The 8 Cheapest Cloud Storage Services and How to Decide

Once you see the benefits of cloud storage, including the ability to access files from anywhere and to maintain an always up-to-date backup copy of your files, you’ll wonder why you’ve ever bothered with other options. (If you remember the days of burning backup files to CDs, give yourself a pat on the back.)

Although some cloud storage systems offer limited storage options with basic features for free, to truly take full advantage of this impressive technology, you will want to purchase a cloud storage subscription.

But why spend more than you need to spend? Here are the eight cheapest cloud storage service options, along with the pros and cons for each service to help you decide which is the best for your needs.

1. Google Drive and Google One

For those who already use Google services, such as Gmail, you may not realize you automatically have access to one of the cheapest cloud storage options with Google Drive. When you sign up for a Google account to use Gmail, you receive up to 15 GB of cloud storage for free.

If you don’t create and store many large files, this free cloud storage may serve your needs well. Those who stick primarily to word-processing documents may have the best luck with using the free Google Drive storage.

Should you need more cloud storage, you have the option of paying for extra storage with Google One by upgrading your Google Drive account. For fans of Google’s numerous services, it will be a natural progression to add a subscription with Google One cloud storage.

Pros

Highly integrated with Google’s word processing and spreadsheet apps
Easy to sync files from the local hard drive with Google Drive
Great 15 GB free tier for those who only need basic storage

Cons

Doesn’t offer massive storage tiers for high-end users
Price isn’t the lowest on our list

Pricing

15 GB for free
100 GB for $1.99 per month
200 GB for $2.99 per month
2 TB for $9.99 per month

2. Apple iCloud

Much like Google, Apple also has legions of loyal fans who take advantage of any and all services Apple may offer.

Among the services Apple offers is one of the cheapest cloud storage options through iCloud. For those who only need up to 50 GB of storage, iCloud has an extremely inexpensive price, making it a great choice.

Although 50 GB will not be enough for those seeking to store hundreds of large files, it can work well for serving as a backup storage option for an iPhone or an iPad. iCloud will be the most natural choice for those already using Apple products.

Pros

App is easy to use to synchronize your files
Includes 5 GB of free storage for iOS or Mac hardware owners
Works easily with Windows

Cons

Does not offer an app for Android mobile devices
Doesn’t offer large storage tiers for high-end users

Pricing

50 GB for $0.99 per month
200 GB for $2.99 per month
2 TB for $9.99 per month

Please note, pricing may vary by region. To check pricing outside the US, visit here.

3. Microsoft OneDrive

If you are a loyal Microsoft user, and if you already have a subscription to Microsoft 365 Office, you have some storage available already through OneDrive. Microsoft also offers standalone storage for a fee through OneDrive.

The OneDrive service has a desktop app, a mobile app, and a website account you can use to move your files to the cloud easily and quickly. Its interface is extremely easy to use.

Because Microsoft 365 Office is such a popular piece of software, many people have a subscription to it already. This makes using OneDrive for cloud storage a simple and natural extension of Microsoft 365 Office, regardless of whether you have a Windows or Macintosh computer.

Pros

Little to no learning curve to figure out OneDrive’s features
Works well with any device
Integrates closely with Microsoft 365 Office

Cons

May require rearranging your hard drive folder structure for file syncing
Doesn’t offer huge storage tiers for high-end users

Pricing

100 GB for $1.99 per month
1 TB for $6.99 per month (includes a Microsoft 365 Office subscription)

4. pCloud

With a pCloud account, users will receive 10 GB of free storage space. For more storage, customers can subscribe to the pCloud pay service for either 500 GB or 2 TB (roughly equal to 2,000 GB).

This 500 GB level of storage is not commonly found with cloud storage providers, who often offer levels of 1 TB or larger. So those who are looking for one of the cheapest cloud storage options for storing photographs, graphics, and other medium-sized files will appreciate the value they receive with pCloud. They will not be paying for storage they really don’t need.

One aspect of pCloud to consider is that the service limits your account to 500 GB of download traffic per month. If you are using the pCloud storage to give others the ability to download the files, you may run up against this limit fairly regularly, causing issues.

Pros

Has more security and encryption options than some others
Supports all kinds of devices and operating systems
Offers a single payment option for lifetime access to your storage (eliminating monthly fees)

Cons

Has limits on the amount of data you can download from your account each month
No option for live chat or phone support

Pricing

500 GB for $4.17 per month or $49.99 per year
2 TB for $8.33 per month or $99.99 per year
One-time lifetime access payment offer of $199 for 500 GB, $399 for 2 TB, or $1190 for 10 TB.

5. MediaFire

MediaFire offers a 1 TB storage capacity option that carries one of the lowest prices per GB of storage that you’ll find in the cloud storage marketplace.

However, this is not the easiest cheap cloud storage option to use. MediaFire doesn’t offer a desktop app, which forces users to use the MediaFire website to pass files from a computer to the cloud storage space. MediaFire is far less convenient than other cloud storage options.

MediaFire does offer a mobile app for its service, so those seeking cloud storage for use primarily with a tablet or smartphone may receive a better benefit from MediaFire than those looking for cloud storage through a laptop or desktop computer.

Pros

Extremely low price per GB of storage for a 1 TB storage tier
Has a mobile app to simplify use with a tablet or smartphone
Simplifies the process of sharing files with others

Cons

Security features are not as strong as some others
Lacks a desktop app to simplify using the service

Pricing

10 GB for free with ad-supported downloads
1 TB for $5.83 per month billed annually or $6.99 month-to-month, for the Pro plan that covers one user.
2 TB for $50 per month, billed monthly for the business plan that covers up to 100 users

6. Sync.com

For those who need larger amounts of cloud storage at a low price, Sync.com has extremely competitive pricing in the 2 TB to 4 TB ranges.

You’ll appreciate the large number of extra features Sync.com offers too, including up to one year of deleted file recovery (depending on the pricing tier you select). Sync.com also has strong security features, ensuring that your data stored in the cloud remains well-protected.

If you are using Sync.com to host files that you’ll allow others to download on a regular basis, the service does not place limits on the amount of shared data you may have each month.

Pros

Security features outperform others on this list
Doesn’t place limits on the number of file transfers that can occur each month
Includes excellent file recovery options

Cons

May require rearranging the hard drive folder structure for file syncing
Doesn’t have lower storage tiers for users with basic needs

Pricing

5 GB for free
2 TB for $8 per month
6 TB for $20 per month
Unlimited for teams at $15 per user per month

7. Dropbox

Dropbox has one tier made for individuals seeking cloud storage, giving users 2 TB of data storage. But you will have a limit of 2 GB per file transfer.

Its biggest advantage is its ease of use, with apps and features that work with almost any kind of device and operating system.

Pros

Extremely easy to sync your local hard drive with Dropbox
Provides support for file collaboration
Works well across a variety of devices

Cons

Could use more storage tier options
Highly restrictive size of files for transfers

Pricing

2 TB for $9.99 per month
5 TB shared by the team for $15 per user per month
15 TB shared by the team for $24 per user per month

8. MEGA

For those who have extremely high cloud storage requirements, MEGA has an extremely desirable price per gigabyte of storage. MEGA specializes in offering subscriptions up to 16 TB.

Mega has strong security settings, offering encryption of files as they move to and from the cloud storage system. You can even try MEGA for free with 20 GB of storage, once you create an account, although the free account only offers the most basic features.

Pros

Low price for those who need high-end storage capacity
Offers 20 GB of free storage
Encrypts your files throughout the transfer process

Cons

Doesn’t have many third-party integrations
Lower storage tiers have a higher price per GB than competitors

Pricing

20 GB for free
2 TB for $10.73 per month
8 TB for $21.47 per month
16 TB for $32.21 per month

Final Recommendation

Understand that cloud storage service providers regularly update their subscription tiers with new storage limits and prices. So it’s probably worth checking in with cloud storage providers semi-regularly to see if they are offering a lower price than you’re paying now or if a new storage space tier may meet your needs better.

Because cloud storage remains a relatively new type of service, changes are frequent and inevitable. Stay up to date on your cloud storage options, and you’ll be sure to always have the best option for your needs. If you’re fortunate, it’ll also be one of the cheapest cloud storage options.

Cheapest Cloud Storage Compared

Here is how each tier of the cloud storage discussed in this article stacks up against the others when boiled down to a consistent storage amount. (For these price comparisons, we are assuming that you are able to use the full amount of storage in the tier. If you purchase 2 TB of storage but only use 1 TB, however, you’ll be wasting 1 TB, meaning your cost per 10 GB for the 1 TB of storage you’re actually using will be double what we’ve listed.)