Cloud Storage
European alternatives to Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive. Storage on EU servers, GDPR compliant and mostly end-to-end encrypted.
Why US cloud services are risky
The CLOUD Act requires US companies to share data with US authorities. This applies even when servers are located in Europe. Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive are affected. European providers are not subject to this regulation.
Quick Switch
Which US service do you want to move away from?
All Providers in Detail
Hand-picked European cloud storage services. All providers verified and compared.
Proton Drive
Cloud storage with zero-knowledge architecture and EU data centers
- End-to-end encryption of all files
- Open source and audited
- Servers located in Switzerland
- Free tier available
pCloud
Cloud storage with one-time payment and EU server locations
- Lifetime plans: pay once, use indefinitely
- Optional EU server location selectable
- Client-side encryption with pCloud Crypto
- Automatic photo backup
Internxt
Decentralized cloud storage with open-source architecture
- Zero-knowledge encryption, no one but the user has access
- Open source and externally audited
- Decentralized storage architecture
- Lifetime plans: pay once, use indefinitely
kDrive
Swiss cloud storage with GDPR-compliant privacy and collaborative features.
- Data centres exclusively in Switzerland
- Real-time collaborative editing of office documents
- No sale of user data to third parties
- Integrates with kSuite (Infomaniak office suite)
zeitkapsl
Austrian Google Photos alternative with end-to-end encryption
- End-to-end encryption, only you see your photos
- Native apps for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux and Web
- Open source, fully transparent code
- Servers in the EU, no US data transfer
Crypt.ee
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage for documents and photos from Estonia
- Client-side encryption, no one but the user reads their data
- Even metadata (filenames, tags) is encrypted
- Documents, photos and notebooks in one tool
- 100% bootstrapped, no investors, no data sharing
Tresorit
Enterprise cloud storage with zero-knowledge encryption
- Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption
- File sharing with password protection and expiry date
- GDPR-compliant, HIPAA-ready
- Data control for enterprises
Filen
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage from Germany
- End-to-end encryption, zero-knowledge
- Open source, all apps available on GitHub
- Integrated encrypted notes (Filen Notes)
- Affordable lifetime plan from 19.99 €
Jottacloud
Platform-independent cloud storage from Norway
- Unlimited storage in the Unlimited plan
- Servers exclusively in Norway
- Automatic photo backup
- Family plan for up to 5 users
Nextcloud
Self-hosted collaboration suite with complete control
- 100% open source & self-hosted
- Full data sovereignty
- Calendar, contacts, video chat included
- Extensive plugin ecosystem
Koofr
Cloud storage from Slovenia with connections to existing clouds
- Connects Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive under one EU umbrella
- Servers in Slovenia and Germany, no data transfer to the US
- No advertising, no user tracking
- Encrypted Vault Safe Boxes for particularly sensitive files
Leviia
Sovereign cloud storage and S3 object storage from France
- S3-compatible object storage with no egress or API fees
- Three geo-replicated data centers in France
- ISO 27001 and HDS (Hébergeur de Données de Santé) certified
- Open-source stack with no US or Chinese components
Cloudu
Nextcloud-based cloud storage with servers in Germany
- Hosted Nextcloud instance with web, apps, and WebDAV access
- Servers in Germany, 100 percent renewable energy
- Two-factor authentication
- Calendar and contact synchronization included
PixelUnion
Dutch photo storage on Immich basis with servers in Germany
- Photo backup with lossless original quality
- Built on the open-source software Immich
- Servers in Germany with 100 percent renewable energy
- On-device AI features such as facial and object recognition
bewCloud
Lean open-source cloud alternative to Nextcloud from the EU
- Open source under AGPL, source code on GitHub
- Written in TypeScript and Deno with low resource usage
- Files, notes, photos, calendar, contacts, and RSS in one application
- Self-hosted, or optionally a managed VPS instance located in the EU
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CLOUD Act and why is it relevant?
The Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act allows US authorities to force US companies to hand over data. This applies regardless of where the data is stored. Even if Google operates servers in Germany, the US government can demand access to the data stored there.
Which providers offer end-to-end encryption?
Proton Drive and Tresorit offer client-side end-to-end encryption. Nextcloud enables this through self-hosting or via a European managed hosting provider.
Are there free options?
Proton Drive offers 1 GB free. Nextcloud is completely free but requires your own server infrastructure or a managed hosting provider from about €3/month.
Are European providers as user-friendly?
All providers listed here offer apps for all common platforms, synchronization and file sharing. The feature set matches comparable US services.
Why don't EU cloud services offer free plans?
European providers do not fund themselves through data analysis or advertising. Their business model is subscription-based. Users are customers and not advertising targets. Services like zeitkapsl deliberately skip a free tier because they neither sell user data nor run ads. The monthly fee funds the service.
Are my photos safer with European providers?
EU providers are subject to GDPR. Unlike US companies, they are not subject to the CLOUD Act. US authorities therefore have no legal lever to demand access to the data. Services with end-to-end encryption like zeitkapsl or Tresorit go a step further: even the provider cannot access the stored files.