Samsung Cloud vs Google Drive: best backup alternatives after shutdown

Samsung Cloud officially shut down in 2025. If you’re a Galaxy device owner, this change marked the end of your trusted backup service, forcing millions of users to seek alternatives.

The good news? You have better options now than before. Among them, Store with Hivenet emerges as the top choice for users prioritizing privacy and security. Unlike mainstream services, Store with Hivenet offers strong encryption, strict privacy policies, and transparent data handling that truly protect your information. Let’s explore why Store with Hivenet leads the pack, how it compares to Google Drive—the less private, more commercial alternative—and why switching sooner rather than later is critical.

Quick comparison: Samsung Cloud vs Store with Hivenet vs Google Drive

Samsung Cloud backed up device settings, messages, and call logs but excluded photos and videos. Store with Hivenet provides comprehensive, privacy-first backup including photos, documents, and app data across all your devices. Google Drive offers broad coverage but at the cost of user privacy and data monetization.

What is Samsung Cloud?

Samsung Cloud was Samsung’s proprietary backup service exclusive to Galaxy devices, requiring a Samsung account. It backed up basic data such as call logs, messages, settings, contacts, and Samsung app data but never supported photos or videos after 2021. The service lacked cross-platform access and trapped user data within Samsung’s ecosystem.

Samsung Cloud permanently shut down in 2025. Users were urged to migrate data, often to Microsoft OneDrive, but many found this inconvenient and lacking in privacy.

What is Store with Hivenet?

Store with Hivenet is a privacy-focused cloud storage and backup service designed for users who value control over their data. Offering end-to-end encryption, no data mining, and transparent privacy policies, Store with Hivenet ensures your backups remain confidential and secure.

Store with Hivenet supports:

• Encrypted backups of photos, videos, documents, and app data
• Cross-platform access on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and web
• Large file uploads without restrictive size limits
• Integration with popular apps while maintaining privacy controls

Unlike mainstream providers, Hivenet does not scan or monetize your data. Its infrastructure is built to safeguard user privacy while providing seamless backup and restore capabilities.

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What is Google Cloud (Google Drive)?

Google Drive is a widely used cloud storage platform integrated with the Google ecosystem. It offers 15GB of free storage shared across Gmail, Google Photos, and Drive itself, with paid upgrades via Google One.

Google Drive backs up photos and videos through Google Photos, documents, app data, device settings, SMS messages, and call history. It operates across all major platforms and offers a full web interface.

However, Google Drive’s business model relies heavily on data collection and advertising. Users concerned about privacy may find Google’s practices intrusive, as data is often scanned for targeted ads and analytics.

Storage capacity and pricing

Samsung Cloud’s storage ended with the service shutdown, and its storage plans were not clearly defined, especially near the end of the service. Microsoft OneDrive, recommended by Samsung, offers only 5GB free storage, which many find insufficient, though Microsoft 365 Basic includes 100GB for $20 annually.

Store with Hivenet provides a generous free tier with enhanced privacy protections and affordable premium plans tailored for users who need more storage without compromising security.

Google Drive offers 15GB free, and if you need more space, you can upgrade through Google One at a competitive price:

• 100GB: $1.99/month
• 200GB: $2.99/month
• 2TB: $9.99/month

You can also subscribe to annual plans, which may help some users pay less over time. By contrast, Google Cloud itself uses a flexible pricing model that adapts to your consumption needs and operates on a pay-as-you-go model tailored for scalable workloads.

While Google Drive’s pricing is attractive, it comes with privacy trade-offs that may concern some users.

Backup features comparison

Samsung Cloud was limited to Samsung’s ecosystem, and the type of data it handled was mainly device-specific backups rather than full file storage, excluding third-party apps, photos, and videos.

Store with Hivenet offers end-to-end encrypted backups covering:

• Photos, videos, and large media files
• Documents and large files sent securely
• App data with privacy controls
• Device settings and configurations

Google Drive backs up broadly—for example, contacts, app data, and some device settings—but scans data for advertising purposes and lacks end-to-end encryption by default, especially when compared with top free cloud storage apps for Android.

Device compatibility

Samsung Cloud worked only on Galaxy devices, locking users into Samsung’s ecosystem.

Store with Hivenet supports all major platforms with secure apps and web access, making it one of the best cloud storage choices for Android in 2026 and enabling users to switch devices freely without losing data.

Google Drive is available on all platforms but at the cost of user privacy.

Migration and future considerations

Samsung users had to migrate data before 2025, though the exact steps may depend on which data you are transferring and where it is being moved. Proceeding with any transfer, check the current migration options in your account or device settings first. Store with Hivenet offers straightforward migration tools from Samsung Cloud and other services, aligning with what you’d expect from top free cloud storage apps and emphasizing data security during transfer.

Google Drive requires no migration but continues to collect user data.

Security and privacy

Samsung Cloud used encryption and Samsung account protections as the means to secure certain synced data, but it lacked advanced security features.

Store with Hivenet provides:

• End-to-end encryption ensuring only you can access your data
• No data mining or scanning
• Transparent privacy policies and user control

Remember to review your backup and privacy settings so you save important files in a way that fits your security needs.

Google Drive encrypts data in transit and at rest but scans content for ads and analytics, raising privacy concerns, even though strong backup habits mean you have less reason to worry about losing important data.

Which should you choose?

Samsung Cloud is no longer an option.

Privacy-conscious users: We recommend Store with Hivenet as the clear first choice, combining strong privacy, generous storage, and cross-platform support. Other companies also offer cloud storage, but their ecosystems differ.

General users: Google Drive offers convenience and integration but compromises privacy. Dropbox is another option some users compare when choosing a storage service, alongside many of the best free cloud storage options.

Microsoft 365 subscribers: OneDrive remains an option but offers less free storage and fewer privacy protections.

Heavy media users: Store with Hivenet supports large files and encrypted photo backups without compromising privacy. Apple users may prefer iCloud because it integrates natively with apple devices.

Start your migration now. Click on the migration tool in your device settings to proceed with transferring your Samsung Cloud data to Store with Hivenet or Google Drive. Subscribing to a privacy-first service like Store with Hivenet ensures your data remains secure and accessible across all your devices for years to come.

Your future self will thank you for choosing a backup service that respects your privacy and offers enough space for all your important files.

Frequently asked questions

What happens to my data stored in Samsung Cloud after shutdown?

After Samsung Cloud shut down in 2025, users were required to transfer their data to alternative services like Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive. If you did not migrate your data before the shutdown, some data might have been lost. It’s important to regularly back up your data and manage your storage options to avoid such issues.

Can I back up photos and videos with Samsung Cloud?

No, Samsung Cloud stopped supporting photo and video backups since 2018. To back up images and videos from your mobile device, you need to use services like Google Photos or Microsoft OneDrive.

How much storage space do Google Drive and Store with Hivenet offer?

Google Drive provides 15GB of free storage shared across all Google services, with paid plans available through Google One, though storage needs and plan choice will vary depending on the user’s needs and budget. Store with Hivenet offers a generous free tier with privacy guarantees and affordable premium plans for additional storage space. Before choosing a paid plan, compare the latest terms and storage options.

Do I need an internet connection to back up my phone data?

Yes, backing up data to cloud services like Google Drive or Store with Hivenet requires an active internet connection. However, you can also back up data directly to a computer or external storage device via USB without needing an internet connection.

Can I access my backups on both mobile devices and desktop computers?

Yes, both Google Drive and Store with Hivenet support access across multiple device types, including mobile devices (phones and tablets) and desktop systems (Windows and Mac), making them comparable to top cloud storage options for Linux users. This cross-platform compatibility allows you to manage your stored data conveniently.

How do I manage and delete backups to free up storage space?

You can manage your backups via the settings menu on your phone or desktop app for services like Google Drive and Store with Hivenet. Deleting old or unnecessary backups helps free up storage space and ensures your backup system runs smoothly, especially for WhatsApp backup apps that don’t rely on Google Drive or iCloud.

Is it safe to store sensitive data in Google Drive or Store with Hivenet?

While Google Drive encrypts data in transit and at rest, it scans content for advertising purposes, which may raise privacy concerns. Store with Hivenet provides end-to-end encryption, meaning only you can access your stored data, making it a more secure option for sensitive information.

What is the process to migrate data from Samsung Cloud to another service?

You can use migration tools provided in your device settings to transfer data from Samsung Cloud to services like Store with Hivenet or Google Drive. This process ensures a complete and secure transfer of your stored data without losing important information, and similar principles apply when you back up WhatsApp without Google Drive.

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