Top Free Cloud Storage Services for Secure Website Backups in 2025

Introduction and Importance

Backing up website data is a critical task to ensure business continuity, protect against cyber threats, and recover from hardware failures. In 2025, the landscape of free cloud storage services offers various options tailored for website backups, each with distinct features and limitations. This survey note provides a comprehensive analysis of the top free cloud storage services, their suitability for website data backup, and guidance for selection, based on recent research and user-oriented insights.

Methodology

The analysis is based on a review of leading technology publications and platforms, including Zapier, TechRadar, Cloudwards, Lifewire, Hivenet, and Google Drive’s official pages, all updated for 2025. Additionally, insights from X posts were considered to capture emerging trends and user experiences. The focus is on free storage amounts, backup-specific features, security, and ease of use, ensuring relevance for website administrators and small business owners.

Top Free Cloud Storage Services for Website Data Backup

Below is a detailed breakdown of the top free cloud storage services identified for 2025, with a focus on their applicability for website backups:

MEGA

Free Storage Amount: 20GB by default, expandable to 30GB for one year by installing apps and sharing a file, with further expansion possible through referrals (5GB per referral, no limit, lasts one year).

Key Features for Website Backup:

• End-to-end encryption ensures data security, crucial for sensitive website data.
• Client-side encryption for the entire storage, enhancing privacy.
• File versioning for 30 days, allowing recovery of previous versions, which is vital for backup integrity.
• Transfer quota of approximately 5GB per day on average (150GB/month), which may limit large backups.
• No password protection or expiration dates for shared links, but sharing is restricted to other MEGA users.

Pros: High security with end-to-end encryption, generous expandable storage, and versioning for backups.

Cons: Transfer quota could be a bottleneck for frequent large backups; shared link limitations may affect collaboration.

Best For: Users prioritizing security and needing versioning, especially for websites with sensitive data. An X post from June 19, 2025, by @kevincumbria highlighted MEGA’s 20GB free encrypted storage, reinforcing its popularity. Another X post from June 8, 2025, by @rarefilmm
mentioned a temporary unlimited storage offer, though it’s time-limited.

pCloud

Free Storage Amount: 10GB total, comprising 2GB out of the box, 7GB after completing a beginner’s tutorial, and an additional 3GB with 3 referrals.

Key Features for Website Backup:

• A backup feature for folders, enabling automatic backups, which is convenient for website administrators.
• No file size limits, making it suitable for large website files like databases or media.
• Virtual drive for accessing cloud files as if they were local, enhancing usability.

Pros: No file size restrictions, ideal for diverse website data; backup feature simplifies automation; virtual drive improves accessibility.

Cons: Free storage is limited compared to MEGA; some advanced features are locked behind paid plans.

Best For: Users needing to back up large files without size constraints and seeking a simple, user-friendly solution. Research from Cloudwards in 2025 emphasized pCloud’s lack of file size limits, appealing for video editing and large website backups.

IDrive

Free Storage Amount: 10GB, with no mention of expandable storage through referrals in the reviewed sources.

Key Features for Website Backup:

• Excellent all-around automatic backup tool for devices and other cloud services, including Dropbox, Box, Microsoft 365/OneDrive, and Google Drive, including Workspace (Google Docs, Sheets, etc.).
• Can back up Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 data, which is beneficial for websites integrated with these platforms.
• Versioning system for restoring previous file versions, essential for backup recovery.

Pros: Strong backup capabilities, including integration with other cloud services; versioning enhances recovery options; easy to use with automatic backup features.

Cons: Free storage is limited to 10GB, which may not suffice for larger websites; no expandable storage is mentioned.

Best For: Users who need a comprehensive backup solution with versioning and integration, particularly for websites using Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. ZDNET in 2025 highlighted IDrive as a top choice for its affordability and backup options, starting at $3 per year for basic subscriptions.

Degoo

Free Storage Amount: 30GB for the first year, then 20GB for the lifetime of the service, with additional storage possible through referrals (250MB per friend, up to 5GB maximum).

Key Features for Website Backup:

• Simple and intuitive interface, available on Android and iOS, with auto-uploading for photos, though not specifically tailored for website backups.
• Maximum file upload size of 256MB, which can be a significant limitation for website backups involving larger files like databases.
• No zero-knowledge encryption, meaning Degoo can access your data, and accounts are deleted after 90 days of inactivity, which is not ideal for long-term backups.
• Ads on the free plan may disrupt the user experience.

Pros: Generous free storage, especially in the first year; easy to use with mobile apps.

Cons: 256MB file size limit restricts usability for website backups; lack of zero-knowledge encryption and inactivity policy make it unsuitable for serious backups.

Best For: Users with smaller websites or those needing simple storage for regularly accessed files, but not for critical backups. TechRadar in 2025 noted Degoo’s limitations, such as ads and encryption, making it less appealing for archiving.

Blomp

Free Storage Amount: 20GB, with the possibility to get up to 200GB through referrals, though specifics on referral limits weren’t detailed.

Key Features for Website Backup:

• No upload size limit, making it suitable for large website files like media or databases.
• Bulk downloads and uploads are supported, enhancing efficiency for backups.
• No file sharing or previewing options (must download to view), and no trash bin for recovering deleted files, which could be a drawback for backups.
• Runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android, with a simple interface.

Pros: No file size restrictions, great for diverse website data; referral program can significantly increase storage.

Cons: Lacks advanced features like file sharing, previewing, or recovery options; basic interface may not suit all users.

Best For: Users needing large file uploads without advanced backup features, suitable for straightforward storage needs. Lifewire in 2025 highlighted Blomp’s 20GB free storage and no size limits, but noted the lack of previewing and recovery options.

Hivenet

Free Storage Amount: 10GB initial, with an additional 10GB per successful referral, and no cap mentioned, making it highly expandable.

Key Features for Website Backup:

• Zero-knowledge encryption for enhanced security, ensuring data privacy.
• Supports secure storage and file sharing, though not explicitly tailored for website backups.
• Community-driven model with a 77% reduction in carbon footprint compared to traditional providers, appealing to environmentally conscious users.

Pros: Strong security with zero-knowledge encryption; environmentally friendly; scalable storage through referrals.

Cons: Initial free storage is limited; not specifically designed for website backups, though suitable for general file storage.

Best For: Users prioritizing security and sustainability, willing to build storage through referrals. Hivenet’s 2025 post emphasized its eco-friendly approach and referral scalability, making it a niche but valuable option.

Google Drive

Free Storage Amount: 15GB, with the ability to scale to 5TB per user through paid plans, but no expandable free storage is mentioned.

Key Features for Website Backup:

• Widely used and trusted platform, integrated with Google Workspace tools, which may benefit websites using these services.
• File size limit of 5TB for uploads, unlikely to be an issue for most users, but free storage is limited.
• Versioning is available, allowing recovery of previous file versions, which is useful for backups.

Pros: Familiar interface for many users; good for small websites or those already using Google services; versioning enhances backup recovery.

Cons: Limited free storage (15GB) may not suffice for larger websites; file size limit, though high, is still a consideration for very large files.

Best For: Users with small websites or those already invested in the Google ecosystem, needing a familiar and widely supported platform. Google Drive’s official page in 2025 confirmed the 15GB free storage, aligning with user expectations for Google Drive Storage.

Comparative Analysis

To aid in decision-making, the following table compares the key features of these services, focusing on aspects relevant to website backups:

This table highlights the trade-offs between storage, security, and backup features, helping users align their needs with the service’s capabilities.

Emerging Options and Trends

While the above services are established, emerging options were noted in X posts from June 2025. For instance, DeCloud, a Web3 alternative, offers encrypted files via Xandeum, payable with $SOL, with features like end-to-end encryption and time-limited sharing links. Lofty, part of the Irys ecosystem on Solana, provides 10GB free during testing, appealing to blockchain enthusiasts. Sigea, a geo-distributed network, emphasizes speed and encryption, potentially suitable for future backups. These options are still in early stages and may not yet match the reliability of established services, but they represent innovative directions in cloud storage.

Tips for Choosing the Right Free Cloud Storage for Website Backups

Selecting the appropriate service requires careful consideration of several factors:

Storage Needs: Assess the size of your website data, including files, databases, and media. For small websites, 10-15GB (e.g., IDrive, Google Drive) may suffice, while larger sites may benefit from expandable storage like MEGA or Hivenet.

File Size Limits: Ensure the service can handle large files, especially for media or databases. Services like pCloud and Blomp, with no limits, are ideal, while Degoo’s 256MB limit is restrictive.

Backup Features: Look for automatic backup options or versioning for recovery. IDrive and MEGA offer advanced features, while pCloud’s folder backup is user-friendly.

Security: Prioritize services with strong encryption, such as MEGA’s end-to-end and Hivenet’s zero-knowledge, especially for sensitive data.

Ease of Use: Choose a service with a user-friendly interface and tools for automation. pCloud’s virtual drive and IDrive’s automatic backups enhance usability.

Future Growth: Consider services with referral programs for expandable storage, like MEGA, Hivenet, and Blomp, to accommodate growing needs.

Limitations: Be aware of restrictions, such as Degoo’s inactivity policy (account deletion after 90 days) or MEGA’s transfer quota, which could impact long-term use.

Conclusion

In 2025, free cloud storage services offer viable options for website data backups, with MEGA standing out for its security, versioning, and expandable storage, making it a top choice for most users. pCloud is ideal for large files without size limits, while IDrive suits those needing integrated backups with other cloud services. For users prioritizing security and sustainability, Hivenet is a compelling option.

When choosing, align your needs with storage capacity, security features, and backup capabilities, and consider emerging options like DeCloud or Lofty for future innovations. By selecting the right service, you can ensure your website data is protected, recoverable, and aligned with your operational needs.