, click the Confidential mode button (lock & clock icon).
3. Set an expiration date and choose whether to require a passcode.
4. Click “Save” and then “Send.”

Once enabled, this mode lets you:

• Set an expiration date so the email becomes inaccessible after a specific period.
• Revoke access at any time, even before the expiration date.
• Prevent recipients from forwarding, copying, downloading, or printing the email and its attachments.
• Require a verification code by SMS before the recipient can open the email.

This mode is mainly designed to reduce accidental sharing of emails; people can still take screenshots or photos of the message, and Google could still technically access your messages.

Enable S/MIME Encryption

If you have a Google One paid plan for business, you can use Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME) encryption. This encrypts messages that can only be decrypted with a key and is one of the types of encryption businesses use to secure emails.

If you want to know how to send a secure email in Gmail with S/MIME encryption, the first thing you need to know is that it isn’t available for a normal Gmail account.

You need to  be the administrator of your Google Workspace account and follow these steps:

1. Sign in to the Google Admin console with an administrator account.
2. Enable hosted S/MIME for the organization or the relevant organizational unit.
3. Obtain an S/MIME certificate for each user. The certificate contains the user’s public key and is used to establish encrypted communication.
4. Upload or configure the certificates according to your organization's S/MIME setup.
5. Once configured, users can open Gmail and compose a new email.
6. In the message window, select the message security option. Gmail will show whether enhanced encryption using S/MIME is available.

S/MIME does not necessarily encrypt everything associated with an email, such as some metadata like the sender, recipient, and subject.

Use a third-party encryption tool

If you want to send encrypted files via email, then you can use third-party tools like Cryptomator. However, the limit is quite small, so Gmail isn’t efficient if you want to share large video files online.

There are other third-party extensions available claiming to encrypt the contents of your Gmail, but you should use this with caution and verify their claims before downloading or using them.

How to send a secure email in Internxt Mail

Internxt Mail is part of Internxt’s encrypted cloud storage plans, and is an open source, end-to-end encrypted email to ensure only you and your recipient(s) can read your emails and view your attachments.

With Internxt Mail, everything is automatically encrypted with end-to-end and post-quantum encryption, the most advanced encryption available. There is no extra setup, tools, or configurations required; as soon as you hit send, your message is encrypted directly on your device.

Internxt Mail is part of Internxt’s monthly and lifetime Ultimate plans, which provide everything you need to protect your emails, devices, and cloud storage online.

To get the best encrypted email for your privacy and access to all Internxt’s features, visit our plans and claim your exclusive 85% discount using the link below.

Get Internxt Mail

How to send a secure email in Outlook

Encryption is available as part of OneDrive pricing plans in Outlook. It’s similar to Google’s confidentiality mode, with the added benefit of fully encrypted emails.

Here’s how to send a secure email in Outlook if you have a Microsoft subscription:

1. Click “Options” >“More Options” in the Outlook toolbar.

2. Select “Encrypt this message (S/MIME).

3. Click “OK.”

4. Finish your email and hit “Send.”

You can learn more about how to send a secure email in Outlook, plus additional security tips in our article below.

Is Outlook secure

How to send a secure email in Yahoo

Finally, there’s Yahoo. Not the most popular email service, but if you’re a Yahoo user and want to know how to send a secure email in Yahoo, then Yahoo Mail does not have a built-in option for sending end-to-end encrypted emails.

Yahoo does use encryption to protect your connection and email while it is being transmitted, but this is different from end-to-end encryption.

You can find more about Yahoo email below.

Is Yahoo email secure

In this case, there are third-party tools or encrypted email alternatives like Internxt.

Related products

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.

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

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.

Frequently asked questions

What is a secure email?

A secure email is an email protected against unauthorized access, interception, and misuse.

For sensitive information, end-to-end encryption provides stronger protection because only the sender and intended recipient can access the message content.

How do I know the emails I send are secure?

Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo all use in-transit and at-rest encryption when you send emails with them. Unless you set up certain options, none of them are end-to-end encrypted, so for complete peace of mind, it’s best to use Internxt Mail.

Is Gmail confidential mode encrypted?

No, confidential mode is not encrypted; it’s designed to give you more control over sensitive emails by limiting actions such as forwarding, copying, downloading, and printing, as well as allowing you to set an expiration date or revoke access.

Can I encrypt email attachments?

With Internxt Mail, yes. If you use the providers mentioned in this article, you would have to choose a separate tool to share encrypted files.

Data encryption turns plain text (readable data, like what you’re reading now) into ciphertext (unreadable data that looks like this:

8f3c9a72e1b4d6f08a5c21d9e7b3f6421cd48f39fj0ac2x

Data encryption protects our emails, shared files, cloud storage, and pretty much all the activities we do online from hackers, data breaches, and ransomware.

Companies use many types of encryption to protect data; while all offer the same levels of security, there are differences when it comes to the privacy of your data.

As a result, it’s important to choose the right encryption for your business and personal needs, which we’ll cover in detail throughout this article.

Table of contents

• What are the different types of encryption?
• The most common encryption methods
• Future types of encryption: post-quantum cryptography
• Types of encryption for privacy
• What types of encryption do cloud storage providers use?
• What are the best types of encryption?
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

What are the different types of encryption?

There are two main types of data encryption: symmetric encryption and asymmetric encryption. Hashing often falls into this category as it is a cryptographic technique used to protect and verify files and store or share passwords securely.

Symmetric encryption

Symmetric encryption secures data using the same secret key to both encrypt and decrypt it.

You use this secret key to encrypt the file, and the same secret key is needed to decrypt it and view its contents. Without the secret key, you would only see the encrypted data.

Symmetric encryption techniques and algorithms include

• AES (Advanced Encryption Standard)
• ChaCha20
• Twofish

Symmetric encryption is used to encrypt files, databases, messages, and large amounts of data.

Asymmetric encryption

Asymmetric encryption is a type of public key cryptography and protects data using two keys: a

1. Public key: Used to encrypt the message
2. Private key: needed to access data encrypted by the public key

Asymmetric encryption algorithms include:

• RSA
• ECC (Elliptic Curve Cryptography)

Asymmetric encryption is commonly used for secure communication, authentication, digital signatures, and securely exchanging encryption keys.

How hashing works with encryption techniques

Hashing isn’t one of the types of encryption, but it is used with cryptography to store and retrieve data.

Hashing is used to protect your passwords by storing the hash instead of the password.

For example, imagine your password is %jM/[]#b2zxvb.

When you create an account, the system runs your password through a hashing algorithm, producing something like:

%jM/[]#b2zxvb → $2b$12$LQv3c1yqBW

When you log in, it hashes the password you enter and compares the new hash with the stored hash. If they match, you’re allowed in.

To prevent problems if people have the same password, a salt is added to a hash, which is a random value added to each password before hashing. Even though both users have the same password, their stored hashes will be different because their salts are different.

The most common encryption methods

Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)

The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a symmetric encryption algorithm that is the most frequently used method of data encryption globally. It is widely used in cloud storage, including Google Drive, iCloud Drive, and Internxt, as it is the standard used to protect and encrypt data.

AES encrypts data in fixed 128-bit blocks and supports three key sizes:

1. 128-bit
2. 192-bit
3. 256-bit

The key size determines how many encryption rounds are performed: AES-128 uses 10 rounds, AES-192 uses 12, and AES-256 uses 14.

The best encryption methods use AES-256 for maximum protection against brute-force attacks, which is why it is used for encrypted cloud storage, wi-fi security, VPNs, and more.

Rivest Shamir Adleman (RSA)

The Rivest Shamir Adleman algorithm is an asymmetric form of encryption. It relies on the difficulty of factoring very large prime numbers, making it computationally difficult to derive the private key from the public key.

RSA is commonly used for digital signatures, authentication, and securely exchanging encryption keys.

Twofish

Twofish is a symmetric encryption algorithm that encrypts data in 128-bit blocks and supports key sizes of up to 256 bits. It was one of the finalists in the competition that selected AES, so it is well-known for its security and can be used for file and folder encryption.

Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC)

Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) is a public-key cryptographic method that uses mathematical calculations involving points on a specific type of curve. Its security relies on the difficulty of determining a private key from a public key and is an encryption method used by Proton Drive.

ECC can provide the same level of security as RSA while using much smaller keys. For example, a 256-bit ECC key can provide security comparable to a much larger RSA key.

Future types of encryption: post-quantum cryptography

By 2035, the National Institute of Standards and Technology recommends companies change to post-quantum encryption to protect against the future threats of quantum computing, which could break modern types of encryption and cause major data breaches.

Lattice-based cryptography

Lattice-based cryptography is a leading approach to post-quantum cryptography.

It is based on mathematical problems involving points arranged in high-dimensional structures called lattices. These problems are believed to be extremely difficult to solve efficiently, even for quantum computers.

ML-KEM-512, ML-KEM-768, and ML-KEM-1024  (formerly known as Kyber) are the main types of encryption used in this cryptography to protect files using these new encryption methods.

Internxt Drive is the first cloud storage to have post-quantum encryption, using a combination of ML-KEM 512 and AES 256 end-to-end encryption to protect your files against current and future cybersecurity threats and big tech surveillance.

Types of encryption for privacy

Now we know the different types of encryption; as we mentioned at the beginning of this article, these encryption methods are highly secure, but not necessarily private.

Below you can see why.

In transit and at rest encryption

In transit encryption encrypts files or data while it’s sent over the internet; at rest encryption keeps data encrypted on servers.

Google Drive encryption, and its suite of products like Gmail, as well as other big tech companies, use it to secure your files.

However, your files and data are not encrypted on your devices; the keys are managed by the companies, so any files stored on their service can be decrypted and viewed by employees.  

So while this kind of encryption is secure, it’s not guaranteed if you want total privacy.

End-to-end encryption

End-to-end encryption, or zero-knowledge encryption, encrypts files directly on your device, meaning you manage the encryption keys.

This means nobody but you, or those you share files or send emails to, can access your private documents, emails, or folders.

Internxt Drive uses post-quantum end-to-end encrypted cloud storage to give you maximum privacy and an alternative to Google Drive, so nobody but you can view your files.

What types of encryption do cloud storage providers use?

Internxt Drive

Internxt Drive is the only provider thus far to use post-quantum encryption combined with the current gold standard AES-256 encryption.

All Internxt pricing plans benefit from this kind of encryption, and it is also used in Internxt’s file sharing features for Drive and Internxt Send to send files securely online.

Aside from Drive, Internxt uses its zero-knowledge encryption methods across its product suite: Internxt Mail, Meet, and the best alternative to Google Photos, Internxt Photos.

So with Internxt, you get the best encrypted and private cloud storage, as everything is encrypted on your device, giving you full control and zero access of your files by anybody but you.

Get started with post-quantum encrypted cloud storage for free with Internxt, or get 85% off all plans, which include the features below.

85% off all Internxt plans

Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox

Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and many cloud providers use AES-256 encryption for files both at rest and in transit.

Dropbox also offers advanced encryption and key management for certain business plans, but standard Dropbox security does not provide client-side encryption by default.

So while your files are protected on the provider’s servers, it doesn’t automatically mean they cannot access the decrypted content.

Icedrive & pCloud

Icedrive uses Twofish with a 256-bit key for its client-side encryption, but only for its paid plans, so free plans are not end-to-end encrypted.

pCloud uses AES-256 encryption, but end-to-end encryption is only available on top of pCloud’s pricing plans with pCloud Crypto, so you have to pay more for privacy, or risk pCloud viewing your files.

If you’re wondering is pCloud safe without pCloud vault, there are reports online of lifetime cloud storage plans being deleted for violating pCloud’s terms, suggesting they could access your files.

Proton Drive

Finally, Proton Drive uses end-to-end encryption combined with Elliptic Curve Cryptography to protect your files and keep them private, even from Proton.

Like Internxt Drive, it is one of the best alternatives to OneDrive and other big tech services to consider if you want to combine encrypted cloud storage with a full privacy suite of products like VPN, email, and Meet.

What are the best types of encryption?

For maximum privacy, end-to-end encryption for email, messaging, and cloud storage ensures the service provider does not have access to the keys needed to decrypt your data.

As technology advances, so does encryption, which is why it’s important to combine end-to-end encryption with new post-quantum cryptography; for this, Internxt is the best choice to protect your privacy online.

Encryption is only one part of the equation, however. No matter the security of different encryption techniques, you still need to take caution when protecting your accounts using secure passwords, 2FA, and backing up copies of your files in the cloud.

Related products

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

Internxt Mail - The Best Encrypted Email for Privacy.

Internxt Mail is an encrypted email solution that keeps your inbox safe. Thanks to post-quantum encryption, Internxt is the most secure email service for privacy.

The Best Encrypted Email for Privacy.

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.

Frequently asked questions

What are the two main types of encryption?

The two main types are symmetric and asymmetric encryption. Symmetric encryption uses the same key to encrypt and decrypt data, while asymmetric encryption uses a public key and a private key

Is hashing a type of encryption?

No. Hashing is a separate cryptographic technique rather than a type of encryption. It is commonly used to protect passwords and verify data.

What is the best type of encryption for privacy?

For maximum privacy, end-to-end encryption is preferable because the service provider does not have access to the keys needed to decrypt your data. Combining end-to-end encryption with post-quantum cryptography can provide additional protection against future threats

Can encrypted data be hacked?

Strong encryption is extremely difficult to break through brute-force attacks, but encryption does not protect against every threat. Weak passwords, compromised accounts, stolen keys, or insecure systems can still expose data

Filen is a German cloud storage company with end-to-end encryption and support for various platforms to help you sync and back up your files in the cloud.

pCloud is a cloud storage company that’s been around for a bit longer, but it doesn’t offer zero-knowledge encryption as the default; you have to pay extra.

So Filen vs pCloud: which one should you pick?

This article compares both services, and when you should choose each one depending on the features you need, and how much you’re willing to pay.

• Filen vs pCloud overview
• Pros and cons of Filen and Proton Drive
• Filen vs pCloud free cloud storage
• Filen vs pCloud pricing comparison
• Filen vs pCloud features
• Filen vs pCloud vs Internxt Drive
• Filen vs pCloud: Which one should you choose?
• Related products

If you want lifetime cloud storage with post-quantum encryption, then you should consider Internxt, as it combines the end-to-end encryption Filen offers with lifetime options that also include VPN, Meet, Mail, Photos, and more.

Filen vs pCloud overview

Filen is a German and open-source cloud-storage company offering zero-knowledge encrypted file storage for all its free and paid plans. Filen mainly focuses on cloud storage features designed for privacy, with file syncing, sharing, encrypted notes, chat, and WebDAV and rclone support.

pCloud is a Swiss company headquartered in Baar, Switzerland. It provides conventional cloud storage, file syncing, automatic backups, file sharing, media storage/playback, and desktop and mobile apps. It offers business plans and lifetime plans for families and individual use.

The main difference to consider between Filen vs pCloud is that while Filen offers end-to-end encryption as standard, this is a paid add-on for pCloud, so you have to pay extra for private encryption.

pCloud is also not open source, so if you value transparency with open source cloud storage, you should consider Filen or Internxt Drive as an open source pCloud alternative.

Pros and cons of Filen and Proton Drive

Filen pros and cons

Pros

• Client-side, zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption
• Open source
• Plans up to 10TB
• CLI and rclone support

Cons

• Limited to cloud storage
• Free accounts can be deleted for inactivity
• No lifetime, business, or family plans

pCloud pros and cons

pCloud pros

• Popular for media and music streaming
• Automatic backups for photos and videos
• Additional features, such as pCloud Pass, available separately

pCloud cons

• Not open source.
• Standard pCloud storage is not zero-knowledge encrypted.
• There are reports of accounts being suspended/terminated after automated detection of prohibited or copyrighted content.

Filen vs pCloud free cloud storage

For free plans, Filen offers 10GB of free cloud storage with zero-knowledge encryption and limited access to its features. If you don’t use the account for more than three months, Filen will notify you beforehand that your account will be deleted for inactivity unless you log in again.

pCloud advertises 10GB of free storage, but you actually start with 2GB. To unlock the full 10GB, you have to do the following:

• Sign up for a free pCloud account → 2 GB.
• Verify your email → +1 GB.
• Upload a file → +1 GB.
• Download and log in to the pCloud Drive desktop app → +1 GB.
• Download and log in to the pCloud mobile app → +1 GB.
• Enable Automatic Upload in the mobile app → +1 GB.
• Invite friends who create a free account and verify their email → +1 GB per successful referral, up to the 10 GB total

Who wins? For free cloud storage, if you want zero-knowledge encryption, Filen or Internxt include end-to-end encryption for all plans. If you want the biggest free storage plan, Filen beats pCloud for privacy and storage without taking additional steps.

Filen vs pCloud pricing comparison

Monthly

Filen used to offer lifetime plans, but has since discontinued them, pCloud offers lifetime cloud storage, so if that’s your main need, you can check out pCloud or our lifetime cloud storage comparison article.

If you’re not ready to invest in a lifetime plan, then below is a comparison for Filen vs pCloud monthly and annual plans.

Who wins? Filen is 10% cheaper than pCloud for the 500GB plan, whereas pCloud is 25% cheaper than Filen for the 10TB plan, so it depends on how much storage you need.

Annual

As with most cloud providers, you can save more money if you pay annually, unless you choose a service like Apple, as iCloud pricing only allows for monthly subscriptions.

Below is the cost of a Filen vs pCloud annual plan.

Lifetime plans

As mentioned before, Filen no longer offers lifetime plans, so if you want the zero-knowledge encryption of Filen for a lifetime plan, without paying the additional pCloud crypto costs, then Internxt offers lifetime plans with an 85% discount with post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption.

Below you can compare pCloud vs Internxt prices for lifetime plans.

Who wins? Internxt wins for its zero-knowledge encryption and full product suite included in its plans. You can also stack storage, or split payments with Klarna.

Filen vs pCloud features

For other features, Filen vs pCloud have difference in how their pricing works. Filen offers all its features included in its subscriptions which are:

• Unlimited bandwidth
• Unlimited uploads
• Client side encryption
• Zero knowledge technology
• Syncing
• Network drive
• File sharing
• Unlimited notes
• Unlimited chats

pCloud offers these features for its paid cloud storage plans:

• Automatic backup of selected folders from your computer
• Automatic camera/photo backup from your phone
• pCloud Drive, which lets you access cloud files like a local drive
• Built-in audio and video players
• Account Rewind, allowing you to restore your account or folders to an earlier point in time

For other features, these are available separately, and the cost is on top of the plan you have paid for, most notably zero-knowledge encryption.

To get private cloud storage with pCloud, therefore, you have to pay extra. pCloud Pass is another paid add-on, so to access these two features, you have to pay the initial cost of the plan, plus the cost of one or both of these services.

The costs of pCloud Crypto and pCloud Pass can be seen below.

pCloud Pass Premium

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

pCloud crypto Monthly:

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

For Internxt, you get Internxt Drive post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption as standards. All paid plans offer VPN, Antivirus, and backups, and the full features of a paid monthly or lifetime plan, as well as pricing, can be viewed below.

Who wins? For cloud storage alone, Filen is best if you only want cloud storage with zero-knowledge encryption. Internxt is best if you want a full privacy suite of secure video conferencing, encrypted email, and an alternative to Google Photos.

Filen vs pCloud vs Internxt Drive

Encryption

Both Filen and Internxt use zero-knowledge encryption, and you don’t need to pay extra to get it. If you choose pCloud, you either pay extra, or consider using a service like Cryptomator to ensure your files are private.

Filen’s encryption uses AES-256-GCM, and pCloud uses AES 256 in transit and at rest encryption for free and paid plans.

As pCloud doesn’t use end-to-end encryption unless you pay for it, there are reports of lifetime users having their lifetime plans deleted for copyrighted content, suggesting pCloud can view the contents of your cloud account and delete plans they believe violate its terms and conditions.

You can read more about this in our is pCloud secure article.

Internxt uses Kyber-512 post-quantum encryption, combined with AES-256.

This encryption protects your files against the future risks of quantum computers, which could break current data encryption technology, causing major data breaches.

Who wins? Internxt wins because of its post-quantum cryptography and zero-knowledge encryption. Encryption happens on your device, ensuring nobody can view your files, even Internxt.

Open source and security audit

Filen and Internxt are open source, pCloud is not, so if you want transparency, avoid pCloud.

Filen is not independently audited, but Internxt has been audited twice by Securitum to ensure it meets the security standards needed to protect your data.

Who wins? Internxt for being the only one that is both open source and security audited.

File sharing

If you want to know how to send files securely, Filen, pCloud, and Internxt have this option.

Internxt has the free file sharing service, Internxt Send, which you can use for free, as many times as you like and is a secure alternative to WeTransfer.

Filen lets you share files and folders that can be configured with view-only access, passwords, and expiration dates, and you can change or disable the sharing settings afterward.

pCloud has file sharing, branded links, and expiring links for its file sharing features.

Internxt Drive offers encrypted cloud storage and secure file sharing with password protection and restricted access to shared files at any time, you can share with as many users as you like and revoke access whenever needed.

Who wins? All three offer the same features, so it's a draw.

Platforms

Filen, pCloud, and Internxt all offer Windows and Mac support, and more advanced options, including:

• Linux
• WebDAV and CLI
• Rclone
• NAS support

Internxt is the only one with S3 cloud object support available as a separate subscription to manage large amounts of data.

Who wins? All three offer the same support across multiple apps, but Internxt slightly gains the edge if you also want object storage.

Compliance

Filen is based in Germany, so follows GDPR compliance laws, the same as Internxt.

pCloud’s legal entity is pCloud International AG, a Swiss company registered in Baar, Switzerland. But you can choose EU storage in Luxembourg or US storage in Dallas, so the privacy laws for those regions apply to your files.  

pCloud and Internxt offer SOC 2 and ISO compliance, with Internxt also offering HIPAA compliance.

Who wins?  Internxt if you want European cloud storage with multiple compliance certifications.

Business and family plans

Finally, Filen only offers personal plans, while pCloud offers family and business plans.

Internxt offers individual plans and enterprise cloud storage for companies that need to manage large amounts of data, and a cheaper alternative to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

Who wins? pCloud if you want family plans, Internxt if you want cloud storage for large businesses.

Filen vs pCloud: Which one should you choose?

Filen and Internxt are a better alternative to pCloud if you want zero-knowledge encryption at no extra cost. Internxt is the better option if you want lifetime cloud storage.

If you want family plans, pCloud is a better alternative to Filen, it’s also a good choice if you want to stream files in the cloud.

We also cover Filen vs Proton Drive, if you want more options to consider.

For the best encrypted cloud storage, plus a wide range of products to protect you online, Internxt is the best alternative to Filen and pCloud, as it offers everything you need to protect your files, devices, and personal information online, at the best prices.

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 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.

Lifetime Cloud Storage: One-Time Payment Plans | Internxt

Get lifetime cloud storage with a one-time payment. Choose the perfect plan for your needs: 1TB, 3TB, or 5TB. Secure your data forever with Internxt.

Internxt

Filen is a German company offering end-to-end encrypted cloud storage and notes. Proton Drive is also end-to-end encrypted and part of a wider online privacy suite of products, from VPN to Mail.

So which one should you choose?

Both offer the same encryption and are open source, so to help you compare both options, this article explains the features, privacy, and security of both to help you decide.

We will also offer Internxt as a solution to both if you want a lifetime plan that includes the rclone support of Filen and the privacy products of Proton.

Table of contents

• Filen vs Proton Drive overview
• Pros and cons of Filen and Proton Drive
• Filen vs Proton Drive pricing
• Features of Filen vs Proton Drive vs Internxt
• Filen vs Proton Drive: Which one should you choose?

Filen vs Proton Drive overview

Filen and Proton Drive both offer encrypted cloud storage, but what you get with each service overall is slightly different, so if you’re considering Filen vs Proton Drive, there are a few things to be aware of.

Filen is a European cloud storage provider with zero-knowledge encryption. It offers end-to-end encrypted storage, file sharing, desktop and mobile apps, synchronization, and lifetime storage plans. Filen is particularly attractive if your priority is private storage at a competitive price.

Proton Drive is part of the Proton ecosystem, alongside Proton Mail, Proton VPN, Proton Pass, and other privacy services. It offers file synchronization, sharing, automatic photo backup, and integration with the broader Proton ecosystem.

It is a strong choice if you already use Proton services or want a more established all-in-one privacy platform.

If your main priority is cloud storage, then Filen offers 10GB free cloud storage for you to try out the service. If you want everything integrated under one privacy-focused account, Proton Drive is probably the better choice.

If you're considering Filen with another company with Swiss privacy laws, then another option is pCloud, which we cover in our Filen vs pCloud article.

Pros and cons of Filen and Proton Drive

Filen pros and cons

Pros

• Client-side, zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption
• Open source
• Plans up to 10TB
• CLI and rclone support

Cons

• Limited to cloud storage
• Free accounts can be deleted for inactivity
• No lifetime plans

Proton Drive pros and cons

Pros

• Zero knowledge encryption
• Swiss privacy laws
• Drive is included in Proton’s privacy suite
• Encrypted file sharing

Cons

• No Linux support
• Maximum 2TB of storage
• CLI has fair-use limits
• No lifetime plans
• Platform is still undergoing development changes, so is less mature than other services

One thing Proton and Filen don’t offer is lifetime plans, so if you want to combine zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage with a full privacy suite of VPN, Meet, Mail, and Photos, Internxt offers 85% off all lifetime plans, giving up to 5TB of cloud storage and a full privacy suite to protect you online.

Filen vs Proton Drive pricing

For free plans, Filen offers 10GB of free storage, but if you use a VPN or Tor proxy, you may be blocked, and your account may be deleted after three months of inactivity.

Proton offers 5GB of free storage, and like Filen, free plans include end-to-end encryption, which is different from other services, like pCloud, with pCloud pricing plans offering zero-knowledge encryption as a paid add-on.

Below you can find the pricing options for annual plans of Filen and Proton Drive.

Filen pricing

Filen pricing offers monthly and annual plans; you can also stack plans if you want more storage. Plans are not tiered, meaning you get all Filen’s features regardless of the plan you get.

Below are Filen’s annual pricing plans.

Filen used to offer lifetime plans, but they were discontinued in their last Black Friday deal, so you have to choose between a monthly or annual plan.

Proton pricing

Proton also offers monthly plans, with the option to choose from personal, business, or family plans, so if you need shared cloud storage, then Proton offers this, which Filen doesn’t.

For this Filen vs Proton Drive pricing comparison, below are the annual plans Proton Drive offers.

Filen vs Proton Drive: Which is cheaper?

As both Filen and Proton Drive offer 200GB and 2TB plans, Filen is up to 58% cheaper than Proton.

However, a 2TB Proton plan also includes Proton VPN, so if you want an encrypted VPN on top of your cloud storage, it may be worth paying the extra money.

Internxt vs Filen vs Proton Drive pricing

Below we compare Filen vs Proton Drive monthly plans against Internxt’s monthly plans, which are based on our special 85% offer, which you can get below on a monthly or lifetime cloud storage plan.

Internxt offers the most affordable cloud storage; therefore, with post-quantum encryption, which is not offered by Filen or Proton Drive.

You can also avoid subscriptions completely and get the same end-to-end encrypted cloud storage Filen offers, and the full privacy suite that Proton offers with an Internxt lifetime plan, with the plans and features shown below.

Features of Filen vs Proton Drive vs Internxt

Encryption

Filen, Proton, and Internxt all use zero knowledge and end-to-end encryption, so if your focus is privacy and you want a Google Drive alternative and other big tech companies, then all three offer the best encrypted cloud storage for free and paid plans.

Filen’s encryption uses AES-256-GCM, and Proton uses AES-GCM for file encryption with ECC Curve25519 for public-key cryptography.

Internxt is the first cloud storage with post-quantum encryption, so it uses Kyber-512 and AES-256 encryption to encrypt files directly on your device. This encryption protects your files against the future risks of quantum computers, which could break current data encryption technology, causing major data breaches.

Who wins? Internxt wins because of its post-quantum cryptography, future-proofing your files against future cyberattacks.

Open source and security audit

All three cloud providers are open source and can be verified by security experts as a secure and encrypted platform for your files.

Filen is not independently audited, but both Proton and Internxt successfully passed a security audit by Securitum, verifying that both have the necessary security to protect your data from hackers.

Who wins? All three are open source, but it's a draw between Proton and Internxt, as they have both been independently audited by a leading cybersecurity company.

File sharing

If you want to know how to send files securely, all three offer this option, and Internxt has an additional file sharing service, Internxt Send, which you can use for free, as many times as you like.

Filen lets you share files and folders that can be configured with view-only access, passwords, and expiration dates, and you can change or disable the sharing settings afterward.

Proton Drive offers public sharing links as well as direct sharing by email. You can give recipients viewer or editor permissions, protect links with passwords, set expiration dates, revoke access instantly, and monitor how many times a file has been downloaded.

Internxt Drive offers public and restricted file sharing links to share large files privately. You can protect files with passwords and restrict access to shared files at any time. There is also Internxt Send, a secure WeTransfer alternative for encrypted and secure file transfer.

Who wins? All three offer the same features, so it's a draw.

Platforms

For Proton vs Filen, Filen offers Linux support, so if you are a Linux user, then you should know that Proton doesn’t support Linux.

Both Filen and Internxt offer WebDAV, CLI, and Rclone support, as well as NAS support.

Who wins? Filen or Internxt are the better choice if you’re a Linux user, or want advanced cloud management with tools like CLI or NAS cloud backups.

Compliance

Filen is based in Germany, so follows GDPR compliance laws, the same as Internxt.

Proton is based in Switzerland, who claim to have the best privacy laws.

Both Proton and Internxt offer ISO 27001, HIPAA, and SOC 2 compliance, but Proton only offers these for businesses, whereas Internxt offers it for all users, including its S3 cloud object storage for enterprises.

Who wins? Proton if you want Swiss privacy laws, Internxt if you want European cloud storage with multiple compliance certifications.

Extra features

Filen mostly focuses on cloud storage, but it also offers Notes, an encrypted alternative to Google Docs Notes where documents can be shared and edited collaboratively with others.

Proton Drive offers a similar privacy-focused product bundle like Internxt Drive, which includes:

• VPN, Meet, Mail and Calendar
• Photos
• Docs and Sheets
• Sheets
• Pass

Internxt Drive plans include:

• Antivirus
• VPN
• Cleaner
• Meet
• Mail
• Photos

Who wins? It depends if you want just cloud storage or more products. But Internxt offers cheaper cloud storage with additional features.

Filen vs Proton Drive: Which one should you choose?

If you want the advanced cloud management features of Filen, such as rclone support, plus the privacy tools of Proton combined into one plan, then consider Internxt Drive, a Filen alternative and Proton alternative offering everything you need to protect your files and privacy online.

Between Filen and Proton Drive, Filen is better for cloud storage; Proton is better if you want extra features included in your plan.

Related products

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.

Internxt Mail - The Best Encrypted Email for Privacy.

Internxt Mail is an encrypted email solution that keeps your inbox safe. Thanks to post-quantum encryption, Internxt is the most secure email service for privacy.

The Best Encrypted Email for Privacy.

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

Filen offers 10GB of free storage, and plans ranging from 100GB to 10TB for monthly and annual plans.

Lifetime options used to be available, but Filen discontinued these during the last Black Friday sale.

If you’re still interested in Filen pricing and what features you get, we look at each plan, cost, features, and other alternatives.

But if you’re looking for an alternative to Filen, with post-quantum encryption and a full suite of privacy products, including VPN, Meet, Mail, and the best alternative to Google Photos, we also offer this solution with Internxt monthly and lifetime plans.

Table of contents

• Does Filen offer a free storage plan?
• Filen pricing plans in 2026
• Filen pricing plans: monthly vs annual savings
• Can I stack Filen pricing plans to get more storage?
• What you get with Filen pricing plans
• Filen lifetime pricing
• Which Filen pricing plan should you pick?
• Internxt vs Filen paid plan pricing comparison
• Internxt vs Filen features
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

Does Filen offer a free storage plan?

Yes, Filen offers 10GB free cloud storage, which you can use for a lifetime with limited features compared to the options on the Filen pricing page.

If you want to sign up for a free plan with Filen, you should be aware that if you sign up using a VPN, Tor, proxy, relay, or a hosting/datacenter connection, you may not be eligible for the free storage.

So if you want a free plan, you have to use a normal wifi connection from your home.

A free plan comes with the following features:

Filen pricing plans in 2026

Filen offers monthly and annual plans from 100GB to a maximum of 10TB.

Starter (Annual plan only)

If you don’t need a lot of storage, you can start with a Filen Starter plan. There is no monthly option for this, so you have to pay annually for the following:

Filen pricing plans (monthly)

All monthly plans include the same features, regardless of the tier you choose; the only difference is the amount of storage you get.

Below are Filen pricing plans for its monthly subscriptions.

Filen pricing plans (annual)

If you’ve tried the Filen free storage plan and decided you want to pay once for the year instead of monthly, these are Filen’s annual plan costs.

Filen pricing plans: monthly vs annual savings

Like with Google One pricing plans and other providers, you can save more if you choose an annual plan over a monthly plan, so if you choose a Filen pricing plan paid yearly, you could save the following amounts depending on the plan you choose.

If you want to avoid subscriptions completely and want to look at lifetime cloud storage options, check out our lifetime cloud storage comparison article, or check out Internxt’s 85% lifetime plan discount.

Can I stack Filen pricing plans to get more storage?

Yes, you can stack two Filen plans for either the monthly or annual plan. For example, if you need more than the maximum storage of 20TB, you can add stack the Pro X plan with another plan of your choosing.

What you get with Filen pricing plans

Regardless of the paid plan you choose, all Filen pricing plans come with the following features:

• Unlimited bandwidth
• Unlimited uploads
• Client side encryption
• Zero knowledge technology
• Syncing
• Network drive
• File sharing
• Unlimited notes
• Unlimited chats

Filen is available on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android. Like Internxt, it also supports WebDAV and Rclone.

Filen lifetime pricing

Filen no longer offers lifetime plans; they stopped offering them after one final Black Friday deal. The reasons why are described on their blog; they may offer them again in the future, but if you can’t wait, try an Internxt lifetime plan instead.

Now, the only way to get a lifetime plan with Filen is if you choose their free account. If you don’t log into this account after three months of inactivity, however, your account will be deleted.

You can also consider other plans that offer lifetime plans, such as Internxt, or compare Filen vs pCloud if you want a lifetime family plan.

Which Filen pricing plan should you pick?

All Filen plans are meant for individual users, as there are no business plans available, but if you’re wondering which Filen pricing plan is right for you, here are some general guidelines.

• Choose the Free/Starter plan if you just want to try Filen or need a small amount of cloud storage without paying.
• Choose Pro I (200 GiB) if you want the cheapest paid option at €1.99/month and don't need much storage.
• Choose Pro II (500 GiB) if you want the best balance of price and storage for everyday use.
• Choose Pro III (2 TiB) if you want a lot of storage without it being too expensive.
• Choose Pro X (10 TiB) if you want the maximum storage available in one plan.

Internxt vs Filen paid plan pricing comparison

Internxt vs Filen monthly cost

Starting with monthly plans, here is a comparison between Internxt and Filen paid plans paid monthly.

Internxt pricing is based on the 85% special offer, which you can get below.

Internxt vs Filen paid plan pricing comparison

Starting with monthly plans, here is a comparison between Internxt monthly and monthly Filen paid plans.

Based on the comparison between an Internxt monthly plan and the Filen pricing model, you could save more money and get more storage with Internxt for these plans:

• Internxt 1 TB: 100% more storage than Filen 500 GB, while costing 62.66% less (€1.49 vs €3.99).
• Internxt 3 TB: 50% more storage than Filen 2 TB, while costing 66.74% less (€2.99 vs €8.99).
• Internxt 5 TB: 50% more storage than Filen 10 TB? No — compared with Filen 2 TB, it gives 150% more storage while costing 50.06% less (€4.49 vs €8.99).

Internxt lifetime vs Filen annual

Unlike Filen, Internxt offers post-quantum and encrypted cloud storage with lifetime plans, which you can stack if you need more storage later.

So if you want to avoid the subscription costs of a Filen pricing plan, you could save the following by investing in an Internxt lifetime plan.

All paid Internxt plans include encrypted cloud backups, VPN, and Antivirus. While you can back up your files with Filen, it doesn't offer the full privacy suite Internxt offers, which you can view below.

Internxt vs Filen features

Now we’ve compared Filen pricing with Internxt; below is the list of features, max storage, and other comparisons if you’re considering Internxt vs Filen.

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 Mail - The Best Encrypted Email for Privacy.

Internxt Mail is an encrypted email solution that keeps your inbox safe. Thanks to post-quantum encryption, Internxt is the most secure email service for privacy.

The Best Encrypted Email for Privacy.

Lifetime Cloud Storage: One-Time Payment Plans | Internxt

Get lifetime cloud storage with a one-time payment. Choose the perfect plan for your needs: 1TB, 3TB, or 5TB. Secure your data forever with Internxt.

Internxt

Frequently asked questions

Is Internxt cheaper than Filen?

Yes.  Internxt can offer more storage for less money on several comparable monthly plans, especially when using its 85% special offer. Internxt’s 1TB plan costs €1.49/month, compared with €3.99/month for Filen’s 500GB plan.

Does Filen offer lifetime plans?

No. Filen discontinued its lifetime plans after its final Black Friday deal. Its free account is technically available for life, subject to its inactivity policy.

How much does Filen cloud storage cost?

Filen offers 10GB free storage, with paid plans starting at €1.99/month for 200 GiB. Paid plans go up to 10 TiB, with monthly and annual options available.

Does Filen have a free cloud storage plan?

Yes. Filen offers 10GB of free cloud storage for life, although the free plan has fewer features than its paid plans.

Does Filen offer discounts on its paid plans?

Yes. Filen's annual plans cost less overall than paying monthly, allowing users to save by paying for a full year upfront. Lifetime plans are no longer available.

Google Sheets is a necessary tool for many businesses and individuals and is popular due to its live collaboration, ease of use, accessibility, and seamless integration with other Google Workspace applications.

However, as part of the Google Drive workspace, Google Sheets is not end-to-end encrypted, so if you need to store your sensitive spreadsheets privately, then this article will offer a secure and encrypted cloud storage solution to store your folders and protect them with end-to-end encryption.

We also cover the best Google Docs alternative, so you can get everything you need for your spreadsheets and documents without compromising your privacy.

Table of contents

Why choose an alternative to Google Sheets?

Privacy and data ownership

Privacy and data ownership are important reasons when considers what the best Google Sheets alternative is, especially when spreadsheets contain personal, financial, or business information.

Google operates a broad ecosystem of services, and information from your Google account is collected across those services (Chrome, YouTube, etc) and used for personalization and other purposes, depending on the applicable service and your Google activity history settings.

For Google Sheets specifically, Google may process or collect:

• Spreadsheet content you create, upload, or receive
• Comments and notes
• Formulas and other spreadsheet data
• Search queries you make within Google Sheets
• Your email address, used for account access, synchronization, and notifications
• Your location information in certain circumstances
• Performance data
• Crash and diagnostic information
• Data stored on your device if you enable offline access

Outside of Google Sheets, the broader Google ecosystem collects a large amount of personal data across its services, so you may not only need the best alternative to Google Sheets, but alternatives to Google in general.

To learn more about what information Google collects and processes, visit our website below.

End-to-end encryption

Google Sheets and, by extension, Google Docs, Gmail, and Google Photos all encrypt your data both:

• In transit, when data moves between your device and Google's servers.
• At rest, meaning while your files are stored on Google's servers, they are encrypted using AES-256 encryption.
• Files are not encrypted on your device before data is moved between your device and Google’s servers.

A Google Drive encrypted folder is not end-to-end encrypted, as Google retains control of the encryption keys, meaning the company can technically access the decrypted data when required to provide its services, meaning Google could access and view:

• Customer names, contact details, and other personal information
• Financial records, budgets, and revenue figures
• Employee information and payroll data
• Business plans and confidential strategies
• Contracts and pricing information
• Intellectual property and proprietary data
• Passwords, API keys, or other credentials if users store them improperly

The best alternative to Google Sheets to protect this sensitive information from data breaches or big tech surveillance offers cloud storage with zero-knowledge encryption, such as Internxt Drive, where the provider encrypts files on your device and can never access the contents of your files.

Reduced dependence on Google

While Google’s integration is convenient, it can make users or businesses increasingly dependent on one provider to manage their data.

For example, if you need to back up your spreadsheets as extra insurance to protect your files against accidental deletion, ransomware, or data loss, then Internxt Drive and Internxt S3 cloud object storage offer end-to-end encrypted backups as an extra security measure to back up your files and get a private Google Drive alternative.

Different pricing options

Google Sheets is free for personal users, but using Google Workspace for businesses requires a subscription; and Google One pricing offers more storage and features, so choosing between these depends on your needs.

This can make costs increase as a business grows, particularly when more employees need access to the service.

The best option to avoid Google One subscriptions is to choose companies that offer lifetime plans, such as Internxt Drive, or if your business uses Google Cloud object storage, then alternatives such as Internxt S3 offer fixed S3 storage costs per month, with no egress or ingress fees.

European alternatives

Google has paid over 100€ million in fines due to violations of European privacy laws managed by GDPR, causing many businesses to switch to European tech companies for stronger European business and personal data protection laws.

For European cloud storage and the best Google Sheets alternative to back up, store, and sync your spreadsheets, Internxt Drive and S3 is a European cloud storage provider based in Valencia, Spain, and is also ISO 27001, HIPAA, and SOC 2 compliant, offering the best data protection for all industries.

Features of the best alternative to Google Sheets

Automatic backups

Automatic backups protect your spreadsheets from accidental deletion, corruption, or unwanted changes. A good Google Sheets alternative should regularly save copies of your files in the cloud, allowing you to restore an earlier version when needed.

Internxt Drive lets you automatically back up your files every 1, 6, or 12 hours, or manually if you need to back up files less often.

Internxt S3 also allows back ups for petabytes of data, and S3 object lock, which makes objects immutable for a period of time to prevent accidental changes or deletion.

Syncing

Automatic synchronization keeps spreadsheets updated across your devices. With Internxt Drive, you get syncing across all major devices, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Ultimate plans include cloud management for WebDAV and rclone, plus NAS support for QNAP and Synology.

Any changes you make to a spreadsheet in Internxt Drive on one device are automatically reflected on your other connected devices, ensuring you always have access to the latest version.

File versioning

File versioning keeps previous versions of your spreadsheets, allowing you to review or restore an earlier version if important data is accidentally changed or deleted.

Secure file sharing

Secure file transfer allows you to share spreadsheets with others while controlling who can access, view, edit, or download them. Features such as password protection and access controls are both available with an Internxt plan to send up to 10GB of files via an encrypted link or email.

If you want to share files online privately for free, then Internxt Send is a free file sharing service to send files that are protected with end-to-end encryption.

Storage and pricing

The best Google Sheets alternative should offer enough cloud storage for your needs at a reasonable price.

Google Drive offers 15GB of free storage, which can be upgraded with a Google One plan, with storage going up to 2TB for monthly or annual plans.

If you want to avoid subscriptions completely, or choose a cheaper monthly plan with more storage, then Internxt offers plans starting from 1TB and up to 5TB, with affordable lifetime cloud storage plans available so you can avoid the cost of a Google subscription completely.

What is the best alternative to Google Sheets?

Internxt Drive

Internxt Drive is the best alternative to Google Sheets if you want to store, back up, sync, share, and protect your spreadsheets in the cloud with post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption.

Unlike Google, it is also open source and fully transparent for security experts to review and check the code to ensure there are no backdoors to your data.

If you want to migrate your files from Google Drive, Internxt Drive offers a fully end-to-end encrypted vault for your spreadsheets, accessible only to you.

Aside from cloud storage, Internxt also offers alternatives to other Google products, including:

• Internxt Meet: the best video conferencing tool for privacy
• Internxt Mail: encrypted email
• Internxt Photos: the best alternative to Google Photos

Get started with an Internxt free cloud storage plan, or get an exclusive 85% discount on all plans following your exclusive link below and check out all the features of our Essential, Premium, and Ultimate plans.

Internxt vs Google comparison

Now we have covered why Internxt is the best alternative to Google Sheets to store your spreadsheets in privacy, below you can find an overview of Internxt vs Google Drive.

Related products

Internxt Mail - The Best Encrypted Email for Privacy.

Internxt Mail is an encrypted email solution that keeps your inbox safe. Thanks to post-quantum encryption, Internxt is the most secure email service for privacy.

The Best Encrypted Email for Privacy.

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.

Lifetime Cloud Storage: One-Time Payment Plans | Internxt

Get lifetime cloud storage with a one-time payment. Choose the perfect plan for your needs: 1TB, 3TB, or 5TB. Secure your data forever with Internxt.

Internxt

Frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Google Sheets?

Internxt Drive is a strong alternative to Google Sheets for users who want to store, sync, back up, and share spreadsheets with a focus on privacy. It uses zero-knowledge encryption to protect files so that only the user can access their contents.

Is Google Sheets secure?

Google Sheets uses encryption in transit and at rest and provides security features such as access controls and two-factor authentication. However, users looking for zero-knowledge or end-to-end encrypted cloud storage may prefer a privacy-focused alternative to store their spreadsheets, like Internxt Drive.

What is the best cloud storage for spreadsheets?

The best cloud storage for spreadsheets depends on your requirements. Users prioritizing privacy should look for end-to-end encryption, secure sharing, file versioning, synchronization, automatic backups, and strong access controls.

Can I use Google Sheets without Google Drive?

Google Sheets files are integrated with Google Drive for storage and management. If you want to store spreadsheet files separately from Google's ecosystem, you can export them and store them in Internxt Drive.

Google Photos is part of the Google suite of products that offers cloud storage, syncing, backups, and AI integration for advanced photo searching and image recognition.

However, due to limitations in privacy and with Google focusing on its AI integration, many people are searching for the best Google Photos alternative, which leans more towards the privacy and protection of Photos in the cloud, rather than surveillance and data collection.

This article will cover what to look for when searching for a Google Photos alternative, features, pricing, and what is the best cloud storage for Photos that protects your privacy.

Table of contents

• Why choose an alternative to Google Photos
• What you should look for in the best alternative to Google Photos
• What is the best Google Photos alternative?
• Internxt Photos vs Google Photos comparison
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

Why choose an alternative to Google Photos

Protect your personal information

When you use Google Photos, you aren’t just storing your photos in the cloud; Google's current privacy documentation explicitly states it can process photos and videos to gain information and make inferences about you and the people in your photos.

This means when you take a picture and store it in Google Photos, you’re giving Google access to:

• Where you live and frequently travel
• Who your family and friends are
• Your relationships
• Your habits and routines
• Your interests and possessions
• Important documents and IDs
• Information about your children
• Potentially sensitive events, locations and activities

All of these insights represent a deep invasion of your privacy and personal life. To protect your photos from Google, the best Google Photos alternative won’t use your personal information to improve its services.

Free from AI surveillance

Google Photos integrates with Gemini AI and is increasingly becoming a service powered by AI rather than cloud storage for photos.

Gemini can use information from your Photos library, including photos, videos, face groups, and your Google Account history and information. You can ask Gemini questions about your photo collections, and Google describes features that can infer information about people and your life from the library.

Protect your files with end-to-end encryption

One of the major differences between Google, OneDrive, Dropbox, and companies like Internxt is the type of encryption used, and who can decrypt this data and access your photos in the cloud.

Google Photos and Google Drive encrypt files while they are sent to the cloud and are encrypted on Google’s servers.

This means that Google holds the keys to encrypt your data, and can therefore technically access your files or give access if government or law enforcement request it.

With end-to-end encryption, your photos remain totally private and inaccessible to everyone, even the cloud provider, because the encryption happens on your device.

Greater control over your data

Google is an advertising company as well as a technology company.

Although Google specifically says it doesn't use personal content from Google Photos for personalized advertising, its broader business model relies heavily on collecting and processing information to provide, personalize, measure, and improve services.

So for people concerned about privacy, the best Google Photos alternative store your photos securely, with end-to-end encryption, without extensive data processing, collection, or surveillance.

Freedom from subscription models

Finally, another reason people choose alternatives to Google Photos is to avoid paying increased monthly or annual costs of Google One’s pricing and to avoid dependence on Google’s services.

This is where lifetime cloud storage plans, like those offered at Internxt, mean you pay once and access the services forever, giving you a cloud storage solution where you can keep your photos forever.

What you should look for in the best alternative to Google Photos

End-to-end encryption

Neither Google Photos nor Google Drive folders use end-to-end encryption to protect data, so without zero-knowledge encryption, your Photos, documents, and any other files stored can technically be seen by Google employees.

With Internxt Drive and Internxt Photos, your folders are protected with end-to-end and post-quantum encryption. Not only are your files inaccessible to everyone, including Internxt, but they are also protected against future threats of quantum computers, which could break current encryption protocols.

Pricing

Google Drive offers 15GB of free cloud storage, or you can upgrade to a Google One plan, which is a recurring monthly or annual subscription.

Plans range from 100GB to 2TB of shared storage and automatic backups between Drive, Photos, Gmail, and other suites, such as Google Docs.

If you want to avoid subscription plans altogether, then an Internxt lifetime plan starts at 1TB and goes up to 5TB, which you can later upgrade to get more cloud storage.

This is a particular advantage for photographers needing cloud storage, as it avoids subscriptions and offers a one-time payment to store terabytes of your photos in the cloud.

Additional features

When choosing the best Google Photos alternative, you should consider whether you just need cloud storage for photos, or other features.

For a private alternative to Google, Internxt not only offers a Google Photos alternative, but alternatives to other services, including:

• Internxt Meet: Secure and encrypted alternative to Google Meet
• Internxt Mail: Private and encrypted alternative to Gmail

Plus, Internxt also offers additional products to protect your privacy online with:

• Internxt VPN
• Antivirus
• Cleaner
• Internxt Send

Internxt also supports advanced cloud management tools with CLI, Rclone, and NAS support for QNAP and Synology, also available.

The full list of features can be found below, and you can claim an 85% discount on any of these plans by following this exclusive discount link.

Get 85% off

Transparency

An open source alternative to Google, like Internxt, makes its source code publicly available. This transparency means security researchers and the wider community can examine the code for potential vulnerabilities, hidden data collection, or other privacy concerns.

Internxt has also been security audited twice and has been verified that the security of the platform is secure against hackers and data breaches.

Data protection

Google is based in the US, but also follows GDPR privacy laws. Despite this, it has paid over €100 million in fines for GDPR violations, showing its lack of concern when it comes to protecting your data.

If you’re looking for European cloud storage that protects your data with GDPR regulations, then Internxt offers GDPR cloud storage, as it is based in Valencia, Spain.

It also offers ISO 27001, SOC 2, and HIPAA compliance to ensure you get the maximum protection for your data, regardless of the industry.

What is the best Google Photos alternative?

Internxt Photos is the best alternative to Google Photos thanks to its post-quantum and zero-knowledge encryption, open source software, and European privacy laws.

With affordable lifetime plans up to 5TB, and a wide range of products included in an Internxt plan to protect your privacy, Internxt is the best cloud storage to migrate your files from Google and protect your privacy.

Internxt Photos allows you to automatically sync your photos, so your albums and memories are always up to date. It also includes automatic backups, so your memories are protected from accidental deletion or data loss.

Get started with Internxt for free, or claim your 85% discount to start protecting your photos in total privacy with the best encrypted cloud storage on the market.

Internxt Photos vs Google Photos comparison

Related products

Best Cloud Storage for Videos & Large Private Files

Looking for private cloud storage for large video files? Get the best cloud storage for videos with zero-knowledge encryption. Upload and share securely today.

Lifetime Cloud Storage: One-Time Payment Plans | Internxt

Get lifetime cloud storage with a one-time payment. Choose the perfect plan for your needs: 1TB, 3TB, or 5TB. Secure your data forever with Internxt.

Internxt

Best Cloud Storage for Videos & Large Private Files

Looking for private cloud storage for large video files? Get the best cloud storage for videos with zero-knowledge encryption. Upload and share securely today.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Google Photos?

Internxt Photos is a privacy-focused alternative to Google Photos that offers automatic photo backups, end-to-end encryption, open-source software, and European data protection. It also offers lifetime cloud storage plans up to 5TB.

Is there a more private alternative to Google Photos?

Yes. Internxt Photos is designed as a private alternative to Google Photos, using end-to-end and zero-knowledge encryption so that your photos remain inaccessible to Internxt and other third parties.

Does Google Photos use AI?

Yes. Google Photos integrates with Gemini and uses AI to search, organize, and analyze photos. Gemini can use information from your Photos library to answer questions and provide insights about your photos.

Can Google access my Google Photos?

Google encrypts photos stored on its servers, but Google Photos does not use end-to-end encryption. This means Google can technically access stored content under certain circumstances, such as when required by law.

Does Internxt Photos use end-to-end encryption?

Yes. Internxt Photos uses end-to-end, zero-knowledge encryption, specifically Kyber 512 and AES 256 encryption. This means photos are encrypted before being uploaded, and Internxt cannot access their unencrypted contents.

Can I automatically back up photos with Internxt?

Yes. Internxt Photos supports automatic photo backups, allowing you to keep your photos and memories securely synchronized with the cloud.

Can I migrate my photos from Google Photos to Internxt?

Yes. Internxt can be used as an alternative destination for your Google Photos library, allowing you to move your photos to encrypted cloud storage and reduce your dependence on Google's ecosystem.