Cloud Storage

Cloud storage is an online service for storing data, software, images, videos, and other types of digital assets. It offers a convenient way to keep your files in a secure environment and access them from anywhere using an internet connection.

Cloud storage services are a necessity in today’s day and age. Whether we’re talking about an individual or a company, everyone needs to back up and store their data somewhere. Cloud storage is the best way to ensure your data is safe, secure, and easy to access anytime, anywhere.

THE PROS AND CONS OF CLOUD STORAGE

PROSCONS
Prevents data lossInternet dependency
You can recover accidentally deleted filesData is not 100% private
Expandable spaceCompany dependency
Added layers of securityRecurring cost
You can access files anywhere
Easy file sharing and collaboration
Increases your productivity

RECOMMENDED CLOUD STORAGE SERVICES WITH LIFETIME PLANS

BEST — pCloud
(Free up to 10 GB of storage)
[sherpa id=”127d17e6″]

VERY CLOSE SECOND — Icedrive
(Free 10 GB of storage)
[sherpa id=”e39e4af4″]


Why do you need cloud storage?

Data Protection

Losing vital data is one of the worst feelings ever. Several years back, we invited an NBA All-Star to be our brand ambassador. We saved all the photos and videos we took for the past three days on an external hard drive.

What will you do if something happens to the storage device?

It was like a nightmare. On the day of editing, we found out the drive was corrupt. Hours and hours of work flew away just like that. Luckily, we were able to salvage some clips and images from the several cameras we used.

Since then, I have never entrusted my files with local storage drives ever again.

Having files in the cloud will immensely reduce the risk of data loss. We would be at peace knowing the files are safe in the cloud even if our devices got stolen or destroyed.

Data Recovery

Have you ever deleted a file and regretted it afterward? Your cloud storage provider may be able to recover it for you.

Expandable Space

I went to a friend’s house and saw his library of not books but hard drives. Each shelf has different sizes of HD with labels like “movies,” “anime’s,” “series,” — and they are all in alphabetical order.

We do not need this clutter when we have our files in the cloud. If the gigabytes in our account no longer suffice, we can always subscribe for additional spaces.

Cloud storage is expandable. We can have all our files in one place for easier data management.

Security

Cloud storage providers add layers of security features to ensure our data is safe.

Anyone can easily access our local hard drives if we misplace them.

Accessibility

One of the best perks of having files in the cloud is that you can access them anywhere.

I was a volunteer Sunday school teacher a couple of years ago. It was my turn to deliver the lesson, but I absent-mindedly left my laptop at home. Because my files are in the cloud, I simply borrowed a computer and downloaded my slides from my account. The cloud saved me a lot of trouble that day.

Shareability

It is also easier to share data via cloud storage. You can either upload it to a public folder or create a unique link for people to access the file. It is one of the ways I distribute ebooks and workbooks on this website.

Productivity

Saving our files in the cloud promotes an increase in productivity. Whatever I do on my laptop, I can continue working on my phone since the progress syncs between devices.

It is the same way when my wife and I are working on a project. We have a shared folder over the cloud. Whenever I make changes, she can see them and comment. That is how we planned our wedding day.

What are the challenges of cloud storage?

Internet Dependency

The biggest weakness of cloud storage is its internet dependency. We won’t be able to access our files without the internet. But some cloud services provide a way to make our files accessible offline.

Data Privacy

Let’s face it. There will always be suspicion about our data privacy. Cloud storage providers have control over our files. We are not 100% sure how they handle our information.

Company Dependency

Aside from cloud storage being internet dependent, they are also company dependent. What happens to our files when the storage provider goes out of business? Sure, they may announce their closure in advance so we can transfer our files to another provider. But still, it would be a troublesome process to go through.

Recurring Cost

There are lots of free cloud storage available today. But you might need to subscribe to a plan if you have enormous files to store. Cloud storage can be expensive because of its recurring cost. It is like renting a space on the internet. 

But several companies are trying to solve this problem by offering lifetime plans. It is a good option if we don’t want to trouble ourselves with the recurring payments.

Recommended Cloud Storage with Lifetime Plans

Google Drive will always be my primary cloud storage since I am a Chromebook user. Chrome OS is Google’s operating system, and there are no other cloud services that come close to integration. You can follow this link if you want to learn about Chromebooks.

Unfortunately, aside from the 15 GB free space, Google Drive does not have a lifetime plan available for regular consumers. But don’t fret. Below are excellent cloud storage services you may want to subscribe to for life.

Best: pCloud

pCloud is the closest thing to Google Drive in my experience thus far. It has a user-friendly interface, syncs smoothly between devices, and has several ways to organize your files. It also has a family plan wherein you can manage and allocate storage spaces among family members.

pCloud gives 5 GB of free storage once you sign up. Plus another 5 GB after you complete their onboarding checklist.

THE GOOD: One of the Most Stable Cloud Storage Experience Overall

I have tried many cloud storage services and, so far, pCloud is one of the most stable I have experienced. I can even say it is Google Drive minus the office suite. Furthermore, it also has a built-in media player that allows you to interact with your data in the cloud.

THE BAD: Extra Payment To Some Features

It annoys me when I have paid for a product or service, and later I’ll find out that I need to pay more to unlock other features. It is so with pCloud. There is a rate for a regular storage plan, and there is another for the encrypted folder plan known as Crypto.

BOTTOM LINE

pCloud is a highly recommended cloud storage service — especially with its lifetime plan. It is the next best thing after Google Drive.

pCloud One-time Payment Plans

Forever FreePremiumPremium PlusFamily Plan
Up to 10 GB of Storage• 500 GB Storage
• 500 GB Shared link traffic
• Fair share
• Shared link branding
• 30 days trash history
• 2 TB Storage
• 2 TB Shared link traffic
• Fair share
• Shared link branding
• 30 days trash history
• Up to 5 users
• 2 TB Storage
• 2 TB Shared link traffic
• Fair share
• 30 days trash history
$0$175 (Lifetime)$350 (Lifetime)$500 (Lifetime)
[sherpa id=”127d17e6″][sherpa id=”01ac3c8f”][sherpa id=”97fd6c13″]

Close (Really Close) Second: Icedrive

I was torn about whether Icedrive should be ahead of pCloud or not. I love the simplicity and the straight-to-the-point approach of Icedrive to cloud storage. 

Icedrive also costs less than pCloud. Not only that, but it already includes ALL features when you subscribe to a plan.

In the end, I chose pCloud over Icedrive because of one thing: Public Folder.

pCloud has a public folder while Icedrive does not. Although Icedrive has public links, it functions differently compared to a folder. Anyone can view the files inside the public folder. It means you can host your website’s images using that space. It’s a big deal if you are running several websites.

Public links, on the other hand, only allow people with the link to access the files. People cannot view the data unless they go to a specific URL.

Jed Icedrive

THE GOOD: Easy To Use + Beautiful User Interface

Icedrive has a gorgeous user interface. It is so simple and a delight to navigate around. It makes me want to upload all my files there!

THE BAD: Who is Icedrive?

I love Icedrive as a product. But as we learned earlier, one of the cons of cloud storage is its company dependency. I searched for Icedrive’s About Us page to know who they are, but I did not find it anywhere. We can usually find it at the footer of a home page, but they did not put it there.

All we know for now is they are from the U.K.

I also didn’t get anything from their Facebook Page.

How can I entrust my data to a company whom I do not know anything about?

Anyhow, this is by far the best information I have gathered about their company.

BOTTOM LINE

But even with the seemingly big con, I cannot take away the fact that Icedrive is an excellent product with an enticing price point. It’s a new player who can readily compete with the big boys in the cloud storage industry.

Icedrive One-time Payment Plans

Forever FreeLiteProPro +
10 GB of Storage• 150 GB Storage
• Crypto Folder
• 1 TB Storage
• Crypto Folder
• 5 TB Storage
• Crypto Folder
$0$59 (Lifetime)$149 (Lifetime)$499 (Lifetime)
[sherpa id=”e39e4af4″][sherpa id=”9716d408″]

Other Cloud Storage Services I Use

I currently have a total of 2.169 TB of cloud storage space.

Here’s the breakdown:

  • 15 GB (Google Drive)
  • 5 GB (pCloud)
  • 10 GB (Icedrive)
  • 2 TB (ThunderDrive) — Bought their lifetime plan which I cannot recommend.
  • 4 GB ([sherpa id=”03749e5e”])
  • 35 GB ([sherpa id=”63c4342c”]) — Great service but pricey. Also, no lifetime plan.
  • 100 GB ([sherpa id=”95c048a0″]) — Generous free storage space but not a fan of their user interface. They also offer a lifetime plan: [sherpa id=”aa9edc85″]

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