Whether you use your Android device for business or for personal endeavors, storing some of that data on the limited memory of a handset or a tablet is not always sufficient. Not to mention it’s nice to be able to access those files from either a tablet, a smartphone, or a computer.
Fortunately, there are a plethora of cloud storage services available. Many offer free storage options that can give users a little boost in space, as well as monthly subscriptions for more space than a user might know what to do with. You may already know about Dropbox and Google Docs, but there are other players in the cloud game that offer some of the same features and functionality—and improved security, too. We've compiled a handy list of some of those other services you might want to consider for your Android device.
If you have a favorite cloud service that’s not listed below and is compatible with Android devices, let us know!
MediaFire hooks users up with 50GB of free storage for desktop and mobile devices, though it’s not without a few caveats. Free users are only allowed a maximum individual file size of 200MB, for instance. More features, like enhanced security and secure redundant backups, can be unlocked for a minimum of $1.50 a month, or you can pay $4.50 a month for 250GB of storage and a few extra options. There is also the option to purchase the business version for $24.50 a month, which offers a whopping 1TB of cloud storage.
SugarSync is an especially helpful service for accessing files stored locally on your home or work computer. Simply install the application and then point it to the location of the files and folders you’d like synced in the cloud. Services start at $4.99 a month for 30GB, $9.99 a month for 60GB, $14.99 a month for 100GB, $24.99 a month for 250 GB, or $39.99 a month for 500GB. There’s also a free version that offers 5GB of storage, with the ability to "earn" extra megabytes of storage by performing simple tasks.
We’ve referred to it once as the “Dropbox for the security obsessive” and that still rings true. SpiderOak lets users know right away that it will never have access to your password or encryption keys, though that also means the data is not recoverable so be sure to store that vital information in a safe place. With SpiderOak, users get 2GB of free storage or 100GB for $10 a month ($100 a year). Extra storage can also be purchased at 100GB increments for $10 extra per month (or $100 extra per year).
Box offers 5GB of free storage, or 25GB for $9.99 a month and 50GB for $19.99 a month. Paid users also have a file size limit of 1GB, while free users are limited to 250MB per file. On the Web, users can annotate and e-sign documents with the service and on Android devices, Box also offers features like file encryption and auto log out when the app is closed as well as the ability to save content directly from other apps and to save to an SD card for offline access.
Ubuntu One works somewhat like SugarSync, where users can select specific folders from their computer to automatically upload to the cloud every time a change is made. Ubuntu One also uploads any photo that's taken on your Android device up to the cloud, and this includes photos taken with other applications, like Instagram.
If you're aching for more than the 5GB of free storage it offers, you can upgrade to 20GB of storage for $2.99 a month, or $29.99 a year. Extra storage can also be added at $2.99 for 20GB increments.
CloudOn, Free
Those of you already committed to services like Dropbox or Google Drive can download CloudOn to access your various cloud storage accounts at once. CloudOn supports access to Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, and SkyDrive. It also features a built-in Adobe Reader, as well as the ability to open Word, Excel, or PowerPoint to create and edit documents.
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