Free Cloud Storage for PC in [Best in 2026]

Running out of space on your PC is frustrating. Photos, videos, documents, and software fill up your hard drive faster than you expect. Free cloud storage offers a simple solution – extra space you can access from anywhere without buying expensive hardware.

We tested dozens of cloud storage services to find the best free options for PC users in 2026. Our selection focuses on storage capacity, speed, security, and compatibility with Windows computers. These services work reliably and cost nothing to use.

Top Free Cloud Storage Services for PC

1. pCloud – 10 GB Free Storage

pCloud stands out as the best free cloud storage for PC users. You get 10 GB of space without paying anything. The service starts with 5 GB, which expands to 10 GB when you complete simple tasks like verifying your email and uploading your first file.

PC Integration

pCloud installs on your Windows PC as a virtual drive. This means you can drag and drop files just like moving them between folders on your computer. The interface looks familiar to anyone who uses Windows Explorer.

The desktop app is lightweight. It doesn’t slow down your PC or consume excessive resources. File syncing happens automatically in the background. Changes you make on one device appear on all your other devices within seconds.

Features for PC Users

Zero transfer size limits mean you can upload files of any size. Many free services restrict individual file uploads to 100 MB or less. pCloud removes this barrier completely.

File recovery works for 15 days. Delete something by accident? The Trash folder keeps it safe for two weeks. One click restores the file to its original location.

Auto-sync keeps your PC and cloud storage identical. Install pCloud on multiple computers and your files stay current across all of them. Edit a document on your work PC and the changes appear on your home computer instantly.

Security on PC

TLS encryption protects your files during upload and download. Your data travels between your PC and pCloud’s servers in an encrypted tunnel. Hackers cannot intercept your files.

pCloud stores your data on three separate servers. If one server fails, your files remain accessible from the other two. Data loss becomes virtually impossible.

2. MEGA – 20 GB Free Storage

MEGA offers the most generous free storage – 20 GB. This amount exceeds every other free service by a significant margin. PC users who need extra space find MEGA particularly useful.

PC Application

The Windows desktop app provides full access to your cloud storage. MEGA syncs selected folders between your PC and the cloud. Choose which folders to sync and MEGA handles the rest.

The app runs quietly in your system tray. Right-click the icon to access quick controls for uploading, syncing, and managing your storage.

Performance

Upload and download speeds are moderate. MEGA doesn’t match pCloud’s transfer speeds, but it performs adequately for most users. Large file transfers take longer than with premium services.

The 20 GB capacity compensates for slower speeds. You can store thousands of photos, dozens of videos, or hundreds of documents without worrying about space limits.

Privacy Features

End-to-end encryption protects all your files. MEGA encrypts data on your PC before uploading. Only you hold the decryption keys. Even MEGA cannot access your files.

This privacy-first approach appeals to users who store sensitive documents. Financial records, medical information, and personal photos stay completely private.

3. Google Drive – 15 GB Free Storage

Google Drive gives PC users 15 GB of free storage. The service integrates seamlessly with other Google products like Gmail, Docs, and Photos.

Windows Desktop App

Google Drive for Desktop creates a virtual drive on your PC. Access your cloud files through Windows Explorer without opening a web browser. Files appear as if they’re stored locally on your computer.

Stream files directly from the cloud without downloading them first. This saves space on your PC’s hard drive. Double-click a document and it opens instantly, even though it lives in the cloud.

Collaboration Tools

Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides work directly within Drive. Create and edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations without installing Microsoft Office. Multiple people can edit the same file simultaneously.

Real-time collaboration makes Google Drive excellent for team projects. See changes as other people make them. Comments and suggestions keep everyone on the same page.

Limitations

Gmail emails count against your 15 GB limit. A full inbox can consume several gigabytes, leaving less space for files. Regular email cleanup becomes necessary.

Upload limits restrict individual document sizes. Files can’t exceed 5 TB, but practical limits are lower for specific file types. Presentations max out at 100 MB and documents at 50 MB.

4. Microsoft OneDrive – 5 GB Free Storage

OneDrive comes pre-installed on Windows 10 and Windows 11. PC users already have access without downloading anything extra. The service provides 5 GB of free storage.

Native Windows Integration

OneDrive appears in Windows File Explorer by default. Save files directly to your OneDrive folder and they sync automatically. The integration feels natural because Microsoft built it into the operating system.

Files on Demand lets you see all your cloud files in File Explorer without downloading them to your PC. They download only when you open them. This feature saves enormous amounts of local storage space.

Office Integration

Create and edit Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations directly in OneDrive. The web versions of these apps provide most features of the desktop software.

Personal Vault adds extra security for sensitive files. Access requires two-factor authentication. Free users can store up to three files in the vault.

Drawbacks

Only 5 GB of storage limits what you can store. High-resolution photos quickly fill the available space. Users with large media libraries need more capacity.

Transfer speeds are moderate. OneDrive doesn’t prioritize speed in the free tier. Uploading large files takes patience.

5. Icedrive – 10 GB Free Storage

Icedrive provides 10 GB of free storage with a modern, attractive interface. The service competes directly with pCloud in both capacity and features.

PC Client Features

The Windows app mounts as a virtual drive. Your cloud storage appears alongside your local drives in Windows Explorer. Drag and drop works exactly as expected.

Twofish encryption secures your data. This encryption standard is less common than AES but equally secure. Files are protected both in transit and at rest.

Performance

Transfer speeds are solid. Icedrive moves files quickly enough for daily use. Upload a 500 MB video in minutes rather than hours.

File versioning keeps the last 10 versions of each document. Accidentally overwrite a file? Restore a previous version with a few clicks.

Bandwidth Limits

Free users face a 50 GB monthly bandwidth cap. This limit applies to downloads, not uploads. If you frequently download large files, you might hit this ceiling.

For typical use – backing up documents and photos – 50 GB monthly bandwidth suffices. Heavy video downloads could exceed the limit.

Choosing the Right Free Cloud Storage for Your PC

Consider what you need to store. Documents and photos require less space than videos and software installers. Match your storage needs to the available capacity.

pCloud offers the best balance of features, speed, and storage for most PC users. The 10 GB capacity handles typical needs while premium features like unlimited transfer sizes add value.

MEGA suits users who prioritize storage capacity over speed. The 20 GB allowance stores twice as much as pCloud or Icedrive.

Google Drive works best for users already invested in Google’s ecosystem. The collaboration tools are unmatched among free services.

OneDrive makes sense for Windows users who want something that just works. The native integration requires no setup or configuration.

All these services protect your data with encryption and store files on multiple servers. Your files remain safe even if your PC crashes or gets stolen.

Maximizing Free Cloud Storage on PC

Use multiple services simultaneously. Create accounts with pCloud, MEGA, and Google Drive. You gain 45 GB of combined storage without spending money.

Organize files by service. Store documents in Google Drive for collaboration. Keep photos in MEGA for capacity. Save important files in pCloud for reliability.

Compress large files before uploading. ZIP files reduce size by 20-50% depending on content. This stretches your available storage further.

Regular cleanup prevents hitting storage limits. Delete old files you no longer need. Empty the trash folders periodically.

Conclusion

Free cloud storage gives PC users valuable extra space without cost. pCloud, MEGA, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Icedrive each offer reliable service with different strengths.

pCloud provides the best overall experience with 10 GB storage and premium features. MEGA offers the most capacity at 20 GB. Google Drive excels at collaboration. OneDrive integrates perfectly with Windows. Icedrive delivers modern design and solid performance.

Choose based on your priorities – capacity, speed, features, or integration. Any of these services will serve PC users well for storing photos, documents, videos, and backups.