Cloud storage is a service that lets you save data online. It is better because it is accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. Major companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon own the cloud. Online storage is not tied to a single location; data is stored across multiple servers. You might need online storage for easy file sharing and backup. While cloud backup offers strong security, it is not 100% safe. The cloud is located in data centers around the world. Overall, some free online storage provides convenience and flexibility for your digital needs.
History of The Storage Service
You may think storage for the cloud is now a hot topic, but the idea of cloud data storage is much older. The cloud computing concept began in 1990. The first cloud computing company was FilesAnywhere. Marc Benioff of Salesforce is credited with inventing the new cloud computing model for delivering software via the Web. On the other hand, Larry Ellison, who once also denounced the term “cloud computing,” is now standing up to take credit for the concept.
How Online Data Storage Works
Now a day’s storage for the cloud is a metaphor. It is a combination of online backup, storage service, and cloud computing for data management. All the desired information is stored in a data warehouse, another server, and anywhere, depending on the storage provider. Cloud service provider keeps its storage at a different place to make it redundancy. They are mutually connected to provide support in case of any disaster.
Free Cloud Storage Options
Online storage is not a cost issue if you use it technically. Moreover, data is more valuable than money, so big data owner does not think of the cost. You can go for a cloud server or dedicated server. People frequently search for free cloud hosting, but nothing is free in the world. You can get free up to a certain limit cloud hosting for a certain time. The most popular free cloud hosting are:
1. Amazon Cloud Storage
Amazon Web Service offers you a pay-as-you-go approach for pricing for over 120 cloud services. With Amazon Web Service, you pay only for the individual services you need, for as long as you use them, without requiring long-term agreement or complex licensing. It is almost similar to how you pay for utilities like water and electricity.
Amazon DynamoDB: It has 25 GB of storage and 25 Units of Write Capacity along with – enough to handle up to 200M requests per month with Amazon DynamoDB**
Amazon Cognito: the free tier of 50,000 MAUs each month, 10 GB of cloud sync storage for the first 12 months after signup, 1,000,000 sync operations per month for the first 12 months after signup.
AWS Code Commit: 5 active users per month, 50 GB-month of storage per month, 10,000 Git requests per month**
Amazon CloudWatch: 10 Amazon Cloudwatch custom metrics, 10 alarms, and 1,000,000 API requests,5 GB of Log Data Ingestion,5 GB of Log Data Archive, 3 Dashboards with up to 50 metrics each per month**
AWS X-Ray: 100,000 traces recorded per month, 1,000,000 traces scanned or retrieved per month**
Database Migration Service: 750 Hours of Amazon DMS Single-AZ DMS.t2.micro instance usage,50 GB of included General Purpose (SSD) storage**
AWS Storage Gateway: First 100GB per account is free, No transfer charges into AWS, up to $125 a month maximum charges
Amazon Chime: Unlimited usage of Amazon Chime Basic.
AWS Glue: 1 Million objects stored in the AWS Glue Data Catalog,1 Million requests made per month to the AWS Glue Data Catalog.
2. Apple iCloud Drive free cloud backup
Apple iCloud Drive comes with up to 5GB of free online storage. Up to 50 GB $.99; Up to 200 GB $ 2.99, for 1 TB $9.99 and for 2TB $19.99. They also provide facilities from an android device.
3. Backblaze free Online Data Storage
Backblaze offers PC backup and business online storage services. After 10 GB Additional storage is $0.005/GB/month. Limit to 1GB downloaded per day. Mac and Personal computer backups are $5 per computer per month or $50 per year. Business plans start at $5 per computer /month or $5 per month per TB.
4. BOX Online Storage
Box offers $10 per month for 100GB of storage and a 5GB upload limit. On the other hand, $5 per month for 100GB of storage and a 2-GB file size limit for up to 10 users. For a Business account for $15 per month, 5-GB file size limit with unlimited uses.
5. Dropbox Free Online Storage
Over 2 GB next pricing at $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year for DropBox Plus, which comes with 1TB of space. 2TB of storage for $12.50 per user per month for DropBox Business offers companies. $20 per user per month, the company offers “as much space as you need.”
6. Flip Drive
For $5 per month users get 25GB; 100GB for $10 per month or $20 per month for 250GB.
Free: With a 25MB file size limit and up to 10 share links.
7. Google Drive free Online Cloud
Google Drive offers a free cloud storage plan with 15GB of space. To get 100GB of free storage, you typically need to participate in promotions or referral programs, though these offers are rare. Getting 1TB of free storage on Google Drive is difficult and usually requires special promotions or educational programs. For 30GB of free space, you need to check for any current Google promotions or offers. Sometimes, Google may offer extra space through various activities or collaborations. Always review the latest Google Drive offers and check their official website for updated information on free storage plans and promotions.
8. HiDrive
HiDrive is a cloud storage service provided by IONOS. It offers secure online storage for your files. The cost of HiDrive storage varies based on the plan you choose. Generally, prices start around $1.50 per month for basic plans.
IONOS, a well-known hosting provider, owns HiDrive. HiDrive works by storing your files on remote servers, allowing you to access them from anywhere. To set up HiDrive with IONOS, you need to create an account and follow the setup instructions provided.
HiDrive supports various file sizes, but the maximum file size limit is typically around 50GB. This makes it a flexible option for storing large files and managing your data efficiently.
9. HubiC Free Online Storage
HubiC was a cloud storage service offered by OVH. It allowed users to store and manage files online. However, HubiC ceased operations in 2020. This was due to OVH’s decision to shut down the service. If you need to recover a file from HubiC, the process can be challenging. First, check any emails or backups you may have from the service.
Next, contact OVH’s customer support for assistance. They might be able to help you retrieve lost files. Remember to explore alternative online data storage solutions for future needs. Services like Google Drive or Dropbox offer reliable options for file storage and recovery. Make sure to regularly back up your important files to avoid data loss.
10. IDrive
IDrive is a cloud storage and backup service. It lets users store and protect files online. Yes, you can use IDrive for online data storage. IDrive offers various storage plans, including up to 10 TB of space. However, it is not free; IDrive has paid plans with different storage options.
IDrive is based in the United States. The main difference between iCloud and IDrive is their focus. iCloud is designed for Apple users and integrates with Apple devices.
IDrive, on the other hand, offers cross-platform support for both Windows and Mac users. IDrive is owned by Pro Softnet Corp. If you need reliable cloud storage and backup solutions, IDrive is a strong option to consider.
The Future of Cloud Data Storage
With more than 250 Petabytes of data under management, Backblaze has grown to be one of the biggest Clouds storage around. The problem is with over 2.5 quintillion bytes of data being created per day, and it seems we’ll need to keep on growing to keep up. Within a few years, major people will use cloud computing storage because of its availability, low-cost internet, and costly hardware devices. Because of the smartphone application of those cloud data Storage companies and the availability of smartphones much individuals use cloud computing storage for a personal purpose on payment.
Advantage
- Usability – Almost all cloud computing storage services provide desktop and mobile application, so it is easy to use.
- Bandwidth – It is not required to send the whole data to your friend, just a mile with a link is enough.
- Accessibility – You can get access from anywhere at any time if you have an internet connection.
- Disaster Recovery – Cloud computing storage works as a backup plan at the time of disaster. The cloud data storage service provider provides a redundant server for instant recovery.
- Cost Savings – For personal use, up to a certain time and limit, storage for the cloud has no cost. For big data, there are lots of discounts.
Disadvantage
- Data security: Your data can easily read by someone else—Cloud computing storage loses your security, privacy, and secrecy of data.
- Usability: For the drag and drop facility, all data may be moved to a cloud server. Keep a copy to someone else.
- Bandwidth: There is a problem regarding bandwidth. Some companies may provide low bandwidth. I need to be careful during the agreement.
- Accessibility: No internet, no access. If there is no internet, you are helpless.
- Software requirement: If you want to work on multiple files simultaneously, you need to download some software.
- Cost: More data, more cost. Nothing is free in the world.
What are the Risks of Cloud Drive Storage?
The biggest risk with free cloud storage is data security. Online storage can face threats like hacking and data breaches. Disadvantages include potential data loss and limited control over your data. Risks in cloud computing involve privacy concerns and dependency on internet connectivity. Free online backup can be risky due to these security issues.
Major challenges include managing data access and ensuring backup reliability. Common storage problems are data corruption and service outages. Despite these risks, online storage offers benefits like easy access and cost savings. It’s important to use strong security measures and backup solutions to mitigate these risks.
Online Backup Storage
Cloud backup is a service that saves your data online for safekeeping. It is generally safe, but no system is completely immune to risks. Cloud backup differs from cloud storage; backup is for data recovery, while storage is for ongoing access.
Google Drive is primarily online storage, not a true backup solution. The three types of backups are full, incremental, and differential. To find cloud backup options, check your preferred cloud service provider’s offerings.
Although cloud backup can be hacked, strong security measures can reduce this risk. Cloud backup often has free tiers, but backup services might cost more. Having cloud backup is essential for protecting your data from loss or damage.
How to get Cheapest Online Storage?
The cheapest cloud storage is often provided by Google Drive or pCloud. Google Drive offers affordable plans starting at just $1.99 per month for 100GB. For 1TB of online storage, prices typically range from $5 to $10 per month. If you want to store 100GB online for free, you can use services like Google Drive or Dropbox. Both offer a limited amount of free storage. For larger needs, such as 100TB of cloud online backup, costs can vary widely. Prices can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars annually, depending on the provider and plan. To find the best option, compare prices and features of different online data storage providers. Always consider your storage needs and budget when choosing a cloud storage solution.
How to get lifetime cloud storage?
Buying cloud backup permanently is challenging as most services use subscription models. However, some services offer one-time payment options. For example, pCloud provides lifetime plans for online storage.
You can buy 5TB of cloud backup from pCloud with a one-time payment. Unfortunately, iCloud does not offer lifetime plans; it requires ongoing subscriptions. Unlimited online storage is available from some providers but usually at a high cost.
Google Drive does not offer permanent storage; it operates on a subscription basis. For permanent storage, check options like pCloud, which offers a lifetime plan. pCloud’s lifetime plan lasts for the duration of the service’s availability. Always compare plans and costs to find the best option for your needs.
Final Thought
Free Cloud storage is free up to a certain limit, but there is a condition. The price of online storage shown above is not static. It can be changed according to the strategy of the cloud backup company. So you have to check physically if you are interested in online backup. This article only to give you an idea for free online storage.
Nasir H is a business consultant and researcher of Artificial Intelligence. He has completed his bachelor’s and master’s degree in Management Information Systems. Moreover, the writer is 15 years of experienced writer and content developer on different technology topics. He loves to read, write and teach critical technological applications in an easier way. Follow the writer to learn the new technology trends like AI, ML, DL, NPL, and BI.