Best cloud storage 2026
Top picks for cloud storage 2026: Dropbox (individuals and small teams wanting reliable file sync with strong third-party app integrations, free Basic plan with 2GB; paid Plus from about $9.99 per month billed annually for 2TB; Business Standard from about $18 per user per month annually for 9TB pooled storage), Google Drive (google Workspace and Gmail users wanting storage that pools across Gmail, Photos and Docs in one plan, free 15GB shared across Gmail, Drive and Photos; paid Google One from about $1.99 per month for 100GB up to about $9.99 per month for 2TB), Microsoft OneDrive (microsoft 365 users wanting storage integrated with Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams, free 5GB; paid Microsoft 365 Basic from about $1.99 per month for 100GB with no Office apps; Microsoft 365 Personal from about $9.99 per month bundles 1TB storage with the full Office apps). All 4 tools here are compared on pricing, free plans, features and platforms, verified against vendor sources.
Pricing and features verified against each vendor's published information on 2026-09-11. Sources linked below.
At a glance
| Tool | Free plan | Pricing from | Best for | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dropbox | Yes | Free Basic plan with 2GB; paid Plus from about $9.99 per month billed annually for 2TB; Business Standard from about $18 per user per month annually for 9TB pooled storage | individuals and small teams wanting reliable file sync with strong third-party app integrations | Web, Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Google Drive | Yes | Free 15GB shared across Gmail, Drive and Photos; paid Google One from about $1.99 per month for 100GB up to about $9.99 per month for 2TB | Google Workspace and Gmail users wanting storage that pools across Gmail, Photos and Docs in one plan | Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, ChromeOS |
| Microsoft OneDrive | Yes | Free 5GB; paid Microsoft 365 Basic from about $1.99 per month for 100GB with no Office apps; Microsoft 365 Personal from about $9.99 per month bundles 1TB storage with the full Office apps | Microsoft 365 users wanting storage integrated with Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams | Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
| Box | Yes | Free Individual plan with 10GB; paid Business Starter from about $5 per user per month annually with a 3-user minimum for 100GB per user; Business Plus from about $25 per user per month annually for unlimited storage | regulated businesses wanting enterprise-grade content management and external collaboration controls | Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android |
The shortlist
1. Dropbox
Free planFounded 2007
Free Basic plan with 2GB; paid Plus from about $9.99 per month billed annually for 2TB; Business Standard from about $18 per user per month annually for 9TB pooled storage. Best for individuals and small teams wanting reliable file sync with strong third-party app integrations.
- File sync across desktop, web and mobile with selective sync
- Deep third-party integrations with Slack, Zoom and Adobe
- Dropbox Sign e-signature bundled into the Essentials plan and up
- Smart Sync and offline access on paid plans
2. Google Drive
Free planFounded 2012
Free 15GB shared across Gmail, Drive and Photos; paid Google One from about $1.99 per month for 100GB up to about $9.99 per month for 2TB. Best for Google Workspace and Gmail users wanting storage that pools across Gmail, Photos and Docs in one plan.
- Storage pool shared across Gmail, Drive and Google Photos
- Real-time collaborative editing with Google Docs, Sheets and Slides
- Higher-tier Google One plans bundle Gemini AI features with larger storage
- Offline access and file version history built in
3. Microsoft OneDrive
Free planFounded 2007
Free 5GB; paid Microsoft 365 Basic from about $1.99 per month for 100GB with no Office apps; Microsoft 365 Personal from about $9.99 per month bundles 1TB storage with the full Office apps. Best for Microsoft 365 users wanting storage integrated with Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams.
- Storage sold bundled with Microsoft 365 subscriptions rather than standalone at higher tiers
- Real-time co-authoring with Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- Ransomware detection and file recovery on paid plans
- Personal Vault for extra-secure folder protection
4. Box
Free planFounded 2005
Free Individual plan with 10GB; paid Business Starter from about $5 per user per month annually with a 3-user minimum for 100GB per user; Business Plus from about $25 per user per month annually for unlimited storage. Best for regulated businesses wanting enterprise-grade content management and external collaboration controls.
- Advanced admin, compliance and retention controls aimed at regulated industries
- 3-user minimum on all business plans
- Granular external-collaboration permissions built for client-facing work
- Box Sign e-signature included from the Business tier up
Head-to-head comparisons
- Dropbox vs Google Drive
- Dropbox vs Microsoft OneDrive
- Dropbox vs Box
- Google Drive vs Microsoft OneDrive
- Google Drive vs Box
- Microsoft OneDrive vs Box
FAQ
- What is the best free cloud storage?
- Tools with a free plan here include Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Box. Compare limits before committing.
- How many cloud storage did this list compare?
- This page compares 4 tools, each linked to its own site.