Tips for Choosing the best Online Cloud Storage: price, features

With cloud services the stored data can easily be shared, collaborate and are available on all your devices. However, between online cloud services such as Google Drive, OneDrive, iCloud and etc., there are notable differences in functionality and pricing that we would like to explain in this article.

All cloud storages presented in this article function in the basic principle of equal: Data can be stored in an online hard drive and retrieve from other devices via the Internet. The services offer under this program, synchronize the contents of your storage media automatically with each other, so that a complicated manual synchronization fails.

In addition to the synchronization functions - and the associated costs for storage - other factors play an important role in choosing the right cloud storage. So some services offer handy tools for common document editing convince others, however with good photography features. Before we go into details, let's first look at the store offers in comparison.

Storage Space Comparison


Storage Space Upgrade Options
Google Drive 15 Gigabytes 1 Terabyte for $9.99 / month
OneDrive 5 Gigabytes 1 Terabyte for $10 / month (Office 365)
iCloud 5 Gigabytes 1 Terabyte for $9.99 / month
dropbox 2 Gigabytes 1 Terabyte for $9.99 / month
Amazon Drive 5 Gigabytes 1 Terabyte for $4.95 / month


Google Drive

Google Drive provides you 15 gigabytes of free storage space, the service is represented on all major systems and platforms. Upgrades are available to industry-specific rates, for 100 gigabyte equivalent of just under two dollars and payable monthly.

The company integrates the onsite office solution "Google Docs" excellent in the cloud storage: texts, spreadsheets and presentations can be directly edit from the folder structure of the Drive-surface out in the browser - a feature that not available with the competitor Dropbox and Amazon. Unbeatable triggers Google also collaborating on a document: By mail address gives freely their content, changes made by others in the document shows Google in real time.

"Photos" is another compelling Drive feature: The service offers unlimited storage for your photos and videos in the cloud; convince also the integrated functions of local and facial recognition. Google Photos available for a standalone app's, the service is also accessible for non-Drive users.

Encrypt your data during transmission and on the Google server with a solid AES 128-bit security.


onedrive

Microsoft OneDrive provides you five gigabytes of storage in the cloud for free, 50 gigabytes cost you less than 4 dollars per month. Encryption is always present during the data transfer, encryption on the server, however, it is available only for much more expensive business accounts.

For just 10 dollars for a month ensures you a license for the current Microsoft Office package as part of the Office 365 subscription, included 1-terabyte in OneDrive. By comparison, Google requires a similar price for a TB, yet offers no office suite - at least not for offline use.

Even with OneDrive documents can edit online in browser, here comes "Word Online" to use - it works very smoothly. Functions for common editing content are also available, but less features when comparing to Google. However, the positive side is the Microsoft Office mobile apps, which give particular tablets a good figure and excellent work with OneDrive.

iCloud (Drive)

iCloud directed primarily to owners of Apple mobile devices: For here the service provides functionality that converts no other supplier. So the iCloud allows automatic backups of all data and content on iPhone and iPad, also based the Continuum features of macOS on the iCloud. Synchronization of the photo collection allows Apple with iCloud photo library also.

The classic features of a cloud storage comes with the feature "iCloud Drive". Here, content can be just like Microsoft and Google organize into folders and retrieve through phone, tablet, Windows and Mac computers, as well as via web interface.

For all these features Apple only offers five gigabytes of free storage. In particular, those who use the photo library, quickly reach the limits of the free offer. Endowed monthly budget for 99 cents and keep a 50-gigabyte memory. Both during the transfer, as well as on the Apple servers are backed up your site content with a solid AES-128-bit encryption.

dropbox

Dropbox provides you only two gigabytes of free storage space, one terabyte will cost you $9.99 per month. By inviting your friends you can earned additional 250-megabyte. This principle seems quite fallen out of time, even missing functions to edit documents in the cloud.

Basically, the service offers AES-256-bit encryption for all data, both in the transmission, as well as on the Dropbox servers. Compared to the 128-bit encryption of Google and Apple, the Dropbox encryption falls.

Amazon Drive

Amazon Drive is particularly interesting for prime customers: Whoever has a corresponding subscription, would get unlimited storage for photos in the Amazon cloud. The corresponding app enables automatic upload your recordings to the cloud, synchronization clients also available for Windows and macOS. For all the users five gigabytes of storage space available for free are.

Amazon promises that data in the cloud are "safe", but does not specify for encryption. Anyone who wants more than 5 GB of storage.

If you wish more security in the encryption then Amazon Drive offers the BoxCrypto for free.

Conclusion

Dropbox and Amazon provide solid deals, but cannot stand out from the competition. Microsoft OneDrive contrast stands out with the powerful combination of cloud storage and office subscription, Google convinces with features for cooperation and a host of photo features.

While iCloud is the first choice for Apple users due to practical backup features but those who wants to spend money then it is best to choose Google Drive.

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