Cloud, Backup & PC

Best cloud storage services

Keep your files online, sync them between your PC and phone, and share them with other people. 10 cloud storage services, ranked by points out of 100.

Facts checked 8 Oct 2026 · How we score cloud storage services

Not scored yet: Microsoft OneDrive, MEGA.

In short

Proton Drive ranks first with 73 points out of 100, ahead of pCloud (69) and Filen (59).
Proton Drive is the best cloud storage service you can use for free (#1, 73 points).
The lowest price here is Filen at $1.12/mo (cheapest paid plan with 100 GB or more).
Points come from 19 published rules. We did not install or test the software.

1
Proton DrivePeople who want every file encrypted by default and open-source apps
73/100
$3.99/mocheapest paid plan with 100 GB or more
2
pCloudPeople who want a one-time lifetime plan or a virtual drive instead of a monthly subscription
69/100
$4.66/mocheapest paid plan with 100 GB or more
3
FilenPeople who want every file end-to-end encrypted, open-source apps and a low entry price
59/100
$1.12/mocheapest paid plan with 100 GB or more
4
iCloud DrivePeople who mainly use iPhone and Mac and want a Windows PC to reach the same files
59/100
$2.99/mocheapest paid plan with 100 GB or more
5
KoofrPeople who want a 10 GB free plan and small paid plans, and will use Vault for private files
58/100
$1.83/mocheapest paid plan with 100 GB or more
6
Internxt DrivePeople who want encrypted storage with open-source apps and a one-time payment option
56/100
$11.99/mocheapest paid plan with 100 GB or more
7
Sync.comPeople who want private storage for one account and a long deleted-file history
55/100
$12/mocheapest paid plan with 100 GB or more
8
Google DrivePeople who already use a Google Account and want a large free allowance and browser editing
51/100
$1.99/mocheapest paid plan with 100 GB or more
9
DropboxPeople who want broad app support and account-wide undo, and accept that Dropbox can read files
46/100
$11.17/mocheapest paid plan with 100 GB or more
10
IcedrivePeople who want a mounted drive on Windows and a one-time payment option
42/100
$9.23/mocheapest paid plan with 100 GB or more

How the points add up

Points earned out of the points available in each part of the method.

Product	Security and audits of 31	Apps and sync of 20	Recovery and sharing of 22	Price and plans of 27	Total
Proton Drive	25	18	18	12	73
pCloud	10	20	22	17	69
Filen	13	20	6	20	59
iCloud Drive	17	16	10	16	59
Koofr	9	20	14	15	58
Internxt Drive	24	20	6	6	56
Sync.com	15	18	14	8	55
Google Drive	12	14	10	15	51
Dropbox	12	20	14	0	46
Icedrive	5	16	8	13	42

Each cloud storage service in brief

1. Proton Drive

Proton Drive suits people who want all files encrypted by default and apps whose code anyone can read. Drive Plus is $3.99 a month on a yearly plan and adds 10 years of file-version recovery. The catch: the plans with 1 TB or more cost $14.99 a month or more.

Best for: People who want every file encrypted by default and open-source apps. Prices, facts and sources

2. pCloud

pCloud suits people who prefer to pay once for a lifetime plan or want a virtual drive that keeps files in the cloud. Paid yearly plans start at €49.99 for 500 GB. The catch: end-to-end encryption costs extra and covers only the Crypto folder, and researchers reported attacks on that encryption in 2024.

Best for: People who want a one-time lifetime plan or a virtual drive instead of a monthly subscription. Prices, facts and sources

3. Filen

Filen suits people who want end-to-end encryption on every file, open-source code and a cheap annual plan. It has a network drive, sync modes and password-protected links. The catch: Filen does not publish an outside security test, a certification or file-version retention times, and it no longer runs a public bug bounty.

Best for: People who want every file end-to-end encrypted, open-source apps and a low entry price. Prices, facts and sources

4. iCloud Drive

iCloud Drive suits people with Apple devices who want a Windows PC to open the same files, and families who share one plan. The 200 GB plan costs $2.99 a month and the 2 TB plan $9.99. The catch: Apple holds the encryption keys unless you turn on Advanced Data Protection, and the requirements page lists no Android or Linux app.

Best for: People who mainly use iPhone and Mac and want a Windows PC to reach the same files. Prices, facts and sources

5. Koofr

Koofr suits people who want a 10 GB free plan and a 100 GB or 1 TB plan at a few euros a month, with Vault for the files that must stay private. Paid plans keep versions for up to two years and add Office editing. The catch: regular files are not end-to-end encrypted, no family plan or lifetime plan is listed, and the terms say payments are final.

Best for: People who want a 10 GB free plan and small paid plans, and will use Vault for private files. Prices, facts and sources

6. Internxt Drive

Internxt suits people who want zero-knowledge storage, open-source code and the option to pay once for a lifetime plan. It publishes a 2025 penetration-test summary and names ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II. The catch: the free plan is 1 GB, the smallest paid plan is 1 TB at about $12 a month, and file versions are limited to Office, PDF and CSV files.

Best for: People who want encrypted storage with open-source apps and a one-time payment option. Prices, facts and sources

7. Sync.com

Sync.com suits one person who wants private storage with files on demand and selective sync on Windows. The paid plans keep history for 90 to 365 days and let you password-protect links. The catch is the price: the first-year discount ends and 1 TB renews at $12 a month, and there is no family plan or lifetime option.

Best for: People who want private storage for one account and a long deleted-file history. Prices, facts and sources

8. Google Drive

Google Drive suits people who want a large free allowance, Google Docs, Sheets and Slides in the browser, and a plan that six people can share. Streamed files open from File Explorer. The catch: Drive has no Linux desktop app, the sharing help page describes no password for share links, and end-to-end encryption is a business feature.

Best for: People who already use a Google Account and want a large free allowance and browser editing. Prices, facts and sources

9. Dropbox

Dropbox suits people who need apps on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, files that stay online until opened, and a family plan for six. Rewind can undo many changes across an account. The catch: Dropbox says its staff may access file content, history on Plus and Family is 30 days, and the free plan is only 2 GB.

Best for: People who want broad app support and account-wide undo, and accept that Dropbox can read files. Prices, facts and sources

10. Icedrive

Icedrive suits people who want a mounted drive in Windows and the choice of a one-time lifetime payment. Its subscription plans keep file versions for 30 to 90 days and carry a 30-day refund promise. The catch: Icedrive names no outside security audit and lists no family plan, and the free plan lacks client-side encryption.

Best for: People who want a mounted drive on Windows and a one-time payment option. Prices, facts and sources

Every fact, side by side

Each row is one rule of the method and the points it is worth. "–" means the vendor does not publish it, which earns nothing.

Rule (points)	Proton Drive	pCloud	Filen	iCloud Drive	Koofr	Internxt Drive	Sync.com	Google Drive	Dropbox	Icedrive
End-to-end encryption (10)	default	option	default	option	option	default	default	none	none	option
Independent security test since 2024 (6)	–	–	–	–	–	Yes	–	–	–	–
SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001 (5)	Yes	Yes	–	Yes	–	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	–
Open-source apps (3)	Yes	–	Yes	–	–	Yes	–	–	–	–
Security key for two-factor sign-in (4)	Yes	–	–	Yes	Yes	–	–	Yes	Yes	–
Public bug bounty (3)	Yes	–	No	Yes	–	–	–	Yes	Yes	–
Apps (10)	4 of 5	5 of 5	5 of 5	3 of 5	5 of 5	5 of 5	4 of 5	4 of 5	5 of 5	5 of 5
Files on demand in Windows (6)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Choose which folders sync (4)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	–	Yes	–
File version and deleted-file history (6)	3650	365	30	30	730	30	365	30	30	90
Restore the whole account (4)	–	Yes	–	–	–	–	–	–	Yes	–
Password-protected share links (4)	Yes	Yes	Yes	–	Yes	Yes	Yes	–	No	Yes
Edit documents in the browser (4)	Yes	Yes	–	Yes	Yes	–	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Plan for five or more people (4)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Free plan with 5 GB or more (5)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Cheapest paid plan with 100 GB or more (8)	$3.99/mo	$4.66/mo	$1.12/mo	$2.99/mo	$1.83/mo	$11.99/mo	$12/mo	$1.99/mo	$11.17/mo	$9.23/mo
Cheapest paid plan with 1 TB or more (8)	$14.99/mo	$9.32/mo	$8.39/mo	$9.99/mo	$9.17/mo	$11.99/mo	$12/mo	$9.99/mo	$11.17/mo	$9.23/mo
One-time lifetime plan (3)	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
Refund period of 14 days or more (3)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	–	No	Yes

Head to head

Proton Drive vs pCloud
73 vs 69 points
Proton Drive vs Filen
73 vs 59 points
pCloud vs Filen
69 vs 59 points

We read each vendor's own pages, record every fact with its source and date, and score it by the rules on how we score cloud storage services. A tie goes to the lower price. Cloud file storage and sync for individuals and families that works on Windows (a sync app or the web). Backup-only services, business-only and enterprise products are left out. A line that says "on at least one plan" counts only plans sold to individuals and families, not team or business plans. Vendor claims about speed or quality are shown on product pages but never scored. Prices are in US dollars before tax.