Is your phone or computer overflowing with documents, photos, multimedia files, and more? Do you need a free solution to store important files without taking up physical space? If so, we present the best free cloud storage options currently available. These are completely free services where you can upload all kinds of files and keep them safe.
In this digital age, creating files and documents is an everyday occurrence. Photos, videos, presentations, work documents… the list of items taking up space on our devices is endless. Luckily, solutions like cloud storage allow you to free up space on your devices and easily access your files from anywhere. What are the best options? What security tips should you keep in mind when using them? Let's find out.
The best free cloud storage options
A cloud storage service is a computing model that allows you to save data and files on servers accessible via the internet . These services have become especially necessary in this digital age, where we receive and send digital files every day. Typically, the physical storage space on our mobile phones and computers is insufficient to hold so much data.
That's where cloud storage becomes essential for freeing up physical space and safeguarding our most important files. It's also necessary if we want to share those files with someone else or access them from different devices. Let's see which services offer free cloud storage and how you can use them securely.
MEGA – 20 GB
Undoubtedly, MEGA is one of the best free cloud storage services you can use. It offers a variety of options for securely storing, managing, and sharing data online.
Advantages
- Offer 20 GB of free storage.
- It features zero-knowledge encryption, which ensures that only the user has access to the files.
- You can install it on your computer (Windows, Mac, Linux) and download the mobile app (iOS and Android) or install the extension for your computer.
- Supports compressed formats (RAR, ZIP…).
Drawbacks
- It offers little bandwidth: 10 GB every half hour.
Google One – 15GB
Google One is one of the world's best-known and most widely used cloud storage services. It offers up to 15 GB of free storage spread across services like Google Drive, Google Photos, Gmail, and backups . The best part is that it integrates seamlessly with Android devices and offers easy access through the search engine.
Advantages
- It offers 15 GB of free storage, enough for specific and specific use.
- Easy access from different devices with a Google account.
- Unhindered real-time synchronization.
- Intuitive and simple interface.
Drawbacks
- The different Google services (Drive, Photos, Gmail...) can end up filling the free space available quickly.
pCloud – 10GB
An excellent alternative for free cloud storage is pCloud , which offers 10 GB of free storage. Based in Switzerland, the service leverages the country's strict privacy laws to provide a robust security framework . It boasts over 15 million users worldwide and excellent reviews on app stores like the Play Store and App Store.
Advantages
- 10 GB of free storage and lifetime plans with competitive prices.
- Crypto folder with an additional level of 156-bit encryption, simply impenetrable.
- You can upload and download files of any size.
Drawbacks
- To access the free 10 GB, you have to complete several tasks, such as uploading a file, downloading the mobile app, inviting friends, etc.
Internxt – 10 GB of cloud storage
With an offer of 10 GB of free storage and robust security and privacy measures , the Spanish company Internxt is making a strong impact on the sector. It features a desktop app and a user-friendly mobile application. It's an excellent option for obtaining free storage space with lifetime premium access.
Advantages
- It offers 10 GB of free storage.
- Reinforced security and privacy measures.
- Military grade encryption.
Drawbacks
- It may be slower compared to other cloud services.
Microsoft OneDrive – 5 GB
If you have a Windows computer, you can take advantage of the 5 GB of free cloud storage offered by your Microsoft account . It's not much, really, but it's enough to store documents, photos, and other small files. You can also download the OneDrive app on your Android phone or iPhone and upload and access files from there.
Advantages
- Integration with other Microsoft services such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint to edit and create documents directly in the cloud.
- Possibility of working as a team with file sharing facilities.
- High levels of security thanks to data encryption.
Drawbacks
- Little free storage space (5 GB).
Telegram – Unlimited cloud storage
That's right. Telegram is a messaging app that lets you upload unlimited files to the cloud (so far) in the Saved Messages chat. You can upload all kinds of files (videos, audio, text, etc.) with a maximum size of 2 GB . While it's not a cloud storage service per se, it serves that purpose very well.
Advantages
- Unlimited storage.
- Easy access from any device with your Telegram account.
- The search option allows you to find the files in the chat more easily.
- It has security and privacy options such as end-to-end encryption, secret chats, and message self-destruction.
Drawbacks
- 2 GB upload limit per file.
- It is difficult to sort the files in the chat and manage them.
Free cloud storage without taking risks
The free cloud storage services listed above aren't the only ones available, but they do offer the best features and guarantees. However, you can also do a lot to keep your data safe if you use one or more of these services . Here are some security tips that you might find helpful:
- Use strong, unique passwords for each service, preferably generated by a password manager.
- Whenever available, use a system of two-step authentication to add an extra layer of security.
- You can encrypt files before uploading them to the cloud to strengthen their security.
- Keep all the tools and applications you use to store files in the cloud updated.
- Use only official and trusted platforms and services, and avoid those that are unknown or unverified.
- Know the security and privacy options of each service well and use them.
By following these suggestions, you can use free cloud storage services without compromising the security of your files . You might need to download some apps and programs to your phone or computer. But if you handle a lot of digital material, you'll find it more practical to upload it to the cloud than to store it in a physical space.