Best Cloud Storage and File Sharing for 2026: 11 tools compared for buyers
Finding the best cloud storage for business means weighing how your people share files, how sensitive those files are and which office suite they already use. This page compares eleven providers, from the big suite vendors to encrypted and self-hosted options, and gives a first pick for each situation. It is meant for IT managers, office leads and procurement staff who need a shared home for company documents, client folders and project files.
Each provider is compared on fit for the team, storage and sync behavior, sharing and permission controls, ease of use and how clearly pricing is published. Alongside that, every listing shows what the vendor says about encryption, compliance, admin controls and contract terms, so security questions come up before the trial, not after.
Our shortlist at a glance
- Best for IT-led regulated teams
TresoritTresorit offers zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption, ISO 27001:2022 and HIPAA with a BAA, and Okta or Azure AD provisioning at higher tiers, which suits IT teams in legal and finance.
Contact sales (prices not shown on pricing page) - Best for choosing EU or US storage
pCloudpCloud lets buyers pick EU or US data storage, adds client-side encryption on business plans, and offers version restore up to 180 days for teams starting from three users.
9.99 EUR per user per month (Business, 3 users minimum) - Best for Microsoft 365 and Entra ID shops
Microsoft OneDriveOneDrive is sold standalone or bundled with Microsoft 365 plans, so organizations already on Microsoft 365 and Entra ID can add file storage without a new identity setup.
$5 per user/month (OneDrive for Business Plan 1, annual commitment; third-party price, not confirmed on microsoft.com) - Best for governance and ransomware detection
EgnyteEgnyte targets mid-size firms that want governance, with Microsoft 365 co-editing, data classification on Ultimate and customer-managed encryption keys on the top tier.
$22 per user/month billed annually (Business) - Best for Zoho-based teams
Zoho WorkDriveZoho WorkDrive pools team storage, includes Zoho Writer and Sheet for editing, and keeps unlimited version history, which fits teams that already run Zoho apps.
Contact sales (USD prices not retrievable); third parties list 2.50 USD per user per month annual - Best for small healthcare and legal teams
Sync.comSync.com provides end-to-end encryption, HIPAA, PIPEDA and GDPR support and 1 TB or more per user, with role-based access from the 2 TB plan.
$4.50 per user per month, billed annually (Teams 1TB, 3 user minimum)
What is cloud storage and file sharing?
Cloud storage for business keeps a company's files on remote servers, so staff can open, sync and share them from a laptop, browser or phone. Unlike a personal account, a business plan gives IT a central admin console, folder-level permissions, audit trails and longer version history. Day to day, a designer shares a large file with a client, an accountant restores last week's version and a manager sets who may open a project folder. The defining capabilities are file sync, controlled sharing links, shared team folders, recovery of old versions, encryption and compliance support.
Cloud Storage and File Sharing side by side
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan or trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tresorit | Best for IT-led regulated teams. | Contact sales (prices not shown on pricing page) | Free trial |
| pCloud | Best for choosing EU or US storage. | 9.99 EUR per user per month (Business, 3 users minimum) | Free plan, Free trial |
| Microsoft OneDrive | Best for Microsoft 365 and Entra ID shops. | $5 per user/month (OneDrive for Business Plan 1, annual commitment; third-party price, not confirmed on microsoft.com) | No |
| Egnyte | Best for governance and ransomware detection. | $22 per user/month billed annually (Business) | Free trial |
| Zoho WorkDrive | Best for Zoho-based teams. | Contact sales (USD prices not retrievable); third parties list 2.50 USD per user per month annual | Free plan, Free trial |
| Sync.com | Best for small healthcare and legal teams. | $4.50 per user per month, billed annually (Teams 1TB, 3 user minimum) | Free trial |
 Dropbox Business | Small teams (Standard is available from 1 user) wanting simple sync and sharing. | 12 per user/month (Standard; shown in EUR on the vendor site, no USD price published) | Free trial |
 Box | Regulated organizations needing FedRAMP Moderate or HIPAA (Enterprise tier) | From $5 per user/month (headline); Individual plan free | Free plan |
 ShareFile | Accounting and financial firms needing HIPAA or SEC+FINRA-eligible sharing (Premium and up) | $16.50 per user/month (Advanced) | Free trial |
 Nextcloud | Public sector and EU organizations that need on-premises control. | 71.29 EUR per user per year (Standard, 100 users minimum) | Free plan |
 Google Drive | Teams already on Google Workspace email and Docs. | 6.80 EUR per user/month annual (Starter); shown in EUR on the vendor site, no USD price published | No |
Prices as published by each vendor on October 24, 2026. "Contact sales" means the vendor publishes no price.
The 11 cloud storage and file sharing tools in detail
Best for IT-led regulated teams
Tresorit
End-to-end encrypted, zero-knowledge file sync and sharing owned by Swiss Post, sold per user with SSO from the Business plan.
Legal, finance and healthcare teams that need zero-knowledge encryption belong here. Swiss Post owns it, and the vendor cites ISO 27001:2022 and a HIPAA BAA. Prices stay off the public page, so request a quote, and note there is no built-in office suite.
- Best for
- Regulated teams (HIPAA, legal, finance) that need zero-knowledge encryption.
- Company size
- SMB to enterprise (Enterprise reportedly from 30 users)
Key features
- Storage per user and limits
- 2 TB per user on Business (from 6 TB for 3 users); 4 TB Professional.
- Sharing and permission controls
- Encrypted links and data rooms (Engage product)
- Security and encryption
- Client-side end-to-end encryption, zero-knowledge, RSA-4096 key sharing.
- Compliance certifications
- ISO 27001:2022 (TUV Rheinland audited), HIPAA with BAA; GDPR and CCPA supported.
Pros
- Strong zero-knowledge encryption model.
Cons
- Prices hidden on public page.
Pricing: Contact sales (prices not shown on pricing page) · Free trial
Best for choosing EU or US storage
pCloud
Swiss-registered cloud drive with EU or US storage choice, selling business seats from 3 users and encryption as a plan feature.
Small teams that want to choose between EU and US data location should check this Swiss-registered service, with business seats sold from three users. A virtual drive keeps files off local disks. Do not rely on optional encryption alone given the 2024 ETH Zurich findings, and note SSO is undocumented.
- Best for
- Small teams wanting a virtual drive and client-side encryption.
- Company size
- Small teams and SMB.
Key features
- Storage per user and limits
- Pooled: 3 TB for 3 users on Business (about 1 TB per user), 6 TB on Business Pro.
- Desktop sync quality
- Virtual drive (P:) saves local disk space; unlimited file size uploads.
- Sharing and permission controls
- Access levels, teams, shared folders, branded share links, password and expiry on links.
- Real-time collaboration and editing
- PDocs real-time editing and file comments.
Pros
- Low per-user price with EU data center option.
Cons
- Optional encryption broken by academic attack, vendor reportedly did not respond (Oct 2024)
Pricing: 9.99 EUR per user per month (Business, 3 users minimum) · Free plan, Free trial
Best for Microsoft 365 and Entra ID shops
Microsoft OneDrive
Microsoft's business file storage, sold standalone or bundled with Microsoft 365 plans.
Organizations that already manage staff in Entra ID and run Microsoft 365 will find this the simplest rollout, as it can be bought alone or inside a Microsoft 365 plan. Teams outside the Microsoft ecosystem gain little. Confirm current Plan 1 pricing on microsoft.com, since the $5 figure is third-party.
- Best for
- Organizations already on Microsoft 365 and Entra ID.
Best for
- Organizations already on Microsoft 365 and Entra ID.
Not ideal for
- Teams outside the Microsoft ecosystem.
Pricing: $5 per user/month (OneDrive for Business Plan 1, annual commitment; third-party price, not confirmed on microsoft.com)
Best for governance and ransomware detection
Egnyte
Business content platform for file sharing and governance with AI features, sold in four tiers.
Mid-size companies that care more about governance and ransomware detection than raw storage should demo it. Business costs $22 per user monthly on annual billing. Customer-managed keys are limited to Ultimate, and data classification also sits on the top tier.
- Best for
- Mid-size firms wanting governance and ransomware detection on file storage.
Key features
- Sharing and permission controls
- Discretionary permissions (Business)
- Real-time collaboration and editing
- Microsoft 365 co-editing and Google Workspace integration (Business)
- Security and encryption
- Customer-managed encryption keys only on Ultimate.
- Compliance certifications
- Document and sensitive data classification on Ultimate.
Best for
- Mid-size firms wanting governance and ransomware detection on file storage.
Not ideal for
- Very small teams on a tight budget: entry price is $22 per user/month.
Pricing: $22 per user/month billed annually (Business) · Free trial
Best for Zoho-based teams
Zoho WorkDrive
Team file storage from Zoho with pooled team storage, 3 user minimum and a built-in office suite.
A budget-friendly option for teams on Zoho Workplace, with pooled storage and a three user minimum. Desktop sync works offline, and version history is unlimited. Ask Zoho about SSO and SOC 2 before committing, because the product page does not document either.
- Best for
- Teams already on Zoho Workplace or Zoho apps.
- Company size
- SMB; Enterprise above 200 users.
Key features
- Storage per user and limits
- Pooled team storage: 1/3/5 TB for 3-10 users, plus 100/300/500 GB per added user.
- Desktop sync quality
- Desktop sync with offline edit, TrueSync, Genie native editing.
- Sharing and permission controls
- Subfolder roles, external links with expiry and permissions.
- Real-time collaboration and editing
- Zoho Writer and Sheet, check-in/check-out, comments.
Best for
- Teams already on Zoho Workplace or Zoho apps.
- Cost-sensitive teams wanting pooled storage.
Not ideal for
- Teams needing documented SSO or SOC 2 on the WorkDrive page.
Pricing: Contact sales (USD prices not retrievable); third parties list 2.50 USD per user per month annual · Free plan, Free trial
Best for small healthcare and legal teams
Sync.com
Zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage with Canadian roots and per-user team plans starting at 3 users.
Sync.com is zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage with Canadian roots and team plans starting at three users. It stands out for end-to-end encryption, ransomware rollback and compliance support for HIPAA, PIPEDA and GDPR.
- Best for
- Small teams that want zero-knowledge encryption at a low per-user price.
- Company size
- Small teams up to 100 users; Enterprise tier for 100+.
Key features
- Storage per user and limits
- 1 TB, 2 TB or 10 TB per user depending on plan; unlimited data transfer.
- Desktop sync quality
- Desktop apps for Windows, macOS, Linux; Sync CloudFiles frees local disk space.
- Sharing and permission controls
- Password-protected links with expiry; team folders with read-only/read-write; RBAC from the 2TB plan.
- Real-time collaboration and editing
- Preview and edit via Microsoft Office 365 integration; no native co-editing suite listed.
Pros
- Zero-knowledge encryption at a low per-user price.
Cons
- No documented SSO or SCIM.
Pricing: $4.50 per user per month, billed annually (Teams 1TB, 3 user minimum) · Free trial
Dropbox Business
Team file sync and sharing with pooled team storage, tiered by restore window and transfer size.
Small teams can begin with Standard even as a single user, then step up to Advanced (three seats minimum) for SSO and end-to-end encryption. Storage is pooled across the team rather than assigned per person. Confirm SCIM and audit-log coverage, which public pages leave open.
- Best for
- Small teams (Standard is available from 1 user) wanting simple sync and sharing.
- Company size
- Small to enterprise.
Key features
- Storage per user and limits
- 3 TB (Standard) or 15 TB (Advanced) starting team pool; Enterprise custom.
- Sharing and permission controls
- Team folders, sharing and admin controls.
- Security and encryption
- End-to-end encryption and advanced key management listed on Advanced.
- Compliance certifications
- Compliance tracking listed on Advanced.
Best for
- Small teams (Standard is available from 1 user) wanting simple sync and sharing.
- Teams needing SSO and E2E encryption on a mid-priced plan (Advanced, 3 seats min)
Not ideal for
- Teams needing per-user storage quotas (storage is pooled per team)
- Buyers needing SCIM or a published audit-log plan matrix: not confirmed on public pages.
Pricing: 12 per user/month (Standard; shown in EUR on the vendor site, no USD price published) · Free trial
Box
Enterprise content cloud with unlimited storage on business plans and escalating file size, version and AI limits by tier.
Regulated organizations needing FedRAMP Moderate or HIPAA must go to the Enterprise tier. Every business plan needs three users minimum, and unlimited storage starts at Business. Version limits climb with tier (25, 50, 100, unlimited), and 1,500+ integrations may decide it.
- Best for
- Regulated organizations needing FedRAMP Moderate or HIPAA (Enterprise tier)
- Company size
- SMB to enterprise.
Key features
- Storage per user and limits
- 100 GB on Business Starter; unlimited on Business and up.
- Sharing and permission controls
- Shared-link bandwidth limit 2 TB per user per month on Business plans.
- Security and encryption
- Advanced security (classification, threat detection) from Enterprise.
- Compliance certifications
- FedRAMP Moderate and HIPAA on Enterprise; SOC 1/2/3 support on Business.
Best for
- Regulated organizations needing FedRAMP Moderate or HIPAA (Enterprise tier)
- Teams needing unlimited storage with large file uploads.
Not ideal for
- Very small teams: all business plans need 3 users minimum.
- Buyers wanting public prices above entry tiers (Enterprise Plus shown only on annual toggle)
Pricing: From $5 per user/month (headline); Individual plan free · Free plan
ShareFile
Secure client file sharing and document workflow tool with e-signature, aimed at professional services firms.
Accounting and financial firms that exchange documents with many outside clients should look at it, since client users are unlimited. HIPAA and SEC plus FINRA eligibility starts at Premium, as does e-signature. A license minimum of three rules out single users.
- Best for
- Accounting and financial firms needing HIPAA or SEC+FINRA-eligible sharing (Premium and up)
- Company size
- SMB to mid-market.
Key features
- Storage per user and limits
- 3 TB account storage, 1 TB aggregated per license; 3 TB packs addable.
- Sharing and permission controls
- View-only restrictions, file drop links, dynamic watermarking (Premium)
- Real-time collaboration and editing
- Co-editing and check-in/out on Advanced; e-signature on Premium.
- Security and encryption
- Encrypted storage and sharing, MFA; SIEM, DLP, UEBA on Enterprise.
Best for
- Accounting and financial firms needing HIPAA or SEC+FINRA-eligible sharing (Premium and up)
- Teams with many external clients (client users unlimited on all plans)
Not ideal for
- Single users: 3 license minimum on all but VDR (5)
- Teams wanting a general-purpose team drive.
Pricing: $16.50 per user/month (Advanced) · Free trial
Nextcloud
Open-source (AGPL) self-hosted file sync and collaboration platform, sold as per-user enterprise subscriptions from 100 users.
IT teams of 100 or more users, especially in public-sector and EU organizations, can keep data on their own servers with vendor-backed support. Subscriptions are per user per year. Budget admin time for running it, and check how external storage like S3 or SMB fits.
- Best for
- Public sector and EU organizations that need on-premises control.
- Company size
- Organizations of 100+ users, public sector.
Key features
- Storage per user and limits
- Set by your own infrastructure; external storage via S3, SFTP, SMB, NFS.
- Desktop sync quality
- Desktop clients for Windows, macOS, Linux; mobile for Android, iOS.
- Sharing and permission controls
- Link expiry, passwords, one-time passwords, file drop, file requests.
- Real-time collaboration and editing
- Nextcloud Office, Collabora Online, Microsoft Office Online Server; file locking.
Pros
- Open source with full data control.
Cons
- Requires admin effort to run; 2026 OnlyOffice partnership suspended.
Pricing: 71.29 EUR per user per year (Standard, 100 users minimum) · Free plan
Google Drive
Google's file storage inside Google Workspace, sold as pooled storage per user across Workspace plans.
Teams that already run email and Docs on Google Workspace get storage with no extra vendor. Starter, Standard and Plus pool 30 GB, 2 TB and 5 TB per user. Plans stop at 300 users, after which Enterprise is required, and prices are listed in euros.
- Best for
- Teams already on Google Workspace email and Docs.
- Company size
- Small business to enterprise.
Key features
- Storage per user and limits
- 30 GB (Starter), 2 TB (Standard), 5 TB (Plus) pooled per user.
- Desktop sync quality
- Drive for desktop on every plan.
- Security and encryption
- 2-step verification and Advanced Protection Program on all plans; S/MIME, DLP, context-aware access on Enterprise.
- Compliance certifications
- Enterprise data regions on Enterprise.
Best for
- Teams already on Google Workspace email and Docs.
- Small organizations (plans up to 300 users) wanting low per-user cost.
Not ideal for
- Teams wanting Drive without the rest of Workspace.
- Organizations above 300 users on Starter, Standard or Plus (must move to Enterprise)
Pricing: 6.80 EUR per user/month annual (Starter); shown in EUR on the vendor site, no USD price published
What to look for in cloud storage and file sharing
Begin with the work your team actually does with files. Some teams need quick sync across laptops, others share large files with clients, and others must prove where data lives and who can open it. The criteria below show what each capability means in practice and what to test in a trial. Narrow the field to two or three providers, then try each with a real project folder, a real client share and a real restore.
Storage per user and limits
Capacity is sold in different ways: a fixed quota per user, a pooled team total or unlimited space with caps on file size or bandwidth. Pooled storage helps when a few people hold most of the data, while per-user quotas keep spending predictable. Add up your current data plus a year of growth, and ask about upload size limits.
- Tresorit: 2 TB per user on Business (from 6 TB for 3 users); 4 TB Professional.
- pCloud: Pooled: 3 TB for 3 users on Business (about 1 TB per user), 6 TB on Business Pro.
- Zoho WorkDrive: Pooled team storage: 1/3/5 TB for 3-10 users, plus 100/300/500 GB per added user.
- Sync.com: 1 TB, 2 TB or 10 TB per user depending on plan; unlimited data transfer.
- Dropbox Business: 3 TB (Standard) or 15 TB (Advanced) starting team pool; Enterprise custom.
Desktop sync quality
Sync is what staff notice every day. Good tools keep large folders current without freezing laptops, allow selective sync so people choose which folders live offline, and handle big files cleanly. Virtual drives and on-demand files save local disk space. Test with your largest project folder on a typical office connection.
- pCloud: Virtual drive (P:) saves local disk space; unlimited file size uploads.
- Zoho WorkDrive: Desktop sync with offline edit, TrueSync, Genie native editing.
- Sync.com: Desktop apps for Windows, macOS, Linux; Sync CloudFiles frees local disk space.
- Nextcloud: Desktop clients for Windows, macOS, Linux; mobile for Android, iOS.
- Google Drive: Drive for desktop on every plan.
Sharing and permission controls
Sharing controls decide how safely files leave the building. Look for folder-level roles, password-protected links, link expiry, view-only modes and file drop links for receiving documents. Strong tools let admins restrict external sharing by policy. Check who can create public links and whether you can revoke them all at once.
- Tresorit: Encrypted links and data rooms (Engage product)
- pCloud: Access levels, teams, shared folders, branded share links, password and expiry on links.
- Egnyte: Discretionary permissions (Business)
- Zoho WorkDrive: Subfolder roles, external links with expiry and permissions.
- Sync.com: Password-protected links with expiry; team folders with read-only/read-write; RBAC from the 2TB plan.
Real-time collaboration and editing
Collaboration features cut the number of conflicting file copies. Native editing, comments and file locking let several people work without overwriting each other. Some providers include an office suite, while others rely on Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. Open one shared document with two users to see how editing really works.
- pCloud: PDocs real-time editing and file comments.
- Egnyte: Microsoft 365 co-editing and Google Workspace integration (Business)
- Zoho WorkDrive: Zoho Writer and Sheet, check-in/check-out, comments.
- Sync.com: Preview and edit via Microsoft Office 365 integration; no native co-editing suite listed.
- ShareFile: Co-editing and check-in/out on Advanced; e-signature on Premium.
Security and encryption
Encryption protects files in transit and at rest, but who holds the keys matters. Zero-knowledge or client-side designs keep the provider from reading your files, though they can limit search and previews. Also check two-factor authentication, SSO, device controls and key management. Ask what a lost password means for recovery.
- Tresorit: Client-side end-to-end encryption, zero-knowledge, RSA-4096 key sharing.
- pCloud: Client-side encryption described on Business page; Wikipedia says zero-knowledge encryption is a paid add-on for individuals.
- Egnyte: Customer-managed encryption keys only on Ultimate.
- Sync.com: End-to-end encryption and zero-knowledge authentication; enforceable 2FA from the 2TB plan.
- Dropbox Business: End-to-end encryption and advanced key management listed on Advanced.
Compliance certifications
Regulated teams need proof, not promises. Look for named certifications such as ISO 27001 or SOC 2, support for HIPAA with a signed BAA, GDPR terms and data region options. A statement that a tool is designed for a regulation is weaker than a certificate. Ask for audit reports and the data processing agreement.
- Tresorit: ISO 27001:2022 (TUV Rheinland audited), HIPAA with BAA; GDPR and CCPA supported.
- pCloud: GDPR, ISO 27001, ISO 9001 stated on business page.
- Egnyte: Document and sensitive data classification on Ultimate.
- Sync.com: SOC 2 Type 1 (pricing page), HIPAA, GDPR, PIPEDA.
- Dropbox Business: Compliance tracking listed on Advanced.
Version history and recovery
Version history and recovery limit the damage from deleted files, overwrites and ransomware. Compare how long versions are kept, how many are stored and whether an admin can roll back an entire folder. Windows range from 180 days to unlimited. Delete a test file and restore it before you commit.
- Tresorit: Unlimited on Enterprise per comparison table; other tiers unclear.
- pCloud: File version restore up to 180 days.
- Zoho WorkDrive: Unlimited version history; Business 120 days data recovery.
- Sync.com: 180 days (1TB) or 365 days (2TB and 10TB); ransomware rollback and deleted file recovery.
- Dropbox Business: 180 days Standard; 1 year Advanced and Enterprise.
Integrations
Storage rarely works alone. Connections to Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack, identity providers and e-signature tools keep files inside the workflow. Directory links such as Active Directory or Entra ID also ease user onboarding. List the five tools your team uses most and confirm each works with the provider.
- Zoho WorkDrive: Zoho suite; WordPress for Writer.
- Sync.com: Microsoft Office 365, Slack, Adobe shown on product page.
- Box: 1,500+ integrations (Business)
- ShareFile: Salesforce and QuickBooks (Premium)
- Nextcloud: Outlook, SharePoint, Teams, Active Directory, S3, SFTP, SMB, NFS.
Pricing model and transparency
Business storage is usually billed per user, often with a minimum of three seats, and some plans pool storage across the team. Annual billing is typically cheaper than monthly, and a few vendors only show prices after a sales call. Request a quote at your real user count and confirm what extra storage costs.
- Tresorit: Per user, 3 user minimum on Business, hidden prices.
- pCloud: Per user, 3 user minimum, monthly price pooled storage.
- Egnyte: Per user, annual.
- Zoho WorkDrive: Per user, 3 user minimum, pooled storage.
- Sync.com: Per user, 3 user minimum, 25% cheaper on annual billing.
Target company size
Some providers serve solo users and small teams, while others assume an IT department and hundreds of seats. Minimum seat counts and user caps show who a plan is really for. Self-hosted options need admin capacity. Match each vendor's stated audience to your headcount and to who will run it.
- Tresorit: SMB to enterprise (Enterprise reportedly from 30 users)
- pCloud: Small teams and SMB.
- Zoho WorkDrive: SMB; Enterprise above 200 users.
- Sync.com: Small teams up to 100 users; Enterprise tier for 100+.
- Dropbox Business: Small to enterprise.
Buying cloud storage and file sharing: security, admin and vendor checks
Once a tool fits the team, the purchase depends on what the vendor commits to in writing: single sign-on, user provisioning, audit logs, where data lives and the contract. The checks below use each vendor's public pages, so a blank means "ask", not "no".
- Try before you buy
- 9 of 11
- Publish SAML SSO
- 2 of 11
- Publish SCIM provisioning
- 1 of 11
- Publish a DPA
- 0 of 11
5 free trials, 4 free plans
ShareFile and Nextcloud
ShareFile
request it before signing
Must-haves and what each vendor publishes
A blank is not a no, but it is work for your security review. Nextcloud publishes the most (1 of 5); Box, Egnyte and Microsoft OneDrive publish none of these controls, so every question goes to their sales team. Tick what your team requires; vendors that drop out show why.
All 11 vendors shown. Tick a must-have to filter. ● published with the plan, ◐ mentioned without plan or details, ○ not on the vendor's public pages.
| Vendor | SAML SSO | SCIM | Audit logs | Data residency | DPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nextcloud1 of 5 published | ● PublishedAll Enterprise tiers (SAML) | ○ Not published | ◐ Mentioned | ◐ MentionedSelf-hosted, so you choose | ○ Not published |
| ShareFile2 of 5 published | ● PublishedAll plans | ● PublishedEnterprise | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published |
| Tresorit0 of 5 published | ◐ MentionedBusiness and up (page lists Okta, Azure AD, Google Workspace) | ◐ Mentioned | ◐ Mentioned | ◐ MentionedResidency options on Business, per-user options on Business… | ○ Not published |
| pCloud1 of 5 published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ◐ Mentioned | ● PublishedEU (Luxembourg) or US (Texas) | ○ Not published |
| Sync.com1 of 5 published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ● PublishedTeams 1TB | ◐ MentionedCompliance page claims Canadian data residency built in… | ○ Not published |
| Google Drive1 of 5 published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ● PublishedEnterprise data regions on Enterprise | ○ Not published |
| Dropbox Business0 of 5 published | ◐ MentionedAdvanced and up (listed on Advanced) | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published |
| Zoho WorkDrive0 of 5 published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ◐ Mentioned | ○ Not published | ○ Not published |
| Box0 of 5 published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published |
| Egnyte0 of 5 published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published |
| Microsoft OneDrive0 of 5 published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published |
What drives a cloud storage and file sharing quote
7 of 11 vendors publish no usable price, so a shortlist starts with knowing what each one charges for. The most common basis here is "per user or seat" (11 vendors).
- 11Per user or seatTresorit, pCloud, Microsoft OneDrive, Egnyte, Zoho WorkDrive, Sync.com, Dropbox Business, Box, ShareFile, Nextcloud and Google DriveAsk: Who counts as a user: admins only, or everyone who approves or views?
| Tool | Pricing basis | As the vendor describes it | Contract terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tresorit | Per user or seat | Per user. | 14-day free trial; Enterprise billed annually. |
| pCloud | Per user or seat | Per user. | 30-day free trial, 14-day money-back, cancel any time. |
| Microsoft OneDrive | Per user or seat | Per user. | Not published |
| Egnyte | Per user or seat | Per user. | Annual; multi-year discount. |
| Zoho WorkDrive | Per user or seat | Per user. | 15 day trial, no card. |
| Sync.com | Per user or seat | Per user. | Monthly plan available; upgrades pro-rated; no setup fees. |
| Dropbox Business | Per user or seat | Per user, pooled team storage. | Free trial; monthly or yearly billing. |
| Box | Per user or seat | Per user. | 3 seat minimum. |
| ShareFile | Per user or seat | Per user. | Monthly or annual; multi-year through sales. |
| Nextcloud | Per user or seat | Per user. | Annual subscription. |
| Google Drive | Per user or seat | Per user, pooled storage, bundled in Workspace. | Not published |
How to evaluate cloud storage vendors: ten criteria for your shortlist
A fair evaluation separates what a vendor publishes from what you must verify in a trial or sales call. The ten criteria below cover capacity, sync behavior, sharing controls, security, compliance, recovery and fit. For each one, run a concrete test or ask a specific question, and write down the answer. Several vendors in this category do not document SSO or SCIM publicly, so confirmation in writing matters more than a feature checkbox on a marketing page.
Storage per user and limits
Ask whether storage is pooled or assigned per user and what the maximum file size is. In a trial, upload your largest real files and check that nothing is rejected. Confirm what happens when the pool is full, and whether added storage packs are purchasable mid-term.
Desktop sync quality
Install the desktop client on the machines your team actually uses and sync a large, realistic folder. Check selective sync, behavior on a flaky connection and how conflicts are shown to users. Ask the vendor how the client handles very large files and what the support path is when sync fails.
Sharing and permission controls
Create a test external share and check whether you can set link expiry, a password and view-only access. Then test folder-level roles with a user who should not see a sensitive folder. Ask where these controls are available by plan, because the finest controls may not be on the entry tier.
Real-time collaboration and editing
Have two people edit the same document at once and check how comments, version conflicts and offline edits behave. Find out whether editing is native or relies on a Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace connection, since that affects licensing. Ask which file types can be co-edited without leaving the tool.
Security and encryption
Ask whether encryption at rest is standard, whether a zero-knowledge or end-to-end option exists, and which plan includes it. Check 2FA enforcement and SSO support, and request the vendor's current security documentation. Note that pCloud's optional encryption has been the subject of 2024 ETH Zurich research, so ask how the vendor addressed it before relying on that feature.
Compliance certifications
Request the exact certifications and attestations you need, such as SOC 2, HIPAA support or GDPR terms, and ask which plan they apply to. Ask for a data processing agreement and the data location options. A claim on a marketing page is not a substitute for a document your legal team can review.
Version history and recovery
Ask how long version history is kept and whether ransomware rollback is available on your plan. Test by deleting and modifying files, then restoring them as an admin. Confirm who can perform a restore and how long recovery takes at scale.
Integrations
List the tools your team uses, such as Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack and e-signature, and verify each integration in a trial. Check whether any are paid add-ons, for example an eSign module. Ask about API access and how provisioning works with Okta or Azure AD if you use them.
Pricing model and transparency
Request a written quote that lists seats, minimums, storage, add-ons and renewal terms. Several tools here show a three-user minimum, and some publish no price at all. Ask what changes at renewal and whether monthly billing is allowed or only annual contracts.
Target company size
Check whether the vendor serves companies of your size and ask for a customer reference at a similar scale. Nextcloud lists a 100-user minimum for Standard, and Google Drive plans end at 300 users before Enterprise is required. A tool built for solo users or for large IT teams may be a poor fit in either direction.
Questions to ask cloud storage vendors
Public pages for cloud storage products tell you the headline plan and a feature list, but the details that create risk usually sit in documents and contract terms. Use these questions in a sales call or security review, and ask for the answers in writing. They are chosen because the tools in this list differ clearly on SSO, compliance and contract terms.
Which plan includes SSO, SCIM and audit logs?
Several vendors here list SSO only on upper tiers, and some do not document it at all. Dropbox Business lists SSO on Advanced, and ShareFile lists it on all plans. Ask for the plan matrix in writing, including SCIM provisioning and audit log access.
Where is our data stored and can we choose the region?
pCloud lets buyers pick EU or US storage, and Nextcloud supports on-premises control. Ask where files and backups are held and whether you can pin a region. Data location affects GDPR obligations and client contracts.
Which compliance documents can you share before we sign?
Ask for current SOC 2 reports, HIPAA terms and a data processing agreement. Not every vendor documents these on its pricing page. Your legal team needs the actual documents, not a badge.
What is the minimum seat count and term?
Box and ShareFile list a three-seat minimum, and Nextcloud lists 100 users for Standard. Contract length also varies from monthly to annual to multi-year. Confirm the minimum, the term and what happens if you reduce seats.
How does version history and recovery work in an incident?
Ask for retention length, ransomware rollback behavior and who can restore. Test a restore in the trial. Recovery capability decides whether an incident is an inconvenience or a loss.
What happens to our data if we leave?
Ask how exports work, how long data stays after cancellation and how deletion is confirmed. This matters most for client data and regulated records. A clear exit path should be part of the contract.
How to run the decision
Run the decision as a short, structured evaluation. Define the data you must protect, shortlist three or four vendors, and test sync, sharing and recovery with real files. Send each vendor the same written questions on SSO, compliance and contract terms, collect answers in writing, and have security and legal review them before anyone signs.
Our recommendation
Choose the provider that fits your office suite, your sensitivity level and your team size first, then compare prices at your real seat count. Suite users can start with their existing vendor, while regulated teams should shortlist encrypted or certified options. Run a trial with a real folder and a restore test, bring IT in early, and get compliance documents and renewal terms in writing before you sign.
Cloud Storage and File Sharing: frequently asked questions
What is cloud storage for business?
Think of it as a shared company drive hosted on someone else's servers, reachable from any device for syncing, sharing and co-editing. Versus a personal account, you get admin controls, permissions, audit logs and extra capacity. Backup is a different product, built for recovery after data loss.
What is the best cloud storage for small business?
It depends on your setup. Google Drive suits teams on Google Workspace, OneDrive suits Microsoft 365 teams, and Dropbox Business starts at one user on Standard. Sync.com and pCloud offer encrypted options for small teams starting at three users.
Is there free cloud storage for business?
Some providers list free tiers or trials. Box offers a free Individual plan, pCloud and Zoho WorkDrive list free options, and Nextcloud's software is open source. Business features such as admin controls usually need a paid plan, so test a trial before you decide.
What features should business cloud storage have?
Look for reliable sync, folder permissions, expiring and password-protected links, version recovery, two-factor authentication and an admin console. Regulated teams should add encryption options and named compliance certifications. Integrations with your office suite and identity provider also matter.
Can cloud storage meet HIPAA or SOC 2 requirements?
Some can. Tresorit lists HIPAA with a BAA, Box lists HIPAA and FedRAMP Moderate on Enterprise, and Sync.com lists HIPAA and SOC 2 Type 1. Always ask for the signed agreement and the audit report, not just a marketing claim.
Which cloud storage and file sharing include SSO below the enterprise plan?
Tresorit (Business and up (page lists Okta, Azure AD, Google Workspace)); Dropbox Business (Advanced and up (listed on Advanced)); Box (SSO integration listed in comparison; plan not confirmed); ShareFile (All plans). The other tools either reserve SAML SSO for their top tier or do not say on their public pages.