No affiliate links or sponsorship. Free storage amounts come from each provider’s own pricing or help page, checked October 26, 2026. We didn’t sign up for or test these services, and there are no screenshots. Free tiers change, so check the provider’s page before you rely on one.
Quick answer
The best free cloud storage by size is MEGA, with 20 GB free, followed by Google (up to 15 GB across Gmail, Drive, and Photos) and Box and pCloud (10 GB each, though pCloud starts you at 2 GB). Microsoft OneDrive, Apple iCloud, and Proton Drive give 5 GB, and Dropbox Basic gives 2 GB. The right pick depends less on size and more on which phone, email, and apps you already use (provider pages, October 26, 2026).
Key takeaways
- Most space free: MEGA, 20 GB with end-to-end (zero-knowledge) encryption.
- Best for Android and Gmail users: Google, up to 15 GB shared across Gmail, Drive, and Photos. New accounts since March 9, 2026 start at 5 GB and unlock 10 GB more by verifying a phone number.
- Best for iPhone users: iCloud’s 5 GB is built in, but it fills fast with device backups.
- Best for privacy: Proton Drive (5 GB) and MEGA (20 GB) both encrypt files end to end.
- Smallest: Dropbox Basic, 2 GB on up to 3 devices.
Free cloud storage compared
Here’s how the best free cloud storage tiers line up, largest first. For paid plans and prices, see our cloud storage pricing tracker; for how cloud storage works in general, start with our cloud storage guide.
| Service | Free storage | What the free space covers | Notable limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEGA | 20 GB | Files | Zero-knowledge encryption on the free plan |
| Up to 15 GB | Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos (shared) | New accounts since March 9, 2026: 5 GB, plus 10 GB after phone verification | |
| Box (Individual) | 10 GB | Files | 250 MB upload limit per file; 1 file version |
| pCloud (Basic) | Up to 10 GB | Files | Starts at 2 GB; unlock more via tutorial steps and referrals |
| Microsoft OneDrive | 5 GB | OneDrive files and photos, Outlook.com attachments | Separate 15 GB for Outlook.com email |
| Apple iCloud | 5 GB | Photos, files, device backups | Device backups share the same 5 GB |
| Proton Drive | 5 GB | Files, photos, documents | End-to-end encrypted |
| Dropbox (Basic) | 2 GB | Files | Up to 3 devices; 30-day file recovery |
Best free cloud storage by need
- Most free space: MEGA, at 20 GB (MEGA).
- You use Gmail or an Android phone: Google, because the free 15 GB covers your mail, Drive files, and Photos backups in one place (Google One Help). Running out? See Google Drive storage full.
- You use an iPhone or Mac: iCloud, since it’s built in and handles device backups, but plan to upgrade if you back up more than one device. Our iCloud vs Google Drive comparison helps you choose.
- You use Windows and Office: OneDrive, which is built into Windows; see What is OneDrive?.
- Privacy first: Proton Drive or MEGA, which both say they can’t read your files (Proton, MEGA).
- Sharing work files: Box Individual gives 10 GB, but the 250 MB upload cap rules out big videos (Box).
Free tiers, provider by provider
MEGA: 20 GB
MEGA offers 20 GB of free storage and says the free plan uses the same zero-knowledge encryption as its paid plans, so files are encrypted on your device before upload and MEGA can’t access them. Paid plans run from 200 GB to 20 TB (MEGA).
Google: up to 15 GB
Every Google Account includes up to 15 GB, shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. Starting March 9, 2026, new accounts get 5 GB and can unlock 10 GB more by verifying a valid phone number. Gmail Spam and Trash and Original-quality photo backups all count toward it (Google One Help). Paid Google One plans start at $1.99 a month for 100 GB in the US (Google One).
Box Individual: 10 GB
Box’s free Individual plan gives one user 10 GB, a 250 MB file upload limit, 1 file version, and 5 Box Sign signature requests a month. Shared-link downloads are limited to 10 GB per user per month on Individual plans (Box).
pCloud Basic: up to 10 GB
pCloud gives 2 GB when you register and lets you unlock up to 10 GB free by completing its beginner’s tutorial and inviting friends. The free plan includes 50 GB of shared-link traffic a month (pCloud Help). Our pCloud review covers the paid plans.
Microsoft OneDrive: 5 GB
A free Microsoft account includes 5 GB of cloud storage shared across OneDrive files and photos, Outlook.com attachments, and Microsoft 365 apps, plus a separate 15 GB for Outlook.com email (Microsoft Support). The next step up, Microsoft 365 Basic, is 100 GB for $1.99 a month or $19.99 a year in the US (Microsoft).
Apple iCloud: 5 GB
Apple gives every account 5 GB of iCloud storage free. iCloud+ adds more storage (50 GB, 200 GB, 2 TB, 6 TB, or 12 TB) and features like Private Relay and Hide My Email, and can be shared with up to five other family members (Apple Support).
Proton Drive: 5 GB
Proton Free includes 5 GB for files, photos, and documents, an online document and spreadsheet editor, and end-to-end encryption, and Proton says it will always offer a free plan. Drive Plus is 200 GB for $4.99 a month billed monthly (Proton).
Dropbox Basic: 2 GB
Dropbox Basic gives one person 2 GB on up to 3 devices, with 30-day file recovery and version history and desktop apps for Windows, Mac, and Linux (Dropbox). See Dropbox vs Google Drive for how it compares with Google’s free tier.
Not included: Sync.com. Its individual pricing page lists only paid plans with a 30-day free trial and money-back guarantee, not an ongoing free tier (Sync.com, checked October 26, 2026).
Catches to watch for on free plans
- Shared pools fill up faster than you expect. Google counts Gmail and Photos against the same 15 GB, and Microsoft counts Outlook.com attachments against OneDrive’s 5 GB.
- Running out has consequences. When you’re over Google’s limit, you can’t upload to Drive or back up to Photos, and Gmail sending and receiving can be affected; after two years over the limit, Google may delete content with at least three months’ notice (Google One Help).
- File size and version caps. Box Individual caps uploads at 250 MB and keeps 1 version (Box).
- Device limits. Dropbox Basic connects up to 3 devices (Dropbox).
- Free tiers change. Google cut the starting allowance for new accounts in March 2026. Check the provider’s page now and then.
Free storage is not a backup
A single free cloud account isn’t a backup plan. CISA’s 3-2-1 rule says to keep 3 copies of important files on 2 different types of media, with 1 copy offsite (CISA). A free cloud tier can be the offsite copy for your most important files.
Can you combine free plans?
Yes. Nothing stops you from using several free accounts, and together they add up to more than 60 GB. The trade-off is juggling several apps and remembering where each file lives. A tidy approach: keep phone photos in the service that matches your phone (iCloud or Google Photos), work documents in one sync service, and an encrypted copy of irreplaceable files in MEGA or Proton Drive.
When it’s time to pay
Pay when your photo or device backups stop, or when you’re spending time deleting files to stay under the limit. The cheapest US upgrades we found today were Google’s 100 GB for $1.99 a month (Google One) and Microsoft 365 Basic’s 100 GB for $1.99 a month (Microsoft). Small teams should look at best cloud storage for small teams instead of stretching free accounts.
FAQ
Which free cloud storage gives the most space?
MEGA, with 20 GB free. Google gives up to 15 GB, and Box and pCloud give up to 10 GB (pCloud starts at 2 GB).
Is Google Drive still 15 GB free?
Up to 15 GB, shared across Gmail, Drive, and Photos. Since March 9, 2026, new accounts start at 5 GB and unlock 10 GB more by verifying a phone number.
How much free storage does OneDrive give?
5 GB with a free Microsoft account, shared with Outlook.com attachments. Outlook.com email gets a separate 15 GB.
What is the most private free cloud storage?
Proton Drive (5 GB) and MEGA (20 GB) both use end-to-end encryption on their free plans, so the provider says it can’t read your files.
Is free cloud storage safe?
The big providers encrypt your files, but a free account can still fill up, be locked, or change terms. Keep another copy of anything you can’t lose, following the 3-2-1 rule.
Does Dropbox have a free plan?
Yes. Dropbox Basic is free, with 2 GB on up to 3 devices.
Sources
Each provider’s official pricing or help page, plus CISA. All checked October 26, 2026 (PKT). US prices where prices are mentioned.
Show all 12 sources
- MEGA: Cloud storage (free plan)
- Google One Help: How your Google storage works
- Google One: plans and pricing (US view)
- Box: Individual plans and pricing
- pCloud Help Center: Plan details
- Microsoft Support: Microsoft storage FAQs
- Microsoft: OneDrive plans and pricing
- Apple Support: iCloud+ plans and pricing
- Proton: Proton Drive pricing
- Dropbox: Dropbox Basic (free account)
- Sync.com: Pricing for individuals
- CISA: Data Backup Options (3-2-1 rule)
Changelog
- October 26, 2026: First published. Free tiers for MEGA, Google, Box, pCloud, Microsoft, Apple, Proton, and Dropbox checked against official pages; Sync.com left out because no free tier is listed. No hands-on testing or screenshots.
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