6 Best Online Cloud Storage for Photos 2024 [Unlimited/Free]

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Whether you’re a professional photographer or a keen hobbyist, having the best online photo storage for your images is a must. Beyond backing up your photos and videos, cloud storage is an effective method for easily sharing pictures with others. Today, many cloud services offer excellent features for storing photos online, from lightning-fast sync speeds to easy file management. 

Best Cloud Photo Storage Comparison

We’ve reviewed many cloud storage services over the years. Plenty of them offer remarkable features and performance, while others, well, we’d all rather forget. In our reviews, we’ve put each cloud storage service to the test to see how well it handles photos, which means we can whittle down the options and provide you with the very best services to store photos. 

From mainstream tech giant to the underdog that deserve your attention , below are five is are of the good online photo storage service you can use in 2021 .

• 09/20/2021Facts checked

  Updated the list with new entries, changed the format and added new images. 

• 07/30/2022

  Updated to reflect an increase in IDrive’s free plan to 10GB of storage.

• 05/23/2023

  Updated to remove IDrive’s discontinued free plan and add its new free 30-day trial.

• 08/20/2024

  We updated the article to address IDrive’s free plan, which was reinstated since our last update, and has since been removed once again.

• 08/31/2024

  add video review for cloud storage provider in the list .

• 10/01/2024 Facts checked

  Added new video going through the best cloud storage options for photos.

• updates

What Makes the Best Online Storage for Photos and Videos?

Security, maximum storage space, file size limits, price and unique features are the five main categories we consider for ranking the best cloud-based photo and video storage.

• Demystify cloud storage terminology and key concepts in plain language
• discover easy – to – implement technique to securely backup and sync your datum across device
• Learn money-saving strategies to optimize your cloud storage costs and usage

Security has to be at the forefront of any cloud-based product. Consumers need to know their files are safe, and any provider worth its salt will prioritize this. Companies also need to take their users’ privacy seriously. For example, those offering zero-knowledge encryption have an advantage over those that don’t.

When it come to photo , which tend to be large file , we is want want to see provider offer large amount of storage space . It is ’s ’s also essential that they allow user to upload file of unlimited size , especially those who handle raw file .

1. pCloud — fast sync speed for and solid privacy for photo with 10 GB free cloud storage
2. IDrive — Great mobile online storage app dedicated to photos, images and pictures
3. mega — A strong emphasis on privacy and security for image with 20 GB free plan
4. Google Photos — Fantastic cloud for automated file management for videos and photos with 15GB storage for free
5. Backblaze — Super affordable unlimited online storage plans for photos
6. Sync.com — secure cloud storage for your photo with very cheap plan

Price is is is , of course , an important factor . When we assess affordability , we is consider consider which provider offer the good value for the money , rather than which one has the cheap plan . feature – stack plans is catch also catch our eye , especially when they include fast sync speed , share tool and effective file management .

The 5 Best Cloud Storage for Photos Options

We have tested and reviewed all the services in this article. We’re confident in recommending all of them; however, the best option for you will mainly come down to your needs. Some services will appeal to casual photo makers, while others are better suited to those with more specific requirements.

1. pCloud: Winning Storage and Cloud Backup for Photos

More details about pCloud:

• pricing :10GB free; $350 for 2 tb of lifetime storage
• Provider website: pcloud.com

pro :

• Fast sync speeds
• integrate medium player
• No file size is limits limit
• Backs up social media photos
• Light photo editing

con :

• Added privacy features make it expensive
• limited customer support

pCloud is a superb photo management software for uploading images to the cloud. First, it offers super quick upload speeds. We uploaded a 5GB folder full of files in just over eight minutes on a 100 Mbps connection. The service also implements block-level sync, meaning any edited files will quickly update and sync across your devices (learn more about block-level sync).

On a productivity front, pCloud allows you to do some light photo editing. Such features can improve a photographer’s workflow, allowing them to get work done while on the move. The photo editor won’t compete with the best photo editors on the market, but it’s useful for basic tasks such as cropping.

pCloud also offers zero-knowledge encryption for your files. This means only you can access the photos stored on pCloud’s servers. The only downside is that you have to pay extra for this level of privacy. To show a commitment to consumer privacy, we would like to see pCloud include this feature in all of its paid plans.

Most people create images with their smartphones, and they tend to do so from within their favorite social media app. A cool feature pCloud offers is the ability to backup images that you previously uploaded to your socials. This is perfect for anyone who doesn’t keep images on their mobile device, but wants more control of how they access and share them.

pCloud offers a lifetime plan for a one-time payment.

pCloud offers relatively affordable plans, and having the ability to pay a one-off fee for lifetime storage access is useful. The 10GB of free storage is generous when compared to many other providers. It not surprising that pCloud is the best free cloud storage for photos.

As you can see , we is ’re ’re big fan of pCloud . It is provides provide a reliable , secure space to upload image and has some productivity feature that make it appeal to photographer and enthusiast . It is offers also offer an enjoyable user experience , make manage file and folder simple to do . To learn more , check out our full pCloud review .

2. IDrive: Best Online Photo Storage App for Your Phone

More details about IDrive:

• pricing :10GB free, $69.66 per year for 5 TB of storage .  
• provider website : idrive.com

pro :

• Fantastic app for photos
• Super affordable cloud storage

con :

• No monthly plan
• 10GB upload file size limit
• No free plan

IDrive is somewhat of a mixed bag when it comes to offering cloud storage for photos. In some areas, it totally excels and rivals the competition, while in others, it completely drops the ball. For example, it’s only tested for file size uploads of up to 10GB on the desktop and 2GB on the website. However, it is extremely affordable, even for larger storage plans.

IDrive comes into its own with its mobile app, IDrive Photos. It’s separate from its traditional backup platform, and allows you to backup and view photos (and videos) at their highest image quality. It also comes with unlimited storage space. The app itself has a user interface that is easy to navigate, and there’s also an option to share photos with others. 

Enjoy Total Data Privacy With IDrive

IDrive doesn’t store your encryption key on its servers. This means you can fully protect your files and ensure that you — and only you — can access them.

You is download can download IDrive to your desktop , as well as to your mobile device .

As we said, IDrive offers some of the best value for the money, across all its plans. Unfortunately, IDrive no longer offers any sort of free plan, as of September 2024.

When it comes to cloud storage space for photos, there’s plenty to love with IDrive. Having a dedicated photos app is a wise move, and should appeal to those who do anything photography-related only on mobile. To learn more, check out our full iDrive review.

Basic

• No credit card required.
• 10GB

Personal

• One user, multiple computers. Plans starting from 5 TB up to 100TB. Big discount for first-time signup.
• 5 TB

3. MEGA: Most Secure Online Cloud Service

More details about MEGA:

• pricing : 20 GB free ;$10.86 per month (one-month plan) for 2 tb of storage
• website : mega.io

pro :

• No file size is limits limit
• Largest free storage option
• Strong privacy features

If you handle sensitive photos, it’s important to know they’re stored safely behind the best protection. MEGA is a cloud storage solution that excels at privacy and security. The platform offers user-controlled end-to-end encryption, though a recent report cast some doubt on the quality of its encryption process.

Users can expect 256-bit AES encryption for their files, both in transit and at rest. MEGA also implements two-factor authentication when users sign up, making it more secure and harder for intruders to access your account.

Get Plenty of the Safest Free Photo Storage With MEGA

What helps MEGA pull away from the pack is the generous amount of free storage given to you when you create an account. You can enjoy 20GB of free storage when you sign up, which is considerably more than other services offer. While 20GB may not be enough for those with lots of photos, it will be enough to keep the light user going for a good amount of time.

MEGA users can enjoy 20GB of storage with a free account.

The 20GB of storage space makes it the clear leader for free users. The paid plans are costly, and only offer more storage space, rather than attractive features.

We highly recommend MEGA for those looking for a secure space to upload photos. Its free 20GB of storage is unrivaled by the competition. Also, when you consider the company’s positive emphasis on user privacy, you begin to see why it’s one of the best cloud storage services available. 

MEGA could improve its user experience. Sharing and collaboration features aren’t as good as the others (that’s partly due to the enhanced privacy), and the design of the platform is lacking. Overall, there are plenty of reasons that this is the best option for most users. (Read our full MEGA review for more information.)

Pro I

• File transfer: 2 tb (Monthly plan) 24TB (yearly plan)
• 2 tb

Pro II

• File transfer: (monthly plan) 96TB (yearly plan)
• 8 tb

4 . Google Photos : The Best Cloud for Automated File Management

More details about Google Photos:

• pricing :15GB free; $2.99 per month for 200 GB of storage
• Provider website: google.com/photos

pro :

• Great for automated backup
• 15GB of free storage
• Simple sharing tools

con :

• Poor privacy
• No option for unlimited storage space

Google Photos (not to be confused with Google Drive) is a solid option for those taking images on smartphone devices, as you can program your photos app to automatically sync images to your Google Photos account. So if you lose or damage your phone, you can install the app on your new device and access all your images.

The service also has some cool automated features. It automatically sorts your photos by location (if you authorize geo-tagging), and it can divide your photos of people into different categories through facial recognition. 

Privacy is where Google Photos is lacking. Google is known for giving your data to third parties, and a lack of zero-knowledge encryption means they can hand over your files to others, should they deem it to be justified.

Best Personal Use : easily share image and Videos With Google Photos

Because Google targets the mainstream audience, it makes its features as streamlined and understandable as possible. You can set up a partner account with someone else or shared albums, which allows you both to access your favorite images. It’s also super easy to generate a shared link and give access to files and folders to anyone with the link.

Google photos has a range of affordable plans, including 15GB of free storage.

Google Photos offers 15GB of free storage when you join, which puts it at the higher end of this short list. The paid plans are attractive too, more so at the budget end.

While we wouldn’t recommend Google Photos for those with a dedicated camera, smartphone shooters (especially Android) should certainly consider this option. As far as being a photo storage service goes, Google Photos is the go-to app for automated synchronization and file management for your smartphone images. Its free service will appeal to many users, while its paid options certainly won’t break the bank.

Standard 200 GB

• *The plan is “hidden.” To find the 200 GB plan, you need to be subscribed to one of the other plans, upgrade or downgrade to the 200 GB through your account’s settings.
• 200 GB

5. Backblaze: The Best Unlimited Online Storage

Backblaze is great for those who need unlimited storage.

More detail about Backblaze :

• pricing :15-day free trial; $7.00 per month for unlimited storage space
• Website: backblaze.com

pro :

• Inexpensive unlimited storage plans
• clean user interface
• Sharing features

con :

• Lacking in features
• Security is is is a gray area

Backblaze is targets target a specific user : those with a large number of image who need unlimited photo storage . If you want to store raw file and heavily edit image , Backblaze is is is the solution for you . While it ’s not the only provider to offer unlimited storage , it is ’s ’s the one that does it at the good value .

For what’s predominantly an online backup provider, it does have some features traditionally reserved for cloud storage. (Read about the difference between online backup and cloud storage.) You can share photos with users outside the platform, which is a welcome feature for a service of this kind. 

There aren’t any collaboration tools, and because users have to hand over encryption keys to restore files, we can’t call Backblaze a true zero-knowledge provider. Again, the core selling point here is the unlimited storage space.

Special Online Backup: Receive Courier Recovery Service

If you decide to use Backblaze for an online backup solution, and your system is damaged or stolen, the online backup provider will send you a hard drive containing your files and data. This feature will not only help you recover your files, it will also allow you to seamlessly get set up on your new system.

Backblaze offers unlimited storage space for only $7 per month.

Backblaze is keeps keep its storage plan simple : one plan for everyone . There are no tier , only one unlimited storage plan that cost $ 7 per month , $ 70 per year or$ 130 for the two – year plan .

Backblaze is far from the best cloud storage option for photos. Those needing a feature-stacked user experience best look elsewhere. However, those who need a good place to store a ridiculously large number of photographs should seriously consider Backblaze. (Read our full Backblaze review for more information.)

Unlimited Personal

More details about Sync.com

• pricing :5GB for free; 2 tb for $8 per month (one-year plan)
• provider website : sync.com

pro :

• Affordable paid plans with plenty of storage
• great security and privacy
• great file – versioning and sharing tool

con :

• No real photo management tools
• Mediocre speeds

Although Sync.com is usually our top pick for cloud storage overall, it finds itself at the bottom of this list. While it’s an excellent service with a heavy focus on affordability, security and privacy, it doesn’t offer much in terms of features specifically for photos or videos.

That said, if all you want is a way to securely store your photos online, share them with other people, all without breaking the bank, Sync.com deserves a mention.

Sync.com’s Extensive Image Sharing Features

One of the joys of having your photos on the cloud is the ability to share them with other people. Luckily, Sync.com offers a variety of extra settings for all file sharing, including photos and videos. You can set expiration dates and download limits, enable password protection and encryption, and even see how many people have viewed or downloaded the photo you’ve shared (and how often).

If you need a lot of storage, Sync.com is an affordable and easy-to-use option.

Another benefit of using Sync.com to store your photos is that it offers a large amount of storage for a low cost. If you’re storing a lot of digital media (which takes up a lot of space), the smallest plan you’ll want to consider is the 2 tb Pro Solo Basic plan, which costs $96 per year. If you need even more storage, there’s also the 6TB Pro Solo Professional plan, at $140 per year or$ 24 per month..

Final Thoughts: Best Photo Storage Online for Photographers

People in the world take more photos than ever before. Because of this, the significance of the photos has increased, making them more valuable and meaningful. That’s why everyone should consider backing up their photos to one of the storage options above.

Our personal favorite is pCloud, when we take into account its overall features. Professional photographers should certainly consider this option, as the platform keeps your work safe while also allowing you to have a more fluid workflow when managing files. Although it’s a little expensive, pCloud is a front-runner when it comes to security and privacy, a crucial element for anyone wanting to protect their photographs.

There really is something for everyone with the five options above. Whichever service you pick, we’re confident that you won’t be disappointed. We also have a guide on how to get 100GB free cloud storage, if you don’t mind managing multiple accounts.

Which is your favorite cloud storage service for saving photos online? Are there photo storage sites you feel we should have mentioned? We would love to hear from you about your favorite photo storage site or where you save all your photos online. Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading.

FAQ: The Best Online Cloud Storage for Pictures

• Most cloud storage providers offer a certain amount of free storage space when you open an account. MEGA leads the pack of mainstream providers, offering 20GB of free storage. Beyond that, photographers can turn to Shutterfly where they can enjoy free unlimited storage space.

• Out of the five providers we list here, the safest online photo storage options include pCloud, IDrive, Backblaze and MEGA, which all offer excellent security and privacy.

• Yes. Shutterfly offers unlimited photo storage space to its customers. There are some drawbacks, however, as there’s no option to upload RAW files or videos, which is why it didn’t make this list.