• Seagate and Western Digital dominate reliability rankings across massive real-world datasets
• Annualized failure rate falls to 1.36% across 344,196 drives
• Vibration emerges as the suspected cause behind the sudden reliability collapse

Backblaze has released its 2025 drive reliability data, offering one of the clearest large-scale snapshots of HDD performance in active data centers.

The cloud storage and data backup firm examined 344,196 drives that collectively operated for 115,638,676 days during the year, finding 4,317 drives in the pool failed, resulting in an Annualized Failure Rate (AFR) of 1.36%.

Despite the failure, the figure is an improvement over the previous year’s 1.57% and continues a gradual decline from earlier results - and every model in the fleet recorded at least one failure, which reinforces that no HDD is immune to wear or operational stress.

Drive reliability trends show steady improvement

However, several drives stood out for exceptionally low failure counts. The Seagate ST16000NM002J 16TB recorded just one failure across the year.

Western Digital WUH722626ALE6L4 26TB also logged a single failure, though it was deployed for only one quarter.

Toshiba’s MG09ACA16TE 16TB followed with three failures, while the Seagate ST12000NM000J 12TB and HGST HMS5C4040BLE640 4TB recorded four and five failures, respectively.

While those results support Seagate and Western Digital models as strong performers in this dataset, the same report identified drives with elevated quarterly failure rates.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, the HGST HUH728080ALE600 8TB posted a 10.29% failure rate, marking the first double-digit figure for that model.

Backblaze investigated potential environmental causes, including temperature and airflow, but ruled them out.

Vibration is now considered a possible factor, although these units are roughly 7.5 years old and already scheduled for retirement.

Other drives with notable fourth quarter rates include the Seagate ST10000NM0086 10TB at 5.23% and the Toshiba MG08ACA16TEY 16TB at 4.14%.

Toshiba’s figure represents a significant drop from 16.95% in the prior quarter, following a firmware update intended to correct the issue.

The rate remains higher than the fleet average, but further normalization is expected as updated firmware deployment continues.

Beyond reliability metrics, the report also reveals that storage economics keep shifting as HDD capacity continues to increase.

However, the cost per gigabyte had been trending downward before supply disruptions in late 2025 affected memory and storage components.

Despite remaining cheaper than SSDs and RAM on a per — gigabyte basis, HDD prices have risen with the Seagate Barracuda 24TB now selling for $389.99 on Newegg, a 56% increase from its $249.99 price tag a few months ago.

These results suggest that reliability gains are incremental rather than dramatic, and that drive age, workload, and environment remain critical variables.

While the aggregate AFR improved, individual model performance still varies significantly.

Therefore, there is a need for careful deployment decisions that consider workload demands and even CPU-level data handling patterns.

• Backblaze B2 Overdrive delivers up to 1 Tbps for AI without sky-high pricing headaches
• Backblaze includes egress, read, and write in one price
• Designed for AI and HPC, B2 Overdrive redefines performance at petabyte scale

American cloud storage company Backblaze has launched a new B2 Overdrive tier designed to support AI, HPC, and other high-bandwidth workloads.

With prices starting at $15 per terabyte and sustained network throughput of up to 1Tbps, the service positions itself as an affordable option for businesses handling massive data volumes.

B2 Overdrive includes storage, read (Get), write (Put), and egress at a single price point. This contrasts with the tiered and often unpredictable pricing models used by competitors.

Takes aim at AWS with a bold alternative

The service is available immediately to customers with multi-petabyte workloads. It complements Backblaze’s existing B2 cloud storage tier, priced at $6 per terabyte per month.

That basic tier includes features like object lock immutability and a 99.9% uptime SLA and is often listed among the best cloud backup services for small businesses or individual users.

B2 Overdrive, by contrast, is aimed at organizations working at scale. According to Backblaze, it delivers 100% performance at roughly one-fifth the cost of AWS S3 and includes free egress up to three times the average monthly storage amount, with additional egress priced at $0.01 per GB.

The tier is built on disk-based infrastructure and connects directly to customer environments via secure private networking. It enables data to move freely to GPU clouds or high-performance compute clusters without incurring egress charges.

Backblaze says B2 Overdrive is intended for use cases such as AI and machine learning training, inference, large-scale analytics, media processing, and research computing.

Unlike most public cloud storage providers that emphasize latency, Backblaze focuses on sustained throughput.

Among major US providers - AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, and Oracle - Backblaze is the only one to publish throughput numbers directly.

Though not a general-purpose solution, B2 Overdrive may appeal to businesses seeking performance and pricing transparency.

While not commonly used for photo management, its affordability and expandable storage could make it a contender for archival photo storage as well.

“With B2 Overdrive, we’re challenging the industry’s assumption that organizations must pay colossal prices for colossal performance. We’ve engineered a solution that delivers the sustained high-throughput organizations need, without the egress fees and complex pricing tiers that are pervasive among legacy providers,” said Backblaze CEO Gleb Budman.

Via Blocksandfiles

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Backblaze is one of the best cloud backup services that we've tested, providing unlimited storage with no file size limits for a very reasonable price. The company started in 2007 as a way for a developer to backup a friend’s computer online. Fast forward to the present, and it is used by over 500,000 customers.

If you're just looking for an ultra-simple high capacity backup service, then Backblaze is a must-see, especially as with only a single payment tier and unlimited storage, you're always paying just the same amount, not matter how much you upload.

Backblaze is entirely focused on backups, which means there's no file syncing, no clever collaboration tools, and only the simplest of file sharing options. This can be a positive or negative, depending on your requirements.

Alternatively, if you need a VPN to protect yourself online, you can get Backblaze completely free for a year when you sign up to our #1 favorite, ExpressVPN (and you get three extra months of ExpressVPN protection, too).

Backblaze: Features

Backblaze doesn’t bother you with the details of your backup plan, just that it is occurring: when you initially install the desktop client, it doesn’t require you to select files and folders, but rather just grabs all the files and folders it considers important and starts transferring them to your Backblaze cloud backup.

By default, Backblaze copies all data except ISOs, DMGs (Mac disk image), virtual drives, system files or executables. Backblaze also won't backup files created by other backup utilities like Time Machine.

You have the option to exclude other file types if you wish, but unless exclusively told to ignore them, it will include everything except the file types listed. During our testing, we found it very simple and straightforward, and you can rest easy that your entire computer can be recovered if needed.

The tool is a "set-it-and-forget-it" solution. It's there to help you recover data such as if your hard drive catastrophically fails or your laptop fails to boot.

However, Backblaze is not designed for syncing files between computers, or getting at your music and video files in the cloud. You can include external hard drives and portable SSDs and, on a business plan, servers in your backups, although networked drives can't be included. While file sharing is possible, the feature can only be accessed through the web interface.

Backups can be continuous and this is a default option. They can also be configured to occur once a day, or just when you initiate them manually. Some extra variety with those timescales would be nice, but we expect the majority of users will leave it set to continuous backup mode. Although you can backup an unlimited amount of data, you are restricted to one computer for each Backblaze account, and mobile devices aren't included.

The fact that you can't select files or folders to backup individually can be an inconvenience if you only want to back up certain files. For instance, your Documents folder may contain irreplaceable data but your Pictures might not. You also can't fine-tune which folders within these directories are backed up. On the plus side, there's little chance of anything valuable being missed during backup.

As standard, unlimited versions of files are kept, though only for a period of 30 days. This can be somewhat restrictive, especially as weeks can pass before you realize that you are missing an important document. Given the reasonable price for the standard plan, combined with the fact that an unlimited amount of storage could hold thousands of folders filled with documents, images and videos, we think the extra $2 a month (or $14 a year) for extended file history is a no-brainer. This extends it to one year. For an extra $2 per month and $0.005/GB per file, Backblaze can also store file versions forever.

While only one computer is supported per license, totally unlimited data storage with no file size limits means that Backblaze should never be the restricting element to your backing-up needs. This makes it a hugely valuable tool that is also affordable compared to rivals such as Polarbackup, LiveDrive, and Carbonite, all of which offer unlimited storage plans that are currently more expensive.

Because there are no subscription tiers, every account benefits from otherwise premium features. Uploading and downloading when using the desktop client is unthrottled, which means superquick backups up to the maximum speed of your ISP and router.

Backblaze has built-in safeguards to limit the amount of bandwidth consumed. The Control Panel settings list the latest upload speed and the amount of data backed up per day on average. In order to give users more control, manual throttling can limit the amount of bandwidth used by the app in order to prioritize other tasks. This can be useful for workers who often find themselves on video calls, as it allows backups to continue automatically in the background while providing optimal speeds for your workload.

Backblaze: Interface and use

The Backblaze desktop client targets simplicity over power. The options of the Backblaze package are limited, so the software doesn't have to do much except focus on the job at hand - to make sure that your files are getting continuously backed up in the background.

There is an option to exclude certain files and folders from a Backblaze backup, but we found it could be more straightforward. Considering you get an unlimited amount of space in the cloud, it's easier to just let Backblaze backup everything, just in case.

Transferring data from an entire computer to the web is potentially a lengthy process, but the speeds Backblaze managed were impressive. You can also choose to pause or throttle the upload process if you think Backblaze is taking up too much bandwidth to override the automatic throttling.

We like its integration within the operating system that helps to simplify the backup process - or at least, for those rare events that users need to modify controls. In this case, Backblaze sits neatly in System Preferences within macOS for instance. The Backblaze control panel can also be launched via a handy system tray icon in Windows.

Like the desktop client, the web interface is also cut down and minimal, letting you review backed up files and restore them if needed. There's also a mechanism for sharing stored files to others that is exclusive to the web interface. Unfortunately, in terms of web functionality, Backblaze falls short of Dropbox, Google Drive, or Apple iCloud when it comes to sharing files. However, it is ultimately a different proposition so this comparison is, perhaps, slightly unfair.

In the event of a system failure or loss, files can be downloaded for free, or Backblaze will put them on a USB hard drive for $189 and ship your data to your door. While it may not do much beyond suck up all the files on a computer and let you restore them, Backblaze does these core jobs very well. The almost $200 spent on backing up your files should be seen more as a holding fee for the value of the large hard drive (up to 8TB), as when the restore is complete you can return it by mail and receive a full refund.

Backups are limited to PCs and Macs, however alongside the web interface there are iOS and Android apps that allow you to access your data from anywhere. Backblaze Mobile 6.0, released in December 2022, has a new feel to it with authentication improvements for both platforms plus many tweaks and updates.

Backblaze: Security

Backblaze gets high marks from a security perspective: as you can enable two-step authentication on your account.

The company behind the tool also claims that backed up files on your machine are protected with AES 128-bit encryption, the key for which is generated randomly for each backup session. Also worth noting is that users can pick between EU and US data centers.

The data is sent securely via an SSL connection to avoid your data being intercepted as it travels through the internet. Backblaze also says it uses OpenSSL for generating the necessary encryption keys to do this. While it's not full end-to-end encryption, it's certainly safe enough for most users. But if you do want end-to-end encryption, you can also set up a private encryption key, known only to you, which adds an extra layer of protection to your data.

The downside of this is that Backblaze can’t help you if you forget the key, and you need to share it with Backblaze if you ever need to restore your data.

Backblaze: How we tested

We performed three primary tests for Backblaze, focusing on sync speed, file recovery, and versioning.

These tests were carried out on a Windows 11 virtual machine using the Backblaze desktop client. The virtual machine was connected to the internet via a fiber broadband connection with a VPN server. Throughout our speed tests, we consistently recorded an average upload speed of 70 Mbps.

Test 1 - Sync speed

Our typical approach for evaluating cloud storage providers involves copying a 589MB folder containing various file types, such as PDFs, JPGs, Microsoft Word documents, and more, and then assessing the desktop client's synchronization speed. However, Backblaze primarily functions as an all-or-nothing backup solution. Therefore, for this particular test, we were compelled to allow the utility to back up everything in the home folder, including the test files.

Although Backblaze is designed for backups rather than traditional cloud storage, it is possible to use backed-up files for cloud storage purposes indirectly. Nevertheless, there is no straightforward method to selectively back up only a specific folder as we usually do for our standard cloud storage service tests. Consequently, we allowed Backblaze to back up all the folders in the test machine's home directory, including our test files.

This resulted in a data volume slightly exceeding 6GB, and the upload to Backblaze's servers was completed in less than 10 minutes. Therefore, our test files took just over a minute to upload. This performance is commendable, especially when considering that our average upload speed was 70Mbps, significantly faster than what many other cloud storage providers offer.

Test 1 - File Recovery

During our second test, we purposefully placed the test folder containing our files in the Recycle Bin and then manually triggered another backup. Once the backup was complete, we accessed the online Backblaze Control Panel through the desktop client and selected the Restore Options. Locating the test folder was straightforward, and upon choosing to Restore, we received a message stating that further instructions would be sent to us via email.

Upon checking our inbox, we found an email containing a link to download a ZIP file of the folder. We were also given the option to install the Backblaze Downloader app. Upon extraction, we discovered that the folder was organized within a directory structure mirroring our device. For example, the main folder was 'C,' and we found another folder named 'Users,' and so forth. Despite this multi-step process, we successfully recovered all the files.

Test 3 - Versioning

Versioning is an important feature when working on documents as it allows you to revert back to previous versions of the file. When Backblaze backed up all the files in the home directory, it included the original version of our test document. We opened this in Wordpad, deleted all the text except the intro, saved and closed the file, and then ran another backup.

After selecting "Restore Options" from the desktop client, we were able to recover the file from the first backup in the same way as we did for the deleted test folder. We chose to download the document as a ZIP file. Once extracted, the document opened without any issues.

Backblaze: Plans and pricing

You can try Backblaze for free for 15 days without providing any payment card information. As expected, there's no free tier since you get unlimited cloud backup. Personal plans cost $9 monthly, $99 a year, or $189 every two years. There is also a $2 monthly charge to upgrade file version history from 30 days to one year, which, in our opinion, is a must.

Business customers get similar pricing. However, you should contact Backblaze directly for quotes for backing up multiple computers and servers and storing more data in the cloud for long-term storage. This is especially useful if you're replacing tape backups. It's refreshing to see this sort of flexible pricing, but it does make it more challenging to compare Backblaze against competing services.

Backblaze: Final verdict

Backblaze should be near the top of your shortlist if you want a comprehensive, unlimited, secure backup of all of the data from your home or business computers.

Backblaze isn't a simple cloud storage solution so much as a comprehensive cloud backup solution-rather than allow for some files and folders to be backed up it will simply grab everything. This means if you only want to sync individual files and folders this could prove tricky.

Additionally, when it comes to restoring deleted/modified data, we can't see any logic in offering a separate downloader app when this code could be integrated into Backblaze itself.

Still, Backblaze has a large user base, and it’s easy to see why – if you want to back up everything from one computer and its external drives, simply and securely and without spending too much, then the service is hard to beat. We appreciate, too, that there are no limits on file sizes and no limits on the amount of data you can send to the cloud.

Just be certain you know exactly what Backblaze is before you sign up. It's not for syncing files between computers or getting easy access to your files through a web browser. It's a comprehensive, set-and-forget cloud backup solution for protecting your data should the worst happen, and at that task it provides a great solution. With stellar performance in that regard, Backblaze is one of the best backup software solutions thanks to its unlimited storage at a reasonable cost, aided by its array of restoration methods and ease of use.

We've featured the best free cloud storage.

Fujifilm recently announced it would be hiking the prices of its various tape products, blaming the surprising move on escalating raw material costs. 

The company insisted at the time that “data tape continues to be the most cost-effective and energy-efficient storage solution available,” but that’s clearly not quite as true as it once was with increases of 15% for its Ultrium 9 Data Cartridges and a whopping 40% for older generation products.

Data storage and management firm Spectra Logic, in partnership with cloud archive provider Geyser Data, have launched a new tape-as-service (TaaS) cloud offering which combines the benefits of traditional tape storage, such as high durability and low cost, with the convenience and flexibility of cloud services.

Better performance and lower cost

Tape Archive Platform As-a-Service (TAPAS) utilizes the Spectra Cube cloud-optimized tape library, Spectra Certified LTO-9 media and Spectra BlackPearl S3- compatible object storage to create an object-based tape infrastructure that is compatible with any Amazon S3 or S3 Glacier application.

The two firms describe TAPAS as the “first true tape-as-a-service offering in the cloud.” While tape-as-a-service is far from a new concept, it had a very different meaning in the past. 

A spokesperson for Spectra Logic explained, “For example, FujiFilm offered on-prem server software that provided an S3 interface to tape. They did not provide the server or the tape library. The customer had to provide these and do their own integration, as well as buy the tapes from FujiFilm. This was not a consumption-based service in the cloud as we think of it today.” 

The TAPAS platform aims to offer quick and free data retrieval, ranging from seconds to minutes, along with the ability to copy all data to major clouds for broad application. Data security is achieved through the use of dedicated tapes and data segregation to minimize cyber threats and unauthorized access. TAPAS also offers data residency, with user-determined physical locations to prevent unforeseen issues related to public cloud storage.  

“With the ever-rising volume of backup and archive data being stored in the cloud, there is a clear need for greater security, better performance and lower cost,” said Nathan Thompson, chief executive officer, Spectra Logic. “Our partnership with Geyser Data is leading the way in delivering the traditional benefits of tape in a modern, easy-to-consume service that is more cost-effective than typical cold storage services in the cloud.” 

Pricing for TAPAS will be on a per-tape basis, costing around $27 per month for each 18-terabyte LTO-9 tape cartridge used, or approximately $1.50/TB. That’s significantly cheaper than the likes of Backblaze ($6/TB a month) and Wasabi ($6.99/TB a month). TAPAS will be available from June 1, along with a 30-day limited capacity trial. Find out more here.

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The latest findings by cloud storage company Backblaze, which analyzed the annualized failure rates of more than 270,000 hard drives in 2023, HDDs are becoming less reliable overall.

The extensive report, which covers 35 different hard drive models running for a combined total of nearly 90 million days in 2023, found that the annualized failure rate had climbed to 1.70%.

This is a noticeable jump up from the 2022 rate of 1.37%, and the 2021 rate of 1.01%, marking HDDs as less reliable counterparts to SSDs.

Hard drives are failing more frequently

The report, which is one of the biggest-scale representations of storage device performance globally, revealed widespread failures, with only one of the 35 models returning a 0% failure rate. On the other end of the scale, some of the drives watched by the company reported alarmingly high failure rates of around 10-15%.

Although the figures spell out an uncertain future for the hard disk drive, they’re testament to Backblaze’s commitment to providing a reliable cloud service – the company claims to have replaced an HDD every two hours and five minutes throughout 2023, on average.

HDD development has brought the cost down while simultaneously pushing storage capacity up, so while they have started to show their flaws, HDDs still have their place. For example, Backblaze’s largest HDDs – 22TB WDC models – offer immense storage capabilities.

While the failure rates suggest a troubling future for HDD sellers worldwide, Backblaze notes a limitation of the study – in 2023, around one-fifth of the company’s fleet was made up of aging drives (six years old, or more). 

However, there are some interesting insights to be drawn from the study; 10TB hard drives, for example, fail at least twice as much as any other capacity in the company’s fleet.

Backblaze is yet to announce its 2023 statistics for SSD models, but in 2022, the annualized failure rate stood at 0.98%, reasonably on par with the 1.05% rate recorded in 2021, however there are fewer SSDs being tracked and they’re generally slightly newer, rendering a comparison between SSD and HDD models unreliable for now.

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Popular cloud storage company Backblaze, which also tasks itself with monitoring the reliability of its HDDs and SSDs, has announced its Q3 2023 figures, and we’re pleased to see the results.

The analytical data comes from precisely 259,084 HDDs used for storing data, with hundreds more being used in the business for other purposes, including acting as boot drives.

Compared with the three months leading up to Q3, Q3 itself saw a significant drop in the AFR across all hard drives, down to 1.47% from 2.28%. In fact, HDD AFRs are at their lowest all year.

HDDs continue to prove reliable options for the cost-conscious

Hard disk drives are typically a lot cheaper than their SSD counterparts, which promise faster performance and even lower AFRs.

With HDDs spanning four manufacturers – HGST, Seagate, Toshiba, and WDC – the report highlights the high quality of drive regardless of brand, with at least one model from all four companies having zero failures in the most recent three-month period. 

However, of the six models that had no failures, only one met the company’s 50,000-drive-day minimum requirement: the Seagate ST6000DX000 6TB drives, of which Backblaze runs 883.

The company’s newest deployment, the WDC WUH722222ALE6L4 22TB drives, also saw no failures. However, the 1,204 drives were only installed on September 29, leaving them with only a single day of data in the case of this report.

The report also offers a glimpse of hope for data center owners moving forward. After the hottest summer on Earth on record, only two of the 354 drives that exceeded their maximum operating temperature recommendations failed. Both drives were Seagate ST4000DM000 4TB models, with a maximum operating temperature rating of 60°C.

With that in mind, the firm has now committed to separating those drives, marking the birth of a new ‘Hot Drives’ category to monitor those that have exceeded their optimal conditions.

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IDrive has announced the launch of a new free cloud data migration tool aimed at simplifying data transfers from alternative cloud storage providers. 

The IDrive e2 migration tool, which has no minimum set data limits, is free to use and allows businesses to avoid the cumbersome egress fees and hurdles typically associated with data transfers. 

Cloud migrations have traditionally been a costly, time-consuming process in which users are forced to enlist the services of a third-party tool to carry out a transfer - and relying on third-party services adds further costs and greater risk for users handling sensitive data, resulting in a challenging migration process. 

IDrive boost

According to IDrive, its new migration tool ensures that “data integrity and privacy” are maintained throughout the transfer process. 

The service uses “state-of-the-art” encryption protocols, which guarantee end-to-end protection for all data transferred. 

Raghu Kulkarni, CEO of IDrive, said the new tool comes in direct response to traditional migration challenges, adding that the company has taken a “proactive approach” to simplify and streamline data transfer processes. 

“With the release of our new cloud migration tool, we are eliminating the barrier for customers to move their data to IDrive e2 from other object storage providers,” he said. 

“We are seeing customers who want to leave other object storage providers, but cannot afford to with vendor lock-in. We are making it simple to move data to IDrive e2.”

IDrive vs Backblaze vs Wasabi

Industry counterparts such as Backblaze and Wasabi offer similar data migration options through their cloud storage products, placing IDrive up against stiff competition. 

Starting at $30 per terabyte each year, the IDrive e2 offers users no egress fees, and can also be purchased in a pay-as-you-go option at $4 per terabyte, per month.

Backblaze, meanwhile, offers users $6 per terabyte, per month through its B2 storage line. The provider doesn’t offer a yearly plan at this time. 

Customers are also entitled to free monthly egress fees, providing any transfers are within a 3x limit of stored data.

Additional data egress does carry a charge of $0.01 per gigabyte. However, users transferring to approved Backblaze partners are exempt from additional fees.

Wasabi object storage comes at a relatively similar cost of $6.99 per terabyte, per month. Customers are not subject to egress fees with Wasabi storage. However, there is a 25TB minimum required to use the firm’s migration tool. 

Wasabi also has a minimum storage duration policy of 90 days, meaning if stored objects are deleted before they have been held for this allocated time, customers incur a “Timed Deleted Storage” charge. 

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Cloud storage giant Backblaze has revealed its latest hard drive failure rate figures, and it’s not looking too good for the future of the hard drive.

The figures, covering the three months that led up to June 30, 2023, comes from 240,940 hard drives used to store data across the company’s portfolio, and excludes a further 357 storage hard drives due to not meeting reporting requirements and 1,316 boot HDDs. More than 4,000 HDDs were added to the figures compared with the previous quarter.

Overall, HDD annual failure rate increased from 1.54% in Q1 2023 to 2.28% in Q2 2023. This illustrates a trend of increasing failure rates, up from 1.37% for 2022 as a whole, 1.01% for 2021, and 0.93% for 2020.

HDDs are apparently more prone to failure

In terms of reliability, the company’s oldest storage drive is the Seagate ST4000DM000 which is 8.8 years old. The model with the oldest average age across the fleet is Seagate ST6000DX000 at 8.2 years old. Two other Seagate models also made the list of the six drive models that reported zero failures in Q2 2023, alongside a pair of Toshiba models, a WDC, and an HGST.

While the previous quarter looks to have been a bad period for HDD failure rates, there are a number of factors at play, not least an aging fleet.

Where the figures really come into their own, though, is a quarter-by-quarter view of failur e rates by drive size. A look at the previous 12 quarters shows a distinct longevity among smaller drives compared with larger models (specifically 8TB and 10TB models), which look to become significantly less reliable as they get older.

Looking forward, the Backblaze team continues to keep an eye on the annual failure rates of its HDDs, however there is currently no overwhelming evidence to be concerned. It’s also worth noting that short snapshots such as quarterly reports can be misleading, and waiting to take a look at the year in full offers a much more holistic approach.

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The best free data recovery software is pretty much what it says on the tin. It's a service that can help you if you've accidentally lost or deleted a file, and one that does so with no charge.

We've covered he best data recovery software and best data recovery service software, but we recognize that not everyone wants/needs the service so often that it justifies the price point (or, if you just want to try if before you buy).

Most commercial data recovery services offer a free tier, but unfortunately, this is usually only for a small amount of data.

Obviously, this isn't ideal - and the definition of 'small amount of data' differs from service to service - but using it as a free trial for the real thing is a good idea.

Because the free space left by the deleted file needs to remain free if you're going to have any luck getting the files back. So, we recommend installing the software on a different device - to minimise the chances that your data is lost by writing to the same drive.

This June 2026, we've continued giving our free data recovery software guide some much needed TLC, to make our recommendations as clear as possible, and we're always open to suggestions as to the best new software available.

The nature of a free software guide means that deals might be thin on the ground, but that's okay. We'd say that you should use this guide to consider whether the user interface works well for you, and if the software's feature set suits your needs. Chiefly: is the software successful at recovering your files?

From there, keep an eye on our main data recovery guide for all the best deals to unlock the full software for the best price.

The best free data recovery software of 2026 in full:

Best for small data amounts

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is top choice for best rated data recovery software - and luckily, it comes with a free version. It's a great, straightforward tool for anyone who has accidentally deleted their files.

You need to use the tool quickly, for a better chance at full recovery - but the process itself only takes a few minutes. The data recovery option is really effective - but the Deep Scan can rake a while, so hang in there.

Installing the software makes a big difference, - do not install it on the same drive you want to recover data from - this can replace the lsot data's space on the drive, and therefore permanently erase it. It also, sadly, tries to enroll you in a customer experience improvement program, without explaining what this actually is.

The free version only allows recovery of up to 2GB of data - so if you need more, we recommend spending the money on the paid version, as it is particularly good.

We found it difficult to measure the free allowance on our tests, as after attempting to recover a 100MB folder on a 512MB drive just three times, our allowance was reduced to around 200MB. It could be that the 2GB limit may apply to the size of the drive being scanned instead of the amount of data recovered.

That being said, it's quick. It reduces the anxious waiting time which is much needed in many circumstances, and in our testing it managed to recover everything we lost.

The utility also performed well on our test on a drive which had been formatted after the file had been deleted, recovering 76% of the missing files. We were particularly impressed that EaseUS was able to recover the filenames too.

We also ran a test simulating a damaged drive. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard immediately recognized it as a "lost partition", where we were able to preview all of the deleted files, complete with filenames.

Read our full EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free review.

Best overall

Stellar Data Recovery, with its highly customizable searches, a huge file-type library, and deep scan abilities, is one of the best data recovery tools we’ve used. However, while a number of paid plans are available, there is also a free tier available.

Stellar's free offering offers up to 1GB of free data recovery for both Windows and Mac users, though all of the advanced data recovery tools are otherwise available. This includes the ability to 'preview' from within Stellar Data Recovery, so you can check to see which files are recoverable even if you're over the 1GB free limit.

Overall, Stellar Data Recovery is a great file retrieval tool with powerful advanced options for business. In its simplest form, it enables anyone to retrieve lost data from a computer or external storage device. Paid subscriptions are a little expensive, but the free program’s impressive performance and user-friendly interface mean it's well worth using.

The only concern would be whether 1GB of free recovery is enough for your needs, but if that's the case then one of the paid tiers would definitely be worth considering.

Read our full Stellar Data Recovery review.

Best for file recovery

DMDE Free Edition – or, to give it its full title, DM Disk Editor and Data Recovery Software – is the free edition of an otherwise paid for program.

The free version of DMDE is only, from a legal perspective, available for personal use, and it's only possible to recover files that are currently visible in the selected directory.

In addition, recovery is limited to 4,000 files at a time, but there's no limit on how many files you can recover if you break it down into batches of 4,000 or fewer.

You can even venture into disk editing mode or reconstruct RAID configurations as part of your disaster recovery plan.

When visiting the DMDE website to download the Windows GUI version of the program, we found it was available only as a ZIP file. This triggered a Windows Defender alert, which we had to bypass. We were then able to download the archive and extract the folder.

It's nice that DMDE is a portable app, though, and we're not going to blame it for Windows' overzealousness. You can run it from any location including directly from a USB stick: as we've said before, this is a bit of a boon, because you don’t need to install it and risk overwriting data you're trying to get back.

During our tests, DMDE was able to recover all files successfully with filenames intact from a drive where they'd been deleted from the Recycle Bin. The utility was only slightly less successful with the drive that had been formatted after the files were deleted, recovering 92% of the files without the filenames.

We were particularly impressed how DMDE handled our simulation of a corrupted/damaged drive. The utility was able to recognize the lost partition immediately and recovered all of the original files including their filenames without issue.

DMDE has improved on its byzantine interface in recent versions through pop up hints, although these can be annoying once you've mastered the program as there's no obvious way to switch them off.

If you can get past this hand-holding, you'll find DMDE is an essential and powerful file recovery tool that could save you serious heartache, and maybe even some money.

Read our full DMDE Free Edition review.

Best for damaged drive recovery

Recuva, from Piriform, the developers behind CCleaner, is a full recovery toolkit, dealing with deep scanning, retrieval of data from damaged drives, extracting files from removable devices, and more. It is, unfortunately, paid-for software with a free tier component.

Perhaps Recuva's most interesting feature is one that's contrary to its main aim: using its secure delete capability, you can completely obliterate files.

'Secure delete' in Recuva works by overwriting each of a file's bits repeatedly with zeroes, even the most advanced data forensics tool won't be able to get them back. Perfect for those highly sensitive documents that absolutely need to stay deleted.

Files are only ever truly deleted when they're overwritten by another occupying the same space on the drive – otherwise, it's merely the reference to their data in the OS that's removed. That's exactly why we recommend that you install a free recovery tool externally.

Moving on from file deletion to file recovery, Recuva performed fairly well in our tests. It was able to recover all data intact with filenames from the drive whose files had been deleted from the Recycle Bin.

We were also able to use Recuva's "Deep Scan" feature to restore 76% of files from a drive which had been formatted after the files were deleted, though some of the filenames were missing.

Our final test was a simulation of a corrupted/damaged drive. In this case sadly Recuva was unable to detect the drive, so no recovery could take place. We may have simply been unlucky, however, and your drive might fare better.

We also think a damaged drive recovery feature is a generous addition to a piece of free software, and since data recovery is essentially crossing your fingers and hoping for the best, we won't hold a grudge against Recuva for it.

One of our favorite features is that, at the end of each scan, Recuva will display a summary of exactly how many files have been recovered and the time it took. Scans usually completed in seconds, so this may be one to consider if the drive containing your missing files can still be mounted by your operating system.

We like Recuva as a free data recovery tool, but it does have a paid variant that might come in handy. The Pro version ($24.95 annually) adds virtual hard drive support, automatic updates, and gives its users priority support.

From our tests, Recuva doesn't hide any other important file recovery features behind a paywall, which is very rare and very welcome.

Read our full Recuva review.

Best for flexibility

Presented as a pair of tools rather than a single integrated solution, TestDisk and PhotoRec offer free data recovery from lost partitions and files.

TestDisk takes care of partitions. The fact that it has a command line interface (CLI) with no graphical interface might be off-putting at first, requiring some time spent with its documentation.

What TestDisk lacks in overall intuitiveness, it more than makes up for with its support for so many file systems, catering to a great many use cases.

PhotoRec is the file recovery component. It, too, has a CLI option, unlike TestDisk there's also a GUI for less confident users, with the options displayed in a single window rather than a step-by-step series of commands.

PhotoRec is cross-platform and can be run as a portable app from a USB stick, which means you don't have to install it on your PC and risk accidentally overwriting the data you want to recover.

Aside from offering up its entire feature set for free, PhotoRec passed all of our tests with flying colors.

The first test was performed on a drive attached to the virtual machine where the files had simply been deleted. The utility detected all the files within seconds and listed them by type. They were all recovered intact and opened without issue.

We next tested PhotoRec using a drive that had been formatted after the files were deleted. The software recovered a number of files, amongst which were the original ones which had been deleted, complete with their filenames.

Then, to really put it through its paces, we next tested PhotoRec on a drive with a corrupted volume header. We needn't have worried: the software displayed the volume header as a "missing" partition in the drop down menu, from which we were able to recover all the missing files with their filenames intact.

To date, TestDisk and PhotoRec are the only data recovery utilities we've reviewed that have been able to recover all deleted files in every one of our tests. This is all the more impressive considering that it's free and open source software.

Read our full TestDisk and PhotoRec review.

Best for fast results

UnDeleteMyFiles 'Pro' is a misnomer: it's simply free software.

The software looks woefully dated, but what it loses in points for aesthetic it more than makes up for in functionality: there are multiple tools included here, not just data recovery.

The big draw of the software is that it contains a disk snapshot tool which can create an image of your drive as a single file. This allows you to attempt data recovery without risking making things worse. You can also send the image to professional data recovery services if necessary: a much better option than physically mailing your drive out.

The search function, able to search for specific file types and thus speed up the process in some cases, is another highlight, although we would have liked to see sorting and exclusion filters.

We found that recovery can be a little hit and miss as there is no indication of the quality (or recoverability) of files – you just have to hope that the files that are found are left in a reasonable state when the software is done with them.

Our hopes were dashed, as when we scanned a drive where the files had been deleted it detected all but one of them including their filenames. However when we tried to restore the files, we found they wouldn't open, either being empty or corrupted.

The utility's "File Recovery" scan was unable to find any files on the drive that had been formatted after the files were deleted. We had the same results when using the "Media Scan" feature.

When we tested with a simulated corrupted drive, UnDeleteMyFiles Pro wasn't able to see this at all, so no recovery could take place.

Secure file deletion and email recovery add some sheen, and we may have just been unlucky with our tests, so your mileage may vary.

Best for intuitiveness

When it comes to pure ease of use, it's hard to beat Wise Data Recovery, despite the fact that it doesn't have a wizard to talk you through every step of the process.

Tracking down recoverable data is a simple matter of selecting the drive you want to check and clicking 'Scan'. Alternatively, you can use keywords to search for recoverable files so you don’t have to wade through quite so many results.

Whichever route you choose, recoverable data is presented in an Explorer-like tree structure, making its original location easy to find.

Just like the best paid data recovery software, the free Wise Data Recovery uses a traffic light system to indicate the health of files (and therefore how likely it is that you'll be able to recover them intact, and contains a file preview feature so that you can quickly identify files that have been detected.

You can recover individual files, or entire folders at once, but selecting numerous files in several locations does means performing several operations - there's no 'setting and forgetting' things here.

Our first test was on a deleted drive whose files had been emptied from the Recycle Bin. Wise performed a scan in less than 3 seconds and was able to recover all the original files with their filenames intact.

Wise Data Recovery didn't do quite so well on the drive that had been formatted after the files were deleted. In that case only around half the files were recovered. With one exception, the filenames were intact. We're not sure we can hold this against Wise rather than our own (however simulated) terrible data management.

Finally we ran a scan on our simulated corrupted drive. The utility was able to recognize the "Lost Drive" almost immediately and recovered all the original files, with filenames intact.

The free version of Wise Data Recovery is one of the most generous free photo recovery options you’ll find anywhere, with a 2GB recovery limit that trounces over most no-cost rivals.

Better still, you can use Wise's free data recovery tier on an infinite number of systems, with no time restrictions. With this in mind, there really isn't much to put us off recommending Wise as a data recovery software provider full stop.

Read our full Wise Data Recovery review.

Best for lost partitions

PC Inspector File Recovery goes further than many data recovery tools in that it will detect partitions that have been lost, even if the boot sector or file system has been damaged or deleted. This could be a real life-saver in an emergency, potentially helping you get data back even if your hard drive is not visible within Windows.

Beginners might find the terminology and design of PC Inspector File Recovery intimidating, and even some more advanced users may find the workflow a little confusing to start with. Take some time to learn your way around it, and you'll find a powerful data recovery program – but one that seems to get better results with FAT and FAT32 drives.

When we tried to run tests using PC Inspector File Recovery to determine which files could be recovered, we were unable to get the utility to begin the scan. Although the drives was recognized as a "physical" drive, it failed to appear in the "logical" category. This remained so even when we had PC Inspector File Recovery run a scan for logical drives.

There may be a way to configure PC Inspector to detect the files but we weren't able to find any further guidance from the help section, so would recommend it for patient, experienced IT users only.

Read our full PC Inspector File Recovery review.

Best complete solution

Disk Drill, now available on Windows after a long stint on MacOS, is designed to recover data from hard disk drives, solid-state drives, USB flash drives, SD/CF cards, digital cameras, and even smartphones.

The website boasts that any lost data file type can be recovered, from almost any data loss scenario you can think of. That's a bold claim that we had to put to the test.

In our first test, the utility was able to find all the deleted files that we'd sent to the Recycle Bin. Our next test was on a drive which had been formatted after the files had been deleted. Disk Drill proved itself equal to the task and was able to produce all of the original files, with filenames intact.

For our final test, we simulated a corrupted/damaged drive. Although the drive itself wasn't visible in Windows Explorer, upon launch Disk Drill proudly proclaimed "Woohoo! Lost Partitions Found!".

We can forgive Disk Drill for this amount of pep, though, as it proceeded to recover all of the files, even if the filenames for two of them were missing.

We were also pleased to see that scans of the test drives completed in just a few seconds. This means that Disk Drill is one of the very few data recovery utilities to have passed all our tests with flying colors.

Disk Drill's complete collection of features for every imaginable platform and scenario is impressive enough. Its ability to effortlessly mount and read a previously unmountable drive and recover the data from it within a comparatively small timeframe proves that Disk Drill is a recovery tool that you should be considering.

The "Preview" feature is also essential, as it allows you to examine files in a way that's more difficult with the "Recovery Fault" which doesn't always assign correct filenames to data.

The free version of Disk Drill only allows you to recover up to 500MB of data. After that you need to pay a one-time lifetime license fee. In a world of annual subscription fees, that's still an amazing proposition for an excellent recovery utility across both Windows and Mac.

Read our full Disk Drill data recovery review.

Best for a trusted data recovery provider

Ontrack EasyRecovery claims to be one of the best data recovery software applications available on the market. It was developed by a provider of file recovery services who has been in business for 35 years.

The program touts itself as being both simple to use as well as powerful enough to help you recover from a wide variety of data loss situations.

The Free plan provides up to 1GB of data recovery, which is... fine. There's also a size limit of 25MB on recovered files, though you can 'Preview' lost files to check if they can be recovered with the paid version.

During our tests we tried to run the "Deep Scan" feature, only for the utility to become unresponsive each time the scan reached 99% whilst trying to read a particularly nasty data cluster.

Regular scans on the other hand ran extremely fast. Our first test on the drive where the files had simply been deleted then emptied from the Recycle Bin Ontrack EasyRecovery recovered all the files with the filenames intact.

The software wasn't quite so successful with the drive that had been formatted after the files were deleted. In that case some system files were recovered but none of the ones we deleted.

Our final test was on a drive with a corrupted volume header. Ontrack EasyRecovery's "Recover From" has a "Can't Find Drive" option, which we clicked and the external hard drive was displayed immediately.

On the first scan, the utility was able to restore the lost partition in order for it to be scanned. (We noticed that it still didn't appear in File Explorer however). We then tried to run a regular scan.

Unfortunately this was the point at which the utility became unresponsive, simply saying 0% scanned. We left it this way for around 15 minutes before being forced to exit via Ctrl + Alt + Del.

Where Onetrack EasyRecovery falls down is its limitations . Our experience was that the utility can do a superficial scan that retrieves only a few files or a huge in-depth sector by sector scan which crashes the app.

Beyond stability tweaks, we'd Ideally like to see some fine-tuning options, such as searching for 'raw' data for files or the ability to stop a scan cleanly before it's complete to review what data's been recovered.

Read our full Ontrack EasyRecovery review.

FAQs

How we tested the best data recovery software

To test for the best data recovery software we first set up an account with the relevant software platform, whether as a download or as an online service. We then tested the service to see how the software could be used for recovering data using a virtual machine running Windows 11, to which we attached three different drives. This allowed us to benchmark various data loss scenarios, such as trying to recover files from a corrupted drive.

The files we chose for recovery are an album of Mozart's music available from the Internet Archive. We did this as we wanted to see how the utility performed with a wide variety of files, including both common and more obscure formats.

The aim was to push each software platform to see how useful its basic tools were and also how easy it was to get to grips with any more advanced tools.

We do not believe that running data recovery tools in a virtual environment has a significant effect on how they function. Still, if you're considering buying software we encourage you to read all reviews thoroughly and make sure that the developer offers a refund policy.

Read how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar.

We've also featured the best document editing and management software.

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The balance of power between HDDs and SSDs could soon be about to shift for good, new figures have claimed.

Backblaze, which has been monitoring the failure rate of its hard drives over the course of a decade, has just announced its latest figures analyzing over 241,000 units.

Accounting for test drives and models with fewer than 60 in operation, Backblaze’s Q1 2023 report uncovered statistics from 236,893 drives, spanning 30 models from four manufacturers that account for almost 2.8 million TB of storage.

Are HDDs reliable?

According to its Q1 2023 figures, the hard drives used by Backblaze (some of which in operation for a number of years) are becoming less reliable, averaging an annualized failure rating of 1.54%, compared with 1.21% in the previous quarter.

This is a sharp increase on the 1.37% figure reported for 2022 as a whole, itself up from 1.01% in 2021 and 0.93% in 2020.

While data is limited and we cannot deduce whether drive size plays a role in failure, Backlaze’s 10TB HDDs were the most affected, with larger drives faring better.

It also marked Seagate as having the highest AFR of 2.28% compared with WDC on the opposite end of the scale, at 0.31%.

Age is another variable quoted by the company, with some of its drives not failing until their fifth year, and others in their first few months. It does, however, estimate an average age for failure at two to three years, according to its own and Secure Data Recovery research.

The company’s growing number of SSDs is beginning to show their true reliability in comparison, though data is still several thousands of terabytes away from that of HDDs. Still, a 2022 AFR of 0.98% is down from 1.05% in 2021, making SSDs generally more reliable than their HDD counterparts.

• In need of a hardware upgrade? How about one of the best business laptops?

New data from cloud backup and storage management firm Backblaze appears to verify that the age of a hard disk drive (HDD) increases the likelihood of it failing.

A report published in a post on the Backblaze blog (via The Register) states that the age of a drive was deemed an important factor in predicting failure in correlation with, according to Backblaze’s “cloud storage evangelist” Andy Klein, Backblaze’s aging portfolio of drives.

According to statistics for 230,921 of its drives verified as used for storage purposes, smaller drives (from 4-10TB) failed more often than larger ones (12-16TB), but they were also older.

 HDD failure trends

The Backblaze data superficially shows that the smallest Seagate and Toshiba drives in its portfolio are the most prone to failure, with both vendors’ products  accounting for 3.64% of all of the company’s drive failures in Q3 2022.

However, Klein did praise the “very respectable” annualized failure rates (AFRs) of its longest standing drives from these vendors (some after almost eight years in service), and went on to cite Seagate drives in particular as suitable for business deployment.

"In general, Seagate drives are less expensive and [...] their failure rates are typically not high enough to make them less cost effective over their lifetime.”

Klein believes that, for Backblaze, 2023 will involve replacing its smaller drives with larger ones. So far, there’s no inherent link between the size of a drive and how prone it is to failure, and, in fact, only its 16TB drives saw net decreases in AFR of 0.07%.

As a result, we may have to wait for Backblaze to shift more and more towards larger drives as part of its fleet before any evidence of that sort of correlation begins to surface.

According to Backblaze, its hard drive failure data supports the bathtub curve, whereby a product sees higher rates of failure early in its life cycle, which level out over the course of its life, and increasing again.

However, it has noticed improvements in HDD manufacturing across the board. In a report on the curve from 2021, the company claims that many manufacturers, such as Seagate, have moved to extensive testing of their HDDs before shipping, decreasing the likelihood of early failures.  

It also observed that many drives tend to last longer, failing in their fifth or sixth year far more often than the third or fourth year, as was the case in Backblaze’s previous report on the curve in 2013.

• Here's our list of the best solid state drives (SSDs) right now

The best unlimited cloud storage options are services that allow you to store as many of your files, photos, and videos - backed up on a secure and user friendly cloud platform. Gold standard platforms offer unlimited cloud storage - eliminating the need to faff around with multiple licenses across different services.

Despite the ongoing global crisis that has hit components (and storage) hard since November 2025, unlimited cloud storage - as a sector - has been surprisingly resilient.

Yes, there have been some casualties (Polarbackup, Zoolz, Crashplan, Dropbox - to name a few) but prices haven't shot up as I expected, which is good news and we now have 12 providers in a very competitive market.

Unsurprisingly, these plans are generally aimed at professionals and businesses, so if you only have a personal amount of photos or videos - check out our guide to the best cloud storage where you can find some fantastic deals on cloud storage at a few different price points for, or anyone looking to save can take a look at the best free cloud storage.

Some of the best deals for unlimited cloud storage deals come from some lesser-known providers, not just the big hitters - so I've done my best to highlight the ones you might not have thought to check.

The best unlimited cloud storage deals

In a world where everything is getting more expensive, and many computing components have hit record highs, there may be some good news coming in the storage world. 

Cloud storage specialist Backblaze reckons that HDD prices are set to plummet even further, which could be good news for the casual user.

Renowned for being less responsive than SSDs, HDDs are also larger and so aren’t as suitable for fitting into the small form factors that customers like. If having access to huge amounts of storage is of importance, though, the best is yet to come.

HDD vs SSD cost

Backblaze reckons that, by 2025, HDD prices will reach a record low of $0.01 per GB, placing the price of a 1TB drive in the region of just $10, and it has plenty of data to back up its prediction.

With purchase records dating back to 2009 (when the company was paying around $0.11 per GB), it has purchased more than a quarter of a million hard drives measuring as high as 16TB, with plans to place orders for 18TB, 20TB, and even 22TB drives as pricing meets Backblaze’s expectations.

It’s also keen to stress that it uses PMR/CMR drives as opposed to SMR drives which can be even cheaper. The tradeoff for using an SMR drive is that it can be significantly slower.

Despite the effects of the pandemic, Backblaze’s figures show a 56% decrease in the cost per GB between 2017 and November 2022. A broader look at the trends show significant drops to prices in earlier years, and while the chart does seem to be levelling off as we head into the mid 2020s, there still appears to be room for further reductions in prices.

While generally more expensive, Trendfocus analysts reckon that SSD prices could halve by mid-2023 (via Tom’s Hardware). Currently, buyers can expect to pay around $0.06-$0.08 per GB, making a 512GB hard drive to be about $30.72-$40.96.

• Thinking of upgrading your storage? Here are the best HDDs

We list the best ways to share big files, to make it simple and easy to share your files for work or personal use, particularly larger ones such as images.

Email used to be the only reliable way to send files back and forth, but most email providers now have attachment limits which mean they can't be depended on to send larger files. Whilst this is mostly just frustrating home users, it can be a critical issue for business users.

That being said, there are plenty of good ways to send big files without too much hassle – and we’ve highlighted some of the best here. The vast majority of these are free (though they tend to have premium tiers offering an improved service). Oh, and we've included some of the best cloud storage providers as well, as many of these now have sharing options to help with collaboration

We've evaluated various options to find the best ways to send large files to multiple users and listed them below. Plus, And since it is all about transferring files from one computer to another, we looked at how to improve upload speeds.

We've also rated the best cloud storage for photos.

The best ways to share big files of 2026 in full:

Best way to share big files: Use a VPN

Now yes, ExpressVPN is, of course, a VPN - not the most obvious choice for a file sharing service - but that bmakes it all the more impressive that it made our list.

Some internet service providers (such as Virgin Media) will use broadband traffic management to moderate upload bandwidth (as opposed to download).

If you use a VPN like ExpressVPN, that means your ISP can't determine the file type or the content you're uploading - meaning it theoretically can't apply traffic shaping to your account. Of course, nothing prevents you from trying any of the providers as well to start with. That being said, any of the best free VPN services can do pretty much the same.

Peer-to-peer (P2P) is one of the most reliable and popular ways to move large amounts of data - and it's the one type of content that's most likely to be flagged and pushed down the priority lines. We have compiled a list of the best VPN services available. Just bear in mind that your mileage will vary and using a VPN can also slow down your connection.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

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Best compression tool for sharing big files

One of the easiest solutions to the problem of sending large files is to use file compression software such as the cross-platform program 7-Zip. This is particularly handy if you have multiple files, as you can place these in one folder and compress them all in one go. As a rule of thumb, a large file will transfer faster than a folder containing smaller files of the same size.

7-Zip is available for Windows, Mac and Linux, and can compress files to the regular ZIP format as well as its own slightly more efficient 7ZIP. Most major operating systems can extract ZIP files without any additional software. 7-Zip also lets you set a password to protect the files, so you can share them safely. Just bear in mind though that uploading very large files can time out.

Read our full 7-Zip review.

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Best way to share big files for fast downloads

If you want to share files faster, then one way to do it is to use Speedify which allows you to combine two internet connections. Can be satellite/Wi-Fi and satellite/Wi-Fi (desktop only) or with 3G/4G/5G cellular network (desktop and mobile).

Bonding, as it is known, helps improve reliability - critical when you are uploading multi-terabyte files - as well and as an added bonus, Speedify offers VPN capabilities which means that it will encrypt your traffic to and from your device, masking it to the ISP and preventing it from blocking or throttling your connection.

Speedify is relatively affordable at $14.99 for a one-month contract (or $4.99 per month if you take a 3-year plan). There is a free version, but it comes with too many restrictions to get a recommendation from us.

Read our full Speedify review.

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Best browser-based way to share big files

There's a new breed of file transfer services that are browser based and have built-in proprietary technology to accelerate the upload of big files. Masv is one of them (the other major players being Aspera and Signiant) and specializes in the transfer of huge (up to 15TB) files via the cloud.

It offers a pay-as-you-go pricing model with a cost of $0.25 per downloaded GB. There's no subscription fees, no contracts, no support fees user limits or file size/bandwidth limits.

While far more expensive than traditional file transfer services, Masv and similar services are far, far quicker than Dropbox or Google Drive and are more resilient than consumer offerings. Masv has a web and desktop app, and there's a mobile app in the pipeline.

Read our full Masv review.

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Best USB drive for sharing big files

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The Kingston DataTraver Max is a blazingly fast USB flash drive that packs in the performance of an external SSD in small chassis. Thanks to a combination of high-speed USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C connector and fast TLC flash memory from Micron TLC, you can expect this flash drive to offer spectacular speeds.

It also features a keyring loop for additional portability and its sliding cover means that you will not have to worry about losing a cap.

While the 1TB model will allow you to bring all of your most important files with you, Kingston also offers both a 256GB and a 512GB version. The USB-C port does limit compatibility with older devices but this USB flash drive will pair well with most modern Android smartphones.

Read our full Kingston DataTraveler Max review .

Best way to share big files FAQs

How we tested the best way to share big files

We've evaluated different ways to share big files, keeping in mind factors like ease of use, pricing, accessibility, security, file size limits, and overall reliability, among other things.

Protect all your files with the best cloud backup.

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The best ways to backup photos is one that helps you keep your pictures secure and safe, making the (sometimes grueling) task of creating a backup straightforward and simple.

There's a real concern of hardware failure, especially when you're out taking photos in the wild (or even just taking photos with your family). If you're like me and you're accidentally deleting photos way too often for comfort.

Either way, having a backup in place is a way to make sure your photos don't get lost.

We’ve looked at some of the best ways to backup photos, from the easiest techniques to the best free backup software offering real value for money - whether you’re backing up your precious family memories or valued brand assets.

Below we'll list what we think are the best ways to back up your photos, with handy tips and recommendations along the way.

We've also listed the best ways to share big files.

The best ways to backup photos of 2026 in full:

Best way to backup photos: Cloud storage

1. Cloud storage

Cloud backups are a trendy and simple way to backup your photos - but for good reason - and for good reason. The best cloud storage will automate the backup process so that once you're signed up, all your images are protected.

A huge selling point is that this method gives you both off-site and online backups - which fulfills two of your 3-2-1 backup method requirements - protecting you from from incidents of fire or theft or the like.

Helpfully, you can use one of the specially made photo cloud storage services available - because photos are sometimes the most precious files we have.

Some of the top choices for cloud storage include Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive. - but you can also take a look at built in device software like Apple iCloud and Google Photos on your Android to automatically back up the Camera Roll.

These services also work alongside libraries from desktop applications - but you'll want to make sure you save files in a folder on external or internal storage to set up sync from desktop to cloud for the fastest local access - rather than a network-based drive depemdent on internet access; Bitcasa offers this as an option, and other cloud services can do the same using software like ExpanDrive.

If you use software like Adobe Photoshop then cloud is a great choice. Like all Creative Cloud apps, the photo editor also includes a cloud storage backup option for subscribers, saving as you work, backing up as you go.

To be perfectly honest, while there are some pretty impressive free photo backup services, contemporary paid-for cloud storage software offers much more and is more versatile - and are just easier to manage all round - so they are worth the investment.

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Best way to backup photos: USB flash drive

2. USB flash drives

USB drives are such an easy way to back up your files and photos. Because a USB flash drive is so small and easy to carry, it usually makes it a better option than using an external hard drive.

Not only do USB drives not require leads connecting up to your PC, but they can be easily stored away until needed, and easily carried for use on the go as well. Better still, USB flash drives tend to be relatively cheap while offering a large storage space.

In which case, saving to a single master USB stick can work well as a backup option for photos in general. However, the more devices and photos you have, the more difficult this can be to put in place.

This is especially true as USB drives can suffer the same issue as SD cards in that eventually you end up with a collection and need to keep sorting them and often can't find the one you need when you want it.

Even still, USB drives are probably the simplest backup method for most any files for most people - just remember to keep them safely stored away from natural hazards.

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Best way to backup photos: Recordable media

3. SD cards

Of course, if you're using a good camera, chances are you are already using some form of SD card, either as your default camera storage, or to expand it. Which means once you've copied the saves on it to your PC you now have a backup already.

This means that recordable media such as SD cards can be an incredibly convenient way to backup your photos. MicroSD cards with 512GB or 1TB space are not uncommon now and will make it extremely convenient for you to store media without having to worry about transferring data every few weeks.

But a complication here is that if you're not careful, you could end up with a large collection that is difficult to organize.

This can be especially the case when dealing with SD cards from multiple cameras, or a growing pile of recorded cards. This not only means things becoming potentially mixed up, but also lost or damaged.

Saving to recordable media is fine as a short-term solution. But it may not be the best way to backup photos in the long term, especially when it comes to future photo organization and management (users of Adobe Lightroom and Lightroom alternatives, take note).

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Best way to backup photos: External hard drive

4. External hard drive

When it comes to using an external hard drive, most people might immediately think of a standalone SATA hard drive, connected up via USB to your computer. That's a perfectly fine way to run a set of backups, but with the caveat that hard drives can fail.

The best SSDs (Solid State Drives) are more stable, but tend to cost more. While reliability may seem like an initial plus, it does mean you will have to find space for the drive and connecting wires on your computer workspace.

That may not seem like a big problem, but it would seem more ideal to reduce clutter so that backups won't get in your way. Additionally, you might not want to use up your limited number of USB ports with an "always on" external hard drive connection.

Even still, the one advantage external hard drives have over recordable media is the bigger and cheaper storage space, with external hard drives now commonly offering over 1TB of storage or more.

As an additional tip, consider having two external drives, with one specifically used to archive older images you no longer use, or barely ever use, while also having a second for active use. That way you build in extra redundancy, and is especially handy if you find yourself on the go with a laptop, as it means you don't have to risk losing your entire library if something were to happen to the external hard drive you're outside and about with, whether from failure, accident, or even theft.

Read more: The differences between SATA and NVMe SSDs

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Best way to backup photos: Software libraries

5. Software libraries

The best offense for any potential disaster is a good defense. It's recommended you use multiple hardware options to backup and store your photos, and there are different software options you can use.

Apple used to offer Aperture to help organize photos, but there are alternatives available, such as iPhoto Library Manager, and the same trick works in iPhoto as well.

The concept is simple: Move older, unused, and duplicate images to a separate library stored on an external drive, preferably one that doesn’t see daily use.

This tip works best when libraries are stored on some kind of redundant storage like a Drobo or network-attached storage (NAS hard drive), or in conjunction with the advice offered in our next method, which also has the benefit of freeing up precious internal space on modern flash storage drives.

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Best way to backup photos: Free cloud photo services

6. Free cloud photo services

When it comes to the best free cloud storage, mobile shutterbugs are increasingly embracing the convenience of carrying entire photo collections using dedicated cloud photo services.

Picturelife, Adobe Creative Cloud, and ThisLife make it easy to back up photos from any mobile or desktop device, providing an additional layer of security. They also offer the tools necessary to organize and edit photos from anywhere, no matter which device or web browser you happen to be on at the time.

However, there are plenty of free cloud photo storage options available - ideal as a secondary backup location.

Amazon Photos is available to everyone, but free accounts are limited to 5GB storage. Prime subscribers get more. Uploading is easy - it's very similar to Google Photos. Remember to keep your account active to retain your photos.

Google Photos is another free photo backup option, but there are limits to how much you can save before you need to subscribe to Google One. The only caveat is that Google will convert high-resolution images into a slightly lower resolution. If that sounds drastic, then don't worry, as for ordinary photos, you're really not going to notice the difference. You can organize photos into albums, and a neat timeline feature means you can scroll through them by date.

Facebook is another online service where you can upload your photos for free, without any apparent limitations. As with other services, you can set them up into albums, which is handy as otherwise, Facebook will simply display the most recently uploaded in your photo tab. As with your Facebook posts, you can set sharing permissions, so that your photos are visible only to you, only to named friends and family, or else public for anyone to see.

Read more: The best photo storage and sharing sites.

We've also looked at what you need to know about paid vs free cloud storage.

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Best way to backup photos: Print

7. Print them out (just in case)

Unless your hobby is scrapbooking or you grew up in the Fotomat generation (kids, ask your parents), printing out thousands of digital photos might seem like a waste of money, time, and trees. Just because we’re so enamored with paperless photos now, the time may come when having a closet full of prints might be preferred or even come in handy.

At the very least, they’re a decent hard copy that can be used to scan back into the computer, should the worst-case scenario transpire and your digital memories are wiped out.

You can use one of the best photo printers at home or in the office. But these days, online photo printing services like Shutterfly can be more affordable, offering unlimited photo storage from desktop or mobile devices (and yep, that counts as another backup). The company is quite aggressive with weekly deals to make prints, custom books, and other photo-based products on the cheap.

And don’t forget your local drugstore or pharmacy, where similar services are offered with the convenience of being able to pick them up in-store and save on shipping.

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Best way to backup photos: Backup routine

8. Backup, rinse, repeat

Last but not least, we can’t stress enough the importance of creating a solid backup routine to keep photos, videos, and files safe.

Many of us don’t even bother printing their photos anymore since they can easily carry entire collections on a smartphone or tablet. These files are effectively your “negatives,” and should be treated as such - even if that means offloading a copy onto some form of storage media and shoving it in a shoebox, similar to what generations past did with the real thing.

Of course, keeping two copies of your digital photos in the same location isn’t necessarily a good idea, either. A fire, flood, or other natural disaster could wipe out everything you own in a heartbeat.

This is where offline storage comes into play. Services like CrashPlan, Carbonite, or LiveDrive can securely back up entire desktop systems (including the digital photos stored there) for pennies per day without user interaction.

Now would also be a great time to invest in a new high-capacity USB 3.0 external hard drive (they’re quite cheap these days), and flip on Time Machine, the built-in backup software that comes standard with OS X. Many inexpensive NAS devices also support Time Machine, and products from Synology, ASUSTOR, and others can even access files remotely via mobile apps. Just be sure to make a backup of your backup every few years in case the original drive decides to meet its maker!

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Best ways to backup photos FAQs

The best ways to backup photos: How to choose

The best way to back up photos largely depends on your media shooting and storage needs. If you're a DSLR photographer, then using recordable media, like SD cards, is a great way to back up photos.

External drives are handy when transferring and backing up media, especially large files like RAW format images and hi-res videos, from your camera or computer.

Saving media to the cloud is a great way to ensure hardware damage won't make you lose access to your photos and videos. There are free and paid cloud photo services, but you will have to shell out fees for the maximum amount of cloud space.

Although you could print your photos as a way of backing them up, it's far easier to use backup software and ensure everything is stored safely (and you won't be left with a hundred untouched boxes in your attic!).

How we tested the best ways to backup photos

When testing the best ways to backup photos, we looked at a range of physical and virtual solutions. As habitable backer-uppers, some of these are already integrated into our lives, so we can offer first-hand experience.

In determining the best photo backup process, we've considered different ways to back up photos, keeping in mind factors like pricing, ease of use, accessibility, file size limits, security, and overall reliability, among other things.

We've also assessed how well each photo backup technique complements other solutions on the list, so you can create a 'rule of three' that fits your workflow.

Read more on how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar.

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The best free cloud storage offers an online space for file storage, keeping your photos, videos, and documents safe.

Whilst these cloud services are great options for anyone on a budget - it's important to remember that other options for the best cloud storage plans will come with more features, and likely better security - so for sensitive files, it's better to go with a paid version.

We've made sure to check out and review pretty much every free cloud storage option out there, and we make our ranking based on a number of features, such as capacity and security.

If you're looking for storage for your business, it's always best to go with a trusted paid provider, so we've also listed the best cloud storage services for businesses, that have extra useful features and tools.

Internxt is the best free cloud storage for most people. Rakuten Drive and IceDrive are also great free cloud storage services. Read my full analysis below:

Today's best deals

The best cloud backup solutions often also have free options.

We’ve also listed the best lifetime cloud storage deals and unlimited cloud storage providers.

The best free cloud storage solutions of 2026 in full:

Best free cloud storage overall

Internxt is a fantastic choice for secure cloud storage. It's an open source cloud storage provider, and is well deserving of first-place in our best free cloud storage list, with a user-friendly interface, cutting edge security, and fast upload speeds.

You have flexibility, too, with 3 different billing plans: monthly, annual, and lifetime.

Currently, TechRadar Pro readers get an 87% discount on Internxt's most popular 5TB Lifetime Plan. That's a step up from the 75% off offers we regularly see on the website.

With a free Internxt account, you get 1GB of free storage and this require a credit card, just an email address and password. A free Internxt account also gives you access to its privacy-centric suite of apps, Google Drive, Google Photos, and Send.

Internxt's web view, apps, and Windows Explorer and Mac Finder integration made uploading as simple as a drag and drop, for instance - which is smooth and easy to use.

Syncing features also keep your files up to date across all your platforms and devices 0 which is essential for backup support - and file sharing can be done through custom links, You can also control how many times your files are accessed and by whom, and you can set an expiration time of up to 15 days for extra security.

Internxt includes two-factor authentication, a smart way to protect any account in the digital age by requiring an additional verification step. However, it doesn't support 2FA via SMS, only through external tools like an authenticator app- which can be a faff for some, but is arguably more secure.

It does have end-to-end encryption, meaning that no one but you (not even Internxt) can see your data - which is a crucial consideration in security. An antivirus scanner checks your files for malware, and there's even a password checker, password generator and a temporary email service.

Another fantastic feature is that Internxt is open-source - so you can rest assured that the end-to-end encryption has been set up correctly, as the code is available for inspection by the community (and believe us, they do inspect it!) - this means it's much less likely to contain bugs or deliberately coded 'backdoors'.

Best of all, unlike some of the competition, Internxt doesn't try to hobble its free account by plastering it with ads or leaving out key features. Free users may have less storage, but otherwise they get access to all the same goodies as paying customers.

It's even available in seven languages; English, Chinese, Russian, Italian, Spanish, French, and German.

Read our full Internxt review

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Best free cloud storage for scalability

The free offering from Rakuten Drive is pretty impressive, with 10GB of cloud storage right away - no catch, and additional busywork to unlock (which is pretty rare).

This puts it in third place in terms of size after Mega's 20GB or Google Drive's 15GB - so if all you want is sheer storage, take a look at one of those.

What Rakuten claims to do best is its expansion across large teams. Each user gets 'up to' 3 terabytes of storage space - which as Rakuten itself attests, will cover a lot of your use cases.

But, Rakuten Drive also supports folder sharing with entire teams or with 'limited shareholders' - with extensive permission settings.

You also get great collaboration features, with Microsoft Office file support, which lets users preview and edit directly within Rakuten Drive. You don't have to be within the Microsoft system to take advantage of this either, as it isn't a Microsoft 365 integration.

It has security features too, with password protections and user permissions (not hugely special, but always a good bonus).

Rakuten also brags ‘multi-device accessibility’, which seems to be a puffy way of saying that your data will go with you, anywhere.

Rakuten promotes Google Play Store, Chrome Web Store and iOS apps, which would indicate no dedicated desktop app. That’s our only gripe thus far: such an app would open the door for mapping cloud storage as a virtual drive on a computer, which would make file management seamless.

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Best free cloud storage for virtual drives

Relative newcomer IceDrive wants to make its cloud storage service feel like a physical hard drive, with what the company calls “revolutionary” drive-mounting software, without taking up any space on your local device.

Intelligent caching of your recently used files means you’ll notice almost no slowdown. The only downside of this feature is that it is Windows-only. Other operating systems aren’t left out completely, though. IceDrive has a ‘portable’ app that runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

It is also easy to create public links for files and folders or share them with people by entering their email address. Shared content can have passwords and expiry dates. Still, it's not yet possible to collaborate on documents as you would with Microsoft 365 or the Google G Suite.

One great plus point is that, unlike some other cloud storage providers, IceDrive doesn't limit the size of files you upload, though they recommend using the dedicated app for transferring large amounts of data.

IceDrive also claims that its software uses the ultra-secure Twofish algorithm to secure your data. The service boasts client-side encryption for paid subscribers, so that your data is encrypted on your device before even being transferred to servers. You can secure logins via two-factor authentication using an authenticator app or a physical key.

During our tests, IceDrive outperformed major services like OneDrive when it came to upload speeds. It also supports recovering deleted data, as well as restoring previous versions of modified files. Overall, while it's a great cloud storage provider in terms of quota and data security, IceDrive isn't for people who want to collaborate on documents.

Read our full IceDrive Review.

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Best free cloud storage for Android and iOS

Enter Degoo, a Swedish provider with a simple but very effective approach to winning new cloud storage customers: giving them way more storage space than almost anyone else.

Right now, Degoo is offering TechRadar readers a generous 30GB of cloud storage for free (20GB after the first year), and you can add an extra 250MB for every friend you refer (up to a maximum of 5GB.)

The service doesn't have a dedicated desktop app, leaving desktop users with nothing but Degoo's fairly basic web app. That said, Degoo's Android and iOS apps deliver more options, controls and features (auto-uploading of photos to the cloud, say.)

Although this worked well for us, Degoo's free plan has several catches and limitations, like ads, which means it won't suit everyone. Other limitations include a maximum file upload size is 256MB, a lack of zero-knowledge encryption (though your data is still encrypted during transmission), and account deletion after 90 days of inactivity.

That makes Degoo unappealing for backups and archiving, but a free plan will always come with caveats like these. Despite limitations, Degoo works just fine for backing up photos and files you'll want regular access to, while its huge storage capacity gives you far more options than most of the competition.

Read our full Degoo review.

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Best free cloud storage for data allowance

We found Mega a strong all round storage provider with a generous free plan, a wide range of powerful open-source apps, excellent security and a host of useful bonus features.

The service delivers more than you might expect in just about every area. Mega's 20GB free space is a very big deal all on its own, but there’s plenty more where that came from: install the desktop app, that's 5GB more; the mobile app, another 5GB; refer a friend, another 5GB; verify your phone number, another 5GB.

These extra 5GB chunks do expire after a year, but if you're going to make the most of that period, it may be worth your time.

Then there's the very lengthy list of apps: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, a command line tool for experts, a custom app for QNAP and Synology NAS devices, even browser extensions for Chrome and Edge.

Across platforms, we found Mega's apps to be clean, well laid out, and easy to navigate. Our upload and download speeds were excellent during testing, and there are various useful options (such as throttling bandwidth) to help you optimize performance even more.

Mega's free plan does have a catch or two. It may limit the amount of data you can transfer, for instance, depending on its current server load. That could be a problem, but as the limit is variable and Mega doesn't give any clues as to what it might be, it's impossible to say how problematic it will be, but what we can say is that you should expect disruption.

Overall, although Mega might not work for everyone, we’d say it’s one of the best free cloud storage deals you can get right now.

Read our full Mega review.

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Best free cloud storage for Google users

Google Drive is a powerhouse of a cloud storage service, notable, besides its household name status, for a generous free 15GB allowance, the array of leading-edge add-ons and extras, and sheer convenience. If you've an Android device or a Google account, then you can use Drive right now, no further signups or installs required.

The tight integration with Google's Docs, Sheets and Slides probably justifies Drive's existence all on its own, allowing you to create documents, then collaborate and share them without downloading anything. But even if you’ve zero interest in the office tools, easy access from Photos and other Google apps, and the Drive support built into many other apps and services is a major plus.

Whatever you're doing, we found Google Drive to be intuitive and easy to use. The browser view is straightforward, and the Android and iOS apps have a similar design and layout, allowing you to switch between them without any issues. We've previously been less than impressed by Google Drive's desktop apps, but these days they're as easy to operate as the rest of the range.

We do have some concerns. Its backup features are relatively basic, for instance, at least without an accompanying desktop app. There's no built-in end-to-end encryption, which means, in theory, Google could see your files. And Google doesn't have the best reputation for privacy, an issue when you're talking about something as sensitive as cloud storage.

On balance, however, we think that Google Drive is one of the best free cloud storage services, and one of the cheapest to invest in down the line, so it's well worth a place on your file-sharing shortlist.

Read our full Google Drive review.

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Best free cloud storage for security and encryption

NordLocker, from the developers of NordVPN and NordPass, is one of the most reliable and secure free cloud storage platforms.

All users can download the app and encrypt files locally for free on the free plan, meaning files are encrypted and stored on the specific device in use. But if you want more than 3GB of storage, you'll need to switch to a paid plan.

On both Windows 11 and macOS, drag-and-drop functionality makes it easy to upload, download, and organize files. Heavy use of the macOS app revealed no glitches, and the app was always responsive. In our previous tests, we criticized the lack of mobile apps but these are now available for both Android and iOS, though they function more as a container for the online Nordlocker portal than an app in their own right.

During our tests, we found files uploaded to the cloud extremely quickly. However given NordLocker's emphasis on security we weren't able to recover our deleted test files. The service also doesn't support online collaboration on documents, or syncing multiple versions of the same file so you can undo changes you make.

Still, this might be the price to pay for such high security measures. The NordLocker client software uses end-to-end encryption, so in theory the staff at NordVPN cannot access any files you upload.

All this means NordLocker is a solid and secure free cloud storage solution provided you can live with the minimal free quota and don't need to recover deleted files or collaborate with others via the cloud.

Read our full NordLocker review.

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Best free cloud storage for Apple users

Apple's iCloud is an easy-to-use cloud storage service which makes it effortless to back up your photos, videos, contacts, calendars, documents, notes and more, and sync them across your iOS and Mac devices.

iCloud on other platforms isn't well supported. Windows users can run a basic app to sync files with iCloud, but it doesn't offer nearly as slick an experience as you'll see on Mac. There's no official Android app at all, leaving users with the torturous web interface or exploring a handful of third-party apps.

ICloud has its technical limitations, too. The 5GB free allowance looks a little stingy, especially when Google offers 15GB. While iCloud Drive data is encrypted to keep it safe from prying eyes, not everything end-to-end encrypted by default – that means Apple can technically get at certain data if it wanted to, though there's no reason to suspect it would.

Apple iCloud's Standard Data Protection protects some of your data via end-to-end encryption, such as Health and the passwords stored in your iCloud Keychain. As of iOS 16.2 and macOS 13.1, iCloud users can also enable Advanced Data Protection. This protects even more services with end-to-end encryption including iCloud Backups, Photos and Notes.

If you're committed to Apple products, you'll find that iCloud performs very well. It's deeply integrated into macOS, appearing in our Finder and with useful options in System Preferences.

The iOS Files app allowed us to copy, move, delete and share files with minimal hassle, and we found file transfers to be very speedy (and almost simultaneous in some situations).

Read our full Apple iCloud review.

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Best free cloud storage for Windows users

OneDrive is the free cloud storage solution from Microsoft, the creator of the popular Windows desktop operating system and the Office 365 software suite.

Anyone can sign up and get free 5GB of personal cloud storage, which is pretty limited compared to other platforms such as Google Drive. However, Microsoft makes up for it with robust security and collaboration services.

Once you store data on OneDrive, you can access it from any device connected to your Microsoft account. For example, you can start editing a Word document on a workstation at your office and continue with your phone once you arrive home.

OneDrive is available on all major operating systems iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux, making it more versatile than other high-profile competitors like Apple’s iCloud. We found that the desktop and mobile apps have especially user-friendly interfaces that make them easy to navigate.

Every file stored on OneDrive is protected by 256-bit AES encryption, making them virtually impenetrable. For further security, you can enable two-factor authentication so that no one can access your account even if they somehow get your details.

But that’s not all: OneDrive has a Personal Vault feature for protecting your files. You can lock access to them using a PIN or biometric authentication, such as fingerprint or facial scans. This way, someone can't access your files even if they successfully break into your account.

We found sharing files amongst colleagues especially simple, as OneDrive generates links for you. Anyone you give that link can access the file to view or edit, depending on the permission you grant them, enabling collaborative real-time editing.

Read our full Microsoft OneDrive review.

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Best free cloud storage for collaboration

Dropbox’s free plan offers just 2GB of storage, much lower than the others on this list. The size of files you can share is determined by your plan (e.g., a maximum of 2GB for free users), so if you’re wanting raw value for money, you might want to look elsewhere.

However, the service is available for web or across iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux, meaning you’ll almost always have access to your files. Being TechRadar Pro, we enjoyed having the freedom of choice across all our devices, making the service feel truly collaborative.

Dropbox makes it easy to share files with other people and collaborate to edit them, even if they don’t have a Dropbox account. All you need to do is generate a link, and you can share anything from photos and videos to large CAD files. After sharing, you'll get real-time updates about anyone who makes changes to a file.

We especially liked having robust security controls when sharing entire folders for collaborative editing within a workplace.

Dropbox excels at third-party app integration. You can connect your Dropbox app with many third-party platforms that provide additional functionality, all from an official App Center.

For example, you can link it with the Zoom video-conferencing app to instantly record your video meetings and play them back later or create graphics in Canva using content stored on Dropbox.

Read our full Dropbox review.

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Best free cloud storage for backups

For dedicated cloud backups, Backblaze is hard to beat: a well-known cloud storage provider that markets itself as a solution for individuals or businesses to back up their files and retrieve them when needed.

The first 10GB of storage is free - but only for Backblaze's B2 cloud storage. Even as a paid user, Backblaze is one of the most affordable options. The company has taken advantage of computing advancements and decreasing server costs to offer a cost-effective solution.

We find Backblaze beyond simple. We could schedule your backups ahead of time and have them run automatically. This makes sure that files are always preserved and won’t be permanently lost in the event of theft or hardware malfunction.

There are also no file size limits, and impressive, unthrottled upload speeds. We could even choose which data centers we wanted to store our files in (EU or US).

This platform has advanced security features, including AES 128-bit encryption. We especially liked that we could use our own private keys to encrypt and decrypt files. Two-factor authentication is also available here.

The downside of using Backblaze is that it requires more technical knowledge off the bat than the likes of Google Drive and Dropbox. It's a steep learning curve to get comfortable with the ins and outs of the service.

Read our full Backblaze review.

Best free cloud storage for simplicity

If Backblaze is a powerful but difficult to comprehend service, then in many ways, Sync.com is its opposite number while still offering features that put it leagues ahead of household name competitors.

In our tests, culminating in our full Sync.com review, we found that Sync.com keeps things light on the feature side, not even being offered as part of a product ecosystem à la Google Workspace. That's not a slight: if you're truly looking for something simple to use and understand, closed off from all of your other internet subscriptions, you've probably found it here.

Sync also provides robust and reliable security measures. End-to-end encryption is the big one here, meaning there are both client and server checks preventing unauthorised access to your files, something that even Google's still playing catch-up on, despite reports of progress dating back to 2022.

Using an email address or, preferably, a dedicated app such as Google Authenticator or Authy, you’ll also have access to the old reliable of two-factor authentication.

Though Sync beats the competition in being able to all-but-guarantee the security of your company data, it’s important to note that you’ll be paying extra for the privilege beyond a meagre (especially compared to Google Drive’s 15GB free allowance) 5GB free storage allowance, which, at business level, you’ll burn through in an instant.

Sync's storage does, however, come packed with what we found to be an intuitive interface across desktop, web and mobile, but do be mindful that, although you are getting what you do or don’t pay for here, there are more frugal and generous options available.

During our original review, we also found that Sync’s customer service amounted to an online ticket form, with no community features such as a forum, and, on further investigation as late as January 2023, this doesn’t seem to have changed. In an age where every provider under the sun seems to have an AI-driven live chat module on their website at the very least, this is baffling.

As our coverage elsewhere on TechRadar Pro will attest, Sync excels as a cloud storage provider. We only hope that, with our encouragement, they’ll sand off the rough edges in time.

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Best free cloud storage for data capacity

Blomp has been a free cloud storage provider on the scene since before the COVID-19 pandemic but, perhaps for shame, we're only just learning of them now.

Claiming to have been "built from the ground up" to be different from other providers, it starts by offering 20GB of free storage out of the gate, with the ability to scale up to 200GB with friend referrals. That's always a bit of a pain, but we understand that word-of-mouth advertising is vital for independent companies.

It also professes to be "unlikely" to impose transfer limits on users, whether that be speed or in the amount of data. It does say that transfer limits are usually limited to the amount of storage on the account (often the case for many providers), and that exceeding this could mean them asking you to upgrade plans. File size uploads are technically limited to 5GB, but Blomp will, at no extra cost, split them into chunks.

While Blomp offers its own multi-platform desktop and mobile apps, it also, thanks to the use an object storage system, supports free and open source packages such as rclone and Cyberduck. The company does note, however, that some third party packages won't support splitting files into chunks.

The price you pay for all of this convenience, and the opportunity to escape buying into Big Tech, are the flat monthly fees far beyond that of the giant rivals that can afford economies of scale. 99 cents a month will grab you 250GB, while $2.99 will provide 2TB and $9.99 10TB.

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Honorable mentions

While the above selection may represent the best of the best in terms of the free cloud storage on the market, during our research we also worked with several others that were very close to being included in the above list.

Here are some other very good free cloud storage options that very nearly made the cut:

- Hivenet: Operating slightly differently from the other cloud providers we've highlighted, Hivenet lets paid users save money by sharing their unused hard drive space, potentially lowering their bills by as much as 40%. There's also a free plan, which comes with 10GB of storage, 10 file transfers a month, and is compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android operating systems.

- TeraBox: The main takeaway from TeraBox's free plan is how much storage is available to users - 1TB. This dwarfs most of the other free storage limits out there. Limited functionality and the lack of a macOS client, however, will be difficult to look past for some users.

- Koofr: Offering 10GB of storage on its free plan, Koofr has a lot going for it. Within that 10GB, there's no limit on file size, there's two-way synchronization, file versioning, and Facebook and Instagram media transfer tools for anyone who uses either social network frequently.

- Jottacloud: While Jottacloud may only offer 5GB of free cloud storage, it does come with dedicated email and live chat support, something that isn't always included for free users. Backups are also available for all devices.

Best free cloud storage: FAQs

How to choose the best free cloud storage for you

There are three main considerations when choosing the best free cloud storage option for you; platform availability, storage capacity, and required features (like end-to-end encryption).

If you're going to use a cloud provider, then the first concern should probably be whether you can actually access the files easily. Many desktop and mobile apps offer free storage, but not all our compatible with other devices. For example, iCloud is an excellent storage option across the Apple ecosystem, but the Android and Windows versions are much less impressive.

You can easily get around 5-10GB free online storage from many of the best free cloud storage providers. If you’re a casual user or you’re storing documents rather than media, this may be enough. However, some services double that to 20GB for free users. Even if that’s not enough, it’ll give you an idea of how much space you do need.

You should also check the best free cloud storage for you that meets all your specifications. Again, this will depend on your selected provider. For those more interested in saving images and other media, it's worth exploring our round-up of the best photo cloud storage.

If you think you may need extra cloud space later down the line - and you’re willing to pay for it - look for a service that offers storage upgrades that’ll meet your current and future needs, and grow as your library does.

For more advice, see our guide What is cloud storage?

How we tested the best free cloud storage services

We’ve tested, reviewed, and rated hundreds of cloud solutions, including the best cloud document storage and the best cloud storage management services.

When testing the best free cloud storage services, I ask our reviewers to consider the platforms interface and experience, performance and speed, as well as any additional features.

The very top of the free online storage apps need to be intuitive and easy to navigate, making it simple to download, upload, and share files from the cloud - and this should be quick, too.

There should also be an emphasis on security, too. Users expect (or should expect)that any files stored on the cloud are protected by the provider and are fully secure.

We test apps across Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, giving you the broadest possible range of free cloud solutions on every device. As part of this process, we look at any file-size restrictions and cloud space limits placed on the free services.

We also make sure that all storage services are genuinely free - with no sneaky charges or hidden auto-subscriptions. When signing up for any of the best free cloud storage services, you should be confident that you really won’t be paying for these services unless you choose to upgrade.

• What is the 3-2-1 backup strategy? Find out the best way to keep your files secure

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If you're a photographer, or even just an amateur snapper - then it can be pretty tricky to get the storage space you need to hold onto your high-quality photos.

That's why we've listed the best cloud storage for photos specifically, which offer plenty of space to securely store high-definition photos at a reasonable price.

We have plenty of cloud storage experts here at TechRadar Pro, who have tested the full range of cloud storage services from big names industry, as well as lesser known but effective services.

There are some great extra features available in some of these, such as automatic synchronization and enhanced security features like end-to-end encryption.

Our top pick is still IDrive, because of its excellent interface, encryption, and the more-than generous storage space for images.

We have a guide for the best cloud storage for more discounts from all the biggest providers, including exclusive TechRadar Pro deals on solutions like Sync.com.

But first, take a look at our takes on the best cloud storage for photos, and consider taking a look at our other guides to the best cloud storage for business, and our list of the best lifetime cloud storage deals.

Today's best photo cloud storage deals

The best cloud storage for photos of 2026 in full:

The best cloud storage for photos overall

IDrive is a popular choice for cloud storage services, especially for small businesses and teams, but it excels in features for photos.

Photographers often use multiple devices to take photos, edit them, send them, and more. The IDrive plan allows an unlimited device ecosystem or one single account, across Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.

There's an 'Auto Camera' option which lets users to automatically upload photos and videos from their devices onto the IDrive account - retaining image quality.

Users can also take advantage of facial recognition features for organizing photos and syncing them across their linked devices.

Our previous iDrive test and review content has made reference to the fact that iDrive once offered unlimited photo storage, but this no longer seems to be the case.

Now, TechRadar Pro does have a fantastic (and exclusive!) for the main iDrive service - this isn't what we'd recommend in this case. The 'mini' subscription gives you access to a separate 'iDrive Photo' service which gives photo and video backup, which is available in two annual plan configurations - 100GB for $2.95 (cheaper than our flagship deal), or 500GB for $9.95.

Read our full IDrive review.

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The best free cloud storage

What we love about Flickr is that it keeps it simple, with free cloud storage for 1,000 photos and videos.

That's not easy to find, as most services make you pay for anything over a few GBs. With Flickr, adverts cover this cost - and we don't find them obtrusive or obstructive. Of course, you have the option to go ad-free and get unlimited cloud storage for a monthly, annual, or bi-annual fee.

What makes Flickr so popular (in our opinion) is the display. Photographers tend to be pretty big on aesthetics, and Flickr has a beautiful photostream in a social-media layout, where you can follow activity and comment on other people's snaps. You can even make your images private in a creative-focused network for both amateur and professional photographers.

Bur, if you need a dedicated cloud storage for RAW files, something like DropBox is probably a better choice, as Flickr is designed for presentation rather than storage, so it'll only display JPEG, GIF, and PNG images.

If the social element really matters to you, note that, without FlickrPro, you won't get stats on your photo views. And for deals, you’ll only get a three-month trial for Adobe Creative Cloud and discounts for Blurb, SmugMug (like Adobe CC, also included in this guide), and Prime with annual or 2-year Pro plans.

Read our full FlickrPro review.

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The best value cloud storage for photos

For a reliable and trustworthy service, Backblaze is a great choice. TechRadar Pro has recommended it as an affordable unlimited cloud storage service - particularly with personal accounts that aren't limited with storage capacity. Plus, files are backed up continuously without need for user input.

That being said, there are a few downsides. Backblaze doesn't do much more than store your images, and backup your files. That's it. You can't share, edit, or do anything with your photos other than retrieve them.

Storage isn't limited, but you are tied to one account on one device - you'll have to get another subscription for additional devices (but mobiles aren't covered, just PCs).

In our tests, Backblaze was comprehensive - something you can happily set up, then forget about while it protects your files, should something bad happen. There's no denying it does miss a little something, but it ranks pretty highly in our lists thanks to it's comprehensive, unlimited, and secure backups of your photos and videos.

Read our full Backblaze review.

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The best cloud storage for multiple formats

pCloud is special among the ranks of best photo cloud storage platforms - it’s one of the very few that provides a lifetime storage subscription. That means you only have to pay once to get, well, 2TB of storage. To prevent abuse, you are also limited to 2TB of download link traffic per month.

While we had reservations about its overall polish - it’s not as slick as rivals - we felt for its incredible value for money and extensive list of features available to all users, it’s easy for us to recommend pCloud as a secure cloud storage platform to both individuals and families, however business may want more flexibility. We also rated pCloud as one of the best alternatives to Google Photos.

Photographers will love the fact that you can see thumbnails and previews of most RAW files with the web and mobile versions of pCloud, as well as in pCloud Drive for macOS. Also nifty is the browser extension that allows you to save videos and images directly to your pCloud account, which you can use as a scrapbook.

Remember as well that you will be able to keep file revisions for up to 30 days and that you can create an entire static HTML website with its own URL.

Read our full pCloud review.

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The best cloud storage for photographers

Adobe Creative Cloud offers a number of top photo cloud storage subscriptions specifically for photographers and creators, providing photography-focused storage with attractive image galleries. This gives you a lot of flexibility over what you use to store your pictures

The Creative Cloud Photography plan offers access to the photo organizer and editor Lightroom and Photoshop, with a choice of 20GB or 1TB cloud storage. The Creative Cloud All Apps package, meanwhile, bundles all the top Adobe apps and gives you 100GB of storage. Alternatively, you can subscribe to individual apps, with the same storage space on offer.

Group Libraries enable colleagues to add photos to one shared folder, and you're free to make any photo private.

There's integration with Lightroom and Elements, and you can make quick edits when needed. There's even integration with Gmail. Uploading is easy, with apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. There's also support for RAW file formats.

We were big fans of Adobe Creative Cloud, giving it 4 stars in our review, saying “you get a lot for your money with Adobe Creative Cloud, from online storage to collaboration features, and of course, all the apps you could possibly want in order to generate content. The combined weight of all this, plus the fact Adobe regularly updates all of its apps, means you might see immense value in this subscription option.”

However, that diverse subscription package may not be for those looking for straight-down-the-line photo storage.

Read our full Adobe Creative Cloud review.

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The best cloud storage for RAW photos

Dropbox is great for storing pretty much any file you care to think of, making it a great photo cloud storage solution, particularly if you just need to store RAW files.

Organizing files is a cinch thanks to the intuitive folder system, plus you can access files on the go with apps for iOS and Android. All this and 2GB of free storage come with a Dropbox Basic account. You can get an extra 500MB of space for referring a friend, all the way up to 16GB, but this, admittedly, isn't great.

A Dropbox Plus account offers 2TB and you can get 1GB per referral (up to 32GB).

You do get a remote desktop wipe, 30-day version history, priority email upload and the option to restore folders or your entire account to a specific point in time, in case of accidental file deletion, crashes, or similar disasters.

Dropbox is integrated with Facebook, allowing you to easily transfer photos or videos from the social network. It also links up nicely with Adobe CC as part of an efficient workflow.

Read our full Dropbox review.

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The best secure cloud storage for photos

From now until the 31st of October, for its Cyber Awareness Month sale, Internxt is offering 80% off discounts on all of its premium plans.

Internxt’s affordable pricing plans, intuitive interface, and reliable support make it a great cloud storage service to consider. While it does not offer the same advanced features that you’ll find with Dropbox and OneDrive, individual users and businesses that prioritize security will enjoy the cloud service provider’s advanced security features and commitment to privacy.

Internxt’s basic free plan offers 10GB of storage, however there is a large emphasis on “up to”, here. All accounts start with a 2GB allowance, while more storage can be added for free by completing certain tasks, like installing the mobile app, subscribing to the company’s newsletter and referring friends. Beyond that, seven other pricing plans are available for individuals and for businesses.

We rate Internxt highly for its range of usable features, including its interface, which most users will find already familiar, the option to backup folders elsewhere on your computer, and the free, out-of-plan virus protection and password generator tools.

Read our full Internxt review.

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The best cloud storage for portfolios

SmugMug provides one of the best photo cloud storage solutions for professional photographers and enthusiastic shutterbugs alike. Like Flickr, it’s designed to be a space to present your photos, albeit as part of a professional portfolio, rather than a social network.

In our hands-on review, we called it “a photo cloud storage service that‘s easy to use, beginner-friendly, yet incredibly feature-rich.” With its stylish interface and relaxed user experience, backing up photos is a cinch. RAW files are also supported through SmugMug Source.

In addition to keeping your images safe and secure, SmugMug offers plenty of options for showcasing your art - the whole platform is rich in community spirit, so if you’re serious about your photography, the site’s drag-and-drop website builder is a good way to broaden your audience reach. The site also packs ecommerce selling tools, giving you the opportunity to make money on your images.

Unfortunately, though, SmugMug is subscription-only. There’s no free cloud storage for photos, unlike Flickr, which is owned by the same company. If that’s not a concern, then SmugMug is a great and one of the few platforms offering genuinely unlimited, full-resolution cloud storage for photos and videos.

Read our full SmugMug review.

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The best photo cloud storage for Android

Google Photos used to be the number one destination for photo backups, offering free, unlimited cloud storage for ‘high quality’ photos and videos. But since June 2021, newly uploaded images count towards the free 15GB of cloud storage that comes with every Google account.

In our in-depth Google Photos review, we called it “a strong entry into the cloud storage space for users to store their photos and images, but the basic editing tools will leave more advanced users looking for more functionality.”

As you’d expect from Google, the photos app has a classically clean layout, accessible for everyone, and easy to use. Better still, you can upload, view, edit, and retrieve your pictures on almost every device.

If you prefer traditional cloud storage for photos - rather than the image-focused Photos app - Google Drive is a good alternative. Like Dropbox, Drive is geared towards file sharing, with multiple users able to modify shared files.

You can store photos on Drive, but it doesn't offer the same stylish setting as more photography-focused online storage. It’s also part of Google Workspace which offers several free business-grade office apps - we even use it at TechRadar Pro HQ.

There are some clever features, too. Google uses AI tools and machine learning to automatically label people, objects, and locations within pictures, using metadata (the recorded date and place) to make searching easier. If you have a Canon device, you can back up your photos to Google Photos by just using Wi-Fi.

Free cloud storage starts at 15GB, with storage space shared across all Google services, like Photos, Drive, Gmail, and Google Docs.

Read our full Google Photos review.

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The best Windows cloud storage for photos

Microsoft OneDrive offers a very similar setup to its arch-rival, Google Drive - but it’s likely the best photo cloud storage if you’re a Microsoft 365 subscriber.

Anyone familiar with the Microsoft Office suite will feel right at home with OneDrive's integrated office apps. OneDrive adopts the same look and feel as Windows 10, so it's easy to navigate.

However, it isn't designed solely for photographers, so don't expect the same viewing experience as you get from Flickr. That said, some features have been added for photo users, like cropping, rotating, and light/color adjustments. Hardly Photoshop levels of editing, but passable when you need a quick fix.

In our review of the cloud storage service, it didn’t escape our attention that, for a long time, OneDrive had lagged behind rivals like Google Drive and Apple iCloud. However, we found the latest version “is easier to call a success now, particularly for those that spend a lot of time using Windows or the various Office applications.” We were especially impressed with the Personal Vault option, which made photos ultra-secure.

Also, subscribers can install Microsoft 365 on an unlimited number of devices.

Read our full Microsoft OneDrive review.

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Honorable mentions

While we've taken pains to only include the very best in our list of cloud storage software for photos, it is undeniable that there are some other very good solutions that were very close to being included. We couldn't leave these platforms out entirely, so here are our picks of other tools that you may want to consider.

- Amazon Photos: If you're already an Amazon Prime member, this represents a very handy photo storage tool. The Amazon Photos app is required on iOS and macOS but your library is also accessible from any web browser. There's 5 GB of free online photo storage for all members but if you're a Prime subscriber, you'll receive unlimited storage without compression. Otherwise, if you need more storage space, prices are 100 GB for $1.99/month, 1 TB for $6.99/month, and 2 TB for $11.99/month.

- NordLocker: For security-conscious photographers, NordLocker could be the right pick. With its zero-knowledge encryption, not even the people who work at NordLocker can access your data. Prices start at $8.99 per month for 500 GB of storage, rising to $14.99 a month for 2 TB plan.

- Arq Backup: The biggest advantage of using Arq Backup is the way it handles versioning. With its block-level incremental backups, only file changes are backed up, which can save photographers (who frequently store large files and folders) from using a lot of bandwidth unnecessarily.

The best photo cloud storage: FAQs

How to choose the best photo cloud storage for you

When deciding which photo cloud storage is best, your choice comes down to a number of factors, but storage size is likely to be near the top of the list. Compared to documents, images, GIFs, and videos take up a lot of space, so the capacity that may be fine for a generic cloud solution, may not be enough for individuals who capture a lot of videos and pictures.

In addition, if you're a professional photographer or work in a media-heavy environment, you're going to be storing a lot of high-definition, high-resolution files - and that's consuming even more space.

Of course, storage size is not the only determinant of the best cloud storage for photos. You should consider other factors like security, support, and user interface. You want to know your images are safe and easily accessible. The platform should fit your unique flow, and it needs to feel comfortable when navigating your chosen photo storage app.

You may also want to keep in mind the kind of display option that comes with a particular cloud storage service. Do you simply want somewhere to keep your images safe, or would you prefer a solution with a built-in gallery? When deciding on the best photo cloud storage option, don't get too focused on storage size.

How we tested the best photo cloud storage

We take professional photography software and services as seriously as you do - and in addition to reviewing the best hardware for photographers, like the best laptop for photo editing, the best photo editing PC, and even the best camera for photography.

So, we consider factors like user experience, storage capacity, editing capabilities, and the retention of original image resolutions as we tested the best photo cloud storage to help you find the right online home for your work.

When testing the best cloud storage for photos, we asked our testers to take notice of the upload and download speeds (which can make the difference between a decent and a fantastic service). This is particularly important for videos, which can often take a long time to transfer due to their size.

When uploading large or numerous files, it can be hugely frustrating watching the loading bar gradually crawl to completion, so this was a major factor in the review process. But it wasn't the only one.

We also assess the best photo cloud storage options based on ease of use, added functionality, and, of course - price.

All things considered, most services are quite well rounded, and a few do specific features very well for a good price.

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In the event of a system crash or hard drive failure, your important files could be lost forever. Secure your precious data with BackBlaze, the only major provider, that delivers true unlimited cloud storage. New personal backup customers can save 20% off the monthly $7 bill. That's only $5.60 a month with a 30-day contract.

The plan provides a secure repository for all your essential files, so you won't have to worry about losing them in the event of a system failure. It also gives you access to your assets across any device.

Backblaze is perfect for anyone looking to find a long-term solution for their data storage needs. With the Unlimited Plan, there's no such thing as running out of space. Shifting data into the service is simple and intuitive and 256 AES encryption will ensure your sensitive files don't fall into the wrong hands.

Check out our Cyber Monday cloud storage deal page.

This highly recommended backup bundle is packed with features designed to make securing your important files and documents both convenient and affordable.

One of the most notable features is the ability to set up automatic backups for both local and external drives, making doubly sure no data is lost. 

Often people only come to understand the importance of data backups once it's too late, so don't fall into the same trap! They even provide you with an external drive for free (full refund of your deposit after return) to restore your files in case of emergency.

In our review, we found out that "Backblaze focuses on what it is best at: cloud backup. While the service misses some things, it should certainly be near the top of your shortlist if you want a comprehensive, no-limits, secure backup of the data for your home or business computers.

The best cloud storage software is perfect for storing your data on a secure and safe server - which will free up space on your device and keep your files safe from system crashes and hardware issues.

Our top recommendation is IDrive. It's really reasonably priced (and often has a great sale on) - it's user friendly and easy-to-use

It's not the only good option though, and services like Sync.com and pCloud are also great options for cloud storage.

If you need something a bit cheaper, or you're on a tight budget, I've got you. Check out our picks for best free cloud storage for some equally great options.

If you're a photographer or, like me, just take too many photos of your cat, we've also ranked the best cloud storage for photos. For more professional storage needs, we've also listed the best cloud storage for business.

Best cloud storage: deals

The best cloud storage 2026:

Best cloud storage overall

IDrive tops my best cloud storage list with its appealing mix of easy-to-use desktop and mobile apps, excellent backup features, strong security and great value.

Signing up gets you allowances up to 10TB (personal) all the way up to 100TB (business), but that's not all. Sync support keeps files up-to-date across all your hardware, and backup features enable protecting everything from individual files and folders to full SQL, Exchange, SharePoint and other servers.

I particularly like IDrive's extras, such as an option to transfer your data to iDrive on a physical device - ideal if you've a slow internet connection and 50TB to protect. IDrive sends you the drive, pays return postage (in the US), but it's still free once a year for personal users (three times for business plans.)

It's data transfer uses 256-bit AES encryption with the user key not stored on any IDrive servers, adding an extra layer of security for your files even while they're being transferred.

IDrive also offers backup support for Microsoft Office 365, Google Workspace, Dropbox, and Box, enabling you to recover important files and data from automated daily backups. As well as a Cloud Drive integration with Microsoft Office, IDrive also offers compatability with all PCs, Macs, and Linux computers, alongside apps for iOS and Android.

You can also access regular snapshots and versions of your data at specific points in time, helping you to monitor changes up to 30 file versions in the past.

▶ Read more: IDrive cloud storage review.

Performance:

This is an area where IDrive really shines. It boasts fast upload speeds and a file recovery feature that is especially handy if you think you’ve lost some important data. IDrive also provides block-level syncing when you are syncing files from a device, such as a smartphone or tablet, to the cloud. Our tests revealed iDrive's performance was a close match to Google Drive and the other top contenders.

Other backup features, including disk image backup, NAS backup and server backup, are useful additions depending on what you’re looking for from your cloud storage.

Security:

IDrive is strong on the security fundamentals, with end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication to protect you from attack. This works via a private key that is unique to you, so look after it.

There’s also the offer of standard encryption, which although not as secure as end-to-end encryption, still provides protection against most potential breaches. It also means a bit less responsibility for the end user as iDrive keeps hold of the encryption key, so you can restore your data whenever you need to, without having to remember a private key.

Customer Support:

IDrive has live chat functionality, as well as the option of contacting support via either telephone or email, so you should be able to contact the company should an issue arise. As with many companies, some users have complained that response times vary, but we’ve been pleasantly surprised on this front whenever something's come up.

Features:

IDrive offers users the possibility of backing up their files across an unlimited number of devices, from computers to mobile devices, as well as NAS drives.

Real-time syncing and backup scheduling are both great for ensuring you never forget to back up the latest version of your files. You can also opt to receive desktop or email notifications informing you when your backups are completed.

IDrive's link-sharing functionality is super robust. You can configure links to expire after a set period - up to a maximum of 30 days - or a number of downloads. All of your active share links are also visible through the IDrive dashboard, so there’s complete clarity over what you’re sharing with external partners.

IDrive's Express service lets you put your data on all the best hard drives and post them off - for when you want the added protection that comes with physical storage.

User Interface:

IDrive is easy to use on the whole, although a revamp of its design and interface in certain areas could improve things further. Menu and setting screens are pretty clear, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble configuring IDrive exactly to your liking.

There are some differences here depending on the type of device you are accessing IDrive through. For instance, there are fewer options if you’re using the iOS version.

While the Android app lets you backup SMS messages, this isn’t possible with the iPhone and iPad versions, which are limited to contact, calendar, photos and videos. While this may be more of an Apple issue than an IDrive one, it will still affect usability for certain users.

Price

When I last checked in February 2025, IDrive offers 10GB of free storage. After that, you’ll probably want to look at the Personal plan, which costs $69.65 a year for 5TB, and you can upgrade this plan to 10TB ($104.65), 20TB ($174.65), 50TB ($349.65), and 100TB ($699.65).

The Business plan is more likely to suit your needs if you need to provide access across an unlimited number of users and devices. This is available from $69.65 a year for 250GB, increasing to $8119.65 for 50TB of space per user.

Alternatively, there’s the Team plan, which comes in several versions. Here, the cheapest plan starts at $69.65 for five computers, five users, 5TB total, for one year. This plan can be upgraded all the way up to 500 computers, with 500 users and 500TB of storage at $6999.65 per year.

TechRadar readers can get 10TB of cloud storage from iDrive for $4.98 for the first year. You can grab this exclusive deal by clicking here.

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Best cloud storage for lifetime value

The Swiss-based pCloud is a stand out cloud storage - especially thanks to its hugely advanced features for file sharing. Regular downloads are great, but pCloud lets you create specific download pages - complete with custom messages, as well as build slideshows of shared images, and even stream video or audio files straight from you storage.

The free plan comes with a generous 10GB - to get this full amount, you'll need to do the usual hoop jumping like installing the app. signing up friends - you know, the classic stuff.

Try not to be too put off by that though, because there's a lot to like. Being based in Switzerland, which offers some of the world's strongest data protection regulations, is one of them. Your private encryption key is protected by a 4096-bit RSA algorithm, while your files and folders are encrypted with per-file and per-folder 256-bit AES keys.

If data protection is important to you, which in this day and age it probably should be, then pCloud also lets you choose from five different servers. This makes your files and backups extra secure - not to mention the option to add add an additional layer of encryption to your file storage through pCloud Encryption.

That being said, the desktop interface isn't quite as user friendly as some of its competitors, and 2Tb isn't that much in business terms - IDrive, for example, lets you store up to 20TB for just a bit more.

▶ Read more: pCloud Cloud Storage review.

Performance

Our tests found that pCloud’s upload speeds fared well against competitors like iDrive, Internxt, and Apple iCloud.

File recovery also performed well, but it’s worth keeping in mind that the free version of pCloud only stores file revisions for up to 15 days. If you need longer than this, you’ll have to select a paid plan.

Security

All file transfers involving pCloud use a TLS/SSL encrypted channel for additional protection and files are stored across five different server locations as a safeguard against data loss. In fact, pCloud is so confident regarding the security credentials that it offered a $100,000 reward for anyone that could crack their defenses as part of the 'pCloud Encryption Challenge'. No one was successful.

Customer Support

Response times can vary a lot and if you want to contact pCloud directly, you have to pick up the phone. Head office is in Switzerland, so US customers have to battle against the time difference. You can also send an email, but the addition of a live chat option would help speed up their customer service.

Features

Sharing files is straightforward with pCloud and there are a couple of additional features worth talking about too.

One of these is Extended History, which extends the time that pCloud retains deleted files to 360 days. Another is pCloud Crypto, which adds client-side encryption to your account.

These features are at an additional cost, however, costing $80 a year and $50 respectively.

The desktop app adds a Dropbox-like virtual drive to your file manager, simplifying operations, but Internxt's mobile app can make life even easier by (optionally) automatically uploading pictures and videos direct from your phone.

There's also offline functionality, so you can access your shared files via your computer or mobile even if you don't have a working connection. Then, as soon as the connection is restored, there'll be an automatic sync.

Browser extensions are also available for Firefox, Chrome, and Opera, allowing you to save audio, video and pictures directly from a web page to your pCloud account.

User Interface

We found the service very easy to set up and use. Sample folders and files helped us immediately try out its powerful file management and sharing features. We had no issues connecting our account to Facebook, Instagram and other social media accounts, and backing up their content.

Some users have complained pCloud’s software is not short of a bug or two, which diminishes its usability significantly. When things are working well, however, the desktop client is pretty intuitive.

Price

A strong point for pCloud is its competitive price points. There’s a generous free plan offering 10GB of storage (although you will have to complete a few simple tasks to unlock the full amount, such as recommending friends).

In terms of paid plans, There's no monthly pricing model, but annual plans are fair value at $49.99 for 500GB, and $99.99 for 2TB when we last checked in February 2025.

Where I found pCloud really shines is in its lifetime plans. You can get 500GB forever for a one-off $199, 2TB for $399, or 10TB for $1190. Despite mooted savings of up to 37%, we check this plan every month and the prices remain the same.

Interestingly, pCloud also offers not just these 'lifetime' payment plans, but the ability to stack one lifetime allowance on top of others. That's certainly an investment, but we like that the option is there, because it could pay off over time with enough use.

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Best cloud storage for syncing

Sync.com is, unsurprisingly, focused on one thing - syncing. To be fair, it doesn't have a whole load of other sparkly features or tools - but it is really good at syncing.

That being said, it's a sophisticated service. It allows you to create read-only versions, download limits, expiring links, and password protected files should you need to. The versioning supports file restoration from the last 180 days, which is really generous (most providers give 30).

It has a simple, easy to use interface (as well as a handy mobile app which automatically syncs photos and videos as they're taken). In our testing, we were particularly impressed with the upload and download speeds - among the best we've seen!

Security features like end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication are key protections in securing your data.

If you work in an industry with particularly strict laws, all of Sync.com's Pro plans come with GDPR and PIPEDA compliance, and all Pro plans outside of Solo Basic feature HIPAA compliance by default.

If you have a larger team, I would point you towards the Solo Professional and Teams+ Unlimited plans which offer a staggering 365 day version history and recovery.

You can also get access to Microsoft Office 365 integration, and in-app compatibility for Windows File Explorer and Mac Finder.

▶ Read more: Sync cloud storage review.

Performance

One thing I was really impressed by with this platform is the upload and download speeds - but it should be noted this this is of course just for a single folder.

Users can also control these speeds - which is handy, and can throttle them where needed, for example - if you're running more pressing commuting tasks or don't have a particularly good connection, you can make sure Sync doesn't affect this.

Keeping with the theme, Sync also offers advanced sharing controls, including the option of adding password protection and expiry dates on any links you do share.

I was particularly surprised (in a good way) by the team-oriented feature set, including the ability to add comments to file-sharing links, share folders with groups of people, open and edit Office documents direct from your Sync space (if you subscribe to Office 365) and manage all your users from a central console.

If you subscribe to a team account, you'll find that your files get added security from protocols like HIPAA, GDPR, and PIPEDA. PIN code locks are also provided for the Sync mobile apps.

Security

Cloud security is an important feature at Sync. The service isn't interoperable with third-party apps (like collaboration tools) and doesn’t make its API available for others to use externally.

Now, this is a bit of a pain for anyone who wants to use some useful integrations, but it reduces the possible attack vectors for outside actors to exploit, which, in this day and age, is pretty important.

Sync has even published a white paper explaining how it uses 2048-bit RSA encryption keys to keep your data safe. Two-factor authentication is also easily enabled for your account.

Customer Support

There is a pretty extensive Help Center which can help with a whole range of things like account setup, creating shared folders, and more. But, if you want VIP support, you'll have to pay for some of the more expensive plans.

I found finding help on the cheaper plans a bit of a task - with no community forum (and you can only get directly in touch with Sync via an online email form). We did receive a helpful response pretty quickly, though.

Features

Sync's main function is in letting users maintain one single folder on their device (or devices) which is automatically synced with the cloud.

There is versioning offered, but the length of time files are kept for varies depending on which subscription you get.

The lack of more advanced features may disappoint some but Sync has chosen to focus on its core functionality instead.

User Interface

What's fantastic about Sync is the easy-to-use across its web and mobile versions (ok, they're not particularly stylish, but they work well).

There’s also an option to store files online only, without taking up space on any of your devices.

Price

Sync’s free plan comes with 5GB, but does include the option of raising this to 25GB by inviting friends and completing other tasks.

Personal users can access 200GB of storage for $5 per month, 2TB of storage for $8 per month, or 6TB for $20 per month (when paid annually).

For businesses, there’s a Teams Standard plan that offers 1TB at a cost of $6 per user per month. Enterprises may need the Teams Unlimited plan, however, which delivers unlimited cloud storage for $15 per user per month.

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Best cloud storage for security

Internxt is security-focused at its core, providing cloud storage with multiple security features aimed at making sure your data stays safe.

Paid plans start from just €4.99 a month for 200GB of storage, so worth a look if you're looking to extricate yourself from a big tech provider like Google Drive.

Of course, end-to-end encryption is deployed to protect your data from any snoopers, and the platform stores your files in bits spread all around its networks, which protects from hardware failures. You also get a password generator to save you the hassle of coming up with a new, secure password to protect your accounts, a virus scanner to protect from malware, and a temporary email.

In our testing, we liked the well-designed web view and apps, and found it did a good job of helping us find and manage files.

That being said, Internxt isn't quite the powerhouse of advanced features you find with Dropbox and OneDrive - and the free plan is quite a hassle.

In my opinion, Internxt lacks some of the integrations that its competitors offer, such as Microsoft Office 365 or Google Workspace support.

Internxt's premium customer support to all paid plans is fantastic, and makes a refreshing change from the VIP customer support offered by Sync.com.

For the security conscious, I would highly recommend Internxt thanks to its zero knowledge and quantum safe end-to-end encryption, two factor authentication, password protections, and open source platform, which is regularly audited by Securitum.

▶ Read more: Internxt cloud storage review.

Performance

Internxt held up pretty well during our speed tests, and it was particularly impressive that the encryption process didn't have a detrimental effect on speed at all.

It took just 1 minute and 55 seconds to upload 625MB of data - which is pretty similar to other cloud storage services we've reviewed without encryption.

Security

Now, security is where Internxt really shines. First of all, your data is instantly encrypted when transferred from your device, and is only decrypted once it's downloaded back to the device in question.

You don't have to just take Internxt's word for it either, as the platform is committed to open-source, meaning the app's source code is available on Github for any developers to check and inspect.

Your data isn't just stored in a single location - it's broken up and spread across multiple servers, meaning a data breach is unlikely to result in all your files being compromised - mitigating the damage.

Internxt has also passed an independent security audit by Securitum.

Customer Support

All paid Internxt users have access to premium customer support through live chat or e-mail. The Internxt Help Center is also on hand with numerous support articles.

Features

Internxt is available on desktop, tablet, or mobile - with most of the basic features you'd expect from a cloud storage service. You can take advantage of media streaming to your video and audio files without downloading the files to your computer.

There’s automatic syncing functionality and offline access, both of which will be much appreciated by business users who can’t afford to be without access to their files. Of course, security should also be mentioned here too as it’s one of Internxt’s features that received the most praise.

Windows Explorer and Mac Finder integration makes uploading as simple as a drag and drop. Sync support keeps files up-to-date across all your devices, and you can share files with others via custom links.

User Interface

It's really simple to setup, and we found it was one of the easiest of all the cloud providers we tested.

They even provide an introductory guide to make the process as hassle-free as possible.

It has a clean and well-designed dashboard, and the drag-and-drop process for uploads means there’s little opportunity for any issues to arise.

Price

The free plan now offers just 1GB of storage - which, to be honest, isn't a whole lot. You're best to use this as a sort of free-trial to see how you get on with the service.

When paid annually, individual users can get 1TB for €120, 2TB for €240, 5TB for €3600. Lifetime plans are also available, price at $1900 for 2TB, $2900 for 5TB, or $3900 for 10TB.

That being said, as of June 2026 - there's a pretty hefty discount on all plans, which will get you roughly 85% off on average - and this sale runs a fair bit.

There are also two business plans available - the Standard and the Pro. the first offers 1TB of encrypted storage for €80 (although currently on sale for €10) and the Pro offers 2TB of storage for €100 (currently on sale for €13).

You can also get their popular 5TB Lifetime Plan at an 80% discount.

Internxt also offers up to 50% off of its lifetime plans occasionally - so the website's worth checking every now and then if you think you'll get value from the long term investment.

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Best cloud storage for backups

Backblaze is a high-powered cloud backup service that provides unlimited storage with no file size limits for a very fair price.

Install the Backblaze desktop app and it immediately scans for important files, and begins uploading them. You're able to take manual control, if you like, but we found it simpler to let Backblaze handle everything automatically.

The initial transfer of data to the web can take a long time, but our tests found impressive upload speeds kept delays to a minimum. And on the download front, if you need your data in a hurry, Backblaze will ship up to 8TB to your door on a USB drive.

The focus on backups means there's no file syncing, no clever collaboration tools, and only the simplest of file-sharing options. You can only protect one computer per account, too, and network drives aren't supported.

As you might have guessed from the name, Backblaze is my recommendation for those looking for a robust cloud backup option, rather than dedicated cloud storage. Backblaze does offer a B2 cloud storage service, but this is more aimed at enterprises than individual users.

Backblaze takes particular pride in boasting about its data center security, noting that it has 24-hour staff, biometric security, and redundant power to keep your data safe.

▶ Read more: Backblaze review.

Price

For the Backblaze personal plan, you can access unlimited cloud storage for $9 per month, or grab a 13% discount by paying $189 for 2 years. Alternatively, you can pay per year at $99.

There's also a free 15-day trial, which you can access without having to hand over your financial details. After that, there's no free plan, but you can get three months free on an annual plan.

As for Backblaze's business offerings, you can get unlimited endpoint backup for $99 per year with a 365 day version history and no restrictions on the number of workstations.

Backblaze also offers an enterprise plan, but you will have to contact sales to get a price.

User Interface

The Backblaze interface is another strength of the platform. While the options are somewhat limited, there’s a real clear focus apparent when engaging with the user experience.

This includes a useful file manager feature, which makes it easy to search and sort through the files you have stored in the platform. The interface is minimal, which is both a strength and a weakness - especially if you are used to some of Backblaze’s competitors that offer more advanced functionality.

Features

If you also need a VPN to protect yourself online, you can alternatively get Backblaze completely free for a year when you sign up for our #1 favorite, ExpressVPN (and you get three extra months of ExpressVPN protection, too).

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Best cloud storage for Windows file management

UK-based IceDrive has only been in the cloud storage business for a very few years, but its groundbreaking file management features more than justify its place in our 'Best...' list.

Windows users can browse their storage space from Explorer, for example, moving, renaming, opening, and even editing files, just like working on a local drive. Install the Windows, Mac or Linux app and you can also preview documents and stream media files without having to download them first.

The clean and easy-to-navigate browser interface is so simple that even newbies will figure it out in moments. The desktop and mobile apps have similar functionality, but we found inconsistencies in design and layout made them a little more awkward to use.

You also won't be throttled by the number of devices you use, as Icedrive offers unlimited device access. The one limiter you may encounter is the bandwidth limit, however.

▶ Read more: IceDrive review

Security

IceDrive encrypts data on your device before it's transferred, and its zero-knowledge approach ensures that only you decrypt and view your data. IceDrive is also the only cloud storage provider to use the Twofish encryption algorithm, which matches the security of other 256-bit algorithms.

Two-factor authentication is available to all, while SMS authentication is only available to premium customers. We don't recommend using the latter, as text messages are far easier to intercept than one-time passwords generated by reliable authenticator apps.

Price:

A 10GB free plan gives you an easy way to get started despite restrictions (no client-side encryption, plus a 50GB/month bandwidth limit.) If you need more, annual plans range from $4.99 a month for 100GB, $7.99 a month for 1TB, and $14.99 for 3TB.

When we last checked in February 2025, and these prices have remained fairly consistent for the past few months. There are savings to be had when buying in for a year or two, but the value of that depends on your usecase.

However, IceDrive is now once again offering lifetime plans after revising its pricing structure. Right now, $299 will get you 512GB of lifetime storage, 2TB is $479, and 10TB is $1199.

Those prices are okay, but what we really like about this structure is that additional data allowances can be stacked on top with subsequent payments, currently $79 for an additional 128GB, 512GB for $199, and 2TB for $399.

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Best cloud storage for ease of use

NordLocker is hard to beat for privacy in the cloud storage space: it comes from the people behind NordVPN, one of the best VPNs around.

The service scores well on the fundamentals. We found NordLocker's leading-edge encryption extremely quick, upload times were reasonable, and the addition of multi-factor authentication protects your account from attackers.

▶ Read more: NordLocker review.

Usability: NordLocker is by far one of the easiest to use. The desktop apps enable uploading, downloading, and managing your files with little more than a drag and drop.

The mobile apps are just a mobile browser running inside an application, but that's not an obstacle to functionality.

Security: With its zero-knowledge encryption system, not even a NordLocker security worker can decrypt your stored files. But that shouldn't be a problem - such is NordLocker's confidence in its security protocols. In fact, the vendor even offered a $10,000 reward to any individual that could break into its encrypted locker.

Price: Nordlocker is offering offered 53% off its 2TB plan when billed annually, coming to $6.99 a month, or 40% off 500GB billed annually for $2.99 a month.

A free plan gives you 3GB of storage to play with, but that's disappointing compared with the 5-10GB (or Google Drive's comparatively mammoth 15GB) allocated elsewhere.

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Best cloud storage for users in Microsoft's ecosystem

Microsoft OneDrive doesn't have the features of some of the cloud storage competition, but its Windows and Microsoft 365 integration, XBox support, and simple interface, make this a great solution for anyone committed or open to the Microsoft ecosystem.

OneDrive comes built into Windows 10/ 11, for instance, so there's nothing to install. It shows up in Explorer, and you can drag and drop files to sync them to the cloud and your other devices.

Features: Microsoft 365 support includes auto-saving to the cloud, and collaboration options include the ability to work on documents simultaneously with others, or share them via OneDrive-generated links.

Usability: Microsoft hasn't forgotten other platforms, but we found they delivered mixed results on the usability front. The web interface covers the basics, for instance, but doesn't have the simplicity or style of Google Drive or Dropbox.

The Mac client is more straightforward, though we found some conflicts with iCloud. The elegant and intuitive mobile apps are the real highlight, though, with strong photo and video syncing tools and solid security.

Price: OneDrive's free plan offers only 5GB, half the allowance you'll get with some providers. You can pay $19.99 a year to upgrade, but that still only gets you 100GB. Microsoft 365 users get the best value, with Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and 1TB of OneDrive storage from $70 a year.

▶ Read more: Microsoft OneDrive review.

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Best budget option

Whatever platform you choose, we found Google Drive to be intuitive and easy to use. The Android and iOS apps are a close match for the browser view, ensuring smooth operations even when you're regularly switching devices.

We've been a little disappointed by previous versions of the desktop apps, but the latest edition is just as easy to operate as Drive apps on other platforms.

Google Drive's Android and Google Workspace integration make it an ideal cloud storage platform for staunch Google users, but a generous 15GB free tier, and a host of desktop, mobile and Drive-supporting third-party apps, ensure it carries plenty of appeal for newcomers.

▶ Read more: Google Drive review.

Price: Business Workspace plans are billed per user per month, require a one year commitment and, in offering far more beyond cloud storage, cost anywhere between around $8 to $25.

These provide up to 5TB of storage per user, and allow for large scale business meetings up to 1000 users, as well as in-domain live-streaming. It's comprehensive, but probably only worth it for large companies. Enterprises are encouraged to contact Google's sales team privately for trials and custom quotes.

In terms of personal pricing, you can choose between 100GB or 2TB personal plans, which are, as of February 2025, priced at $1.99 and $9.99, per user per month respectively, with up to 16% saved when billed annually. An 'AI Premium' plan offers 2TB of storage alongside access to Google's Gemini AI service, but it also costs $19.99.

Features: Small team management is also on the cards, as you can share your allowance with up to five people, and the service more than delivers on the cloud storage essentials, with versioning support, offline access, syncing, file sharing all here.

Business users will love the Google Sheets, Docs and Slides integration, for instance, where you can create, edit and share cloud files with others, without ever downloading anything.

Security: Drive doesn't have end-to-end encryption, which means that, in theory, Google could see your files. So, if you're not a Google fan, tying yourself so tightly into the company's ecosystem may not appeal.

But for everyone else, it offers a slick and powerful free service, and plenty of benefits if you upgrade.

Best cloud storage comparison table

Cloud storage services: Honourable mentions

There are some providers that, for one reason or another, aren't on this list. Some are on our radar and have impressed us, but we haven't had a chance to review them yet and so we don't feel qualified to comment with an expert opinion.

There are also some providers that are a little too specialised for this guide. CloudSpot offers storage as part of a store system for freelance photography businesses, while Filepass prides itself on supporting collaboration between creatives and clients.

Meanwhile, for free cloud storage, and a generous 20GB starter allowance that bests even Google Drive's offering, I like Blomp.

I will, of course, keep adding to this list as I gather more info on newer cloud storage services that go up against the larger companies: in the short term, they can often offer more features for less money.

Frequently asked questions

How to choose the best cloud storage service

How do we test cloud storage services?

There are a few things to consider when you're looking for best-in-class cloud storage services.

When I'm asking our testing to try out a product, I remind them to look out for the upload and download speeds of file transfers - but this is a minor component of the overall rating as there are scores of other factors that affect your download or upload speeds that cannot be easily mitigated (contention rate, time of day, and server load, for instance).

The testers are also advised to check to see if the the storage provider can recover deleted files, as well as if they keep multiple versions of files in case users need to undo changes - super helpful for the clumsier among us!

They also check, of course, for the cost of a service. It's not usually a particularly high-cost investment at first, but these things add up quick, especially when you factor in additional storage requirements, and opting for premium features such as artificial intelligence support on a service that also offers collaboration tools.

Security standards and credentials are also key. Look for a cloud storage provider that can boast the certifications that promise an SLA you can rely on - and safeguards that protect your data.

Last but definitely not least is the level of customer support that a cloud storage service will provide, whether it's 24-7 over the phone or web-based only - your files are important, and knowing that your provider cares too can make a real difference.

▶ Read more detailed coverage: Cloud storage reviews: how we tested them

There are a number of factors that I look for when considering the best-in-class cloud storage services.

In directing our testers, I've advised them to look at the upload and download speeds of file transfers, but this is a minor component of the overall rating as there are scores of other factors that affect your download or upload speeds that cannot be easily mitigated (contention rate, time of day, and server load, for instance).

Testers also check to see if the storage provider can recover deleted files, as well as if they keep multiple versions of files in case users need to undo changes

The other thing I ask testers to consider is the cost of a service. While cloud storage can initially be a very low-cost investment, the money can add up when you factor in additional storage requirements, and opting for premium features such as artificial intelligence support on a service that also offers collaboration tools.

Security standards and credentials are also key. Look for a cloud storage provider that can boast the certifications that promise an SLA you can rely on - and safeguards that protect your data.

Last but certainly not least is the level of support that a cloud storage service will provide to its customers, whether it's 24-7 over the phone or web-based only.

▶ Read more detailed coverage: Cloud storage reviews: how we tested them

Finding the perfect cloud storage solution starts by thinking about your needs. What are you hoping the service will do?

If your goal is to protect all your data from harm, then look for a service with solid backup tools and the ability to access your files from anywhere.

If you'd like to share a group of files - photos, say - across multiple devices, then you'll need quick and easy syncing abilities.

If you're more interested in sharing individual files or folders with others, look for a platform that supports password-protected or time-limited links, anything that helps you stay more secure. Businesses will benefit from collaboration tools, too, allowing users to work on files together, add comments and more.

Pay attention to the figures. Most cloud storage keeps previous versions of your files for up to 30 days, for instance, but that's not always the case. If your provider says it supports 'versioning', that's good, but check the details, see how it really compares to the competition.

You'll want to consider a provider's cost and capacity, too, but be careful. Don't simply opt for a high-capacity plan just because it seeks better value: think about whether you really need that much space.

And when it comes to price, browse the small print, look out for hidden charges or fees which jump on renewal, make sure you know exactly what you're getting.

Credentials around service and security standards are also key. Look for a cloud storage provider that can boast the certifications that promise an SLA you can rely on - and safeguards that protect your data.

In addition, make sure your storage provider offers the scalability you need should you grow - and a flexible pricing model to accompany it. Perhaps the best thing to do when choosing a cloud storage provider is simply to shop around. There’s bound to be a solution that suits your needs - but don’t simply go with the first cloud provider you find.

Tested by:

Cloud storage experts recommend using a '3-2-1' backup strategy in order to keep your data safe, so I also recommend taking a look at our guide to the best cloud backup for more information.

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New findings from cloud storage and backup company Backblaze has shed light on the long-term reliability of SSDs versus HDDs, when deployed as boot drives.

The second edition of the Backblaze drive statistics report, based on the storage hardware deployed across the company’s data centers, shows the annualized failure rate (AFR) of HDD boot drives is roughly twice that of SSD equivalents.

The longevity of SSDs is accentuated particularly beyond the fifth year of usage, at which point 3.55% of hard drives suffer a failure, compared with only 0.92% of SSDs.

SSD vs HDD

Although the data collected by Backblaze is representative of performance in only one environment, and cannot be used as a marker for the reliability of SSDs and hard drives outside of a boot drive context, the company believes it is sufficient to draw clear conclusions about the longevity of both types of storage device.

“At this point, we can reasonably claim that SSDs are more reliable than HDDs, at least when used as boot drives in our environment. This supports the anecdotal stories and educated guesses made by our readers in the past year or so,” wrote Backblaze.

However, the company also concedes the SSD failure rate is likely to rise dramatically after the fifth year of use, following a similar pattern to hard drives. For context, by the eighth year, HDD boot drives record an AFR of 6.41%.

“It is highly certain that the failure rate of SSDs will eventually start to rise,” said the firm. “It is also possible that at some point the SSDs could hit the wall, perhaps when they start to reach their media wearout limits."

With this in mind, the company, which deployed SSD boot drives at scale for the first time in 2018, will monitor closely for signs of a dip in AFR, which will presumably be reflected in next year’s report.

The falling cost per capacity of SSDs, coupled with the performance advantage from a speed and reliability perspective, means there are few remaining reasons to opt for a hard disk drive - especially for use as a boot drive.

For organizations considering making the shift themselves, the new figures from Backblaze might just be enough to tip the scales.

• Our list of the best portable SSDs on the market

The best ransomware protection helps protect against the threat of hackers breaching your networks or device, and then encrypting your data before forcing you to pay for a decryption key or face losing your files forever.

There are many motivations behind ransomware attacks - the most prominent reason being money. Threat actors will also perform ransomware attacks to steal secrets, disrupt businesses, or just because they can.

Our experts have written about all of the biggest ransowmare attacks, and have spent years testing the best ransomware protection services. They what the difference is between a good service and a bad service, whether its device and platform compatibility, encryption protections, backup options, or ease of use and value for money.

Bitdefender holds the top spot for best ransomware protection thanks to its comprehensive coverage against common and niche attack vectors and high detection rates. AVG ranks at number two on our list for its easy configuration, and Avast takes third place for its lightweight protection that doesn't hamper performance.

We've also listed the best encryption software.

The best ransomware protection of 2026 in full:

Best ransomware protection overall

Get a 50-60% discount on Bitdefender Antivirus Plus
TechRadar's #1 rated antivirus in a world packed with loads of virus protection providers, and doesn't even cost that much more than free antivirus downloads.

One at any rankings of big independent antivirus, and you’ll see that Bitdefender's premium security products always rise to the top.

Bidefender Antivirus Plus is reliable and accurate in its virus detecting, boasting web and URL filtering to block access to malicious sites, as well as a secure browser that keeps your online banking and shopping transactions safe. Plus, there's a password manager which auto-completes credit card details in web forms - although if you require more advanced features, you'll probably want the best password manager. It also scores high for its excellent anti-phishing module, which alerts you to malicious links in your search engine results and blocks access to dangerous sites.

That’s not all: of course, there's also the multi-layer ransomware protection that heuristically learns the behavior of such threats to keep you safe as well as the ability to scan all your linked devices via the Bitdefender Central mobile app.

There are one or two issues – it grabs more resources than average, and might conflict with some programs – but Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is still a likeable package which offers excellent detection rates, great performance, and more than enough bonus features to justify the price.

Bitdefender Internet Security builds on AVP and triples the number of devices covered plus offers anti-spam, firewall, parental advisor and file encryption features.

For a little bit more you can purchase the Bitdefender Total Security edition. It adds all of the above and covers up to five PCs, Macs, Android and iOS devices.

Protect your devices with our Bitdefender promo codes. Get top-notch cybersecurity at a discounted price and keep your online activities safe.

Read our full Bitdefender Antivirus Plus review.

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Best ransomware protection for remote scanning

If you're looking for ransomware protection that keeps quiet and won't disturb your work, be warned – AVG Antivirus Free is quite vocal with its notifications, and irks us from time to time with pop-ups telling us we've done something fantastic with regard to our online security.

As a ransomware shield and anti-malware app, though, it's very good. The dashboard is user-friendly, there's protection not just from downloadable threats, but from dodgy links too, and you can use your mobile to scan your PC remotely, which is pretty clever.

Although the free version offers basic antivirus protection, you really need to upgrade to the paid version to get the full-featured protection against ransomware, as well as additional security software protections such as data encryption options as well as a firewall.

Read our full AVG Antivirus Free review.

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Best ransomware protection for multiple device protection

Avast Antivirus is one of the most competent internet protection suites out there. While the company is famous for providing free antivirus software, it's worth noting that this now comes bundled with an anti-malware feature that uses behavioral monitoring to spot rogue programs.

What's even better is that not only are Avast's basic products free, but they are also available for mobile devices as well as for desktops, which makes Avast a particular ideal choice if you have multiple devices you need to check.

Even better is that ransomware protection is included in the free version of the Avast Antivirus platform, so you don't even need to pay to upgrade for this, though additional security features are available if you do.

For business users, there are paid-for internet security options to cover a range of needs and options.

Read our full Avast Antivirus review.

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Best ransomware protection for a lightweight solution

Just about every antivirus tool claims to be ‘lightweight’, but Webroot Antivirus is really the only one to deliver on this front. Installation takes seconds, the program files barely use 2MB of your hard drive, RAM footprint is tiny, and there are no bulky signature updates to tie up your bandwidth.

Considering this, there's no compromise on features, which makes it all the more impressive. Along with the core protection, there's smart behavior monitoring, accurate real-time anti-phishing, a firewall and network connection monitor, enhanced anti-ransomware, and other interesting bonuses.

It's not easy to compare Webroot's accuracy with the competition, as the big testing labs rarely evaluate the company's products. However, when they are reviewed, they generally score high, and our own tests show solid and reliable protection.

Features include always-on security, identity protection, real-time anti-phishing, firewall monitor.

Read our full Webroot Antivirus review.

Find the best deals on Webroot products with our Webroot promo codes.

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Best ransomware protection for experts

If you judge antivirus software on the length of its feature list, ESET NOD32 Antivirus might be a bit of a disappointment. There’s no firewall, password manager, file shredder, vulnerability scanner or any of the bundled bonuses you'll often find in its rivals.

This doesn't mean the package is short on power, however. It's just more focused on the fundamentals. ESET NOD32 Antivirus comes with real-time malware protection, some of the best heuristic detection around, an anti-ransomware layer, exploit protection, URL filtering to block malicious websites, and modules to prevent attacks using PowerShell and malicious scripts.

A Device Control module limits the risk of infection from other devices by controlling access to USB sticks, external hard drives, optical storage media, even devices connecting by Bluetooth and FireWire. It's an unusual addition, but could make a difference if others are regularly plugging devices into your PC.

Just bear in mind that ESET NOD32 Antivirus isn't aimed at beginners. The interface is clumsy sometimes, some features are very advanced, and even the Help isn't always helpful.

Experienced users will appreciate ESET’s power and configurability, however. Above-average protection does a good job of keeping you safe, and a lightweight design ensures the package won't slow you down.

ESET Internet Security builds on NOD 32 and triples the number of devices covered plus offers firewall, botnet protection, webcam protection, antispam and more. Alternatively, you can purchase the ESET Smart Security Premium edition for not much more. It adds all of the above as well as password management and secure data.

Read our full ESET NOD32 Antivirus review.

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Best ransomware removal software

Best ransomware removal software overall

If you have a ransomware infection, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware should be your first port of call. It’s updated daily, so you can trust it to identify and remove new threats the minute they appear.

The first time you install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, you’re given a 14-day trial of the premium edition, which includes preventative tools like real-time scanning and specific protection from ransomware. After two weeks, it reverts to the basic free version. This has to be activated manually, but is still a top-notch security tool. We recommend running it at least once a week to check or any nasties that you haven't noticed, or if you notice that your web browser has suddenly started acting strangely (likely a result of adware).

Recently, Malwarebytes bought Adwcleaner, which – as its name suggests – targets and removes annoying programs that hijack your browser by changing your homepage, resetting your default search engine, or adding unwanted toolbars. It’s also available free, and along with Anti-Malware, is a great addition to your security toolkit.

Read our full Malwarebytes Anti-Malware review.

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Best free ransomware removal software

Not all ransomware encrypts data in the same way, so security software providers have to create specific solutions as new threats emerge. At the time of writing, the security experts at Avast have developed Free Ransomware Decryption Tools to tackle 21 different strains of file-locking ransomware.

To help you work out which one you need, Avast has provided a detailed description of how each form of ransomware works, what extension you’ll see on the encrypted files, and an example of the type of message the virus creators have prepared for their victims.

Once you’ve downloaded the appropriate tool, it will guide you through the process of wiping out the ransomware without paying the criminals. You’ll need to provide two versions of the same file – an encrypted one, and the original.

This will be easiest if you made a backup before the infection, but Avast also suggests locations where you might be able to find unaffected original files. The tool will then compare the two and use the results to determine the password.

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We've listed the best endpoint protection software.

Best ransomware protection FAQs

How we test

To test for the best ransomware protection we first set up an account with the relevant software platform, then we tested the service to see how the software could be used for different purposes and in different situations. The aim was to push each ransomware protection platform to see how useful its basic tools were and also how easy it was to get to grips with any more advanced tools.

Read more on how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar.

We've also rated the best identity management software.

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Backblaze, which started in a small Palo Alto apartment, has seven co-founders that have worked together since 2007, first founding their cloud backup offering, and then in 2015 its b2 Cloud Storage offering. As it is an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), this latter product targets software integration for the business market. In 2018, Backblaze indicated corporate partnerships with Packet, and Server Central to connect the data centers.

Backblaze now counts around 150 employees servicing almost 500K customers located globally across 175 countries from its corporate HQ in San Mateo, California. Notable clients include Fortune, Streamlabs, Patagonia and Complex Networks.

Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage is the latest offering from the company, but is it the best cloud storage for your needs? Read on and find out.

Backblaze B2: Plans and pricing 

Backblaze B2 has a pretty simple pricing model. While there is no free trial period, the offer of 10GB of free storage without a time limit is even a notch better. This way lower needs users can have access to the service, while others can try it out before deciding to fully commit.

Beyond that, the cost is a simple $0.005 GB/Month for data stored, which makes us wonder why others in the space don’t go with such a simple route for pricing. However, while we did not find any cost for uploads, the download cost of $0.01 GB/Month, while less than some other services, can certainly add up. As an inducement to go with them, Backblaze E2 covers the transfer and any legacy egress fees for migrations that are over 10 TB’s.

Backblaze B2: Features 

Backblaze B2 is designed to be able to handle the storage of media as they claim to have “Millions of objects and petabytes of data.” It is designed for ease of setup and to be up and running in minutes. It is also well suited for media as the files are always accessible, and not stored on tape or another offline solution with the inherent delays of getting the data accessed. Designed also to be ‘workflow friendly,’ as it can easily connect for NAS, SAN and MAM configurations.

Migrations to Backblaze B2 can be performed through a variety of different methods. It can be done cloud to cloud, with movement of the data from your existing cloud service, for example Google Drive, or Amazon S3, and then written to the Backblaze B2 server. Another option is the on-premises to cloud solution, in which the data is moved from a server, NAS or SAN, and the data can migrate through ‘optimized cloud pipes,’ or through “Backblaze’s 96TB Fireball rapid ingest device.” The last option is from tape media, either from a reel cassette or a cartridge, with the data going through a high speed direct connection.

Also realize that data goes through simple internet transfers so files can get moved through existing internet connections, with the connection optimized through multi-threading.

At the heart of this service is the IaaS which is S3-compatible and native APIs, SDKs, and CLI, and is also designed to be able to handle developer workloads. It is also highly secure with multiple security features including SSE and CORS rules.

Backblaze B2: Support 

Support for Backblaze B2 is available via a number of methods, but there is no phone support available. We consider this a shortcoming as there is a phone number on the website but it specifically designates as “Not for customer support.”

Rather, the support is available via a direct email address, or via a support portal that allows the user to attach a file (such as an annotated screenshot). Elsewhere it states that users will get a response in a business day through the portal. There is also a help page, with a long list of articles grouped by category, such as in the Common Questions area, an article on “How do I dissolve a group?” 

There is also the option for chat. However, we take issue as the hours are a little confusing, as it is 9 AM to 5 PM PST on Monday to Friday, but it is closed from 12 PM to 130 PM on Mondays, and from 12 PM to 1 PM on other days. There are no hours listed for the weekends either. Also, in case this all was not confusing enough, chat is completely closed on alternate Wednesdays, making us wish that this option is more available.

Also consider:

Backblaze B2 offers plenty of features and support making it an attractive choice. It also points out on its website the lower cost it offers than Amazon S3, as it is about 76% to 80% less expensive in comparison for data storage, and for downloads.

While this is true, we also would consider IDrive e2. This is because it also offers the first 10 GB for free, and additionally has both a lower storage cost, along with no egress fees.

Backblaze B2: Final verdict 

Backblaze B2 offers a well polished product in this S3 space. We appreciate that the first 10 GB of storage is no cost, and that the storage costs undercut many competitors. The support options are another plus. However, we have concerns that there is no direct phone support, and the hours are limited for a chat interaction. Also, while it is a reality across most of the segment, we are not really fans of the download fees that this service charges.

In our final analysis, and at least partially based on the offer for the initial 10 GB, we can easily put Backblaze B2 on the short list of products to look at in this segment.

We've listed the best cloud backup services.

Solid state drives (SSDs) have come a long way in the past few years but now new data from Backblaze's latest Drive Stats report suggests they've become as reliable as hard disk drives (HDDs).

The cloud storage and cloud backup provider publishes annual as well as quarterly Drive Stat reports on the performance of the drives that make up its two exabytes of data storage. Up until last year though, these reports were focused solely on the performance of its HDDs.

With the release of its 2021 Drive Stats report, Backblaze has provided further insight on the performance of the SSDs it uses as boot drives in its storage servers. The company first began using SSDs this way at the end of 2018 though it also uses them to store log files and temporary files created by its servers according to principal cloud storage storyteller at Backblaze, Andy Klein.

Since introducing SSDs in its storage servers in 2018, the company has now amassed a total of 2,200 SSDs with some running in its servers for a longer period of time than others.

SSD failure rates

In a new blog post, Klein broke down the data of Backblaze's 2021 Drive Stats report by manufacturer, model and usage days to determine the failure rates of each of the SSDs it's currently using for both its cloud storage and cloud backup services.

For instance, the 500GB Crucial CT250MX500SSD1 and the 2TB Seagate ZA2000CM10002 SSD both had high annualized failure rates (AFR) of 43.22 percent and 28.81 percent respectively though these two drivers were outliers. Meanwhile the 240GB Micron MTFDDAV240TCB SSD had a 7.63 percent AFR while the rest of the Seagate SSDs in Backblaze's arsenal had an AFR that was less than one percent. To put this in perspective, the average AFR for Backblaze's 24 different HDD models was 1.01 percent during the same time period. 

Surprisingly, none of the company's 500GB Dell DELLBOSS VD SSDs failed despite being in operation for 12,560 days and the same was true for its 500GB Seagate ZA500CM10002 which were used for about half the time with 6,346 days in operation. 

According to Klein, Backblaze usually expects to see a one to two percent annual failure rate for each of its SSDs though “anything less is great and anything more bears watching”. One of the ways in which the company watches the performance of both its HDDs and now SSDs is by tracking quarterly results.

Backblaze has made its 2021 drive data available for anyone to download and analyze on their own and we'll likely know more about the reliability of SSDs when the firm publishes its next Drive Stats report covering SSDs later this year.

• We've also featured the best SSD and the best portable SSD

Via The Register

If you’re curious to learn which hard drives are most reliable right now, a new report from Backblaze could deliver all the answers. 

The cloud storage and data backup company regularly tests hard drives for reliability, and analyzed just above 203,000 different units for its 2021 report.

Of all the drives that were analyzed, the oldest ones also seem to be the most reliable ones, as well, with the 6TB Seagate drive model ST6000DX000 sporting an average age of 80.4 months, but also the lowest annualized failure rate (AFR) of 0.11%.

New drives faring well

Overall, Backblaze found the AFR across the board was 1.01%, a tiny bit up, compared to last year’s 0.93%. Still, that’s a good sign, as now the drop in 2020, from 1.83% the year before, was not an anomaly.

Lifetime AFR (not to be confused with annual failure rate, in which the number of drives remains the same for each model during the analysis period) sits at 1.4% at the moment, down from 1.54% a year ago, and 1.62% two years ago. 

New drives are also doing relatively well. The 16TB WDC drive model WUH721816ALE6L0, as well as the Toshiba 16TB drive MG08ACA16TE (both added last year), have an AFR of 0.14% and 0.91%, respectively.

The report has also stated that the 14TB Seagate drive ST14000NM0138 has been performing relatively poorly in its Dell storage servers, until it had its firmware updated. After the update, the reliability of the drive has significantly improved. 

In 2021, the company added a total of 40,460 new hard drives, and at the end of the year, had a total of 206,928 drives under management. With 3,760 being boot drives, the company ended up analyzing exactly 203,168 data drives. 

• You might also want to check out our list of the best large capacity drives right now

Via: ZDNet

The best cloud backup services are those that allow you to store and copy your data onto a remote server to keep it safe - protecting from accidental deletions, data threats, and ransomware (or anything else that could affect your data).

The general wisdom is to use the 3-2-1 strategy when backing up your data. This refers to keeping three copies of your data, on at least two different storage mediums (physical or digital), with at least one copy stored in a different location to the others.

There is a distinction between cloud backup and cloud storage. Cloud backup services can synchronize files to ensure they are up-to-date and provide an immediate backup of your important data if you lose it.

At TechRadar Pro we've spent hundreds of hours testing these products, and our top pick right now is IDrive for the best cloud backup service thanks to the great synchronization options, a wide range of compatibilities, and excellent data protection. pCloud and DropBox Backup also offer excellent cloud backup services.

We've also featured the best cloud storage for photos and pictures and the best free cloud storage providers.

The best cloud backup services of 2026 in full:

Best overall

IDrive is a great choice for user-friendly cloud backup service for both personal and business use. It can quite happily handle anything from simple photo backups for mobile and sharing files across networks, to protecting SQL, Exchange, SharePoint, and many other servers.

You're covered with broad compatibility , as the platform covers Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, and features an intuitive browser portal.

More experienced users can take advantage of Linux through assorted scripts as well as a range of network-attached storage devices like QNAP, Synology, Netgear, and Asustor - and you can protect as many devices as you like with a single account.

There's an extensive list of backup options too, starting with simple file and folder protection, but also including features to protect your iPhone photos, videos, calendar, and contacts - you can even make a full disk image for disaster recovery purposes.

From our testing, iDrive's app was fast and easy to use - even matching Google Drive and other top storage contenders in speed tests.

Most importantly, we have an exclusive 95% off offer (for the first year), a basic Personal plan starts at 5TB for just under $70 a year, with the multi-user Business plan starting at 250GB per user for the same price. The catch is that the price, which has already risen from around $60 as of June 2026, shoots up to just under $100 after the first year.

If, like me, your internet probably isn't fast enough to reasonably restore or backup hundreds of GBs of data (I mean, sometimes mine can barely handle a YouTube video!) - then iDrive Express has a service which sends you files to or from iDrive on a USB stick in the post! With personal plans, you get to do this once a year, but business plans let you do this up to three times. It's a little unorthodox, but I think it's a nice touch.

During our review, we were impressed with how it performed. Excellent sync speeds and a file progress folder make for a seamless experience.

That being said. when we deliberately deleted a file, iDrive was not able to recover it on the desktop version. But, when we opened the web interface, we managed to grab the folder from the trash without much issue - and we could use the web app to restore a modified version of our test file with just a few clicks.

These aren't huge issues really, especially for a platform that offers so many dependable features at a great price.

Read our full IDrive review.

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Best lifetime option

If you're looking for a versatile backup tool that comes with some super helpful features like advanced file sharing and syncing - and it has one of the best prices out there.

We were impressed with the service, and we found it easy to set up both on mobile an on desktops. The Mac and Windows apps come with a Dropbox-esque folder to the system file manager, which lets you backup with a simple drag and drop.

What's handy is that the mobile apps are able to backup new photos and videos as they're taken, which saves you from worrying you may lose them - and essential service integrations support backing up Facebook, Instagram, and other social media content.

Unfortunately, the pCloud desktop app looks a bit dated, but it does have fantastically customizable file sharing features, which let you create custom download pages for each file, stream media files straight from your storage space, and build slideshows from shared images (sweet!).

In our review of pCloud, we really appreciated the app's built-in media player - especially useful if you're an editor or creative, as it can help you ensure all your projects are backed up safely.

When we tested it, our data synced to the cloud in only 96 seconds - which is similar to other big names like OneDrive and Dropbox.

We could also recover a deleted folder as well as the the original version of our test Word document without much fuss using the web interface.

The annual pricing for individual accounts is pretty good, costing $49.99 for 500GB or $99.99 for 2TB.

But, the most impressive plans are the one-time payment, lifetime options. As of June 2026, the 10TB plan is currently a third-off at just $1190 - a very worthwhile investment for any creatives. Dropbox charges $120 a year for 2TB, so if you use pCloud for four or more years, it'll pay for itself.

Read our full pCloud review.

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Best for simplicity

Dropbox is already one of the biggest names in cloud storage. Dropbox Backup is also only available as an option for existing users using the desktop client.

When Dropbox Backup first launches, you choose which folders you wish to sync. By default the client will automatically run backups every 15 minutes.

The good news is that backups are incremental, so future backups only record the differences between this backup and the last which can save huge amounts of space. Dropbox Backup also supports backing up to external drives.

The dedicated Dropbox Backup window shows you the status of the last backup and you can click "View Contents" at any time to launch the Dropbox Backup web portal to access your files.

If a backup is running, you can also select "View Progress" to check the backup status of each file. (It also displays a percentage value at the top of the window).

From here you can also 'modify folder selection' to change which are backed up. The "Advanced Settings" only contain an option to throttle bandwidth at the moment, but this is a very welcome feature.

During our tests, around 650MB of data synced in just under 6 minutes, which was exactly what we'd expect for our average upload connection speed of 12Mbps.

We also had no trouble restoring a deleted folder - indeed there are two ways to do this from accessing deleted files or the built-in 'Rewind' feature. Dropbox Backup also was able to restore the original version of our modified file with just a few mouse clicks.

As an extension of your regular Dropbox account, pricing for Dropbox Backup is determined by the cloud storage tiers. As we mentioned there's a free 2GB tier.

An 'Essentials' plan provides 3TB of storage backup, for one user, for $19.99 billed monthly or $198.96 for the year.

For teams of three users or more, the 'Business' plan provides a minimum of 9TB for $18 per user per month or $180 annually for the same. And just to complicate things further, a 'Business Plus' plan offers a minimum of 15TB for $30 per user a month, or $288 per user annually.

Read our full Dropbox review.

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Best for teams

In our full Sync.com review, we lamented the service’s single-folder sync limitation, which, for all its placement here, does make it a better fit as a cloud storage as opposed to backup service.

However, there are some decent workarounds for this - saving files to a single folder, or using Sync’s dedicated fault feature - storage without syncing to any of your other devices and taking up valuable drive space.

Sync’s unique selling point is very much ‘keep it simple’, from its austere yet utilitarian interface (as above) to lack of proper collaboration and writing tools in line with household name competitors like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. Sync does integrate with Microsoft 365 for live edit collaboration, but having this built in is always ideal.

And yet, Sync could still tempt small businesses and teams. Some of that comes down to price: $6 per user for 1TB a month isn’t bad at all (even if the price has risen by a dollar as of June 2026), while larger teams have access to unlimited cloud storage for $15 per user.

Team accounts are also given provision for how to keep data compliant with international privacy standards, such as HIPAA and PIPEDA in the US and GDPR in the EU.

All accounts support protecting links with passwords and set expiration dates, and a file size limit. These features aren’t unique to Sync by any means, but they’re nice to have bundled together.

Read our full Sync.com review.

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Best for security

From now until the 31st of October, for its Cyber Awareness Month sale, Internxt is offering 80% off discounts on all of its premium plans.

Internxt, already a leading choice in our other best cloud storage buying guides for its steadfast dedication to end-to-end encryption (keeping your files hidden from everyone but you, including the company), is a natural choice for backing up your files too.

That's, first and foremost, thanks to heavy regular discounts (up to 80% off at time of writing in June 2026) on robust lifetime purchasing options, including 5TB of lifetime cloud storage.

Internxt is also constantly evolving, now offering off-app support via rclone and WebDAV, making Internxt truly multiplatform.

However, the standard apps are easy to use enough that we consider Internxt a genuine contender against more popular household names in the cloud backup space who pride themselves on clean user interfaces that 'just work'.

Internxt might lose points by offering less free storage than pretty much all of those competitors (just 1GB; bewildering in 2026), but if you're looking for a new, secure cloud backup provider to confidently invest in long-term, we feel as though it's hard to go wrong with it.

Best no-limits

A comprehensive business backup service that’s simple to use with no file size limits: That’s the eye-catching pitch from Crashplan.

We found this to be a hugely customizable service for Windows, Mac, and Linux with a pain-free setup. Once up and running you can mostly just forget about it, and leave CrashPlan to handle securely continuous and scheduled backups with both online and local destinations.

On top of no-limit file sizes, there's no fixed limit to its versioning support. You can keep previous versions of files for years, if necessary. The desktop client can even limit its CPU usage when the user is active to reduce impact on system performance.

There are also no limits to the amount of users that can be attached to your plan. For larger businesses, this is crucial.

Since June 2026, there are two monthly subscription plans. Essential ($2.99 a month) and Professional ($8), while two annual offerings, Professional ($88 per user) and Enterprise ($120 per user- a price hike of $12 as of June 2026) makes sure all bases are covered.

During our original tests, we found CrashPlan to be less than perfect. We found upload speeds proved slower than expected on default settings. It’s more cumbersome to restore files than we'd like. And there are occasionally silly UI choices, like requiring you to tag specific folders for storage and recovery.

Having revisited the service in late 2023 however, although specific folder tags are still required, performance seems to have improved hugely. Using an average upload speed of 17Mbps, the 'Documents' folder on our test machine was able to sync in just over four and a half minutes.

We'd usually have expected this amount of data to take at least 30 seconds longer, so were very impressed by CrashPlan's improvement in performance.

We were also able to use the 'Restore Files' feature to recover the test folder we'd deliberately deleted as well as the original version of our Test document in seconds.

Ultimately, if you want a desktop client cloud backup solution, CrashPlan is a suitable choice, but there's also not much separating it from better known quantities on this list.

Read our full CrashPlan review.

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Best for value

Backblaze is one of the best cloud backup services with a strong focus on simplicity. Just install the app on Windows or Mac, and it backs up all your files on hard drives and external drives, while uploading new or changed files as they appear.

Our tests found Backblaze’s impressive upload speeds kept delays to a minimum compared to many rivals. Like iDrive, Backblaze will also ship up to 8TB of your data on a USB to you.

Like CrashPlan, there's no limit on storage space or file sizes. Versioning support keeps previous versions of your files only for up to 30 days - whereas CrashPlan has no versioning limit.

The mobile apps are basic. There's no file syncing, no clever collaboration tools, and only the simplest of file sharing options. However, smart system integration and simple apps make it easy to set up Backblaze, and the minimal web interface provides basic tools for browsing your files and restoring whatever you need.

During our tests we were able to upload over 5GB of data in less than 9 minutes with an average upload connection speed of 70Mbps, which is faster than most of the cloud storage providers we've reviewed.

We were also able to recover our deliberately deleted test folder and the original version of our modified test Word document. However, in order to do so Backblaze had to generate a link to a ZIP file, which was sent to us via e-mail. We'd much rather have had the option to simply restore the data to its original location.

Despite recent price bumps, Backblaze is still tough to beat for value, with prices starting at $9 billed monthly to back up workstations. Business users can back up servers and NAS devices to BackBlaze's B2 cloud storage service for $6 per TB per month, a fraction of the price you'll pay with Amazon S3, Google Cloud or Microsoft Azure.

Read our full Backblaze review.

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Best for Microsoft users

Microsoft OneDrive is more a cloud storage service than a backup service, but it earns its place in this for sheer simplicity and convenience.

If you're running Windows, OneDrive comes built in with no installation required. Drag and drop the files you'd like to protect into the OneDrive folder, and they're quickly synced to the cloud and made available on your other devices.

You can access files from other platforms, though with mixed success. The web interface covers the basics, for instance, but doesn't have the easy style of Google Drive or Dropbox. The Mac client is more straightforward, although we found some conflicts with iCloud.

Overall, we found the mobile apps elegant and intuitive, scoring high for their photo and video syncing tools, and solid security customizations.

During our tests we found our files uploaded in just 95 seconds, which is around 10% faster than most of the other cloud storage providers we've reviewed.

Even without using Microsoft 365 we were also able to restore deleted test files and recover the original version of our test Word document without issue.

You get up to 5GB capacity for free while igning up for Microsoft 365 gets you 1TB of storage, along with access to the full Office suite - all apps are tightly integrated with OneDrive. You can collaborate on documents, and have them auto-saved to the cloud for maximum protection.

OneDrive's backup features are limited. The service is fine for saving your documents and photos, but it can't do drive imaging or disaster recovery.

Still, that bundled 1TB of Microsoft 365 storage is a very welcome extra, especially for the price, so if your backup needs are simple, OneDrive could serve you well.

Read our full Microsoft OneDrive review.

Take a look at our Microsoft discount codes for the best Microsoft offers and savings.

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Best cloud backup FAQs

How to choose a cloud backup service

Greg Lissy, VP Products at SolarWinds MSP, shares his views on how businesses can choose the best cloud backup solution:

A backup plan for a business is like an insurance policy for your data, so choosing the right provider isn’t something to be taken lightly. Low-priced consumer-grade products may be tempting, but if your business depends on access to your data, reliability is essential.

Check out the backup vendor’s performance and reputation. What do their customers say? How quickly do they get systems back up and running again? If something goes wrong, how much downtime can you afford before your business is seriously impacted?

Another critical consideration when choosing a cloud backup provider is where, specifically, your backups are stored. Many businesses must comply with regulatory requirements about keeping data in-country, so be sure your vendor can meet your requirements around data sovereignty.

Finally, it’s important to realize that security is a big part of backup and that backup is an essential ingredient in your overall security plan. Insist on secure data transfer to and from the cloud storage location, data encryption, and role-based access that ensures only authorized personnel can access or restore data.

While backup is critical, it’s typically your last line of defense. Be sure it’s complemented by a robust defense strategy including managed antivirus, web protection, patch management, and mail filtering. If one vendor offers a full layered security portfolio, you’ll be in an even better position, as you’ll have one trusted partner to rely on in your time of need.

How did we test the best online backup services?

We looked at the features and the quality of service of the cloud backup services when we reviewed them.

Number-based tests like upload or download speeds tend to be anecdotal because of so many variables involved, so while we did carry them out, we only noted any outliers (super fast speeds or very slow performances) in our individual reviews.

More important for us is how intuitive a cloud backup service was to use (either when using a web browser or a dedicated client or a mobile app where appropriate), security features (file encryption, ransomware protection), and value for money.

Read more on how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar.

Is one backup service enough?

To put it plainly: No. Having your data backed up in just one place is dangerous - even with the most secure services.

The advice is to deploy a 3-2-1 strategy. This refers to having three total copies of all critical data, meaning one original and at least two separate backups.

You also need these to be on two different storage technologies - like a Cloud backup paired with an SSD, for example. This prevents one hard drive firmware bug from destroying all copies of your information (or a similar scenario).

Finally, one copy needs to be stored in a different location to the others, geographically speaking - which protects against fire, flood, theft, or any other local disaster. This offsite backup can be the Cloud backup service, so rules aren't actually too complicated to follow.

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We list the best file transfer software, to make it simple and easy to share your images, folders and documents online.

The best file transfer software will help you make your files easier to access online when you want to share them - an increasingly important tool for businesses.

Since the advent of hybrid working, transferring files online has been the basis of plenty of collaboration projects and business tasks - like document editing, spreadsheets, and presentations.

Cloud document storage has become an integral part of all this, but please note that not all cloud services allow for direct sharing of data with other users.

But, there are plenty of providers who do allow you to share files online as well as transfer your data - so you can have full control with what and how you share, including setting permissions to folders so you can keep them to varying degrees of private, such as read-only access.

We've compared these file transfer options on aspects like their storage limits, interface, ease of signup, security encryption, and individual file-size sharing limits. We also considered their free plans and the value of their pricing plans, among other things.

Below we list the best files transfer software services currently available.

Read more on the best ways to share big files.

The best files transfer software of 2026 in full:

Best file transfer software for collaboration

Even die-hard Microsoft or Apple fans will admit that Google is pretty good when it comes to this type of thing. Google Drive runs Dropbox very close in terms of file sharing.

The one that will suit you best purely depends on which you spend more time using.

You can use these platforms to share files through email or link - though you don't get password options or time limits. What you are able to do is to limit edits file recipients can make: as you'd expect, it's perfect for sharing files from Google Docs, Sheets and Slides.

As is the case with Dropbox, you can access Google Drive from just about every mobile and desktop platform out there. Users get 15GB for free across Drive and other services like Gmail, but if you need more, you'll need to upgrade your storage.

For more information, read our full Google Drive review.

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Best file transfer software for sharing

Dropbox is a giant in file transferring, and it's still going strong even in the face of huge firms like Google, Apple, and Microsoft launching alternatives.

They haven't knocked Dropbox off top spot, and that's because it's slick, easy to use, and reliable - and it's compatible with just about any platform.

You can share files in just a few clicks, from Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux and the web, and time limits and password protection can be applied too. What's really useful, is recipients don't need a Dropbox account.

The only downside is that you only get 2GB of free storage - so if you need more, you'll have to get either the individual or family plan, or business team plans for enterprises, with annual payment discounts available.

To find out more, see our full Dropbox review.

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Best file transfer software for speed

If you want something quick and convenient that's not tied to a bigger platform (like Dropbox or Google Drive), give WeTransfer a try. You don't even need to register an account, though you do need to supply an email address you can be contacted on.

Just pick your file (or files), enter the recipient's email address, and you're good to go – it's hard to beat in terms of simplicity. You can email or copy the link to the files, and the link stays active for a week. WeTransfer apps for Android and iOS are available, if needed.

All that is free, but with a Plus account you can set time limits for your downloads, password-protect your files, change the look of the share screen, and more.

WeTransfer's customer support is prompt in its response. Although there's a three-business-day guarantee, you'll likely receive a response much sooner than that.

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Best file transfer software for security

Internxt stands out for its privacy focused cloud storage solutions. Zero knowledge architecture, end-to-end encryption, and password protected links keep your data secure.

You don't need to set up an account, just drag and drop your files of any size and create a share link.

Internxt doesn't scan, store, or save any information that you send through the service. All files are encrypted on your end so they're secure before they leave your device.

All file formats are supported and Internxt's code open-source so it can be independently verified.

To find out more, see our full Internxt review.

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Best file transfer software lightweight

Send Anywhere offers up an even more lightweight interface than WeTransfer, so you can dive right in without any distractions or setup screens to work through. Despite the simple setup, you've got a variety of different file-sharing options to pick from as you go along.

Add files from the opening splash screen, and you can send them direct (through the site via a code), via a URL link, or via email. If you don't want to work with Send Anywhere through the web, you can install dedicated apps for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.

Free of charge, Send Anywhere will let you easily share files up to 10GB in size, with the link active for 48 hours. However, for the Plus account you get 1TB of storage and can share files up to 50GB in size, track and limit downloads, and remove the ads.

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Best simple file transfer software

Hightail is a professional-level file collaboration service but there is a file transfer component that's easy to dip in and out of, even if you don't use everything else on the platform. It works straight from the web – you can just drag and drop your files into it.

There is a rather stingy 100MB file size limit in place, but the service is quick and simple and fast Your contacts get a URL they can click on to access the file or files you've selected, and there is no need to register an account at any stage. The files are available for seven days.

There is plenty more to Hightail, which you can get with a paid account, such as larger file sharing (individual file limit of 25GB), advanced collaboration options, and unlimited storage.

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Best file transfer software for comms

Slack isn't so much of an online file store as much as an online communications platform. However, if you're looking to share a select few documents rather than a huge archive then Slack might just work for you.

This is especially the case if you're managing a project, or working as part of a team on a project, and need to keep all your documentation in one place.

This is easy to set up in Slack, and better still, ensure control over which team members have access over which documents.

This provides an advantage over general file-sharing services, because it allows for much more user control - and especially respect hierarchies - without having to worry about overcomplicated permissions.

Even better is that Slack has a free tier with a generous 5GB of storage available per team member, so you can try it out with minimal investment other than a little time spent setting up your team(s). Paid-for plans allow for phone and video conferencing on top of messaging, with increases to member storage.

Read our full Slack review.

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We've also featured the best cloud storage.

Best file transfer software FAQs

How we tested the best file transfer software

To test for the best files transfer software we first set up an account with the relevant software platform. We then tested the service to see how the software could be used with different files and folders, from different devices, in different situations.

We assessed their file-sharing features, limitations, security, and customer support.

The aim was to push each files transfer platform to see how useful its basic tools were and also how easy it was to get to grips with any more advanced tools.

Read how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar.

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The best backup software, of course, is one that can store your data and files, as well as protecting them from data threats like crashes, theft, corruption, or drive failure.

Here at TechRadar Pro, we've spent hundreds of hours testing the options, particularly taking notice of important features like end-to-end encryption, compatibility, ease of use, and costs.

Our top pick right now, is the EaseUS ToDo Backup, followed closely by Acronis True Image, and AOMEI Backupper, which are also both great backup services.

We've also put together a list of all the best free backup software if you're on a budget. Not just that though, we've also covered the best ways to share big files and the best cloud storage to help you figure out what you need.

Best backup software overall

At the top of our list is EaseUS ToDo Backup. It's a solution that's been around for decades, and that wealth of experience is illustrated in the features it offers for both Windows (XP and higher), as well as a dedicated Mac version.

The Home and Home Office plans can manage incremental or full backups for a huge 16TB of data - including handling multiple partitions, hardware RAID, - and it also supports cloud backups.

If you need to manage your backups regularly, the Home edition would be our recommendation - and the the bundle of Todo Backup Home, Partition Master Pro, and Data Recovery Wizard Pro for a year is at 40% off as of June, 2026.

Additional variants of ToDo Backup Business, known as Enterprise and Technician, have additional features, such as free year-round 24/7 support and the provision of one licence across multiple devices, that are designed for workstations, servers and service providers.

These versions are faster at making backups, and support Windows Server. However, as you might expect, these cost a great deal more per month than the Home versions (though you can save with 2-year plans and a one-time purchase option that comes with free lifetime upgrades, which is impressive). Even so, we feel that the licensing terms are generous, and appreciate the provision of round-the-clock support.

However, just watch out as EaseUS can be difficult about refund requests, so make sure this is the software you really need before buying.

One thing to look out for with this in mind is the fact that the macOS version is a separate product and costs $40. It's largely in line with the Home version on Windows, and is missing high-end features

For more information, read our full, recently updated EaseUS Todo Backup review.

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Best backup software for keeping data secure

Acronis True Image, formerly known as Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office, is a full-featured backup solution that promises to “never lose another file.”

This backup software simultaneously sends data to both a local drive, and a cloud solution. It can also do cloning and mirror imaging duties for your rig’s system drive, in just two easy clicks.

Acronis True Image's anti-ransomware feature can detect and even reverse the unauthorized encryption of a hard drive to keep data safe from this increasingly prevalent type of attack.

It also offers support for mobile device backup. The downside is that all this backing up does passively consume some system resources, and can even lengthen boot times.

Whichever tier you choose (there are three - Essentials, Advanced, and Premium), a one-year subscription offers ransomware protection built in. Pricing usually starts from $49.99 for a one-year subscription, but we've previously spotted a deal on annual plans for $34.99, so it's worth keeping an eye out.

Read our full Acronis True Image review.

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Best no-cost backup software

AOMEI is a veteran of disk backup, OS restoring, and data transfer, having been in the market for more than ten years.

Backupper comes with different types of backup modes. These include file backup, automatic backup, disk backup, partition backup, system backup, and incremental/differential backup. You can also restore lost files from specific partitions or disks.

If you’re not keen on shelling out for a backup solution, Backupper does come with a free version that offers some backup, synchronization and cloning functionality. However, to get the most out of the product, you’ll need to choose one of the paid packages. To make matters worse, there are five: Professional, Workstation, Technician, Server, and Technician Plus.

The Professional plan is for personal use ($69.95 for lifetime), Workstation is for business users ($79.95 for lifetime), Technician is for unlimited PCs within one company ($799 for lifetime), and Server is for any users that want to backup servers ($299 for lifetime), while Technician Plus allows adding unlimited servers to the mix ($999 for lifetime).

It's certainly confusing, and there's a big jump in price point from Server to Technician Plus, but you do at least have a choice between a yearly subscription, a lifetime option, or a family/team option to help manage the hefty cost.

We found the software itself easy to install, with a straightforward interface. Customer support is, sadly, limited to dedicated email support, with no live chat or phone options. There are, however, several tutorials, guides, and similar on the official website.

Given the high-end cost of the editions aimed at businesses, we would have hoped for more robust support than this, and only hope that AOMEI takes note.

Read our full AOMEI Backupper review.

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Best backup software for home and business

Paragon Backup & Recovery offers a flexible solution to simplify complex backup solutions. With the Create Backup Job wizard, guidance is provided on what will be backed up, and where the data will be stored.

This software covers all the usual backup processes and can easily create complex routines, including automated backup. A standout feature is the WinPE recovery media, which, in the worst-case scenario, comes to the rescue when your PC refuses to even boot.

Via a bootable USB stick, users can rescue files, fix boot problems, and perform restorations. We liked that a purchase of the software seems to be a one-time buy-in rather than a subscription - certainly a rarity at the moment.

A home user licence, priced at around $80, is valid for three activations. Business users looking to purchase at scale will need to contact Paragon directly for a quote, which means that you'll likely be paying a good deal more than that.

To find out more, read our full Paragon Backup & Recovery review.

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Best backup software to run in the background

Genie Backup Manager promises “effortless protection for all your files,” and can be configured in three steps. There is a trial available for Windows XP and higher, although not for other platforms. There’s a mobile app for iOS, but not Android.

This software is focused on traditional drive backup to a media drive, and the developer offers separate solutions for other situations, including users' Android backup and cloud backup needs, keeping Genie Backup Manager from being a more comprehensive application.

The app sits in the Windows system tray as an icon, quietly going about its business. Notable features include the option to have the backup run at full speed via Turbo Mode, or to run in Smart Mode, which intelligently adjusts itself based on the available system resources.

For those who hate interruptions, this software has a Game/Movie mode that automatically stifles any annoying pop-ups.

Read our full Genie Backup Manager review.

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Best backup software for long-term support

NovaBackup is a solid backup solution available as a subscription and is ideal for the essential backup task of making a copy of your computer’s hard drive on local media. For modest users this will suffice, but it falls short when it comes to the interface, support for platforms other than Windows and Linux, and more advanced tasks.

However, it does at least include any upgrades to the program, and also supports backup to cloud providers (including OneDrive and Dropbox).

The standout feature of NovaBackup PC is the security offered, as the software runs locally to send the data to a local media drive, and does not connect to the internet. Also, the backup can be performed with AES 256-bit encryption for extra security.

Home users are charged an annual subscription for a single PC starting at $99.95, which offers protection against data loss, ransomware, and hardware failure.

There's also a server edition available, which offers optional support for virtual machines, SQL, and Microsoft Exchange, as well as being HIPAA compliant, but it starts at $399.95 a year and, when we last checked in June 2026, there were no deals being offered by the company.

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Honorable mentions

There are a few other options worth considering, not least free backup software, which is still useful but will tend to have fewer options and configurations you can customize for what you need, plus, of course, there's always the option to use the best cloud backup software. Here we'll look more closely at some of those options:

Google One is the new name for Google Drive, which allows home uses up to 15GB of free storage. Simply download the Google Backup and Sync app to your computer, install and run, and this will create a folder in your Windows file explorer from which you can save your most important documents. While there are paid options to upgrade, this can prove expensive over the long term if you want to backup and sync a sizable hard drive.

Microsoft OneDrive is the backup and sync storage option bundled with Microsoft Office 365. There is a free version that allows up to 10GB of storage, but that means it suffers from the same limitations as above, not least that you'd be better off using cloning or image software to back up your full hard drive. Even still, it's a useful way to keep the most essential files safe.

Dropbox is another cloud server that allows you to save important documents online, again being free to use with the same limitations as above. But as before, the ability to save a smaller number of essential files, such as for work, study, creative projects, and similar, can be invaluable.

Cobian Drive is something you install and set up on your PC for local use, which means that your saved files and folders are saved elsewhere on your machine, such as a second hard drive specifically for backups, or an external hard drive for the same purpose. The software is a little old but it's still useful and worth considering for a free and quick fix.

We've tested the best file syncing solutions.

Best backup software FAQs

How we tested the best backup software

In reviewing the best backup software we’ve tested interfaces, feature sets, security, and multiplatform support. Software that supports cloud backups and larger quantities of data, as well as provides flexible pricing plans, are our personal favorites.

To test for the best backup software, we first set up an account with the relevant software platform, whether as a download or as an online service. We then tested the service to see how the software could be used for backing up data from both a normal hardware as well as an external hard drive.

Read how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar.

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We've put the best data recovery software to the test, from ultra-powerful platforms to free options when you just need to restore smaller files from your devices. With so much of our lives stored in data files on our phones and computers, recovery software is an absolute essential to retrieve lost, deleted, or corrupted data if anything happens to them.

Having tested all the top tools for Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile devices Easeus Data Recovery Wizard is awarded our Editor's Choice badge. This powerful platform is suitable for individuals and businesses, performed exceptionally well in our extensive restoration tests, and offers good value for money compared to competitors. Bonus points, too, for offering a free data recovery plan, too (even if it is capped at 2GB).

For those looking for a more advance program, Stellar also stood out as a top-performing system that works across desktop and mobile devices, with support for byte-to-byte disk backup and restoration and encrypted disk scanning. Read the full reviews below for more.

If you need additional options to secure your data, see our guides to the best cloud backup, and best disk cloning software we've tested.

Best data recovery software overall

EaseUS has long been one of the go-to in the data recovery software world with its Data Recovery Wizard.

And 'Wizard' is absolutely the right word here. In testing this software, we found it extremely easy to use, particularly when using the modern, beginner-friendly interface.

There are two scan types available: a quick scan, which sees the Data Recovery Wizard read the drive's file directory and master files to see what's recently been deleted. Quick is accurate here, and we clocked it usually taking seconds, but maybe up to a minute depending on how packed the drive is.

Once this is complete, the deep scan begins, which will be more useful for files that have been corrupted or wiped accidentally. This takes longer, but we can't fault performance. And even during the deep scan, we could comfortably use our computer for general tasks while the app worked away in the background.

Considering what's on offer here, we felt it offered very good value for money, letting you recover over a thousand file formats, including documents, photos and videos, and apps. It's not the cheapest on the market, but that's more than balanced out by the extensive options, features, and performance.

One of the most useful feature is file preview, so you can check you're restoring the right files prior to the recovery process. There's even a 2GB free data recovery service here, which probably won't be enough to restore your drive, but we did think it useful for testing out the software.

Overall, the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Pro does everything most people will need to restore lost files, with performance that's more than deserving of our Editor's Choice award.

Read our full EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Pro review.

Best data recovery software for advanced users

When it comes to data loss, we've always found Stellar Data Recovery to be one of the best out there - but particularly for advanced users and businesses.

We found the software to be reliable, with options to recover even customizable file types. This is particularly interesting, as it means by either defining the file extension or uploading raw file formats of the same, the software will detect the file structure to find others of the same type that have been lost or corrupted.

There are scanning options - a quick scan and a deep scan. Now, when we ran the quick scan on an external hard drive, the process took 25 minutes, which in the world of data recovery isn't especially quick at all. But you do have the ability to pause and resume scans. Nor could we view the deleted files until the scan had fully completed, unlike rivals like EaseUS where this is an option. So, overall, it's a slow process, but the results were very good.

Using the software itself is relatively straightforward, but there is a learning curve here. For example, selecting to pause a scan will do just that - but you won't be able to return to the main screen to scan another drive; click stop and you'll need to re-scan the entire drive all over again. It's all a little quirky, and if you're coming from another tool, it may take time getting used to how best to operate Stellar.

But we have relatively few complaints beyond that. The core function is great, and value for money is superb, with well-priced plans and a good set of features and tools.

Read our full Stellar Data Recovery review.

Best data recovery software for Mac

For data recovery on Mac devices, Disk Drill remains our top overall choice. While plenty of other software works on Apple's operating system (and this one works on Windows, too), we found the deep macOS scanning via KEXT gives Disk Drill the edge over competitors. Add in free Mac clean-up and a duplicate file finder and you have an exceptionally well-rounded, high-performance tool here.

Using the tool is very simple thanks to an intuitively color-coded interface that feels modern, staying easy to navigate and understand through the recovery process. If we had one complaint, it's that Disk Drill doesn't save your scans. So, after completion, you can view what's been found, but if you return to the main screen before restoration, you'll need to perform a re-scan.

Based on our testing, the feature-set is excellent. There's wide file format support, byte-to-byte backups, and plenty of free tools for monitoring device health across the Apple, Windows, and Android ecosystems.

One of the highlights for us was Advanced Camera Recovery. This featured worked beautifully, letting you restore corrupted and lost image and video files from everything from cameras to drones. If you're a content creator, this is a real stand-out feature. Another tool we really liked was the recovery chance calculator, which does exactly what you think it does: it estimates your chances of a file recovery before you even begin.

Now, we did feel scanning could be slow overall - more than ten hours for a 1TB external drive scan. However, internal drives are a lot faster, with our own tests taking around five minutes to scan 600GB of data.

Price-wise, it's not the cheapest out there, but this accounts for the ability to add it to three devices (many only let you run the software on a single device). We find the lifetime license offers the best value here.