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Cloud storage software · 12 alternatives

Microsoft OneDrive alternatives: 12 compared

Sebastiaan Smits By Sebastiaan Smits · Published October 8, 2026 · Updated October 8, 2026

Buyers look past OneDrive when storage tied to a per-user Microsoft license no longer fits, when they want files the vendor cannot read, or when a team needs shared folders rather than personal ones. Most go to Google Drive or Dropbox for collaboration, to Tresorit or Proton Drive for encryption, or to Nextcloud to host it themselves.

Short answer: The closest replacements for Microsoft OneDrive in our cloud storage software ranking are Google Drive, Dropbox and Box. Choose Google Drive if you want to replace the whole Microsoft office suite with Google's, not just the files. All 12 alternatives below are ranked products from Best Cloud Storage Software in 2026, and each says where it differs from Microsoft OneDrive and when Microsoft OneDrive is still the better choice.

Visibility in our rankings can be paid for. Payment moves a vendor's position within the shortlist; it never adds a vendor, and it never changes a word of the review or of this page. How it works: placement disclosure · editorial process.

Microsoft OneDrive at a glance

  • Headquarters: United States
  • Pricing model: Per user / month
  • Pricing: Included with Microsoft 365 business subscriptions and also sold as a standalone plan; the exact per-user figures were not verified from the vendor pages this session.
  • Free option: Free plan
  • Built for: Office-centric teams on Microsoft 365
  • Wrong for: A Google Workspace shop, or a team that needs end-to-end encryption, gains nothing here. A company with a fast-growing media library should check upload and sync performance first.
  • Place in our ranking: #9 of 13
  • Website: microsoft.com

Facts from our cloud storage software ranking, last checked October 8, 2026.

Why buyers look past Microsoft OneDrive

  1. Storage follows the license

    Microsoft's service description gives Business Basic, Standard and Premium 1 TB per user and the F3 plan 2 GB per user. Storage is provisioned per licensed person, so frontline staff and larger shared archives sit awkwardly inside it.

  2. It is built for personal files

    Microsoft states that OneDrive serves an individual's own work files and does not support departmental or organizational data, nor a per-user license for a bot or department. Shared team content is meant to live in SharePoint.

  3. Lapsed licenses run on a clock

    An unlicensed OneDrive account goes read-only after 60 days and is archived after 93. From July 1, 2026 a cumulative 365-day nonpayment clock also applies. Admins who offboard people or change plans have to watch these dates.

12 alternatives at a glance

Closest replacement first. The last column is our place in the full 13-product ranking.

#AlternativeHeadquartersPricingKey differenceSwitch ifOur rank
1Google DriveUnited StatesPer user / month; free planStorage and live co-editing inside Google Workspaceyou want to replace the whole Microsoft office suite with Google's, not just the files#5
2DropboxUnited StatesPer user / month; free planThe original sync folder, now with AI search and signingyou want a plain sync folder with long restore windows and shared team storage#4
3BoxUnited StatesPer user / month; free planContent cloud with governance and 1,500 integrationsyou share files with external partners and need governance and many integrations#8
4TresoritSwitzerlandPer user / month; free trialEnd-to-end encrypted file sync for businesses handling sensitive filesthe vendor must not be able to read your files at all#1
5Proton DriveSwitzerlandPer user / month; free planSwiss end-to-end encrypted storage inside the Proton accountyou want encrypted storage plus a free tier for individuals and a small team#2
6Sync.comCanadaPer user / month; noneEncrypted team folders with straightforward published pricingyou want encrypted team storage with simple per-user tiers and a fixed minimum#3
7NextcloudGermanyOpen source + paid tiers; open sourceOpen-source file platform you host yourselfyou want to host files yourself or on a managed service in Germany#6
8pCloudSwitzerlandOne-time lifetime + subscription; free planSwiss storage sold by subscription or lifetime paymentyou are a freelancer or tiny team that prefers a one-time lifetime payment#7
9InternxtSpainAnnual + lifetime; free planOpen-source zero-knowledge storage from Spainyou want open-source, audited encryption with a lifetime payment option#10
10KoofrSloveniaFlat monthly; free planSlovenian storage that connects your other cloudsyou want one search across several clouds with EU-based storage#11
11FilenGermanyFlat monthly; free planGerman end-to-end encrypted storage with stackable plansyou want encrypted storage with open-source apps and a mountable network drive#12
12IcedriveGibraltarSubscription + lifetime; free planCloud storage you mount like a local driveyou want a mounted drive and a free 10 GB tier for personal use#13

What each alternative does differently

1. Google Drive

Storage and live co-editing inside Google Workspace · United States

Closest like-for-like swap for teams that want live co-editing. Storage is pooled at 30 GB per person on Workspace Starter and 2 TB on Standard. The Standard plan lists a Google Workspace Migrate tool. You also replace Outlook and Office with Gmail and Docs, which is a larger change than files alone.

Switch from Microsoft OneDrive if you want to replace the whole Microsoft office suite with Google's, not just the files.

Pricing: 15 GB free per Google account; Workspace Starter lists 30 GB pooled per person, Standard 2 TB and Plus 5 TB per user, with Enterprise quoted. (free plan)

Full review: #5 of 13 in our ranking · Visit Google Drive →

2. Dropbox

The original sync folder, now with AI search and signing · United States

Sync-first product with its own file requests, signing and AI search. Standard restores deleted files for 180 days and Advanced for a year, with transfers up to 100 GB. Team storage is pooled, starting at 3 TB for the team on Standard, not fixed per person.

Switch from Microsoft OneDrive if you want a plain sync folder with long restore windows and shared team storage.

Pricing: Free Basic at 2 GB, Plus for individuals at 9.99 euros a month for 2 TB, and team plans from 12 euros per user monthly (Standard) and 18 euros (Advanced). (free plan)

Full review: #4 of 13 in our ranking · Visit Dropbox →

3. Box

Content cloud with governance and 1,500 integrations · United States

Content-management product aimed at governance. Business Starter allows 100 GB and 2 GB uploads, while Business and Business Plus have unlimited storage with 5 GB and 15 GB uploads. Business plans start at three users and list over 1,500 integrations. Heavier to administer than a sync folder.

Switch from Microsoft OneDrive if you share files with external partners and need governance and many integrations.

Pricing: Free Individual plan at 10 GB; Business Starter at $5 per user monthly with 100 GB, then Business and Business Plus with unlimited storage, with a three-user minimum on business plans and Enterprise tiers quoted. (free plan)

Full review: #8 of 13 in our ranking · Visit Box →

4. Tresorit

End-to-end encrypted file sync for businesses handling sensitive files · Switzerland

End-to-end encrypted sync where files and relevant metadata are encrypted on the device, and the keys never reach the vendor unencrypted. Tresorit adds Engage data rooms and an eSign add-on for client-facing work.

Switch from Microsoft OneDrive if the vendor must not be able to read your files at all.

Pricing: Separate business and personal plans: Professional for a single user, Business from three users, Business Pro from five, plus an annual-only Enterprise tier; every business plan offers a 14-day trial. (free trial)

Full review: #1 of 13 in our ranking · Visit Tresorit →

5. Proton Drive

Swiss end-to-end encrypted storage inside the Proton account · Switzerland

End-to-end encrypted storage inside a Proton account, with a free 5 GB tier and a Drive Professional plan at 1 TB per user. It includes online documents and spreadsheets. Fewer admin and compliance controls than Microsoft 365 offers, and no desktop office suite.

Switch from Microsoft OneDrive if you want encrypted storage plus a free tier for individuals and a small team.

Pricing: Free tier with 5 GB, Drive Plus at 200 GB, bundled plans such as Unlimited at 500 GB for 12.99 euros a month, and a separate Drive Professional business plan listed at 1 TB per user. (free plan)

Full review: #2 of 13 in our ranking · Visit Proton Drive →

6. Sync.com

Encrypted team folders with straightforward published pricing · Canada

Zero-knowledge encrypted storage sold only as team plans of 1 TB, 2 TB or 10 TB per user with a three-user minimum. Enterprise starts at 100 users. It lists a 30-day money-back guarantee. It focuses on secure files and sharing, with no document editing of its own.

Switch from Microsoft OneDrive if you want encrypted team storage with simple per-user tiers and a fixed minimum.

Pricing: Teams plans of 1 TB, 2 TB and 10 TB per user, listed at $6, $9 and $15 per user per month on annual billing, with a three-user minimum and a 30-day money-back guarantee. (none)

Full review: #3 of 13 in our ranking · Visit Sync.com →

7. Nextcloud

Open-source file platform you host yourself · Germany

Self-hosted, AGPL software where you control the server. Enterprise subscriptions start at 100 users, and Nextcloud One is a managed service hosted in Germany for smaller organizations. You take on updates and operations, and the platform adds Talk and optional AI features beyond file sync.

Switch from Microsoft OneDrive if you want to host files yourself or on a managed service in Germany.

Pricing: Open-source software under the AGPL; the supported Enterprise subscription is per user per year from 100 users, listed at 71.29 euros (Standard), 104.99 (Premium) and 204.75 (Ultimate), with the managed Nextcloud One service for fewer than 100 users. (open source)

Full review: #6 of 13 in our ranking · Visit Nextcloud →

8. pCloud

Swiss storage sold by subscription or lifetime payment · Switzerland

Consumer-style storage where you pick a data region, Europe or the USA, and can buy lifetime plans. Client-side encryption is a separate paid add-on that covers only a Crypto folder. Less suited to managed company rollouts than to freelancers and very small teams.

Switch from Microsoft OneDrive if you are a freelancer or tiny team that prefers a one-time lifetime payment.

Pricing: Lifetime plans listed at 219 euros for 500 GB, 499 euros for 2 TB and 1,499 euros for 10 TB, with subscriptions also offered, a family plan for up to five users and a 14-day money-back guarantee. (free plan)

Full review: #7 of 13 in our ranking · Visit pCloud →

9. Internxt

Open-source zero-knowledge storage from Spain · Spain

Zero-knowledge storage that describes its code as open source and audited, with post-quantum encryption stated on every plan. It sells annual and lifetime plans plus a free tier. Collaboration is thinner than in Microsoft's suite, so check co-editing needs first.

Switch from Microsoft OneDrive if you want open-source, audited encryption with a lifetime payment option.

Pricing: Annual subscriptions and stackable lifetime plans in 1 TB, 2 TB and 5 TB tiers, plus a free 1 GB tier; a 30-day money-back guarantee applies. (free plan)

Full review: #10 of 13 in our ranking · Visit Internxt →

10. Koofr

Slovenian storage that connects your other clouds · Slovenia

Storage in EU data centers that can also connect your existing Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive accounts into one search. Vault adds client-side encryption for chosen files, and Office for the web handles editing. Small and simple, with a free 10 GB tier.

Switch from Microsoft OneDrive if you want one search across several clouds with EU-based storage.

Pricing: Free 10 GB tier, then small monthly plans from 0.50 euros for 10 GB up to 35 euros for 5 TB, prices including 22 percent VAT, with yearly billing available. (free plan)

Full review: #11 of 13 in our ranking · Visit Koofr →

11. Filen

German end-to-end encrypted storage with stackable plans · Germany

Zero-knowledge encrypted storage with open-source apps and stackable plans from 200 GiB upward, plus a free tier. It offers sync, a network drive and a command-line client. It is aimed at individuals and enthusiasts, so team administration is limited.

Switch from Microsoft OneDrive if you want encrypted storage with open-source apps and a mountable network drive.

Pricing: Monthly euro plans from 1.99 for 200 GiB through 3.99 for 500 GiB and 8.99 for 2 TiB to 39.99 for 10 TiB, stackable on one account, plus a free tier. (free plan)

Full review: #12 of 13 in our ranking · Visit Filen →

12. Icedrive

Cloud storage you mount like a local drive · Gibraltar

Cloud storage mounted like a local drive, with 10 GB free on signup and a showcase page for sharing work. It is run from Gibraltar. We could not confirm its encryption terms on the vendor site this session, so check which tier includes it.

Switch from Microsoft OneDrive if you want a mounted drive and a free 10 GB tier for personal use.

Pricing: 10 GB free on signup, standard subscriptions and lifetime plans; exact tier prices were not verified from the vendor's pages this session. (free plan)

Full review: #13 of 13 in our ranking · Visit Icedrive →

When Microsoft OneDrive is still the right choice

OneDrive remains the right choice when your company already pays for Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Standard or Premium, which include 1 TB per user, and your staff live in Word, Excel and Teams. Sharing with guests runs through Microsoft Entra B2B, and the admin, security and compliance features are part of the plan. Moving only pays off when a specific constraint above bites.

What to expect when you switch from Microsoft OneDrive

  1. Sort personal files from team files first

    Because OneDrive holds an individual's own files and Microsoft points team content to SharePoint, a migration plan needs two lists: what sits in each person's OneDrive and what sits in SharePoint libraries. Exporting only one side leaves shared folders behind.

  2. Keep licenses until the copy is verified

    An unlicensed account turns read-only after 60 days and is archived after 93. Do not remove licenses before the new platform holds a complete, spot-checked copy. For deleted users, another person gets 30 days by default to download files.

  3. Check names, paths and file sizes

    Microsoft's restrictions page lists invalid characters, blocked file types and path-length limits, and caps single files at 250 GB. Different platforms have their own rules, so run a dry run on a sample folder and fix names before the full copy.

Questions and answers

Can I move all my OneDrive files out in bulk?

Yes. Microsoft recommends the OneDrive sync app for anything larger than a few GB, and single files can be up to 250 GB for upload and download. In practice your bandwidth and the target platform's limits decide how fast it goes.

What happens to OneDrive data if the license stops?

The account goes read-only after 60 unlicensed days and is archived after 93. Since July 1, 2026 a cumulative 365-day nonpayment clock also applies, with deletion risk starting no earlier than July 1, 2027 for accounts already unlicensed that day. Education, GCC and DoD are excluded.

How long do I have to save a departed employee's files?

Thirty days by default once another user has been given access to that OneDrive. By default the manager receives access automatically, and you can set a secondary owner or change the retention time in the admin settings.

Do I have to leave Microsoft 365 to leave OneDrive?

No. OneDrive is included in Microsoft 365 plans and can also be bought as a standalone plan, so you can keep Office and email and move only the file storage to another service.

How much storage does each Microsoft 365 plan give per user?

Business Basic, Standard and Premium give 1 TB per user. E3 and E5 start at 1 TB and can be raised to 5 TB, and F3 provides 2 GB. Pooled storage limits still apply at the tenant level.

Is OneDrive meant for shared department folders?

No. Microsoft says OneDrive storage is for an individual's work files and that departmental or organizational data is not supported there. SharePoint is the product it recommends for team and intranet content, so check where your shared data sits before judging an alternative.

Sources

Prices, plan limits and product facts about Microsoft OneDrive on this page were checked against the vendors' own pages on October 8, 2026. Vendors change both without notice, so treat the figures as of that date.

Who wrote this

Sebastiaan Smits Sebastiaan Smits, Founder, wrote, edited and fact-checked this page. Founder of The Interregnum and of 2 Steps Ahead, an AI search visibility agency. Writes, edits and fact-checks every page here. Last reviewed October 8, 2026. How we review.