Key Takeaways: What Is the Best Cloud Storage for Multiple Users?
- Sync for Teams — The best cloud storage for many users with great file sharing features, user and role management, strong security and excellent privacy.
- Box Business — Box Business is an excellent choice, especially if you want reassurance about storage, as most of its business plans have unlimited storage space.
- pCloud — pCloud has two ways to support multiple users. Its Lifetime cloud storage plans are great for families or smaller teams of five or fewer. pCloud Business supports multiple users and includes pCloud Crypto.
- Dropbox Business — Dropbox Business is a highly collaborative cloud storage option with a robust app market and many native apps.
- Google Drive — Google Drive is a cloud storage solution that includes popular Google apps like Docs and Sheets. If you don’t need user management and just want to collaborate, it’s a great option.
Working with others in a virtual setting is much more commonplace now than it was in the past. Cloud storage provides a convenient way to store, share and work on documents collaboratively, no matter where you are. To help you choose the right provider, we’ve compiled a list of the best cloud storage for multiple users.
Projects with multiple users come in all shapes and sizes, comprising professional teams and personal groups. The right cloud storage helps keep teams connected and in touch with project documents. Fortunately, the following list contains many top options, as we cover in our best cloud storage article. Read on to see which cloud storage solution best meets your team’s needs.
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06/25/2022
Updated Sync.com’s plans and pricing information.
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01/29/2024 Facts checked
This article was rewritten to include a revised provider list, updated features and current pricing.
Cloudwards Editor’s Choice
Sync for Teams is our top choice as it has most of the features users need from a cloud storage provider. Sharing is a breeze, especially when it’s done with other Sync.com members. User management is easy, and file versioning is generous. Additionally, Sync for Teams has zero-knowledge encryption for an entire account, keeping your data safe from prying eyes.
How to Choose the Best Cloud Storage for Multiple Users
Team collaboration is the most important feature we look for in cloud storage that supports multiple users. The ability to work on project documents together, either individually or in real time, is the main point of having multiple users in a cloud storage service.
Since there will be more than one user, tools that help manage, add or remove users are important considerations. You also want plenty of file sharing options as teams or groups will send documents to each other.
Security and privacy are also critical in keeping documents safe and ensuring that only authorized users have access to folders and files. Most cloud storage providers use the same security protocols. However, privacy varies between them — some are doing it very well, and others are watching everything you do.
The Top 5 Best Cloud Storage Services For Multiple Users
Sync for Teams is the best option for multiple users of different sizes. It has great cloud features, strong security and excellent privacy. Other notable cloud storage solutions include Box Business, pCloud, Dropbox and Google Drive. Read on to see how they stack up.
1. Sync for Teams — Best Cloud Storage for Multiple Users
with an uncluttered interface, easy sharing and top-notch security.
Pros:
- Generous file versioning
- Secure file sharing
- Private encryption
Cons:
- Slower speeds
- Desktop app isn’t great
Sync for Teams has a nice combination of user management and file sharing features to meet the needs of smaller groups or larger professional teams. You can add new members or edit current collaborators from a dedicated “users” tab. If you need certain members to have specific roles, the “role editor” feature lets you customize each team member’s access level.
Sharing files is the primary way to collaborate with Sync for Teams. When sharing files between members, you can invite them directly or create a shareable link. If you need to invite people from outside your team, a link is the way to go, although you can join a shared folder without an account. You can also include added protections like requiring a password or setting an expiration date for the shareable link.
Sync for Teams has few external app integrations, mainly due to its stringent security. However, it does support integration with some Microsoft 365 products, namely the Microsoft Office apps. You can create, edit and work on Word, Excel or PowerPoint documents from your account.
Sync for Teams Hands-On Testing
It’s easy to navigate your account using the Sync for Teams web interface, which is uncluttered and focuses mainly on your data. Highlighting files pulls up additional menu options, such as sharing.
The desktop app for Windows or Mac isn’t its strong suit since it’s primarily a sync folder with few options. However, the mobile app for iOS and Android is an excellent extension of your account, enabling you to play music and videos from your devices.
Notes From the Lab: Sync for Teams Speed Test Results
 |
1st test | 2nd test | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upload | 00:10:46 | 00:09:58 | 00:10:22 |
| Download | 00:15:06 | 00:15:13 | 00:15:10 |
Notes From the Lab: Sync for Teams Security Analysis
private encryption that protects your entire account.
Security and privacy are two areas in which Sync for Teams excels. It uses AES 256-bit encryption to protect your data while at rest on its servers. This encryption protects against brute-force attacks that repeatedly attempt to guess your login credentials or encryption keys. Sync for Teams secures your data transfers with TLS/SSL encryption, protecting against man-in-the-middle attacks that try to intercept your data.
Sync for Teams Pricing & Value
Sync for Teams doesn’t have a free plan. However, it does have a 30-day free trial for its Pro Teams+ Unlimited plan, and any premium paid plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you opt for Pro Teams+ Unlimited, you get unlimited storage that costs $15 per user per month when billed annually. Find out more in our Sync for Teams review.
- Price per user. Users: 2+
- 1TB
- Price per user. Users: 2+
- Unlimited GB
- Users: 2+
- Unlimited GB
2. Box Business
Pros:
- Excellent collaboration tools
- Unlimited storage options
- Third-party integrations
Cons:
- Not very fast
- No block-level sync
Box Business is one of the best options available if you have multiple users who need collaboration tools. It integrates with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 productivity apps. Additionally, Box.com has a marketplace that boasts over 1500 external app connections, including popular choices like Slack and Zoom.
Box Business has several native apps that come with every account. One great example is Box Notes. Box Notes is a web-based word processing app that lets you collaborate in real time virtually. Another option is Box Canvas, which functions like a virtual whiteboard and also supports real-time collaboration.
Box Business Hands-On Testing
The Box web interface has several menu options and information, giving you control over your folders and files. Selecting any of them opens a “sidebar” menu on the right side with detailed information and additional options like sharing.
The desktop app for Mac, Windows or Linux and the mobile app for iOS and Android are well made, providing additional ways to interact with your account.
Notes From the Lab: Box Business Speed Test Results
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1st test | 2nd test | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upload | 00:07:55 | 00:08:12 | 0:08:04 |
| Download | 00:07:54 | 00:08:06 | 0:08:00 |
Notes From the Lab: Box Business Security Analysis
control of your encryption keys with Box KeySafe.
Box.com keeps your account secure using AES 256-bit encryption and TLS/SSL encryption protocols. Additionally, you can enable two-factor authentication, which adds a second step to the login process. Two-factor authentication keeps your account secure if your login credentials become compromised.
Box Business Pricing & Value
capacity as they come with unlimited storage.
Most of Box’s business plans come with unlimited storage, so you’ll never have to worry about running out of storage space. None of the Box Business plans are free. However, they do come with a 14-day free trial. A paid Box Business Plus plan costs $25 per user per month, paid annually. For more information, check out our Box Business review.
- Single user
- 10GB
- Single user
- 100GB
- Price per user, minimum of three users
- 100GB
More plans
- Users: No limit
- Unlimited GB
- Users: No limit
- Unlimited GB
3. pCloud
you upload and edit files from the web interface.
Pros:
- Affordable plans
- Excellent file sharing
- Private encryption folder
Cons:
- Encryption is a paid add-on
- Limited collaboration tools
pCloud has a lot of flexibility in sharing folders and files with other team members. You can invite other pCloud users to a folder or create a shared link for it. For files, you can use a shared link. Other features include password protection or setting an expiration date. Additionally, you can create a public shared folder, which can host a static web page or produce direct links to files.
If you opt for the Business plan, you can utilize pCloud’s dedicated tab designed for user management. One tab lets you review the users while also displaying the actions taken by different team members. Its “teams” tab enables you to set up and manage users and teams. Managers can determine the storage allotment for a given user.
pCloud Hands-On Testing
pCloud is an easy cloud storage service to use, whether you’re interacting through the web interface, the desktop app or the mobile app. Downloading the Windows, Mac or Linux desktop app installs a virtual drive on your computer. A virtual drive gives you access to your files without taking up hard disk space.
your hard disk while still letting you work with your data.
Notes From the Lab: pCloud Speed Test Results
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1st test | 2nd test | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upload | 00:08:18 | 00:08:44 | 0:08:31 |
| Download | 00:06:52 | 00:07:02 | 0:06:57 |
Notes From the Lab: pCloud Security Analysis
it is a paid add-on unless you opt to purchase a Business plan.
Users who want to use the encrypted folder that comes with each account must purchase the pCloud Crypto paid add-on. If you choose a Business plan, then pCloud Crypto is included. Data you store in the Crypto folder is protected by zero-knowledge encryption. Since only you have the password, no one else can access it.
pCloud Pricing & Value
Both include pCloud Crypto in the subscription.
pCloud has two options for those who need to support multiple users: a Family Lifetime plan or a Business plan. The Family Lifetime plan has a one-time payment and can support up to five users, with storage amounts of 2TB or 10TB. A 2TB plan costs $595, and 10TB requires a single payment of $1499.
The other option is a pCloud Business plan. pCloud Business costs $7.99 per user per month, paid annually, with 1TB per user. On an annual plan, Business Pro costs $15.98 per user per month and has 2TB per user. Check out our pCloud Lifetime article, pCloud pricing guide and pCloud review to learn more.
- 10GB
- 500GB
- 2TB
More plans
- 10TB
- 2TB
- 10TB
- Price per user (minimum 3)
- 1TB
- Price per user (minimum 3)
- 2TB
4. Dropbox Business
Clicking on the “all files” tab takes you to your file storage.
Pros:
- Excellent file syncing
- Strong collaboration tools
- Third-party integrations
Cons:
- No private encryption (yet)
- On the expensive side
Dropbox is a great option for small businesses or teams that want great file syncing, making it one of the best cloud storage with sync. Using the desktop app, you can designate files to remain in the cloud, which frees up hard drive space. Dropbox supports selective sync, letting you decide what folders and files get synced with your account.
Collaboration is another strong feature of Dropbox. It supports connections to Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 and has a dedicated app market. Like Box Notes, Dropbox Paper is a native app that supports easy sharing and real-time collaboration with other team members.
Dropbox Business Hands-On Testing
Like most cloud storage services, Dropbox uses a left sidebar for navigation, putting your data front and center in its web interface. However, the “home” page doesn’t display your files — it only shows what Dropbox thinks you want to see. It’s a minor inconvenience and one of the only drawbacks of accessing your account on the web.
Notes From the Lab: Dropbox Business Speed Test Results
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1st test | 2nd test | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upload | 00:06:44 | 00:07:23 | 0:07:04 |
| Download | 00:07:13 | 00:07:25 | 0:07:19 |
Notes From the Lab: Dropbox Business Security Analysis
it doesn’t have zero-knowledge encryption yet.
Dropbox handles the security of your account well enough with AES 256-bit encryption, TLS/SSL encryption protocols and two-factor authentication. Dropbox recently purchased Boxcryptor, which is a third-party provider offering zero-knowledge encryption. Although no date has been announced as of this article, private encryption should be coming to Dropbox Business customers.
Dropbox Business Pricing & Value
plans can run on the expensive side.
Dropbox Business doesn’t have a free plan, although you can take most of its selections for a trial run of 30 days. Paying for a Business plan isn’t the most affordable option. The Business plan costs $20 per user per month when billed annually and shares a pool of 9TB of data. We cover pricing in our Dropbox pricing article and discuss more details in our Dropbox Business review.
- Price per user, shared storage, 30-day free trial
- 5TB
- Price per user
- 3TB
More plans
- Price per user, 30-day free trial
- 3TB
- Price & storage per user, 30-day free trial.
- 15TB
- Price per user, shared storage
- 9TB
- Price per user, shared storage
- 15TB
5. Google Drive
Pros:
- Excellent collaboration
- Generous free storage
- Google Workspace apps
Cons:
- No private encryption
- Not great for privacy
Google Drive focuses on making collaboration easy for multiple users, as it is one of the best cloud storage for collaboration. A free plan gives you access to Google’s popular apps, including Google Docs, Sheets and Slides. You can work with others online in real time using any of these apps, making collaboration simple. Comments and suggested edits keep communications flowing among team members.
Sharing is fast and easy with Google Drive. You can share folders and files with others that show up in a dedicated “shared with me” tab on your account. When sharing, you can add others directly or create a link. However, if you want to include additional protections, Google Drive doesn’t offer that capability.
Google Drive Hands-On Testing
Google Drive is one of the easier cloud storage services to use as it doesn’t have many of the bells and whistles that some of its competitors offer. The web interface focuses on giving you easy access to your content by providing the tools and information needed to work with your documents.
The desktop app available on Windows, Mac or Linux is little more than an added sync folder on your account. However, the sync folder works well and allows you to use your device to work on your files. The mobile app, found in the iOS or Google Play store, mirrors the look and functionality of the web interface.
in the cloud or to keep a copy of them on your device.
Notes From the Lab: Google Drive Speed Test Results
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1st test | 2nd test | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upload | 00:07:04 | 00:07:13 | 0:07:09 |
| Download | 00:07:26 | 00:07:23 | 0:07:25 |
Notes From the Lab: Google Drive Security Analysis
Google Drive is a secure service that uses AES 256-bit encryption and TLS/SSL encryption protocols to protect your data while at rest and in transit. You can enable two-factor authentication, which is done through your Google account, not Google Drive. Despite the strong security, privacy is a weak spot with this provider. Google collects data on you, as explained in its privacy policy.
Google Drive Pricing & Value
from the 15GB free storage account.
If you want to start collaborating with multiple users, all you need is a free plan with 15GB of storage space. Upgrading to a Google One account gives you more storage and added features. The Basic plan has 100GB of cloud storage for $19.99 annually. We cover more details in our Google Drive review.
- Free plan
- 15GB
- 100GB
- 200GB
More plans
- 2TB
- 10TB
- 20TB
- 30TB
Final Thoughts
Cloud storage is a great way for users to work together on projects, regardless of location. Sync for Teams is the best overall option with great features, affordable prices and strong privacy. Other top choices are Box Business, pCloud, Dropbox Business and Google Drive. Any of these cloud storage solutions will get you up and running with many users in no time.
Do you use any of these cloud storage services? Did we miss a great cloud storage service that supports numerous users? Let us know in the comments section below. Thanks for reading our article.
FAQ: Best Cloud Storage for Multiple Users
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Yes. Most cloud storage providers have plans that support more than one user. However, very few offer free plans that support multiple users.
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Sync for Teams is the best choice for cloud storage that supports multiple users. It has great cloud features, user management tools, strong security and privacy.
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Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive protect your data using the same security protocols. These include AES 256-bit encryption to protect data at rest and TLS/SSL encryption protocols to secure data transfers.
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