Of all the tech you can use, free cloud storage is the most tempting. It’s almost like you’re gaming the system, stacking free storage accounts across OneDrive, Dropbox, and Google. It’s understandable why many people chase freebies, and this can be fun, but sometimes it comes back to hurt you.
While the downsides aren’t obvious, I’ve used enough free storage to know better. From data loss and tactics to draw you in, to service shutdowns, I’ve seen enough to know to keep away from free cloud storage, no matter how tempting it appears.
Storage limits
The free tiers nudge you towards those costly upgrades
Typically, when a service is free, you’re the product. You may just be a data source, but more commonly, the free tier is used as bait to encourage you to eventually pay a monthly subscription, and that’s the case with most cloud storage services.
The process is simple and clever. I’ll use Google as a case study. The free Google Drive storage has a capacity of 15GB, and because this storage is tied to all your connected Google services, it can fill up quickly. At that point, you get a lot of notifications that scare you into a subscription.
You may get notifications in Gmail warning you that you have a certain number of days before you’re no longer able to receive emails. Additionally, when sending emails, it becomes impossible to attach files.
What were once very convenient services have become inconvenient, and you have only two options: delete your precious data or pay a monthly subscription fee for more storage. Now, deleting sounds like a viable option, but you soon realize how inconvenient repeating the cycle is, so paying for storage becomes the default for some users. It was never really free, but a psychological game to get you to pay.
Service shutdowns
Sudden changes will break your workflow
In 2023, Evernote introduced changes to its free plan, which limited users to one notebook and 50 notes. This was a real issue for me and thousands of free users because, as News reported, the change would limit accessibility for long-term users who’d gathered numerous notes on the Evernote service.
When you’re locked into using a specific service, these types of changes aren’t only threats to your data; they’re also threats to your workflow. You start looking for alternatives, but you also have to get used to adjusting so that other elements of your work are in sync with the new services.
Evernote is just one example, but the reality is that policies can change, and once you don’t pay for a service, you’re more likely to be at the mercy of any new policies they choose to throw at you. Ever since, I’ve taken steps to self-host my own note-taking app for free.
Reliability limits
Free tiers feel deliberately crippled
Features may be removed, as we saw with Evernote. However, performance may also dip, and you’re never sure if it’s because you’re not actually paying for the service. The question is, how reliable does it feel to rely on anything for free?
If you’ve ever tried uploading large files to some of your favorite free cloud storage services, the service may be considerably slower during peak times. Now, this affects all users at times. However, a Unify Drive report found that free accounts get hit hardest with reduced speed. One thing is clear: no business with a paid tier prioritizes its free-tier users.
The Dropbox free tier, for instance, only allows three devices to connect. Other services remove tools like extended version history or advanced sharing. These are not technical limitations but deliberate restrictions designed to make the free tier less convenient. The more people rush to free tiers, the more providers will restrict convenience, as it will always act as an incentive to try the paid versions.
Data loss risks
Poor recovery options on free tiers
Data loss is always a concern when performing any kind of data transfer. As reported on the Dropbox Forum, users have lost data while uploading files to the cloud, even though in many cases, it may be user oversight.
However, the difference is that recovery is always more feasible for users on a paid plan. In the case of Dropbox, a paid user can restore a file with its version history. This feature is capped at a 30-day timeframe.
But it’s not only Dropbox. The OneDrive free plan allows you to restore deleted files within 30 days, but if the files are permanently deleted, it becomes really challenging. The paid plan, however, allows access to advanced recovery options, including the possibility to restore the entire OneDrive to a previous state.
I will not use free cloud storage, and nor should you
There is an argument that if you choose to use a service for free, it’s unfair to expect premium value. In some ways, this is a valid argument. Storing information is costly. If any service offers it for free, I default to assuming there’s a catch.
If cloud subscriptions are an issue, it’s safer to build your own server and host your files. For example, you can convert an old laptop into a Plex media server. Although you’ll pay for maintenance and setup time, the financial burden is negligible, and it offers a reliable alternative you don’t have to second-guess.
