Where is the biggest cloud? Security of storing files in the cloud. “Earning” additional space

Many users have heard about cloud storage, but could not choose one cloud storage service. And now there are already a large number of free cloud storages with large volumes. All of them offer similar functionality, but there are still differences.

In this article we will look at the best cloud storages of 2018. We will also try to help you decide which cloud storage is better. To do this, we will compare cloud storage systems in 2018 and analyze the main features and differences of each of them.

Google Drive

Free 15 GB of Drive available
Setting up public access and the ability to comment on documents
Integration with other Google services

Google Drive is perfect choice for owners of devices running operating Android systems, since it is integrated there. But use cloud Google storage All owners can drive account Google.

There is also support for all platforms and the ability to use storage directly in the browser, namely edit files directly from the cloud.

Price: 15 GB free. 100GB for $1.99 per month. 1 TB for $9.99 per month.

Cloud Mail

Free 8 GB available
Setting up sharing
Edit files directly from the browser
Supports all popular operating systems

Thanks to a promotion from Mail, in order to popularize the cloud, many users were able to take a gift of 1 TB of cloud space, which is enough for a lifetime. But generally speaking, over the years Cloud Mail offers its users less and less space.

If we talk about functionality, then everything is good here. Thanks to Microsoft services, it is now possible to edit documents directly from your browser. And support for multiple platforms makes Mail's cloud storage top of our list.

Price: 8 GB free. 1 TB for $12.3 per month.

Yandex Disk

Free 10 GB cloud storage available
Integration with Office Online with the ability to edit documents

Cloud storage Yandex Disk used to give 10 GB of space for free, and it still does. In this regard, everything is stable. An interesting feature is support for a large number of formats and integration with Office Online.

You can use Yandex Disk both in a browser and on any operating system by downloading official application. And also for mobile device users it is possible to use automatic download photos and videos to cloud storage.

Price: 10 GB free. 1 TB for 200 rub. per month.

Mega

Free 50 GB available
Simple user interface
Availability of applications for different operating systems and browser extensions

A truly generous offer and simple user interface makes Mega cloud storage a leader. There is a convenient mobile application that allows you to directly upload files and photos, as well as synchronize with the client on your computer.

Mege claims that all data is locally encrypted on your device before it reaches the cloud servers. The company also opened source your client so that experts can check for vulnerabilities.

Price: 50 GB free. 200 GB for € 4.99 per month.

One Drive

Free 5 GB available
Integration directly into Windows 10
Integration with Microsoft services

Cloud storage One Drive, formerly known as SkyDrive, is integrated into the Windows 10 operating system Explorer. This means that you do not need to download additional applications, and it can be used immediately after installing the Windows 10 operating system.

A plus is the availability of applications for all popular operating systems. To use the cloud, you just need to create an account Microsoft entry. Automatic cloud synchronization on the Windows 10 operating system means that you can already use the One Drive cloud without knowing it.

Price: 5 GB free. 50 GB for $1.99 per month.

Free 2 GB expandable available
Supports all popular operating systems
Ability to configure sharing
Ability to recover deleted data
Availability of an affiliate program

Cloud Dropbox storage offers a rather paltry amount of free space of 2 GB for free. Agree, this is quite small when compared with direct competitors. But you have the opportunity to increase the volume up to 16 GB for free by linking your Dropbox to social networks and inviting friends.

An interesting feature is support for all known operating systems. It is very popular in educational institutions and companies, because it is very convenient of its kind.

Price: 2 GB free. 1 TB for $10 per month with Dropbox Plus.

Which cloud storage is better?

Many users are interested in the question of which cloud storage is better. The answer is simple, it all depends on how to use cloud storage, namely for what purpose it is used.

If we talk about simple synchronization of photos from a mobile device, then the leaders here are Dropbox, Mail Cloud, Yandex.Disk, One Drive. If you need cloud data storage for study and work, then you should pay attention to Google Drive. It all really depends on your needs.

In order to help you decide on the choice of cloud storage in 2018, we will conduct small comparison cloud storage 2018.

Cloud storage comparison 2018

	Google Drive	Cloud Mail	Yandex Disk	Mega	One Drive
Memory	15 GB	8 GB	10 GB	50 GB	5 GB	2 GB
Add. extensions	+	—	—	—	—	—
Create documents in Office	+	+	+	—	+	—
Edit documents in Office	+	+	+	—	+	+

And it’s also worth mentioning Google’s distinctive cloud storage. Namely, that you have the opportunity to connect many different add-ons to your cloud, ranging from PDF converter and ending easy audio and photo editors, as well as the ability to program in a number of languages.

conclusions

In this article, we have collected for you the best cloud storage systems of 2018. We also tried to help you which cloud storage is better to choose by comparing cloud storages in 2018.

As a result of the comparison, there are two favorites, Mega - with its large volume and Google Drive - with the ability to connect different extensions. But if you caught a promotion from Mail, where everyone could get 1 TB of cloud space for free, then the Mail cloud most likely remains your favorite. And also if you use Samsung smartphones, which provide 50 GB of space in Dropbox cloud, then you don’t have to look for new clouds. The main choice, as always, remains yours.

Today, millions of users around the world trust the clouds with their information. In this article we will try to figure out which of the services has the right to claim the title of best:

Cloud data storage - what is it?

The operating principle of any “cloud” storage is approximately the following - on Personal Computer or a laptop, a client program for “cloud” storage is installed, the path to the folders located on the hard drive that are planned to be placed in this “cloud” is specified. The client program copies information from the specified folders to the storage, and subsequently monitors any changes in these folders and automatically makes adjustments to the “cloud” data storage.

If you decide to change a file stored in the “cloud”, the program will make changes to copies of the files on your computer. This approach allows you to have an up-to-date set of files on any of your devices ( smartphone, computer, tablet, etc..). The only condition required for uninterrupted operation of the storage with computer files is complete synchronization.

When you turn on your PC, you must also wait until the data synchronizes. Implementation speed this process largely depends on the speed of your Internet connection. If you turn off your device prematurely, cloud storage data synchronization may fail.

Advantages of storing information in the clouds

A “cloud” service is a kind of huge online flash drive on which data is stored and processed and to which you have access wherever you are, and from any device.

Benefits of free cloud data storage:

Data safety in case of failure of your PC, laptop, tablet, etc.;
Ability to send links to a file larger than 20 MB via social networks or email;
Sharing access to folders and files, the ability to collaborate with them online:

Dropbox cloud storage

Dropbox is one of the pioneers of cloud technologies. This service is secure and ideal for collaborating with documents and files. 2 GB of cloud space is provided for free. However, it is possible to increase the storage capacity up to 50 GB without spending a penny. It is enough to carefully monitor all kinds of promotions, take part in them and receive bonuses. For example, for each friend you refer you will get 512 MB, and for registering in the Carousel photo service - another 3 GB.

In addition, you can get additional gigabytes for installing Dropbox on your mobile device, sharing access with colleagues and friends, etc. The conditions for getting additional space in Dropbox change from time to time, so it makes sense to keep an eye on the announcements. You can quickly increase this figure to 1 TB for $99 per year.

You can work with cloud storage from Windows, Linux, Mac OS, iOS, Android, KindleFire and BlackBerry platforms. Dropbox provides secure backups, additional access control, and the ability to remotely wipe data ( in extended version).

Unlike competitors, when working with Dropbox, files are not completely copied to the server - only the modified part is transferred, and it is pre-compressed. It does Dropbox job very fast. In addition, a download history is kept, which allows you to restore data from the server after deletion. The “Pack-Rat” function is also available - an indefinite history of file changes.

Data encryption is carried out by using this cloud storage in conjunction with BoxCryptor, which reliably encrypts data before synchronization and ensures its complete confidentiality:

Cloud data storage Yandex.Disk

Yandex.Disk is another free cloud storage that comes with a photo editor and is closely integrated with social networks. The work of the “cloud” is based on data synchronization between devices. Initially, Yandex.Disk gives you 10 GB of space, forever.

IN paid versions the volume can increase to 1 TB for 9,000 rubles per year. You can get a bonus additional space if you bring a friend (up to +10GB) or take part in various promotions.

Yandex.Disk can be integrated into Microsoft Office 2013. Recently, a feature has appeared to automatically download photos and videos from external media and digital cameras. At the same time, the user receives +32 GB of additional space for a period of 6 months. To work with Yandex.Disk, a web interface and applications are available for Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, iOS and Windows Phone. At the same time, Yandex.Disk has something that others do not have - the ability to download photos from social networks: Odnoklassniki, Instagram and VKontakte:

Google Drive cloud storage

Google Drive is one of the most popular cloud services, which makes it possible not only to store data in the “cloud”, but also to share it with users. Essentially this Google Docs, transformed into a cloud service with increased disk space. Once activated, it replaces Google Docs.

In the “cloud” you can store documents, photos, videos, music and other files ( more than 30 species in total) users Google services. The presence of a convenient photo service with automatic uploading of photos from a smartphone or computer and a function for compressing images allows you to get unlimited space for storing them. It is worth noting that only files larger than 13 MB can be compressed.

Each registered user is provided with 15 GB of cloud space free of charge. Active Gmail users, Google+ , Youtube registration is not required. If necessary, you can increase the volume up to 30 TB. The monthly fee for 100 GB is $1.99, for 30 TB it is $299.99. Access to Google Drive is possible through Windows, Android, iOS, Mac OS platforms. Undeniable advantages Google Drive is tightly integrated with Google services. Chip of this service is that there are no restrictions on the size of the uploaded file:

The best cloud data storage with large capacity for free

1. Yunpan 360 - 36 TB

The undoubted leader in the list of cloud data storage is Chinese project Yunpan 360. The cloud provides as much as 36 TB (yes, yes, exactly a terabyte) of free space for storing personal data. The only drawback of the portal is the only interface language, of course, Chinese. Fortunately, Russian craftsmen have already developed step by step instructions and the method of Russification, you can find them on the website yunpan.ru.

The mechanism for obtaining 36 TB is as follows:

Register on the site and receive 10 TB after installing the client for Windows.
Adding 26 TB to your account after installing the client on Android.

If you cope with the difficulties of the Chinese language and make friends with the project's interface, you can get disk space that will last almost a lifetime. Well, if 36 TB is not enough for you, then there are two ways to expand this volume:

2. Mega - 50 GB

The name “Mega” is an acronym that stands for MEGA Encrypted Global Access. Developers pay great attention to security and the process of protecting information. This file storage service rightfully takes second place on our list. The company offers 50 GB of free space, which competing cloud storage services in our market segment cannot boast of. In addition, all files are encrypted using the AES algorithm right in the browser window. Those. Even the project administration cannot open the files you uploaded, because they are reliably protected by cryptographic transformation. Information access keys are not available in open form and are transmitted on a Friend-to-Friend basis, i.e. between users who trust each other.

3. [email protected]

This is the development of the domestic holding Mail.ru Group. Provides 25 GB of free disk space to store any files, but this requires register Mail.ru mail. The cloud for storing data and the mail service are mutually integrated, for example, a file from an incoming letter can be sent to cloud storage with one click. For mobile device users, the developers have provided automatic synchronization files shot on the gadget's camera. Once connected to a fast Internet connection, the smartphone automatically starts sending new files from the camera to the cloud. [email protected] is a fairly young project that appeared in 2013. It is possible that over time the functionality will increase significantly. Unfortunately, it is impossible to expand the amount of disk space for free, although there used to be promotions where they first gave 1 TB of space for registration, and then even 100 GB.

4. Hubic Data Warehouse

An online data storage service with a fairly generous affiliate program. The company provides 25 GB of free disk space after registration. Does it seem like this is not enough? The developers give 2.5 TB of additional space for 5 invited friends, and the friends themselves also receive 30 GB of consolation prizes each.

5. Google Drive

Probably the most famous cloud data storage, because... is one of the services of such a search giant as Google. The project is integrated with most Google services, such as Google Sheets ( table processor), Google Slides (presentations), Google Docs (text documents), Gmail (email). When creating, for example, text document V Google cloud, it is automatically saved to Google Drive. After activation, the company is ready to provide 15 GB of free space. Experience shows that this volume is quite sufficient for work purposes.

Excellent balance between quantity and quality, one of the best cloud storages with a large volume for free 2018. There is an application for both computers and mobile devices that synchronizes files automatically. To increase your space, you can take advantage of the promotion that Google company is held every year. The algorithm is simple: you go through a security check Google account and get additional gigabytes for free.

6. 4shared

The file storage service, which ranks 82nd on the list of the most popular Internet resources according to Alexa, processes more than 300 TB of traffic every day. After registration, 10 GB of disk space becomes available, you can add another 5 GB if you confirm your email address. Unfortunately, there are no other ways to expand the volume of cloud data storage. For free accounts, there is a limitation on the storage period of files - 180 days from the time of the last interaction with the account. The user interface resembles that of Windows Explorer.

7. Yandex.Disk

Another domestic project, which is a cloud data storage with a large volume for free 2018. As in Google Drive and [email protected], here mail and storage are mutually connected. Yandex makes it possible to use cloud drive 10 GB in size. It is possible to expand it by 10 GB if you bring 20 friends, for each of them they give 512 MB. And if you took part in a partner’s promotion, you will be rewarded with another 50 GB. The conditions for these events change regularly, so you need to constantly monitor the project news.

8. MediaFire

Cloud service for storing files, functionality similar to 4shared or dropbox. First of all, it was created for storing and sharing media files (videos, images or music). 10 GB of free space is available for free, and also with advertising. The Windows client has certain problems in use, for example, you cannot share a file on your computer. Therefore, it is recommended to use the application on a mobile device, and on a computer to use the interface on the project website.

9. Cubby

Cloud data storage, which allows you to use 5 GB of free space upon completion of registration. Cubby is a development from LogMeIn, which creates and supports networking products for businesses, so there is no doubt about the reliability and stability of this solution. Previously, registration was impossible without an invitation, but now every Internet user can access the service. If desired, disk space can be increased to 25 GB if you take part in the referral program.

Conclusion

Choose cloud storage with a large volume, which is provided free of charge in 2018, depending on the type of tasks solved using the cloud and specific requirements for the service. There's no point in learning Chinese for the sake of 36 TB of free space if you only have 7 GB important information. And using cryptography to protect the privacy of a photo of your favorite cat makes very little sense.

Do you do video shooting or do you do it all the time? make backups? Then be sure to pay attention to Yunpan 360. You busy man and you need to have all the documents at hand, and each of your devices needs to have up-to-date information?

Google Drive, together with integrated office services, will do this job perfectly. Are you afraid for the safety and confidentiality of your data? Take a look at Mega, which uses cryptographic AES algorithm. Well, if you are an ordinary Internet user who sometimes takes photos on your phone and is looking for a place to store files in the cloud, then [email protected] will more than cover your needs.

Cloud file storage technologies are today considered a must-have tool for a modern Internet user. Each of them has an account on one of the cloud drives: Google Drive, Yandex.Disk or Mail.ru. Most have at least two of these services. In this article we will look at the main network services storing files, ways to increase disk space on them, we will provide tips on their effective and safe use.

What is cloud storage

Local disks and memory cards are physically connected to our computer or tablet by wires. Network drives are physically located in special server centers, where stable power supply and comfortable operation are ensured temperature regime. Contact them local computer supports via the Internet. When you log in via browser or mobile client application to your cloud drive, the system shows a list of files located on the server. When a user transfers a file from the local My Documents folder to Cloud storage, the document is physically copied via the Internet and ends up on the server.

Therefore, even after the physical destruction of the phone or computer, the files will remain safe and sound.

They can be viewed via a web browser on any computer or tablet.

To assess the popularity of disk storage, it is enough to cite one statistical fact. As of 2014, the most popular cloud was Google Drive. The storage works by default on all Android devices, except Chinese ones, where access to Google is limited. Its users were 240 million people.

What can you use Cloud Drive for?

The main tasks solved by users using network storage:

Developers are constantly improving the security system of their services. The standard today is to store user files in encrypted form. Without a special key, this is a useless set of bytes.

Login to the Cloud Storage can be protected with two-factor authorization: specifying a password and confirming login using your phone. But for most users, one password is enough.

When compiling this rating, the company's experts took into account technological solutions to ensure the security of user data and the presence of failures in the service in the past. Considering that all storage facilities presented in the diagram have been operating for more than 5 years, the history of failure statistics is comparable.

1. Recognized as the safest OneDrive. Experts listed the benefits of the service as innovative security system , when the keys to encrypted files and the data themselves are stored on separate servers. By gaining access to only one of these arrays, an attacker will not be able to benefit. Let us remind you that OneDrive is aimed at the corporate market and is the default drive when subscribing to Office365. Subscribers are allocated up to 100 GB at once, while free users they get only 6 GB.
2. Ranked second in safety iCloud Drive. This cloud serves users of the Apple ecosystem: iPhone, MacBook and other proprietary solutions of the corporation. Data encryption is performed here both during storage and during transmission. Overall the storage is reliable and comparable to OneDrive in terms of security, but it earned a negative point for a failure in 2014. Many users were involved in this scandal. Gone online private photos stars stored on their iPhone. If you use Apple technology, then you can’t do without a proprietary cloud. Data backups are performed on it and system settings phone and laptop. With its help they are restored deleted photos and documents.
3. Third place awarded Google Drive. Reason - insufficient level of security when storing files . When transmitting data to the server and to the client device, the traffic is encrypted. Experts added two-factor authentication with password confirmation via SMS to the phone number specified during registration as an advantage of the cloud. Experts note that in business accounts designed for corporations, Google Drive provides increased level security comparable to OneDrive. Regular users are recommended to encrypt confidential data themselves. For example, archive them with a password.
4. Russian takes fourth place Yandex.Disk. Experts noted that the security benefits of this cloud include a wide range of authorization methods, including TouchID, PIN code and QR code. An important advantage for ordinary users is checking files for viruses . The transmission channel of the Yandex storage is encrypted, like its competitors. The only serious failure is considered to be an error in the service’s client program for Windows, made by the company’s programmers in 2013. Users did not lose out. They were allocated 200 GB of disk space for unlimited free use as compensation.
5. Fifth place for an old-timer of the market - DropBox. Its security disadvantage is no client side encryption . In theory, this allows an attacker to intercept data as it is transmitted from the local device to the server. In 2011, there was a serious glitch in the DropBox service. It lasted only 4 hours. During this period of time, it was possible to access the entire storage, and not just the data area of a specific user. But we note that in 2011 there were simply no other competitors from the rating. DropBox was a pioneer in network-attached storage and had room for mistakes.

How to get more free cloud storage space

All cloud storage services are commercial. Their main task is to earn the money required to cover the costs of supporting the development team and development server infrastructure. Therefore, users are provided with a limited amount of free space. To get additional free place To store photos and documents, you will need to fulfill certain conditions of the service or participate in promotions.

For example. Yandex.Disk offers 32 gigabytes free space. auto-uploading photos on a mobile device.

Other cloud services also offer space expansion options for free:

For inviting friends.
For installing a cloud drive mobile application or program on a computer.
Students and teachers for providing a photograph of a student card or university pass. Yandex.Disk provides an additional 32 free gigabytes for this promotion.

Also, cloud file storage services provide free space under an affiliate scheme. For example, when purchasing laptops or tablets of a certain brand.

A universal way to multiply your cloud storage space for free is to create multiple accounts.

How to install a cloud drive on your computer

Three network storages are most suitable for a computer:

Google Drive. He is chosen active users GMail services and a powerful online document and spreadsheet editor - Google Docs.
Yandex.Disk. A good choice when you don't need to use Google services. This is a reliable Russian cloud drive, for which you can easily get up to 42 GB or more free space by enabling auto-upload of photos on your mobile device.
OneDrive. Users of computers and laptops with operating Windows system 10 get support for this network drive“to the load.” In the presence of Windows account, 5 GB of space is allocated on OneDrive. In the This PC shortcut, a folder of the same name is created, synchronized with the cloud.

Installing the program on your computer will only be required for the first two services. OneDrive support is implemented at the system level. Here are step-by-step instructions for installing the application using Yandex.Disk as an example.

Every modern smartphone comes with support for at least one cloud storage out of the box.

Apple phones come with iCloud support for backing up settings, system files and photo synchronization. Additionally, you can connect the Yandex storage using the download and install from official store Apple apps programs.
Samsung phones include support for two clouds at once: proprietary Samsung Cloud and Google Drive. Owners of smartphones of this brand have a Google account, like Android users and a Samsung account for the manufacturer’s branded services.
Xiaomi phones out of the box support communication with own cloud Xiaomi MiCloud. Everything works similarly to the iPhone: backups are made to storage on the network and photos from the camera are sent.
Windows Phone smartphones come with OneDrive access enabled. If you have an Office365 subscription, your available storage will increase by 100 GB.
Android smartphones from other manufacturers support one cloud storage - Google Drive.

You can purchase additional space by fulfilling the requirements of service promotions or by purchasing it with money.

Please note that Android smartphones support Google Drive, but to work with Google Docs and Sheets you will need to install separate mobile applications. There is also a client program from Google Drive for easy navigation through network storage. The latter is most often preinstalled on the phone.

If the capabilities of the pre-installed network storage are not enough for you, install a third-party one. The most popular: Yandex.Disk, DropBox, Mail.ru.

We'll show you how to install an application for them using Yandex Drive as an example.

Come up with complex password. Your private photos and videos are more likely to be leaked online if you have come up with a simple password. Complex can be generated using special program or come up with your own to the following algorithm: !-!123HELLO-WoRlD123!-!. This combination is easy to remember, but is a very difficult password to crack.

Encrypt sensitive data before uploading it to the network. It is dangerous to store passwords and account keys in clear text. If you don't have a dedicated encryption program, archive sensitive files with a password before sending them online.

Use double authorization. A number of network storages support dual authentication. You need to enter a password and confirm the entry by sending a code from an SMS sent by the service. This procedure seems less convenient, but provides greater data protection.

History of cloud file storage technologies

The phrase “cloud technologies” was first used in 1997. The new global global network required a new computing paradigm. Professor Ramnath Chellup from the University of Texas has proposed a transition to cloud computing, as an alternative to increasing local computing power.

Real developments in terms of sharing resources on the network date back to 2000. We owe the commercial launch of the service on the new cloud scheme to Amazon. This happened in 2002.

Google has become a pioneer in the implementation and development of cloud applications running through a browser. New technology started on the market in 2009.

The idea of creating cloud storage on the Internet is described by its inventor Drew Houston as follows. The guy was sitting on a bus traveling from Boston to New York, with a laptop, but without a flash drive, left at home. To overcome the problem, he began to think about accessing files wirelessly and came up with an application that would implement this idea. The first DropBox code was written, according to this version of events, right on the bus.

According to the founder of DropBox, the project at the startup stage wanted to acquire Steve Jobs, but was refused. Today the company is worth approximately US$4 billion.

All subsequent network storage: iCloud, Google and Yandex appeared much later. Their main promotion paradigm is that the service is conditionally free. The user receives part of the gigabytes immediately, free of charge and unconditionally. The rest must be purchased by subscription.

Modern cloud drives have become not only a place to store information, but also offer a number of technological solutions for collaborating on files for people living in different parts of the world. Below are the most popular problems solved with their help.

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In this article we will talk about the best cloud storage systems of 2017 that will allow you to store your information remotely, conveniently and securely.

For some computer owners, finding enough space to store all the data they have purchased is a real challenge. Some people invest in larger hard disks. Others prefer external storage devices such as flash drives or CDs. Desperate computer owners may delete entire folders of old files to free up space for new information. But some choose to rely on the growing trend - cloud storage.

Although cloud storage sounds like it is related to weather fronts and storm systems, it really refers to storing data in third party system storage maintained by a third party. Instead of storing information on your computer's hard drive or other local storage device, you store it in a remote database. The Internet provides communication between your computer and the database.

What is the difference between cloud storage and hard drive?

Cloud storage has a number of advantages over traditional data storage. For example, if you store data in a cloud storage system, you can retrieve that data from anywhere you have internet access. You don't need to carry a physical storage device with you or use the same computer to save and retrieve your information. At correct system storage you could even allow other people to access the data.

So, cloud storage is convenient and offers great flexibility, but how do you choose it?

The best cloud storage services of 2017

Dropbox – cross-platform and convenient

– one of the only services that offers clients work on Linux and Blackberry, along with regular operating systems such as Windows, Mac OS X, Android, iOS and Windows Phone.

The latest update adds the ability to sign PDFs directly from Dropbox, as well as some iOS-specific features such as sharing files in iMessage and watch videos from Dropbox while working in another app on your iPad.

The free account comes with a measly 2GB. This is a lot for documents, but if you want to store any media files, then you will need more space. You can upgrade to the 1TB plan for RUB 600 per month, but Dropbox offers 500 MB of additional free space for each friend you invite to the Dropbox service. But for free account There is a volume limit of 16 GB.

You can get another 1 GB by setting up an account mailbox, and you'll get 250 MB to learn the basics of Dropbox. If you enable the camera upload feature, you will get 3GB and automatically back up your smartphone and tablet photos to the cloud. We've seen situations where users received 50 GB of storage on Dropbox for two years.

Dropbox works on the same principle as other cloud storage services. It creates a specially designated folder on your disk, which is then synchronized with the service. Therefore, if you want to upload any file to a cloud storage service, you just need to transfer it. But on smartphones and PDA devices, this procedure is slightly different: you can select files for offline access on your tablet or smartphone (by default they are all in offline mode), and the offline editing is some of the best we've seen.

Folders and files can also be shared with other users, but you cannot set permissions for a Basic account, so your files can be edited and deleted not only by you, but also by other users of this service. The basic account isn't a complete disaster, though, since Dropbox backs up any changes to files for 30 days.

If you pay 600 rubles per month, you will automatically receive a Dropbox Pro account, which will allow you to manage files and rights to them.

Verdict on Dropbox – Should I use it or not?

Dropbox is the best service of its kind and has many competitors. But nevertheless, he is the only one who takes first place in terms of convenience, comfort and cross-platform functionality, which is very important and necessary today.

Microsoft OneDrive is convenient, accessible and native for Windows users

From Microsoft is a cloud storage service for Windows users as it is built into Windows 10. However, the basic account only offers 5GB free storage. This is enough for some people, but 15GB was previously available. Of course, there are paid plans that offer 50 GB of memory for only 150 rubles per month. And if you pay Office application 365 Personal for 4,200 rubles per year, you will automatically receive 1 TB of space.

OneDrive uses Microsoft's modern user interface design. Folders and files can be created on the Internet, including in Office formats and OneNote, thanks to limited integration into Office Online. Selective Sync was introduced with Windows 10, meaning you don't have to have all your OneDrive files taking up space on every laptop and PC.

There is also a feature that allows you to remotely access files on another computer through the OneDrive website. It should be noted that Microsoft reserves the right to inspect your files for anything it deems inappropriate. These may be copyrighted materials or items of an explicit nature.

Verdict on Microsoft OneDrive – To use or not?

If you Windows user, it makes sense to sign up for a free 5 GB account, and if you are willing to spend a little, at least 150 rubles per month for 50 GB, then this service is for you.

Google Drive is a great storage service from Google

Just as OneDrive connects to Microsoft products and iCloud connects to Apple, Google Drive is at the heart of the various online services that Google offers. You definitely should try it!

You get 15GB of free storage when you create a Google account - or link to an existing one. In fact, you already have a Google account if you use Gmail, Google Calendar, or even YouTube.

Storage space is shared between all of these services, so if you have large email attachments, they'll count at 15GB, and turning on automatic photo backup to Google+ from your smartphone will be the same.

Google used restrictions that you can upload photos no larger than 2048x2048 pixels, and videos no more than fifteen minutes long.

Google Drive works the same way as most information storage services, but local folder on your computer linked to the duplicated cloud version. Version control is supported as well collaboration in real time over documents using Google apps Docs. Clients are available on PC and Mac, with mobile versions for Android and iOS.

Overall, the app's interface is quite smart and easy to navigate. You can select files that will be available offline in mobile versions, and can be edited if they were created in Google Docs, and then synced when returned to the web. For other formats (for example, Word) you need to open them in another application - this creates a duplicate.

Data stored on Google Drive, like Apple's, is encrypted in 128-bit AES rather than the 256-bit used by Box, OneDrive and Dropbox. Google says it won't search the contents of your information folder unless forced to law enforcement agencies, and you can set up two-step verification on your account to add another layer of security.

Verdict on Google Drive – To use or not?

If you live in the Google universe, then this is a really great option for storing your information.

Mega – New Zealand storage service

Mega is a New Zealand company created in 2013 by German-born entrepreneur Kim Dotcom, who is no longer related to it

Unlike some of its competitors, this service provides encryption in every part of the process. This way, everything you send to the cloud is encrypted locally, along the route, and at the destination server.

Mega itself has no way to access your information since you hold the encryption key. The result of all this is that everything you store on Mega can only be opened by you. For this, there are local clients for Windows, OS X and Linux, and there are also plugins for Chrome browser and Firefox. Applications are available for all modern operating systems.

Standard free package provides a whopping 50GB of space. If this is not enough, you can purchase 500 GB for 6,000 rubles per year, 2 TB (12,000 rubles per year) or 4 TB (18,000 rubles per year) and increase throughput with every package so you can share files with friends and colleagues.

Verdict on Mega – To use or not?

With a generous free account, fast service, cross-platform appeal, and reliable service experience. Mega is very good choice for most people who are looking for a service to store their information online.

PCloud – get 10 GB for registration

Opening a new pCloud account will give you 10GB of free storage (double the OneDrive and five basic Dropbox offerings). The capacity can be increased up to 20 GB by performing various actions, such as recommending friends (1 GB per person), completing tutorial(3GB) and various social media links, but the real temptation is the very reasonable prices for larger storage options. For example, 500 GB will cost you about 200 rubles per month, while 2 TB (Premium Plus plan) can be purchased for 400 rubles per month. Among other things, there are clients available for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android, and you can also access your account through the website. Recently a convenient feature appeared on the iPhone automatic deletion, which deletes photos from your phone after they've been copied to the cloud.

There are import options that can automatically transfer files from other cloud services, including Dropbox and Google Drive, which is handy when switching from one or just for an extra backup of important files.

As with all online storage, you can share your content with friends or colleagues by sending links or allowing access to folders and documents. They also provide permissions so you can determine whether someone can edit or just view the file. One of good options information exchange is the download link.

One of the most specialized features of pCloud is the folder Crypto Folder, in which you can place files that you want to protect from prying eyes, be it hackers or certain government agencies. The contents of this folder are encrypted locally on your device, and even pCloud employees will not be able to read it without your key.

Verdict on PCloud – To use or not?

PCloud plays well with other cloud storage services, is easy to use and offers plenty of free storage space, as well as very competitive rates for large capacities. The Crypto folders option for security is also a nice feature, especially since it doesn't require encrypting the entire drive. Therefore, you should try this service.

Well, today we looked at the most best services cloud storage for 2017. So now you need to make your choice.