That scenario is why teams move to cloud storage. It is also why many of them stay exposed: they pick a sync tool, assume it is a backup, and learn the difference at the worst moment. This guide compares ten cloud storage solutions for businesses at verified 2026 prices, shows what a 10-person team will pay, and explains the backup rule that keeps a synced folder from becoming a single point of failure.
Quick answer: For most small businesses, Google Drive (from $7 per user per month) or OneDrive inside Microsoft 365 Business Basic ($7 per user per month) is the best fit, because you probably already use one of those ecosystems. Choose Sync.com, Proton Drive or Tresorit if you handle confidential client data, and pair any of them with a separate backup.
Table of Contents
What Is Cloud Storage for Business, and What Is It Not?
Cloud storage for business keeps your files on a provider’s servers so your team can open, share and edit them from any device. It is not automatically a backup. Sync tools copy changes everywhere, including mistakes and ransomware damage, so a deleted or encrypted folder can sync to every laptop.
Sync, Storage and Backup Are Three Different Jobs
| Job | What it does | Example | Protects against |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sync and share | Mirrors files across devices and people | Google Drive, Dropbox | Lost laptops, remote access |
| Cloud storage | Holds files centrally with permissions | Box, Egnyte | Server failure, version mix-ups |
| Backup | Keeps separate, restorable copies | IDrive, backup tools | Deletion, ransomware, account loss |
CISA’s guidance for small and medium businesses is to run automated, regular backups kept separate from your primary systems. It describes the 3-2-1 rule: three copies of important files, on two types of storage, with one copy off-site. It also advises testing that you can restore data fully and partially, and keeping offline copies.
A synced Google Drive folder counts as one copy. It does not satisfy the rule by itself. For a closer look at the backup side, see backup and recovery tools for SaaS companies.
How to Choose a Cloud Storage Solution for Your Business
Choose on seven things: the seat price, how storage is pooled, the minimum number of users, how files are encrypted, the compliance reports on offer, how long you can recover deleted or older versions, and the admin controls. Free storage size matters least for a business.
- Seat price and storage model. Some plans give each user their own allowance. Others pool storage across the team. Google Workspace lists pooled storage per user, so a 10-person team on Business Starter shares 300 GB in total.
- Minimum users. Sync Teams, Proton Drive Professional and pCloud Business start at two or three users, which matters for solo owners.
- Encryption model. Standard encryption protects files on the provider’s servers. End-to-end encryption means the provider cannot read your files. Sync.com, Proton Drive, Tresorit and pCloud (with its encryption option) take that approach.
- Compliance. Ask for the certification report you need, such as SOC 2 or ISO 27001, and a signed agreement if you handle regulated data. A marketing page is not proof.
- Recovery window. Version history lasts 180 days on Dropbox Standard and Sync Teams 1TB, and 365 days on Sync Teams 2TB and 10TB plans, per each vendor’s page. Longer windows help when damage goes unnoticed.
- Admin controls. Look for two-factor enforcement, role-based access, remote wipe and audit logs. Not every cheap plan includes them. For the wider security picture, read 10 best practices to enhance security in cloud computing and encryption tools for business data protection.
- Fit with your tools. A team in Gmail and Meet gains little from forcing Microsoft Teams, and the reverse is also true.
10 Best Cloud Storage Solutions for Businesses in 2026, Ranked
The ranking favors tools that suit a typical small or mid-sized team: strong value, easy setup and clear pricing. Encrypted specialists and backup-focused tools sit lower because they fit narrower needs. Prices come from each vendor’s pages, checked in October 2026.
Comparison Table
| Rank | Tool | Starting price (per user per month) | Storage | Encryption | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Google Drive (Workspace) | $7 Starter | 30 GB pooled per user | Standard | Teams that live in Gmail and Docs |
| 2 | OneDrive (Microsoft 365) | $7 Business Basic | 1 TB per user | Standard | Teams that use Word, Excel and Teams |
| 3 | Dropbox | $15 Standard | 3 TB for the team | Standard | Reliable sync across mixed devices |
| 4 | Box | From $5 (Starter) | 100 GB on Starter, unlimited on Business | Standard | Permission-heavy and regulated teams |
| 5 | Sync.com | $4.50 annual, $6 monthly (Teams 1TB) | 1 TB per user | End-to-end | Privacy-first small teams |
| 6 | Proton Drive | $7.99 (Drive Professional, annual) | 1 TB per user | End-to-end | Privacy plus a wider suite |
| 7 | pCloud Business | $9.99 | 3 TB for 3 users | Client-side option | Teams that want European data storage |
| 8 | Egnyte | $22 (Business, annual) | Not stated on the page | Standard | Governed collaboration at scale |
| 9 | Tresorit | Not published on the page I checked | From 2 TB per user | End-to-end | Regulated, high-security work |
| 10 | IDrive Business | $13.99 per month for 500 GB, unlimited users | 500 GB and up | Not stated on the page | Backup rather than daily collaboration |
Prices checked against vendor pages in October 2026. Plans change, so confirm on the vendor site before you buy.
1. Google Drive
Google Workspace lists Business Starter at $7 per user per month with 30 GB of pooled storage per user, Business Standard at $14 with 2 TB and Business Plus at $22 with 5 TB. The plans can be bought for up to 300 users, and there is a 14-day trial.
Drive earns first place because live co-editing in Docs, Sheets and Slides removes version confusion, and most staff already know the interface. Teams that run on cloud collaboration tools will also find Meet and Gmail close at hand.
Pros: easy to learn, strong real-time editing, a 14-day trial. Cons: Starter’s 30 GB per user is small for design or video files, and it uses standard encryption rather than end-to-end encryption.
2. OneDrive (Microsoft 365)
Microsoft 365 Business Basic costs $7.00 per user per month on a yearly commitment, with 1 TB of storage per user and Teams included. The Apps for business plan is $10.00 with 1 TB.
OneDrive fits teams that already work in Word, Excel and Outlook, because files open and save in place. Microsoft’s own page lists plans as annual subscriptions that auto-renew.
Pros: 1 TB per user at the entry price, tight Office and Teams integration. Cons: yearly commitment, and the plan lineup changes often, so check the page when you buy.
3. Dropbox
Dropbox’s plans list Standard at $15 per user per month with 3 TB of team storage and 180 days of version history, and Advanced at $24 with 15 TB, three-user minimum and one year of version history.
Dropbox remains popular for dependable sync across Mac, Windows and mobile, and for sharing large files with clients who don’t use your ecosystem.
Pros: consistent sync, polished apps, a year of version history on Advanced. Cons: higher seat price than Google or Microsoft, and storage is shared at team level.
4. Box
Box’s pricing page shows plans from $5 per user per month. Business Starter has 100 GB with a three-user minimum. Business and above offer unlimited storage, with upload limits of 5 GB on Business, 15 GB on Business Plus and 50 GB on Enterprise. An Individual plan includes 10 GB for a single user. The page doesn’t list per-user prices for the Business tiers.
Box suits teams that need granular permissions, audit trails and compliance reporting more than a friendly interface.
Pros: unlimited storage on Business tiers, strong permission controls. Cons: the Business-tier prices aren’t shown on the page, and the three-user minimum rules out solo owners.
5. Sync.com
Sync’s Teams plans list Teams 1TB at $4.50 per user per month on annual billing ($6 monthly), Teams 2TB at $6.75 ($9) and Teams 10TB at $11.25 ($13.50), with a three-user minimum. The page notes the listed rates carry a “Save 25% for 1 year” discount. All plans include end-to-end encryption, and the vendor lists SOC 2 Type 1, HIPAA, GDPR and PIPEDA compliance. File history is 180 days on Teams 1TB and 365 days on the larger plans.
Pros: end-to-end encryption at a low price, generous per-user storage. Cons: three-user minimum, and the lowest tier skips two-factor enforcement and role-based access.
6. Proton Drive
Proton Drive for business lists Drive Professional at $7.99 per user per month billed yearly, with 1 TB per user and a two-user minimum. Workspace Standard is $12.99 with 1 TB and adds secure mail, a VPN and a password manager. All plans list end-to-end encryption including metadata, enforced two-factor authentication and ISO 27001-certified security.
Pros: strong privacy at a mainstream price, with optional mail and password tools. Cons: smaller ecosystem for document editing than Google or Microsoft, and only yearly prices appeared on the page I checked.
7. pCloud Business
pCloud Business is listed at $9.99 per user per month for 3 users with 3 TB of storage, and Business Pro at $14.98 per user after a 25% new-account discount. It offers client-side encryption, 180 days of file version history, an EU data center, and a 30-day free trial.
Pros: a long trial, unlimited file size uploads and EU hosting. Cons: three-user minimum, and the discount applies only to new Pro accounts.
8. Egnyte
Egnyte’s pricing lists Business at $22 per user per month billed annually for up to 100 users, with a 100 GB per-file upload limit. Enterprise Lite is $39 and Elite is $48. Business, Enterprise Lite and Elite list a free trial.
Pros: built for governed collaboration, with permission control and Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 co-editing support. Cons: a higher entry price than the mainstream tools, and the Business tier caps at 100 users.
9. Tresorit
Tresorit’s business plans are Professional (1 user, 4 TB), Business (three-user minimum, from 6 TB, 2 TB per user) and Business Pro (five-user minimum, from 15 TB). Every plan is end-to-end encrypted and zero-knowledge, and the vendor lists ISO 27001, GDPR, TISAX, FINRA and HIPAA compliance. All plans offer a 14-day trial. The page I could read did not show prices, so check Tresorit’s page for current rates.
Pros: strong security credentials and compliance coverage. Cons: no visible price on the page, and it targets security-heavy buyers more than casual teams.
10. IDrive Business
IDrive Business is a single business plan with unlimited users, priced by storage: 500 GB at $13.99 per month billed yearly, 1.25 TB at $34.99 and 5 TB at $104.99. The vendor notes a 30% first-year discount on yearly billing, with standard pricing from the second year.
IDrive sits last because it is closer to a backup service than a daily collaboration tool. That is also its value: it gives you the separate copy that sync tools lack.
Pros: unlimited users and a separate backup copy. Cons: priced by storage rather than by seat, the listed rate is a discounted first-year price, and it is weaker for real-time collaboration.
Pros and Cons at a Glance
| Tool | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | Easy to learn. Real-time editing. | 30 GB per user on Starter. Standard encryption. |
| OneDrive | 1 TB per user at entry price. Office and Teams. | Yearly commitment. Plans change often. |
| Dropbox | Reliable sync. Polished apps. | Higher seat price. Team-level storage. |
| Box | Unlimited storage on Business. Strong permissions. | Business prices not shown. Three-user minimum. |
| Sync.com | End-to-end encryption at low cost. | Three-user minimum. Lowest tier lacks role controls. |
| Proton Drive | Privacy plus suite options. | Smaller editing ecosystem. |
| pCloud | 30-day trial. EU data center. | Three-user minimum. Discount for new Pro only. |
| Egnyte | Governed collaboration. | Higher entry price. 100-user cap on Business. |
| Tresorit | Zero-knowledge and wide compliance list. | Price not visible on page. |
| IDrive | Unlimited users. Separate backup copy. | Storage-based pricing. Discounted first year. |
What Will 10 People Pay Per Month?
For a 10-person team, entry plans range from about $67.50 to $220 per month at list prices. The cheapest options are Sync.com Teams 2TB on annual billing and Microsoft 365 Business Basic. The most expensive entry plan here is Egnyte Business.
| Plan | Seat price | 10 users per month |
|---|---|---|
| Sync.com Teams 2TB (annual billing) | $6.75 | $67.50 |
| Google Workspace Business Starter | $7 | $70 |
| Microsoft 365 Business Basic | $7 | $70 |
| Proton Drive Professional (yearly) | $7.99 | $79.90 |
| Google Workspace Business Standard | $14 | $140 |
| Dropbox Standard | $15 | $150 |
| Egnyte Business (annual) | $22 | $220 |
Calculated from the vendor prices above. Taxes, add-ons and promotional discounts are excluded.
Add a separate backup on top. A 500 GB IDrive Business plan at $13.99 per month, for example, adds one off-site copy for the whole team.
Which Cloud Storage Should You Pick?
Pick the tool that matches your biggest constraint. If it is familiarity, choose Google Drive or OneDrive. If it is confidentiality, choose Sync.com, Proton Drive or Tresorit. If it is permissions and audits, choose Box or Egnyte. If it is recovery, add IDrive.
| If your priority is… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest cost for a Google-based team | Google Drive Starter | $7 per user and pooled storage |
| Office apps and 1 TB per user | Microsoft 365 Business Basic | $7 per user with 1 TB |
| Sharing big files with clients | Dropbox Standard | Reliable sync and 180-day history |
| Confidential client files | Sync.com or Proton Drive | End-to-end encryption |
| Strict permissions and audits | Box or Egnyte | Granular controls |
| A separate backup copy | IDrive Business | Unlimited users, off-site copy |
Teams handling regulated data should also read how SaaS platforms are solving compliance challenges and handling vendor compliance risks before signing.
Common Mistakes Businesses Make With Cloud Storage
Four mistakes cause most of the damage: treating sync as backup, choosing on free storage, skipping compliance checks and never testing a restore. Each one is cheap to avoid before a problem and expensive to fix after.
Treating Sync as Backup
A synced folder copies deletions and ransomware damage to every device. Keep a separate backup that follows the 3-2-1 rule, and read threat detection and response and building a roadmap for cyber resilience for what to do when an attack gets through.
Choosing Based on Free Storage Alone
Free plans rarely include admin controls, audit logs or support. Box’s free Individual plan, for example, is single-user with a 250 MB upload limit. A business needs shared ownership, so the account should belong to the company, not to one person’s email.
Ignoring Compliance Requirements
Healthcare, finance and legal teams need the right certifications and agreements before storing client data. Ask the vendor for the report or agreement you need, and keep a copy. Our guide to secure remote access for network protection covers the access side.
Failing to Test Recovery
CISA advises testing that your team can restore data fully and partially, and checking that critical files are reachable without an internet connection. Schedule a restore test each quarter, and record how long it takes.
A Simple Rollout Checklist
- List the folders and apps that hold company files today, and who owns each.
- Pick one primary tool using the table above, and one separate backup.
- Create the structure first: shared team folders, not personal folders.
- Turn on two-factor authentication for every user before you migrate files.
- Move files in stages, one team at a time, and keep the old location read-only for two weeks.
- Run a restore test, then schedule it every quarter.
If staff use personal phones for work files, set rules first. See BYOD in the workplace.
FAQ
What is the best cloud storage for small businesses?
Google Drive and OneDrive suit most small businesses. Google Workspace starts at $7 per user per month, and Microsoft 365 Business Basic is $7 with 1 TB per user. Pick the one that matches the apps your team already uses, then add a separate backup.
Is cloud storage the same as backup?
No. Cloud storage syncs files across devices, so a deletion or ransomware change can sync everywhere. Backup keeps separate, restorable copies. CISA recommends the 3-2-1 rule: three copies, two storage types, one copy off-site. Use both together.
How much does cloud storage cost for a business?
Entry plans for 10 users run from about $67.50 to $220 per month at list prices. Sync.com Teams 2TB on annual billing costs $67.50, Google Workspace Starter and Microsoft 365 Business Basic cost $70, and Egnyte Business costs $220.
Is cloud storage secure enough for sensitive business data?
It can be, if you choose the right tool and set it up well. End-to-end encrypted options include Sync.com, Proton Drive and Tresorit. Whatever you choose, enforce two-factor authentication, limit who can share externally and review access regularly.
Which cloud storage has the best encryption?
Sync.com, Proton Drive and Tresorit list end-to-end encryption on their plans, which means the provider cannot read your files. Google Drive and Dropbox use standard encryption, which suits most teams.
How much storage does my business need?
Add up current files and estimate a year of growth, then add a buffer. Pooled plans such as Google Workspace Starter give 30 GB per user, which is enough for documents but not for design or video work. Move up to 1 TB or 2 TB plans for those teams.
Can we switch providers later?
Yes. Most providers let you export files in standard formats. The hard parts are moving large folders, rebuilding sharing permissions and retraining staff. Migrate in stages and keep the old location read-only for two weeks.
Do small businesses need a minimum number of users?
Some plans have one. Sync Teams, pCloud Business and Box Business Starter start at three users, Proton Drive Professional at two, and Dropbox Advanced at three. Dropbox Standard starts at one user.
What happens if my provider has an outage?
You lose access until service returns, but your files usually remain safe. Check the provider’s uptime commitment in its service agreement. Keep a recent backup and a plan for urgent files, such as offline copies on a laptop.
Choose for the Problem You Actually Have
A cloud storage tool solves access and collaboration. A backup solves recovery. The agency in the opening needed both. Start with the tool your team will actually use, add a separate backup, turn on two-factor authentication and test a restore this month.
Which risk worries you more right now, losing access to files or losing the files themselves?
