Cloud data storage. How to create a cloud for storing files. Which cloud storage should you choose? What is cloud storage

Cloud storage remains an established type of service in our lives. They experienced rapid growth, experienced market oversaturation, when new “clouds” opened almost every week, and experienced a recession when these same “clouds” began to close one by one. And now we are faced with simply a type of service that has become established and has become commonplace, has stood the test of time, taking into account the features and speed of the modern industry.

There are quite a lot of cloud storages. Each has its own characteristics and its own audience. Some people choose only one “cloud”, others use several at once. We have chosen the ten most interesting of them. One of the criteria for this top is a free plan with free cloud space so that every user can try it out for themselves. No trial, just a free plan with free space.

10. pCloud

Quite an interesting and rapidly developing cloud. The cloud blog is updated almost every week, and it is clear that the developers are actively working on it. They give you 10 GB for free, but only after a few simple steps. You can get a few more GB. There is a referral system that will also allow you to increase your free space. It is also interesting that pCloud, in addition to monthly and annual subscription fee for advanced features, it also has a one-time purchase tariff, you just pay a certain amount and increase the volume of your cloud, forever, it’s hard to remember which cloud still does this.

9. MEGA

Encrypted storage from Kim Dotcom. There were rumors that the cloud was taken away from him, about other unpleasant vicissitudes in the management of MEGA, but this does not prevent the cloud storage from developing and existing. The cloud is built on a fairly high level of encryption; to make working with the web version more comfortable, it is better to install a special browser extension to make the decoding process much faster. There are applications for all popular operating systems. The main thing that attracts many is that MEGA gives 50 GB on the free plan. This volume was at the start, and it remains so to this day.

8.MediaFire

One of the oldest services in this top, it works well, but is developing quite slowly. There is no version for computers, so you have to use the web version, but the mobile apps are fine.

MediaFire started as a file hosting service, but in time it realized the decline of such services and repurposed itself into cloud storage. Old users and those who managed to get caught up in the promotion have 50 GB of free space, while others are given 10 GB, but sometimes it becomes possible to increase the amount of available space for free.

7.Box

Another time-tested cloud storage. Box was originally focused on business and this has allowed it to survive to this day and have a loyal user base. They give 10 GB for free, and sometimes there are promotions to get 50 GB of free space. But the free plan has many limitations. All these restrictions will be removed if you upgrade to a subscription.

6. Cloud Mail.Ru

Mail.Ru Cloud launched with 100 GB of free space, then there was a promotion where you could get 1 TB for free, then the volume was significantly reduced, and new accounts are given a meager amount of space. The cloud has a built-in audio player, integration with Office Online and continues to receive new features and support for new formats, but instability with free volume does not allow it to rise higher in the ranking.

5. Yandex.Disk

Surprisingly stable, in terms of volume, cloud storage from Yandex. At launch they gave 10 GB of free storage. Several years have passed, and 10 GB remains, but there are constant promotions when you can either temporarily get free volume or increase your cloud on an ongoing basis. Let's add support here large number formats, integration with Office Online and continuous development of applications.

At the end of 2017, Disk also spun off. Everything you upload to Yandex.Disk from your phone will not be taken into account when calculating the total volume. Apparently this is not a promotion, since no deadlines are given. There are also no size restrictions, which makes this opportunity even better than Google Photos.

4.iCloud

If you love Apple technology, then you have definitely come across this cloud storage. Many applications work through it, backup and synchronization occur. You can also use iCloud as your usual cloud storage. Let's add here a screwed-on office suite from Apple, an application for Windows, and we'll get a good cloud storage with a loyal fan base.

But if you don't use Apple products, it's more for you the best option Any other cloud storage in this top will become, since it will give you more options.

3. Dropbox

It is Dropbox that is considered the service that started the “explosive” growth of cloud storage. Dropbox was one of the first to popularize this type services, and although now he doesn’t have better times, the service continues to develop and gain new opportunities. Dropbox only gives you 2 GB for free. Promotions increasing the free volume have not been carried out for a long time, and the restrictions of the free tariff do not allow using the cloud to the fullest. Unfortunately, Dropbox is no longer the ideal cloud storage solution.

2.OneDrive

Cloud storage from Microsoft. There is tight integration with the Office Online office suite, which is also integrated into other cloud storage services, with the consent of Microsoft. By default, it is integrated into Windows 8.1 and Windows 10. The format support is also quite extensive. Working in this cloud, many users can safely abandon the full package Microsoft Office or Microsoft Office 365, which provide only advanced capabilities for more professional tasks.

When purchasing a subscription to Microsoft Office 365, you are also given 1 TB of OneDrive space as a bonus. So many people simply do not expand the cloud volume on a paid basis, but simply purchase a subscription to Office, and at the same time increase the cloud space.

1. Google Drive

Google cloud storage has the most more quantity supported file formats, which can be expanded using additional extensions for the cloud. Small office documents, as well as photographs and videos with a small extension, are not taken into account when calculating the available space in the cloud. And this space is 15 GB.

Cloud integrated with cloud office suite Google Docs, which has a simple and user-friendly interface, which is why it is preferred by many for use as the main office suite. Relatively recent applications Google Drive and Google Photos were combined into one application, called Google Backup and Sync. There were rumors about an application for Linux, but so far many continue to use unofficial clients and this is almost the only serious drawback of the leader of the current top.

Today, cloud storage with large amounts of data occupy an important niche in security necessary information and many of them are completely free.

Hello my dear readers and blog guests. Today, many Internet users practice cloud data storage. All important information can be saved in the cloud, which avoids file loss, for example, if damaged hard drive. And if you need to use data far from your computer, then you just need to find a device with Internet access and use the cloud web interface, which eliminates the need to carry a flash drive with you.

Majority modern smartphones supports automatic uploading of captured photos and videos directly to the cloud as soon as a connection is established Wi-Fi network. This eliminates the need to establish a connection between each gadget and the computer when USB help, because there is disk space that is the same for all your devices. If necessary, you can configure synchronization of other files other than the media format.

On this moment Any Internet user has access to about a dozen large-capacity cloud data storage facilities for free 2020. Thanks to such diversity, everyone can find a cloud that suits their needs. Let's consider free cloud data storage services.

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 the Chinese project Yunpan 360. The cloud provides as much as 36 TB (yes, yes, exactly terabyte) free space to post 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 of files captured 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 in 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 in automatic mode. To increase space, you can take advantage of the promotion that Google holds every year. The algorithm is simple: you pass the Google account security check and receive 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 2020. As in Google Drive and [email protected], here mail and storage are mutually connected. Yandex makes it possible to use a cloud disk of 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 2019, depending on the type of tasks solved using the cloud and specific requirements for the service. There is no point in learning the intricacies of the Chinese language 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. Are you a busy person and you need to have all the documents at hand, and each of your devices needs to have up-to-date information?

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

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. The speed of 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, providing public access 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. This makes Dropbox 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 it's Google Docs transformed into 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 of Google services. Availability of a convenient photo service with automatic download photos from a smartphone or computer and the image compression function 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 users of Gmail, Google+, Youtube do not need registration. 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. The undeniable advantages of Google Drive is its close integration with Google services. The great thing about this service is that there are no restrictions on the size of the downloaded file:

Rating of the best free cloud storages

In order not to get lost in searching for good sites for saving files, I have provided a list of the most popular free cloud storages.

I would like to note that these Internet storage sites are extremely popular among most users. And for blogging and further monetization of personal platforms, this is a good bonus in the deck of necessary platforms. So, meet the 9 best cloud data storage services.

1. Cloud Mail ru

Cloud Mail ru (http://cloud.mail.ru) - complete trust, as well as the maximum volume of disk array (100 gigabytes for data storage).

This service is the undisputed leader in the family of cloud storage services on a free basis.

Wherever you are, there is always the opportunity to take advantage necessary file, using a laptop or personal mobile device as a working tool.

The Mail ru cloud is designed for any platform, be it Windows, Linux 64-32 bit, MacOS, Android.

You can study this service more clearly and get the full amount of necessary information at http://help.mail.ru/cloud_web.

By the way, just recently this service announced a new opportunity for developing shared folders with other users. You can mutually drop the necessary information into the created folders.

How this method will it be useful for you? This is a potentially convenient option to successfully complete an archive with photos from memorable events.

Your cooperation will provide an opportunity to collect your favorite photographs in a common folder and carry out group work on the development and completion of documents.

Any interesting moments from the life of common parties can be sent to the archive of a common folder. This is a good opportunity for students to complete various manuals and notes.

In other words, this option is quite convenient and efficient.

Mega

2. Cloud data storageMega

Mega cloud data storage, with the ability to use 50 GB for personal needs. Having managed to invite one of your visitors to the service, you will receive additional gigabytes.

As they say, there is a good opportunity to get additional free memory thanks to advertising of this service.

All your files are encrypted on your personal computer, and Mega has no way to view the backed up data set. Web address https://mega.co.nz.

So, you have 50 GB in reserve and attract interested users to Mega to increase the disk array. Believe me, an excellent service for most bloggers.

MediaFire

3. File storageMediaFire

MediaFire File Storage (https://www.mediafire.com). 10 GB of personal space. You get 8 GB of load for announcing the service in in social networks or from invited clients.

SkyDrive

4. Online data storageSkyDrive

Online data storage SkyDrive is designed for Windows platform 8.

The idea to create this service belongs to Microsoft, which makes it possible not to worry about the lack of interaction with this operating system and installed programs developed for this platform.

With a license for Windows 8-8.1, the SkyDrive service gives you 25 GB of personal storage. Without a licensed program, the client has a smaller memory size - 7 gigabytes.

Copy

5. Network storageCopy

Network storage Copy (https://www.copy.com), with the ability to accept 15 GB for personal needs. The cloud interface includes a full set of necessary functions, which allows you not to get lost when visiting this service for the first time.

Copy cloud storage works with all platforms and also gives you the ability to encrypt your files.

The referral program allows you to increase your personal reserve with an additional 5 gigabytes of disk space.

4Sync

6. 4Sync cloud storage

Cloud storage 4Sync (http://ru.4sync.com/) is a cloud service quite convenient in its parameters and well-known among Runet users. Online storage is designed for most platforms. Working with 4Sync, you get 15 GB of free space. The rest of the reserve is purchased for money.

Google Disk

7.Google Disk

Google Drive (https://www.google.com) is directly linked to by Google, where online services (Gmail, Docs) are directly integrated with the named storage. The resulting size for a block of various materials is 15 GB.

You can download Google Drive to various mobile devices. This will give you the opportunity to work from any place you choose. But there are a number of disadvantages of this repository files.

By putting personal documents in a folder, you lose standard protection, which once again calls into question the storage of private information. If blogosphere your strong point, then without a doubt you have Mailbox on Google.

In this case, mail, Google documents, images will automatically take up space on Google service disk. That is why 15 GB is a fairly relative size for this “cloud”.

True, having created new account on Google without postal services and other additional services, you can maintain the original storage size.

Yandex Disk

8. Yandex Disk

Yandex Disk is a domestic cloud network storage located at https://disk.yandex.ru.

Exactly given storage files on the Internet is especially popular among the majority of Russian users on the Internet.

The Yandex company constantly refreshes the mechanism of the personal system, developing new platforms, analyzing and sorting according to various criteria a fairly large number of virtual platforms (blogs, websites, online stores, etc.).

That is why in the next article after this I will dwell in more detail on the functionality of Yandex Disk file storage.

Namely, I will consider how to use this “cloud” for personal needs, and in the process of blogging. And we’ll tell you how to save a set of necessary files on Yandex Disk.

Don’t forget, in order not to miss a post about Yandex Disk, click on the blog news site.

Dropbox

9. Dropbox

Dropbox is a universal file storage with a wide range of applications, where it is possible to synchronize data both on a group of computers and on mobile devices.

The interface of this service will be understandable to any novice user. www dropbox com is a cloud storage address with a rather unobtrusive and pleasant design.

After registering on the cloud storage website, you need to install the dropbox program by going to .

The created folder with the set various information will be synchronized between the Dropbox storage and any computer put into operation.

Thanks to the wi-fi connection, it is possible to use email, working from any portable devices. The only problem is small size proposed space for storing files on the Internet.

2 GB of free personal storage. The remaining size can be purchased for money or increased through a referral program.

9 Best Cloud Data Storages – Conclusion

The clear line of other cloud data storages is blurred due to the small amount of workspace. The greatest preference is given to those listed above free services. Now you know the 9 best cloud data storage services.

Use them and feel the convenience in your daily work. If the information was useful to you, then please click on the social network buttons below, and let your friends also know about the 9 best cloud data storages.

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Even those who have never specifically tried to acquire cloud storage most likely have several gigabytes on different servers. For example, owners of smartphones with Android OS (as well as Gmail users) have 15 GB of Google Drive by default. Windows 8, 8.1, and 10 PC owners have at least 5GB of OneDrive storage. Users of Mail.ru mail (8 GB) or Yandex.Mail (10 GB) also have gigabytes of cloud memory. And since the average user has accounts in almost all of these services, without much effort such a user has access to over 30 GB of free cloud memory. If desired, this volume can easily be doubled or tripled, and also completely free, by creating additional accounts in the same services or registering in other similar storage facilities. However, there are situations when you need a large amount of memory, and switching between several different services is inconvenient.

Actually, having one account with a large amount of storage space is convenient in many cases. Cloud storage is a pretty good option for Reserve copy archives or important files, because the servers of large IT companies are well protected from various hardware failures and hacking, and their own external HDD may get lost or malfunction. Cloud storage is also indispensable for collaboration on files between users remote from each other. If you often have to share files with friends and acquaintances (or with customers - for example, a photographer), then a lot of space in the cloud will also not hurt. And sometimes cloud storage is a more reliable place to store secret information than physical memory(though not always and only in carefully encrypted form).

Storage has different characteristics, so what is good for solving one problem (for example, collaboration) will not be very good for solving another (backing up valuable information).

⇡ Characteristics of cloud storage

If cloud storage is needed only as a file hosting service, then when choosing a service you need to pay attention to the free storage capacity, tariffs and the maximum size of the downloaded file (some services have such a limitation). These are the main characteristics, but there are others that also affect convenience.

Almost all cloud storage services support file previews. But the list of such files may vary. Some services can show documents, photographs (the most different types), play audio and video files, while others offer only viewing documents (or photos). If the user needs to preview files to decide whether to download them or not, then when choosing a storage location, you need to pay attention to the list of supported formats.

Some services offer the ability to edit office documents. Thus, Google Drive is integrated with the office suite “Google Docs”, “Yandex.Disk” and “[email protected]” - with Microsoft Office Online and so on. Many repositories support collaboration on documents. When actively working with documents, it is important to choose exactly the storage that is integrated with a suitable office package.

To work with storage on different devices, you can use both the web version and clients developed for various operating systems that support data synchronization - a folder is created on the user’s device, the contents of which are synchronized with cloud storage. Almost all of the services discussed in this article offer such applications for common operating systems. But the functionality of such applications may vary. Sometimes they allow you not to store files on the device, but only in the cloud (this is convenient on smartphones with a small amount of built-in memory). If the user needs file synchronization or convenient access to the cloud through an application, then it is necessary to check how clients work for the required OS.

Some services also have specific characteristics. For example, a number of storage sites limit the amount of downloads per month. Some services offer services increased security— encrypt files so that they can only be opened using a key stored on the device. There are services that support the WebDAV protocol, which allows you to connect cloud storage to your PC like network drive.

All cloud storage systems discussed in this article allow you to organize shared access to files and folders.

The domestic IT giant introduced cloud storage in 2013. Users who registered before January 20, 2014 were provided with 1 TB of cloud storage space for free. Then the company offered 100 GB for free, then the volume was reduced, and currently only 8 GB of cloud memory is available for free to new users. By the way, for users who had 1 TB of memory but did not use it, the free volume was also reduced to 8 GB.

The web version and mobile applications of the service support viewing photos, documents, and playing audio and video files. Microsoft Office Online is available for editing documents, spreadsheets and presentations. On paid plans, support for the WebDAV protocol is available for collaboration on files and connecting storage as a network drive, and the size of the downloaded file can reach 32 GB (on the free plan - 2 GB). The service allows you to create shared folders for multiple users.

“Disk-O:” is used as a PC application. This application displays the cloud on the PC as a network drive, and you can work with files on this drive offline (changes are synchronized when connected to the Internet). Mobile applications allow you to free up space on your smartphones by sending, for example, photos you take directly to cloud storage.

Additional memory is available by subscription (billed monthly or annually). You can subscribe via: mobile app(minimum additional package - 8 GB, costs 29 rubles per month or 290 rubles per year), and through the web version (minimum additional package - 64 GB, costs 75 rubles per month or 749 rubles per year).

Yandex.Disk cloud storage services became available to users in 2012. At first, registration in the service was by invitation, but soon it became available to everyone.

10 GB of cloud memory is available to the user for free. On a free plan with large quantities downloads of a public file (the official website does not say which one), Yandex may limit downloads for a day. Sometimes Yandex holds promotions that allow you to increase free volume. The user can additionally purchase several packages of 100 GB or 1 TB by switching to the Disk Pro service. The cost of 100 GB is 80 rubles per month. Yandex.Plus subscribers receive a 30 percent discount on additional space in Disk Pro.

The service supports viewing images, documents, archives, books, and playing video and audio files. Document editing is available through the Microsoft Office Online package. Support for the WebDAV protocol is provided.

Shared folders to which the user has been granted access do not take up space on his “Disk” (as in Dropbox, for example), but only on the “Disk” of their owners. The size of the downloaded file can reach 50 GB. However, the service recommends downloading files larger than 10 GB not through the web version, but through the application.

Unlimited memory is available for photos and videos taken on a smartphone. When this option is enabled, photos are uploaded to the “All Photos” folder and do not take up space on Yandex.Disk. However, when unlimited is enabled, the photo folder will not sync with the desktop application. To do this, you need to specifically create a separate folder for them.

Box is an American cloud storage service created back in 2005. At first the service was located in the .NET domain zone, and in 2011 it moved to the .COM domain zone. The service is not completely Russified, so sometimes the user will need to know English.

Users of the service have access to 10 GB of memory for free, with a file size limit of 250 MB. There is only one paid tariff for individual users - Personal Pro. For 9 euros per month, only 100 GB of memory will be available, and the download file size limit is 5 GB. But almost all plans for business come with unlimited storage.

Box cloud storage supports document editing via Microsoft Office Online, image viewing, PDF viewing, and more. All files on the servers are stored in encrypted form. As an additional security measure, the user can set a password for individual folders. The service supports the WevDAV protocol.

The repository offers the ability to create notes, plans, to-do lists and other simple documents through the built-in Box Notes service. Files created using this service can be shared with other users.

Directly in the web version of the storage, you can also create documents, Microsoft Office or Google Docs tables and then edit them through the appropriate services.

Dropbox is one of the oldest cloud storage services, created in 2007. The company's headquarters are located in San Francisco. The service was originally created as a cloud storage service. Using special applications, you can synchronize the contents of folders of any connected devices with the Dropbox server.

The free amount of memory has remained the same for a long time and is only 2 GB. As of March 15, 2019, a limitation was introduced for the free plan - now you can synchronize data on no more than three devices. There are two paid plans for private users - Dropbox Plus (1 TB for $9.99/month) and Dropbox Professional (2 TB for $19.99/month). Paid plans offer offline access to files, priority technical support. With the Professional tariff, “smart” synchronization is available, thanks to which individual folders and files can be stored only in the cloud, freeing up space on your hard drive.

You can edit documents in cloud storage both through Microsoft Office Online and through the Dropbox Paper package. The service does not support the WebDAV protocol. File uploads to Dropbox are unlimited in size, but the web version cannot upload files larger than 50 GB.

Interesting additional opportunity Dropbox - connection via API of third-party services. For example, you can link the storage to the SoundCloud service and save your favorite tracks to your disk.

In 2012, hackers managed to hack the service and gain access to email addresses and passwords of 68 million users (that was almost two thirds of users). The company acknowledged the fact of the leak only in 2016 and offered to change the password for those who had not changed it since 2012.

Google Drive cloud storage was created in 2012. At the end of 2018, it was announced that the service would be renamed Google One, but for now the old name is retained on the official website in Russian.

Google Drive is perhaps the most used cloud storage service in the world because it is automatically accessible to all Android device users with Google account(on these devices it is system).

Users are provided with 15 GB of cloud storage free of charge. However, this volume is also occupied by attachments from all letters in Gmail and pictures from Google Photos. An additional 100 GB will cost the user 139 rubles per month. An individual can purchase up to 30 TB of cloud memory. Paid plans include expert assistance and family file access.

The service is integrated with the Google Docs office suite, supports viewing PDF files, images, videos, archives, Adobe files Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator and so on. It is possible to organize shared access to files and folders. TO separate files You can open offline access, which allows you to edit them without an Internet connection.

The size limit for the uploaded file is no more than 5 TB, if this file is not intended to be opened using the Google service.

There is no built-in support for the WebDAV protocol in Google Drive.

Cloud iCloud storage intended for users Apple devices(Mac, iPhone, iPad). You can also download a client for Windows on the site, but to use it (as well as to use the web version) you still need to have an Apple ID.

iCloud storage became available to users in 2011. At first it was used for data synchronization between devices and backup, but in 2014 the iCloud Drive service was introduced - traditional cloud storage for any files.

Through iCloud, the user's Apple device contacts, calendar, photos, and so on are synchronized. Using the service, you can find and block your iPhone or iPad.

iCloud users get 5GB of cloud storage for free. If necessary, you can upgrade to one of three paid tariffs - 50 GB for 59 rubles per month, 200 GB for 149 rubles per month and 2 TB for 599 rubles per month. The 200GB and 2TB plans can be shared with other family members.

There is no support for the WebDAV protocol in iCloud Drive. Viewing and editing files is not provided in the web version.

The service was launched in 2006 as a file sharing service, but later turned into a classic cloud storage service. Like the Box service, MediaFire is not fully Russified, so to fully use the storage you need to know basic English.

A special feature of the service is the lack of an official client for PC. Moreover, the service previously offered such an application, but since 2016 it has stopped working. So MediaFire does not have convenient file synchronization between the computer and the server.

After registration, the user will have access to 10 GB of cloud memory, the volume of which can be increased to 50 GB for free by performing certain actions (installation mobile client, inviting new users). When downloading a file from free account the user will have to put up with advertising. There is only one paid tariff for individual use - for $7.50 per month the user will have access to 1 TB of memory. With a paid plan, it is possible to protect files with passwords and generate one-time links to files.

When testing in the web version, we were only able to view a photo; to open documents, the system required you to download a file. Document editing is not provided, the WebDAV protocol is not supported.

The upload file size limit is 20 GB.

Cloud storage OneDrive was created in 2007 under the name SkyDrive, but was renamed in 2014 due to a lawsuit by the British broadcaster. Everyone has a OneDrive account by default. Windows users 8, 8.1 and 10. During installation or first start Microsoft systems offers to set up automatic synchronization of documents with cloud storage (this feature can be disabled or enabled later). So some Windows users work with this service without even suspecting it.

Due to OneDrive integration with the latest Windows versions synchronizing data between your computer and the server does not require any special settings; the corresponding folder is already present in Explorer after installing the system.

Free cloud storage is only 5 GB. The user can purchase an additional 50 GB for storing files or get 1 TB in the Microsoft Office 365 package. When using this package, the user can also generate links to files with a certain lifetime. Through the web version, you can upload a file up to 15 GB to the storage.

Documents uploaded to the cloud can be edited for free in Microsoft Office Online. You can view images, documents and other files. Cloud storage can be connected to a PC as a network drive using the WebDAV protocol.

pCloud

Cloud storage pCloud belongs to a Swiss company and was created in 2013. Today, the service is used by over 8 million people. A registered user is offered 10 GB of memory for free, but you can get another 10 GB as a bonus. There are two paid tariffs - premium (500 GB for 3.99 euros per month) and premium plus (2 TB for 7.99 euros per month). A special feature of the service is that the user has the opportunity to buy space in the cloud forever (more precisely, for 99 years: pCloud developers believe that hardly anyone will live anymore). So, for 175 euros you can buy 500 GB, and for 350 euros - 2 TB. Another license option is to purchase a seat for the whole family. By purchasing 2 TB forever, the user can divide this volume among family members, with each of them receiving their own personal, confidential space.

Cloud storage offers the pCloud Crypto function, with which you can encrypt files placed in a special folder. According to the developers, even service administrators will not be able to open encrypted files, since the encryption key will be stored by the user. The pCloud Crypto service requires a separate payment.

Available for viewing are images, documents, e-books FB2, RAR archives and ZIP, which can be unpacked directly in the cloud. The service also plays audio and video files. Editing documents in cloud storage is not supported. You also cannot connect the storage to a PC as a network drive using the WebDAV protocol.

The maximum size of downloaded files is not limited. Folders and files, as in all other storage areas discussed, can be shared by users.

Service name	Supported platforms	Free volume	Rates	WebDAV support	Integration with office suite	View files	End-to-end encryption	Special restrictions
"Cloud" from Mail.ru		8 GB	64 GB for 75 rub./month	Available on paid plans	Microsoft Office Online	Eat	No	The size of the downloaded file on the paid plan is up to 32 GB, on the free plan - up to 2 GB
			128 GB for 149 rub./month
			256 GB for 259 rub./month
			512 GB for 379 rub./month
			1 TB for 699 rub./month
			2 TB for RUB 1,390/month
			4 TB for RUB 2,690/month
"Yandex.Disk"		10 GB	100 GB for 80 rub./month	Eat	Microsoft Office Online	Eat	No	Uploaded file size - no more than 50 GB
			1 TB for 200 rub./month
Box	Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, web version	10 GB	100 GB for 654 rub./month	Eat	Microsoft Office Online, Google Docs	Eat	Eat	The maximum file size on the free plan is 250 MB, on the paid plan - 5 GB
Dropbox	Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, web version	2 GB	1 TB for 637 rub./month	No	Microsoft Office Online, Dropbox Paper	Eat	No	With the free plan you can sync only three devices
			2 TB for RUB 1,275/month
Google Drive	Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, web version	15 GB	100 GB for 139 rub./month	No	Google Docs	Eat	No	Uploaded file size - no more than 5 TB
			200 GB for 219 rub./month
			2 TB for 699 rub./month
			10 TB for 6,990 rub./month
			20 TB for RUB 13,990/month
			30 TB for RUB 20,990/month
iCloud	Windows, MacOS, iOS, web version	5 GB	50 GB for 59 rub./month	No	No	No	No	No data
			200 GB for 149 rub./month
			2 TB for 599 rub./month
MediaFire	iOS, Android, web version	10 GB, can be expanded to 50 GB	1 TB for 478 rub./month	No	No	Limited	No	Uploaded file size: no more than 20 GB
Mega	Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, web version	50 GB	200 GB for 363 rub./month	No	No	No	Yes, for all files	Limit on file transfer volume per month - from 1 to 16 TB depending on the tariff
			1 TB for 726 rub./month
			4 TB for RUB 1,453/month
			8 TB for RUB 2,181/month
OneDrive	Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, web version	5 GB	When preparing the article, prices for tariffs were not loaded on the official website	Yes, but requires manual configuration	Microsoft Office Online, Microsoft Office 365	Eat	No	The downloaded file size in the web version is 15 GB
pCloud	Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, web version	10 GB	500 GB for 290 rub./month	No	No	Eat	Available as an additional service	Limiting traffic for downloading via a public link: in free version- 50 GB per month, paid - from 500 GB per month
			2 TB for 581 rub./month
			500 GB for 99 years for RUB 12,724
			2 TB for 99 years for RUB 25,449

All prices for comparison are indicated in rubles at the exchange rate as of March 21, 2019.

⇡ Which storage to choose

Let's simulate several situations and, based on the data from the table and descriptions of services, select the most successful cloud storage options.

If you need additional space to send files by mail

If a user runs out of free space in the cloud storage of a mail server (for example, on Yandex.Disk), and at the same time he does not send too many files, then in most cases it will be enough to switch to the cheapest tariff in the storage with which he is connected mail server. For Yandex.Mail users this is Yandex.Disk, for Gmail - Google Drive, for Mail.ru - Cloud from Mail.ru, for Outlook - OneDrive. Trying to use other cloud storages that still have free space is not always convenient - you need to upload the file to the server, then generate a link, attach it to an email, and only then send it. And related to mail server The storage allows you to attach large files to an email with almost one click.

However, if the minimum paid volume is not enough and you need, say, at least 1 TB of cloud memory, then you can find more interesting price options than the storage associated with the mail server offers.

⇡ If you need a large amount of storage (1 TB or more)

According to Table 1, the most favorable tariff for a volume of 1 TB is offered by Yandex.Disk - only 200 rubles per month. Moreover, if you pay for the year, this amount will decrease to 167 rubles per month. And since the service allows you to purchase several 1 TB packages, it turns out to be cheaper regardless of the number of terabytes you need. The only exception is for Microsoft Office 365 users: as part of their subscription, they receive 1 TB of storage in OneDrive, and if this space is enough for them, then they do not need to purchase additional storage on another service.

Another interesting option is purchasing a permanent pCloud license. For 25.5 thousand rubles you can purchase 2 TB for 99 years. This license will cost the same as an annual subscription to Yandex.Disk (if the cost turns out to be constant) for 13 years. In addition, 2 TB purchased from pCloud can be divided among family members. However, you need to remember that in pCloud there is a limit on the number of file downloads using a public link, but in the paid plans of Yandex.Disk there is no such limit. So if the user plans to often share links to files, then it is better to subscribe to Yandex.Disk.

⇡ If you need secure storage with file encryption

For those who would not like the files on cloud storage to be read by anyone (even server administrators), Mega and pCloud offer their services. Absolutely all files are encrypted in Mega. If the user forgets the password, then it can only be recovered using the master key (generated at the time the storage is created), and if it is lost, then access to their files will never be possible.

At the launch of the Mega storage, experts criticized the developers' encryption algorithms, pointing out that in some cases encryption keys could be intercepted. However, there have been no reports of the storage being hacked yet.

Similar encryption is also offered by pCloud cloud storage as part of a subscription to the pCloud Crypto service. Only not all files in the storage will be encrypted, but those placed in a special folder. And you will have to pay extra for file encryption. According to the developers, even server administrators cannot access encrypted files.

⇡ If you need storage for collaboration with other users

For collaboration of a large team, it is better to use business rates for cloud storage (they were not discussed in this article). But if users do not need a large amount of storage and business tools, then you can get by with services for individual users.

The best repositories for collaboration are those that are tightly integrated with document editing services and are widely used for such work. Among the considered storages for this purpose, we can recommend Google Drive and OneDrive (although you can also edit documents together in Yandex.Disk and in the Cloud from Mail.ru).

Google was perhaps one of the first to offer the ability to collaborate on documents through Google Docs, and this service is also closely integrated with Gmail and Google Drive, so it is probably the most widely used among those who work with documents online. If the user plans to join such workers, then it is most logical to work through Google Drive.

However, Microsoft Office is the most popular office suite in the world. In addition, as part of a subscription to Microsoft Office 365, the user has access to a whole terabyte of OneDrive. Therefore, the easiest way for holders of this license to work is to use cloud storage from Microsoft.

⇡ Conclusions

So, to send files by mail, it is best to use cloud storage associated with a mail server. If you need a large amount of memory, then it is more profitable to purchase a Yandex.Disk subscription, and 2 TB from pCloud as a permanent license. You can use Mega or pCloud as secure cloud storage, and Google Drive or OneDrive for collaboration.