Cloud storage: a pricing and feature guide for consumers

Cloud storage services are cropping up left and right, all enticing their customers with a couple of gigabytes of storage that sync seemingly anywhere, with any device. We’ve collected some details at the most desirable services, including Google Drive, to check them.

Below, we’ve compiled some charts showing each service’s free tier sizes, file size limits, and pricing, in addition to many of the perks and downsides of every service. We’ve also compiled a chart showing which services fit with which platforms. Except where noted, the safety and privacy of your files in addition to the convenience of use of those services are roughly on par with one another. The list is not really exhaustive, but is intended to symbolize the most well liked and strong services currently offered.

Dropbox

Pro: Can increase your free storage by 500MB for every friend you invite, one in every of two services that provides a Linux app, robust mobile apps.

Con: Default storage is dinky in comparison to other services, paid storage is costly.

Google Drive

Pro: Integrates along with your Google account, has probably the most highest max file sizes.

Con: Has among the looser terms of service/privacy policies , only mobile app is on Android (though iOS app is declared to be at the way).

iCloud

Pro: Has an automated backup feature for whole devices, though just for iOS devices and sure sorts of files.

Con: Serious file type and size restrictions, is primarily meant to work with iOS/Mac OS X.

Microsoft SkyDrive

Pro: Largest free tier that can be upgradeable to 25GB looking on if you are using an old Windows Live/MSN account, only platform that works on Windows Phone to this point, second-lowest price per GB per thirty days.

Con: No Mac client in the event you will not have OS X Lion installed, mobile clients help you upload just one file or picture at a time.

Box

Pro: Cheapest paid tiers of all of the services (though Box charges by the year).

Con: No desktop sync without upgrading to a business license, file size limit tied with iCloud for smallest.

SugarSync

Pro: Among the few services preparing to present a Windows Phone app (not out yet), no file size limit.

Con: Only costlier service is Dropbox. Some may say the corporate is wasting its time supporting Windows Mobile.

SpiderOak

Pro: Takes privacy and security essentially the most seriously of each of the services, bar none; no file size limit.

Con: Requires install of desktop app to apply, default storage size is small, mobile apps haven’t been well-received.

OveraIl, Box earns the title of economical paid storage service, though its lowest paid tier is identical size as SkyDrive’s first free one, in case you are grandfathered into that free 25GB. Some of the services put the nice Dropbox to shame with regards to free storage and price, though Dropbox’s legacy have afforded it highly refined desktop and mobile apps for patrons to take advantage of. If you want a Linux client and many flexibility, SugarSync, SpiderOak, and Dropbox pop out on top; if you are a budding Windows Phone user, SkyDrive is the simplest service to be able to allow you to access your cloud-stored files.

If you’re a fan of any of those services, or among the services we omitted, and are enamored of certain features, tell us what they’re inside the comments.

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