The Best Cloud Storage 2026

Proton Drive is the best cloud storage service for most people. It offers the best privacy features, a clean, highly usable interface, and its higher-tier plans include additional Proton services (like Proton VPN and Proton Mail). Dropbox is another great option, especially for businesses, and it offers a whopping 15 TB of storage.

These aren't the only options, though, so it's a good thing that you have a number of choices, since our survey found that 88% of people say they store personal files in the cloud. In this article, we'll run through all the best cloud storage providers, so you can find the perfect match for your needs.

The best cloud storage services 2026

Compare the best cloud storage services

	Proton Drive	Dropbox	Total Drive	NordLocker
View deals	Get Proton Drive	Get Dropbox	Get Total Drive	Get NordLocker
Best for	Privacy	Small businesses	Value	Security bundle
Lowest starting price	From $2.99/mo	From $9.99/mo	From $8.25/mo	From $2.99/mo
Free plan	Yes — 5 GB	Yes — 2 GB		Yes — 3 GB
Storage space	5 GB – 3 TB	2 GB – 15+ TB	10 TB	3 GB – 2 TB
Encryption	AES-256	AES-256	AES-256	AES-256 and ChaCha20
Local storage
Secure sharing
Secure file deletion
Device syncing
File organization
Document editing
Learn more	Read Proton Drive Review	Read Dropbox Review	Read Total Drive Review	Read NordLocker Review

Proton Drive: Best cloud storage for privacy

What we liked

Strong privacy focus: Proton Drive offers end-to-end encryption, but its commitment to privacy goes deeper than that. The company's zero-knowledge architecture means not even Proton itself can read your files, and its servers are based in Switzerland and Germany — countries with strong data protection laws. Proton has no known history of data breaches that exposed user files, which puts it in rare company.

Bundles with other Proton services: The higher-tier Proton plans include Proton Drive, Proton VPN, Proton Pass, and Proton Mail, making them a compelling all-in-one privacy suite. This somewhat offsets the higher per-GB storage cost, especially if you'd be paying for any of those services separately. The entry-level Drive Plus plan offers a standalone option for those who just want private cloud storage without the extras.

Document editing: Proton Drive includes Proton Docs and Proton Sheets — secure document and spreadsheet editors that work similarly to Google Docs and Sheets. These worked well in my testing and give Proton Drive extra utility beyond basic file storage. The editors are available in limited form on mobile, but the full feature set shines in the web app.

Great interface: The word "clean" can feel a little cliché, but it really applies to Proton Drive. The web app is a pleasure to use. In testing, it felt modern, and everything was laid out logically, with tabs for files, photos, and shared content right where you'd expect them. The desktop app is more basic, but that's fine, since it's really just a synced folder that stays out of the way.

What we didn't like

Occasional slow syncing: Proton's end-to-end encryption can sometimes slow down the sync process, since files are encrypted on your device before being uploaded to the cloud. This is a reasonable tradeoff for the enhanced security. Most users won't notice it for everyday documents, but it can be more apparent with large photo or video uploads.

Limited collaboration features: Proton Drive lacks the kind of powerful real-time collaboration tools you'll find in competitors like Dropbox or Google Drive. While Proton Docs does support sharing and basic co-editing, it's not as fully featured as the alternatives. For teams or businesses that rely heavily on collaborative workflows, this gap could be a dealbreaker.

Less storage for the money: You'll generally get more raw storage for the same money with other services — Google Drive and iCloud both offer 2 TB for $9.99/mo, while Proton's equivalent tier costs significantly more. If storage space is your main priority and you're not interested in the other Proton tools, the value proposition is harder to justify.

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Dropbox: Best cloud storage for small businesses

What we liked

Integrations with other services: Dropbox offers useful integrations with a ton of services, including Slack, Google Workspace, and Microsoft 365. This gives users — especially businesses — a lot of flexibility to choose the best tools for the job without leaving Dropbox. The platform even lets you edit Microsoft Office documents directly without downloading them first.

High storage amounts: Dropbox's higher-tier plans offer a ton of storage — 15+ TB on the Advanced plan, the equivalent of 500,000 photos or 500 movies — making it a strong choice for teams or individuals storing large numbers of files. Even the entry-level paid plan starts at 2 TB, which is already more than many competitors offer at comparable price points.

Document editing: Dropbox offers native PDF, image, and video editing. You can also edit other document types by integrating with third-party tools — including editing Microsoft Office docs without leaving Dropbox. Dropbox allows for real-time synchronization, like Google Drive. The Smart Move feature, which automatically suggests how to sort files into subfolders, is a nice bonus for keeping things organized.

Strong support: Dropbox's support system is excellent. In testing, reviewer Sara Nguyen found that the online learning center was packed with useful information, including full courses on using Dropbox for businesses, and an active community forum where moderators reliably follow up on questions. All paid plans include live chat and email support, with the higher-tier plans adding phone support.

What we didn't like

History of data breaches: Dropbox has a history of data breaches — most recently in 2024 with Dropbox Sign. The company handled the breach well, but it's still concerning. It's not clear whether these breaches are due to a flaw in Dropbox itself or to the product's popularity, making it a more common target.

No real low-tier plan: Dropbox pricing starts higher than many competitors — it jumps right in at 2 TB of storage for $9.99/mo. Most cloud storage providers offer more affordable plans for those who don't need that much storage. Although Dropbox offers a free plan, it's limited to 2 GB and so it's not really a good long-term solution.

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Total Drive: Best value cloud storage

What we liked

Lots of storage for the money: Total Drive gives you a ton of storage space for your money. For $8.25/mo, Total Drive gives you 10 TB, compared to Google Drive or iCloud, which give you 2 TB for the same price. That kind of value is hard to beat, especially for users who store large files, such as high-resolution photos or video projects.

Family Sharing space: Total Drive offers a useful Family Sharing section that automatically makes any files added to the shared space available to all members — no extra steps required.

Strong encryption and security: Like the other services in our list, Total Drive uses AES-256 end-to-end encryption, meaning only you can access your files — Total Drive itself can't read them. Unlike competitors, Total Drive also includes anti-ransomware protection, providing an extra layer of defense for anyone storing important files.

What we didn't like

Clunky interface: Total Drive's web app suffers from a clunky, dated-looking interface. I also ran into some quirks during testing, such as photos added to the photo library not appearing with the rest of the files.

Can't pin files for offline storage: When I tested Total Drive, there was no option to proactively pin files for offline use. Files you open will be cached locally, but they risk being cleared out and unavailable when you need them most, like on a long flight or in an area with poor Wi-Fi.

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NordLocker: Best security bundle

What we liked

Slick interface: NordLocker's web app has a modern, easy-to-use interface. In testing, reviewer Steph Trejos found that this made the app easy to use and navigate. The aesthetics are polished and on-brand with other Nord products I've tested.

Bundles with other Nord services: NordLocker can be easily bundled with NordVPN and NordPass to build out a comprehensive privacy and security suite. These bundles are a great way to boost your overall online security without juggling multiple separate accounts.

Secure sharing: NordLocker's sharing system is very secure. When you share files, you'll get both a link and a passcode, and the app encourages you to share them across different channels to reduce the risk of the wrong person getting access. As with most cloud storage services, recipients don't need a NordLocker account to access shared files, making collaboration easy.

What we didn't like

Price jumps: Although the initial price of $6.99/mo for 2 TB looks really cheap, watch the fine print. When billed monthly, the 2 TB plan jumps to $19.99/mo — nearly triple the annual rate — which makes it a poor value if you can't commit to a full year upfront.

Lack of extra features: NordLocker really sticks with the basics — there's no document editing, no deleted file recovery, and no file search on mobile. If you want a storage service that doubles as a productivity tool, you'd be better served by Proton Drive or Dropbox.

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What features should I look for in a cloud storage service?

Cloud storage might seem straightforward, but there are a surprising number of factors to consider when choosing the right service. Here are some key features to consider:

• Strong encryption: Data breaches happen constantly these days. Encryption ensures that bad actors can't read your documents, so you can use your cloud storage service without worrying about possible data theft.
• Document editing: While not essential, the ability to edit documents is very handy. It's especially useful for collaboration — you don't need to worry about whether everyone has the right software when you can edit right in the cloud storage app.
• Reliable syncing: This one probably goes without saying, but reliable syncing is critical. You don't want to constantly wonder whether your files are up to date. The popular cloud storage services featured in this article should all be fine, but keep this in mind if you're considering lesser-known alternatives.
• Local storage: This one might seem counterintuitive, but offline access is important for cloud storage. You don't want to end up in a situation where you need a file and can't access it because you don't have a solid internet connection. Look for a service that lets you pin specific files or folders.
• Secure sharing: Shared files can be a privacy concern if they end up in the wrong hands. The ability to password-protect them and quickly revoke sharing privileges helps offset this and avoid potential issues.
• Pricing: Some services offer a lot of space for the money, while others might give less storage but bundle other services (like Proton Drive). One way isn't necessarily better — it just depends on your priorities.
• User interface: Cloud storage services should stay out of the way and make it easy to find and organize your files. Look for a clean interface that doesn't hide important options behind a bunch of unnecessary clicks.

Bottom line: The best cloud storage services

There are a ton of cloud storage options available in 2026, but Proton Drive stands out for delivering outstanding privacy. Dropbox is excellent for businesses, Total Drive brings the value, and NordLocker offers excellent bundles.

Ultimately, we recommend Proton Drive for most users, thanks to its combination of privacy, ease of use, and plans that include other useful privacy services like Proton VPN. However, you don't have to pick just one — we found that the average number of cloud services people use is 2.67. At the end of the day, you can't really go wrong with any of the services highlighted here.

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