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Guide

Free Cloud Storage Compared: TeraBox, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive and iCloud

Raimundo Oliveira

By , founder & editor · Published · Updated · 2 min read

Fact-checked against official vendor pages · How we review

TeraBox offers the most free space at 1 TB, while Google gives 15 GB, OneDrive and iCloud give 5 GB, and Dropbox Basic gives 2 GB. Bigger free plans come with trade-offs in ads, speed and privacy.

Illustration of cloud storage syncing files from a laptop, a phone and a folder, with a lock for privacy

Key takeaways

  • TeraBox gives the most free space: 1 TB.
  • Google gives 15 GB shared across Gmail, Drive and Photos; OneDrive and iCloud give 5 GB; Dropbox 2 GB.
  • Big free plans come with ads and slower downloads; keep sensitive files elsewhere.
  • Follow the 3-2-1 rule: never rely on one free service as your only backup.

TeraBox · Most free storage

Free 1 TB · Premium from $2.99/mo (US App Store)

Get 1 TB free on TeraBox

Quick answer

Quick answer

For the largest free space, TeraBox gives 1 TB. For everyday documents and phone photos with tight app integration, Google Drive (15 GB), OneDrive (5 GB) or iCloud (5 GB) fit best depending on your devices. Dropbox Basic (2 GB) is small but simple for sharing files.

Our pick at a glance

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Free plans side by side

ServiceFree storageCompanyNotes on the free plan
TeraBox1 TB (1,024 GB)Flextech Inc.Ads; single-file upload cap reported at 4 GB; video playback compressed on free
Google DriveUp to 15 GBGoogleShared across Gmail, Drive and Google Photos
Microsoft OneDrive5 GBMicrosoftBuilt into Windows and Microsoft 365 apps
iCloud5 GBAppleUsed for iPhone backups and Photos
Dropbox Basic2 GBDropboxSimple sharing and sync

Reference · checked November 14, 2026. Free tiers change over time; confirm on each provider’s site.

TeraBox: what to know before you upload

TeraBox is published on the App Store by FLEXTECH INC. and advertises 1,024 GB of free storage. Its paid Premium plans showed several monthly in-app prices between $2.99 and $4.99 on the US App Store when we checked. The independent site Cloudwards reported these free-plan limits in its review:

  • Ads on web and mobile, including video ads in the app.
  • A 4 GB maximum file size for uploads.
  • Video playback compressed to 480p.
  • Much slower downloads than Premium in its 5 GB test.
  • No zero-knowledge (end-to-end) encryption.

Good fit: storing large, non-sensitive archives such as old photos, videos and installers you already own. Not ideal for confidential documents. Read our full TeraBox review.

Which free plan should you choose?

  • Android and Gmail users: Google Drive, since the 15 GB is already in your Google account.
  • iPhone users: iCloud for device backups; add another service for large files.
  • Windows and Office users: OneDrive.
  • Huge photo or video archives on a budget: TeraBox, with a second copy elsewhere.
  • Sharing a few files with clients: Dropbox Basic or Google Drive.

Keep your files safe: the 3-2-1 rule

Keep 3 copies of important files, on 2 different types of storage (for example a laptop and an external drive), with 1 copy off-site (a cloud service). A free cloud plan works well as that off-site copy, but don’t rely on any single free service as your only backup.

Traveling soon? Back up your phone before you leave and read our travel eSIM guide to stay connected abroad.

Privacy checklist

  1. Turn on two-factor authentication.
  2. Don’t store passwords, IDs or financial documents in services without strong encryption.
  3. Check where the company is based and read its privacy policy.
  4. Review shared links regularly and remove old ones.

Need more free space today?

TeraBox gives you 1 TB free, with apps for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.

Get 1 TB free on TeraBox

Frequently asked questions

Which service gives the most free cloud storage?

Among major services, TeraBox offers the most, at 1 TB (1,024 GB) free, compared with 15 GB for Google, 5 GB for OneDrive and iCloud, and 2 GB for Dropbox Basic.

Is TeraBox safe to use?

TeraBox is a legitimate app from Flextech Inc., but independent reviewers note it lacks zero-knowledge encryption and shows ads on the free plan. Use it for non-sensitive files and keep another backup.

Is Google’s 15 GB only for Google Drive?

No. Google’s free storage is shared across Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos.

Can a free cloud plan replace a backup?

It can be your off-site copy, but follow the 3-2-1 rule: three copies, two storage types, one off-site.

Sources checked

General information, not professional advice. Plans, prices and features change: confirm them on the vendor’s official site before you buy. Affiliate disclosure · How we review

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