An hour of 4K footage from an iPhone comes to about 11 GB, so cloud storage for videos has to accept large files and upload them quickly. pCloud sets no file size limit, and in our October tests it had the quickest 2 GB upload we recorded, at 15 minutes 14 seconds. Internxt and NordLocker encrypt footage before it leaves your computer. Dropbox adds delivery and review tools for editors, and Sync.com sells unlimited storage to individuals.
Best Places to Keep Your Videos
- pCloud: Best overall, with no file size limit and the quickest 2 GB upload in our tests
- Internxt: Best for encrypted video archives, with 5 TB for one payment
- NordLocker: Best for sending private footage, with expiring code-protected links
- Dropbox: Best for video editors, with files up to 2 TB and client delivery tools
- Sync.com: Best unlimited video storage, encrypted by default
Upload Times and File Limits Compared
| Service | Maximum file size | Largest personal plan | 2 GB upload | 2 GB download | Free storage |
| pCloud | No limit | 10 TB | 15:14 | 1:45 | Up to 10 GB |
| Internxt | 10 GB to 100 GB, depending on the plan | 5 TB | 15:28 | 1:51 | 1 GB |
| NordLocker | 10 GB on Windows, 8 GB on web and mobile | 2 TB | 15:58 | 2:00 | 3 GB |
| Dropbox | 2 TB with the desktop app | 3 TB | 15:16 | 1:48 | 2 GB |
| Sync.com | No fixed cap | Unlimited | 16:21 | 2:09 | 5 GB |
Top 5 Options in Detail
1. pCloud: Best Overall for Video Storage
Pros
- No maximum file size
- Quickest large-file upload in our tests
- Streams clips without a download
- Lifetime plans for big archives
- Scheduled backup of PC drives
Cons
- Monthly traffic limit on shared links
- Zero-knowledge folder sold separately
pCloud accepts video files of any size, so long recordings and full project exports upload as single files. It also brought our 2 GB test file back down faster than any other service we timed, in 1 minute 45 seconds. The built-in player streams clips in the browser and the phone apps, and the Backup tab keeps chosen PC folders or whole drives in sync with the cloud.
Shared links come with a monthly download allowance, 4 TB on the 2 TB plan and 20 TB on the 10 TB plan, which limits how much footage clients can pull from your links. Ten terabytes cost about $1,500 for life, or about $300 a year on yearly billing. The zero-knowledge add-on costs about $150, paid once. Every plan and add-on is in our pCloud review.
2. Internxt: Best for Encrypted Video Archives
Pros
- Footage encrypted before upload
- One-time pricing for large archives
- Quantum-resistant encryption layer
- Security extras bundled with paid tiers
Cons
- File size cap varies by plan
- Minimal free storage
Internxt encrypts every clip on your computer before upload, adding a post-quantum layer. Raw footage and unreleased projects stay private from the company. The protection is the same on every plan, including free accounts. Larger plans accept larger files: Essential allows 10 GB per file, Premium 50 GB, and Ultimate 100 GB.
Premium’s limit fits over four hours of 4K iPhone recording at 30 fps. Internxt’s 2 GB upload finished 14 seconds after pCloud’s. A 5 TB lifetime plan costs about €585, or roughly €117 per terabyte, paid once. Plan prices are broken down in our Internxt review, and it ranks as a photo backup in our cloud storage for photos guide.
3. NordLocker: Best for Sending Private Footage
Pros
- Every file locked with your key
- Security code on shared clips
- Links set to expire
- Clients open files without signing up
- Desktop drive for drag-and-drop uploads
Cons
- No trash or earlier versions
- Lower per-file limits
- Limited plan sizes
NordLocker is built for client work, where finished footage goes to people outside your account. When we shared a test clip in our October tests, the recipient had to enter a code NordLocker generated, and the code can be disabled. Two weeks is the default expiry, and we set one link to last almost a year. No NordLocker account was required to download. Single files are limited to 10 GB on Windows and 8 GB on the web and phones.
A 10 GB file fits about 50 minutes of 4K iPhone video. NordLocker took about 44 seconds longer than pCloud to upload our 2 GB file. Deletions are permanent on NordLocker, so keep master files on a second drive. Two terabytes cost about $84 in year one, rising to about $180. Our NordLocker review goes through the desktop and phone apps.
4. Dropbox: Best for Video Editors
Pros
- Very large files through the desktop app
- Quick uploads with small and large files
- Dropbox Transfer for client deliveries
- Frame-by-frame comments with Replay
- Office and editing app integrations
Cons
- Encryption keys kept by Dropbox
- Yearly or monthly billing only
- Costs more per terabyte
Dropbox finished our 2 GB upload two seconds after pCloud. On the smaller 500 MB test, no service beat its 3 minutes 31 seconds. Its desktop app accepts single files as large as 2 TB, while browser uploads larger than 375 GB can time out. Dropbox Transfer sends up to 50 GB on the Plus plan and 100 GB on Standard, which adds password protection. The Replay add-on lets clients comment on exact frames.
Our Dropbox vs pCloud comparison covers the trade-offs. The Plus plan offers 2 TB for about $120 a year with 30 days of version history. Standard costs $180 a year for one person, with 3 TB and 180 days of history. Dropbox keeps the encryption keys, and its trash returned our deleted test file intact.
5. Sync.com: Best Unlimited Video Storage
Pros
- No storage cap for one user
- Encryption on from the first upload
- Up to a year of deleted-file recovery
- Password-protected share links
Cons
- Slowest 2 GB transfer in our tests
- Desktop app slows on very large files
- Higher renewal price
Sync.com‘s Personal Unlimited plan removes the storage limit for a single user, at about $270 for the first year and about $540 after that. Files are encrypted end to end by default, and deleted footage stays recoverable for a full year on unlimited plans. There’s no fixed limit on file size. Sync.com’s help pages warn that desktop transfers can slow down past 40 GB per file. Sync.com recorded our slowest 2 GB transfers in both directions, taking 16 minutes 21 seconds to upload.
A large first upload takes noticeably longer than on pCloud. Smaller libraries cost less, with 1 TB at about $72 in year one, and our list of cheap cloud storage compares that with other budget plans.
How Long Does a Video Upload Take?
Upload speed decides the wait, and home connections usually upload far slower than they download. Apple’s file size estimates for iPhone video in its High Efficiency format:
- 1080p at 30 fps: about 60 MB per minute, or 3.6 GB per hour
- 4K at 30 fps: about 190 MB per minute, or 11.4 GB per hour
- 4K at 60 fps: about 440 MB per minute, or 26.4 GB per hour
Our connection has 19.69 Mbps of upload speed. At that rate, an hour of 4K at 30 fps would take about 80 minutes to upload to pCloud. An hour at 60 fps would take a little over three hours. Downloads take a fraction of that, so schedule big uploads overnight through the desktop app. Google Drive and MEGA results appear in the fastest cloud storage ranking.
Free Video Storage
Free plans fit short clips and phone videos:
- MEGA: 20 GB with end-to-end encryption, and a download quota on free accounts. Our MEGA vs pCloud comparison covers its paid plans.
- Google Drive: 15 GB, shared with Gmail and Google Photos.
- pCloud: up to 10 GB, with no file size limit and the same streaming player as paid plans.
- TeraBox: 1 TB free, listed as a limited-time offer, with a 4 GB cap per file and 480p playback on free accounts.
TeraBox’s free space is large, but it has no end-to-end encryption and pays for itself with ads and upgrade prompts, the same model behind most free VPNs. Our free cloud storage ranking also covers Dropbox, Proton Drive, and OneDrive.
Video Storage vs Video Hosting
Cloud storage keeps the original file as recorded, for backup, editing, and delivery to clients. Hosting platforms such as YouTube and Vimeo convert uploads into streaming versions for viewers, so the copy people watch isn’t the original. Many creators keep masters in cloud storage and publish a copy to a hosting platform. Hosting and storage are separate kinds of cloud service, and our guide to what cloud storage is explains the difference.
Editing Video From the Cloud
Editing apps work best with footage on a local drive. A common setup keeps the active project on an SSD, syncs it to the cloud as a backup, and sends review links to clients. pCloud Drive and Dropbox can show cloud files on the computer without downloading every clip. Teams that edit directly from shared storage use streaming file systems built for it, such as LucidLink.
Our 2 GB Upload Test
Our October test used one 2.16 GB file, timed as an upload and a download through every desktop app on a Windows 11 PC in Europe. The connection measured 187.95 Mbps down before the tests, so downloads finished in about two minutes while uploads took over 15. Every service except NordLocker let us recover the file after deletion.
Summary
Choose by what happens to the footage after it’s shot. For a growing archive, pCloud accepts files of any size, uploaded fastest in our test, and stores 10 TB for one payment. Internxt keeps unreleased projects encrypted at a lower one-time price per terabyte.
NordLocker protects finished clips sent to clients, though masters belong on another drive. Dropbox covers review and delivery for editing teams, and Sync.com lifts the storage cap for those willing to wait on uploads.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best cloud storage for videos?
The best cloud storage for videos is pCloud. Files of any size upload whole, clips play in the browser and phone apps, and 10 TB costs about $1,500 as a lifetime plan.
Where can I store videos for free?
MEGA has the most useful free plan for video, with 20 GB encrypted end to end. TeraBox advertises 1 TB, but caps free files at 4 GB and plays them at 480p.
What is the best cloud storage for large video files?
pCloud is the best option for large video files because it has no file size limit. Dropbox allows a single file of up to 2 TB through its desktop app.
Is there unlimited video storage?
Yes, on paid plans. Sync.com's Personal Unlimited plan has no storage cap, no fixed file size limit, and end-to-end encryption on every file. Free unlimited plans from reputable companies don't exist.
What is the difference between video storage and video hosting?
Video storage saves the untouched original for backup and sharing. Video hosting, such as YouTube or Vimeo, re-encodes uploads into compressed copies built for streaming to an audience.
How much cloud storage do I need for video?
One hour of iPhone video in 4K at 30 fps takes about 11 GB, so 1 TB stores roughly 85 hours. At 4K 60 fps, the same terabyte stores about 37 hours.