Are you struggling to find the most suitable cloud storage for your Android device? I’ve been there;
trust me, I have experienced the frustration that comes with it. From making a list of the
platforms with the best security to finding which has the biggest but most affordable pricing plans,
I’ve done it all. And today, I’ll help you choose the best cloud storage for Android.
Welcome to Cyber Lab. I am [host introduces himself], and in this video, I’ll review 5
of the best cloud storage platforms for Android, ranking them from 5th to 1st.
I’ll analyze each cloud storage according to its Security, Privacy, and Pricing. Then I’ll tell you
the pros and cons of each service so you know what you’re signing up for. Finally, based on
these categories, I’ll award a mark between 1 and 10, with 1 being the lowest and 10 the highest.
Just a heads up! We've dropped links to all the products we'll feature in the description
box below, along with some amazing discounts not available elsewhere. So don't miss out!
Now, back to business.
In no particular order, the cloud storage platforms we’ll cover in
this video are Google Drive, Sync Cloud, pCloud, OneDrive,
and Mega. So, stick around for the number one reveal at the tail end of this video.
Let’s start with our 5th pick, Google Drive.
Google Drive is the most popular storage platform
for Android users but not necessarily the best, which you’ll soon find out.
But before that, let’s analyze its Security.
For starters, GoogleDrive uses the industry standard AES 256-bit encryption,
which is theoretically unbreakable, to keep your documents safe. It also protects your
files from unauthorized access during transit with its Transport Layer Security. The cloud
storage platform provides a two-factor authentication feature as an extra layer
of security. Nothing too impressive there. But what about its Privacy?
Unfortunately, Google Drive’s privacy policy leaves a lot to be desired. First,
the company operates from the US,
a not-so-privacy-friendly country and a key member of the Five Eyes Alliance.
But the worst is yet to come.
Google admits to reading files on its cloud storage platform and flagging
content they deem abusive. There have been several instances where Google
froze users’ documents, making it impossible for them to work.
Simply put, your Google Drive account isn’t private.
Now, let’s talk about pricing.
Google Drive’s Free plan is one of the biggest on this list,
with a storage capacity of 15 GB. Its cheapest plan costs $19.99 a year and
comes with 100 GB of storage space, while the most expensive plan costs $99.99 a year and
features 2 TB of cloud storage space. And that brings us to the benefits.
Signing up on Google is simple. All you need is your Gmail and password for the Free plan.
Google Drive is fully integrated with the Microsoft Office apps,
plus its File Sharing and File Syncing across devices make collaboration seamless.
You also get unlimited photo backup,
helping you save as many family and friends photos as possible.
However, there are a few issues you should look out for.
As mentioned, you enjoy low privacy when using Google Drive. Though it secures your files,
Google being the target of several successful hacking attempts, doesn’t inspire confidence. This
is made worse by the lack of a password manager and private encryption keys to secure your data.
So, I’ll award Google Drive a 6/10 for its lack of security and privacy. However,
if security and privacy are not your priority, Google Drive will make a great storage platform.
And this brings me to the question, what is your priority when choosing
the best cloud storage for Android? Let me know in the comments section.
Now, to the fourth best cloud storage for Android on our list, OneDrive.
Microsoft OneDrive has some of the finest features, and its concise user interface
is eye-pleasing. I personally like the way the Desktop looks; it gives
me “work” vibes if you know what I mean. But how does it fare in the Security department?
Like Google Drive, OneDrive employs the industry-standard AES 256-bit
encryption protocol to secure your files. Its Transit Layer Security protocol ensures
no one can access my files as they travel between my device and OneDrive servers.
Its Personal Vault feature is secure storage where I keep my most sensitive documents.
OneDrive also protects my account with its Two-factor authentication,
but I like its encryption on mobile devices most. The feature ensures no
one can access my files, even when I lose my mobile device.
Plus, its Data Loss Prevention policy stops me
from accidentally sharing my most sensitive information with anyone.
Privacy-wise, OneDrive is on the same level as its fellow giant, Google Drive. It is based in
the US and doesn’t feature end-to-end encryption. Thus, Microsoft can have access to your files.
OneDrive’s pricing plans don’t look promising. Its Free plan has 5 GB
of storage space and lacks most Microsoft apps. The OneDrive Home tier costs between
$19.99 and $109.99 a year. And storage capacities range between 100 GB and 6 TB.
The Business tier also ranges between $5 and $12.5 per user per month and comes with the
same storage capacities as the Home tier. This brings us to some benefits of OneDrive.
The most obvious benefit is easy integration with Microsoft 365 apps, smoothing Files Syncing
and File Sharing among Microsoft users. Another benefit is the Conference features that facilitate
collaboration with my team. And if I happen to be in a remote place with no internet connection,
OneDrive’s offline editing feature enables me to edit and sync my files once I get internet access.
But what about its drawbacks?
Like Google Drive, OneDrive keeps an eye on my files, hence no privacy.
Moreover, it has a file-sharing limit of 250 GB with no file-locking feature to add
extra protection. Plus, its special character limit of 400 can be limiting. No pun intended
So, given OneDrive’s limitations, I’ll award it a 7 out of 10 because its
Personal Vault and E-mail features give it an edge over Google Drive.
But what do you make of OneDrive’s benefits? I’ll be reading your thoughts in the comments.
And that brings us to the third Best Cloud Storage for Android on our list, Mega.
Mega is the least popular of the 5 storage platforms,
but it is efficient and suits Android devices pretty well. Its tagline is “The
Privacy Company,” so let’s see if Mega truly lives up to its bidding. But first, Security.
Mega features end-to-end encryption, meaning the company can’t read what users have stored in its
cloud. Mega also uses CloudRAID technology, which splits files into equal-sized parts and keeps them
in different countries. It also runs the AES 128 encryption protocols, keeping your files safe.
The best part is that Mega has a vulnerability reward program
that gives up to $10,000 to individuals who find a flaw in its security. Maybe
I should take advantage of that to pay for my dream vacation to the Maldives.
Sorry, that happens to me a lot. Anyway, back to business.
You can opt for Mega’s Two-factor authentication to add an extra layer
of protection and use its password-protected links to keep your files from prying eyes.
Regarding privacy, Mega’s end-to-end encryption means it doesn’t have access to your data stored
on its service. Even though it operates from New Zealand, a member of the 5 Eyes Alliance.
The company is also GDPR compliant,
meaning your personal data is only collected and used to improve user experience. So,
signing up for Mega Cloud Storage guarantees you optimum privacy, but how about its prices?
Mega’s free plan has 20 GB of storage space,
which doesn’t last. You’ll need to complete certain tasks to maintain it.
The premium plans begin at $5.95 per month, with the highest being $35.78.
The storage capacities are between 20 GB and 16 TB, the biggest on this list.
Mega’s File Versioning allows you to view older versions of a file and revert to a
previous one. It also allows storing any file and provides File Back up,
so you don’t lose your documents. Its upload and download speeds are impressive,
and its “Meetings” and “Chats” features enhance collaboration. One feature I find intriguing is
its File Request feature which allows non-Mega users to upload documents to my account.
However, there are a few things I should bring to your attention.
Mega has a bandwidth of 10 GB, which is quite limiting. Also,
you risk losing the free plan’s storage capacity if you fail to accomplish certain
tasks before the time runs out. Mega doesn’t provide granular permissions;
thus, you can’t choose who can view only and who can change your documents.
So, how does it rank against the other two?
Mega’s end-to-end encryption, private chats,
and File Request features put it above Google Drive and OneDrive. Thus, it gets an 8 out of 10.
Do you know of any Mega benefits we missed? Feel free to point that out in the comments section.
And that brings us to our second-best cloud storage platform, Sync Cloud.
Sync Cloud is a great cloud storage that takes pride in its syncing feature,
hence its name. But how does it fare security-wise?
Sync Cloud features the much-envied client-side,
end-to-end encryption, which I’ve already explained its importance.
On top of that, the cloud storage platform showcases a Two-Factor Authentication feature
and password-protected links. Then there’s the Vault feature,
where you can lock away your most-sensitive files without a care in the world.
When it comes to privacy, its zero-knowledge
encryption means that your files are kept from everyone, including the company itself.
Even though it operates in Canada, a member of the 5 Eyes Alliance,
you hold the decryption keys and reserve the right to hand them
over when asked. This is ultimate privacy if you ask me, but how much does it cost?
Sync Cloud’s Free plan features 5 GB of storage space, with the
Premium plans costing $8 and $20 monthly. However,
you enjoy unlimited storage if you purchase its the Unlimited and Enterprise plans.
The Unlimited storage capacity comes with unl imited file size, allowing me to store any file
size of my choice. Sync Cloud also gives me up to 365 days to retrieve files I’ve accidentally
deleted or lost to malware attacks. The cloud platform features custom branding,
which enables me to add my logo to my links. Those on the Business plan are
allowed the luxury of phone support, and the company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
However, be wary of the following drawbacks. The platform doesn’t support block syncing,
which means that it syncs the entire text even though corrections were made
to a few sentence blocks. Sync cloud’s security protocols, specifically end-to-end encryption,
sometimes slow down the syncing of larger files. And the worst is that Sync doesn’t run on Linux.
I’d have awarded a 10 over 10 and placed it on the same pedestal as my number 1 pick,
but its lack of support for Linux devices, block syncing,
and slow syncing of large files makes it a deal breaker. Thus, I’ll give it a 9 out of 10.
Already falling in love with Sync? Then,
sign up today by clicking on the link in the description for a 30% discount.
And now to the best among equals, the creme-de-la-creme on this list, pCloud.
pCloud touts its “unbreakable” encryption and solid security protocols as the finest
in the industry, and I agree with that. Let me show you why it is my number one pick.
For starters, pCloud offers TLS/SSL encryption to keep my files safe as
they are transferred from my Android device to its servers. It also stores my information
on 3 different server locations so that the others serve as a backup even if one fails.
However, here is where pCloud stands out from the rest.
The cloud storage provider offers encrypted and non-encrypted folders in the same account,
allowing me to choose the files to encipher. Great news! But there’s more.
When I encode my files, pCloud applies encryption to both the copies on my
device and those in its cloud. This is different from other encryption services
that only encrypt the files on their servers and leave the ones on the devices unprotected.
So, sign up today with our special link in the description and get an 80% discount.
pCloud’s zero-knowledge encryption indicates that the company cannot access my documents without my
permission. Moreover, the company operates in Switzerland, a privacy-friendly country.
Regarding Pricing, pCloud’s Free plan has 10 GB of storage space and unlimited File
Size. Its Premium Plans range from $49.99 to $1190, with storage capacities ranging
from 500 GB to 10 TB. Plus, you can choose between Annual and Lifetime payment plans.
Here are some benefits of using pCloud.
pCloud runs on all operating systems, including Linux, iOS, MacOS, Windows,
etc. It also syncs and automatically backs up my files across all devices.
Its custom plug-ins enable me to integrate Facebook and Instagram into my account,
and I can playback video and audio files right in the cloud. But what about its drawbacks?
First, you can’t share your encrypted files. Also, the plans are quite expensive and appear more
suited to businesses. Plus, most of its features are available only on the premium versions.
Thus, I give pCloud a 9.5 out of 10 for its solid security and privacy setup and
great features, but its expensive price plan needs to be more attractive. So,
there you have it. pCloud is my best cloud storage for Android.
If you plan to buy pCloud and Sync, now is the perfect time to grab it.
Use the link in the description section to get up to 80% off.
That’ll be all for today. But before you go,
click on this video to discover the Worst Cloud Storage Platforms to avoid.
See you there, and thanks for watching.