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5 Best cloud backups for large files in 2024 - Unlimited storage and no upload limts

If you regularly need to back up large files to the internet, it is essential that you pick a cloud backup provider that gives you either unlimited or easily scalable storage space. Not all backup providers allow you to upload large file sizes, which means that you must take care when selecting a cloud backup provider.

In this guide, we have pinpointed the best backups for large files. Our recommendations have fast servers so that you can upload your files quickly and have unlimited storage so you can back up the contents of your computer – no matter how large each individual file is. And, they are suitable for both personal and business users.

What are the best cloud backup services for large files?

The list below gives you a quick summary of each of the best cloud backup services for large files. If you are in a hurry, you can click the link to get one of our top recommendations right now.

If you want to know more about each service, simply scroll down for in-depth summaries that will explain their features and attributes; allowing you to make an informed choice.

  1. Sync.com - The best cloud backup for large files. It has no file size limits, and premium users can choose between 1 TB to 10 TB storage.
  2. NordLocker - A secure backup for large files. Offers an app for locally encrypting large files and uploading it to the cloud in a secure manner. No upload limits.
  3. Backblaze - A reliable cloud backup service that keeps things simple, and has unlimited backups for your computer.
  4. Livedrive - Great value-for-money cloud backup that's easy-to-use and will let you backup files of any size and offers unlimited storage!
  5. MEGA - An excellent backup solution with a 50 GB free plan and strong encryption! Premium users can get 400 GB to 16 TB of storage.

5 Best cloud backups for large files – Summaries

This section provides the details you need to make an informed choice. All of our recommendations allow you to back up large files, but they differ in cost and have varying attributes – that you may or may not need.

For this reason, it is worth checking over the summaries before deciding. If you still need more information, please head over to our cloud storage guides and reviews.

1. Sync.com
Editor's Choice | November 2024

Sync.com is the best cloud backup for large files. It offers a reliable and super-fast cloud backup without file size limits, easy to use software, and end-to-end encryption.

  • Pricing

    • 5 GB: $0/mth
    • 2TB: $8/mth
    • 6TB: $20/mth
    • Unlimited (minimum of 2 users): $15/mth


Sync.com is a Canadian online backup and cross-platform syncing service with a strong focus on privacy. It includes end-to-end encryption for your data to ensure that only you have control over the encryption keys to your files. It also has no file size limitations, meaning that you can back up any file that you have on your computer.


Sync.com is one of the fastest backup services on the market, but the provider admits on its website that files over 40 GB in size may slow down the performance of its desktop app a little. Despite this, Sync.com is a service that offers an extremely well-rounded feature set including file versioning, secure file sharing, file preview, and the ability to restore accidentally deleted files.


It even provides a cloud-only vault feature to let you store data in the cloud that has been deleted from your device to save space. Best of all, a subscription to Sync.com starts at just $6 per month for 1 TB of storage space and you can upgrade to get more storage no matter what your personal needs are. They also offer an unlimited storage plan for $15 which is perfect for teams. Plus, it has a 5GB free plan that anybody can use without paying a dime – which allows you to test the service risk free to see how it works.

NordLocker is a fast and reliable backup that will let you do a full disk image and upload files of any size. Users get 500GB of data for just $3.99 per month with no upload limits.

  • Pricing

    • 12 month (500GB): $3.99/mth
    • 1 month (500GB): $7.99/mth


NordLocker 2.0 is the latest version of the encryption tool developed by the highly respected VPN company NordVPN. It is a powerful and easy-to-use application, that provides value for money for anybody who wants to encrypt data in their hard drive to back it up on the cloud.


NordLocker permits users to encrypt as much data as they like, meaning that you can do a full disk backup if you want to And, it will let you upload files of any size securely, as long as you have paid for enough storage space to cover that upload.


For free, users can get 3 GB of storage space. And for just a little over $3 a month, they can back up 500 GB of data in total. NordLocker might not be as feature-packed as some of its competitors, but if automated backups with end-to-end encryption for your desktop computers are what you need, this service is well worth considering. Just remember this service is not compatible with iOS or Android devices, yet.

Backblaze is another secure cloud backup that is excellent for storing large files. This service offers unlimited storage and unlimited file size permissions for $70 a year.

  • Pricing

    • /month: $7/mth
    • /year: $70/mth
    • /2 years: $130/mth


Backblaze is a popular cloud backup provider that provides value for money for anybody who needs unlimited backups on a single machine. The cost of a subscription will set you back just $60 per year, and for that cost, you get to back up as much data as you like with no file size restrictions. However, please bear in mind that certain file types are excluded from its backups (ISO (Disk Images), VMC VHD VMSN (Virtual Drives), SYS (System Configuration & Drivers), and EXE (Application Files).


The only real drawback is that the pricing is per computer. So if you have multiple devices, the price will ramp up. On the other hand, if your family has many devices, you could all have individual folders on the family computer where each person copies their data from their personal devices each week. By doing this, the entire family will get unlimited backups for $7 per month, with only minimal effort on their part. Admittedly, this isn't as good as automated scheduled backups for every device, but it is an affordable way to get backups for your family if you are on a budget. 


Overall, you get a well-rounded service that comes with secure file sharing options, file previewing, file versioning, and the ability to restore deleted files (for 30-days). Plus, the option is there to back up from external hard drives or servers (on the business plans). However, please remember that this service does not have end-to-end encryption. Instead, it provides robust TLS for data in transit, AES-256 encryption for data at rest, and Two-Factor Authentication to ensure secure access to your vault. 


 

4. Livedrive

Livedrive is a great cloud backup for large files. It offers users unlimited storage for $79.90 a year. It also has easy-to-use apps with no file size limits that works great on mobiles and desktops.

  • Pricing

    • 1 user on 1 desktop: $8/mth
    • 5 users: $25/mth
    • 1 user multiple devices: $16/mth

livedrive website


Livedrive is a popular backup service that offers superb value for money for anybody who wants to back up large files. The service does not implement any file size limitations for backups, which means you are only limited by the total amount of storage space you pay for. What's more, a subscription with Livedrive starts at $79.90 a year for unlimited backup space for a single computer. To back up from 5 devices, you will need to pay $15 for the Pro Suite, but this will let you backup from computers and mobile devices if you want to (and this service has excellent cross compatibility).


That said, the Livedrive sync feature (called Briefcase) is only available with the Pro Suite (which provides unlimited backup space for 5 computers, and 5,000 GB of space for the Briefcase feature). It is also important to note that while you can back up files of any size to the unlimited cloud storage space, Briefcase syncing is limited to files that are 2 GB or smaller. 


Beyond that, Livedrive is an excellent backup and syncing service that is easy to use, and has important features such as secure sharing, previewing, and file versioning. However, please remember that you do not get end-to-end-encryption. Thus, if you want complete control over your keys, you'll need to look elsewhere. Of course, the benefit of this is that you and do a password reset if you accidentally lock yourself out of your backups, which may be better suited to some people's needs.

5. MEGA

MEGA is an excellent cloud backup for large files. It provides a fast service that offers a 50 GB of backup space for free and has a file size limite of 20GB. Premium users can get 400 GB to 16 TB depending on what you want to pay.

  • Pricing

    • 2TB: $8.33/mth
      16% OFF
    • 400GB: $4.16/mth
      16% OFF
    • Free: $0/mth


MEGA is a secure cloud storage service based in Auckland, New Zealand. The service is perfect for those who want a lot of storage space for free because the basic plan provides storage for 50 GB of data – without the need to spend a dime. Admittedly, this service has a file size limit of 20 GB. However, that is a very large file size, which will be more than adequate for the vast majority of users' needs. If you're happy to pay for cloud storage, premium users can choose between 400 GB, 2 TB, 8 TB, and 16 TB of storage plans. 


The service also offers superb value for money for those who want to scale up their storage space. It is also a feature-packed service with syncing, secure file sharing, file versioning, a preview feature, and even a music player that lets you stream your music directly from its cloud storage without the need to download it. Plus, it has a secure chat service for its users that is thrown in for good measure.


In addition, MEGA provides robust end-to-end encryption, which means that the service cannot possibly access your data under any circumstances. A great option for those who want a reliable and cheap service that can deal with seriously large backups. 

What is a large file size?

This question is subjective and entirely depends on your particular circumstances. Filmmakers, game developers, data analysts – and many other professionals – often deal with large file sizes. Even home users may have large files such as photos, videos, or PDFs that they want to back up.

With this in mind, the truly important question is whether your cloud backup service considers a certain file size too big. As it's this file size limit that will affect whether you can back up your largest files.

So, if you need to back up large file sizes, it is important to check whether your chosen cloud backup service has a file size limit that could cause some of your backups to fail. 

What is a file size limit?

When a cloud backup service states that it has a file size limit, this means that the service does not permit you to back up files over a certain size. As a result, if you have important files that exceed the stated limit, they will not get backed up. 

This can be extremely problematic if the user fails to understand what is going on, because if their device becomes lost, stolen, or broken, they can't recover the files that failed to back up.

Take, for example, a folder on your computer that contains MP4 files of your wedding day. That folder contains a number of videos taken by a professional videographer, and videos sent to you by friends who attended the wedding and the reception. Those videos vary in size; with a couple of them coming in at 1.4 GB and 2 GB. If the cloud backup service you have chosen has a file size limit of 1 GB when you back up the folder Wedding Videos folder – those two videos will get left behind.

It is essential that you're aware of a backup provider's file size limit. And to ensure you pick a backup service that can cater to your particular needs. We have taken file size limits into account when putting together a list of the best cloud backups for large files above. 

Is a cloud backup with a file size limit bad?

This depends entirely on your requirements and the kinds of files you need to back up. That said, there is nothing good about a service that enforces file size limits for backups because you never know when you might have a large file that you need to secure on the cloud.

If you want to save sipped movies, ISO images of CDs or DVDs, or a full disk image of your hard drive, you are going to require a service that either has a very large file size limit or no restrictions.

Some consumers might be happy with a service that has a file size limit, and it is possible that some backup services may cost less because of these restrictions.

However, if you want to back up everything without fear of a file size limit, it is better to stick to the recommended services on this page.

  1. Sync.com - The best cloud backup for large files. It has no file size limits, and premium users can choose between 1 TB to 10 TB storage.
  2. NordLocker - A secure backup for large files. Offers an app for locally encrypting large files and uploading it to the cloud in a secure manner. No upload limits.
  3. Backblaze - A reliable cloud backup service that keeps things simple, and has unlimited backups for your computer.
  4. Livedrive - Great value-for-money cloud backup that's easy-to-use and will let you backup files of any size and offers unlimited storage!
  5. MEGA - An excellent backup solution with a 50 GB free plan and strong encryption! Premium users can get 400 GB to 16 TB of storage.

Written by: Ray Walsh

Digital privacy expert with 5 years experience testing and reviewing VPNs. He's been quoted in The Express, The Times, The Washington Post, The Register, CNET & many more. 

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