Icedrive review: Slickly implemented online storage with tiers for everyone

Price When Reviewed

$6 monthly for 1TB

Best Prices Today: Icedrive on-line storage

There are a number of decisions in on-line storage lately, so customers can decide and select the simplest and most inexpensive. Icedrive competes nicely on each fronts — proving to be one in all our favorites to make use of, although that features some options presently nonetheless in beta. Still, coloration us impressed.

Further studying: See our roundup of the best online backup services to study competing merchandise.

What are Icedrive’s options?

As with any on-line storage vendor, Icedrive’s main characteristic is offering an offsite repository on your recordsdata. However, it additionally sports activities collaboration options similar to file sharing, public hyperlinks, and file requests (others asking to see your recordsdata).

Icedrive’s shopper facet software program contains an non-compulsory digital drive I: (Icedrive, “I:”, get it?) that acts as a neighborhood portal to your on-line recordsdata, in addition to an encrypted folder (free 10GB plan excepted) that makes use of a secondary password or passphrase that you simply outline. Icedrive doesn’t have entry to this passphrase, so don’t lose or overlook it.

iOS and Android apps are additionally offered so you possibly can again up your telephone or different cell gadgets. My one caveat right here is the dearth of a Sync tab as on the Windows shopper. Instead backups (it’s not conventional sync) are outlined below the settings tab–the final place I seemed.

Speaking of such, along with the I: drive, Icedrive’s Windows shopper affords two-way (mirroring) in addition to one-way (native to on-line, and on-line to native) sync choices. You can select whether or not or to not mirror deletions throughout two-way sync — i.e., when you delete the web file the native copy nonetheless stays; when you delete the native file, the web copy nonetheless stays. A pleasant data-safety characteristic.

File versioning can function a type of advert hoc backup: Older recordsdata are saved simply in case. Icedrive does it higher than most. Instead of transferring the older file to a visual sub-directory, or renaming the older file and leaving it in plain view (this will get messy with a number of variations), it retains the recordsdata out of sight.

Simply right-click on the file for the context menu, drill right down to the Icedrive sub-menu (Windows 11/Show extra choices) if needed, choose Version historical past and also you’ll see a listing of older variations which you’ll then obtain.

Note that versioning solely appeared on the “local” I: drive with the model 3 beta software program. Also be aware that merely making a file didn’t rely as a model — solely upon enhancing and saving was a model created. Beta.

Icedrive affords an internet doc preview characteristic that handles many widespread sorts. However, my more moderen Office recordsdata wouldn’t open so I discovered the characteristic solely helpful for plain vanilla PDF, JPEG, and many others.

No enhancing of mentioned paperwork is on the market, so when you’re trying to work on-line, Icedrive is probably going not your cup of tea. At least for now. That mentioned, Icedrive doesn’t make claims on this regard. As easy storage with easy accessibility, it’s aces.

How simple is it to make use of Icedrive?

Icedrive is the simplest on-line storage service to stand up to hurry with that I’ve examined to date. That’s largely as a result of the shopper software program is straightforward, easy, and doesn’t misidentify sync operations as backup like some, similar to pCloud.

Note that my opinion takes into consideration the beta options which aren’t out there to all customers but. Soon, hopefully.

As talked about, Icedrive creates a digital Windows drive just like the beforehand reviewed pCloud. This characteristic for macOS and Linux is scheduled for launch later in 2024. Icedrive despatched me the macOS beta, which depends on the general public area macFUSE — a separate obtain. OpenDrive additionally depends on this macOS extension, which appears to work nicely.

To entry your encrypted folder from the “local” I: drive, you need to enter the passphrase on-line, then open the native shopper and below the Mount tab, select Crypto Lock and enter the passphrase. Simple, and after that, it’s all clear.

It’s necessary to do not forget that the I: drive recordsdata exist solely on-line and modifications made to them are everlasting.

Note which you can set the web storage as read-only if you wish to make sure recordsdata don’t get mucked up.

How a lot does Icedrive price?

Icedrive has an choice to swimsuit nearly anybody’s funds, although essentially the most inexpensive require a five-year dedication. The presently discounted five-year plans are 1TB/$189 ($3.15 month-to-month), 3TB/$399 ($6.65 month-to-month/$2.21 month-to-month per TB), and 10TB/$999 ($16.65 month-to-month/$1.66 month-to-month per TB).

There are additionally month-to-month and yearly plans. The former are $6 for 1TB, $12 for 3TB, and $30 for 10TB. Annual costs are: 1TB is $59 yearly ($4.91 month-to-month), 3TB is $120 ($3.33 month-to-month per TB), and 10TB is $299 ($2.49 month-to-month per TB).

All in all, Icedrive isn’t the most cost effective choice on the market, however it’s actually aggressive and as talked about, there’s a free 10GB plan (with out the encrypted folder) so you possibly can kick the tires.

Should you join Icedrive?

When it involves ease of use, Icedrive is nearly as good because it will get, and the pricing is kind of aggressive. When all of the beta options are in place, it will likely be in a league of its personal when it comes to interface. Definitely value a look-see.

Editor’s be aware: Because on-line companies are sometimes iterative, gaining new options and efficiency enhancements over time, this assessment is topic to alter so as to precisely replicate the present state of the service. Any modifications to textual content or our ultimate assessment verdict will likely be famous on the prime of this text.