The photographs don’t just contain pixels, but they hold emotions, memories, and crucial information. Being a piece of memory serving as a vital set of data across business industries, investigation domains, and many more. Photographers need to back up their images in an accessible and shareable manner. And cloud backup for photographers is the best way to do it.
But the question is which one to use. I am sharing the best cloud storage for photo backup, whether you are already exploring the stratosphere or it’s your first time ditching the disks. You’ll be able to figure out which cloud storage is the right choice for you after reading this article.
Best Cloud Storage Apps/Services for Photos
1. Google Drive
Similar to the majority of Google Apps, it is simple and easy to use. It can be in the best interest of shutterbugs who are newbies in using cloud storage for photo backup. The color coding options of the app can bring your folders to life and help in segregation. It is easy to move content from one folder to another. Also, the bookmark option allows users to have quick access to specific folders from the left-hand menu. It provides industry-standard encryption to prevent third-party breaches or any man-in-the-middle attacks.
Some of the missed features of the Google Drive are that there is no option to add passwords to shared files, also you can’t set a limit to the number of downloads. There is only a basic control, which is access permissions.
Another concern or privacy is that though the Google staff do not manually view your photographs but it does not mean that they do not use your data to train AI models.
Google Drive pricing:
- Get 15GB for free
- Cloud storage alone: $1.99/month for 100GB, $2.99/month for 200GB, $9.99/month for 2TB
- Cloud storage + Workspace features: $7/month for 30GB, $14/month for 2TB, and $22/month for 5TB.
2. Jottacloud
It is a great option for all, including Windows, Mac, iOS, iPadOS, Android, and web users. Jottacloud is one of the best services for backing up unlimited data across devices such as PCs, external hard drives, and NAS (Network Attached Storage Systems). It also supports multiple devices. When you connect an external drive, it will instantly back up any new files without any manual action.
It also works as an iCloud Photos/ Google Photos replacement, as your photos can be automatically backed up in the background with the mobile app. And you can view and operate photos and folders on any device. It even lets you save Microsoft 365 files and operate them on the cloud, device, or both, and you can use a cross-platform sync folder for easy access.
Jottacloud pricing:
- 5GB for free
- Unlimited storage at $11.99/month
3. Sync
This cloud storage service is an ideal one for professional photographers or individuals highly concerned about the privacy of their data. Without paying extra, all of their plans come with client-side encryption, even the free plans. The modern and minimalistic updates in the look of the service appeal to the users, and the Dark mode makes photo viewing more focused and enjoyable. The fewer tabs make it easy to use and find images quickly when needed.
It is so privacy-focused that the users can not preview photos; instead, a photo symbol is displayed. Though it can be a little inconvenient to identify files without file names but it is a minimal price to pay for such security and privacy. Free users can set passwords to protect their shared files. Paid users can access more advanced privacy settings, set expiration dates, limit downloads to accounts, send upload requests, and get email alerts when clients access the shared files.
Sync pricing:
- Free: 5 GB storage
- Solo Basic: $8/month for 2 TB (billed annually)
- Solo Professional: $20/month for 6 TB (billed annually)
- Teams Standard: $6/user/month for 1 TB (billed annually)
- Teams+ Unlimited: $15/user/month for unlimited storage (billed annually).
4. Lightroom
Lightroom is an arm of Adobe Creative Cloud, which means it is a tool and storage service offering you editing tools with cloud storage. When any photos are added to the editing software, they are automatically backed up to the cloud. It gives access across devices, and the images are shareable with the Lightroom community as well.
Seeing from a broader perspective, yes, it works as a cloud storage platform, but it’s not an ideal practice to leverage cloud storage. Because when you delete photos from Lightroom editing software, they are removed from cloud storage as well. And you can’t keep too many files, as excessive RAW file storage can bloat or slow down the software.
Lightroom pricing:
- Free Trial: Available (duration varies)
- Lightroom Plan (1 TB): US $11.99/month when billed annually (annual prepaid remains at US $119.88)
- Photography Plan (20 GB) – includes Lightroom + Photoshop: US $14.99/month for new customers (annual billing)
- Photography Plan (1 TB) – includes Lightroom + Photoshop: US $19.99/month (annual billing)
Some Other Google Photos Alternatives
Microsoft OneDrive
One of the most well-known and automatic photo and video cloud storage solutions across devices. It offers seamless integration with Windows and Microsoft 365. Also, various features like gallery view, photo search, and albums, all built into OneDrive, making it stand as a strong alternative.
pCloud
A cloud storage service based in Switzerland, it is a great platform for storing photos and all other types of files. Plus, it gives users enhanced security features along with encryption. It will attract you more if you are someone who would prefer paying once for lifetime plans. And offers more control over your photo storage.
IDrive
It is a comprehensive cloud backup solution; it is more than just photo storage. It supports auto-camera upload with large storage options, making it viable for photos. Their focus lies on serious storage and device backup flexibility, unlike Google Photos, which caters to social/sharing/photo-group features.
Flickr
It is a photo-centric platform; the free plan can offer storage for up to approximately 1,000 photos. With the paid plans, you can upgrade to features like unlimited storage and other social sharing and community features. It does not offer automation in backup or sync. But for someone looking for high-quality photo storing and sharing, it’s a good match.
Related: Unbiased Search Engines: 8 Smart Alternatives to Google
How Desktop Storage Differs From Cloud Storage
In desktop storage systems, you directly save files on your computer and have full offline access and control, but it comes with limited sharing and risk of data loss if the device fails. On the other hand, cloud storage apps are online and easy to access, and more flexible in terms of sharing and automated backups. But they require internet and often have subscription charges monthly or yearly basis, depending on your choice.
Desktop cloud apps give you the best of both worlds, as they allow you to leverage both offline and online benefits. Your files are safely stored online, and you can access and operate them from anywhere without the hassle of manual uploading every time.
How to Choose Cloud Storage for a Photography Business?
While choosing the right cloud storage for professional and business purposes, you must look for these important aspects.
- Storage capacity
- Scalability
- File format support (e.g., RAW)
- Automatic backup & sync
- Upload and download speed
- Editing tool integration
- File sharing & client delivery options
- Security & encryption
- Privacy policy
- Collaboration features
- Pricing & storage value
- Cross-device accessibility
Winding Up
Aiming not to overwhelm you with too many questions and options, I opted to share a list of no-fluff cloud storage services. Each one is fulfilling a unique requirement and standard for storage options, whether it’s privacy, unlimited storage, editing tools, or alternatives to mainstream cloud backup for photographers.
No tools are good or bad as a whole; it takes your wise decision to choose one as per your needs and the requirements of the use case.
Related: Box vs Dropbox – Which Cloud Storage Platform Serves You Better