The Best Cloud Storage Services for Backup in 2017

https://www.thebalance.com/free-cloud-storage-1356638
https://www.pcmag.com/roundup/306323/the-best-cloud-storage-providers-and-file-syncing-services

The Best Cloud Storage Services for Backup in 2017

1  MEGA

Get 50 GB of free cloud storage with MEGA. MEGA offers secure end-to-end encryption to help combat a breach in privacy.

You can view and update your MEGA files through a browser, the desktop sync client, and an iOS, BlackBerry, Android, or Windows Phone device. More

2  pCloud

10 GB of free online storage is offered by pCloud, with friend referrals and other bonus steps jumping it to a possible 20 GB.

A desktop client can be installed for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. There's also a mobile app for iOS and Android devices that's very intuitive and easy to use.

pCloud supports adding files from a remote URL in addition to single file and whole folder uploads through a browser. The mobile apps can upload photos and videos directly to your pCloud account.

Both files and folders can both be shared with non-users. Shared folders can even be downloaded as a ZIP archive.

Also, pCloud allows upload links to be generated for folders so anyone can send files to your account. A unique email address is also generated which lets you (or anyone) email files directly to a folder on your pCloud account.

In addition to the above, you can backup the photos from your social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram, and Picasa. More

3  MediaFire

Instantly get 10 GB of free online file hosting with MediaFire. Increase it to 50 GB with things like friend referrals and application downloads.

There are sharing options for files and folders and easy uploads of either single files or whole entire folders through the MediaFire website.

iOS and Android users can download an app to view and share files on the go or upload photos and videos. More

4  Dropbox

Dropbox users start off with 2 GB of free space with several simple ways of earning more, up to around 18 GB.

You can view and upload all your Dropbox files from a desktop or mobile app and share whole folders with anyone, even if they don't have a Dropbox account.

If you have Microsoft Office files stored in your Dropbox account, you can edit them from inside your browser for free using Microsoft Office online. More

5  Box

10 GB of free online storage space is offered by Box (formerly Box.net).

There's a mobile application for nearly all devices - iOS, Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone - that lets you upload/download/share your content. The desktop sync client for Windows and Mac OS X make is super simple to upload files to Box.

Box users can share whole folders of data or pick single files to share with a public link. More

6  FlipDrive

New FlipDrive users get 10 GB of initial storage with an opportunity for more for each friend they can refer to start using FlipDrive.

There aren't any mobile or desktop programs that can be installed for uploading files to FlipDrive, so the web version must suffice. Though you can upload whole folders using the website, which is nice.

You can share files with anyone, even if they don't have a FlipDrive account. However, accessing shared folders requires a registered FlipDrive account. Recipients can be given write, edit, delete, and share permissions in addition to read rights for folders.

You can create up to 10 shared links and upload files that are as large as 25 MB.

The FlipDrive website isn't the easiest to use when compared to most other cloud storage services, which is a bummer, but it still manages to function if you can work through it. More

7  Google Drive

Google Drive is the cloud storage service offered by Google. Each new user gets 15 GB of free space.

The total storage is actually shared with other Google services, like Gmail and Google+ Photos. If you don't use the other services, you can utilize almost all the space for Google Drive alone.

A sync client can be installed for Windows and Mac users, which supports folder and file uploads, as well as a mobile app for Android and iOS users that can send photos and videos to Google Drive.

Folders and files can be shared with specific Google users via their email address or anyone with a public link. You can also make a file view-only, which prevents someone from downloading it.

Google Drive makes it really simple to collaborate with others by allowing comments and letting files be opened and accessed my more than one person at a time. More

8  oneDrive
© Microsoft
Formerly called SkyDrive, oneDrive is an online storage service from Microsoft. Everyone gets 5 GB of free space when they sign up.

Extra hosting can be awarded if you follow certain instructions, like friend referrals and mobile photo syncing.

A Windows and Mac desktop program can be installed to easily transfer folders and files of any type to oneDrive, making them accessible from an iOS or Android mobile device. The mobile app can also upload files - both images and videos.

OneDrive supports sharing both folders and files with non-registered users. A permission can be set to only allow viewing or to allow full editing. More

9  HiDrive

Get 5 GB of free online storage space with HiDrive. If you refer friends to join, you can increase your storage up to 10 GB.

If you're a Windows or Mac user, you can connect to your account over WebDAV, which makes it really simple to drag and drop new files to your account.

Apps are available for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone users, which support mobile photo and video uploads.

When sharing files, you're required to set the URL to expire after a certain number of days and also set a maximum number of allowed downloads before the link becomes invalid.

You can also share folders, and recipients, even non-users, can download all the files at once in an archive. More

10  Yandex.Disk

Yandex is a Russian Internet company known mainly for its popular search engine, Yandex Search, but they also have other services, like 10 GB of free cloud storage for anyone who creates an account.

There are plenty of useful features with Yandex.Disk, such as public and private folder and file sharing, the ability to import photos via social networks, bulk downloads, automatic mobile uploads, and support for drag and drop.

Windows, Mac, and Linux users can install a desktop program to upload files to Yandex.Disk, and a mobile app is available for Android, iOS, and Windows Phone. More

11  Sync

5 GB can of free cloud storage can be had when you sign up for Sync.

Like some of the other services listed on this page, Sync can upload multiple files at once through both the website interface as well as the mobile and desktop apps.

You can build shared folders that other users can interact with as well as share any folder or file with anyone, regardless if they're a Sync user.

Vault is a folder in Sync that you can put files into so that they aren't synced across your other devices. This is useful if you just want to archive some files online but don't need them elsewhere.

See Sync's features page for a list of its features and some comparisons between the free and pro versions. More

12  hubiC
© OVH
Get 25 GB of file storage at no cost with hubiC.

Windows, Mac, and Linux users can install desktop software to upload files or use the web version. A mobile application can be used with Android, iOS, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry devices.

Files and folders can be shared with anyone, even if they aren't hubiC users. However, they must be set to work for just 5, 10, or 30 days before the link expires.

If sharing a folder, visitors can download multiple files at once through a ZIP download. More

13  Jumpshare

Over 200 file types can be uploaded to Jumpshare, with a total of 2 GB of free storage for every user. If you refer friends to join Jumpshare, you can get up to 18 GB for free!

A downloadable program is available for Windows and Mac users that allow really simple drag and drop and hotkey file sharing capabilities. There's also an iOS app here.  More

14  myDrive
© Softronics
myDrive is another online storage service but it offers much less space than the majority of the others in this list. There is no limit to how large uploads can be, but you can only store up to 100 MB on myDrive, which makes the maximum file size 100 MB as well.

Mobile apps are available and you can connect to your account through WebDAV.

myDrive is very limited compared to similar websites, such as the fact that file sharing is allowed only if you give out a "guest" username and password, and you only get one.

Though I do like that you can download multiple files in an archive and restore deleted files up to a month after removing them from your account. More

15  360 Cloud Drive
© 360.CN
360 Cloud Drive is a Chinese service that offers a huge 360 GB of storage when you first sign up. If you download the desktop client, you instantly get upgraded to over 10 TB of storage!

Files and folders can be added to your account through either the website or the desktop program that's available for Windows and Mac.

You can share both files and folders with anyone through a public link, which doesn't require them to have a 360 Cloud Drive account.

Android and iOS mobile apps can be installed to access 360 Cloud Drive, share files and folders, and upload photos and videos.

There's a "daily draw" link available from the website that, when clicked, gives you extra storage space. The amount changes every day and you can only enter once per day.

Note: The 360 Cloud Drive mobile app, website, and desktop program is only available in Chinese. Though it can be nearly impossible to understand what you're doing through the applications (given you don't read Chinese), uploading and sharing your files is a bit easier if you use an English translation of the 360 Cloud Drive website. More

16  Amazon Cloud Drive
© Amazon.com, Inc.
Amazon.com has an online storage service called Amazon Cloud Drive, which offers Amazon Prime members unlimited photo storage plus 5 GB of space for videos and files.

Users can share files to create a public link accessible by anyone who uses it, even if they don't have an Amazon account. Folder sharing isn't supported.

Files can be uploaded using the desktop client software or the web version, though only the former allows folder uploads. A mobile app is also available for uploading videos and photos from Android and iOS devices. Buy from Amazon