Best Cloud Backup Apps for your Smartphone 11/08/22

Smartphones have become indispensable tools in people’s lives, combining the functionality of the old telephone, camera, computer, and planner. However, a smartphone can only hold so much data, considering the average storage space in most new smartphones is 128GB. For example, a five-minute high resolution video is close to 2GB. Additionally, mobile games need at least 450MB in your phone, where installing five of your favourite takes up almost 2.5GB.

Furthermore, high resolution images occupy 6-14MB for the JPEG format, and 25MB for the RAW format. While text messages occupy an average of 100MB for an average user, instant messaging apps occupy a significantly larger space with ever expanding space demands for the shared media. Therefore, even if you spent a little extra on a 256GB smartphone, you’d soon run out of space.

The largest internal storage on a smartphone is 1TB, which is a staggeringly expensive option for most. While other phones offer the same capacity in expandable storage, that option is becoming rare. This article discusses the perfect solution for most people, no matter their budget; cloud backup.

Cloud backup to the rescue

Cloud backup is the right solution for most people, and it is a feature that allows you to send a copy of a file on your smartphone to a secondary location for preservation, and to save space on the phone. You can easily retrieve the file through your phone since there is an internet link between your phone and the secondary storage database.

Cloud backup is essential for various reasons:

Data backup

 

Before discussing the convenience of cloud backup, consider that you’ll have a copy of all the data on your phone securely stored off-site. You can easily retrieve all your important files if you lose your phone or damage it. This is the perfect solution to the risk of having all your data in one location.

 

Easy phone switching

 

With a copy of all your data in the cloud, you can log into your cloud account from a new phone and set it up just like the old one. This simple and fast restoration is convenient and painless, especially if your old phone gets damaged or lost before you can perform a manual backup.

 

Cost-saving

 

Investing in large storage capacity smartphones is expensive, especially when compared to the cost of cloud backup. In addition, such phones are still vulnerable to data corruption or loss. Therefore, you’d rather save your money by buying an affordable phone and cloud backup package.

Google Drive

 

Price Android Google Drive, Free
iOS Google Drive, Free

Mozillion rating

Why install?Secure app with easy sharing and diverse file type handling capabilities

Why avoid it?Not the speediest file viewer

Google Drive is one of the most versatile cloud backup apps for smartphones. Besides the backup feature, the app offers a complete office suite experience. You can create files on your smartphone or computer, save them to Google Drive, and work remotely using the relevant office apps like Sheets, Slides, Docs, etc. Every detail and attachment is automatically saved. File sharing enables collaboration among teams, further increasing the app’s convenience.

Additionally, Google Photos integration ensures all your photos and videos are backed up in original resolution. With remote access and file-syncing with a desktop client, everyone from professional media creators to parents who wish to store memories of their children can conveniently do so, even when they lose their smart devices.

Furthermore, Google Drive has excellent administration rights management. While collaborating or sharing files with others, you can assign access privileges, such as the right to view, edit, share, etc. Therefore, your files remain safe in the cloud.

IDrive

Price Android Free
iOS Free

Mozillion rating

 

Why install? Best overall cloud backup app with plenty of features and affordable pricing

Why avoid it?No monthly plans

IDrive allows you to back up not just your phone, but also your computers. Additionally, you can sync all files on these devices, where alterations are saved in real-time. IDrive also lets you create unique folders and settings for each device, where you can differentiate what backups to include from each device if you prefer.

Remote access enables you to continue working on different files; you only need an internet browser. In addition, you can restore from a backup, which makes transferring from an old or damaged phone seamless.

Data security is a critical consideration in IDrive, with all transferred and stored data encrypted with 256-bit AES encryption. You can also assign custom encryption keys for your data, thus ensuring the highest privacy possible. In addition, IDrive servers are some of the most secure, ensuring your physical data is also safe. Furthermore, IDrive utilises the Continuous Data Protection (CDP) protocol that recognises changes in your files and initiates an automatic backup event.

Dropbox

Price Android Dropbox Free
iOS Dropbox Free

Mozillion rating

 

Why install?Excellent sharing and syncing features

Why avoid it?Meagre 2GB free storage

As a pioneer in the cloud backup world, Dropbox is a simple backup and file sharing app whose full features require a package purchase. The app is compatible with all operating systems, thus its excellent collaboration features. You only need an internet connection to access your backed-up files.

Dropbox allows you to select which files and folders get synced and backed up. You only need to create a Dropbox folder on your devices and ‘drop’ all files and folders in there. Therefore, you have better management of your backup space, and you avoid carrying junk.

Sharing and collaboration are simple in Dropbox. You can assign access to different users and even use the Paper app to collaborate on your projects.

Mega

 

Price Android Mega Free
iOS Mega Free

Mozillion rating

 

Why install?
Large capacity free plan with reasonable paid plans

Why avoid it?Lacks collaboration capabilities and has limited add-ons and extra apps

Mega is intuitive and easy to use, with end-to-end encryption for securely storing your backed-up files. The interface is clean and straightforward, allowing for efficiency of use. Note that the app allows you to upload files from a browser once you log into your account. Additionally, you can upload any file size, as long as it doesn’t exceed your plan’s capacity.

End-to-end encryption extends to file sharing, where you can send shared files with the encryption key or send the key separately, thus allowing for better control over your data. Furthermore, Mega allows you to share files even with those who don’t have a Mega account.

If you’re an avid photographer, you’ll appreciate Mega’s ability to automatically backup your camera roll. The app uploads all your photos to the cloud, thus saving you from selecting and uploading the photos manually.

Sync

Price Android Sync Free
iOS Sync Free

Mozillion rating

 

Why install?Well-priced and secure app with all cloud storage features present

Why avoid it?The user interface could use some improvements, and no annual subscription discounts

Sync has a unique free plan that may appear insufficient for your needs but soon proves capable. Installing the smartphone app earns you an extra 1GB, and referring your friends to the company earns you a further 25GB. The paid plans give you access to more features and functionality, such as more collaboration tools and Office 365 integration for remote working.

Sync gives you complete control over your data since it is a zero-knowledge provider. This means that only you hold all encryption keys to your data, with Sync only providing storage and remote access. Therefore, malicious entities who succeed in accessing your data can’t do much with it. The only downside to such strict security measures is that opening files takes a little longer than other cloud backup apps because of real-time encryption and decryption.

Sync also offers file versioning, which is the storage of previous versions of your files. Therefore, the service stores your latest files, such as edited documents, alongside previously unedited ones. You’ll have previous versions to pick up from if your files get corrupted because of an attack or you erroneously alter them. Additionally, previous file versions don’t add to your plan’s storage capacity.

Conclusion

Smartphones continue to assume more significant roles in people’s professional and personal lives. All that functionality needs plenty of storage space, and phones have a limited amount. Those with large-capacity phones may take a while to deplete, but they eventually do. Cloud backup apps offer a lasting solution for your storage needs, among other desirable capabilities, such as remote access, file sharing, complete device restoration, and collaboration.

This article discussed some of the best apps for cloud backup, giving you suitable options when shopping. You won’t miss a suitable one for your specific needs, whether on Android or iOS.