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Jason Ginsberg / 7.12.2023Home / Cloud storage

How to find cloud storage for Android—tips and app reviews

Need cloud storage for Android but not sure where to start your search? Read our buying guide and reviews to find the best option for your device.

Your phone houses a wealth of important files, from family photos to sensitive docs. Should anything happen to your device, you risk losing all those files and data unless you store them on a cloud drive.The problem is, choosing the right cloud storage service is challenging. With so many options promising to be the best one, it takes extensive research to weed out subpar solutions and find the right app for your needs and budget.To simplify your search and help you zero in on the best cloud storage for Android, we will cover the main factors to consider when comparing apps. You will also see reviews of three popular options, so you can pick the one that checks all the necessary boxes.

Protect your files and privacySafeguard your documents with Skiff Drive, the privacy-first, end-to-end encrypted cloud storage

What to look for in Android cloud storage

Cloud providers compete by filling their platforms with numerous features, but only a handful of them make a true difference to your experience. When you take out the bells and whistles, you are left with three deal-breakers:

Security
User interface
Cross-platform syncing

Get an E2EE storage solution without losing any dataSkiff Drive's seamless cross-platform syncing helps you manage your work

File security is paramount

The whole point of cloud drives is to have your files securely backed up in a remote space. If your provider can’t give you peace of mind, no other feature can compensate for it. You must find a service that gives you full control over your files and data without privacy risks.Cloud security depends on numerous factors, most notably:

Server location and security
Compliance
Access management
Disaster recovery strategies
File encryption

Encryption is debatably the most important factor, as it directly impacts the risk of data theft. It’s a way of scrambling data into strings of unintelligible characters so that plaintext versions are only visible to users with the decryption key.Most providers offer some level of encryption, protecting your data while it’s resting on their servers or traveling between endpoints. The problem is that encryption is done using the platform’s keys, so your provider can access unencrypted versions of your files.The only way to prevent this is by choosing a service offering end-to-end encryption (E2EE). With E2EE, files are encrypted on your device before being uploaded, so the cloud drive only stores ciphered versions. The decryption key is created and stored on your device, so nobody but the users you share your files with can see their contents.

The importance of a user-friendly interface

The user interface is a key determinant of the overall experience, and it’s particularly important on mobile devices. A smaller footprint means the design must be well executed to ensure every feature is intuitive and fluid.Modern cloud solutions typically feature a clean, minimalistic design while ensuring outstanding interactivity and accessibility. Striking this balance isn’t easy, so many apps compromise on the design in favor of features. Thankfully, several providers know how to offer both, as you’ll see in the reviews further down this guide.

Seamless syncing between devices to ensure continuity

There’s a high chance you’ll want to access your files beyond your phone. Instead of having to mail them to yourself or use other unnecessarily complicated methods, you should opt for a cloud service that offers cross-platform support.You should be able to manage your storage from a browser, desktop/laptop, and phone without friction. Automatic syncing can make this happen by keeping your storage updated regardless of the device you use to upload new files.With cross-device syncing, you can stay productive on the go and make sure you don’t lose any changes to your files when switching between devices.

Best Android cloud storage—three providers reviewed

Numerous cloud services have gained traction in the last few years, but some have risen above the competition:

Box
HiDrive
Skiff Drive

Each platform has unique selling points, so the rest of this guide will weigh their pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.

Box

Source: BoxBox is a robust storage and collaboration platform suitable for individual and business users, though it’s more focused on the latter. It’s packed with features and used by many reputable companies like Airbnb and Morgan Stanley, but its security measures aren’t top-of-the-line.

Pricing

Box offers a free plan and various tiers for personal and business use:

Individuals/small teams:
1. Personal Pro—$12.76 per month ($9.57 per month billed annually)
2. Business Starter—$6.38/user per month ($4.78 per month billed annually)
Businesses:
1. Business—$19.34/user per month ($14.35 per month billed annually)
2. Business Plus—$31.90/user per month ($23.92 per month billed annually)
3. Enterprise—$44.66/user per month ($33.49 per month billed annually)
4. Enterprise Plus—Custom pricing available upon inquiry

Pros and cons

The first advantage of Box is its generous free plan. You get 10 GB of storage, which is enough for an average user. It may not be enough for business users, but you can use the free plan to test the platform and determine if it’s worth investing in.The interface is sleek and easy to navigate. It resembles the classic Android file browser, so there’s no learning curve. You get the familiar left-side sliding menu with various folders and functions, and the overall user experience is smooth.Box lets you sync files between multiple devices and platforms. It also supports offline access, so you can choose the files you might need to access without an internet connection and place them in the corresponding folder.The platform integrates with over 1,500 apps and add-ons, so you can personalize it and expand its functionality. Virtually all popular productivity apps are compatible with it, so it’s an excellent solution for work and collaboration.The main drawback of Box is a lack of end-to-end encryption. You get AES-256 encryption for stored files and TLS 1.2 for files in transit. While these protocols offer decent safety from malicious parties, a lack of client-side encryption means you don’t get sufficient privacy.Another disadvantage is file versioning, which isn’t available with the free plan. Even with paid plans, you get 10–100 file versions unless you opt for Enterprise Plus, which is the only tier that supports unlimited versioning.

Pros	Cons
10 GB of free storage	No end-to-end encryption
Well-designed user interface	No file versioning with the free plan
Numerous integrations	.

HiDrive

Source: IonosHiDrive by Ionos is a German cloud storage solution promising outstanding privacy and security to users. While the platform is certainly more secure than most Big Tech solutions, it gates some of its best features behind a paywall.

Pricing

HiDrive doesn’t offer a free plan, though the paid ones are affordable enough to make the service worth considering:

Basic—$1 per month
Essential—$3 per month
Business—$7 per month
Pro—$20 per month

Pros and cons

HiDrive’s affordability is among its main selling points. For only $1 per month, you get 100 GB of cloud storage, so the value for money is above average. The cheapest plan supports one user, and you can add up to 10 with the Pro tier.With servers in Europe, HiDrive is compliant with the GDPR law. GDPR is quite strict when it comes to data collection, so users have more baseline privacy than they would with a non-compliant platform.As for additional security, HiDrive supports two-factor authentication. It’s a useful measure against cyberattacks, as it ensures an attacker can’t access your drive without the one-time passcode sent to your phone.Unlike Box, HiDrive offers end-to-end encryption, but it’s reserved for Pro users. No other tier includes it, so you’d have to splurge for client-side encryption. Paired with a lack of a free plan, this exclusivity makes HiDrive inadequate for users on a budget.

Pros	Cons
Affordable plans	No free tiers
GDPR compliance	End-to-end encryption only included in the most expensive plan
Two-factor authentication	.

Skiff Drive

Source: SkiffSkiff Drive is a privacy-first cloud storage combining various security measures to safeguard your files. It’s suitable for individuals and businesses alike, giving every user complete privacy and confidentiality.

Pricing

Besides the robust free plan, Skiff offers three paid tiers:

Essential—$4 per month ($3 per month billed annually)
Pro—$10 per month ($8 per month billed annually)
Business—$15/user per month ($12 per month billed annually)

Pros and cons

Security is at the core of Skiff Drive—the platform uses advanced end-to-end encryption to ensure complete security of all your data and files. The decryption key is created and stored on your device, so nobody—including Skiff—can see unencrypted copies of your files unless you decide to share them with someone.User privacy is further heightened by zero-knowledge authentication. Using the Secure Remote Password algorithm, Skiff lets users sign up without leaving any personal information.The platform doesn’t store your login credentials, so you don’t need to worry about unauthorized access. For added security, you can use the Authenticator app to set up two-factor authentication.These security measures are paired with a beautifully-designed user interface, letting users of all technical skill levels enjoy ultimate protection. Besides Android, you can use Skiff Drive with browsers, macOS, and iOS, with all your devices staying synced up at all times.Skiff is an open source platform, so anyone can review the codebase. You can visit Skiff’s Discord and GitHub to join its growing community or read the whitepaper to learn more about the service’s security measures and available features.If you want to store your files in a decentralized environment, Skiff offers optional InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) integration. You can also log in or upgrade to the paid tiers using various crypto wallets:

Skiff’s main disadvantage is that it can’t protect the data of a fully compromised device. This is true for any cloud solution, so follow proper security practices to keep your device safe from malware.

Pros	Cons
End-to-end encryption	Can’t protect data on a device fully compromised by malware
Zero-knowledge authentication	.
Optional IPFS and crypto integrations	.

Get started with Skiff for free

Skiff’s free plan offers all of the above features alongside 10 GB of end-to-end encrypted storage. You can secure your files in three quick steps:

Visit the signup page
Create your Skiff account
Upload files to Skiff Drive

When you sign up, you’ll get access to three additional end-to-end encrypted platforms at no extra cost:

Skiff Mail for sending secure emails and keeping your online correspondence private
Skiff Pages with file versioning and numerous productivity features for seamless collaboration
Skiff Calendar for scheduling private events and video conferences without privacy concerns

Join the community

Become a part of our 1,000,000+ community and join the future of a private and decentralized internet.

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