Best Cloud Storage (Updated 2020)

1. WD My Book Live 2TB Personal Cloud Storage

Looking for a cloud network-attached storage device for simple personal uses? If yes, then Western Digital’s 2TB is one of the best cloud storage devices for that purpose. This unit is as simple as they come and doesn’t even have any peripheral, leave alone USB ports. It is a 2TB, sleek, plain, vertical unit with only power and Ethernet ports at the back.

On the bright side, it is pretty easy to set up and to use. All you need to do is plug it in your power source and it will automatically appear on your Window’s browser or Mac’s finder. Once this happens, you can start customizing it using the server’s web interface, so it suits your user preferences.

The server features three public folders where you can upload your music, pictures, and videos, and then access these files across all your devices. If you have a hard time installing it, the My Book Live NAS comes with a CD where you can discover all you need to know about its operation.

It is compatible with both Windows and MacOs and even comes with a photos app for iPhone, which lets you view your pictures without necessarily turning on your PC or laptop. Data transfer is only via the gigabit Ethernet port mentioned earlier, and it’s surprisingly fast, given that it is capable of reading and transferring a 2GB file with speeds of up to 48mbps.

Compared to those on our list, WD My Book cloud storage doesn’t have many bells and whistles. It, however, fits the bill of NAS newbies, or those looking to consolidate their favorite pictures, playlists, and movies in one secure location.

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• Single-bay cloud storage unit
• UPnP media server support
• 10mbps Ethernet connection speed.
• Three years limited warranty

2. WD 4TB, My Cloud Personal Network, Attached Storage

If you are not hungry for storage, but still need a NAS device with decent storage specs and cloud connectivity, then you should take a look at this Western Digital 4TB unit. Weighing a little over two pounds, this unit packs specs that make it a perfect fit for the first time NAS Device user. It has four terabytes of storage space and it is equipped with a USB 3.0 ports for fast data transfer.

As noted, you don’t need to be tech-savvy to use the WD 4TB NAS unit. It uses My Cloud, a rather intuitive and user-friendly NAS server that lets you access your data across multiple devices only by plugging it in. The server features three Public Smartware folders, where you can easily access all your public data.

It also has the Time Machine Backup Folder for Windows and Mac data backup. My Cloud also has well-organized, easy to use mobile apps for Android and iOS, as well as desktop software. Besides, the unit comes with a well-detailed user guide to walk you through what you need to know in case you find it difficult.

The design is sleek but straightforward. It is a vertical-standing unit with a single LED status light that stays solid once you power it, and blinks to indicate data activity. The USB 3.0, Ethernet, and power connection ports are on the rear. It is housed in a sleek, white plastic body and runs pretty quietly. Also, note, you get all these impressive specs, at a budget-friendly price tag.

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• My Cloud NAS Server
• USB 3.0 and 1Gbe ports
• Single Drive NAS device
• Automatic backup for Windows and Mac

3. KwiltGo Personal Cloud Storage

Forget signing up for cloud service. With KwiltGo personal cloud storage, you have a full-featured personal cloud hub device equipped with 16GB of expandable storage (up to 16 TB). It comes fitted with three USB ports for connecting hard drives enabling you to expand your storage capacity depending on your requirements. There’s also an SD card reader and USB input port for importing videos, photos, and other files into your connected storage drives.

File transfer is a breeze thanks to KwiltGo app. You only need to download the app on your smartphone to transfer photos and videos to a DSLR camera, GoPro, or drone. Since the device also supports wireless connectivity, you can share the files directly via social media or email wirelessly. Moreover, KwiltGo comes with a built-in photo editor enabling you to edit the pictures to your desired settings.

If you are worried about the safety of your files, you shouldn’t be. KwiltGo is a personal cloud storage device and not a commercial one. This means the device uses a private home network when storing files providing total control of your data. What’s more, with its HDMI wire, you can transform this storage device into an entertainment hub. This is because you can easily connect the device to your monitor or TV and broadcast videos and photos for the entire family to enjoy.

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• Three USB 2.0 ports
• HDMI cable for 4K videos at 60fps
• Files accessible via Kwilt app
• Photo editor

4. My Cloud EX2 Ultra

The WD My Cloud EX2 Ultra is yet an excellent pocket-friendly option from Western Digital perfect if you’re working on a budget.

It’s a pretty chunky unit, but considering it is equipped with dual drives, this shouldn’t be much of a surprise. It is housed in a black-plastic, vertical-standing body, and has a three-LED status panel on the front. It has two USB 3.0 ports, and a Gigabit port on the back, and easily accessible drive bays on the top. We like that it features two USB 3.0 ports as they not only means lightning-fast data transfers but also allow you to connect two external hard drives simultaneously.

As the name suggests, the EX2 Ultra utilizes My Cloud, which, as noted earlier, is an incredibly user-friendly server. All you need to do is plug it in, and it’ll automatically allow you to tap into your saved files across multiple devices thanks to desktop software and mobile app connectivity.

What we, however, like the most, is that the WD EX2 Ultra supports both Raid 0 and Raid 1 configurations. This is a much-welcomed feature as you can either configure your system to deliver maximum capacity and enhanced data speeds thanks to Raid 0 or, customize it to offer more storage space and maximum data redundancy through Raid 1.

The only downside is that for a cloud storage device as powerful as it is, the EX2 Ultra only has a storage capacity of four terabytes. This is, however, not much of a downside as you can always expand the storage through an external hard drive using the multiple USB 3.0 ports noted earlier. Besides, if you’re not a storage hungry person, four terabytes are more than enough.

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• Multiple RAID Configuration
• 1.3GHz dual-core processor
• 1GB RAM
• 2 USB 3.0 Ports, 1 Gbe Port

5. QNAP TS-451+-2G-US 4-Bay Personal Cloud NAS

The growing demand for data storage has compelled users to look for NAS systems with excellent performance and scalable storage system and QNAP’s TS-451+-2G-US 4-Bay Next Gen Personal Cloud NAS provides a perfect balance. The device is powered by a powerful QTS 4.2 operating system making it easy to perform demanding data back up operations, remote file transfer and multimedia access, and file synchronization.

With its upgradable 2GB RAM and dual Gigabit LAN ports, the device can deliver up to 225 MB/s read and write speeds using its port trucking mode. What’s more, if performing CPU-intensive tasks, you can increase the processor rate from 2.0 to 2.42 GHz. And with its ability to support AES 256-bit volume and folder encryption, you are confident about the system’s performance and security.

Your NAS experience is a breeze thanks to this device’s QTS user interface that streamlines the load time and allows you to create desktop shortcuts, find desired functions, monitor important system information, and operate multiple application windows. The system also breaks the barriers between platforms, devices, and geography creating an optimized cloud experience.

Aside from its hassle-free user interface, the TS-451 allows you to operate additional operating systems. It has a Virtualization Station that transforms the device into a two-in-one box enabling it to function as a virtualization platform and a NAS device. This also means you can operate multiple operating systems, VM import/export, fast VM creation, and VM backup & restoration.

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• Intel Celeron 2.0 GHz processor (quad-core)
• Real-time and offline video transcoding
• Qsync capability
• Supports NFS, SMB, and AFP protocols

6. WD 8TB My Cloud Home Personal Cloud Storage

WD has been churning out a range of storage solutions over the last six years and its WD, My Cloud Home, is one of the latest offerings. The device is designed to upgrade your storage solutions thanks to its robust backup solution and intuitive software interface. It is a fantastic solution if looking for a storage solution that allows you to offload videos, photos, and other data and access them at any time.

It functions like a Network-attached Storage solution without the complexities of dealing with a traditional NAS solution. Aside from its vast storage space and easy accessibility, it is the most attractive product the company has produced so far. It has a sleek, geometric construction with a beautiful white and grey housing complemented by a minimal white LED hues at the front. The two-tone look makes the exterior ideal for artistic purposes too.

Since the 8TB model is a single-drive, it comes equipped with a Gigabit Ethernet port and USB 3.0 port at the back, a DC IN power supply inlet, and a reset switch. A feature that sets the Cloud Home apart is its ability to store data on the device and make it accessible from anywhere. This means once you have set it up, you can access and manage the drive via WD’s website or through My Cloud Home app for Android and iOS devices.

What’s more, the drive remains connected to the internet, and you can configure services like IFTT, Sonos, Plex and Social & Cloud Import making it easy to use the device in tandem with the services.

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• Supports Windows, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, and MacOS browsers
• Gigabit Ethernet port and USB 3.0 port
• Compatible with Mac and PCs
• H.264 and H.265 streaming options

7. WD 8TB Elements Desktop Hard Drive

Western Digital has, in the past, brought forth a couple of excellent cloud storage hard drives, and as with all the others, this 8TB Desktop Hard Drive lives up to the company’s reputation. At 5.31×1.89×6.53, the WD 8TB Elements desktop hard drive has a pretty straightforward design. It has a black polycarbonate build and sports the typical rectangular shape with rounded edges shape.

Although the design is simple, it looks pretty slick and professional on your work desk. However, as a vertical-standing unit weighing 2.09 pounds, the WD 8TB Hard Drive is a compact unit to have on your desk but not to carry around in your pockets. It’s also shockproof, which means you never have to worry about damage if it ever falls off your desk.

As the name suggests, this unit boasts a whopping eight terabytes. This is enough space to store up to 250 high definition films, countless MP3 files, and photos. It is equipped with a single USB 3.0, which means data transfers to and from the hard drive are super-fast and efficient. This makes it an ideal solution for gamers looking to expand their gaming rig capabilities or anyone addicted to downloading high definition video.

What’s more, it’s a plug-and-play hard drive, which means no software or unique installation is required for file transfers. Just connect it to your PC, and it will be ready to use. Note, the WD 8TB hard drive is specially designed for Windows 7 and above users, but it’s also compatible with Apple’s devices as long as you format it.

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• USB 3.0 Interface
• 5400rpm
• 2-year warranty

8. Synology DS120j 1 Bay NAS DiskStation

The Synology DS120j is a recent addition to the J range and is also one of the best cloud storage devices you will come across in 2020. It is a powerful drive housed in a glossy white, rectangular enclosure. It has a plastic chassis, and sports three LED light status panel and a power button on the front panel. The rear end is quite busy as it houses the fan, a pair of USB 2.0 ports, and a single 1Gbe LAN Port for internet connectivity.

The DS120j runs on a Marvell Armada 3700 chipset and is equipped with a 512MB RAM. It gives you 16 terabyte storage, making it one of the most powerful NAS devices around. With this amount of storage, there’s just so much you can do. The only downside is that it only has USB 2.0 ports, which makes data transfers to and from the hard drive slow.

However, this is not much of a downside given it has impeccable specs and a 1Gbe LAN, which you can use to speed up data transfers. The DS120j is also quite versatile because, other than Windows and Mac, you can access your files across all devices thanks to the smartphone apps available for both Android and iOS.

You never have to worry about the safety of your files because, like most Synology hard drives, this unit is also equipped with Two-Factor Authentication, Auto Block, and what’s more supports military-grade encryption. What we, however, like most, is that it packs all these impressive specs, yet, it doesn’t cost a fortune.

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• 512MB DDR3L RAM
• 2 USB 2.0 Ports, 1 Gigabit Ethernet Port
• Marvell Armada 3700 Dual-Core Chipset

9. BUFFALO LinkStation 210 4TB Home Office Storage

Are you looking for an entry-level storage solution? Well then, Buffalo’s LinkStation 210 4TB Home Office Cloud Storage is an excellent buy. This NAS storage device comes with a hard drive making it easy to streamline the process of backing up and accessing data. With a storage capacity of up to 4TB, you can store a variety of files, including movies, photos, videos, and music.

The large storage capacity also means you can create a reliable, central location for storing and protecting data from your PC and Mac computer, smartphone, and tablet devices at home or small office. Moreover, you can access and share files from anywhere via a wireless network at speeds up to twice the regular USB hard drive.

Apart from its large storage capacity, it comes with a Gigabit Ethernet port that makes it easy for multiple users to access stored files simultaneously. The device is also fitted with a USB 2.0 port for attaching external storage devices for hassle-free file transfers. With its WebAccess server, you can create a personal cloud for remote file sharing and access by anyone over the internet.

What’s more, its compatibility with Android and iOS devices means you can set up the storage device for file transfer using your tablet or smartphone. You can also stream music, movies, and shows on multiple devices simultaneously thanks to its DLNA server and Twonky servers as well as its ability to be used along with an iTunes server.

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• Shared central storage
• Private cloud service
• Remote access to files
• NovaBACKUP for Mac and PC

10. TerraMaster F5-221 NAS 5-Bay Cloud Storage

If looking for a NAS device that gives you the best bang for the buck, the TerraMaster F5-221 is a good buy. Being an upgrade from TerraMaster’s F5-422, it features a range of new features, including HDMI access, multiple LAN ports, TOS operating system, an advanced Btfs file system, and more. What’s more, this new NAS device comes with a built-in 10 GB Ethernet port that allows you to take advantage of the increased speeds you ca achieve using SSD cache or RAID modes.

Its design looks a little dated for modern standards. On the front are LED lights showing the system’s access, the health of the network, hard drive, and more. The individual removable trays are also fitted here, featuring significant upgrades in comparison with the first generation of the TerraMaster cloud storage devices. On the exterior, the device has an aluminum-alloy shell that gives it an elegant appearance.

Its powerful Intel Apollo 2.0GHz dual-core processor powers the most recent version of TOS operating system. This means you can manage the filer server, back up data, and optimize sharing services in a simple, intuitive, and user-friendly way. The operating system comes with sophisticated application software, potent multimedia services, rich application content, and numerous forms of backing up data.

The device also supports TNAS mobile app compatibility. With the app, you can access your TNAS device and media data using an Android or iOS smartphone. When accessed online, TNAS makes it easy to set up network settings to make the NAS available to other users via the internet.

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• Intel Apollo 2.0 GHz dual-core processor
• Advanced Btrf file system
• 4K Video streaming
• TNAS-enabled