Are you using cloud storage but haven’t considered investing in it? If you’re paying for a service, why not benefit from it in multiple ways, including investing in the company behind it?
I’m not yet an investor in Microsoft, but I now have a solid reason to consider it!
In this post, I’ll share why I chose Microsoft as my cloud storage provider—and why it could also be a good investment opportunity. At the same time, check out this post how Microsoft may be in trouble because of OpenAI.
Why I Didn’t Believe in Cloud Storage
I’ll be honest: I was a cloud storage skeptic for the longest time. And no, I don’t mean in the way former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris once explained the “cloud” in 2010. What I mean is that I was hesitant about the cost and security of cloud storage, and I resisted subscribing for years.
Instead, I used physical storage devices like thumb drives, hard disk drives (HDD), and eventually solid-state drives (SSD). SSDs were fast, reliable, and compact—perfect for transferring files without an internet connection.
That is, until everything changed when I became a parent.
Why I Needed Cloud Storage
After becoming a father, I found myself constantly snapping pictures and videos of my son’s every moment. Naturally, this led to my phone running out of storage. My old method of transferring files to external drives became more of a hassle, especially after switching to an iPhone.
This led me to the inevitable conclusion: It was time to embrace the cloud.
After extensive research, I chose Microsoft OneDrive as my cloud storage provider. Here are the three key findings from my journey that might help you make a more informed decision, especially if you’re price-sensitive like me.
Key Finding #1: Annual Payment Saves You Money
If you care about pricing, you’ll want to consider annual payments over monthly subscriptions. No matter which cloud provider you choose, paying annually typically offers a discount—similar to many insurance plans.
Source: Left (Google One), Top Right (Apple iCloud), Bottom Right (Microsoft)
However, be aware that paying upfront means committing to one year of service. If you’re unsure, start with a monthly plan to test the waters.
Key Finding #2: Google Is the Best Free Option
If you want to avoid spending money altogether, Google Drive is your best bet. With 15 GB of free storage per account, it blows the competition out of the water. No other provider comes close to offering this much free space.
Key Finding #3: Why Microsoft OneDrive Is My Top Pick
When selecting a cloud storage provider, I considered three main factors: cost, ease of file syncing, and storage size. Since I take tons of photos and videos, I needed at least 2 TB of storage. Plus, my partner wanted to share the account with me, so I had to factor in storage shareability function.
After comparing five major providers—Dropbox, Google One, Microsoft OneDrive, Amazon Photos, and Apple iCloud—Microsoft OneDrive came out on top in terms of cost per gigabyte.
For its Family Plan, OneDrive offers 6 TB of storage (split into 6 x 1 TB accounts) at the lowest price per GB compared to its competitors. The ability to share this plan with family members makes it a fantastic option for households.
Why Microsoft’s Extras Matter
OneDrive comes bundled with Microsoft Office products, which is a big bonus if you’re already using Microsoft tools at work or for personal projects. This extra value makes it even more appealing compared to other providers.
Source: Microsoft
My Thoughts On Cloud Storage and Future Considerations
Ultimately, the best cloud storage option depends on your needs. For me, cost and ease of use were the top priorities, and Microsoft OneDrive offered the best value. However, as Apple continues to innovate with features like Apple Intelligence, I might reconsider my choice in the future.
Source: Apple
For now, I’m happy with OneDrive’s user-friendly features, such as automatically organizing photos into folders by date—making it easy to revisit precious memories.
Source: Microsoft OneDrive
Conclusion: Choose The Cloud Storage Provider That Works for You
When deciding on cloud storage, it boils down to what you prioritize most: cost, storage size, or user experience. In this article, I explained how cloud storage has finally won me over from traditional hard drives.
For free storage, Google Drive offers an unbeatable 15 GB of space. For paying users, the best value comes from Microsoft’s 365 Family Plan, which provides the most storage for the least cost.
What do you think? Let’s continue the discussion in the GoodWhale Community and share your cloud storage experiences!
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