Best free cloud storage apps for Android in 2026

The best free cloud storage app for Android depends on what you want the app to do. Google Drive is the easiest fit for Google accounts and collaborative documents. Proton Drive, MEGA, and Internxt put client-side or end-to-end encryption at the center of their products. Hivenet, pCloud, Icedrive, and IDrive offer larger free starting allowances, but they solve different problems: everyday file storage, media access, or backup.

This guide compares 11 Android options using current first-party information checked on August 20, 2026. Free allowances, app features, and limits can change, so confirm the current offer before moving a large photo library or relying on any service as your only copy.

If Android is not your main filter, use the broader free cloud storage comparison. For a device-and-workflow view across desktop and mobile platforms, see the free cloud storage app guide.

Quick comparison: 11 free cloud storage apps for Android

Service	Free allowance	Strong Android use	Main limit to check
Google Drive	15 GB shared	Google apps and document collaboration	Shared with Gmail and Google Photos
Proton Drive	5 GB	Private files and photos	Smaller free capacity
MEGA	Free tier; confirm at signup	Encrypted file sync and mobile folders	Transfer quotas and account recovery
Hivenet	10 GB	Photo backup and everyday files	Android 9 or later
pCloud	Up to 10 GB	Offline media and automatic uploads	Full allowance requires setup tasks
OneDrive	5 GB	Microsoft 365 files and photo backup	Capacity is shared with Outlook attachments
Dropbox	2 GB	Simple syncing and link sharing	Three linked devices on Basic
Box	10 GB	Light collaboration and document sharing	250 MB upload limit on Free Individual
Icedrive	10 GB	Media playback and general file access	Do not assume zero-knowledge encryption on Free
Internxt	1 GB	Trying a zero-knowledge storage model	Very small free capacity
IDrive	10 GB	Multi-device backup and restore	Backup-first workflow, not live collaboration

Allowance note: Google's 15 GB is shared across Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. pCloud advertises up to 10 GB because users unlock parts of the allowance through setup steps. MEGA's current Android listing confirms a free tier and achievement bonuses but does not state a universal starting number, so this guide does not freeze one into the table.

How we evaluated Android cloud storage

This is a source-checked editorial comparison, not a claim that every app was laboratory-tested. The review favors features that matter on an Android phone or tablet:

• Usable free capacity: whether the allowance is fixed, shared with other services, unlocked through tasks, or displayed only at signup.
• Android support: a maintained Android app, photo or folder upload options, offline access, previews, and cross-device availability.
• Security model: whether encryption keys are controlled by the provider or protected through client-side or end-to-end encryption.
• Practical limits: device caps, upload-size limits, transfer quotas, recovery rules, and features reserved for paid plans.
• Workflow fit: collaboration, media access, document editing, file sharing, or backup and recovery.

Google Drive: best for the Google and Android ecosystem

Google accounts include up to 15 GB, shared across Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. That shared quota is the most important correction to older comparisons: Google Photos does not provide unlimited free storage for new uploads.

Drive remains the easiest Android choice for people who already use Google Docs, Sheets, Gmail, or Photos. The app supports file uploads, sharing, scanning, offline access, and collaboration. Its main weakness is capacity accounting. A large photo library or mailbox can consume the same 15 GB that appears available to Drive.

Choose it when: your work already lives in Google's apps and collaboration matters more than a zero-knowledge privacy model.

Proton Drive: best for private files with a simple free tier

Proton Free includes 5 GB for files, photos, and online documents, protected with end-to-end encryption. Proton also provides an Android app and encrypts file content and important metadata so Proton cannot read stored files.

The tradeoff is capacity. Five gigabytes is useful for selected documents and a modest photo set, but it is not a realistic home for a large camera roll. Recovery also deserves attention with privacy-focused services: keep recovery information current and test access from another device before deleting local copies.

Choose it when: confidentiality matters more than maximum free space.

MEGA: best for encrypted mobile file management

MEGA's current Android listing describes user-controlled encryption, folder syncing, mobile backup, streaming, sharing, and free achievement bonuses. Encryption and decryption happen on client devices, and MEGA cannot reset a lost encryption password without the recovery key.

The public app listing does not state one universal starting allowance, and transfer limits can constrain heavy use. Check the offer shown during signup and treat achievement capacity as conditional rather than permanent base storage.

Choose it when: you want encrypted folders and richer mobile file management and can manage recovery keys carefully.

Hivenet: best for photo backup without AI training on files

Store with Hivenet offers 10 GB free, automatic photo backup, online-only files where supported, sharing, and a stated commitment not to train AI models on stored photos or files. The current Android app requires Android 9 or later.

Hivenet encrypts and fragments data across its distributed storage architecture. That is different from claiming every file operation uses the same zero-knowledge model as Proton Drive or MEGA, so the comparison keeps those security descriptions separate.

Choose it when: you want a 10 GB starting tier for photos and everyday files and prefer Hivenet's distributed storage approach.

pCloud: best for offline media and automatic uploads

The pCloud Android app advertises up to 10 GB free, automatic photo and video uploads, offline access, document previews, and a built-in audio player. “Up to” matters: users unlock portions of the free allowance through setup tasks.

Standard pCloud storage uses provider-managed encryption. Client-side zero-knowledge protection applies to the separate pCloud Encryption feature, so it should not be implied as a default benefit of the free tier.

Choose it when: media playback and offline access matter more than built-in document collaboration.

OneDrive: best for Microsoft 365 users

A free Microsoft account includes 5 GB of OneDrive storage, with Android photo backup and access to files across devices. OneDrive is particularly useful for people who edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files or move between Android and Windows.

The free allowance is modest and is shared with Outlook.com attachments. Microsoft reserves some ransomware recovery and advanced security features for paid Microsoft 365 plans, so a free account should not be described as having every protection shown on paid plan pages.

Choose it when: Microsoft documents and Windows integration define your workflow.

Dropbox: best for straightforward syncing and sharing

Dropbox Basic provides 2 GB free with syncing, sharing, and mobile access. Its Android app is simple to understand, and shared links work well when recipients do not need a full collaborative workspace.

The main constraint is not just the small allowance. Dropbox Basic accounts can be signed in on up to three devices at once. Web access does not count as a linked device, but phones, tablets, and desktop apps do.

Choose it when: you value a familiar sharing workflow and only need a small active file set.

Box: best for light document collaboration

Box Free Individual includes 10 GB, sharing, e-signature features, and mobile access. It suits document-heavy users who care more about collaboration and structured sharing than automatic camera-roll backup.

The free plan limits individual uploads to 250 MB. That is adequate for documents and compressed images but restrictive for long videos, device backups, and large creative files.

Choose it when: you collaborate on smaller documents and can live with the upload cap.

Icedrive: best for a simple 10 GB media library

Icedrive's current Android listing offers 10 GB free and supports backups, streaming, sharing, previews, and access from Android, iOS, desktop systems, and the web.

The listing confirms encryption in transit but does not establish that every free-tier file uses client-side zero-knowledge encryption. Treat any private encrypted-folder feature as plan-specific and verify it before storing sensitive records.

Choose it when: you want a straightforward free media and file library without Google or Microsoft integration.

Internxt: best for testing a zero-knowledge model

Internxt now provides 1 GB free, not the 10 GB stated in older versions of this article. The free tier uses its zero-knowledge and post-quantum encryption model and is available through Android, iOS, desktop, web, and command-line tools.

One gigabyte makes Internxt a trial-sized option rather than a complete phone-backup destination. It can still suit a selected folder of sensitive documents.

Choose it when: you want to evaluate Internxt's privacy model before paying for more capacity.

IDrive: best for Android backup rather than collaboration

IDrive Basic includes 10 GB free for computers and mobile devices. IDrive focuses on backup, snapshots, restore, and multi-device protection. It also offers an optional private encryption key during account setup.

That backup-first design separates IDrive from Google Drive, Dropbox, and Box. It is less suitable for real-time document collaboration but stronger when your goal is retaining recoverable copies from several devices.

Choose it when: backup and restore matter more than collaborative editing.

What Android users should check before choosing

Photo backup behavior

Automatic upload is not identical to a complete phone backup. Confirm whether the app includes screenshots, downloaded images, videos, and folders created by messaging apps. Check whether deletions on the phone also remove cloud copies.

Offline access and phone storage

Cloud files normally need a connection unless you mark them for offline use. Offline copies consume local storage, while online-only files may take time to download. Test the behavior before a trip or before freeing space on the device.

Battery and background permissions

Android may pause uploads when battery optimization restricts an app in the background. Review the app's battery, network, photo, and file permissions, then confirm that a sample upload completes after the screen is locked.

Encryption and account recovery

Provider-managed encryption protects data in transit and at rest but usually leaves the provider in control of the keys. End-to-end or zero-knowledge services reduce that access, yet they can make recovery harder if you lose a password or recovery key. Enable two-factor authentication where available and store recovery information somewhere separate from the phone.

Sync is not a second backup

A synced deletion or damaged file can propagate across devices. Keep another recovery copy of irreplaceable photos and documents. The cloud sync versus backup guide explains the difference, while the secure cloud storage guide covers stronger protection and recovery checks.

Which free Android cloud storage should you choose?

• Choose Google Drive for Google Workspace collaboration and the most natural Android integration.
• Choose Proton Drive or MEGA when end-to-end encrypted storage is the central requirement.
• Choose Hivenet for 10 GB, photo backup, and a distributed storage product that does not train AI on stored files.
• Choose pCloud or Icedrive for media access, offline files, and a larger free starting tier.
• Choose OneDrive for Microsoft 365 and Windows workflows.
• Choose Dropbox or Box for familiar sharing or light collaboration, with their free-plan limits in mind.
• Choose Internxt to test a privacy-first service with a small free allowance.
• Choose IDrive when you need backup and restore rather than a shared working drive.

For a broader decision process covering capacity, recovery, privacy, and collaboration, use the cloud storage selection guide. Students comparing course-file workflows can use the student cloud storage guide.

Hivenet is one option in this comparison, not a universal winner. If its Android photo backup, 10 GB free tier, and distributed architecture match your needs, explore the current Hivenet storage paths before signing up.

Frequently asked questions

Which Android cloud storage gives the most straightforward free allowance?

Among the services with a fixed public allowance in this comparison, Google provides 15 GB, although it is shared across Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. Several providers offer 10 GB. MEGA also has a free tier and achievement bonuses, but confirm the current starting allowance during signup.

Does Google Photos still provide unlimited free storage?

No. New Google Photos uploads count against the storage shared by Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.

Is end-to-end encrypted cloud storage always the safest choice?

It reduces provider access to file contents, but safety also depends on account security, app updates, recovery-key handling, sharing choices, and having another copy. A privacy-focused service can still become inaccessible if you lose the only recovery credential.

Can one cloud storage app back up an entire Android phone?

Usually not. A storage app may upload photos, videos, or selected folders, while Android's system backup handles different app and device data. Check exactly what the app includes and test a restore.

Can I combine several free cloud storage services?

Yes, but using several accounts increases administrative and recovery complexity. Assign each service a clear role, document where important files live, and keep an independent backup instead of treating combined free capacity as one dependable archive.