Which cloud storage service should you buy in 2025? I compared the best options, and here’s my pick

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The best way to prevent data loss is to back up your files onto a cloud storage service.
• On top of safeguarding documents and photos, you can access content across multiple devices.
• I explain key terms, compare popular services, and even recommend third-party options.

One of the most important (and harshest) lessons I’ve learned as a tech writer is to always back up your files. Sooner or later, the worst will happen — you’ll lose a project you’ve invested a lot of time and energy into, either due to a random glitch, file corruption, or a hard drive failure. Few things feel worse, and I say that from personal experience.

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That’s where cloud storage comes in. Instead of relying on your computer’s local drive, these services save important files, documents, and other forms of media to secure servers online. Not only do they protect your data from hardware failure (or theft), but they let you access it from anywhere around the world: a convenience that is second to none. 

Do backups really matter?

Microsoft, Google, and Apple all have their own cloud storage platforms (OneDrive, Google Drive, and iCloud, respectively) and give users a small amount of free space. It’s a nice perk to get whenever you sign up for an account on their respective platforms. While all three perform the same basic function, they’re not all equal. In my opinion, Google Drive is the best.

Google’s service comes out on top because it offers 15GB of free storage for backing up photos, videos, documents, and more. In comparison, both OneDrive and iCloud only provide 5GB of free space, which fills up fast. Having that extra 10GB makes a huge difference.

Also: How to undo OneDrive Backup and restore your personal files to your Windows 11 PC

If you ever need more space, all three offer premium tiers tied to a monthly subscription, and it’s here that things become more competitive. The winner isn’t so clear-cut anymore. Google One charges $2 per month for 100GB of storage — the same as Microsoft 365 Basic. However, Microsoft also adds in perks like ransomware protection. iCloud+

When exploring different cloud service providers, you’ll quickly encounter a flood of jargon and acronyms, which can all feel overwhelming. To make things easier, I’ve put together a short glossary of a few of the most important terms you’re likely to encounter. 

• Cloud storage – Saving individual files and folders onto a remote server for safekeeping.
• Cloud backup – Instead of just storing select files, this creates a copy of your entire computer system that can be restored at a later time or onto a new device. You can even save your system from a specific point in time.
• Cloud sync – Allows your computer to automatically upload files to a cloud service whenever changes are made.
• E2EE (end-to-end encryption) – Encrypts data so only the sender and recipient can view its content. Not every cloud service supports this, so be mindful of this.
• Public cloud – A storage service offered over the internet that anyone can access with an account, such as Google Drive. By contrast, a private cloud is owned by a company or organization.
• 2FA (two-factor authentication) – Adds an extra step to the login process to improve security. This can include entering a passkey or using biometrics.

I’ll keep things short here. There are other terms like “SaaS” (software as a service); however, most of these are geared toward businesses. The short glossary above consists of the main terms you need to know as a casual user.