Free cloud storage has also long since arrived in the private domain. In view of the ever-increasing range of different services, a precise comparison of cloud storage services is recommended,  especially when it comes to data protection.

Apple, Microsoft, Google: Comparing free cloud providers

When searching for the right provider for online data backup, the large selection can quickly become overwhelming. Private users in particular initially opt for a free cloud version to test the functions. We have listed the differences between the three largest free cloud providers here:

  • iCloud: Apple’s cloud service is available for iPhone, iPad, Mac OS X or Windows. However, free storage is limited to 5 GB. Upgrading to 50GB, 200GB or 2TB of storage costs monthly.

  • OneDrive: Microsoft’s competitor cloud service is also compatible with different devices. In the free basic version, the storage space is limited to 5 GB. Other functions such as offline access to important files or password-protected share links are only available in conjunction with a paid Microsoft Office subscription

  • Dropbox: The third major player among the clouds offers 2 GB of free storage space in the free version. The basic version already includes functions such as remote deletion on devices, file recovery and version history, albeit with a limitation of 30 days. An update to more storage space is subject to charge.

The big disadvantage of US cloud providers

Despite the differences in availability and storage plans, the large providers have one thing in common: Apple, Microsoft and Google, like many other established cloud providers, are American companies, most of whose data centers are also located in the USA. For privacy reasons, however, private customers are advised to use a European provider to prevent unauthorized access to their own data by third parties. The European Data Protection Regulation, which came into force last year, comprehensively regulates the requirements for data security and data protection within the European Union. These go far beyond the international (and especially the US) standard.

TeamDrive: The free cloud for private use

TeamDrive goes even one step further with its server location in Germany. When it comes to data protection, German jurisdiction is also regarded as a pioneer in Europe thanks to the strict requirements of the DSGVO. The cloud storage thus becomes a data safe. All data in the cloud is end-to-end encrypted and is, thus, protected not only against unauthorized access in the cloud, but also during upload.

Germany as a business location has another advantage. Our customer service with headquarters in Germany and German contacts is available to answer your questions at any time.

The free cloud provider you can trust

The free version for private users includes 2 GB storage space and other important functions. Of course, these include automatic data synchronization, a backup function and version management. By inviting friends and family to join the TeamDrive cloud, cloud storage can be increased to up to 10 GB, which is ideal for sharing, for example, photo albums.

Thanks to the app for tablets and smartphones (iOS and Android), a single file or entire folder can also be accessed at any time while on the move, and from all devices. For example, mobile videos can be backed up directly to the cloud. You can download and save the video on another computer.

A free cloud with maximum data security

TeamDrive is not only safer than the big cloud providers due to its server location in Germany. TeamDrive also relies on secure end-to-end encryption and has been doing so for 10 years! A symmetrical AES 256-bit key is transmitted to the authorized senders and recipients with the help of another key pair. This pair consists of a private and a public key. The encryption and decryption takes place automatically on the devices of the users. An insight into the data of third parties is therefore impossible!

What are you waiting for? Test the TeamDrive cloud for private use now!