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Other cloud storage and online backup articlesDon't risk your images; whisk them up into the safety of the cloud
Here we test six leading options to find the best cloud storage for photos.Backing up your photos is hardly a blast, and that was especially
the case back when that meant spending time burning them to CDs.Fortunately, keeping your photos safe is now much easier thanks to the cloud
Put simply, 'the cloud' is just techno-jargon for online storage.You can choose from numerous websites offering anywhere between 1GB and 1TB
of free remote hard drive space.Backing up like this doesn't just eliminate the hassle of dealing with discs or hard drives, it also enables
you to access your photos from anywhere with an internet connection.The ability to share photos is another bonus, while websites like Flickr
let you exhibit your images to the world, with scope for other users to leave feedback.Of course, if you'd rather keep your photos private,
most cloud storage providers make it easy to set restrictions to make images accessible only to your password-protected account, or to
anyone with a private web link.We've compared six of the best cloud storage websites; three aimed at photographers and three suited to
DropboxThe best way to store multiple file formatsEasy to useStores any file typeProven legacyExpensiveDropbox is great for storing pretty
much any digital file type
Organising files is a cinch thanks to the intuitive folder system, plus you can access your files on the go with apps for iOS and Android
All this and 2GB of storage is free with a Dropbox Basic account (you can get an extra 500MB of space for referring a friend up to 16GB)
You do get remote desktop wipe, 30-day version history and priority email upload
For its versatility and simplicity, Dropbox is superb, but ultimately Flickr's more attractive interface, social interaction and sheer value
make it the better option.2
Google DriveCloud storage at its finest, but overkill for simply storing photosFree productivity apps thrown inUnlimited photosAI photo
assistantCan be daunting at firstDrive isn't just another cloud storage provider, it's also home to several free business-grade office apps
(heck, we even use it in the office here)
Like Dropbox, Drive is geared towards file sharing, with multiple users able to modify shared files
You can store photos on Drive, but it doesn't offer the same stylish setting as more photography-focused online storage.Instead, use Google
Photos which offers unlimited storage for high resolution photos which are up to 16-megapixel in size
15GB of free storage comes with Drive, although this is shared by other Google apps like Gmail
Google uses AI and Machine Learning to automatically label people within pictures and uses metadata (date and place) to make searching
Microsoft OneDriveOffers a good balance of versatility and valueFree productivity suite thrown inCheaper 1TB storage than the restLess
photo-focused than competitionMicrosoft's cloud storage offers a very similar set-up to its arch-rival, Google Drive
Anyone familiar with the Microsoft Office suite will feel right at home with OneDrive's integrated office apps
OneDrive adopts the same look and feel as Windows 10, so it's easy to navigate
However, it isn't designed solely for photographers, so don't expect the same viewing experience as you get from Flickr
Pricing is close to Google's, with 5GB for free and an extra 50GB costing $1.99 per month
However, Microsoft's 1TB option is better value at $6.99 per month (or $69.99 paid yearly), and includes the Office 365 package
FlickrOffers tremendous bang for no bucks, providing you stick to uploading JPEGs.FreeGargantuan amounts of spaceCan't store RAW filesWhere
most cloud storage providers make you cough up for more than a few gigabytes of storage, Flickr - now owned by Verizon - offers 1TB for
free, with unobtrusive adverts covering the cost
If you'd rather go ad-free, you can for a $6 monthly fee or $50 annual fee (also includes 45-day free trial) for Flickr Pro+
What makes Flickr stand out is its ability to display your photos in an attractive photostream
Other users can follow your activity and comment on your shots, or you can make images private, making it a real social network for amateur
and professional photographers alike
Flickr is designed for presenting your shots rather than just storing them, so it'll only display JPEG, GIF and PNG images
Dropbox is better if you need to upload RAW files but you won't get stats on your photo views or 15% savings off Adobe's Creative Cloud.5
Adobe Creative CloudPhotography-focused storage and great valueFocused on photographyExpensiveAdobe Creative Cloud offers a number of
different cloud-based storage solutions specifically for photographers
It provides photography-orientated storage with attractive image galleries
Group Libraries enable friends to add photos to one shared folder, and you're free to make any photo private
There's integration with Lightroom and Elements, and you can make quick edits when needed
Uploading is easy, with apps for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android
There's also support for RAW file formats
The cheapest tier is expensive though at $119.88 per year for 1TB of storage
That's twice what Microsoft OneDrive provides but you do get Lightroom CC
Opt for a lower storage capacity (20GB) and you can get Photoshop CC thrown in for free.6
Canon IristaPerforms well, but other providers are better valueAttractive interfaceGood social media integration.Extra storage is
priceyirista is designed to rival the likes of Flickr and Adobe Creative Cloud, giving you a gallery-driven interface that's for displaying
It accepts JPEG and common RAW file formats and is easy to use, with options to filter images by camera or lens type and arrange shots by
Social media is heavily integrated, so you can upload images to Irista, share them to Facebook or Flickr and track any Likes or comments
Six subscription plans allow you to increase Irista's free 15GB of storage to either 100GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 5TB or 10TB
You can get the cheapest 100GB plan for $2.25 a month, the most common 1TB plan for $12.99 a month or if you want the 10TB plan for the
biggest storage, you'll have to pay $129.99 on a monthly basis.5 things to look for in cloud storage for photosFreemium: Most storage
providers give you some free space, with extra capacity available for a monthly or annual fee
Prices vary considerably, though, so make sure you get a good deal.File formats: If you just want to back up or share JPEGs, then pretty
much any provider will fit the bill
However, you'll need to choose more carefully if you'll be storing TIFFs or RAW files.Internet speed: Don't fork out on a premium cloud
storage subscription if your internet connection runs at a snail's pace
Consider spending the same cash on a fast external hard drive instead.Show off: Not all online storage websites will display your photos in
attractive galleries for the world to see them at their best.Keep moving: Cloud storage is great for keeping your photos accessible on the
go, so make sure your preferred provider has apps to help view and upload images from your mobile
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