If you use the most popular cloud storage platforms, your cloud storage experience
might just suck. We’ve all been there, haven't we? All of us began using a cloud storage platform,
only to learn more about their questionable privacy practices or learn that they just had
a data leak? That’s a clear sign that you aren’t using one of the best cloud storage providers,
which you’ll learn more about in this video. But the best doesn’t always mean the biggest,
as top cloud storage platforms have grown complacent in releasing new features,
creating an experience that doesn’t work for most people. Thankfully,
we can speak with our wallets by buying from other cloud storage providers.
My name is Jason of The Cyber Lab, and I will talk about some of the best cloud storage platforms
Now Cloud storage can be great if you want to back up your files and make them easy to access across
multiple computers. This can be incredibly handy in the event of… … unfortunate circumstances.
I think you get my point. Visit the description below to unlock
a limited-time discount on all the products.."Our considerations for today’s video are IceDrive,
Sync, iDrive, pCloud, and Box. We will rate these on a tier list from okay to awesome based on cost,
security, features, collaboration, integrations, and ease of use.
The big three of cloud storage are Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive. Each of them is alright,
and we use Google Docs, which comes with Drive, in our work at The Cyber Lab.
But both Microsoft and Google share the same problem: they don’t care for your
data privacy. And Dropbox has a known history of data leaks. Some people make claims like,
“Google doesn’t understand privacy,” and Edge is the worst browser for privacy.
So, these platforms are fine, but they shouldn’t be your first choice for cloud storage. But what
about you? What’s your priority when picking good cloud storage? Let us know in the comments.
So, if you are wondering where the meme tier has gone,
it’s with these three providers. Take that, guys
Instead, it should be one of the five on our list, starting with IceDrive:
IceDrive is the new kid on the block but has turned some heads in the cloud storage industry,
regardless. Why is that? Well, it offers some pretty sweet perks.
First, it is our number one pick if you prioritize security. IceDrive offers
powerful zero-knowledge encryption so nobody can access your data. You
can also use their encrypted folder and two-factor authentication system.
IceDrive is also based in Wales, a country known
for solid data privacy laws. Wales is also known for its rich culture,
lovely countryside, and stunning coastal areas… At least according to the first result on Google.
Geez, no wonder they’re so chill… Anyway, IceDrive!
IceDrive offers great pricing flexibility with monthly, yearly,
and lifetime deals. These deals can save you a great deal over… well… your lifetime.
My only critique, the storage is somewhat light on the “Lite plan,” as 150 GB feels small. But,
if that isn’t a problem, you don’t have to pay anything for 10 GBs.
Regarding appearance, the mobile app, made available for iOS and Android,
is clean. But, the iOS typically gets less support.
The desktop app creates a unique “d drive” for you. It also has a “portable” app,
an unusual name for an app that might end up on a desktop computer.
I guess they assume that every device is a laptop. Hmm.
IceDrive can improve in the integrations department, but,
that might not be a deal breaker for everyone.
The security, ease of use, pricing, and convenience put IceDrive in the
Good tier. With some collaboration, it could’ve easily hit the top level.
“But how important is collaboration to you in your cloud storage?” Let us know in the comments below.
Next, let’s take a look at Sync. Based on our findings,Sync
is the best platform for people who crave simplicity.
Sync prioritizes the KISS principle,
or Keep it Simple Stupid. So, it’s ideal for people unfamiliar with cloud storage.
The desktop app creates a sync folder but has no real
interface beyond a small window where you can search for files.
The mobile app for desktop and iOS looks a bit better, but it isn’t anything to write
home about. Reviews have been critical about the stability of these apps.
So, long story short, the interface is super limited, which isn’t great for everyone.
Sync recovers from this by integrating with Microsoft Word,
Excel, and PowerPoint. But has no support with Google.
Sync is great at the one thing it’s named for: automatic syncing.
But, you might still be wondering what makes this platform worth the best-of list.
Well, to find out, you’ll have to like our video.
The secret knowledge I hold is so irresistible, it might just get you to meet my demands
Did you do it?... Good! Well, this isn't a choose-your-own-adventure video. So,
you might think of this as the weirdest episode of Dora the Explorer.
Anyway, beyond its solid collaboration features, it gets some points for pricing and security.
Sync is based out of Canada, which has solid data privacy laws. It also
has zero-knowledge encryption, meaning nobody knows about your files but you.
Sync also offers some of the best value for its storage. It costs $8 for 1 TB of storage,
which is pretty great. The free storage, however, is limited to 5 GB,
which is less than others on this list. You also don’t get any lifetime deals.
With this in mind, Sync falls into our tier list's “okay” category. It’s got
an inconvenient and dated interface, but makes it up with excellent pricing
and simplicity. Ready to upgrade your plan? I've got a special discount for
you. Click the link in the description to get [percentage] off your purchase.
What do you think? Can you overcome a crappy interface
to find an awesome product? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Our next product has taken inspiration from Apple for its name: IDrive. Unlike Apple,
IDrive doesn’t follow the same “camelcase” convention you get from iPod or iMac.
Camelcase means that you capitalize letters in the later parts of the word. This is your “The Cyber
Lab” word of the day, a new feature we are presenting for this one video only.
Of all the products on this list, IDrive takes the cake on the best dollar per bite.
The free tier starts at 10 GB but upgrades to 100 GB at the next level for about $3 per year.
That’s a good start, but the craziness starts at the personal level, about $60 for 5 TB.
That’s enough storage to fit at least four or five American McDonald’s cheeseburgers.
IDrive also has the same end-to-end, zero-knowledge encryption. But,
it’s based out of California in the US. California is known for solid data privacy,
but the US is known for some questionable data decisions..
IDrive also has some decent features. Like most of the drives on this list,
it automatically syncs across platforms using automatic backup.
Among integrations, it works with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. You’ll have
to pay $20 for each integration, though, which is a bit of a bummer.
Regarding interface, IDrive is available across all major platforms. But,
It’ll feel like you are using three different unrelated programs.
The web app’s interface is the worst of the three,
as the left-hand menu is a smorgasbord of confusing options.
It’s not overly complex, but if you can tell me the difference
between these menus from an initial glance, I’ll email you a cookie.
The desktop app is better, offering automatic, scheduled backups for your files. You’ll also
find unique server-based backups, but these aren’t useful for regular users.
The mobile app is the best of the three, offering a simple,
engaging interface for backing up phone files.
Because of its solid features and affordable pricing, IDrive ends up
at the good level on our tier list. With a bit of an interface refresh, they could be better.
Next, let’s take a look at one of the most popular cloud drive platforms:
pCloud. Based on our findings, pCloud offers some of the most comprehensive
security and convenience when compared to other platforms.
pCloud is unique because it starts with a tutorial
teaching you how to upload files and manage your storage.
Going through the tutorial unlocks a free 10 GB of storage. But the last 3 of that 10 GB
of storage is limited to people who invite three friends, which is a bit of a bummer.
pCloud offers automatic uploads and syncing for your phone and desktop
files. It’s pretty easy to set up as well, as you can find it in your various app settings.
One of the most popular features you get through pCloud is the
ability to stream media. pCloud has an integrated audio and video player,
meaning you can jam to your tunes or watch videos without needing to download them.
pCloud’s dashboard also makes it easy for you to track shared links with a dedicated shared tab.
Those shared links control whether you let people download files, add password protection,
and even add a custom expiration link, so your links are only available for a limited time.
These unlimited links that most services offer can
be a huge security risk. So kudos to pCloud for thinking of others.
Beyond pCloud’s web app, you also get a powerful desktop app.
It’s easy to navigate and use the platform’s most powerful features.
pCloud extends this easy use to its mobile
platform. You can tell a lot of love went into all of these apps.
pCloud covers your security with a powerful 256-AES, zero-knowledge system based out
of Switzerland, a data privacy haven. It also offers a crypto storage service, ideal for your
most private files. But, crypto costs extra, so prepare to pay about $5 a month for this service.
Regarding cost, pCloud offers annual plans and lifetime plans with a lot of
storage. You can get storage anywhere from 500 GB to 10 TB, which is insane.
So pCloud easily hits that awesome tier, covering all the bases you need from cloud storage.
The one thing it could improve on is integrations. Take control of your cloud storage with pCloud
and save big! Get an exclusive 65% discount by visiting us at thecyberlab.co/pcloud. Don't
miss out on this limited-time offer, secure your files with pCloud today!
But, if you are looking for a platform with too many integrations,
you might look at our next contender: Box.
No! Not that box, the good Box! This one!
Box is unique because it focuses heavily on integrations. You can get it to work
with Microsoft, Google, Asana, Zoom, and Airtable. We could list more,
but it would take the rest of the day. You can find them in the dashboard.
Speaking of the dashboard, it’s also fairly simple to use. The web
app houses most of everything you need, letting you navigate your files easily.
Box also offers mobile and desktop apps. The desktop app has no interface, instead limiting
you to automatic syncing and a folder. The mobile app is solid, but isn’t as easy to use as some.
You’ll find a bunch of features you probably won’t need if you want basic cloud storage. For example,
you can e-sign documents from Box. This is great if you run a business,
but not that useful for everyone else.
You’ll also get access to Box Canvas, which is a whiteboard app. So,
if you want to create idea boards, you’ll find that useful. You can also
collaborate those boards with others, even if your friends are a little nuts.
You’ll find that most of their features are business-centric,
so if you are a freelancer or need something for your job, you might find a few useful tools.
Arguably it’s most useful feature is the free plan,
which offers a whopping 30 GB of storage. The free plan doesn’t include any of the
integrations or business features, but does offer you decent free storage.
The paid plans are a lot less cost-effective for people seeking more storage. You get 100
GB for about $14 a month. The higher cost comes from the integrated business features,
which might not be useful for everyone.
Box also is one of the few providers that offers unlimited storage. But,
you need to pay for their business plans, which requires you to add
multiple users and pay per user, usually costing a minimum of $30 per month.
Because of this, Box meets our good tier, but it’s still very
niche. Unless you are running a business, you won’t find a lot of value out of Box.
But, that’s just our perspective. We want to hear from you, What integrations
do you look for in your cloud storage provider? Let us know in the comments.
To recap, if you want the best value of your storage, we recommend pCloud. But,
the best cloud storage depends on your priorities, which we’ve broken down for you.
If you've been eyeing a product from our list, now is the perfect time to
grab it. You can find discounts for all of these providers in our description.
If you are interested in a deeper perspective on how some of these platforms compare to the
big three, check out this video. We’d also appreciate you leaving a like and
sharing this with your friends. 10000 likes on this one and I shall serenade
the audience with a personalized jingle based on any given topic in the comments.