Alternatives to OneDrive
Microsoft's storage bundled with 365
OneDrive ranks #5 of 12 in Cloud storage, with an Alt Score of 66. It is proprietary, freemium from $1.99/month and available on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Web. 10 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Windows and Microsoft 365 users, from individual consumers to families and businesses, who need their files accessible across multiple devices and integrated with Office apps.
Cloud storage starting at 5GB free (paid tiers up to several TB) with automatic file sync across PCs, phones, and tablets. Real-time co-authoring in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, plus shareable links with configurable permissions. Automatic backup of PC folders (Desktop, Documents, Pictures) and mobile photos, along with ransomware detection, version history, and a PIN/MFA-protected Personal Vault for sensitive files.
A desktop sync client mirrors a local OneDrive folder to the cloud, uploading and updating files automatically as they change, while mobile and web apps provide access from other devices. Files can be shared via generated links or opened directly in Office apps for simultaneous editing with others.
Why people leave OneDrive
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
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Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
How OneDrive compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
| Cloud storage checklist | OneDrive | Proton Drive | pCloud | Sync.com | Icedrive | Google Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Free storage amount | ||||||
| E2E encrypted storage | ||||||
| Selective sync | ||||||
| Block-level (delta) sync | ||||||
| File versioning depth | ||||||
| Sharing links with password/expiry | ||||||
| Collaborative editing of docs | ||||||
| WebDAV support | ||||||
| Max file size | ||||||
| Self-hostable | ||||||
| Photos-specific features | ||||||
| Data residency choice |
Every fact and feature listed for OneDrive is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License Proprietary verified 2026-07-11
The software is licensed, not sold, and Microsoft reserves all rights to the software not expressly granted by Microsoft, whether by implication, estoppel, or otherwise.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/servicesagreement -
Pricing model Freemium verified 2026-07-11
5 GB of cloud storage
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/onedrive/compare-onedrive-plans -
Starts at $1.99/month verified 2026-07-11
$1.99/month
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/onedrive/compare-onedrive-plans -
Platforms Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web verified 2026-07-11
Web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, OneDrive, and other apps.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/onedrive/compare-onedrive-plans -
Status active verified 2026-07-11
Microsoft 365 Personal
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/onedrive/compare-onedrive-plans -
E2e encrypted No verified 2026-07-11
Each file is encrypted at rest with a unique AES256 key. These unique keys are encrypted with a set of master keys that are stored in Azure Key Vault.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/onedrive/how-onedrive-safeguards-your-data-in-the-cloud -
Free storage amount Yes verified 2026-07-11
5 GB of cloud storage
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/onedrive/compare-onedrive-plans -
E2E encrypted storage No verified 2026-07-11
Each file is encrypted at rest with a unique AES256 key. These unique keys are encrypted with a set of master keys that are stored in Azure Key Vault.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/onedrive/how-onedrive-safeguards-your-data-in-the-cloud -
Selective sync Yes verified 2026-07-11
You can choose which OneDrive folders sync to your Windows or macOS device so you only keep important files available offline.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/choose-which-onedrive-folders-you-want-to-sync-on-windows-or-macos-98b8b011-8b94-419b-aa95-a14ff2415e85 -
Block-level (delta) sync Yes verified 2026-07-11
Large files can synchronize without difficulty because only the changed bits need to be transmitted to the server.
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/discussions/microsoft-365/onedrive-completes-roll-out-of-differential-sync/1343279 -
File versioning depth Yes verified 2026-07-11
File version history is retained for 30 days.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/restore-a-previous-version-of-a-file-in-onedrive-159cad6d-d76e-4981-88ef-de6e96c93893 -
Sharing links with password/expiry Partial verified 2026-07-11
Only available to Microsoft 365 subscribers.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/share-onedrive-files-and-folders-9fcc2f7d-de0c-4cec-93b0-a82024800c07 -
Collaborative editing of docs Yes verified 2026-07-11
Anywhere editing and real-time collaboration
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/onedrive/compare-onedrive-plans -
Max file size Yes verified 2026-07-11
Depending on the web browser you use, you can upload files up to 250GB in size. (This limit is per file, not total.)
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/upload-photos-and-files-to-onedrive-b00ad3fe-6643-4b16-9212-de00ef02b586 -
Self-hostable No verified 2026-07-11
Data is mirrored into at least two different Azure regions, which are at least several hundred miles away from each other.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/onedrive/how-onedrive-safeguards-your-data-in-the-cloud -
Photos-specific features Yes verified 2026-07-11
Automatically back up photos and videos on your phone with OneDrive cloud storage
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/onedrive/online-cloud-storage
FAQ
Yes. Proton Drive, pCloud and Sync.com have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Nextcloud — every license claim links its source.
Nextcloud can be self-hosted. Cells marked ? mean we have not verified a self-host path yet.