Quick Answer
The best free cloud storage for most people is Google Drive, with up to 15 GB shared across Gmail and Photos. MEGA gives the most free space at 20 GB, Proton Drive is the top privacy pick at up to 5 GB, and OneDrive and iCloud suit Windows and Apple users.
Key Takeaways
- MEGA lists 20 GB free, but an over-limit account locks after 30 days and its data is deleted 45 days later.
- Google says “up to 15 GB,” and some new accounts in select regions get 5 GB until a phone number is added.
- Box gives 10 GB free, but a single file can’t exceed 250 MB.
- Sync.com’s terms allow it to end a free account unused for 6 months, without notice.
- iCloud and OneDrive each give only 5 GB, and iCloud shares that space with device backups.
Free cloud storage is easy to get and surprisingly easy to lose. Every service below gives you space at no cost, but each has its own rule for what happens when you run out of room or stop signing in, and those rules range from 75 days to 2 years.
This comparison uses each vendor’s published plans, help pages and terms as of October 2026. Prices are US figures where the vendor showed them.
What is the best free cloud storage in 2026?
Google Drive is the best fit for most people, and MEGA offers the most space. The table shows each free plan side by side. “Not stated” means the vendor’s plan pages and terms didn’t spell out a rule.
| Service | Free storage | Main catch | If you go over | Inactivity rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | Up to 15 GB | Shared with Gmail and Photos | Uploads stop; content may be removed after 2 years | 2 years |
| MEGA | 20 GB | Download limit tied to your IP address | Locked at 30 days; deleted 45 days later | At least 10 months, with warnings |
| Proton Drive | 2 GB, up to 5 GB | Setup tasks due within 30 days | One year to fix (downgraded accounts only) | 12 months |
| OneDrive | 5 GB | Shared with Outlook.com attachments | Read-only; frozen at 3 months; may be deleted at 6 | 2 years |
| iCloud | 5 GB | Shared with backups and iCloud Mail | Backups, sync and iCloud Mail stop | 1 year, with 30 days’ notice |
| pCloud | 2 GB, up to 10 GB | Extra space must be earned | Not stated | 12 months |
| Box | 10 GB | 250 MB maximum file size | Not stated | Not stated |
| Sync.com | 5 GB | 5 GB of sharing data a month | Not stated | 6 months, no notice required |
| Dropbox | 2 GB | 3 devices | Restrictions, then oldest files deleted | 12 months |
1. Google Drive: best for most people
Google Drive suits most people because the space is large and Docs, Sheets and Gmail are already attached. Google’s storage page says each account includes up to 15 GB across Gmail, Drive and Photos, and that total counts Gmail’s Spam and Trash folders.
The words “up to” matter. PCWorld reported in May 2026 that new accounts can start at 5 GB until a phone number is verified, and quoted Google calling it a test for new accounts in select regions. Existing accounts appear unaffected.
2. MEGA: most free space
MEGA has the largest free plan here, with 20 GB listed on its pricing page and zero-knowledge encryption, by its own description. You can add 5 GB per achievement, such as installing an app, but each bonus lasts 365 days. Free downloads are limited by IP address over a six-hour window.
MEGA also has the strictest overage rule. MEGA’s help center says an account over its limit for 30 days is locked to view-only, with no downloads, and data is deleted after 45 more days. That makes expiring bonuses risky if your stored files depend on them.
3. Proton Drive: best for privacy
Proton Drive is the top pick when privacy matters more than space. Proton says no one, including Proton, can access your files or see their names without your permission. Free accounts start at 2 GB and reach 5 GB once you finish three tasks within 30 days: add a file, create a share link, and set up account recovery.
If you outgrow it, Drive Plus costs $4.99 a month for 200 GB, as of October 2026.
4. Microsoft OneDrive: best for Windows
OneDrive is the natural choice on Windows, where it’s already built in. Microsoft’s storage FAQ says the free 5 GB also covers Outlook.com attachments and Recycle Bin items, so a full mailbox of attachments can cost you OneDrive space.
Windows folder backup can fill that 5 GB quickly, so read our guide to turning off OneDrive backup in Windows 11 if you don’t want it. Microsoft 365 Basic costs $1.99 a month or $19.99 a year for 100 GB, as of October 2026.
5. iCloud: best for iPhone and Mac
iCloud is the easiest option on Apple devices, but 5 GB rarely lasts. Apple says backups, photos, messages, iCloud Drive and email all draw from the same pool. When it fills, backups stop, iCloud Photos stops uploading, and iCloud Mail can’t send or receive.
Upgrading is cheap: Apple’s US pricing starts at $0.99 a month for 50 GB. Our guide to freeing up space on an iPhone helps if you’d rather stay free.
6. pCloud: best if you’ll do the setup tasks
pCloud reaches 10 GB, but you have to earn it. pCloud’s plan details say accounts start at 2 GB and grow through its beginner’s tutorial or friend invites. The plan includes 50 GB a month of shared-link traffic. Client-side encryption is sold separately as a paid Encryption plan, so don’t assume the free tier is zero-knowledge.
7. Box: best for documents
Box gives 10 GB free, which is generous for documents and poor for video. Box’s pricing page caps free uploads at 250 MB per file and keeps just 1 file version, so a single phone video can exceed the limit.
8. Sync.com: a smaller privacy alternative
Sync.com says its storage is end-to-end encrypted, and that even Sync can’t read your files. The free plan includes 5 GB, up to 5 devices, 5 GB of sharing data a month, and 30 days of version history. Its terms are harsh on idle accounts, though, so don’t park files here and forget them.
9. Dropbox: best for folders already shared with you
Dropbox Basic is the smallest plan on this list. Dropbox’s Basic page lists 2 GB, up to 3 devices, and 30 days to restore files or roll back versions.
We left out Internxt, whose free plan offers only 1 GB with a 100 MB file limit.
Which free cloud storage should you use?
- Everyday files and email: Google Drive.
- Most space at no cost: MEGA, as long as you stay well under 20 GB.
- Sensitive documents: Proton Drive or Sync.com.
- Windows laptop: OneDrive.
- iPhone or Mac: iCloud, and expect to pay $0.99 a month.
- Lots of small documents: Box.
- Files someone else shares with you: whichever service they already use, which is where Dropbox earns its spot.
What happens to your files if you go over the limit or stop signing in?
Your files can be deleted in both cases, and the timelines differ widely. Going over is the faster danger: Dropbox starts with your least recently modified files after email warnings, keeping them recoverable for 30 days. OneDrive freezes at 3 months and may delete at 6, and Microsoft says deleted files can’t be recovered. Google promises at least 3 months’ notice before removing content from an account over quota for 2 years. Proton says accounts that never paid can’t exceed their limit, so its one-year rule applies to downgraded accounts.
Inactivity rules catch people who treat a free account as an archive. Signing in usually resets the clock, but check each policy:
- Sync.com: may suspend or terminate a free account unused for 6 or more months, without notice, with data removal possibly 30 days later.
- MEGA: deletion takes at least 10 months from your last activity, per its help center, though its terms allow action on free accounts inactive over 3 months after notice.
- Dropbox, pCloud and Proton: 12 months. pCloud says deleted accounts can’t be recovered, Proton emails 30, 15 and 7 days ahead, and Dropbox sends multiple reminders first.
- iCloud: Apple’s terms allow termination after one year of inactivity with 30 days’ notice, and a device backup can be deleted after 180 days without a new backup.
- Google and OneDrive: 2 years, per Google and Microsoft.
Is cloud sync the same as a backup?
Cloud sync is not a backup, because sync copies your mistakes too. Delete or overwrite a synced file on your laptop and that change reaches every device. Trash folders give you a short window: 30 days on Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox Basic.
Back up anything irreplaceable to a second place, such as an external drive, and don’t let a free plan hold your only copy. If a file has already vanished from your PC, our guide to recovering deleted files in Windows 11 covers the next steps.
Which free cloud storage is zero-knowledge, and does it train AI?
MEGA, Proton Drive and Sync.com all describe their free plans as end-to-end encrypted, meaning the company says it can’t read your files. These are vendor claims. The trade-off is real: forget your password and your files can be gone, as MEGA’s terms warn unless you kept a Recovery Key. Store that key in one of the best free password managers.
Other services work differently. Apple’s standard iCloud protection leaves it holding the keys to Drive and Photos unless you turn on Advanced Data Protection. Dropbox lists end-to-end encryption on a team plan, not Plus.
On AI training, Google says Gemini doesn’t train directly on your Drive, though it does train on summaries and excerpts from connected apps when Keep Activity is on. Box says it won’t train on customer content without explicit approval. Dropbox makes a similar promise about its Dash AI product. Read each vendor’s current privacy terms before storing anything sensitive.
Can you combine free cloud storage plans?
Yes, stacking free plans works well if each service has one job. Google Drive, MEGA and Box alone add up to as much as 45 GB. Follow these 4 steps:
- Assign one purpose to each account, such as documents in Box and encrypted files in Proton Drive.
- Keep every account under about 80% full, so a surprise photo sync can’t push it over.
- Set a calendar reminder every 5 months to sign in everywhere, which beats Sync.com’s 6-month window.
- Keep the master copy of important files on a drive you own.
Stop and pay for a plan if you’re juggling more than 3 accounts. A $0.99 or $1.99 monthly plan is cheaper than losing a folder you forgot about.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free cloud storage?
Google Drive is the best free cloud storage for most people, with up to 15 GB shared across Gmail, Drive and Photos. MEGA offers more space at 20 GB, and Proton Drive is the better pick for privacy.
Which cloud storage gives the most free space?
MEGA gives the most free space, with 20 GB on its free plan. Achievement bonuses add 5 GB each, but each bonus expires after 365 days.
Is free cloud storage safe?
Free cloud storage from established vendors is generally safe for everyday files, but only end-to-end encrypted services say they can’t read your files. Use one such as Proton Drive for sensitive documents, and keep a second copy elsewhere.
What happens if I exceed my free storage limit?
Exceeding a free storage limit usually stops uploads and syncing, and it can eventually lead to deletion. MEGA deletes data after 75 days over the limit, while Microsoft may delete a OneDrive after 6 months.
Do free cloud accounts expire?
Free cloud accounts can be deleted for inactivity, usually after 12 to 24 months without a sign-in. Sync.com’s terms allow termination after 6 months, so sign in to every account at least twice a year.
Do I still need a backup if I use cloud storage?
Yes, you still need a backup, because sync copies deletions and overwrites to every device. Keep important files on an external drive as well as in the cloud.