By John Gargiulo, Supervising Librarian of Creative Technology
Have you heard people refer to backing up digital files to “the cloud”? Or the term “cloud backup” or “cloud-based storage”?
All of these phrases are ways of describing how files are saved to an offsite location that can be accessed remotely. Companies like Apple, Dropbox, Google, and Microsoft store these files for you at data centers and make them accessible to you through an internet connection.
Instead of saving files to just one device like your laptop, saving files using cloud-based storage allows you to access them on different devices and in different locations. For example, if you save your resume to a cloud storage app, you will be able to access the file on your laptop, your phone, or on a public library computer; all you need is the login information for your account and to be able to connect to the internet.
Common cloud storage services
Let’s review four commonly used cloud storage services and some things to know about each. While we are reviewing four of the most used services, we do not endorse any particular services and have included links below to explore additional cloud storage options.
Apple iCloud
- If you have an iPhone, you might already have an Apple iCloud account. Apple iCloud is a tool for accessing files remotely via cloud storage.
- iCloud provides 5 GB of storage for free, including files, photos, backups, and more.
- A variety of paid plans are available through iCloud+ for purchasing additional storage.
Dropbox
- Dropbox’s free basic plan includes 2 GB of storage.
- Multiple paid plans are available for extra storage, designed for users with larger storage needs.
- If you have a Gmail email account, you also have a Google Account that can be used for cloud storage. Google provides apps like Drive and Photos for accessing files remotely via cloud storage.
- Google offers 15 GB of storage for free for all Google Accounts. Files in Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos all count towards this total.
- Google One paid plans are available for users needing to store more than 15 GB of data.
Microsoft OneDrive
- Microsoft OneDrive provides cloud storage as well as web and mobile versions of commonly used Microsoft apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.
- OneDrive offers 5 GB of storage for free, including files and photos. Microsoft also specifies that they allow up to 5 GB of mailbox storage for emails.
- A selection of paid plans is available through Microsoft 365 for purchasing additional storage.
Additional cloud storage options
Curious about other cloud storage services? Check out the following online articles, which include an overview of additional cloud storage options and the pros and cons of each:
- CNET: Best Cloud Storage Software Options
- PC Mag: The Best Cloud Storage and File-Sharing Services for 2024
- TechRadar Pro: Best cloud storage of 2024
Explore more
Want to know more about using any of these services? Log in with your Oak Park library card to access the following tutorials on LinkedIn Learning:
Have a tech question?
About John
As the library’s Supervising Librarian of Creative Technology, John enjoys working with patrons to discover how we can demystify technology and shape it to help us with our different needs and aspirations. He is also a musician and loves making noise.
