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What is the best cheap cloud storage?
The best cheap cloud storage depends on how much you need. For under 200 GB, iCloud+ and Microsoft 365 Basic start at about two to three dollars a month. For 2 TB or more, Filen, iCloud+ and Dropbox Plus cost around 50 to 60 dollars per terabyte per year, and pCloud’s lifetime plan becomes cheaper after a few years.
| Plan (Oct 2026) | Storage | Price | Approx. cost per TB per year | Encryption |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Filen Pro III | 2 TiB | €8.99/month | ≈ €49 | End-to-end |
| iCloud+ 2 TB | 2 TB | $9.99/month | ≈ $60 | End-to-end with ADP |
| Dropbox Plus | 2 TB | $9.99/month | ≈ $60 | Provider keys |
| Sync.com Solo | 5 TB | $28/month billed yearly (regular) | ≈ $67 | End-to-end |
| Koofr 5 TB | 5 TB | €35/month (yearly, incl. VAT) | ≈ €84 | Optional Vault |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | 1 TB | $99.99/year | $100 (includes Office) | Provider keys |
| pCloud Premium Plus lifetime | 2 TB | $499 once (sale price) | ≈ $50 over 5 years | Encryption folder add-on |
| IDrive Personal | 5 TB | $6.99/month, first year yearly | ≈ $17 first year | Optional private key |
Prices from providers’ own pages, checked October 16, 2026, in the currency shown. First-year discounts are marked; renewal prices can be higher. Cost per TB rounded.
How we compared cheap cloud storage
We ranked cheap plans by cost per terabyte at the regular renewal price, then adjusted for encryption, apps, limits and refund terms. A plan that is cheap for one year and doubles at renewal ranks below a plan with a fair steady price.
- Cost per TB per year at renewal, not intro price.
- Privacy: who holds the keys.
- Tier fit: whether the plan matches common needs without a big jump.
- Hidden costs: add-ons, taxes, bandwidth limits.
For the full pricing analysis, see our cloud storage pricing per TB guide.
Best cheap picks by size
Under 200 GB: Apple and Microsoft entry tiers
iCloud+ offers 50 GB for $0.99 and 200 GB for $2.99 a month. Microsoft 365 Basic gives 100 GB for $19.99 a year. Proton Drive Plus gives 200 GB end-to-end encrypted, for a higher price that buys privacy.
1–2 TB: Filen, iCloud+ and Dropbox
Filen’s 2 TiB plan is the cheapest private option we track. iCloud+ 2 TB is great value for Apple households, and Advanced Data Protection adds end-to-end encryption. Dropbox Plus is reliable but holds your keys.
5 TB and up: Sync.com, Koofr and IDrive
Sync.com Solo offers 5 TB with end-to-end encryption. IDrive is very cheap per TB in year one but built for backup more than daily sync. See our IDrive review and Sync.com review.
Pay once: pCloud lifetime
pCloud’s 2 TB lifetime plan breaks even against a $9.99 monthly plan in a little over four years. Read lifetime cloud storage before committing.
Watch for real discounts. We track deals that are worth taking, with check dates.
See current cloud storage dealsCheap vs private: the trade-off
The cheapest plans per terabyte are not always the most private. Filen and Sync.com prove you can get end-to-end encryption at low cost, but many budget plans keep the keys. Decide which files need privacy and pay for that level only where needed.
A cost-saving pattern we often recommend: use a cheap large plan for photos and media, and a smaller zero knowledge plan, or an encrypted vault, for sensitive documents. See encrypt files before uploading.
Hidden costs that make cheap plans expensive
- Intro prices that rise sharply at renewal.
- Paid add-ons for encryption or longer file history.
- Sales tax or VAT not shown in headline prices.
- Currency conversion for EU-priced plans.
We break these down in cloud storage subscription cost. For the overall ranking, see the best cloud storage services.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest cloud storage per TB?
On a regular price basis, plans around 2 TB from Filen, Apple and Dropbox cost roughly 50 to 60 dollars or euros per terabyte per year. Backup-focused services like IDrive can be cheaper in year one. Lifetime plans become cheapest if you keep them for many years.
Is cheap cloud storage safe?
Price does not decide safety. Some cheap services, such as Filen and Sync.com, offer end-to-end encryption. Safety depends on encryption model, account security, company track record and your own backups, not on what you pay.
Is 2 TB cheaper than 1 TB per terabyte?
Usually yes. Many providers price 2 TB plans only slightly above 1 TB plans, so the cost per terabyte drops a lot. If you expect to grow past 1 TB within a couple of years, the larger plan is often better value.
Are lifetime cloud storage plans cheaper?
Over long periods, often yes. A 2 TB lifetime plan at around 500 dollars pays for itself in four to five years compared with a 10-dollar monthly plan. The risk is the provider’s long-term future, so keep other backups.
Should I choose the cheapest plan for backups?
Choose the cheapest plan that keeps enough versions and lets you restore easily. A backup you cannot restore quickly is a poor saving. Test a full restore once, then judge whether the price is worth it.
Get the free privacy checklist. One page that shows you how to check who holds the keys to your files, which settings to change first, and how to keep a real backup.
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