Top 3 Free Cloud Storage Tools

The ubiquitous flash drive is soon to be a historical, collector’s item. As flash memory stays expensive due to demand from iPods, flash drives, and other ultra portable storage, there’s an increasing shift to online storage. Between security concerns and accessibility, reasonable concerns over storing your precious documents online are justified. Likewise, some online tools are pricey and limited.

It’s important to understand what devices will be able to access this cloud application. Most likely, you have a cell phone (smartphone), laptop, and possibly even a desktop. As a student or somebody that frequently uses public computers, the data must be easy to backup and access from all outlets. And following in this site’s motto, let’s be financially savvy and find a free tool — shall we?

1. Dropbox (2 GB Free)
   The best of the best. This website offers a fully-integrated application that works on Mac and Windows computers to keep all of your precious files backed up without any afterthought. Just install the program, drag the files to the Dropbox folder, and you’re off! This tool couldn’t be any easier and uses advanced 256-bit encryption to protect those files. Using this banking-standard form of encryption should give you piece of mind. On top of that, if you’re internet is down, you’ll still have access to your files. One copy is left on your hard drive and the other is synced to the cloud. If you have MP4 video, sometimes they will play directly in your browser when clicking the file on Dropbox. This is a tremendous plus if you don’t want to lug around your DVD collection. While they start out with only 2 GB free, there are a variety of free opportunities to quickly increase your limits. If you’re a new user, click here and use my referral link to get an extra 500 MB: http://db.tt/0zVW4Ot.
2. Google Docs (1 GB Free)
   If you’re an avid Googler you already know everything that Google Docs has to offer. While only giving a skimpy, minuscule 1 GB of free storage, Google Docs is by far the best collaboration software out there. Users can easily share documents, presentations, and spreadsheets among friends. Instead of the traditional email attachment, Google Docs keeps the file on their servers and shared access makes users go online to see the file. This collaboration is easy, timely, and without a number of things to delete shortly afterwards. If you’re working on a group project that culminates in a PowerPoint presentation, head over to Google Docs and share the burden with your partners. If you’ve been living under a rock: docs.google.com.
3. Amazon Cloud Drive (5 GB Free)
   As with each of the preceding tools, Amazon Cloud Drive has its own place on the top of the list. Recently released this year, the Amazon Cloud Drive enables amazing cloud music capabilities. If you’re not stuck on iTunes, check out the Amazon Cloud Drive. You simply upload your music to Amazon’s secure servers and no matter where you are you can listen to your music (assuming you have an internet connection). The cloud drive comes with a counterpart for Android phones: Amazon MP3. Just download that app from the Android Market, login, and you can rock out to your music in seconds. This storage is incredibly quick and doesn’t suffer from lag whatsoever in normal signal conditions. Whether you’re away from your home computer or want to go from a run, Amazon’s Cloud Drive is an important part of the amalgamation of online storage. Check out the cloud drive at: Amazon.com.

If you’re still hesitant about uploading your documents to the cloud, ask yourself one important question: What if you lose your flash drive? Unfortunately, if you lose that precious little drive, your files may be gone, public, and unsecured. Syncing to the cloud protects your files behind heavy encryption. If you’re still worried, you can always pre-encrypt your files with a Zip creation program and then upload. For the things that must survive — no matter fire, water, and/or natural disaster — back things up! It’ll save you time and money in the end.

Now, after setting up these three accounts, you should have 8 plus GB of new storage.

Got a new or different favorite? Shout it out in the comments below.