Tips and tricks

Top 15 Free Cloud Storage Solutions: Full Comparison 2025

20 min read

Drime: The All-in-One French Collaborative Cloud

Exclusive Features of Drime

Pricing and Free 20 GB Plan

Drime is generous with its free plan, offering 20 GB of storage—more than most competitors. For higher needs, several plans are available:

Starter: 500 GB at €2.99/month
Essentials: 2 TB at €5.50/month
Professional: 3 TB at €10.99/month
Advanced: 6 TB at €19.99/month
All Drime servers are powered by 100% renewable energy.

Collaboration Tools and PDF Editing

Drime excels at collaborative document editing. Up to 250 users can work simultaneously on Excel, Word, and PowerPoint files with full compatibility. The integrated PDF editor allows you to:

Add text
Modify existing content
Highlight
Change fonts
Add pages
...without extra software. Legal electronic signatures are also built-in.

Security, Encryption, and European Hosting

Google Drive: The Google Ecosystem at Your Fingertips

Shared Free Storage of 15 GB

Once this limit is reached, you’ll face:

Inability to upload new files or images
Limits on sending and receiving emails
Blocked creation of new collaborative documents

Google One plans start at €1.90/month for 100 GB.

Integration with Gmail and Google Docs

A major strength is Drive’s native integration with Gmail. You can attach Drive files to emails effortlessly. Gmail also checks if recipients have file access and suggests sharing settings.

Google Workspace apps (Docs, Sheets, Slides) integrate seamlessly and don’t count heavily toward your quota—great for frequent users.

Real-Time Collaboration Features

Limitations: Google Drive offers less free space than Drime or MEGA, and PDF/image editing tools are limited compared to specialized platforms.

Microsoft OneDrive: The Natural Choice for Windows Users

5 GB Free with Microsoft Account

Native Integration with Windows and Office

It also connects with Microsoft 365 for real-time collaboration—similar to Google Drive, though less complete than Drime’s 250-user editing tools.

Personal Vault and Automatic Sync

OneDrive features a Personal Vault, a secure zone requiring additional authentication. It locks after inactivity to protect sensitive documents.

Try the best free alternative - Drime

Dropbox: Simplicity and Cross-Platform Sharing

2 GB Free, Expandable Through Referrals

Dropbox offers just 2 GB of free space with its Basic account—making it the most limited initial storage among major solutions, far behind the 20 GB of Drime. However, you can increase this with referrals:

500 MB added per successful referral
Basic accounts can earn up to 16 GB
Paid accounts (Plus, Family, Professional) earn 1 GB per referral, up to 32 GB total

Paid plans provide more space and additional features.

Fast and Intuitive File Sharing

Dropbox excels in seamless file sharing. You can share any file or folder via a link, even with people who don't have a Dropbox account. For added security:

Shared links can be password-protected
Expiration dates are configurable
Download notifications let you track activity

Additionally, Dropbox Transfer allows sending files up to 100 GB without affecting your storage quota—ideal for large files. However, this tool is less comprehensive than Drime’s built-in editing and collaboration features.

Integration with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365

Dropbox integrates with top office environments:

Microsoft 365: Open and edit Office docs directly in Dropbox with automatic sync
Google Workspace: Create Google Docs, Sheets, Slides from Dropbox, save shortcuts, and auto-sync changes with Google Drive

However, advanced features often require additional licenses, unlike Drime’s native all-in-one editing tools.

pCloud: Secure Lifetime Storage

10 GB Free, Expandable

pCloud offers up to 10 GB of free storage with its “Free Forever” plan. Only 2 GB is available immediately upon sign-up. The other 8 GB requires completing a beginner tutorial or using the referral program. Although generous, this is less than Drime’s or MEGA’s 20 GB.

Unlike Drime’s collaborative editing tools, pCloud focuses mainly on pure storage, though the interface remains intuitive with simple sharing options.

Lifetime Plans Up to 10 TB

pCloud is unique for its lifetime plans, valid for 99 years or the user's lifespan—whichever is shorter:

Premium (500 GB): One-time €199
Premium Plus (2 TB): €399
Ultra/Custom (10 TB): €1190

Discounts often apply during promotions like Black Friday or Valentine’s Day. Upgrades are cumulative (e.g., 500 GB to 2 TB = 2.5 TB total).

Client-Side Encryption with pCloud Encryption

pCloud also offers optional client-side encryption. Unlike most server-side encryption, the data is encrypted directly on your device, and only the encrypted version is uploaded. This zero-knowledge approach ensures pCloud cannot access your data.

RSA 4096-bit encryption for private keys
AES 256-bit encryption for files

However, this feature is a paid add-on, unlike Drime’s free built-in AES 256-bit encryption in all plans.

MEGA: Free Cloud with Zero-Knowledge Encryption

20 GB Free, Expandable

MEGA offers 20 GB of free space—matching Drime. Additional space can be earned up to 35 GB via its achievements program:

+5 GB for MEGA Desktop install (valid for 365 days)
+5 GB for MEGA Mobile install (valid for 365 days)
+5 GB per referral (valid for 365 days)

However, these bonuses are temporary, unlike Drime’s permanent 20 GB.

End-to-End Encryption

MEGA’s key strength is its zero-knowledge encryption—no one, not even MEGA, can access your file contents. Encryption is done directly on your device before upload. You alone hold the decryption keys.

This provides maximum protection but comes with a risk: if you lose your password and recovery key, your data is irrevocably inaccessible.

Bandwidth Limits to Know

A major limitation: MEGA restricts daily transfer bandwidth to ~5 GB for free accounts. For frequent or large downloads, you’ll either have to wait 24 hours or upgrade to a paid plan.

However, MEGA places no file size limits, unlike some competitors. Drime, by contrast, supports integrated collaborative editing for large files as well.

Find out why Drime is the best alternative today

iCloud: Apple’s Cloud for iOS and macOS Users

5 GB Free for All Apple Accounts

iCloud provides only 5 GB of free space to all Apple users, placing it among the least generous compared to Drime (20 GB) or MEGA (20 GB). This limited space is shared between:

iOS device backups
Photos
iCloud Mail emails
Documents

When storage is full, options include:

Deleting unnecessary data
Buying more space with iCloud+
Sharing your iCloud+ plan with your family

Automatic Photo and Document Sync

The main strength of iCloud lies in automatic and seamless synchronization. With iCloud Drive, you can store any document and access it from any Apple device or via iCloud.com.
Activating this feature automatically backs up your Desktop and Documents folders to the cloud.

iCloud Photos stores your entire photo library in full resolution, optimizing space on your devices. Messages and attachments are also end-to-end encrypted to ensure privacy.

Deep Integration with the Apple Ecosystem

iCloud’s greatest advantage is how deeply it integrates with Apple services. All your data remains synchronized across devices, and file sharing is simple via private links.

It also works transparently with:

Mail
Contacts
Calendars
Reminders
Safari

You can create a note on iPhone, edit it on Mac, and have reminders follow you across all your Apple gear.

Despite these benefits, iCloud’s limited free storage is a major drawback compared to Drime’s quadruple offer.

Box: Professional Cloud with Unlimited Storage

10 GB Free for Individuals

Box offers 10 GB of free space with personal accounts—generous, though less than Drime’s 20 GB. It’s great for storing documents and light media. Free users can upload files up to 5 GB, a comfortable limit for typical use.

However, unlike Drime’s free integrated PDF editing, Box focuses more on pure storage. File-sharing features are robust:

Set custom access permissions
Password-protect shared links

Integration with Over 1,500 Apps

Box’s standout feature is its rich ecosystem of integrations—over 1,500 available, including:

Microsoft Office, Copilot, Google Workspace
Slack, Microsoft Teams
e-signature tools like DocuSign
CRM platforms like Salesforce

The Box App Center simplifies discovering and activating integrations via an advanced search and categorization interface. Users can build custom environments with content accessible from any app.

Advanced Features for Businesses

Box offers Business plans with unlimited storage, a rare feature in free cloud services. Enterprise plans include:

File uploads up to 150 GB
Advanced access controls
No-code app creation with custom dashboards
AI-assisted metadata extraction
Document retention compliant with regulations

However, these features require a Business subscription starting at €14.31/user/month, significantly higher than Drime’s Essentials plan at €5.50/month for 2 TB.

Tresorit: Ultra-Secure Cloud for Professionals

3 GB Free with End-to-End Encryption

Tresorit offers 3 GB of free space in its Basic version—a modest offer compared to Drime’s 20 GB. What it lacks in capacity, it makes up for in security.

Tresorit applies end-to-end encryption from the moment you create a file. The zero-knowledge tech means even their own team cannot access your data. Your files are protected from upload to delivery.

Unlike pCloud, which charges for client-side encryption, Tresorit includes it for free.

Secure Sharing with Expiry and Passwords

Tresorit excels in secure sharing options:

Tresorit Send: Send up to 5 GB files with auto-expiry after 7 days
Share links: Always up to date—no need to resend after updates
Real-time collaboration: Invite members with access levels

Advanced access controls include:

Password protection
Download limits
Expiry dates
Access logs (IP tracking)

Ideal for sending confidential documents.

If security is your top concern, Tresorit is a solid choice—though Drime offers more free space, AES-256 encryption, and more advanced collaborative tools.

Try the best free alternative - Drime

kDrive: Ethical, Collaborative Swiss Cloud

15 GB Free

kDrive provides 15 GB of free space to all users—a generous offer, though slightly less than Drime’s 20 GB. This storage is fully dedicated to file storage (unlike Google Drive, which splits its 15 GB across services).

For larger needs, kDrive offers plans up to 6 TB for individuals and 100+ TB for businesses. Still, Drime leads with more free space and competitive paid plans.

100% Swiss Servers

kDrive’s major strength lies in its fully Swiss infrastructure. All data is hosted exclusively in eco-friendly data centers in Switzerland. This ensures maximum protection from extraterritorial laws like the U.S. CLOUD Act.

Security includes:

AES 128-bit encryption with a unique key per space
Continuous backup on three mediums across two data centers
SSL/TLS for in-transit data protection
Access logs and action histories

Though secure, kDrive’s encryption is slightly weaker than Drime’s AES 256-bit standard.

Integrated Office Suite (kSuite)

kDrive natively integrates OnlyOffice, a free alternative to Microsoft Office and Google Workspace. This suite allows real-time collaborative editing of:

Word documents
Excel spreadsheets
PowerPoint presentations

Used by organizations like Deloitte, Oracle, and UNESCO, it promotes technological independence and team productivity.
The Pro and Enterprise versions support Microsoft Office integration while ensuring secure storage in Switzerland.

Despite these strengths, Drime’s collaborative tools are more complete, with a built-in PDF editor and image/video editing directly in the interface.

Icedrive: Modern and User-Friendly Cloud

10 GB Free

Icedrive offers a generous 10 GB of free space to all users. While sufficient for documents and photos, it’s less than Drime’s 20 GB. Icedrive focuses more on pure storage and lacks collaborative or editing tools in its free plan.

Premium plans:

Lite: 150 GB for €21.99/year
Pro: 1 TB for €4.99/month
Pro+: 5 TB for €17.99/month
Lifetime options:
150 GB for €99
3 TB for €449
10 TB for €999

Sleek and Intuitive Interface

Icedrive’s interface is exceptionally modern and fluid. Its "revolutionary" desktop app lets you access the cloud like a physical drive or USB stick within your operating system. The web interface is also responsive on all browsers and screen formats.

Clear navigation and quick file access are highlights—even for large folders. Icedrive’s smart cache system reduces wait times when accessing files.

Client-Side Twofish Encryption

Icedrive uses the Twofish algorithm for client-side encryption instead of AES. Some cryptographers consider Twofish even more secure.

Encryption is fully client-side, ensuring only you can access your data. The zero-knowledge approach means even Icedrive can’t decrypt your files.

However, this feature is only available in paid plans—unlike Drime, which includes AES 256-bit encryption in all plans, including free ones.

Proton Drive: Swiss Privacy First

5 GB Free

Proton Drive, by the creators of Proton Mail, offers 5 GB of free space. This is far less than Drime’s 20 GB, and the full 5 GB isn’t available immediately. Initially, you get 2 GB, then earn 3 more by:

Uploading a file/folder
Creating a share link
Adding an account recovery method

This encourages engagement but isn’t as straightforward as Drime’s instant 20 GB.

Paid plans include:

Proton Unlimited: 500 GB for about €9.53/month

Full Encryption of Files and Metadata

Proton Drive’s real strength is its exceptionally complete end-to-end encryption. Not only file contents but also:

File names
Extensions
Sizes
Creation/modification dates
...are encrypted. Even Proton cannot access your data.

It uses OpenPGP and ECC Curve25519 encryption—highly secure and efficient. Large files are split into 4 MB fragments, each signed with a hash to prevent tampering.

Independent Swiss Infrastructure

Unlike many free cloud services relying on Amazon AWS or Microsoft Azure, Proton Drive owns and operates its own servers—located in Switzerland and Germany.

Switzerland’s strong privacy laws protect against foreign surveillance:

Not part of "Five Eyes" or "Fourteen Eyes"
Cannot share data with foreign authorities (per Swiss Penal Code Article 271)

Still, Proton lacks collaborative editing tools like Drime’s integrated PDF and multimedia editing.

Find out why Drime is the best alternative today

Internxt: Decentralized and Secure Cloud

10 GB Free, Expandable

Internxt offers 10 GB of free storage to all users—half of what Drime provides. It’s suitable for important documents and personal photos. You must sign up through their website or mobile app to access this space.

Paid plans:

20 GB for €2.14/year
200 GB for €8.38/year
2 TB for €21.58/year
These prices are very competitive, though Drime’s free offer with built-in editing tools remains more advantageous.

AES-256 Encryption and Distributed Architecture

Security is Internxt’s strong suit, thanks to end-to-end AES-256 encryption. Files are encrypted on your device before upload, ensuring that even Internxt cannot access them.

Its decentralized architecture makes it truly unique:

Files are split into encrypted fragments
Fragments are distributed across multiple servers globally
No single server holds a complete file
This makes unauthorized access virtually impossible.

Internxt also publishes its source code on GitHub, allowing public auditing to verify there are no security flaws.

Competitive Lifetime Plans

Internxt offers attractive lifetime plans, giving permanent access to cloud storage for a one-time payment:

From 2 TB to 10 TB
Starting at €299

These plans can be combined by purchasing multiple with the same email and requesting a merge via customer support.

Additionally, its decentralized system is energy efficient:

Transfers use the closest servers
Reduces energy consumption
Improves access speed

Despite these strengths, Drime remains superior in collaboration and editing tools.

NordLocker: The Digital Safe from NordVPN

3 GB Free with Local Encryption

NordLocker, part of the NordVPN ecosystem, offers 3 GB of free cloud storage, six times less than Drime’s offer. It adopts a zero-knowledge approach, where only you hold the keys to access your files.

It combines:

AES-256
xChaCha20-Poly1305
Ed25519
...to deliver top-tier protection. Encryption occurs locally on your device before uploading.

Creation of Secure Lockers

The core of NordLocker lies in “lockers”—encrypted folders containing your files and config data. Creating one is simple: click the “+” icon in the left panel.

Lockers can be stored locally or in the cloud. Access requires:

Your Nord account credentials
A master password

This two-step authentication ensures that only you—or those you explicitly allow—can open the locker.

Multi-Device Synchronization

NordLocker offers full cross-platform support with apps for:

Windows and macOS
Android and iOS
Web browsers

All files uploaded are automatically synchronized. On desktop, you choose which lockers to sync; on mobile, lockers are cloud-stored and downloaded on demand.

While excellent for pure security, NordLocker falls short compared to Drime, which combines generous space, advanced encryption, and full collaborative tools.

Hivenet: Community-Based and Eco-Friendly Cloud

25 GB Free

Hivenet provides an impressive 25 GB of free space, the largest of all compared—exceeding even Drime’s 20 GB. It reduces costs by letting users contribute unused disk space. The more space you share, the less you pay.

You can use Hivenet:

Without contributing space
Or actively contribute to lower costs

Still, unlike Drime, Hivenet lacks native editing or collaboration tools and focuses on pure storage.

Distributed Storage Among Users

Hivenet’s innovation lies in community-distributed storage. When you upload a file:

It’s split into encrypted fragments
Fragments are distributed across devices in the community network
No single entity controls the entire network—it’s a true decentralized model where users contribute space for collective benefit.

This system works across devices (mobile and desktop) and monitors file availability. Files are moved as needed if a device goes offline.

77% Reduction in Carbon Emissions

Hivenet’s key strength is its eco-friendliness, reducing cloud storage carbon footprints by 77% thanks to:

30% less energy used in daily operations
80% less waste than traditional data centers
Use of existing resources rather than new infrastructure

By maximizing unused hardware, Hivenet reduces e-waste and energy use. Unlike networks that double your storage needs, Hivenet uses a 200% replication factor, a much more efficient approach.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Cloud Storage for Your Needs

After our thorough analysis of the top 15 free cloud storage solutions for 2025, several options clearly stand out based on your specific priorities.

Drime is unquestionably the most balanced and complete platform with:

20 GB of free space
Built-in PDF editor
Advanced collaborative tools
AES-256 encryption
European hosting (GDPR compliant)
Image/video editing in-browser

MEGA and Hivenet also shine with 20 GB (up to 35 GB) and 25 GB free, respectively. However, they lack Drime’s collaborative ecosystem.
Google Drive is ideal for Google ecosystem users but only provides 15 GB shared. OneDrive and iCloud suit Windows and Apple users but suffer from limited free space (5 GB).

If your focus is security, Tresorit and Proton Drive offer top-notch end-to-end encryption—though with smaller free plans.
pCloud and Internxt appeal with lifetime plans as budget-friendly alternatives to subscriptions.

Before making your choice, we recommend trying Drime for free and seeing how its tools can transform your daily productivity.

Ultimately, the best cloud storage depends on your needs: