7 Cheap Cloud Storage Options

You have a multitude of cloud storage choices beyond Dropbox, for enterprise and personal use. But make sure you understand the differences.

Compared to some of its upstart competitors, Google Drive is a household name. It doesn't offer the granular IT controls seen elsewhere, and some users might be underwhelmed by its security features, which encrypt data in motion but not data sitting in storage. Still, the service offers thorough Google Docs integration -- and for many, the appeal of an ecosystem could be a meaningful differentiator. The fact that Google offers a relatively competitive 5 GB of free storage only bolsters the appeal, and power users will appreciate that additional capacity won't break the bank: another 25 GB runs only $2.49 per month, and even 1 TB pushes the cost to only $49.99.

But despite Google Drive's appeal and widespread use, the service faces competition within the larger cloud storage scene and specifically from other ecosystem-driven services. Microsoft's SkyDrive, for example, boasts 7 GB of free storage. It also integrates with Microsoft Office, which is a more essential resource than Google Docs. For Mac users, Apple's iCloud is another option in this space. If offers appealing perks such as the "Find My iPhone" feature and includes 5 GB of free storage -- but its approach is generally consumer-centric, making it fine for photos or music but not necessarily for business use.

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