Storing your photos on the cloud can protect them against data loss and make it easier to share them with other people. Free cloud storage for photos provides an easy and low-commitment entry into backing up your photos.
I looked at our best cloud storage options to find the ones most well suited for free online photo storage. In this article, I’ll break down each service’s available features, including how much free storage they provide, and highlight any limitations.
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05/25/2023 Facts checked
Edited the article to remove IDrive as an option.
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04/03/2024 Facts checked
Updated to reflect changes in Icedrive’s pricing plans and storage offers.
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08/31/2024 Facts checked
Added video reviews for cloud storage providers in the list.
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02/20/2025 Facts checked
This article was updated with details on new functionalities in pCloud and features to look for in providers.
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05/20/2025 Facts checked
We updated this article with more details about MEGA’s cloud storage offering.
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08/18/2025 Facts checked
Added a fresh video review of MEGA Cloud Storage
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08/20/2025 Facts checked
We added more information about Google Photos and how it connects to Google Drive.
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11/22/2025 Facts checked
We updated our free cloud storage options and re-analyzed what makes them good for photos. We also added comparison tables and a quick guide on how to use cloud storage space.
Cloudwards’ Choice: pCloud
The Best Free Cloud Storage Services for Photos — Quick Comparison
The table below highlights how the top free cloud storage providers compare in terms of storage space, best price, top use cases and limitations.
Lab Data & Hands-On Testing
To find the best free services for storing photos, I compared each service across multiple categories, including upload and download speeds, security and collaboration features.
- Demystify cloud storage terminology and key concepts in plain language
- Discover easy-to-implement techniques to securely backup and sync your data across devices
- Learn money-saving strategies to optimize your cloud storage costs and usage
Speed Test Comparison (5GB Folder)
In terms of the fastest cloud storage, in our most recent tests Google Drive is the best option for fast upload speeds, followed closely by pCloud. As for download speeds, pCloud is the fastest overall.
Security & Privacy Analysis
Sync.com and MEGA are the best options for security, as they both offer client-side encryption even on the free plans. They also adhere to GDPR and PIPEDA privacy regulations. pCloud and Icedrive also offer client-side encryption but not for free.
Collaboration & Features Overview
Of all the services on this list, Google Drive is the best for collaboration, followed by MEGA. Both allow for real-time editing, so you can work on files alongside others simultaneously. However, Google Drive also benefits from Office and Google Workspace integration.
The Best Free Photo Storage in Detail
pCloud is the overall best free cloud storage option for photos, but I’ll go into more detail about each of my top five recommendations’ strengths, weaknesses and free features.
1. pCloud — Best Overall Free Cloud Storage for Photos
pCloud is my top choice for free and secure cloud photo storage, with up to 10GB of free space available. The free version includes a media viewer and a photo editor, so you can make small tweaks to your uploaded images.
You’ll need to complete several tasks to unlock the full 10GB of free storage.
What Makes pCloud Special
pCloud stands out for its built-in photo editor, which allows you to crop photos to different aspect ratios. You can choose a custom ratio or pick a social media standard such as square, portrait or story. You can also apply filters, add a vignette or grain effect, and adjust light and color settings.
You can crop, filter or apply special effects to your photos in pCloud.
2. MEGA — Best Free Photo Storage for Storage Space
MEGA includes client-side encryption for all storage, even for free users, which means no one else, not even your cloud storage, can ever access your personal photos. You can also set up your own photo albums in MEGA if you install the desktop or mobile app.
MEGA allows you to create an album for better photo organization.
What Makes MEGA Special
MEGA’s best feature is its generous storage capacity. It provides an impressive 20GB of storage, all of which is protected with client-side encryption. If you happen to need additional storage, you can unlock more in 5GB increments by installing the apps, starting a free trial or inviting friends (5GB per invite).
Increase your storage by inviting friends or installing the apps.
When to Choose MEGA
MEGA is best for users who need a large amount of free storage or want the option to increase their storage. Unlike pCloud, which requires email verification to unlock its full free storage capacity, MEGA gives you 20GB right away. This makes MEGA more practical if you don’t want to complete extra tasks. Read our MEGA review for more details.
Pro I
- File transfer: 3TB (Monthly plan) 36TB (yearly plan)
- 3TB
Pro II
- File transfer: 10TB (monthly plan), 120TB (yearly plan)
- 10TB
More plans
Pro III
- File transfer: 20TB (monthly plan) 240TB (yearly plan)
- 20TB
Business
- Price per user (minimum 3)
3TB Transfer quota - 100TB
3. Google Drive — Best Free Cloud Storage for Photo Sharing & Android Devices
Google Drive, which offers 15GB of free storage, is a good option if you need to share or collaborate on photos. The main downside of Google Drive is its approach to privacy — an invasive file analyzer scans your photos’ metadata for better characterization.
What Makes Google Drive Special
Google Drive’s most useful features are its easy file-sharing and productivity tools. You can set up folders to share with people even with the free service, and set different read, comment and edit permissions.
Downloading the desktop and mobile apps allows you to upload files from multiple devices. Google Drive is integrated into Android devices, and you can enable automatic sync from your phone camera to Google Photos and then back up your photos to Google Drive. You can also receive notifications about any changes made to files in your Drive account.
Google Drive’s desktop app allows you to sync files from your device.
When to Choose Google Drive
If you have many photos to share, Google Drive is an enticing option. However, it protects user storage with server-side encryption only, so anyone with access to Google’s servers can potentially see your files. This may make Google Drive less appealing if you value privacy, especially considering its photo analysis activity.
To learn more about its full range of features, check out our Google Drive review.
Standard 200GB
- *The plan is “hidden.” To find the 200GB plan, you need to be subscribed to one of the other plans, upgrade or downgrade to the 200GB through your account’s settings.
- 200GB
More plans
4. Icedrive — Best Free Photo Storage for Cheap Lifetime Plans
Icedrive is one of the cheapest cloud services for lifetime plans, which makes it a great option if you have a lot of photos to upload. It gives you up to 10GB of free storage and has a built-in photo viewer.
When to Choose Icedrive
With its cheap lifetime plans and upgradeable storage, Icedrive is a good option for users who want a one-time payment for storage, with the ability to increase storage limits later. While it’s missing features like a photo editor, the virtual drive makes it more user-friendly for those new to cloud storage. Read our Icedrive review to learn more.
More plans
Lifetime Add On – Stack 1K
- Additional 1TB storage for users who purchased the Lifetime Plan
- 1TB
Lifetime Add On – Stack 5K
- Additional 5TB storage for users who purchased the Lifetime Plan
- 5TB
5. Sync.com — Best Free Photo Storage for Security and Privacy
Sync.com is one of the best options if you need free and secure storage for your photos. The free version is protected with client-side encryption, so not even Sync.com can access your files.
When to Choose Sync.com
Sync.com is best for users who are happy with 5GB of free storage, are concerned about the privacy of their photos and want to retain total control over them. Since it’s a slower service than others, it’s best for users who don’t have many large files to upload or who need instant uploads. Our full review of Sync.com has all the details.
More plans
Pro Teams Standard
- per user, per month, billed annually
- 1TB
Pro Teams+ Unlimited
- Priced per user (3 users minimum)
- Unlimited GB
Enterprise
- Minimum 100 users, custom requirements, account manager, training options
Methodology: Testing Framework & How You Choose
To find the top free cloud providers, I tested each provider against a certain set of criteria. I looked at storage space, security, speed and any photo-specific features.
How to Use Free Cloud Storage for Photos
The storage options I list in this article are all simple to use, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble implementing them to back up photos to the cloud. Most platforms follow a similar process. In the guide below, I’ll show you how to upload and sync photos using pCloud.
pCloud allows you to sync specific folders to automatically back up your photos.
- Sign up and install — Create an account with your chosen cloud service. My top recommendation is pCloud, especially if you need to make any edits to your photos. Access it through the web app or from its apps for desktop or mobile devices.
- Set up sync folders — Choose the photo folder that you want to upload and sync. After you’ve set up the folder, any new additions will automatically upload to your pCloud account.
- Configure your workflow — If you take a lot of photos that you want to back up, it may be a good idea to set up a system of regularly placing new photos into your synced folder.
- Enable security features — Consider investing in one of pCloud’s premium plans with client-side encryption so you can keep your photos safer. Alternatively, if you would rather stick to the free service, set up two-factor authentication for additional account security.
Final Thoughts
Finding the top free cloud storage for photos depends on your specific needs. If you need photo editing features, pCloud is the best option. You can get started for free with 10GB of storage.
Which free photo storage option do you like the most? How often do you back up your photos? Do you have a backup workflow? Let us know in the comments, and thank you for reading.
FAQ: Free Online Storage for Photos
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You won’t be able to find free unlimited storage for photos; your best option is to sign up for a service with generous free storage. MEGA is one of the best options for photos, with an impressive 20GB of free storage.
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Yes, free cloud storage is safe for your photos, but it depends on the provider. I recommend using a provider with free client-side encryption, such as MEGA or Sync.com, if you’re concerned about the safety of your files.
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Yes, you still own the photos you upload to the cloud. Some providers have the ability to view your content, though, so make sure to review privacy policies before you upload anything.
