Mainstream cloud storage services like OneDrive and Google Drive may not be for you, and fortunately, you don’t need to stick with them. Instead, try these underrated cloud storage alternatives.
pCloud is a lesser-known but powerful cloud storage solution that competes head-to-head with giants like Google Drive and Dropbox—often beating them in value and flexibility. Based in Switzerland, pCloud stands out for its strong privacy policies, including compliance with strict Swiss data laws and zero-knowledge encryption.
One of its biggest draws is the lifetime plan, which gives you 500GB or 2TB of storage for a one-time payment—a rarity among cloud services. This is especially appealing if you want to avoid monthly or annual subscription costs piling up over time. But if you don’t want to commit immediately, pCloud gives you up to 10GB of free cloud storage.
pCloud also shines with its built-in media streaming support, and file sharing is simple. When sharing files, pCloud provides customizable download links with optional password protection and an expiration date. Another underrated feature is its file versioning and rewind capabilities, which let you restore files or your entire account to a previous state—a lifesaver in case of accidental deletion or ransomware.
pCloud has apps for all the major platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS), plus web access and browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, and Brave.
Box is one of the better alternatives to Google One. While primarily known for its business tools, Box also offers surprisingly capable cloud storage for personal use. For starters, you get 10GB of free storage, a 250MB single file upload limit, and just one file version. You can upgrade to the Personal Pro plan, which includes a higher single-file upload limit of 5GB, 100GB of storage, and up to ten versions of history for each file. The Personal Pro plan goes for $14/month (or $10/month paid annually).
It has a polished interface, is easy to use, and integrates with both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, making it ideal for productivity. Additionally, file sharing is secure thanks to password protection and link expiration features.
Box has desktop apps for Windows and macOS that integrate with Finder and Windows Explorer, making it easy to access your files and sync local files to the cloud. Mobile apps for Android and iOS are also available, and you can access your files via the web on unsupported platforms.
MobiDrive is a cloud storage service by MobiSystems, bundled seamlessly with its MobiOffice productivity suite. But you don’t need to subscribe to its productivity suite to use MobiDrive—you can use it as a standalone service. MobiDrive’s generous 20GB free plan helps it stand out from the crowd. However, you can’t upload individual files exceeding 200MB on the free plan.
If you need more storage or want to upload larger files, MobiDrive has two paid plans: MobiDrive 500GB ($4.99/month, billed at $59.88/year) and MobiDrive 2TB ($9.99/month, billed at $119.88 annually). Unlike on some services, MobiDrive’s paid plans have no file upload size limits.
Paid plans also include a 180-day retention period of versions and deleted files, unlike 30 days on the free plan. The paid plans also include built-in file conversion and document editing tools from its OfficeSuite, which is one of the best apps for converting PDFs to Word documents.
MobiDrive has dedicated apps for Android, iOS, and Windows. For platforms with no dedicated apps, like macOS and Linux, you can access your files via the web.
Proton Drive is a secure cloud storage service from the makers of Proton VPN and Proton Mail—a company known for its strong commitment to privacy and open-source security. Based in Switzerland, Proton Drive benefits from some of the world’s strictest privacy laws. It offers end-to-end encryption by default, meaning even Proton can’t access your files. Proton’s privacy-first reputation makes it a solid pick for anyone concerned about surveillance or data mining.
The free plan gives you 5GB of free storage, which is excellent for testing the waters. For additional storage, you can upgrade to the 200GB plan for $4.99/month, 500GB plan for $11.99/month, or the 1TB storage plan for about $23/month, with discounts available for annual billing.
All paid plans support secure file sharing with privacy-focused links that include expiration dates and optional passwords, giving you complete control over shared files. If your priority is private, secure cloud storage backed by a trusted name in digital privacy, Proton Drive is one of the best picks.
iDrive is another solid yet lesser-known cloud storage service. The free plan gives you 10GB of storage to test the waters, but the real value lies in the premium tiers. The Individual plan offers terabytes of storage options, starting with 5TB and maxes out at 100TB.
The 5TB plan costs $9.95/month, while the 10TB, 20TB, 50TB, and 100TB plans cost $14.95, $24.95, $49.95, and $99.95, respectively. That’s already cheaper than most services, and you save even more when you switch to annual billing. If 5TB is too much, you can opt for the iDrive Mini plan that includes 100GB and 500GB plans for $2.95/year and $9.95/year, respectively.
iDrive is one of the most feature-rich and affordable cloud backup solutions available today. Unlike many services that limit you to a single device or platform, iDrive supports unlimited device backups under one account—including PCs, Macs, iPhones, Android devices, external drives, and even NAS systems.
Additionally, iDrive offers end-to-end encryption with an optional private key, 30 versions per file, and a physical backup option called iDrive Express, where the company ships you a drive to speed up large backups or restores.
From lifetime plans to bulletproof privacy and massive backups, these lesser-known cloud storage apps offer more than just space—they give you control. Don’t settle for mainstream cloud storage apps when better options are right here.