In this article, you’ll learn:
By choosing the best cloud storage for business, you can optimize your workflows in marketing, accounting, logistics, and other company activities. You no longer need to search for files on one of the local disks, copy them to USB flash drives, or send them via email. All materials are always at hand and accessible to everyone involved in the workflow. In addition, you can be sure that you work with the latest version, not an old draft that was rejected at an early stage, since all digital assets are stored in one place and are not duplicated in dozens of storages.
Another advantage is an increased security level. There are dozens of ways to steal data from local storage, including physical disk or the entire computer theft. Data in cloud storage is located on remote servers — sometimes, it is even distributed among several devices, which prevents data leakage. Any cloud storage also protects information with a password, and top programs allow you to use even hardware or biometric keys. Another useful feature is the flexible configuration of access rights to files, folders, databases, etc.
The best cloud storage service for business increases work efficiency while minimizing the risk of data loss or leakage, which leads to improved financial results for the company. Sounds great, doesn't it? So, the goal is clear. The only thing left to do is clarify some details — find out which service is best suited for your company. Today, we're going to take a look at the top 10 platforms, explaining their advantages, disadvantages, and key features.
Cloud Storage for Business Comparison
At first glance, all cloud storages may seem identical. Each of them provides you with a certain amount of storage space and a user-friendly interface for accessing information. But in reality, these platforms have serious differences in functionality, terms of use, and ease of integration into existing workflows. Let's learn more about the popular web services in this category.
Google Drive
It is the absolute leader with a share of more that 30% of the cloud storage and file-sharing software market. The main advantage of Google Drive is a balanced approach. The platform offers a user-friendly interface, reliable protection of confidential information, fast data search, flexible management of subscription plans, and many ready-made solutions for integration with other programs. It may be inferior to competitors in some areas, but it is definitely on the list of leaders in terms of all mentioned factors.
Subscription plans
You can get 15 GB of cloud storage (including Gmail and Google Photos) for free for personal use, with a limited set of features and a simplified cybersecurity system. Business plans start at $6 per month per user with 30 GB of storage. The top subscription allows you to get 5 TB of storage for each user for $18 per month.
Advantages and disadvantages
Pics.io Team
Pics.io
Pics.io is more than just cloud storage. It's a full-fledged digital asset management (DAM) system. Pics.io DAM provides handy tools for file management, sharing, and organization. With the help of metadata, for example, you can create custom metadata fields for quick search and retrieval. Pics.io also has a version control feature that allows you to view previous versions of your digital assets, compare them, and revert back to any of them in a couple of clicks. The platform also offers convenient tools for file sharing and receiving - websites and inboxes. You can easily send or receive materials from both external and internal users.
You can connect Pics.io to Amazon S3 or Google Drive digital asset management system, or choose software’s storage.
Subscription plans
The digital asset management system offers a 7-day trial version without linking a bank card. The basic subscription plan costs $50 per month and a 10% discount is available for a one-time payment for a year.
Advantages and disadvantages
Egnyte Enterprise
If you're wondering which cloud storage is best for business in terms of productivity, be sure to check out this platform. Egnyte is powered by AI to quickly search for files, automate content generation, and analyze the performance of each participant in the workflow.
Subscription plans
Egnyte has two subscription plans for small and medium-sized businesses. The Team plan provides each user with 1 TB of storage for $10 per month, allowing them to register up to 10 accounts per user. It can be tested for free for 15 days.The Business plan also offers 1 TB of storage, but you pay $20 for each user, getting the opportunity to integrate other software and an unlimited number of accounts. Subscription terms for large businesses are discussed with company representatives individually.
Advantages and disadvantages
Microsoft OneDrive for Business
It is the best cloud storage solution for business looking for the easiest platform to integrate. OneDrive support is in most versions of Windows OS — the software is already installed and does not require additional configuration. The cloud storage allows you to connect applications created for Windows, Mac OS, iOS, Android, and even Linux.
Subscription plans
In the business cloud storage comparison, OneDrive is slightly behind its competitors in terms of the variety of subscription plans. In any of them, you get only 1 TB of storage per user. The basic subscription plan for $5 per month provides access only to cloud storage and file sharing. For $6 per month, you get the integration of 10 Microsoft applications, data backup, and automatic synchronization with a folder on your computer. For $12.5 per month, you get support for third-party software and Copilot AI.
Advantages and disadvantages
iDrive Team
If you pay attention to the business cloud storage price comparison, you should definitely consider an iDrive subscription. It requires less of your company's budget than alternative solutions from competitors. At the same time, you get a fairly wide range of features, including backing up files from USB drives, computer hard drives, and network-attached storage (NAS).
Subscription plans
iDrive has neither a trial version nor limited plans for personal use. Only paid subscriptions are available — $99.95 per year for five users, $199.50 for 10, $499.50 for 25, and $999.50 for 50. 1 TB of storage is provided for each user. In the first year, iDrive offers a discount of 50% to 80% depending on the chosen subscription plan, which makes its offer even more profitable.
Advantages and disadvantages
Citrix Content Collaboration
Citrix is a platform for collaborative work on projects, which has evolved from the usual cloud storage. It was primarily created for large businesses. This software’s key advantages are an increased level of security, a large number of integrations with other software, and a built-in analytics module to monitor the performance of each user account.
Subscription plans
The price is Citrix's weak point in the cloud storage for business comparison. In all subscriptions, you get 1 TB of storage per user. The basic version is estimated at $10 per month for each user. You will have to pay $16 per month for an advanced cybersecurity system, $25 for a convenient customer data exchange system, and $67.5 per month for analytics. A Citrix subscription includes at least three user accounts — you can choose more, but not fewer, users in each subscription plan.
Advantages and disadvantages
Dropbox Business
It is one of the best cloud data storage for business in terms of functionality. Dropbox has built-in tools for working with text documents, images, spreadsheets, and even videos. Another advantage of the service is its electronic signature system, which allows managers to approve changes to files and pass them on to the next stages of the workflow.
Subscription plans
The cost of subscribing to the business version of Dropbox starts at $22 per month for 3 TB of storage. For $24 per month, you get 9 TB for each user, and for $32, you get 15 TB. You can check out the cloud storage features for free by signing up for a 30-day trial subscription. Large companies can customize their subscription plans but then need to contact Dropbox’s representatives directly.
Advantages and disadvantages
Backblaze Business Backup
First of all, it is a service for backing up data from physical storages — computers, USB drives, network disks. It is one of the best secure cloud storage for business with unlimited storage capacity. Its key advantage is the ease of setup and use, while its disadvantage is limited functionality- lity — you can connect the system without any technical skills, but you will only have access to the backup mode.
Subscription plans
The pricing system of the service is as simple as possible. You have only 3 pricing plans: $9 per month, $99 per year, or $189 for two years for each user. If you work in a team, you can get access to the admin panel for another $24 per year per user, which allows you to centralize backup management.
Advantages and disadvantages
Box for Business
If you wonder what is the best cloud storage for business with a large number of different workflows, be sure to check out Box. The service has built-in productivity tools that automate routine processes. For example, you can automatically apply edits to groups of files, discuss projects in a team, and send notifications about important changes to documents.
Subscription plans
The trial version of Box provides you with 1 TB of cloud storage for 14 days. If you sign up for a basic subscription for $13.5 per month, you get 100 GB of storage for permanent use. In subscription plans starting at $22.50 per month, the amount of storage is unlimited. For $31.5 per month, you get an enhanced cybersecurity system and customizable access rights for each user account.
Advantages and disadvantages
Tresorit
It is one of the best cloud file storage for business for large enterprises, including corporations with thousands of employees. The service is easily scalable and customizable — you can connect additional users to it and determine the list of available features yourself. Its advantages also include an increased level of security — you can even encrypt information in email.
Subscription plans
At first glance, Tresorit's pricing policy is as simple and transparent as possible. In the free version, you get 3 GB of storage. A personal subscription gives you 1 TB of disk space for $14.95 per month. The corporate plan will cost $19 per month for each user, with 3 TB of storage. But it's worth mentioning that additional features are paid for separately. Email security and electronic signatures increase the cost by $5 and $54 per month, respectively.
Advantages and disadvantages
How to Choose the Best Cloud Storage for Business
How do you determine which is the best online cloud storage for business for your company? We advise you to look at the following characteristics:
Storage Capacity
Every business has specific workflows. Some work with text documents and others work with 4K videos. Some need 10 files, and others need 10,000. To calculate disk space needs, take into account all the projects that may be in progress at the same time. Double this figure when choosing a subscription plan so that you don't suddenly run into limits.
Pricing Policy
Another important aspect is the budget. Choose the service that suits your financial capabilities and does not force you to cut costs on other things. You should also remember that a cloud storage subscription is a serious investment in IT infrastructure. Therefore, it is advisable to first test the platform in test mode or order a free demo of its features.
Maximum File Size
Yes, almost all cloud storages set limits on this indicator. If you often work with videos, 3D models, or databases, you should pay special attention to it.
Functionality
At this point, the list of requirements is compiled by each company individually. For instance, you can prioritize sharing files and folders with other users, version control of digital assets, and the availability of collaborative document editing tools.
Security
Encrypting data with tamper-resistant keys is an industry standard for cloud storage. A really useful option is the ability to customize access rights for specific users or workgroups. Top services provide additional security solutions, such as biometric authentication, hardware keys, and data storage on dedicated servers.
Ease of use
This point includes the interface simplicity, the availability of mobile applications, and the centralized account management from the admin panel.
Having determined the basic requirements for cloud storage, we can summarize the results of our comparison.
Conclusion
The choice of business-class cloud storages in 2024 is fairly vast. Therefore, before signing up for a subscription, you should carefully study their key characteristics and evaluate the available storage capacity, maximum file size, and subscription fee. The functionality of the service is an equally important factor in your decision.
In this article, we’ve covered business cloud storage comparison and discussed each solution in detail. If you need multifunctional tools to increase productivity, you can look at such platforms as Google Drive, Dropbox, and One Drive. If you have specific, narrowly focused goals, specialized services such as Backblaze for backup or Box for business process optimization can be a match.
Pics.io, a digital asset management system, offers one of the best solutions in its class. It is not just cloud storage. This web-based service provides you with tools to quickly search for files, create and easily share and receive single and multiple digital assets, control file versions, and flexibly set up access rights both for individual users and groups.
Did you enjoy this article? Give Pics.io a try — or book a demo with us, and we'll be happy to answer any of your questions.
