4 Best OneDrive Alternatives in 2025
Last updated: February 2026 • 14 min read
OneDrive is a popular tool for microsoft 365 users. While it offers a free tier (5 GB free), its paid plans start at $1.99/mo (100 GB). Whether you're looking for a cheaper option, better features, or an open-source solution, we've compiled the 4 best OneDrive alternatives to help you find the right fit.
📋 Quick Summary
- Total alternatives: 4
- Free alternatives: 4 (Google Drive, Dropbox, pCloud)
- Open-source options: Nextcloud
- Best overall: Google Drive
- Best free: Google Drive
Why Look for OneDrive Alternatives?
People commonly look for OneDrive alternatives for several reasons:
- Cost: While OneDrive has a free tier, its paid plans starting at $1.99/mo (100 GB) can add up quickly for growing teams.
- Feature gaps: Sync issues reported and confusing personal vs business are common complaints.
- Simplicity: Some users find OneDrive overly complex for their needs and prefer simpler solutions.
- Data ownership: Organizations wanting data sovereignty prefer open-source, self-hosted alternatives.
- Better fit: Different tools excel at different use cases — you may find a tool that's specifically built for your workflow.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Tier | Starting Price | Rating | Open Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OneDrive | ✓ 5 GB free | $1.99/mo (100 GB) | ⭐ 4.1 | No | Microsoft 365 users |
| Google Drive | ✓ 15 GB free | $1.99/mo (100 GB) | ⭐ 4.4 | No | Google Workspace users |
| Dropbox | ✓ 2 GB storage | $11.99/mo | ⭐ 4.2 | No | Individuals and teams needing reliable file sync |
| pCloud | ✓ Up to 10 GB | $49.99/yr | ⭐ 4.3 | No | Privacy-conscious users wanting lifetime storage |
| Nextcloud | ✓ Free (self-hosted) | Free | ⭐ 4.2 | ✓ Yes | Organizations wanting self-hosted cloud storage |
Detailed Reviews of Each Alternative
Google Drive
Cloud storage service integrated with Google Workspace.
Google Drive is a cloud storage service that's part of the Google Workspace ecosystem. It offers 15 GB of free storage shared across Gmail, Drive, and Photos. With tight integration with Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, it's the default storage solution for the Google ecosystem.
Pros
- ✓ 15 GB free
- ✓ Google ecosystem integration
- ✓ Real-time collaboration
- ✓ Powerful search
Cons
- ✗ Privacy concerns
- ✗ Confusing organization
- ✗ Limited offline
- ✗ Google ecosystem lock-in
Dropbox
Cloud storage and file synchronization service.
Dropbox is one of the original cloud storage services, offering file syncing, sharing, and collaboration features. While it pioneered the cloud storage category, Dropbox has evolved into a broader collaboration platform with features like Paper, Transfer, and Replay.
Pros
- ✓ Reliable sync
- ✓ Great desktop app
- ✓ Widely used
- ✓ Good sharing features
Cons
- ✗ Expensive for storage
- ✗ Small free tier
- ✗ Privacy concerns
- ✗ Limited editing tools
pCloud
Secure cloud storage with lifetime plan option.
pCloud is a Swiss-based cloud storage service known for its security features and unique lifetime subscription option. Based in Switzerland with servers in the EU and US, pCloud offers strong privacy protections and a one-time payment option that makes it cost-effective long-term.
Pros
- ✓ Lifetime plan available
- ✓ Swiss privacy
- ✓ Good free tier
- ✓ Client-side encryption option
Cons
- ✗ Encryption costs extra
- ✗ Smaller ecosystem
- ✗ No real-time collaboration
- ✗ Limited integrations
Nextcloud
Open-source, self-hosted cloud storage and collaboration platform.
Nextcloud is the most popular open-source, self-hosted cloud storage solution. It provides file sharing, calendar, contacts, email, and collaboration features that you host on your own server. Nextcloud offers complete data sovereignty and can be extended with hundreds of apps.
Pros
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Self-hosted
- ✓ Feature rich
- ✓ Data sovereignty
- ✓ Active community
Cons
- ✗ Requires hosting
- ✗ Setup complexity
- ✗ Performance varies
- ✗ Maintenance needed
🏆 Our Recommendations
Best Overall Alternative:
Google Drive — Google Workspace users
Best Free Alternative:
Google Drive — 15 GB free
Best Open-Source Alternative:
Nextcloud — Organizations wanting self-hosted cloud storage
❓ FAQ
What is the best free alternative to OneDrive?
The best free alternative to OneDrive is Google Drive, which offers 15 GB free.
Is there an open-source alternative to OneDrive?
Yes! Nextcloud is open-source alternative to OneDrive that you can self-host for free.
What is the cheapest alternative to OneDrive?
The cheapest alternatives are the free options: Google Drive, Dropbox, pCloud. For paid alternatives, prices start from as low as $1.991/mo.
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