Your computer only comes with a certain amount of storage space. When you run out, you can buy a hard drive with more space, or you can buy an external hard drive or flash drive. Both options could cost you hundreds of dollars, depending on your storage needs.
A more budget-friendly and convenient option is to use a cloud storage provider. These services allow you to store your documents, photos, and other files either to make more room on your computer or to backup your information in case your hard drive crashes. Here are our picks for the top 5 cloud storage providers:
Drop Box (https://www.dropbox.com/)
With a free account, you can get up to 2 GB of storage, which you can use to store your files. You can access the service through the website, or you can download the app to your computer or smart phone for easy drag-and-drop storage. You can update files that are already stored, and you can share your folders with others. If you need more storage, paid accounts start at $9.99 a month for 100 GB of storage. Up to 1 TB is available.
Just Cloud (http://www.justcloud.com/)
Get unlimited cloud storage with this service, which allows you to access your files anywhere through syncing and mobile apps. Drag and drop files to your cloud storage, automatically backup your files from any device, and share any files you like with friends. The service is totally free, and you can store an unlimited amount of files.
Google Drive (https://drive.google.com/)
The king of search engines now offers free cloud storage for up to 5 GB for documents, spreadsheets and other files. If you have old Google docs on your drive, they do not contribute to the 5 GB limit. (You can store an unlimited amount of Google docs.) If you need more space, you can pay $59.88 per year for up to 100 GB (though there is a file size limit of 10 GB).
Apple iCloud (http://www.apple.com/icloud/)
Not only can you store your content on iCloud, but you can also use it to access your music, photos, calendars, contacts and more. You can access your information from any device that has the app. Get up to 5 GB of storage for free, or pay up to $100 per year for 50 GB of space. There is a file size limit of 25 MB for free accounts and 250 MB for paid accounts.
Microsoft SkyDrive (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/skydrive/download)
Get 7 GB of storage for free with this service from the personal computer giant. Install the free app to sync your files across your computers or Windows devices, and store documents, photos, music, and more. There is a file size limit of 2 GB. If you want more storage, a paid account costs $50 a year for up to 100 GB.
Cloud storage offers you an excellent solution for storing more of your personal files to save space on your computer and to serve as a backup in case of a crash. These top providers offer you exceptional service for free — with the option to upgrade to a paid account if you need more space.
What is your favorite cloud storage provider? Share your picks in the comments!
Sarah Clare is a writer and oversees the site projectmanagementsoftware.com, where she has recently been researching status reporting. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys cooking and scrapbooking.
Wow this article has alot of useful information on the diffrent types of cloud storage available. This information in this article has definatly helped me with my choice of where to store my precious data.