Comparison of the best free services for backing up files in the clouds

Last updated on 3 August 2024

Where to save your files online for free? Which service should you turn to when you want to make a security copy of files on a computer or hard drive?

The last article devoted to the online backup on TICE Tools goes back about three years. There are no major changes the main operators have not changed and offer a reassuring longevity. This is one of the selection criteria when you decide to entrust all or part of your files to a cloud server.

What tips for free backup of your files

The advice I gave at the time has not changed either. The first of these is to be very careful. The counter-part of the free of charge offered by its various services is the total absence of liability in the event of a glitch. Do not store files that are too important or valuable. In any case, remember to make a copy of each important file locally, either on your computer or on a dedicated hard drive. Another pitfall is the confidentiality of the saved data. Most big companies in this industry are quite intrusive and disrespectful of privacy.

Nevertheless, the various operators offer high-quality, fast and reliable services. They also offer interesting additional services such as editing a text or spreadsheet directly online, watching a video or sound file without having to download them or sharing with one or more people easily.

What services can be used free of charge and how many files can be stored there? How much does the extra disk space cost? What additional options do these different cloud storage services offer? Detailed review.

10 services to back up your files in the clouds for free.

Google Drive. Google's power in the cloud

It is difficult to ignore the service offered by Google. Today almost everyone has their own Google account to use Gmail, YouTube or … Google Drive one of their most used services. As soon as you create a Google account, you have 15 GB of free storage space. Google Drive is very accessible and offers perfect synchronization with full compatibility with any Office file. Another highlight is quality mobile versions. 15 GB free, 100 GB for 1.99 €/month.
Link: Google Drive

One Drive. The other major unavoidable operator

Another must-have giant. Everyone knows about Microsoft's cloud storage service and it's pre-installed on Windows 10. One Drive offers a completely free 5GB space for system users or those with a Microsoft account. 5 GB free
7 €/month for 1 TB with Office 365.
Link: One Drive

DropBox. The seriousness of a solution built for the company

Great service and high quality. Dropbox is compatible with all types of formats and is fast as lightning. It has no file size limit. Dropbox offers a range of functions for working directly in the clouds and particularly comprehensive file sharing options. A must. Space in Drobox, 2 GB free, 2 TB for €9.99/month.
Link: Dropbox

Box. A Dropbox like of quality, but expensive.

Box is one of the most expensive options in this comparison. If the service offers features and a fairly similar spirit with Dropbox, the prices are somewhat prohibitive. The free version allows you to store 2 GB of files.
Link: Box

Amazon Drive. Probably the most reliable cloud infrastructure

Amazon Cloud is not only the champion of e-commerce, it is also and above all a historical and respected player in cloud infrastructures. Its Drive offer is particularly serious and reliable. The interface of Amazon Drive is really simple, very simple. Clear and clean, it feels good. Good point also for the mobile application without any real flaws. If you are a Prime customer, photo storage is unlimited and free. For prices, count around €20 per 100 GB per year. 99 € for 1 TB.
Link: Amazon Drive

Mega. The most generous free offer to forget a somewhat chaotic story

Mega's from far away. The service had a somewhat sulphurous past and a boss who paid for the chronicle. All this is a long way off now. Currently the Mega online storage service is solid. It has the advantage of offering the most generous free offer on this list. No less than 50 GB free.
Link: Mega

iCloud. Ideal on paper if you are equipped with Mac

If you are equipped with Apple hardware, the integrated service offered by Apple is an excellent option even if the quality of service is not always unanimous. By default and completely free, if you own an Apple device you have 5 GB of space to store what you want. 200 GB for €2.99 per month, 2 TB for €9.99
Link: iCloud

Sync. Less known, but with real qualities

Sync is less well known than its competitors and this is quite unfair. Like other cloud storage services, Sync offers 5GB of free storage. To do this, simply go to the service website and register to create an account. Sync can be a good alternative. The service emphasizes its respect for the privacy of its users. Among the interesting options is a function that allows to recover files deleted inadvertently. 200 GB for around 50 euros per year.
Link: Sync

Mediafire. Inexpensive with some original options

Mediafire is a veteran of online file storage. The know-how of the experience is felt. The interface is modern and ergonomic with small onions. He shares the top of the podium with Mega for the amount of free space offered to new users. 10 GB free of charge, which can be up to 50 GB if you share on your social networks. Allow around EUR 50 per year to benefit from 1 TB of available space.
Link: Mediafire

and on the side of the free?

Few hexagonal free alternatives to meet this need to save files in the cloud. Framacloud displays complete and no longer takes new users. You can still take a look at Kittens. Kittens is the Collective of Alternative, Transparent, Open, Neutral and Solidarity Hosts. A whole program.It brings together structures wishing to avoid the collection and centralization of personal data. Alternatives to GAFAM.
Link: Kittens