The many players in the market can make decision making to the right cloud a tedious task. The factors that need to be evaluated depend upon the need of the user, integration with various operating systems and mobile apps, security, speed, storage space, pricing of additional cloud, apps available etc. Below are alphabetical listed, ten popular cloud vendors with their strengths and weaknesses. Apple iCloud Drive
Free Storage – 5GB Price – 20GB for 99 cents per month, 200GB for $3.99 per month and $19.99 per month for 1TB File Size Limit – 15GB Operating Systems – Mac, Windows, Web, iOS Strengths – Well integrated with Apple office apps, easy to install on Windows computers, has a good Web interface, account included with an iOS or OS X devise. Weaknesses – Expensive especially for increased storage, lacks ease of use, centralizing files gets difficult even with Apple apps.
Box
Free Storage – 10GB Price – $5 per month per user for 100GB of storage space, $60 per annum. File Size Limit – 250MB with free account, 2GB with starter account. Operating Systems– Windows, Mac, Linux (partial), Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Web, Windows phone. Strengths– Compatible with other services, quick responsive apps, efficient file syncing easy to use, well designed for collaboration, online tools for creating or commenting on documents, allows integration with a wide range of apps and services Weakness – not a complete solution for an online office suite.
Certain Safe
Free Storage – None Price – $8.77 per month per user for 5GB, $105.24 per annum. File Size Limit – 2GB Operating Systems – Windows, Mac, Linux, Web, Android, iOS. Strengths – Security (safe messaging and secure file sharing), certified for HIPAA and other standards, easy to use, microEncryption technology, highly scalable, from individual to any size of business., Administrator console for user management. Weaknesses – Entire folder needs to be shared and not just the file, File transfer protected only by SSL, possible to accidentally remove administrative power from all users.
Code42 CrashPlan
Free Storage – If storage is supplied by the user it is free (whether attached to your computer or on the internet). Price – Unlimited storage for $59.99 per year, $149.99 per year family plan has unlimited storage. File Size limit – None Operating Systems – Windows, Mac, Linux, Web, Android, iOS, Windows phone. Strengths – Backup to your remote computers, fast, easy to use, and very flexible, well designed interface, unlimited storage plan, fast file processing and uploading, strong security options Weakness – Limited Web and mobile interface, no file sharing, no file explorer integration.
Dropbox
Free Storage– 2GB Price – Dropbox Pro: $9.99 per month or $ 99 perb annum for 1TB of space. Business: $ 15 per month per user, with a minimum of 5 users. File Size Limit – 10GB, unlimited with Desktop clients. Operating systems– Windows,- Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Symbian, BlackBerry, OS, MeeGo Harmattan, Windows iPhone and web browsers. Strengths – Compatibility with other services, dependable serve r(no downtime), Seamless file synchronization, wide array of apps for various operating systems, easy to install, file sharing, allows access to deleted files, tight OS integration. Weaknesses – Collaboration of files and their location.
Google Drive Cloud Storage
Free Storage – 15GB Price – $1.99 per month for 100GB, 1TB for $9.99 per month and $119.88 per annum. File Size Limit – 5TB Operating systems – Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Web, Chrome. Strengths – Extremely efficient collaborative office suite, includes file syncing and offline access to documents, built in OCR technology searches PDF’s, images,etc. Weaknesses – No de-duping tools for photos, privacy can be a concern, since it’s a Google product.
Hightail Cloud Storage
Free Storage -2GB Price – $15.99 per user per month gives unlimited storage (professional account), unlimited for $191.88 per annum. File Size Limit – 250MB with free account, 10GB with professional account. Operating Systems – Strengths – E- signature and provides confirmation of file delivery, includes simple file syncing, wide range of security features for file sharing. Weaknesses – Integration with other services and storage repositories, need at least two apps and the web or a mobile app to use completely.
iDrive
Free Storage – 5GB Price – 1TB storage for $59.50 per year File Size Limit – None Operating Systems – Windows, Mac, web, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Linux/Unix Strengths – Continuous backup, disc image backup, easy to set up, can use unlimited devices in one account, folder syncing, file archiving, file explorer integration, hard drive for mailing in data. Weaknesses – Slightly slow in performance.
Microsoft’s Onedrive Cloud Storage
Free Storage – 15GB Price – 1TB for $83.88 per year. File Size Limit – 10GB Operating Systems – Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Web, Windows Phone, Windows Tablet, Xbox.. Strengths – Collaboration, Microsoft office 365 included with 1TB purchase., clear interface, web interface to all files and media, can get any file from a PC, excellent photo presentation and slideshows and tagging, low cost. Flexible, clients for Mac, iOS, Android and Windows. Weaknesses – Search in iOS and Android apps is not possible, No audio streaming or playing.
Sugar Sync
Free Storage – None Price – 100GB for $9.99 per month or $74.99 per year, 500GB for $39.99 per month or $249.99 for the first year and discounted to $124.99 in the next year. File Size Limit – None Operating Systems – Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, Simbian. Strengths – Simplicity, ease of use, more intuitive than other file syncing services, able to access 5 previous versions of a file, good apps. Weaknesses – No free account and pricing not very competitive to other players.
