Ready to ditch Google Drive? Here are the 5 best alternatives to check out

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I've been using Google Drive for decades, but over the past couple of years, I've decided that some of my content (especially my novels) has no business on a service that may or may not decide to train its LLMs with my work. To that end, I went looking for an alternative for those precious files.

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I was surprised at how many options were out there. After combing through the alternatives, I've created a short list of viable options and presented them here for your consideration.

1. Proton Drive

Proton Drive is sort of the new kid on the block, so it doesn't have all the features found in Google Drive (such as the ability to create and edit spreadsheets or presentations). Even without all of those features, Proton Drive is a fantastic option, especially for those who value security. 

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Proton Drive uses powerful end-to-end encryption and even breaks larger files into 4MB encrypted chunks, meaning they can't be viewed by anyone until they are reformed. After the chunks are put back together, only you are able to view the reconstituted file. Proton Drive also supports collaboration and has an interface that is reminiscent of Google Drive. You can get started with a free account, which gives you 2GB of storage, but you can boost it to 5GB by completing the tasks listed here. 

You can also sign up for the Proton Unlimited plan ($9.99/month), which gives you 500GB of storage. Learn more about the features of each plan in this pricing matrix.

2. Nextcloud

Nextcloud is a unique option because you can choose between a hosted instance (which gives you 2GB of free storage), or you can host it yourself on a machine within your LAN. Nextcloud is a full-featured platform that not only has cloud storage but a wealth of other applications, too. 

Even better, with Nextcloud, you are not the product -- there's no selling or using of data, period. I have used Nextcloud for years and have found it to be superior to most of the competition. Nextcloud is one of the few such services I know I can trust completely. My files and information are all secure and will never be used to train LLMs or sold to third-party services. And because Nextcloud is expandable, I can turn it into just about anything I need. 

3. pCloud

pCloud claims it is the most secure cloud storage on the market. With this service, you can create, share, and collaborate on files, get access from all of your devices, and even decide which files and folders you want to sync to your devices. 

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Beyond the free plan, pCloud gives you the option of a one-time fee to save you considerable money. Or you can pay annually, which is cheaper upfront. The one-time payment options are:

Premium - $199 for 500GB of storage and 500GB of shared link traffic Premium Plus -  $399 for 2 TB of storage and 2 TB of shared link traffic Ultra - $1190 for 10 TB of storage and 2 TB of shared link traffic

There are also two family plans: one for a one-time payment of $595, which gets you 2 TB of storage, and one for $1400, which gets you 10 TB of storage.

4. Box

Another option that isn't quite a household name is Box, which is all about secure collaboration, content management, and workflow. Box is powered by AI, so if that's a concern for you, avoid this option. I see Box as less for personal use and more geared toward business. 

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Box supports both Google and Microsoft file formats, and file sharing works similarly to Google Drive. One thing Box does better than Google Drive, however, is user management, which is handy if you're working with teams.

This option does have a free individual account that gives you 10 GB of storage, but Box also offers two paid individual accounts: one for $10/month that ups the storage to 100 GB and one for $5/user/month that gives you 100GB of storage. There are also four business plans to choose from. You can learn more about the cost and features from this pricing matrix.

5. Kdan Cloud

Kdan Cloud is primarily focused on the mobile side of things and even integrates with other Kdan apps, such as Animation Desk, NoteLedge, and Write-on Video. Kdan offers file sharing with user permissions and passwords to better protect your data. 

The one big drawback of Kdan Cloud is that it doesn't have the ability to create files. Instead, you have to upload existing files and then open them. The next issue with Kdan Cloud is that it doesn't support all file formats. If you work with Open Document Formats (such as .odt), you're out of luck. 

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Kdan also cannot open basic .txt files. If you primarily work with Microsoft-formatted files, Kdan Cloud has you covered. I've also found that Kdan Cloud does take some time to open files of any size. Because of these issues, I would only suggest Kdan Cloud if you need basic cloud storage and not the ability to create and/or edit files from within a cloud storage service.

Kdan Cloud offers four pricing tiers:

Kdan Cloud Basic (free) - 2 GB of storage Kdan Cloud ($9.99/year) - 500 GB of storage Document 365 ($59.99/year) - 1 TB of storage Creativity 365 ($59.99/year) - 1 TB of storage

Check out this pricing matrix for more information.