Best encrypted cloud backup services in 2021

Sync.com offers outstanding value for money without sacrificing any important features. It is a zero-knowledge service that provides watertight end-to-end encryption for your backups. And it implements two-factor authentication to further improve the security of your account. 

With Sync you get custom apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. However, this service does work to back up NAS or FTP, and Linux users will also need to shop elsewhere. The good news is that Sync has a free 5 GG plan, which never expires. That means you can test the service yourself to see whether you enjoy using its apps on your devices.

If you do need to upgrade and get more storage, you get plenty of options because it is highly scalable depending on your needs. Best of all, the basic plan provides 2 TB of storage that can be accessed and backed-up to from an unlimited number of devices. This sets sync apart from some of its competitors, which set limitations on the number of devices you can connect to the storage space.

Finally, we love that this backup service has secure file sharing, and file versioning to ensure you can backtrack to previous versions of files if you need to. You can even preview files before downloading them (though, unfortunately, you can't listen to music or view video files directly from Sync's storage).

A great all-rounder that is well worth considering if you need secure cloud storage with end-to-end-encryption.

NordLocker 2.0 is the latest version of the encryption backup tool developed by the much-respected VPN company NordVPN. It is an easy-to-use cloud backup for desktop users that provides watertight end-to-end encryption. As a result, you can use it to back up your data from Windows or macOS without fear that anybody might intercept it or access it whilst at rest.

Admittedly, NordLocker is a relatively new service, and it is missing many of the bells and whistles you get elsewhere. You'll be able to trial the service without paying a penny, however, thanks to its free 3 GB plan. NordLocker's apps also provide super-easy drag-and-drop saving that you can use to back up your entire disk if you want to. Plus, this service has automatic, scheduled backups and secure file sharing - which means you do get the most important cloud backup features. 

We look forward to seeing NordLocker roll out mobile apps soon. And, again, we urge you to remember that this service is not for backing up from external drives, NAS, or FTP. However, if simple cloud storage for a desktop machine is what you need – this reputable company is definitely worth considering.

IDrive is a popular cloud storage service that provides watertight end-to-end encryption for its users. This means that you can opt to upload your data in a fully encrypted state if you want to. To provide a service that is appealing to all kinds of consumers, the service makes the option to control your encryption key optional, however. So please remember you will need to opt for the secure cloud storage option if you want to utilize it.

IDrive has apps for all popular platforms, and it is extremely easy to use. This makes it suitable for beginners in need of cloud backup for a mobile device, or power users needing to back up from desktop machines as well. And this service is suitable for those who want to back up from NAS devices. On the other hand, if you do want to back up from FTP, you will need to look elsewhere.

During testing, we enjoyed using IDrive across all our devices. And we were impressed by its fully-featured service. Users can easily sync data across devices and access their account via a web portal on any machine. Plus, this service has secure file sharing and file versioning for up to 30 previous versions of files. This service also has a 5 GB free plan and upgrading to more storage starts from as little as $52 per year for 5 TB of storage on an unlimited number of devices. 

Elephant Drive is a US-based cloud backup platform that provides a zero-knowledge service. And it is one of the few secure cloud backup services that has apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, and NAS devices. In fact, it is one of the most comprehensive services we have ever encountered for backing up NAS to the cloud. 

With Elephant Drive you get file versioning, secure file and folder sharing, syncing across devices, backup scheduling, and many other advanced features. This makes it perfect for power users who want to back up from a wide choice of devices. Unfortunately, this provider does not have a free plan, and getting a paid account starts at $10 per month, which is quite pricey. However, you can still try the service because it has a 30-day free trial. 

All things considered, Elephant Drive a highly professional cloud backup service with strong encryption for your data, which means it will be of interest to some users (and is definitely worthy of a place in our best 5).

MEGA is a secure cloud storage service based in Auckland, New Zealand. It is an incredible service that provides secure end-to-end-encryption for your data by default. This makes the service ideal for consumers who want to retain full control of their data. 

MEGA is a service that is oriented primarily at consumers and individuals. That said, it has a secure sharing facility and even comes with a private messaging platform (that all users get access to for free). We love that anybody can get 50 GB of storage space for free, which sets this service apart from most of its competitors. And you can scale up and get extra storage space at a very reasonable cost.

You can schedule when you want to transfer your files to the cloud for safekeeping, and you can share files via a secure link feature. You also get file versioning and syncing. And this service even works for backing up NAS devices. Overall, we think this is an excellent cloud backup for anybody wanting to store important files online. And it even allows you to play your music directly from your storage without downloading the tracks to save space, using the MPlayer.