5 Best Cloud Backup Services with Free Trials

NordLocker is an encryption tool developed by the highly respected VPN company NordVPN. The service allows users to encrypt the data stored on their Mac or Windows PC and prevents that data from being accessed in the event of a theft. NordLocker also offers a cloud locker folder in addition to local encryption, where users can back up any data online. This locker works similarly to Dropbox, but with robust end-to-end encryption.

The nice thing about NordLocker is that anybody can use this encryption and backup service for free, and store up to 3 GB of data. Upgrading to 500 GB of storage will only cost you $3.99 per month, too. Once your data has been uploaded to the cloud, you can opt to sync it across your devices, making it accessible wherever you need it. You can also securely share files with your contacts if you like.

During my tests, I found NordLocker to be extremely easy to use, and I particularly liked that it lets you encrypt both your local hard drive and encrypted backups to the internet, meaning all your important data is recoverable. This makes it a versatile tool ideal for shoring up your privacy and securing your data online, and well worth checking out for free.

Livedrive offers a 14 day free trial of its Pro Suite subscription, which bags users 5,000GB of cloud storage, instant file synchronization, as well as the ability to backup 5 computers and share files with friends.

User files are automatically backed up to Livedrive's UK-based data centers, and photos and videos from mobile devices can be stored, too. Then, you can easily check out your important documents via the desktop app at home, or your phone when on the go.

And Livedrive doesn't skimp when it comes to security, either. Its servers are secured with AES 256-bit encryption, and files benefit from TLS and FTP support. Furthermore, files can't be linked back to individual users thanks to information masking. The Livedrive data centers are monitored 24 hours a day and ISO 27001 certified, and users can employ two factor authentication for that extra layer of protection. As a final cherry on top, Livedrive is fully compliant with GDPR.

File versioning of up to 30 versions is supported, and it's also possible to recover deleted files within 30 days. Additionally, Livedrive can be scheduled to scan your folders. We particularly enjoy how simply Livedrive is to use, thanks to an intuitive interface, and if you decide to stick with the service once your trial is over, there are three plans to pick from: Back, Briefcase, and Pro Suite.

A whopping 60-day free trial is available with Adrive, and you’ll be able to check out its Premium plan, with 100 GB of storage space, without handing over any credit card information.

Adrive is one of the more budget-friendly options in our top 5, and incredibly user friendly, too. Users can access their files from at any time, and edit work documents with a handy Zoho tool. What’s more, Adrive is fully compatible with Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices – though user reviews suggest mobile support could be better.

Even so, Adrive has an impressive privacy policy and allows users to password protect files. The service supports FTP and WebDAV, uses TLS to enable secure transfer, and SSL encryption to keep sensitive information safe when at rest. Files can also be transferred using SCP, SFTP, or Rsync over SSH. It is worth noting, however, that Adrive does not provide E2EE. As such, Adrive could potentially grant staff or the government access to your data if served with a warrant.

We enjoyed the fact that Adrive allows users to set file expiration dates, has increased its file size limitations from 2GB to 16GB, and backs up your data weekly in addition to taking a nightly snapshot. 7 days of file versioning are also available in case of emergency – or mishaps – and an expert team of support staff is a click away, 24/7.

ElephantDrive's 30-day free trial means you'll have access to 1,000GB of storage space, and be able to upgrade, downgrade, or cancel your trial whenever you like. What's more, you'll be able to connect 3 sub accounts and 10 devices!

ElephantDrive makes it easy to schedule automatic backups, and users can even secure data from external disks and directly from mobile devices. Then, when you want to check out your files, you can simply sync and browse through them on any device. It's also incredibly easy to share documents with friends or work colleagues, thanks to password protection supplied by email, text, or URL. And, if you need to recover a previous file version, ElephantDrive supports point-in-time recovery up to 30 days - and deleted files are kept for 30 days, too!

Before your data even reaches the ElephantDrive cloud servers it's protected with AES 256-bit encryption, and 128-bit SSL secured channels are also used during transfer. We were also impressed with ElephantDrive's end-to-end encryption. Users can, if they want to, generate E2EE keys.

Whilst AOMEI's free trial might only be available for Windows devices, it does offer a rather generous 30-day grace period. With it, you'll be able to backup and sync files, and be spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing backup storage, with external drives, NAS, cloud storage and network share all supported.

AOMEI can automatically backup all your important files, and its Scheme feature keeps things up to date whilst removing old, unused backups. Additionally, AOMEI can facilitate system migration to SSD as well as data transfers between various drives, which takes the fuss out of organizing your data. In terms of security, AOMEI opts for 256-bit SSL secure ordering.

More than 30 million people have purchased an AOMEI plan, and the service has an easy-to-use interface, 24/7 customer support, and an incredible 90-day money-back guarantee should you decide to purchase a premium subscription.