By Brian Turner
last updated
Save money with these free cloud apps for your business
We feature the best free cloud apps for business make it simple and easy to manage everyday business functions from your tablet or smartphone.
The rise in cloud apps for business has been made possible by the provision of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) (opens in new tab) platforms running through cloud services (opens in new tab). The result is a profusion of business apps (opens in new tab), most of them paid-for services.
Most cloud apps are paid for platforms, but a number of these offer a free service tier which offer significant features, which means they are perfectly fine to use for the smallest of businesses.
These free cloud-based apps also offer the advantage of being able to offer cloud storage (opens in new tab), which means you can sync and save your documents online (opens in new tab). This also means being able to switch between using your desktop computer and mobile device. And because all you need is a browser to run these services, usually it doesn't matter which operating system you're using, whether Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS.
Here then we'll feature some of the best free business apps for business.
We've also featured the best free office software.
The best free cloud apps for business of 2023 in full:
Why you can trust TechRadar Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
1. Slack
The best free collaboration tool
Reasons to buy
+ Comprehensive communications Video features Integrations available
Slack (Searchable Log of all Conversation and Knowledge) is a handy cloud-based tool that keeps all messaging and files in one place. It was officially launched in 2013 to facilitate online collaboration (opens in new tab). This application is available for all mobile devices and can also be accessed via the web.
The Slack channel system enables businesses to divide up work based upon teams, clients or in whatever way you need. Employees can join and leave the chats as they see fit. It also has a handy video feature where you can speak to members of your team face to face.
The Slack directory integrates with over 1000 apps which include Dropbox and Google Drive. You can drag and drop files, images and videos directly into Slack if needs be. The app also includes a handy screen sharing tool.
Slack has three tiers. The first tier is free and includes search for up to 10,000 messages, 10 apps and integrations and 1-to-1 video calls. Paid tiers add secure collaboration as well as communications with video conferencing, then advanced compliance with identity management, including SSO. An Enterprise package offers a custom quote according to features required.
To find out more, read our full Slack review.
2. Google Drive
The best backup and sync solution
Reasons to buy
+ Truly cross platform Backup and sync 15GB Free
Google Drive is a cloud storage service (opens in new tab) provider launched by Google in 2012. It is not just a cloud storage service, as Google Drive also allows users to create, edit and collaborate on documents online as it encompasses all of Google’s own office suite such as Docs (opens in new tab), Sheets (opens in new tab)and Slides (opens in new tab).
It is a first choice for most Android users as it comes pre-installed on most Android smartphones and tablets. However, it can be easily integrated to use with iOS devices and has a web interface, which can be used across all platforms.
Google Account users get 15GB of storage free which can be used by Google Drive, Gmail and Google Photos. This means you can not only save and back-up your files but you can also save emails and photos on the drive. You can pay for larger storage capacity through the Google One service.
For more information, read our full Google Drive review.
3. Wave
The best free accounting and invoicing tool
Reasons to buy
+ Dedicated invoice tool PayPal and Credit Card processing
Reasons to avoid
- Mainly for small businesses
Wave provides accounting software for small business (opens in new tab) which is free to use.
Wave has a dedicated setup feature. From here users can decide what applications to access first: general bookkeeping (opens in new tab), invoicing (opens in new tab) or payroll (opens in new tab), though note that payroll is a paid-for service.
Businesses can link their bank accounts, PayPal accounts and other relevant data sources for transaction records.
Wave has a dedicated invoicing tool where users can choose from a variety of templates. Invoices can be sent via email and credit cards can be processed through the platform.
Overall, it makes for an easy and accessible tool for running business accounts, but it's almost certainly aimed at small companies rather than large ones.
Check out more in our full Wave review.
4. Paypal
The best free online payment processor
Reasons to buy
+ No monthly fees Flexible payments Global currencies
Paypal is one of the simplest and easiest to use providers for credit card processing (opens in new tab). Whether you're looking to sell through a retail website, charge for services, or send money internationally, Paypal provides a really accessible service.
Sign up is easy enough, though expect to have to go through basic money-laundering checks at the beginning, which means Paypal adding a couple of small amounts to your business bank account and you let them know what these were, to prove you are connected to that account. The process takes a few days, but once done you're ready to take payments.
If you're looking to charge for services, such as for consulting or through freelancing, you can send one-off charges via email through Paypal, or set up a subscription system that allows you to take regular payments according to whichever parameters you use.
For retail, it you're using any of the common shopping cart software platforms, such as Woocommerce, Magento, or similar, then Paypal is usually available as a plugin option, though there may be a small charge from the developer to provide this.
The basic service level of Paypal is free, with a service charge of around 2.7% which is both common and reasonable. Paid tiers are available at a monthly costs for higher volume merchants which can reduce payment processing fees, with additional offline processing options available.
Overall, Paypal is one of the most popular online payment processors because it's so simple and easy to use. It's also flexible and able to work with most currencies, making it an excellent choice for global selling.
Read more in our full PayPal review.
5. Bitrix24
The free general business software
Reasons to buy
+ Multiple tooksets Personalized invoices Generous free tier
Bitrix24 provides an ambitious suite of collaboration, communication and project management tools (opens in new tab) with a huge variety of functions, geared towards any size business.
Bitrix24 centralizes all collaboration and communications from its user dashboard. From here users can organize and track customer interactions, log all store lead data, generate sales reports and perform segmentation of target audiences. There's also an invoicing service built in, which can automatically insert client data.
Files, events and processes can be uploaded to share with your colleagues. Adding new users to Bitrix24 CRM is straightforward and hassle free. Admins can assign departments and groups to each user.
There is a free plan which offers comprehensive functionality, but paid-for plans offer additional and more advanced features. A big plus with the pricing is that you are charged a set fee for the service, rather than charged per user like a lot of other service provides. This means you can expand with the service without having to increase costs further.
Overall, Bitrix24 offers an incredibly ambitious platform that aims to integrate most core business functions in a single place. However, don't be surprised if you feel somewhat overwhelmed at first, so take advantage of the free tier to play around with an account and get a better feel of how the software works.
To find out more, read our full Bitrix24 review.
Other free cloud apps for business to consider
There is a wide variety of free software available for business use. Some is completely free, while others offer free-tiers with limited features. Here we'll cover some of the other free software apps you can run from the cloud to help with the running of your business:
Evernote (opens in new tab)is most famous for being a note-taking app, but really it can be so much more. Aside from the basic note-taking functions, it can be treated more like a personal organizer, storing documents, images, video and audio together. Additionally, there is also the option to include document scanning which can be incredibly useful to run from a cell phone or other mobile device, especially when it comes to digitizing documents. The basic Evernote package is free, but there are paid upgrades available to unlock more features.
Trello (opens in new tab)is a great piece of productivity software that allows teams to work together collaboratively on projects. The team might include staff or co-workers, but could also include freelancers and suppliers. It's a great way to see who is working on which projects and what needs prioritizing. It may not be a top-level project management suite, but it's a great starter that's simple and easy to use. While there are paid plans that open up the features and limits, the basic free tier provides full-functionality for many needs.
Zapier (opens in new tab)is a neat little app that works with many other apps to automate processes between them. For example, if you receive a business email with an attachment, Zapier could then automatically save it to Dropbox, then alert you about this on Slack. It can also be used to cross post social media to different platforms and automate CRM tasks. It's a neat little app that can be a real time saver, and while there are paid versions to work with premium apps, the free version is worth playing with to get an idea of how it can work for you.
Square Point of Sale (opens in new tab) (POS) softwareis worth taking a look at if you run your own mom and pop shop and want an easy way to process sales. Although Square sell hardware such as tills and car readers, their POS software can turn your cell or mobile into a cash till for taking orders. Even better, it's free to use, with no monthly fees, and the transaction fees are some of the best on the market.
Google Analytics (opens in new tab)is probably one of the best tools you can use for growing your online business, because it shows where your customers are coming from, where they are going, and how many end up buying a product or service. You can set up goals to get a better idea of your sales funnel, and combined with Google's Adwords marketing program you can develop a clear sales and marketing strategy, that allows you to keep track of your Return on Investment (ROI) in real-time.
Want to make your own apps? We've listed the best mobile app development software.
How we tested the best free cloud apps for business
To test for the best free cloud apps for business we first set up an account with the relevant software platform, whether as a download or as an online service. We then tested the service to see how the software could be used for different purposes and in different situations. The aim was to push each software platform to see how useful its basic tools were and also how easy it was to get to grips with any more advanced tools.
Read how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar.
Which free cloud apps for business is best for you?
When deciding which free cloud apps for business to download and use, first consider what your actual needs are, as sometimes free platforms may only provide basic options, so if you need to use advanced tools you may find a paid platform is much more worthwhile. Additionally, free and budget software options can sometimes prove limited when it comes to the variety of tools available, while higher-end software can really cater for every need, so do ensure you have a good idea of which features you think you may require. In this instance, we aimed to list a variety of apps for taking on different tasks, so you would only need to use the best in the field rather than multiple apps with overlapping functions.
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Brian Turner
Brian has over 30 years publishing experience as a writer and editor across a range of computing, technology, and marketing titles. He has been interviewed multiple times for the BBC and been a speaker at international conferences. His specialty on techradar is Software as a Service (SaaS) applications, covering everything from office suites to IT service tools. He is also a science fiction and fantasy author, published as Brian G Turner.
FAQs
How do I get 100GB cloud free? ›
...
How to Get 100GB of Free Cloud Space
- Degoo.
- MEGA.
- Google Drive.
- 4. Box.
- Sync.
- OneDrive.
- Dropbox.
- EaseUS Todo Backup.
- Connect Google Drive to CBackup. Download the security app CBackup to the desktop, create a CBackup account and log in. ...
- Combine cloud drives to get Google Drive 1TB storage. ...
- Backup files to 1TB space in Google Drive.
TeraBox is a FREE cloud storage tool for documents backup, files sharing and video storage. Get 1TB (1024 GB) of secure cloud storage, transfer files across your all devices, share it with family and friends.
Which free cloud is best? ›- Icedrive. ...
- Koofr. ...
- Mimedia. ...
- Sync.com. ...
- Dropbox. ...
- pCloud. ...
- iCloud. The Apple iCloud is the best free cloud storage for Apple users. ...
- Amazon Drive ( Amazon Photos Storage) The legacy Amazon drive is now relaunched as Amazon photos storage.
Which Cloud Storage Services Give Unlimited Storage? As you'll see in the list, Sync.com, Dropbox, Box and OpenDrive all offer unlimited cloud storage plans. Several backup providers also have this option, including Backblaze and Carbonite.
How do I get 2TB free cloud? ›- Select the Storage tab, then choose + Add Combined Cloud option.
- Tick all Dropbox accounts and click Next.
- Determine the order of these Dropbox accounts to store files using the triangle icon and click Combine.
...
Key Takeaways:
- When it comes to storing only a single terabyte of online data, there aren't that many cloud storage options.
- Only three cloud providers offer exactly 1TB of cloud storage, and Icedrive is the best of the bunch.
Every Google Account comes with 15 GB of cloud storage at no charge, which is shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. When you upgrade to a paid Google One monthly subscription, your total storage increases to 100 GB or more, depending on the plan you choose.
How to get 5TB Google Drive free? ›We will rely on a third-party cloud backup tool, CBackup, to achieve it. This software enables you to combine multiple Google accounts, and other cloud accounts to get 5TB, even Google Drive unlimited free. For example, you could merge 10 Google Drive accounts with 100GB storage to get 1TB of storage space for free.
Is Google giving 1TB free? ›All Google Drive users receive 15 gigabytes of free storage across Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos. However, Google Fiber residential customers on our 1 Gig plans receive an additional 1 terabyte of storage space.
Does Google have a 1TB plan? ›
When Google rolls out the new upgrade, every Google user will automatically get the standard 15GB storage updated to 1TB. Users will be able to add up to 100 different formats including CAD files, PDFs, and various image formats on Google Drive.
Which cloud storage is 1024gb permanently free? ›TeraBox Cloud Storage Highlights: – 1024 GB permanent free cloud storage. – Upload photos, videos, documents and other files from your Android device.
What is the cheapest 1TB cloud storage? ›What Is the Cheapest 1TB Cloud Storage? Icedrive offers the cheapest 1TB of cloud storage at $4.17 per month when billed annually. That said, Sync.com offers better value with its 2TB plan at $8 per month. If you consider online backup, then IDrive is the cheapest with 5TB for just $59.62 for the first year.
Where can I upload 100GB for free? ›- Google Drive. Google Drive provides up to 15GB of free storage space and allows you to share large files, such as pictures and videos, with a few clicks. ...
- Raysync--100GB Free. ...
- Dropbox. ...
- OneDrive. ...
- 5. Box. ...
- MediaFire. ...
- pCloud. ...
- Masv.
One of the most famous storages these days, Microsoft OneDrive lets users keep their files within reach with its free cloud storage solution. OneDrive allows users to keep their documents in their 10GB free storage. It is pre-installed on any device with Windows OS but it can be accessed from any device at any time.
Is there a free version of Google Cloud? ›The Google Cloud Free Trial is mainly designed to give hands-on experience with Google Cloud Services for customers free of cost for a span of 90 days or till you've spent the $300 in credits.
Which cloud platform is easiest? ›Summary. If you're fresh out of college or a newbie with no whatsoever background in cloud computing, we recommend learning AWS. AWS has an easy user interface, which makes it attractive for beginners.
How do I get 100GB OneDrive for free? ›To redeem free storage of OneDrive, you need to sign in Microsoft Outlook account as well based on new policy of Microsoft. If you download the Microsoft Outlook or launch it, it will automatically sign in by using existing Microsoft account and you can redeem storage offer (+100GB).
How do I get Google unlimited storage for free? ›- Use a Google One Account. ...
- Use Google Family Share to Link Multiple Accounts. ...
- Use a Google Workspace Account. ...
- Using a Workaround. ...
- Clear Your Trash. ...
- Transfer Ownership of Large Files. ...
- Remove Hidden Data.
An article by ZDNet claims that you don't actually get unlimited storage by default. You get 1TB at the start, and you have to request Dropbox for further storage down the line. Put simply, Dropbox gives you less for more money.
How much does 2TB Google Drive cost? ›
2TB, $10 monthly plan
Subscribing to the 2TB storage plan gets you all of the same member benefits of the prior two plans, along with the added perk of up to 10% cash back in the Google Store.
TeraBox is a cloud storage platform that you can use to backup large files. This platform offers users 1TB of free lifetime cloud storage that they can use in whatever way they wish to.
How can I store 50GB data for free? ›- MEGA.
- CBackup.
- Degoo.
- MediaFire.
- Google Drive.
- Box.
| Service: | Price per year Monthly 1TB or closest plan | Price per year Yearly 1TB or closest plan |
|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | 2TB for $119.88 ($9.99 per month) | 2TB for $99.99 ($8.33 per month) |
| Dropbox | 2TB for $143.88 ($11.99 per month) | 2TB for $119.88 ($9.99 per month) |
Unlike Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or any other cloud storage, TeraBox offers 1TB of free cloud storage. That is 1024GB or almost *8 times larger space than what Google Drive's free tier offers at 15GB. You can store up to 400,000 photos or 51,200 video files, each 1-minute in length.
Do I need 2TB of cloud storage? ›Light users just don't need this much storage in the cloud. But if you juggle many devices, are a professional who keeps large files in the cloud, or need to back up hundreds of gigabytes worth of files, 2TB of storage will be right for you.
What is the maximum free Google Drive space? ›Every Google Account comes with 15 GB of storage that's shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. When you upgrade to Google One, your total storage increases to 100 GB or more depending on what plan you choose.
What happens if I stop paying for Google storage? ›Until you reduce the amount of storage you use, neither you nor anyone else can edit or copy your files. Syncs stop between your computer's Google Drive folder and My Drive. Important: As of June 1, 2021, if you remain inactive or go over your storage quota for 2 years or longer, all of your content may be deleted.
Do I have to pay every month for Google storage? ›Yes, you can choose between annual and monthly billing for 100 GB, 200 GB, and 2 TB plans. For higher storage amounts, only monthly billing is available. If you choose annual billing, you'll save on the total cost. See pricing details.
How much does 100GB of Google Drive cost? ›Google today significantly dropped the prices for its Google Drive online storage service. The first 15GB of storage remain free, but 100GB now costs just $1.99 per month instead of $4.99. Even more impressively, though, you can now get a terabyte of online storage for $9.99 a month, down from $49.99.
How much does 5 TB cloud storage cost? ›
Dropbox Business plans start at $18 a month for Teams with 5TB of storage. The Advanced option gives you unlimited storage at $30 per user per month, starting with at least three users. That amounts to a starting price of $90 a month. These latter plans come with a 30-day free trial.
How do I get my 1tb student for free on Google Drive? ›School or college administrators can sign up for Google for Education- a free service and offer their students and other staff members. However, to get unlimited Google Drive storage, students will need a . edu email. You can access all Google Drive handles using this .
Which is cheaper AWS or Google Cloud? ›In addition to the world's largest networks, Google Cloud is cheaper than AWS and Azure. The bill is on minute-level increments, only charging for the computing time that is used. Depending on the instance, GCP is 25-50% cheaper than AWS.
Can I create my own cloud storage? ›By ownCloud
A lot of people want to pull their data off the cloud for a variety of reasons. Instead of missing out on those great syncing features, though, you can create your own cloud storage service that you control with a service called ownCloud. The best part: it only takes about five minutes to get it set up.
You don't have to lift a finger to get the upgraded storage: Every account will be automatically upgraded from their existing 15 GB of storage to 1 TB as we roll this out. Google increases Workspace storage limit to 1TB for free. It will automatically updated to 1TB from 15GB for every users.
Is 100GB a lot of storage for Google? ›For most people, 100GB is more than enough to stash important files, work docs, and family photos. But if you're planning on using Drive as a way to backup all your data, you'll probably want to go with one of the bigger plans.
Does Google still offer unlimited storage? ›Photos and videos backed up after January 16, 2021 are saved in Storage saver at no charge. Photos and videos backed up in Original quality count toward your Google Account storage. You get unlimited storage in Original quality at no charge. You won't be able to back up in Storage saver.
Should I use Google One or Google Workspace? ›Google Workspace Individual includes more premium features like appointment scheduling and email marketing to help individuals run and grow their businesses. With the Google One subscription plan you have more storage across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos, plus extra Google benefits and features.
What happens if you stop paying for cloud storage? ›You will no longer be able to synchronize or access your data from your local computer. But, rest assured all the data will remain safe inside the cloud storage. None of the data will be deleted from your cloud storage account and you can still access all your files without any problem.
Is Degoo 100gb a lifetime? ›Store your files free forever with Degoo. Choose what you want to backup, like your photos or documents, and we store it all securely in Degoo's online cloud storage. Secure: we encrypt all your stuff using military grade encryption before uploading them to the cloud.
How do I reduce the cost of cloud storage? ›
- 1) Identify idle compute resources.
- 2) Optimize purchasing strategies.
- 4) Release unneeded storage capacity.
- 5) Leverage storage tiering.
- 6) Align storage redundancy with requirements.
- 7) Reduce traffic across zones and regions.
- 8) Optimize network configurations.
- Lower costs: IaaS cloud model eliminates the need to deploy expensive on-premise hardware. ...
- On-demand availability and scalability: As the most flexible cloud computing model, IaaS allows you to scale the computing resources up or down rapidly according to the needs of your enterprise.
Download now and get 100 GB of space free for 6 months
Dropbox brings all your files together, in one central place. Experience Lenovo product shop and service, all in one place.
MyAirBridge. With MyAirBridge(Opens in a new window), you can upload a file and email a link to a specific recipient or just upload the file and generate a link to share with anyone. You can send a file as large as 20GB for free.
Is 100GB basically unlimited? ›100GB is a huge chunk of data to have access to each month. It's widely considered to be as close to an unlimited data plan as you can get without taking that final step.
How can I get free GB for iCloud? ›When you sign up for iCloud, you automatically get 5GB of free storage. If you need more iCloud storage or want access to premium features, you can upgrade to iCloud+ .
How much does 2TB of OneDrive cost? ›OneDrive now includes an option to upgrade your cloud storage up to 2TB, but it'll cost you another $9.99 per month.
What is the limit for free OneDrive? ›You have 5 GB of free cloud storage with your Microsoft account shared across your files and photos in OneDrive, attachments in Outlook.com and your Microsoft 365 apps.
How many GB is free Google Drive? ›Every Google Account comes with 15 GB of storage that's shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. When you upgrade to Google One, your total storage increases to 100 GB or more depending on what plan you choose.
How can I get Google Drive 5TB for free? ›We will rely on a third-party cloud backup tool, CBackup, to achieve it. This software enables you to combine multiple Google accounts, and other cloud accounts to get 5TB, even Google Drive unlimited free. For example, you could merge 10 Google Drive accounts with 100GB storage to get 1TB of storage space for free.
Which cloud service is cheapest? ›
Icedrive offers the cheapest 1TB of cloud storage at $4.17 per month when billed annually. That said, Sync.com offers better value with its 2TB plan at $8 per month. If you consider online backup, then IDrive is the cheapest with 5TB for just $59.62 for the first year. What Is the Best and Cheapest Cloud Storage?
How can I get free unlimited storage? ›Specifically, you can merge multiple Google Drive accounts, or combine different cloud storage accounts, like Google Drive accounts, OneDrive accounts, Dropbox accounts to obtain unlimited storage space. In this way, you can make the most use of all your cloud storage and get free unlimited Google Drive storage easily.
How do you store data for 100 years? ›How do you store data for hundreds of years? Optical media such as CD, DVD, and Blu-ray discs happen to offer the most ideal long-term storage solution. Not only does this medium provide better resistance against loss of data integrity, it also strikes an ideal balance between cost and ease of storage/retrieval.
Is Amazon cloud storage free? ›Every Amazon customer gets 5 GB of free storage shared with Amazon Photos. Save, organize, share, and access all your files on desktop, mobile, and tablet. If you need more storage, Amazon Drive offers a selection of monthly and annual storage plans.
Can I buy permanent iCloud storage? ›Go to Settings, then tap your name. Tap iCloud, then tap Manage Account Storage or Manage Storage. Or scroll down and tap Upgrade to iCloud+. Tap Buy More Storage or Change Storage Plan.
Should I get 50GB or 200GB iCloud? ›Most light users will do fine with the 50GB storage plan. If you need a lot of cloud storage, 200GB should be more than enough for you and your family.
Is it worth it to pay for iCloud storage? ›iCloud Drive is perfectly passable and incredibly convenient for Mac and iPhone users in particular. But it's not the best cloud storage and file-sharing service on the market. Other applications offer more space for less money, or have more robust sharing options, or both.