Best Cloud Storage and File Sharing in 2026: 11 tools compared
Choosing the best cloud storage for business comes down to how your team shares files, how sensitive those files are and which office suite you already use. This page compares eleven business cloud storage options and offers quick picks for encryption, regulated industries, client sharing, self-hosting and everyday team sync.
The tools were compared on storage limits, desktop sync, sharing controls, collaboration, security, compliance, version recovery, integrations and how clearly the vendor shows its prices. Alongside the feature overview, the page shows what each service really costs once seat minimums and storage tiers are counted.
Top picks at a glance
- Best zero-knowledge encryption on a budget
Sync.comSync.com offers zero-knowledge encryption and HIPAA, PIPEDA and GDPR support from $4.50 per user per month on annual billing, with a 3 user minimum.
$4.50 per user per month, billed annually (Teams 1TB, 3 user minimum) - Best for regulated enterprises
BoxBox provides unlimited storage on Business plans and up, plus FedRAMP Moderate and HIPAA support on the Enterprise tier and more than 1,500 integrations.
From $5 per user/month (headline); Individual plan free - Best for Google Workspace teams
Google DriveGoogle Drive comes with Workspace and gives each user pooled storage from 30 GB to 5 TB, with Drive for desktop on every plan.
6.80 EUR per user/month annual (Starter); shown in EUR on the vendor site, no USD price published - Best for self-hosting and data control
NextcloudNextcloud is open source and self-hosted, with end-to-end encryption, file locking and external storage options, and suits public sector and EU organizations with 100 or more users.
71.29 EUR per user per year (Standard, 100 users minimum) - Best for client file sharing
ShareFileShareFile allows unlimited client users on every plan and adds e-signature, watermarking and HIPAA eligibility, which suits accounting and financial firms.
$16.50 per user/month (Advanced) - Best for simple team sync
Dropbox BusinessDropbox Business starts at 1 user on Standard with a 3 TB team pool, and the Advanced plan adds SSO and end-to-end encryption.
12 per user/month (Standard; shown in EUR on the vendor site, no USD price published)
What is cloud storage and file sharing?
Business cloud storage keeps company files on remote servers so teams can sync, share and edit them from any laptop or phone. Compared with consumer accounts, business plans add admin controls, folder permissions, audit logs, longer version history and larger storage. Employees use it to share work with colleagues and clients, while IT uses it to control who can open what. The core capabilities are file sync, secure sharing links, shared team folders, version recovery, encryption and compliance support. Buyers often compare it with backup, file sharing and document management tools.
Cloud Storage and File Sharing compared
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan or trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sync.com | Best zero-knowledge encryption on a budget. | $4.50 per user per month, billed annually (Teams 1TB, 3 user minimum) | Free trial |
| Box | Best for regulated enterprises. | From $5 per user/month (headline); Individual plan free | Free plan |
| Google Drive | Best for Google Workspace teams. | 6.80 EUR per user/month annual (Starter); shown in EUR on the vendor site, no USD price published | No |
| Nextcloud | Best for self-hosting and data control. | 71.29 EUR per user per year (Standard, 100 users minimum) | Free plan |
| ShareFile | Best for client file sharing. | $16.50 per user/month (Advanced) | Free trial |
| Dropbox Business | Best for simple team sync. | 12 per user/month (Standard; shown in EUR on the vendor site, no USD price published) | Free trial |
 Microsoft OneDrive | Organizations already on Microsoft 365 and Entra ID. | $5 per user/month (OneDrive for Business Plan 1, annual commitment; third-party price, not confirmed on microsoft.com) | No |
 Egnyte | Mid-size firms wanting governance and ransomware detection on file storage. | $22 per user/month billed annually (Business) | Free trial |
 Zoho WorkDrive | Teams already on Zoho Workplace or Zoho apps. | Contact sales (USD prices not retrievable); third parties list 2.50 USD per user per month annual | Free plan, Free trial |
 pCloud | Small teams wanting a virtual drive and client-side encryption. | 9.99 EUR per user per month (Business, 3 users minimum) | Free plan, Free trial |
 Tresorit | Regulated teams (HIPAA, legal, finance) that need zero-knowledge encryption. | Contact sales (prices not shown on pricing page) | Free trial |
Prices as published by each vendor on October 24, 2026. "Contact sales" means the vendor publishes no price.
The 11 best cloud storage and file sharing in 2026
Best zero-knowledge encryption on a budget
Sync.com
Zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage with Canadian roots and per-user team plans starting at 3 users.
Sync.com is a zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage service with Canadian roots and per-user team plans from 3 users. It includes ransomware rollback and 180 to 365 days of version history, but it has no documented SSO.
- 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
Best for regulated enterprises
Box
Enterprise content cloud with unlimited storage on business plans and escalating file size, version and AI limits by tier.
Box is an enterprise content cloud with unlimited storage on its business plans and rising file size, version and AI limits by tier. All business plans need at least 3 users, and FedRAMP Moderate support arrives on Enterprise.
- 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
Best for Google Workspace teams
Google Drive
Google's file storage inside Google Workspace, sold as pooled storage per user across Workspace plans.
Google Drive is Google's file storage inside Google Workspace, sold as pooled storage per user across plans. It suits teams already on Workspace email and Docs, but Starter, Standard and Plus plans stop at 300 users.
- 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
Best for self-hosting and data control
Nextcloud
Open-source (AGPL) self-hosted file sync and collaboration platform, sold as per-user enterprise subscriptions from 100 users.
Nextcloud is an open-source, self-hosted platform for file sync and collaboration, sold as per-user enterprise subscriptions from 100 users. It gives IT teams full data control, but someone has to run and maintain the servers.
- 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
Best for client file sharing
ShareFile
Secure client file sharing and document workflow tool with e-signature, aimed at professional services firms.
ShareFile is a secure client file sharing and document workflow tool with e-signature, aimed at professional services firms. Client users are unlimited, and HIPAA and SEC and FINRA eligibility start on the Premium plan.
- 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
Best for simple team sync
Dropbox Business
Team file sync and sharing with pooled team storage, tiered by restore window and transfer size.
Dropbox Business is team file sync and sharing with pooled storage, tiered by restore window and transfer size. Standard works for a single user, while Advanced adds SSO, end-to-end encryption and a one-year restore window.
- 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
Dropbox Business pricing and review Dropbox Business alternatives
Microsoft OneDrive
Microsoft's business file storage, sold standalone or bundled with Microsoft 365 plans.
Microsoft OneDrive is Microsoft's business file storage, sold on its own or bundled with Microsoft 365 plans. It is the natural choice for organizations already on Microsoft 365 and Entra ID, and a weaker fit outside that ecosystem.
- 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)
Egnyte
Business content platform for file sharing and governance with AI features, sold in four tiers.
Egnyte is a business content platform for file sharing and governance, with AI features and four tiers. It suits mid-size firms that want ransomware detection and data classification, but entry pricing is $22 per user per month.
- 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
Zoho WorkDrive
Team file storage from Zoho with pooled team storage, 3 user minimum and a built-in office suite.
Zoho WorkDrive is team file storage from Zoho with pooled storage, a 3 user minimum and a built-in office suite. It offers desktop sync with offline editing and unlimited version history, and suits cost-conscious teams already on Zoho apps.
- 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
pCloud
Swiss-registered cloud drive with EU or US storage choice, selling business seats from 3 users and encryption as a plan feature.
pCloud is a Swiss-registered cloud drive that lets you choose EU or US storage. Business seats start at 3 users and include pooled storage, a virtual drive and pDocs real-time editing, though its optional encryption drew academic criticism in 2024.
- 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
Tresorit
End-to-end encrypted, zero-knowledge file sync and sharing owned by Swiss Post, sold per user with SSO from the Business plan.
Tresorit is an end-to-end encrypted, zero-knowledge file sync and sharing service owned by Swiss Post. It targets regulated teams in healthcare, legal and finance, and offers ISO 27001 certification and HIPAA support, but prices are not shown publicly.
- 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
How to choose the best cloud storage for business
The best cloud storage for business is the one your team will use without workarounds and your security lead will approve. Start with how much storage you need and whether it is pooled or per user. Then check desktop sync, sharing controls, encryption and any compliance certificates you need. Finally, look at how well it works with your office suite, because a tool that fits Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace usually saves daily friction.
Storage per user and limits
This criterion shows how much space you really get. Some tools pool storage across the team, others give each user a fixed quota, and a few leave capacity to your own servers. Strong plans offer generous pools and large file upload limits. Check minimum seat counts, since they decide the real starting capacity.
- Sync.com: 1 TB, 2 TB or 10 TB per user depending on plan; unlimited data transfer.
- Box: 100 GB on Business Starter; unlimited on Business and up.
- Google Drive: 30 GB (Starter), 2 TB (Standard), 5 TB (Plus) pooled per user.
- Nextcloud: Set by your own infrastructure; external storage via S3, SFTP, SMB, NFS.
- ShareFile: 3 TB account storage, 1 TB aggregated per license; 3 TB packs addable.
Desktop sync quality
Desktop sync decides daily usability. Good tools keep local folders up to date, support selective sync and handle large files without errors. Some offer a virtual drive or on-demand files that save local disk space. Weak sync leads to conflicts and missing files, so check that clients exist for Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Sync.com: Desktop apps for Windows, macOS, Linux; Sync CloudFiles frees local disk space.
- Google Drive: Drive for desktop on every plan.
- Nextcloud: Desktop clients for Windows, macOS, Linux; mobile for Android, iOS.
- Zoho WorkDrive: Desktop sync with offline edit, TrueSync, Genie native editing.
- pCloud: Virtual drive (P:) saves local disk space; unlimited file size uploads.
Sharing and permission controls
Sharing controls protect sensitive files when they leave the company. Strong tools offer password-protected links, expiry dates, view-only access, file drop links and folder-level roles. Weak tools only offer an open link. Check which of these controls come with the plan you need, since some arrive on higher tiers.
- Sync.com: Password-protected links with expiry; team folders with read-only/read-write; RBAC from the 2TB plan.
- Box: Shared-link bandwidth limit 2 TB per user per month on Business plans.
- Nextcloud: Link expiry, passwords, one-time passwords, file drop, file requests.
- ShareFile: View-only restrictions, file drop links, dynamic watermarking (Premium)
- Dropbox Business: Team folders, sharing and admin controls.
Real-time collaboration and editing
Collaboration covers editing and commenting without creating version conflicts. Strong tools include a native editor or co-editing with Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, file comments and file locking. Tools without one rely on integrations for live editing, which works but adds another product to manage.
- Sync.com: Preview and edit via Microsoft Office 365 integration; no native co-editing suite listed.
- Nextcloud: Nextcloud Office, Collabora Online, Microsoft Office Online Server; file locking.
- ShareFile: Co-editing and check-in/out on Advanced; e-signature on Premium.
- Egnyte: Microsoft 365 co-editing and Google Workspace integration (Business)
- Zoho WorkDrive: Zoho Writer and Sheet, check-in/check-out, comments.
Security and encryption
Security covers encryption at rest and in transit, two-factor authentication and key management. Zero-knowledge and end-to-end encryption mean the provider cannot read your files, which matters for sensitive client data. Weak tools offer basic encryption only. Check whether stronger options are included or sold as add-ons.
- Sync.com: End-to-end encryption and zero-knowledge authentication; enforceable 2FA from the 2TB plan.
- Box: Advanced security (classification, threat detection) from Enterprise.
- Google Drive: 2-step verification and Advanced Protection Program on all plans; S/MIME, DLP, context-aware access on Enterprise.
- Nextcloud: End-to-end encryption, ransomware protection, brute-force protection.
- ShareFile: Encrypted storage and sharing, MFA; SIEM, DLP, UEBA on Enterprise.
Compliance certifications
Compliance certificates show that a provider meets standards such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR or FedRAMP. They matter in healthcare, legal, finance and public sector work. Check which certificate applies to which plan, because some come only with enterprise tiers, and ask for a business associate agreement if you handle health data.
- Sync.com: SOC 2 Type 1 (pricing page), HIPAA, GDPR, PIPEDA.
- Box: FedRAMP Moderate and HIPAA on Enterprise; SOC 1/2/3 support on Business.
- Google Drive: Enterprise data regions on Enterprise.
- Nextcloud: Designed for GDPR and HIPAA with auditing; no certifications on page.
- ShareFile: HIPAA and SEC+FINRA eligibility on Premium and up.
Version history and recovery
Version history and recovery limit data loss from accidental edits, deletions and ransomware. Strong tools keep long version histories, restore deleted files and roll back an entire folder. Retention differs a lot, from 25 versions to unlimited, or from 120 days to a year, so check the window on your plan.
- Sync.com: 180 days (1TB) or 365 days (2TB and 10TB); ransomware rollback and deleted file recovery.
- Box: 25 (Starter), 50 (Business, Plus), 100 (Enterprise), unlimited (Enterprise Plus and Advanced) versions.
- Nextcloud: Version history with restore and side-by-side compare.
- ShareFile: File versioning on all plans.
- Dropbox Business: 180 days Standard; 1 year Advanced and Enterprise.
Integrations
Integrations connect storage to the apps your team already uses, such as Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack, CRM and e-signature tools. A broad integration list removes copy and paste work. Check that the connectors you need are included in the plan rather than limited to a higher tier.
- Sync.com: Microsoft Office 365, Slack, Adobe shown on product page.
- Box: 1,500+ integrations (Business)
- Nextcloud: Outlook, SharePoint, Teams, Active Directory, S3, SFTP, SMB, NFS.
- ShareFile: Salesforce and QuickBooks (Premium)
- Zoho WorkDrive: Zoho suite; WordPress for Writer.
Pricing model and transparency
Business cloud storage is usually priced per user per month, often with a minimum of 3 users and a cheaper annual rate. Some vendors do not publish prices at all. Look at what the base price includes in storage, version history and security, and whether upgrading to a higher tier is needed for the features you want.
- Sync.com: Per user, 3 user minimum, 25% cheaper on annual billing.
- Box: Per user, 3 user minimum.
- Google Drive: Per user, annual or flexible.
- Nextcloud: Per user per year tiered by support level; 100 user minimum.
- ShareFile: Per user, 3 user minimum (VDR 5)
Target company size
Some tools aim at solo users and small teams, others at enterprise IT with thousands of seats. A small tool can lack admin controls, while an enterprise product can require 100 or more users or a quote. Match the tool to your headcount and to the admin capacity you have today.
- Sync.com: Small teams up to 100 users; Enterprise tier for 100+.
- Box: SMB to enterprise.
- Google Drive: Small business to enterprise.
- Nextcloud: Organizations of 100+ users, public sector.
- ShareFile: SMB to mid-market.
What cloud storage and file sharing really costs
Features decide the shortlist; the bill decides whether it stays affordable as the team grows. The numbers below come from each vendor's published plans: entry prices, how far plans climb, what single sign-on costs extra and which fees sit on top.
- Median entry price
- $16.5
- Publish their prices
- 9 of 11
- Free plans
- 4 of 11
- Biggest price climb
- 4.2x
per user per month, cheapest paid plan of each tool
2 quote on request
plus 5 free trials
ShareFile, $16.5 to $69.3
How cloud storage and file sharing vendors set their prices
7 of 11 vendors publish no usable price, so a price comparison starts with knowing what each one charges for. The most common basis here is "per user or seat" (11 vendors).
- 11Per user or seatSync.com, Box, Google Drive, Nextcloud, ShareFile, Dropbox Business, Microsoft OneDrive, Egnyte, Zoho WorkDrive, pCloud and Tresorit
| Tool | Pricing basis | As the vendor describes it | Published starting point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sync.com | Per user or seat | Per user. | $4.50 per user per month, billed annually (Teams 1TB, 3 user minimum) |
| Box | Per user or seat | Per user. | From $5 per user/month (headline); Individual plan free |
| Google Drive | Per user or seat | Per user, pooled storage, bundled in Workspace. | 6.80 EUR per user/month annual (Starter); shown in EUR on the vendor site, no USD price published |
| Nextcloud | Per user or seat | Per user. | 71.29 EUR per user per year (Standard, 100 users minimum) |
| ShareFile | Per user or seat | Per user. | $16.50 per user/month (Advanced) |
| Dropbox Business | Per user or seat | Per user, pooled team storage. | 12 per user/month (Standard; shown in EUR on the vendor site, no USD price published) |
| Microsoft OneDrive | Per user or seat | Per user. | $5 per user/month (OneDrive for Business Plan 1, annual commitment; third-party price, not confirmed on microsoft.com) |
| Egnyte | Per user or seat | Per user. | $22 per user/month billed annually (Business) |
| Zoho WorkDrive | Per user or seat | Per user. | Contact sales (USD prices not retrievable); third parties list 2.50 USD per user per month annual |
| pCloud | Per user or seat | Per user. | 9.99 EUR per user per month (Business, 3 users minimum) |
| Tresorit | Per user or seat | Per user. | Contact sales (prices not shown on pricing page) |
How far each price can climb
The entry price is rarely what you pay once the team needs more. Each line runs from a tool's cheapest paid plan to its most expensive published plan. ShareFile grows 4.2x from $16.5 to $69.3, Sync.com 2.5x.
- ShareFileAdvanced $16.5 to Virtual Data Room $69.3 per user per month4.2x
- Sync.comTeams 1TB $4.5 to Teams 10TB $11.25 per user per month2.5x
- EgnyteBusiness $22 to Elite $48 per user per month2.2x
Published plan prices only; quote-only plans are not on the scale. The scale is logarithmic so cheap and expensive tools fit on one line.
How cloud storage pricing works
Almost every tool in this category charges per user per month, which makes pricing look simple. The real differences sit in the details: how many seats you must buy, whether storage is shared, and which features hide behind upper tiers. The points below are the cost traps that most often turn a cheap-looking plan into an expensive one once a team is actually using it.
Minimum seat counts
Box, ShareFile, pCloud and Sync.com all list a three-user minimum on business plans, and Nextcloud lists 100 users for Standard. A solo founder or tiny team pays for seats they do not use. Check the minimum before you compare per-user prices.
Pooled versus per-user storage
Dropbox Business and Google Drive pool storage across the team, so heavy users draw from a shared allowance. Per-user quotas can leave some people short and others with unused space. Estimate total storage for the team, not per person.
Features gated by tier
SSO, end-to-end encryption, compliance support and audit controls often start on Advanced or Enterprise plans. Dropbox lists SSO from Advanced, and Box lists HIPAA on Enterprise. The plan you need may cost much more than the advertised starting price.
Prices that are not public
Tresorit lists no prices on its pricing page, and Zoho WorkDrive USD prices were not retrievable, so quotes come from sales. Without a public price you cannot compare fairly, and the quote may include a minimum term. Ask for a written quote with all add-ons before you shortlist.
Add-ons and annual-only terms
Box Platform add-ons are annual only, and unused quantities expire at term end. Extra storage packs, client users and e-signature options are billed separately by several vendors. Add these to the base price to see the true annual cost.
What a 20-person team pays
Per-seat prices only tell half the story. Below is the yearly list price for 20 users on the plan such a team would realistically need, calculated from each vendor's published prices.
- Sync.com20 x $4.50 x 12 = $1,080 per year on Teams 1TB; $1,620 on Teams 2TB (20 x $6.75 x 12)
- Google DriveStandard annual: 20 x 13.60 x 12 = 3,264 per year at list price before intro promo.
- ShareFileAdvanced: 20 x 16.50 x 12 = 3,960 per year if lower price is annual rate.
- Dropbox BusinessAdvanced: 20 x 18 x 12 = 4,320 per year if the displayed price is the monthly rate; annual rate not published.
- EgnyteBusiness: 20 x 22 x 12 = 5,280 per year.
- pCloud20 x 9.99 EUR x 12 = 2,397.60 EUR per year if the 9.99 EUR is the monthly price; storage pooled at about 1 TB per user.
Costs that are easy to miss
Add-ons, usage fees and premium modules often decide the real bill. These are the paid extras the vendors list themselves.
- BoxBox Platform add-ons (annual contracts only; unused quantities expire at term end)
- NextcloudPhone support on lower tiers at extra cost
- ShareFile3 TB storage packs, price not captured
- Zoho WorkDriveClient users (separate add-on, 720 INR on India page); Extra storage 10 GB, 100 GB, 1 TB
- TresoriteSign add-on
Our recommendation
Pick the cloud storage that matches your security needs, your compliance requirements and your office suite. Small teams can start with Sync.com, Google Drive or Dropbox, while regulated organizations should look at Box, Tresorit or Nextcloud. To keep costs under control, count the seat minimums, check which security features sit in higher tiers, and compare annual and monthly billing.
Cloud Storage and File Sharing: frequently asked questions
What is business cloud storage?
Business cloud storage keeps company files on remote servers so teams can sync, share and edit them from any device. Business plans add admin controls, permissions, audit logs and larger storage than consumer accounts.
What is the best cloud storage for small business?
Sync.com, pCloud, Google Drive and Dropbox Business all fit small teams. Sync.com and pCloud start at 3 users, Google Drive suits teams on Workspace, and Dropbox Standard is available from 1 user.
Is cloud storage secure enough for client data?
It can be, if you pick the right tool. Sync.com and Tresorit use zero-knowledge encryption, Nextcloud offers end-to-end encryption on your own servers, and Box and Tresorit list compliance support. Check the certificates and encryption options on the plan you buy.
What features should business cloud storage have?
Look for reliable desktop sync, link controls such as passwords and expiry, folder permissions, version history, two-factor authentication, compliance certificates and integrations with your office suite.
How much does business cloud storage cost per user?
Published entry prices in this comparison start around $4.50 per user per month for Sync.com on annual billing and go up to $22 for Egnyte. Several vendors, such as Tresorit, do not show prices publicly, and many require at least 3 users.
What do cloud storage and file sharing cost for a team of 20?
Calculated from published list prices: Sync.com: 20 x $4.50 x 12 = $1,080 per year on Teams 1TB; $1,620 on Teams 2TB (20 x $6.75 x 12); Google Drive: Standard annual: 20 x 13.60 x 12 = 3,264 per year at list price before intro promo; ShareFile: Advanced: 20 x 16.50 x 12 = 3,960 per year if lower price is annual rate; Dropbox Business: Advanced: 20 x 18 x 12 = 4,320 per year if the displayed price is the monthly rate; annual rate not published; Egnyte: Business: 20 x 22 x 12 = 5,280 per year; pCloud: 20 x 9.99 EUR x 12 = 2,397.60 EUR per year if the 9.99 EUR is the monthly price; storage pooled at about 1 TB per user. Tools that quote on request are not included.
Which cloud storage and file sharing have a free plan or free trial?
Sync.com (free trial), Box (free plan), Nextcloud (free plan), ShareFile (free trial), Dropbox Business (free trial), Egnyte (free trial), Zoho WorkDrive (free plan, free trial), pCloud (free plan, free trial) and Tresorit (free trial), according to the vendors' sites on October 24, 2026.