The short version: Google gives you up to 15 GB of free cloud storage, Box 10 GB, Proton Drive and iCloud 5 GB each, and Dropbox 2 GB. Google's is the biggest, but it's shared with your Gmail and Google Photos, so for most people the best free setup is Google plus one other service for the files you can't afford to lose.
Free cloud storage sounds simple until a backup stops or an upload fails halfway through a client project. Every provider gives you something for nothing, and every one of them has a limit that shows up at the worst moment. Knowing those limits up front is what turns free storage into something you can rely on for your business.
Six places to get free cloud storage
In no particular order, each one best for a different job:
- Google Drive: best for the most free space if you already use Gmail.
- Box: best for a clean, work-focused file store with plenty of room.
- Proton Drive: best for private files with end-to-end encryption.
- iCloud: best for iPhone and Mac backups that just happen.
- Dropbox Basic: best for simple syncing between a computer and phone.
- OneDrive: best if your business already runs on Windows and Microsoft 365.
Free cloud storage side by side
| Service | Free space | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | Up to 15 GB | Shared across Gmail, Drive and Google Photos |
| Box | 10 GB | 250 MB file upload limit and one file version |
| Proton Drive | 5 GB | Zero-access encryption, so Proton can't see your files |
| iCloud | 5 GB | Backs up your Apple devices automatically |
| Dropbox Basic | 2 GB | Connect up to three devices, get more space by referring people |
| OneDrive | Not stated on the plans page we read | Built into Windows |
If you only take one thing from this table, take the upload limits. Space is easy to check. The rules about what you can upload are the part people miss.
What each free plan gives you
Google's help centre says each Google Account includes up to 15 GB of storage, shared across Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos. Box's free Individual plan gives you 10 GB of storage, a 250 MB file upload limit and one file version. Proton Drive's free plan includes 5 GB for photos and documents, plus an online document and spreadsheet editor, and Proton says its zero-access encryption means not even Proton can access your data.
Apple says iCloud keeps your information backed up and available anywhere, with 5 GB of storage free. Dropbox Basic gives one person 2 GB, can back up your computer files automatically and lets you connect up to three devices. Dropbox's help centre also says you can get more space by referring friends, family and coworkers.
The limits that catch people out
Google's 15 GB isn't 15 GB of Drive space. Google's help page lists what counts towards it: Gmail messages and attachments, including your Spam and Trash folders, files in Drive and photos and videos in Google Photos. Even photos backed up in Storage saver or Express quality after 1 June 2021 count. So a busy inbox can quietly eat the space you thought was for documents.
Box's 250 MB upload limit means a long video or a big design file simply won't go up on the free plan, and with one file version you can't roll back to yesterday's copy if something gets overwritten. Dropbox's three-device limit trips people who use a laptop, a desktop and a phone, then add a tablet. None of these are dealbreakers. You just need to know which service is holding which files.
How to set up free cloud storage that works
- List what you need to store: documents, photos, video or backups.
- Check how much of your Google 15 GB your Gmail and Photos already use.
- Clear Spam and Trash in Gmail, because they count towards your space.
- Put large or sensitive files somewhere suited to them, such as Proton Drive for private files.
- Keep Dropbox for the three devices you sync most often.
- Set up a second copy of anything you can't lose, on a different service.
Privacy and sharing on free plans
Free plans differ a lot in who can see your files. Proton is the one to choose for anything sensitive, because it says its zero-access encryption means only you and the people you share with can open your files. Google Drive and Dropbox are easier for sharing a link with a client in seconds. Whatever you use, check the sharing setting on every link you send, and switch off public links once a project is finished.
Using two free services together
Here's the setup I'd suggest for a small business that doesn't want to upgrade its storage yet. Use Google Drive for day-to-day documents you share with clients, because that's where Docs and Sheets live. Use Box or Proton Drive as the second home for contracts, signed agreements and anything private. Phone photos can stay in iCloud or Google Photos, but don't let them fill the space your work files need.
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That split also gives you a backup by default. If one account is locked or full, your most important files are still somewhere else. If you need more help, my roundup of free backup tools covers automatic copies, here's how to free up space on Google Drive, and if syncing breaks, here's what to do when Dropbox is not syncing.
My verdict: start with Google's free space, but clean out Gmail first and keep a second service for files that matter. Free storage works brilliantly as long as you treat it as two smaller boxes, not one big one.
Run a free cloud storage service that belongs on this list? See how to get it featured.
Frequently asked questions
Which free cloud storage gives the most space?
Google gives each account up to 15 GB, but it's shared across Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos. Box gives 10 GB on its free Individual plan.
Does Gmail count towards Google Drive storage?
Yes. Google says Gmail messages and attachments, including Spam and Trash, count towards your storage quota.
How much free storage does Dropbox give?
Dropbox Basic gives 2 GB and lets you connect up to three devices. You can get more space by referring people.
What is the upload limit on Box's free plan?
Box's free Individual plan has a 250 MB file upload limit and keeps one file version.
Is Proton Drive's free storage private?
Proton says its free plan gives 5 GB with zero-access encryption, so not even Proton can access your data.
