Internet cloud. Service "pCloud" - allows you to store and send large files

The cloud is a service where data can be stored and easily managed. That is, you can upload your files to it, work with them directly on the Internet, download them at any time, and also transfer them to another person.

Any user can get such a service at their disposal absolutely free of charge. In fact, it's own HDD in the Internet.

You could say it's something like local disk computer, but only with the ability to use it on any device with an Internet connection. Plus, you can transfer files to other users by simply sending them a download link.

So, the cloud is needed to:

• Store files and folders with files
• Work with them on any computer or smartphone with Internet access
• Easily and quickly transfer files to other people

Thus, it replaces flash drives, disks and other devices for transferring information.

That is, I can upload the files I need to such a service and work with them on any other computer with the Internet. It can be documents, books, music, videos - in general, any files.

Initially, they are available only to me, but if I wish, I can make some of them public. Then they can be downloaded.

That is, a special Internet address (link) will be generated, where the file can be saved to the computer. I can send this address to any person (for example, via Skype or via mail), and the person will be able to download my file.

Where and how to get the cloud

There are sites that give users the cloud. It's like with mail: there are sites where you can get it. We go to such a site, register and get cloud service for data storage.

We are allocated some specific free volume. On some services, it is a very decent 50-100 GB. If you want more, then it's for the money.

And you can register several times and, accordingly, get several free volumes. Everything is free, everything is legal!

The easiest way to get a cloud is to do it where you have mail. The fact is that the largest mail sites (Yandex, Mail, Gmail) distribute such services for free. You just need to want.

That is, you do not even need to register. Just open your mail and indicate that you want to receive the cloud. They give it to you right away.

Websites that give away clouds for free

Yandex.Disk is a cloud service from Yandex. If you have mail there, then you have such a disk. Free and forever given 10 GB.

To get Yandex.Disk, you need to open the yandex.ru website and go to your mail. Then open the "Disk" tab (at the top).

You will be greeted and offered to download special program to your computer for convenient work with Yandex.Disk.

It is better not to do this right away - you can always install it later. I recommend that you close this window and first learn how to use Yandex.Disk without a program.

That's all! Upload files, sort them, share, delete. In general, you already have a cloud. It even has some files and folders already loaded with files for example.

For further access to Yandex.Disk, you need to follow all the same steps: open the yandex.ru website, open your mail, go to the "Disk" tab.

And you can install and configure a special program "Disk for Windows" and use the cloud directly from your computer - without going to the site yandex.ru

Mail.ru cloud is a service from the mail.ru mail site. 25 GB is free.

To receive this goodness, you just need to have a mail.ru mailbox. If it is, then you also have a cloud.

To enter it, you need to open the mail.ru website and open your mail. Then click on the "Cloud" button at the top.

Your personal cloud service will open. Some sample files are already loaded into it. You can remove them, or you can leave them. In general, your cloud is already ready to go.

You can use it directly, via mail, or you can download and install special application(program). Then the cloud will be available directly from the computer - a shortcut will appear on the Desktop for its instant opening.

Google Drive (Google Drive) is a service that is "attached" to gmail.com mail. 15 GB is free.

To get into it, you need to go to your email inbox on the site gmail.com. Then click on the picture with small squares next to your name (top right) and click on the "Disk" item.

Perhaps after that Google will ask you a couple of questions. A little lower, in the pictures, it is shown what he should answer in this case.

After that, your personal cloud will load. It will already have a folder with several files. You can delete this folder with all its contents, or you can leave it as you wish.

So, the disk is ready to go. You can start downloading!

It opens in exactly the same way - through the mail. And you can install a special program. Then it will be available from your computer.

It seemed to me that this cloud is much more difficult to use than all the others. Not everyone will understand. But there are certain advantages that other services do not have. For example, right in it you can create a document, presentation, table, form or picture.

That is, a program for creating a file will open directly on the Internet desired type. It is quite simple and allows you to both create a file and save it to Google Drive, as well as download to your computer in the desired format.

Such programs can be used instead of Word, Excel, Power Point. It is very convenient when you have to work on a computer on which they are not installed.

Which service is better

As various tests have shown, the "mail" clouds, which I just talked about, are superior in quality, convenience and free features to all other similar services.

I will not go into details, but the places were distributed as follows:

Therefore, I recommend that you still use one of these services. If you don't have an email account on any of them, then you just need to register. You will have a new mail (which, by the way, is not necessary to use) and a cloud.

Of course, there are other sites where you can get a cloud service for free. But most of them in the free versions have various unpleasant limitations.

But there is one that compares favorably with all the others (including postal ones). It is best for transferring files to other people. Address: mega.co.nz

Mega - it makes sense to use this service for those who place files for download. The fact is that through special loader programs such as MiPony, they can be saved to a computer very quickly and easily. Much easier and faster than other cloud services. 50 GB is free.

Initially, the site opens on English language. To switch to the Russian version, click on the Menu button (top right), select Language from the list, then click on Russian and on the Save button.

Just in case, here are two more good cloud services:

Dropbox - 2 GB allocated for free.

One Drive - 7 GB free.

How to manage the cloud

You can manage it on the very site where you received it. Log in there with your username and password, go to a specific section and get access to the cloud.

And you can do it even easier, more convenient and, most importantly, much faster: with the help of a small application (program).

Each service has its own, that is, you need to download it from the site where you have the cloud.

This application allows you to quickly and easily upload, watch, download files and folders with files from your cloud service. It takes up very little space, and you can install such a program on any computer or smartphone (not just yours).

How to install the application. Open your cloud and there will be a link or a download button in a prominent place. The pictures below show where such a button is in the "mail" cloud services.

Download the program file and open it. Installation will begin. Below is an illustrated instruction for each "mail" service. Do everything as in the pictures, and the application will install.

Yandex.Disk:

Mail.ru cloud:

How to use the app

After installing the application, a shortcut to the program appears on the desktop. With it, we will work with the cloud.

When you first start the program, you will be asked to enter data from the cloud. Type in your email address and password. Then you agree to the terms of service and click "Login".

Now, when you open the program icon, your cloud will open directly on your computer - in a regular folder.

Also, along with the opening of the application, its icon appears in the tray.

This is where the computer clock is - in the lower right corner of the screen (on the taskbar, where the rest of the icons are).

This icon can be hidden under a small arrow next to the alphabet.

With it, you can control the application. To do this, click on it with the left or right click mice.

File/Folder Synchronization. This is the most difficult part to understand, but it must be understood in order to successful work with application.

The meaning of synchronization is that the computer or smartphone on which the application is installed must connect to your cloud and upload files from or to it.

This process must be completed, otherwise we will not be able to use the downloaded data. Synchronization takes place over the Internet. That is, without the Internet, it is simply impossible.

Consider the following situation. My cloud already has downloaded files and folders with files.

By the way, initially, upon receipt of the cloud, it already has some information. So if you didn’t delete it on purpose, then there are several files there.

I installed the application on my computer, opened it, entered my username and password. Cloud folder opened. So, all the data that was originally on it should be uploaded to this folder. That is, my cloud and computer must be synchronized.

It turns out that all the files that are on the cloud are downloaded to my computer in this very folder. And if there are few of them and they are small in size, then this process will happen quickly - I may not even notice it.

But if the files are large, and my Internet is not very fast, then synchronization will take some time.

In practice, it looks like this: I open the application shortcut and see an empty folder, although I know for sure that there are files on my cloud.

Usually in this case, users start to get nervous - they worry that their files have been deleted. In fact, they are all there. And we do not see them because the synchronization procedure has not yet been completed.

And this can be verified. When synchronization is in progress, the application icon (the one in the tray) seems to be moving.

And if we click on it, then in the menu that opens there will be an item indicating the progress of the process.

In fact, at this moment, files are downloaded from the Internet. That is, the Internet itself may be slower because of this.

Synchronization can be turned off if necessary. To do this, click on the application icon in the tray and select the appropriate item from the menu. By the way, there you can completely exit the program.

In general, while synchronization is in progress, the files will not be available. The same thing happens when you transfer information from your computer to the cloud.

How to upload a file (folder with files) to the cloud. To do this, you just need to copy the desired files, and then paste them into the application folder.

Copying / pasting occurs as usual, but after that all transferred files should be synchronized. Otherwise, they will not be uploaded to the Internet on your cloud.

In the Mail.ru Cloud application, this process happens instantly. Moreover, even for large files (from 1 GB).

In the Yandex.Disk program, synchronization takes some time, but it still happens quickly.

With a fairly slow Internet connection, a 1 GB file downloaded in just a few minutes. If you uploaded it directly to the cloud (without an application), this process would take more than an hour.

But Google Drive is lagging behind in this regard. Apparently this application works on a different technology, and synchronization takes the same time as a normal file upload.

My results may differ from yours. Perhaps your synchronization process will be faster or vice versa slower than mine.

How to download a file (folder with files) from the cloud. All files that you want to download to your computer or phone from the application must be fully synchronized.

You can transfer them to your computer by simply copying them. That is, open the application, copy the necessary files and paste them into the folder of your choice on the computer. That's all! A couple of seconds - and the files are downloaded.

Disadvantages of cloud services

Everything has both pluses and minuses. And cloud services also have them. I will list the main ones:

1. Memory consumption. In other words, the work of cloud services "strains" the computer. In the case of Yandex.Disk and Cloud.Mail.ru, the load is insignificant, but Google Drive is rather voracious. Modern computers this may not be noticed, but the old ones will have to puff.

2. Safety. Since the cloud is an Internet service, there is always a certain possibility that your files may fall into the wrong hands. Certainly, modern technologies data protection, this probability is minimized, but there is always a risk. Moreover, the service is public.

3. Need Internet. Without the Internet, you will not be able to use any cloud service.

Additional Information

In case the information provided in this lesson is not enough for you.

Every cloud service has detailed instructions by use. Users do not particularly favor it, but it really has a lot of useful and interesting information.

And a year later, we can say with confidence that cloud storage and their position in the world have changed.

Many cloud storages continue to evolve and develop for the better, while others, on the contrary, are losing user loyalty. There are also younger cloud storages that look extremely attractive. Although it is pleasant that there is no longer such a huge number of new cloud storages that appeared a few years ago in huge quantities, they “died” in the same huge numbers.

I’ll make a reservation right away, in this top there will be only cloud storages that provide users with at least some free space. There are also fully paid cloud storages that please with their quality, but they will not be included in this top.

Cloud storage from Microsoft, which replaced the closed SkyDrive. The storage is tightly integrated into the company's ecosystem and many applications. High speed, 15 GB of free space and integration with Microsoft office online. Everything was fine, but Microsoft managed to ruin the entire reputation of its repository.

Office 365 subscribers received unlimited OneDrive space. The description indicated 1 TB, but when the limit was reached, the available space was added automatically. Some users began to abuse the trust of Microsoft, as a result, hundreds of terabytes of data accumulated in their accounts, all photos, the entire movie library, heaps of games pumped from torrents and much more. OneDrive was originally created as a tool for storing, collaborating and transferring documents, and not as a permanent repository of everything you need. Microsoft was angered by this and the company took a step that undermined . There will be no unlimited accounts from the first quarter of 2016. Free 15 GB and bonus for automatic download The photo has also been greatly reduced. On a free basis, it is planned to give only 5 GB, and the remaining 10 GB and the bonus will simply be taken away from users who did not have time to use this space, with the help of certain manipulations.

The cancellation of unlimited accounts can still be justified, even a reduction in free volume can be justified, but the fact that the company wants to take away the already existing free space is extremely bad for the further credibility of OneDrive. As a result, we are left with more or less high-quality cloud storage, but due to the lack of trust in it, only the tenth place.

9. MEGA

Last year, MEGA cloud storage was much higher in the rankings. During the year, the repository changed its web interface, there were problems with the operation of the repository itself, and at the end, Kim Dotcom, who once founded MEGA, reported that . Is it possible to trust a distressed husband who has his creation taken away from him? Not sure.

Of the minuses, it is worth noting that over the year the storage had problems with access, problems with synchronization, especially a large number of documents and through the web interface. In addition, some have noted that sometimes they could not access their files and the servers simply did not respond.

After the redesign, MEGA has lost all these problems. Moreover, he received the function of encrypted calls between users this service. And don't forget, MEGA still gives 50 GB of free space to all its users. That's just adding up all of the above, this storage cannot be called exemplary, although it did not slide down to the antics of OneDrive, hence the higher position.

Initially, at this place, when the draft version of the top was written, there was a cloud storage "in the Safe", which was advised by readers in the comments to the top of 2015. By the end of 2015, vSafe announced its closure, and, as the developers assure, everyone was warned by mail. But for some reason this letter did not reach and it was not in the spam folder, so all the files were gone. It's sad, but you need to look for a more reliable alternative.

There was nothing better than SpiderOak. Cloud storage has existed for more than one year and is different from all of the above high level privacy. Strong encryption that has never been hacked by intruders. Many secure smartphones and other gadgets that specialize in the safety and security of user data recommend SpiderOak.

SpiderOak has applications under a large number of operating systems. There are also disadvantages, in particular, only 2 GB of available space is given for free. So, it remains to either store only the most valuable data in a more securely encrypted storage, or switch to a paid account. Many call SpiderOak the benchmark for encrypted cloud storage.

7. Box

More and more, this storage goes into the business segment. Data encryption, built-in notepad and 10 GB of free space. All these are good indicators, along with stability, because Box can be called one of the oldest cloud storages.

That's just the size of the files and many other indicators are significantly limited in free version, and it doesn’t get better, the rules are tightening more and more. If this goes on, the position of Box and the loyalty of ordinary users will come to naught. However, on a paid account, there are much more places and much less restrictions.

6. Copy

The Copy storage pleases with its stability. It just gives 15 GB free space and works stably. No interruptions and no other problems. It simply synchronizes all your data, and this is the main criterion for any cloud storage.

However, this storage lacks an ecosystem, communication with other services and applications, and the ability to open at least some types of files directly in the cloud, without having to download them (now we are talking about the web version).

There are a lot of users of Apple devices and all of them are essentially iCloud users. iCloud stores settings, user data, synchronizes a huge number of files through it, and much more.

Even on operating systems from Apple, there may be a problem when working with iCloud. How to upload a file, why iCloud app Drive appears only after manipulating the settings? WITH Windows version still worse, but not at all on other systems this repository. The closeness of iCloud does not allow to put it higher.

4. Yandex.Disk

One of the most popular repositories for Russian-speaking users. Over the past year, Yandex.Disk began to support more file formats, learned smart photo sorting, and received deep integration with Yandex.Mail. 10 GB of free space also has not gone away.

Do not forget about the numerous promotions during which you also get free space, for example, you were pleasantly surprised when you inserted a new flash drive and suddenly received 30 GB of space for a year as a gift. In addition, after the recent update of Yandex.Disk Microsoft Office Online, which means you can easily create and work with office documents right in your browser.

3. Cloud Mail.Ru

The main competitor of Yandex.Disk, despite the fact that it launched much later, managed not only to catch up, but also overtook the competitor. If the first users who wanted to test the "raw" version of this storage received 1 TB of free space, beta testers received 100 GB, now they give only 25 GB, but the volume is no longer going to be reduced.

The storage not only provides a sufficiently large volume, which is more than enough to store documents, projects and photos, but also knows how to work with office documents, thanks to integration with Microsoft Office Online. Don't forget about mail integration.

Last year's leader is still inferior in functionality to this year's leader. The case when the cloud storage itself has not changed, moreover, it has become much better in a year, only the competitor has become much better.

This is the oldest of the cloud storages. In many ways, it was Dropbox that spawned given type services. Over the year, Dropbox has gained even more support for formats, improved speed, added the ability to leave comments on files, and, thanks to cooperation with Microsoft, has been integrated into Microsoft Office and Microsoft Office Online. With the help of the latter, it is now also possible to edit office documents directly in the browser. There was also a built-in collective work with documents

1. Google Drive

The undisputed leader among cloud storage. 15 GB is not the most important thing that it gives. There is also a built-in office suite, Googel Docs, which supports much more formats than the main competitor of Microsoft Office Online. In terms of the number of supported formats, Google Drive is ahead of all its competitors. In addition, there are extensions that, if desired, can allow you to perform all the necessary actions with files: office work, listening to music, watching videos, working with archives, directly in the cloud storage, from the browser, without the need to download files to the device.

Videos and photos are not of very high quality and are not taken into account at all when calculating the volume occupied. Also, the application for Android, starting with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, begins to synchronize the settings of your phone, tablet or other gadget, so that it is easy to restore your data on a new device. Backups are also not taken into account when calculating the available space in Google Drive.

As a result, we have cloud storage, to the level of which no competitor has yet reached. Features of Google Drive is impressive and its development does not stop.

In this article, I will introduce you to some online storage services that provide free cloud storage. And, finally, they will be appreciated.

Cloud storage has gained immense popularity due to its improved security, large storage spaces and its portability. You can share documents and upload files anytime, anywhere. Access to such storages is carried out in one click. This is the cloud that is being trusted more and more. Today, the Internet is simply overflowing with cloud service providers. Most of them offer a certain amount of storage for free, and some work exclusively on a paid basis. So what is free anyway?

Google Drive

Web giant Google provides 15 GB of online storage for free for Gmail, Google Drive and G+ photos. The space can be increased by purchasing (and then using) a Chromebook laptop or other smart devices that are manufactured by HTC, Motorola, etc. However, after a certain period, such promotional free Google Drive storage space may require payment.

Box

Box provides a range of features for business and enterprise customers. However, you can still create a free account for personal use. The company provides 10 GB of free cloud space to every new user. While there is no notice on the site about the bonus for referring new users, you can still get additional free space using the service on LG, Sony, Dell, HP and Samsung devices. Some offers are valid for a limited time only.

Copy

Copy is becoming more and more popular. User interface and the service packages of this service are just great. When you subscribe, you get 15 GB of cloud space for free. There is also a bonus for attracting new subscribers. Invite your friend to sign up for Copy and, on a successful new subscription, both of you will receive 5 GB of free space!

dropbox

Dropbox gives each new user 2 GB of free space. You can also get more Dropbox cloud space for free by inviting others by completing the beginner's guide by joining their profiles on in social networks by uploading your photo, submitting a review, linking your account to mailbox iOS, etc.

OneDrive

Microsoft's OneDrive is a simple, popular and secure cloud storage service. When subscribing, the user receives 15 GB of free space. You can also get more free space by inviting friends and activating the photo backup feature. For each successful referral subscription, both users receive a bonus of 0.5 GB (maximum 5 GB). Activating Photo Backup will earn you an additional 3 GB of OneDrive space.

ADrive

ADrive's personal subscription plan offers a decent 50GB of free online storage space. On the this moment ADrive does not offer bonus space. But the initial 50 gigs is a lot. 😉

Bitcasa

Each New user Bitcasa gets 5 GB of free cloud space. The company offers up to 20 GB of free space, of which 15 GB can be obtained by referring friends and acquaintances.

SpiderOak

When you subscribe to SpiderOak, you will receive 2 GB of free online space. But you can still earn up to 10 GB of extra space by referring friends. Each successful referral adds 1 GB of free space to your SpiderOak account.

Yunio

Upon registration, the Chinese firm Yunio offers 100 GB of free space. This is a really good deal. But that's not all! Free space increases with daily use of the service. Using this service, you can add 100 MB of additional space daily.

Mega

Kim Dotcom's Mega service promises security, privacy and rich functionality. Mega provides 50 GB of free space to every new user. There is currently no bonus space provided, so you will have to pay for extra space.

firedrive

Firedrive provides 20 GB of free online space to every new user. If you need more then you need to sign up for a paid plan as Firedrive doesn't offer any bonuses at the moment.

SurDoc

When you subscribe to SurDoc, you will get 100 GB of free space for 1 year. This volume can be increased to 1 TB by referring friends, spreading the word about the company on social networks, participating in surveys, linking devices, etc.

Shared.com

Shared provides 100 GB of cloud space to every new Basic plan user. They do not offer bonus plans. To get more space, you need to purchase a pro account.

media fire

A fairly popular file hosting service MediaFire provides each new user with 10 GB of free online space. You can also increase volume by referring friends, linking social media accounts, installing MediaFire apps on your devices, and more.

Amazon Cloud Drive

Retail giant Amazon also provides a cloud storage service. Amazon Cloud Drive offers every new user 5 GB of free space. There is no bonus for referring friends in this service. But, Amazon's website states that Fire phone users will get unlimited free cloud storage for photos taken with the Fire phone.

Apple iCloud Drive

Apple has made its iCloud online storage public. Now everyone can use iCloud Drive. Apple provides 5 GB of cloud storage for free. The company's website states that they do not have bonus space.

Yandex

Russian Internet giant Yandex is offering its new users 10 GB of free online space. However, the company does not mention any bonus offers.

Cubby

With a subscription, Cubby offers 5 GB of free cloud space. You can increase this up to 25 GB with the New User Referral Program.

4Shared

File hosting 4Shared provides 15 GB of free cloud space. bonus program attracting new users is missing. But, you can increase your storage space by upgrading to a more advanced subscription plan.

Mozy

Online backup and sync provider Mozy provides every new user with 2 GB of free cloud storage space. There is also a referral program where users can earn more space for themselves.

And now the comparison!

I have prepared a table that will help you compare the free offers of the above 20 cloud storage providers. The information in the list is presented from the lowest offer to the highest.

And here's the diagram!

Thus, at the moment, Yunio, SurDoc and Shared.com provide the maximum free cloud space (100 GB). Remember, the SurDoc service provides 100 GB of space only for the first year of use. Yunio and Shared.com do not have such restrictions. Mega and ADrive came in second with 50GB of free online storage space. The Firedrive service will give you 20 GB for free. All others offer 15 GB and below. We wish you the best of luck in choosing the right provider for your needs. cloud storage data. Good luck!

Remember when you once had to burn your photos to discs and hope that everything will be fine with them? Or how a little later they began to use flash drives for the same and external rigid disks? Now there is a much more reliable alternative - storing files on a cloud service. This is a kind of "rent" of space on the server, which can be located anywhere in the world. Its owner guarantees the safety, security and availability of all data placed there for a small fee - from 0 to several dollars a month. At the same time, each service has its own prices, opportunities, advantages and disadvantages. We have conducted a study among the most popular cloud services in Ukraine, Russia and the United States to make it easier for you to choose the right one.

Yandex.Disk

Until recently, the Yandex.Disk cloud storage service was quite popular in Ukraine. However, along with the blocking, the number of its users has significantly decreased. Even with a VPN, this is not very convenient, as the speed of uploading and downloading files has decreased significantly.

You can increase the free disk space that is now given upon registration by inviting friends and participating in periodic promotions from the administration of the service.

Advantages:

• Built-in security system.
• Low price compared to US data storage services.
• Convenient modern interface in Russian.
• Play video and music directly on the cloud storage.
• Constantly updated and improved by developers.

Flaws:

• Low speed work through VPN due to the blocking of the service in Ukraine.
• Binding to mail on Yandex.
• In the web version, you can download no more than 2 GB at a time.

DIPFO file storage is a new cloud service from a Ukrainian developer. It differs in that it is mainly focused on sharing files with other family members or with work colleagues. In both tariffs, in addition to the usual storage of various files in the cloud, it is possible to leave tasks, notes, mark the location of locations in the pictures. In the “Family” tariff, it is possible to additionally download medical cards for storage.

There is a free plan for 5 GB, which is quite suitable as a regular storage service. Paid tariffs with large quantity additional features can be activated for testing for 30 days. As of mid-2018, this is the only Ukrainian cloud that boasts great functionality, a pleasant interface, stable operation and a low price for additional features. Perhaps this the best choice for those who support Ukrainian manufacturers of developers.

Opportunities:

• Storage of various types of files: image, text, music and video.
• Print from the cloud.
• Organizer planning.
• Setting tasks in the cloud for colleagues.
• Built-in weather service.
• Maintaining an online blog.

Advantages:

• High speed.
• Interface in Russian.
• Quick registration - just enter your email.
• There is no binding to any mail service.
• Low price for great functionality.
• 30 days trial period of paid plans.

Flaws:

• It is not possible to add a comment to your own photo (photo caption).
• Small free disk space after registration - 5 GB.
• Lack of software for PC and mobile application, so far only web version.

Google Drive is a world-famous cloud file storage service from Google Corporation. Many people and companies use it to share files and photos by link. It is convenient because there are many related services that you can work with online, as well as the fact that it is available for synchronization and work from any device on Windows or Android.

Advantages:

• A large amount of free disk space after registration - 15 GB.
• Several languages ​​for the interface, there is Russian.
• There is a program for working with a PC and a mobile application for working from a phone or tablet.
• Backup available.
• The service is linked to many other online services from Google.
• Offline operation is available.
• Play and view files from any device.
• Autosave.

Flaws:

• You need a Google mail account to which the cloud is linked.
• Quite high prices compared to Russian, Ukrainian and Chinese services, if you need more space on the cloud.

Cloud Mail.Ru is a fairly well-known service that was previously used by many residents of Ukraine. However, after blocking, this became not so convenient due to a noticeable decrease in download speed. Perhaps not everyone will refuse to use it, because thanks to periodic promotions, some users have up to 1 TB of free storage space.

Advantages:

• Intuitive interface in Russian.
• High degree of protection of user data.
• Backup data.
• Auto backup of photos and videos in a mobile application.

Flaws:

• Correct work is promised only when using Mail.Ru mail.
• Lots of intrusive ads.
• Low speed due to VPN for users from Ukraine.
• There may be a delay in receiving the code when registering a new account.
• The desktop application for PC is inferior to those of other services.

Mega

Big plus cloud Mega - 50 GB of disk space immediately after registration. This is the most generous offer for storing files of any type, which, however, can later turn into serious expenses, since the company's expansion rates are not low for package offers compared to those that are familiar to residents of Russia and Ukraine.

The Mega service is aimed at storing and exchanging files, so it does not have a large number of additional features, like some competitors. But this is one of the most encrypted and secure sites, some users jokingly call it a “paranoid dream”.

• A large amount of free disk space after registration - 50 GB.
• Clear concise interface in 40 languages, there is Russian.
• High degree of encryption and protection of user data.
• You can register from any email.
• There are not only mobile applications, but also addons for Chrome, Firefox

Flaws:

• Few extra features.
• High rates compared to competitors if you need more than 50 GB of disk space.
• Average upload and download speed.

One of the universal cloud storage services, which in many of its functions is very similar to Google Drive, but in terms of ease of use it is still inferior to it and some other clouds. Although the interface is quite concise, it takes a little getting used to.

Additional disk space can be obtained by participating in promotions from the administration of the service. For example, earlier they gave +15 GB for connecting auto-download from the phone.

Opportunities:

• Download any files, documents and photos.
• Shared viewing and work on files.
• Ability to open access to files for a fixed time.
• Full-fledged work with Microsoft Office online.
• Synchronization with a computer or mobile devices.
• Work offline.
• Scanning and recognition of documents.

Advantages:

• You can register to any address Email or linked to a phone number.
• There is a Russian-language interface.
• There is a PC program and a mobile application.
• High speed upload and download data.
• Pleasant external interface.
• Ability to work from any device.

Flaws:

• Quite a high price for users from Ukraine and Russia, if 5 GB is not enough.
• Usability takes some getting used to.

One of the most popular cloud services in the world, some experienced users call it the "reference". Very handy for collaborating in PowerPoint, Photoshop or Sketch. The created presentations and images will be displayed correctly for all participants in the process. Dropbox Paper is available for free for text, video, and audio projects.

You can increase free space on the cloud by participating in various promotions that are often held by service owners, or by completing tasks. For example, connecting autoload from a camera or inviting new users.

Opportunities:

• Convenient online collaboration on projects.
• Download files for sharing or collaboration from a link.
• Loading files taken from the camera.
• Synchronization between multiple devices - computer, tablet and mobile.
• Convenient operation from mobile devices.
• View the history of changes in files.

Advantages:

• High data exchange rate.
• Work online.
• A large number of settings for synchronization and collaboration.
• Strong encryption right in the cloud.
• You can register with your Google account.
• Restoring files deleted within 30 days (120 days for the PRO version).
• Text search (only for PRO-version).
• Regular updates.
• It is convenient to add comments to files and determine which of them will have general access, and some - only for the owner of the account.

Flaws:

• High price - from 8.25 € if 2 GB is not enough or necessary additional functions, which are not available in the base version.

iCloud is cloud storage for users of Apple products. Like all services or equipment from this manufacturer and developer, it is distinguished by high reliability and an appropriate price. All Apple devices have this application or program already installed - you just need to set up an account to get started.

Opportunities:

• Store photos and videos from Apple devices.
• Sharing access to files that are on the cloud service, with appropriate settings.
• Synchronization between various devices Apple with one account.
• Play media files from iCloud on various devices.
• Synchronization of bookmarks from different devices.

Advantages:

• Store contacts and events from the calendar of devices that are synced with iCloud.
• High degree of data security with two-factor authentication.
• There is a Russian-language interface.
• Smart automatic synchronization.
• The "light" version of the photos remains on the device, which reduces the occupied space on the phone.
• Synchronization with Apple applications.
• Simultaneous work of several users.
• Intuitive usability.
• Quick and easy account creation linked to IDAApple.
• There is a backup.
• You can read SMS and MMS messages.
• View mail and calendar.

Flaws:

• 5 GB quickly becomes insufficient if you regularly use at least one Apple device.
• Even the Windows PC version does not work with Windows XP and Windows Vista.
• No web interface, work through the program on mobile device or computer.

A specialized service for storing and sharing photos and videos. There is no way to upload or create other types of files, but it is the largest free photo hosting on the Internet. Immediately after installation, the program scans the device and offers to upload the found files to the cloud.

The special charm of the system gives the ability to create interest groups and correspondence between users, and conquers the heart of 1 TB of absolutely free disk space!

Opportunities:

• Upload and download photos and videos.
• Create photo collections.
• Sharing photos through links to them between users.
• You can create a short URL for photo collections or a single file.
• View photo collections after posting HTML code on a website or blog without uploading to this platform.
• Add comments to individual objects in the picture.
• Search for one or more keywords.
• You can open a photo for viewing only by individual users.
• Subscribe to interesting profiles.
• Auto-grouping photos by subject (sometimes the program makes mistakes).

Advantages:

• A large amount of free space in the cloud is available immediately after registration - 1 TB.
• You can view other people's open photos and videos, like, subscribe to profiles, chat with other users (elements of a social network).
• Search in your own repository and open files other accounts.
• You can make a photo book from the uploaded photos.
• High speed of the service.
• Does not upload photo replays to the server.

Flaws:

• Register or sign in with a Yahoo account only.
• There is no possibility to store other types of files - only photos and videos.
• 9 interface languages, no Russian.
• No video download via PC.
• Videos can only be uploaded up to 1 GB in size.
• The free version has ads.

The only cloud service on our list that has been fully paid since 2015. Previously, users had the ability to connect to the cloud with free place in 5 GB. As of 2015, this is gone, but instead, the amount of information stored is not limited to any specific amount of memory. You just need to choose one of the two tariffs and forget about any restrictions. The $12 per year plan can only store photos, while the $60 plan can store any type of file.

Amazon Cloud Drive is primarily used by Kindle tablet users. They are not common in Ukraine and Russia.

Opportunities:

• Upload photos or any files to storage.
• Automatic synchronization with Kindle devices.

Advantages:

• The first 3 months of using the cloud are free.
• No restrictions on uploading photos to the cloud.
• No restrictions on uploading any files to the cloud (second tariff plan for $59.99 per year).
• Data backup.
• Connection encryption.

Flaws:

• Only paid file storage, the minimum price is $11.99 per year.
• There is no Russian interface, only English.
• No automatic upload of new files from selected folders.

Which cloud service to choose?

Ukrainians should choose a cloud service based on their goals:

• To work on joint projects (business or freelance) we recommend Dipfo, Dropbox or Google Drive. The last service has the least clear interface, although it has the largest free disk space - 15 GB. But it is worth remembering that this cloud is not "sharpened" under teamwork, so debugging workflows will take time to figure out and set everything up for the convenience of all participants. Dropbox and Dipfo are better suited for business, but the former has a high price tag, and 2 GB in the free version is clearly not enough for managing multiple projects in a team, especially if you need to work with graphic files. Dipfo for business is much more affordable - only $5 per year for the ability to work together with setting tasks, compiling lists, a collective organizer, issuing travel sheets, reports, maintaining a company blog and communicating within the service using the built-in chat. An additional fun feature is the built-in weather forecast calendar for cities.
• For family viewing of photos and albums, storage of files and medical records Dipfo is ideal with the Family plan for $5 per year. The interface is easy to navigate and the only family-oriented resource. All other cloud services can be configured to share individual files, but this will take a little more time. Plus Dipfo is the only cloud that supports family members' medical records. Ukrainians should also pay attention to this service due to the fact that using it, they support the developers of their own country.
• To store photos and communicate with other people Flickr is the best: fast, convenient, free, popular, with lots of storage space. But it won't work. Absolutely.
• For storing photos and files of various types in a small amount, you can use absolutely any cloud service, almost all of them provide free rates for 2-15 GB. Although the same Amazon Cloud Drive and iCloud are quite specific, as they are aimed at users certain devices, Flickr is "sharpened" for photos and videos, and Yandex.Disk, Cloud Mail.Ru and Mega do not work too fast.

File Storage Comparison Summary

Cloud data storage, what is it and why are they needed? The answer is simple - this is a replacement for the usual flash drives or disks, because why carry a data carrier with you and waste time if you can store and transfer files using the cloud! And for business it is handy tool for remote work with documents. Well, or if you simply don’t have enough memory on the device and it doesn’t even help anymore, in this case cloud drive will be the solution. Transferring files through the cloud is absolutely safe: you yourself specify who will have access to the data!

What is cloud storage?

Cloud storage is a place allocated to you on numerous servers of a service provider, the file storage system is decentralized - two of your files can be completely different servers! We upload the file using the application to the server and it gets into the "cloud", depending on your wishes and needs, the files can be both in public and only in private access: to selected people. Files from the cloud can only be accessed via the Internet, which makes the files available to you anywhere and from any device.

The Pros and Benefits of Cloud Storage

• Files are available EVERYWHERE there is internet: you can access them from your phone or PC
• Save space or expand memory: photos and videos can be stored in the cloud to save space
• High file transfer speed thanks to a wide geographical network of servers and CDN
• Storage reliability: even if one server fails, there are copies of data on other servers
• Great opportunity for business and remote workers: one file is editable by everyone with access!

The only downside is that you need internet.:)

How to start using Cloud Storage and which one to choose

1. In order to start using cloud storage, you need to download the client program and install it. If you do not know what to choose, read our "".
2. To upload a file or photo to the cloud, follow the prompts built into the application, otherwise look for the "+" icon or the inscription "Upload / Upload"
3. Now you just have to set up access from outside to your files: it will be only you, or the owners of the direct link that you create will have access

To transfer your file or folder from the cloud to another user, you need to send him a link: to find it, click on the desired file or folder, find the link and send it to whom you need to provide access to the file in your cloud.