Summary of the best free online data storage websites today

Cloud storage is a useful way to access your files from anywhere with an Internet connection. If you are short on cash, there are free cloud storage sites on the Internet that allow you to upload your files at no additional cost. Let’s explore the best free cloud storage solutions to store your files online!

Table of Contents

• 1. Google Drive (15GB free storage)
• 2. pCloud (10GB+ free storage)
• 3. MediaFire (10GB+ free storage)
• 4. OneDrive (5GB free storage)
• 5. Dropbox (Free storage over 2GB)​​​​​
• Why not create your own cloud server?

1. Google Drive (15GB free storage)

If you use Google services regularly, you will get a lot of benefits from Google Drive. Not only does it have a lot of storage capacity at no extra cost, but Google Drive also integrates well with other Google services . If you have used Google Docs , you are using Google Drive!

Google Drive is a great way to organize your work and business files. When you use Google's online office suite, all the files you create are stored in Google Drive for easy access. If you have an Android phone, you can download the Drive app and stay updated on the go.

Google Drive is the best free cloud storage solution for collaborating with other colleagues. You can use Drive to create a folder full of documents and spreadsheets to work on, then share a link to the folder with your colleagues. Anyone with the link can access and edit the documents inside. That makes Google Drive a great tool for remote workers.

Please note that the 15GB storage is shared between all Google programs, including Gmail, Docs, and Photos.

2. pCloud (10GB+ free storage)

pCloud is a simple, easy-to-use entry on this list. On the first page, you enter your email and password. Then you have 10GB to use at no additional cost.

pCloud is generous with its bonus storage. At the time of writing, verifying your email with pCloud gets you an additional 1GB to use, and uploading files gets you an additional 1GB. You can earn a total of 5GB for completing simple tasks, and then 1GB for referring friends.

This makes pCloud an easy way to get 15GB of storage without paying any fees.

Chances are you’re looking for free cloud storage services because you don’t like the idea of ​​paying for a subscription. It’s not a good idea to store all of your data on one service and then be forced to pay a monthly fee to keep that storage.

pCloud is unique in that you can make a one-time purchase to permanently increase your storage capacity. The price is a bit steep, but if you plan on using online storage for a few years, it will be cheaper in the long run than continuing with a subscription.

The pCloud Crypto service is an additional layer of security also offered as a subscription.

3. MediaFire (10GB+ free storage)

In terms of storage space alone, MediaFire is a great service for storing data. However, using MediaFire as a file hosting site alone does not exploit the full potential of this service.

MediaFire's sharing capabilities make it one of the best ways to share files for others to download. Hover over the item you want to share, click the arrow on the right, and select Share . You'll then get a shareable link for others to download.

MediaFire limits the size of uploaded files to 4 GB per file.

Unfortunately, when you try this with a folder of files, MediaFire will prompt you to purchase a premium service to download multiple files. Luckily, you can get around this limitation by zipping the folder you want to share on your desktop and then uploading it.

4. OneDrive (5GB free storage)

OneDrive isn’t as generous with storage space, but it gets points for requiring the least amount of installation and setup of any of the other entries on this list. For example, if you have a computer running Windows 10 or 11, you’re already fully equipped to use OneDrive.

When you open Explorer in Windows , you'll see OneDrive in the left sidebar. Any files you drag here will automatically upload and sync with the OneDrive server. You'll need to run the OneDrive app for it to sync, so look for the OneDrive icon in the taskbar. If you don't see it, click the Start button and type "OneDrive" to launch it.

If you're not using Windows 10, you can still use OneDrive to store your files. You'll need to create a Microsoft account before you can use it, but once you do, you can use the web interface to upload and share files.

OneDrive also has a special Shared folder that keeps track of what files are being shared and with whom, so you can monitor who can see your data.

5. Dropbox (Free storage over 2GB)

As one of the most popular cloud storage platforms, Dropbox specializes in syncing files from your desktop to the cloud. You can use Dropbox as a traditional cloud storage service, but its true power is unlocked when you set up a special Dropbox folder on your desktop using the client.

When you drop a file into this particular folder, Dropbox will automatically notice the addition and upload it to the cloud. The same is true if it notices that the file has changed. So you could put a text document in the folder and edit it over time, and Dropbox will automatically update the cloud version of the file every time you save.

You can also set up a shared folder and invite others to use it. When others upload or edit files in that folder, Dropbox updates the folder on your end. If you have a Dropbox client, your friends' edits will automatically update the folder on your PC.

If you're disappointed with Dropbox's 2GB offer, you can complete tasks and refer friends to get more space. Referring a friend to Dropbox will give you 500MB per referral, up to a maximum of 16GB, and completing tasks will give you 250MB, up to a maximum of about 1.5GB of additional space.

Why not create your own cloud server?

If you’re concerned about the cost of cloud storage, you can cut out the middleman and create your own server. The upfront costs are high, as you’ll need to purchase the server and set it up at home. However, once you pay, you have complete control over a significant amount of storage space at no additional cost.

There are plenty of reasons to host your own server. The next time you're worried about filling up your free cloud storage, consider spending money on a more permanent solution.

If you’re looking for free cloud storage, there are plenty of great options, including creating your own. While there are no free unlimited cloud storage services on this list, the top options still give you plenty of room to upload your photos, documents, and videos.

See also:

• The Best Cloud Storage Apps for Android
• Choose memory card or cloud to save data?
• Things to know when storing data on the "cloud"