Which cloud storage to choose for iPhone. What is iCloud on iPhone and how to use it? What data will be recovered

In this review, we will highlight several of the most popular “cloud for Android” applications. Which one to choose is up to you. Keep in mind - you won't notice much of a difference. Therefore, you should not count on super functionality.

Nowadays, cloud services are becoming increasingly popular among ordinary users. This is due to the fact that it is often necessary to store and retrieve information at the right time in the right place, and cloud servers provide just this. There are a huge number of clouds. They are all similar and perform approximately the same function - they store data.

Yandex Disk (Download)

Where would we be without our native Yandex! Sometimes it seems that no matter what application you choose, Yandex will always have an analogue. Yandex.Disk is an excellent Android cloud for storing information outside of your smartphone or other device. Very convenient, responsive interface and file downloading. Ability to share files, folders, documents via download links. This function is actually very convenient and does not require a lot of Internet traffic and phone resources. You simply send a link to these files, and the user who needs them simply downloads them by following the link.

Initially, you are given access to 10 GB of cloud storage, but you can expand it if necessary. Not for free, of course. In general, 10 GB is quite enough for the needs of the average user, why bother? Of the obvious disadvantages: when downloading more than 2 GB from the cloud, the application becomes very slow and freezes. The application does not have background loading, which makes Yandex.Disk useless for some users.

Google Drive (Download)

This application is pre-installed on almost all Android devices and is the default cloud storage. Therefore, 1 billion downloads does not surprise anyone. A distinctive feature is auto-syncing of photos into a specific Google Photos folder. It's actually very convenient. The application performs all the functions of a regular cloud storage, but does it quickly and efficiently. It downloads any files, of any size, does not generate errors and loads everything correctly. There is one caveat - frequent freezing and spontaneous cancellation of background loading. But, nevertheless, at least there is background loading, because it’s convenient. The latest update added document search. This is a huge plus; it was sorely lacking in previous versions. Another cool feature is scanning documents using the camera. Although it recognizes, of course, not perfectly. Helps out in situations where you need to quickly scan something and convert it into text. The amount of available cloud storage does not exceed 15 GB. They are quite enough for everyday use.

Among the disadvantages are rare but annoying crashes. They are associated with high resource consumption, especially for weak devices. Expanding storage capacity requires cash and a mandatory annual prepayment. If you need 1 TB, you will have to pay as much as 6,990 rubles per year.

Photo: Google Drive on Android

Degoo (Download)

Good cloud android, but the interface and intuitiveness lets you down. 100 GB storage. A lot of? Yes many. Using Degoo in normal mode, uploading photos and the occasional video, you will not fill this entire volume for a long time. Personally, we couldn't. An interesting feature is inviting friends. For each newbie you will receive +3 GB of free space. The application has enormous functionality. But, unfortunately, it requires improvement. The upload and download paths are very inconvenient and unclear. Some of the files (even though it says they were downloaded) cannot be found on the server.

File security is top notch - reliable data encryption methods are used, and the files themselves are duplicated as many as 3 times. Overall very good! As in most cases, you need to invest money to expand the capacity, but 100 GB is enough.

Photo: Degoo for Android

Photo: Degoo for Android

Cloud Mail ru (Download)

Convenient, fast, simple. Mail.ru made a simply amazing application. Almost perfect, add a built-in media player and file search - it will be just 11 out of 10! Yes, the search and player are implemented in Google Drive, but in our subjective opinion, the ease of use and use of this cloud is better than Google Drive. There are no unnecessary buttons or unclear terms, everything is simple and tasteful. Clicked - loaded - done. What else does? Supports background downloading and automatic synchronization of folders and files. In general, it does everything that an ordinary user needs. There are extremely rare lags with downloading files larger than 3 GB. For example, we noticed this when loading the film. But why do you need a movie in cloud storage?

It is possible to “share” (distribute) access to the disk to other users. Then there will be no need to send files at all. Just tell your friend the name of the document, he will find it and download it himself, without links or complications. It is possible to get more storage memory, again, for real money. But at a very reasonable price.

Photo: Cloud Mail ru
Photo: Cloud Mail ru
Photo: Cloud Mail ru

Dropbox (Download)

500 million downloads says a lot. If Google Drive were not a standard program installed by default on all Android phones, then Dropbox would probably become the most popular program for storing files in the cloud. The design is excellent, comfortable and correct. Everything is as it should be - fewer buttons, more interactivity. The functionality is huge, you can edit documents directly in the cloud.

The incomprehensible allocated volume of the cloud is disappointing. Some people have 5 GB, others 2 GB. How can this be explained and understood? We did not understand. It is possible to invite friends. For each new one you will receive 500 MB - not enough. The main disadvantage is the small amount of memory. But it never crashes or lags, all files are loaded in the right order. And the biggest plus is a very user-friendly interface.

Overall the application is very high quality and optimized. It is clear that the developers are working hard on the performance and functionality of Dropbox. Premium account only for cash in the amount of about 350 rubles. A little. To be honest, we see no reason NOT to buy. A decent Android cloud and it’s worth paying tribute to the developers. Especially if they increase the cloud to 100 GB - simply Top-1.

Photo: Dropbox for Android
Photo: Dropbox for Android
Photo: Dropbox for Android

G Cloud (Download)

An interesting, but too intrusive application. When you open the vault, you will immediately be told “Buy, buy, buy!” Lots of ads, banners, pop-ups that can only be removed after purchasing premium. And it’s not a fact that all advertising will go away. Too much of it is downright annoying. Apparently the developers decided to bring a little creativity and added the ability to expand the volume of the cloud by performing various tasks. Among these tasks: click here, do something 10 times, give 20 likes, etc. The idea is interesting and could bring the application to the very top, but... Excessive advertising. The application is stable and fast. All necessary information is shown interactively in pictures and graphs. Nothing special, just a good cloud with an interesting idea.

Photo: G Cloud for Android
Photo: G Cloud for Android
Photo: G Cloud for Android

MEGA (Download)

50 GB of free space in cloud storage, convenience and high data transfer speed - Mega boasts of this with all its might. The capabilities of the application are very high. You can choose an unlimited number of contacts to share your cloud with. Loading files is very fast, backup copies of files are created, and their images are stored in a cache. Search for files and folders is perfectly implemented. In addition, you can change the appearance of file icons. Auto-sync of contacts and photos from your device is supported. You can make a link from any file and send it to anyone, in general, just like in other cloud servers. There is a complete blocking of the application using a PIN code. It allows you to protect data copied to your Android cloud from unauthorized persons who take your phone in their hands. You never know what kind of information is stored there? There are opportunities to expand the volume, as elsewhere, for money. The premium package expands the cloud up to 4 TB, which is incredibly large.

Photo: MEGA cloud
Photo: MEGA cloud
Photo: MEGA cloud

CM Backup (Download)

A simple and convenient application that allows you to store files with a total volume of no more than 5 GB. Excellent backup functions based on a specific time and date - very convenient and fast. Ability to save call logs, contacts, SMS and calendar lists. Moreover, you can set your own backup schedule, for example once a month. There is an interactive game with which you can get additional space in the cloud. The game is similar to the game "rock, paper, scissors". You place a bet on one of the listed options, respectively, another user makes his own. The selection is completely random. The winner receives an additional amount of memory in the amount of the bet that must be made before the start of the game. The application is interesting and definitely deserves attention. To expand the volume to 1 TB you need to pay $6 per year.

Photo: CM Backup for Android
Photo: CM Backup for Android
Photo: CM Backup for Android

Dear readers! If you have any questions or comments on the topic of the article, please leave them below.

After reading these instructions, you will be able to understand the popular issue of transferring and saving photos to the cloud on an iPhone, additional settings for your phone, and choosing the data storage service that is most convenient for you.

Every year, the development of cloud storage for saving personal photos or documents is becoming more popular among iPhone users. This may be due to the small amount of memory on the device or, conversely, to the convenience that online data storage services offer us.

How does the cloud work on iPhone? Operating principle in general terms

The operating principle of cloud storage is based on streaming files to local Apple server storage.

When an iPhone user takes a new photo, records a video file, or works with bookmarks on the gadget, the built-in iOS monitoring system records and stores results about new or previously changed files in the device's internal cache. When you connect to Wi-Fi, you are automatically connected to iCloud cloud storage. iOS sends a command to the server about changed or new documents, and they are automatically uploaded to Apple's local storage.

The file, when uploaded from the iPhone to the cloud, is divided into equal parts and distributed across storage servers. Each document or photo has multiple backup copies, which allow you to store information in different places. In case of loss of data about the downloaded file or equipment malfunction, the backup copy will allow you to instantly obtain information about previously downloaded media content to the cloud.

When an iPhone user logs into the cloud storage and downloads the file he needs, it is automatically, through powerful computing equipment, put together and transferred through secure encryption to the owner’s phone.

What is the best cloud to choose for iPhone nowadays?

Indeed, many iPhone users often wonder where to store their photos and videos. How can you access them most quickly from any part of the planet where there is Internet.

The task of choosing cloud storage for your iPhone comes down to several competitors in this area. We will try to talk in more detail about the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

The evaluation of cloud storage services for iPhone will be based on the following criteria:

Ease of use

Functional

Price

iCloud, Apple's cloud storage service

iCloud is a powerful and high-tech cloud service that can keep your personal media files safe and secure from unauthorized persons. In addition to storing photos and data, it is capable of: tracking the location of your iPhone, computer or other phone; Quickly and remotely set up iPhone, calendar events and much more.

There is no point in talking about the ease of use of the iCloud service, which was specially developed by Apple for buyers and users of iPhone or iPad. It's quite simple.

When you purchase a new iPhone, you create an iCloud cloud account that is linked to one or more devices if you have several.

To access the cloud on your iPhone, you'll need to log in to your device's settings, and any previously saved photos or personal data, such as contacts, calendar entries, or notes, are automatically downloaded to your iPhone. This adds the maximum number of points to the ease of use of the iCloud service, because... You don't need to install additional software on your phone.

When registering for an Apple cloud storage account, the user is given 5 GB of free storage for their most important files on the iPhone cloud. To expand the storage capacity in the cloud, you are offered a choice of three subscription options, which are presented in the screenshot below. The cost is indicated in rubles per month of use.

Yandex Disk is one of the ways to choose cloud storage for photos and videos on iPhone

We recently described in detail one of the processes for downloading music to an iPhone using the Yandex Disk cloud storage. You can read about this.

In addition to downloading music, this service will allow you to store all the photos and video files that are on your iPhone in your cloud spaces.

Many iPhone buyers use cloud storage services. This is primarily due to the small amount of memory in the device. Yandex Disk offers about 20 GB of free space for uploading media files to the cloud from an iPhone. This space is more than enough to understand all the capabilities of the service in free mode.

The ease of use of Yandex Drive on iPhone does not seem to be as promising as in the case of iCloud. Autoload YAD will allow you to automatically upload only photo and video files from iPhone to cloud storage.

As for the cost. Yandex offers, as we said earlier, about 20 GB of permanent cloud space for free, as well as the ability to expand memory for an additional fee. You can view the current tariffs (as of the end of 2017) in the screenshot below.

Attention! Yandex Disk constantly holds free promotions with partners that will allow you to significantly increase your iPhone cloud storage space. The price and cost of these services may differ from the prices presented on the official website of the software product.

Brief summary of choosing cloud storage for iPhone

We looked at just a few options for the most popular services for storing photos and videos from iPhone on the Internet. There are a huge number of competitors who can offer you the most favorable conditions for renting a storage facility. The main thing is not to forget that proven and popular services have reliable data protection against hacking, which will prevent the leakage of personal files to the Internet. Choose the most convenient option for storing data in the iPhone cloud, based on our summary table of advantages and disadvantages.

The rating of the proposed cloud storage options for iPhone is based on personal experience of use, reviews of colleagues and users on the Internet. iPhone owners categorically reject the use of the Dropbox service and are reluctant to look towards Google Drive.

How to create a cloud on an iPhone using a PC or phone?

The process of registering or creating an online storage account on iPhone will not take much of your time. Let's take a closer look at the situation using the example of registering the iCloud cloud and Yandex Disk from start to finish.

Create an Apple ID and register iCloud for iPhone

Go to the official cloud storage website: https://www.icloud.com/. Complete the registration by clicking on the “Create” button next to the Apple ID inscription, as shown in the screenshot below.

Fill in the personal information required to register the iCloud cloud.

We advise you to write down your new Apple ID and password to log into your account. Registered cloud service data is required to correctly configure the iPhone for your account. If you sell your iPhone or transfer it to third parties, be sure to log out of your account so that your personal data is not transferred to other users.

It is possible to create an iCloud cloud not only from a computer, but also directly from an iPhone. To do this, go to “Settings”, etc.

Registering the Yandex Disk cloud on iPhone

We will need to download the official application from the App Store.

The registration process is quite simple. Open the application and click

If you already have a login from your mail or Yandex Music listening service, you do not need to register. Enter your account details and log in to the application.

Correctly setting up Yandex Disk and iCloud will allow you to use the services automatically. We will tell you how to set up cloud services without errors a little later.

How to quickly access the cloud via iPhone or computer?

If you need to download photos or videos to your computer from iPhone cloud storage, we recommend using the official and free program from Apple for Windows operating systems - iCloud for PC

Install the downloaded program and make the minimum settings that will be requested automatically.

To access the Apple cloud directly from your iPhone, we recommend that you perform additional settings on your phone, which will allow you to view files without using additional software. Go to Settings. Select the “iCloud” section.

After you have entered the general iCloud menu, scroll to the very bottom to the optional checkbox that allows you to store documents and data in the iPhone cloud. Activate it.

After confirming the storage of data from programs that use the iCloud service, the necessary files and backup copies of applications will be automatically copied to the information storage service from the iPhone.

To view files in Apple storage from your iPhone, go to your phone's home screen or desktop. The installed iCloud Drive app will appear as shown in the screenshot.

The program will allow you to view files in iCloud from your iPhone in the form of a file manager. For the most detailed viewing of not only files and documents from the iCloud cloud storage, we recommend using a data synchronization program for your computer.

It is important to know! Try to study all the functions and settings of the cloud storage of your iPhone device. “How to use the cloud on iPhone?” There's nothing complicated. Just follow each step in our instructions, and it will answer all your questions in more detail.

How to save photos to the iPhone or Yandex Disk cloud?

To upload photos from your iPhone to the cloud, go to the “Settings” section. Click on your Apple ID account. Next “iCloud” - “Photos”. Make the checkbox next to “Media Library” active.

Apple cares about its users and leaves a detailed description of the functions for the most popular menu items in the iPhone settings.

As you can already understand, by activating this menu item in the settings, you can upload photos to the cloud on your iPhone. Next, set, if desired, additional settings for saving original photos or, conversely, optimizing the device’s storage.

If you are not sure about synchronizing and transferring photos to iCloud from an iPhone, we advise you to check the downloaded files through the storage program for your personal computer.

The simplest and most affordable option for storing photos in the device cloud is to use the Yandex Disk service. The main advantage of this program is comfort and ease of use, and also, compared to iCloud, you are provided with much more free space for saving photos.

Open the disk program and try to configure it according to our instructions. Go to the settings section by tapping the gear in the upper left corner of the display. Pay attention to the menu item “Autoload photos”. We advise you to enable active photo downloading only via Wi-Fi to save money if your telecom operator does not provide an unlimited tariff.

Uploading photos and videos to Yandex Disk occurs automatically. On some devices and firmware, users have noted minor problems with automatic downloading. They have to leave the gadget's screen active while data is being uploaded to the server.

You can see the current status of downloaded photos and video files in the “Camera” section. A running bar with the amount of downloaded material will be displayed in the upper status bar of the program. With the Yandex Disk program, you will forever forget about this question, “How to save photos to the cloud on an iPhone?” The application will automatically do everything for you.

Also don’t forget, Disk has a separate program not only for the iPhone, but also for the computer. Therefore, downloading photos and video files from the cloud to your computer will be a pleasure.

To transfer a single photo to the cloud on your iPhone from Yandex, click on “Photo”. Select the photo you would like to upload to the server. Click on the sharing button in the lower left corner. You will see a pop-up window with additional information about the copy or slide show. Scroll all the way down the apps bar until you find “Disk.” Select or create the desired folder in which you would like to store photos from your iPhone.

In the case of Yandex Disk, you greatly facilitate the process of uploading not only photos, but also videos from your iPhone to cloud storage.

Don’t forget, to synchronize or urgently download photos from iCloud cloud storage, you will need to install an additional program on your PC. Yandex Disk allows you to download any files up to 2GB in size from the cloud without installing software.

If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them in the comments to this article.

Details Benks Created: September 07, 2017 Updated: February 03, 2018

Important data can be stored on external media - hard drives, USB flash drives, even floppy disks. However, the safety of information in this case will be constantly under threat, because the physical object is easy to lose. If the USB card contains confidential information about the organization’s activities, the flash drive can be stolen by competitors, which will cause enormous damage to the company.

For these reasons, USB drives are becoming a thing of the past, just like disks and floppy disks used to be. They are being replaced by cloud data storage, which allows you to access files at any time and from any computer. In this article we will give a rating of cloud storage and talk about the advantages and disadvantages of various services.

Cloud storage is an online storage within which user data is distributed across numerous servers. The user does not know the structure and location of the servers; from his point of view, the “cloud” is a large virtual flash card, the information on which is password protected.

Using cloud storage is quite simple: a person needs to register on one of the sites offering data storage services, remember the username/password, then upload valuable information “to the Internet.” When he needs the information, he goes to the same site from any PC or mobile gadget, logs in and gains access to the information.

Cloud services have many advantages over other methods of data storage:

• The user does not risk losing information irrevocably in case of failure of a computer or gadget.
• It is convenient to share information from the “cloud” - you can send links to individual files via email or social networks.
• The user only has to pay for large amounts of memory. If his needs are small, he has the right to limit himself to a free quota, which is provided by almost all storage facilities.
• The user can set up file sharing and, as a result, organize collaboration with data online.

When it comes to the disadvantages of cloud storage, the first thing users do is express doubts about whether such services are able to guarantee the confidentiality of the information entrusted to them. As an example, they give a famous incident that happened with Dropbox in 2011 - when, after an update, anyone could log into any account using a random password. Undoubtedly, It is impossible to vouch for the reliability of all cloud storages– this is why it is so important to approach the choice of a service for storing information carefully and scrupulously.

Top cloud storage services: which service to choose?

The best cloud storage services include the following services:

Google Drive

• Free place: 15 GB.
• : 5 TB.
• : 30 TB.
• : Supported on Android above 4.4 and iOS above 8.0.

The service is quite young - it was launched only in 2012. However, despite this Google Drive(aka Google Drive) has already managed to achieve well-deserved worldwide popularity and the laurels of one of the most convenient cloud storages.

Convenience Google Drive is that this “cloud” is integrated with all other services from Google- of which there are a huge number. The user, for example, can send a letter received to the mailbox to the storage with just one click Gmail, save the photo uploaded to the cloud in the application Google Photos. Besides, Google Drive allows the user to open and edit documents Google Docs.

The application boasts an interesting feature Google Drive for Android - it is capable scan documents. Just click the “Scan” button and take a photo of the document - the PDF file will appear in the “My Drive” section.

In favor Google Drive they say a large number of supported file formats (over 30), the ability to set up offline access to documents, support for the SSL protocol, which guarantees the security of stored information. Active users of ecosystem services Google you don’t even need to think about finding another cloud storage – Google Drive will suit them 100%!

Premium subscription cost:

139 rub. / month	699 rub. / month	6,990 rub. / month	RUB 13,990 / month	RUB 20,990 / month

Yandex.Disk

• Free place: 3 GB expandable up to 10 GB.
• Maximum size of one file: 10 GB (when using the program) / 2 GB (when downloading via browser).
• Maximum amount of space: 1 TB.
• Mobile OS compatibility: Supported on Android above 4.0.3, iOS above 8.0, Windows Phone 7 / 8 and Symbian 9.3.

In terms of disk space limitations, the Russian service Yandex.Disk looks completely uncompetitive in comparison with cloud storage Google Drive. In particular, instead of 15 “free” gigabytes, the user is provided with only 3 gigabytes. Another 7 GB can be obtained for participating in the referral program, but not every user wants to spam their friends. The maximum amount of disk space for one account is also small - only 1 TB (for Google 30 TB). However, it is Yandex.Disk is considered the most popular “cloud” among domestic users. For what reasons?

U Yandex.Disk other advantages than the service from Google, and for a Russian they are important. For example, it is possible to upload photos and videos from social networks to the “cloud” from Yandex “ In contact with" And " Classmates» directly, without the use of additional software. Cloud storage is integrated with all kinds of services from Yandex and can be integrated with the office suite Microsoft Office 2013, as well as connect to TVs equipped with the function SmartTV.

Besides, Yandex.Disk has the right to boast of its cross-platform - there are web clients and mobile applications not only for iOS, Android, Windows, but also under Linux And Symbian.

At the same time, Google specialists are working on Linux-they are only working on a version of their cloud storage, and apparently do not intend to release applications for Windows Phone and Symbian at all. There are a lot of fans of the company among domestic mobile technology users Nokia and its smartphones running exactly the two OSes mentioned earlier - these users have a mobile Google Drive not available.

As a result, we can say that popularity Yandex.Disk in Russia is due not only to the desire of users to support the domestic brand, but also to the presence of quite tangible advantages over foreign services.

Premium subscription cost:

	100 GB
300 rub. / year	800 rub. / year	2000 rub. / year

One Drive

• Free place: 5 GB.
• Maximum size of one file: 10 GB.
• Maximum amount of space: 5 TB.
• Mobile OS compatibility: Supported on Android above 4.0, iOS above 9.0, Windows Phone 7 / 8, Symbian Belle and MeeGo 1.2.

Among cloud storages OneDrive from Microsoft– a real “dinosaur”. This service has been operating since 2007, but until 2014, users were familiar with it under the name SkyDrive. Renaming had to be done due to a lawsuit with the television company BSkyB who accused Microsoft in plagiarism.

Unfortunately, recently the "cloud" OneDrive began to lose ground more and more rapidly and give way to similar services from Google and other developers. The fact that in 2016 Microsoft reduced the amount of free space in its cloud storage from 15 GB to 5 GB, obviously did not add OneDrive popularity. "Cloud" Microsoft does not have any outstanding advantages over analogues - the main advantages of this service are integration with the package Office 365 and the ability to organize simultaneous work on documents online. Alas, other services also provide access to documents, but in addition to this they offer a lot of other “goodies”.

Continue to store information in OneDrive It is only appropriate for those users who accessed the services of this service before the 2016 reforms. Owners of old accounts still have access to 15 free gigabytes.

Premium subscription cost:

Mega

• Free place: 50 GB.
• Maximum size of one file: unlimited (when downloading from a browser – 2 GB).
• Maximum amount of space: 4 TB.
• Mobile OS compatibility: Supported on Android above 4.0, iOS above 7.0, Windows Phone 7/8, BlackBerry 10.

Just think about it - 50 free gigabytes! While competitors offer only 10-15 GB! About cloud storage Mega the brainchild of the New Zealand company of the same name - I want to tell you so much that it would be enough for several articles.

"Cloud" Mega It is notable not only for the large amount of free space. Its main advantage has always been safety. Actually, to create Mega developer Kim Dotcom was inspired by the scandalous revelations of Edward Snowden, who said that American citizens can only dream about confidentiality of information. Mega uses end-to-end encryption: the data is encrypted in the browser - as a result, the program Mega itself does not know what information the user downloaded to the disk.

However, Kim Dotcom himself undermined trust in his brainchild by declaring in 2015 that personal information was in danger and users should urgently make backup copies.

According to the creator of the service, the company experienced significant pressure from the US government, and this pressure was expressed mainly in refusal to cooperate with Mega all payment systems, including PayPal. In fact, the start-up was doomed to exist without any cash flow at all. In the end, Kim Dotcom announced a hostile takeover of the company by Chinese investors and left - in his own words, to develop a competing program for Mega.

History with Mega reminiscent of a conspiracy thriller. Each user must decide for himself whether to trust personal data to a company with such a controversial reputation. It is worth noting that in addition to Dotcom itself, the safety of information in Mega so far no one has complained.

Premium subscription cost:

200 GB	500 GB
4.99 euros/month	9.99 euros/month	19.99 euros / month	29.99 euros / month

Cloud Mail.ru

• Free place: 25 GB.
• Maximum size of one file: 2 GB (if you purchase space – 32 GB).
• Maximum amount of space: 4 TB.
• Mobile OS compatibility: Supported on Android above 4.0, iOS above 7.0, Windows Phone above version 8.

Service "Cloud Mail.ru", which appeared in 2013, immediately pleased users with an attraction of unprecedented generosity - everyone was provided with 100 free gigabytes. Later, the amount of free space was reduced to 16 GB, then increased to 25 GB - this limit is still relevant.

Among the advantages " Cloud Mail.ru» includes not only a large amount of free space. The service boasts high download and upload speeds for domestic users, as well as cross-platform functionality - “ Cloud Mail.ru", for example, is available to advanced users whose computers have Linux.

It is worth mentioning the shortcomings of the service. According to user reviews, “ Cloud Mail.ru" is very buggy and often crashes when launched on older versions of Windows.

Users also complain that Mail.ru Group In addition to its cloud storage, it secretly installs various toolbars and agents - but this is already a familiar story.

Premium subscription cost:

	128 GB	256 GB	512 GB
690 rub. / year	RUB 1,490 / year	RUB 2,290 / year	RUB 3,790 / year	6,990 rub. / year	RUB 13,900 / year	RUB 27,900 / year

Conclusion

The choice of users who are not afraid that their data will be stolen by foreign intelligence services is obvious - Google Drive is the most convenient cloud storage, providing an impressive amount of free space for free. Users who want to support a domestic manufacturer should pay attention to Yandex.Disk And Cloud Mail.ru. Both services, however, have very significant drawbacks: the cloud is from Yandex provides little disk space, and the product is from Mail and still quite “raw”.

I would like to note that the rating does not include Dropbox– one of the founders of cloud technologies. Flaw Dropbox the fact that it offers only 2 GB of free space - a trifle in these days. In addition, the cloud service does not show flexibility in purchasing additional space; Individuals are offered only 1 tariff. Otherwise, it is difficult to regard this as disrespect for users.

Without cloud services it is already difficult to imagine modern work with data. And this applies not only to work files and documents, but also to personal archives. And yet, many still prefer to store valuable files, especially photographs, on a computer, hard drive or flash drive, rather than trusting them to servers located God knows where.

And this is a very big mistake.

Storing photos and other files in the cloud is much more convenient and reliable. This, firstly, gives you access to them from any device connected to the Internet, and secondly, it provides greater reliability, because losing a flash drive or damaging a hard drive with gigabytes of invaluable data is much easier than losing access to a cloud archive, for which the owner company responds with its reputation.

But which cloud storage should you choose - more impressive, larger, more functional? To help you navigate, we have selected the most interesting options and studied their advantages and disadvantages. To make it more convenient, we indicated not only the minimum free volume offered in each of them, but also approximately how many photos will fit (based on the average size of each photo of 4 MB).

There was a time when Mail.ru was throwing away free gigabytes: the company provided no less than 1 TB for free use. But the freebie is expected to end, and now only 16 GB are offered in the free Mail.ru cloud. 64 GB will cost 69 rubles. per month or 690 rub. per year, and 128 GB - 149 rubles. monthly or 1490 rub. in year. You should also take into account that there is a limit on the maximum file size - up to 32 GB.

There are applications for iOS, Android and Windows Phone, as well as desktop clients for major operating systems - Windows, OS X, Linux. The Mail.ru Cloud service primarily impresses with its space and the fact that it is “ours.”

If for some reason you don’t trust foreign Google, Apple, Microsoft, and so on, then this is definitely the place for you.

iCloud storage is probably familiar to any user of Apple gadgets. iCloud Drive can store information that greatly facilitates working with Apple devices and forms the notorious ecosystem. Notes, calendars, reminders, program settings, documents, photos, mail, contacts, media library with playlists, backups - everything is synchronized without user intervention, which greatly simplifies life. Nothing prevents you from installing the official client on Windows, but, as in the case of iTunes, the program works more stable in its native environment.

There is a browser version, but it is not very convenient and also does not work on mobile devices. Otherwise, iCloud Drive storage is a full-fledged analogue of any other cloud: creating folders, storing data in them, and so on. 5 GB is provided for free - this is enough for text documents and syncing the most important applications (say, Notes, Reminders, Music, Documents, iPhone backup), but nothing more. Apple allows you to buy up to 2 TB of space - the most expensive tariff will cost 1,490 rubles. per month.

The iCloud service will definitely be useful to users of Apple products, but if you use devices from other manufacturers, there is no point in choosing it.

Dropbox can be considered the popularizer of cloud storage. The service was founded ten years ago, in 2007, and a fully finished version appeared three years later. With free Dropbox you can't really go wild - it's only two gigabytes. This is only enough for working documents; you can immediately forget about a full-fledged photo archive.

For $9.99 a month ($8.25 if you pay annually), you get 1 TB of space, and there are enterprise plans that promise "as much space as you need." This option is not available to individuals.

A paid Pro account - the one for $9.99 - unlocks additional features: increased bandwidth, access options, passwords for links, and so on.

Dropbox is undoubtedly one of the most convenient and functional cloud services, but it's only worth making it your primary photo storage location if you're willing to pay for more storage space.

Another Russian repository, along with Cloud Mail.ru. Yandex is very generous to its users: it gives additional space for inviting friends, on the occasion of the service’s birthday (+5 GB), and also periodically organizes promotions. For each friend you invite, you will receive 512 MB, with a maximum of 10 GB of space you can increase using this method. Partnership promotions are often held: for example, 30 GB were distributed to buyers of Sony laptops and Intel ultrabooks, and owners of several models of Samsung laptops received as much as 250 GB. When registering, 10 GB are allocated - quite normal, this is no longer a measly 2 GB.

Additional 10, 100 and 1000 GB cost 30, 80 and 200 rubles. per month, respectively, and when purchasing an annual package, multiply the amount by ten. Yandex.Disk is presented for major mobile and desktop systems. There is a separate program for SmartTV: you can watch photos and videos on your smart TV without additional devices. However, there are similar applications for other services.

Yandex.Disk is one of the best offers on the market in terms of price-to-volume ratio, and there is always a chance to save money using promotions and discounts.

One of the giants of the world market offers a lot of opportunities. Almost any format is readable, tight integration with the Gmail mailbox is implemented, smart search by photos, just like Apple - for example, by writing “cats”, a list of not only text documents with this word will appear, but also photographs of animals.

Plus programs for working with tables, texts, presentations, and so on. In terms of ecosystem capabilities, Google is not inferior, and in some places even surpasses Apple. If you combine everything in one service, you get convenient storage for all occasions. The service provides 15 GB for free, for $5 per month the space increases to 30 GB, and for $10 the space is unlimited.

Google Drive is one of the most popular user cloud storage services, and this fame is well deserved.

The Microsoft OneDrive cloud service was previously called SkyDrive, but due to a lawsuit with the television company BSkyB, the name had to be changed. 5 GB is offered for free, for 72 rubles. per month - 50 GB. The following tariff plans come with Office 365: 1 TB for RUB 2,699. per year or an account for five people with a total volume of 5 TB, each user has access to a terabyte. Moreover, this is not a business tariff: you can, for example, organize a family storage unit.

The line of tariffs for business is presented separately: maximum RUB 9,372. per year per user for 1 TB of space and access to Office 365. OneDrive's capabilities are the same as those of other storages: collaboration on files, exchange of documents, smart sorting of photos by tags, and so on.

If sharing cloud storage is important to you, and you also use Office 365 or other Microsoft products, OneDrive is definitely your option.

Mega

The company places special emphasis on information confidentiality: end-to-end encryption is used, which should improve data security. If this doesn't seem convincing, the company has another powerful trump card - 50 free GB. No one else will offer so much for nothing.

If that's not enough, the company offers paid plans of 200, 500, 2000 and 4000 GB for 4.99, 9.99, 19.99 and 29.99 euros per month. The service is not particularly popular, but the size of the available spaces is impressive, especially the free option.

The main disadvantage is that it is a little-known startup, and not an industry giant. Hence such generosity: neither Google, nor Dropbox, nor Microsoft need to lure users - people come to them themselves. Unlike Megaj.

Certain questions were also raised by the statement of the startup founder named Kim Dotcom, who left Mega and stated that he did not consider the service safe. And this despite the fact that the cloud uses encryption in the browser itself through the reliable AES algorithm.

If you want the maximum and for free, and are not afraid of rumors and negative reviews, Mega is suitable for you.

We draw a conclusion

Large storage facilities (OneDrive, Dropbox, iCloud, Yandex.Disk and others) can automatically synchronize photos when devices are connected. In addition, you can back up smartphones to iCloud, Google Drive and Dropbox. Either file sharing or collective accounts will help in collaborating on documents.

Please also note that you add all content at your own risk. It’s better to get rid of materials prohibited by law altogether (if you happen to have them), but you certainly shouldn’t upload them to the cloud. And pirated films, for example, may not load at all.

Some storage facilities are more aimed at the corporate segment, while others are more aimed at home use. If you don’t want to spend money, you can create an account in at least each service: one for documents, another for photos, a third for backup copies of files. It won't be very convenient, but it will be free. But the best option is to pay and immediately get all the features and a decent place on the cloud.

Cloud storage is becoming more and more part of our lives; they help us store, transfer, and share data without resorting to old, wired methods.

Analysts predict that the world will soon abandon resource-intensive and bulky servers and switch to “cloud storage.” We present to your attention storage facilities, from which it is often difficult to choose what you need. All these storages are cross-platform and can be used both for iOS (for iPhone, iPad, Mac) and for devices running Android. They also all have web and desktop versions, which greatly simplifies the process of synchronizing, transferring, and storing files.

Let's look at some of them, those that, in our opinion, provide the cheapest service and sufficient service, as well as being easy to use, and, importantly, compatible with Apple devices. Prices will be indicated in rubles, without additional options.

1. Google Drive

Price: free - 15 gigabytes, 100 gigabytes for 139 rubles per month.

Russian language: Yes.

Basic storage for devices on the Android platform, which is why it is in great demand among them. But since the service provides a “considerable” amount of free space, it will also be of interest to “Yabloko”.

The main disadvantage is the inconvenient browser version of the application, although the application for Windows and Mac is much simpler and more intuitive.

2. Yandex Disk

Price: 10 gigabytes for free, + 10 gigabytes for 30 rubles.
Russian language: Yes.

Fast and stable service, functionality is constantly expanding. Synchronizes at good speed. Other applications can use the capabilities of Yandex.Disk.

Convenient not only from your desktop or mobile phone - its capabilities will also be appreciated in the browser. Disk space is also expanded due to partner functions, such as 100 gigabytes of free space when connecting to Rostelecom (available on some tariffs).

3. Dropbox

Price: 2 gigabytes for free, 1 terabyte for 462 rubles ($8.25 at the rate of 56 rubles), business account for 700 rubles ($12.5).
Russian language: Yes.

One of the "mastodons" of cloud storage, but at first it provides only 2 gigabytes of space in the cloud. The referral system allows you to increase your free space to 16 gigabytes: link your social media accounts to your account and share the link to the resource with other users.

When you purchase Dropbox Business, your cloud space will become unlimited and will also allow multiple users to share it. File recovery and access settings are included.

4. Mega

Price: 50 gigabytes for free, 200 gigabytes for 345 rubles (5 euros at the rate of 69 rubles)
Russian language: Yes.

Lots of free traffic and a user-friendly interface. Easy drag and drop of files. Convenient downloading of files from the application and simple synchronization from the desktop.

The source code of this storage is publicly available, which allows the company to use new technology - encrypting the data on your device before it gets to the server. This protects against hacking.

5. Cloud Mail.Ru

Price: 8 gigabytes for free, 64 gigabytes for 69 rubles per month.
Russian language: Yes.

Similar to Yandex.Disk both in interface and capabilities. Loses with the number of referral programs. But it beats its competitor in terms of free space.

Screenshots are instantly created and saved through the Mail.Ru Cloud.

6.OneDrive

Price: 5 gigabytes for free, 50 gigabytes for 140 rubles per month, 1 terabyte for 269 or 339 rubles (with a subscription to Office 365).
Russian language: Yes.

Formerly known as SkyDrive. Built into Windows 10. If you have Windows 10 on your computer, you are already its user.
The Photos app can use OneDrive to sync photos between devices.

macOS users are unhappy with this service, please take this into account when purchasing.

7.iCloud

Price: 5 gigabytes for free, 50 gigabytes for 59 rubles per month.
Russian language: Yes.

5 gigabytes of space is not enough, but it is most convenient for backing up pictures from an iPhone. Built into Finder on macOS - the app will be available on all Macbooks and iOS devices. Document creation is available. Plus, iCloud is built right into iOS, making it as easy as possible to start using.

Let's summarize.

From the above options, you can choose the free storage with the largest reserve. Then your choice will fall on Mega.

Considering the interface, I advised you to take a look at Yandex disk.

If you look at the maximum possibilities, but with payment, then Dropbox is a good option.

In addition, all applications are in Russian, which greatly simplifies working with them. If you need to store, for example, photos on your iPhone, but don’t have enough space, then you shouldn’t buy a new iPhone with twice as much memory. Use iCloud: you probably have an account in this application, and you can free up a couple of gigabytes of space on your phone without any extra effort. The most used and popular are Google Drive, Yandex Drive and Cloud mail.ru. It is through them that some large files are sent to mail: music, films, videos and photos.