I once thought free cloud storage was good enough for keeping all my photos, but I quickly realized these services had significant drawbacks. Now, I take a more secure and reliable approach to storing my photos—and it’s easy to make the switch.

Why I Stopped Trusting Free Cloud Storage for My Photos

Free cloud storage once seemed like the perfect solution: convenient, accessible, and free. However, with privacy concerns and reliability issues, free cloud storage for photos isn’t as safe or viable as it may seem.

Data Privacy Concerns

Who wouldn’t want free cloud storage? Big companies like Google, Microsoft, and Apple all provide free cloud storage services and promise strong security and privacy. However, the privacy risks of handing data over to tech companies are well-documented.

For instance, in 2021, Apple faced scrutiny when it announced plans to scan iCloud Photos for child sexual abuse material (CSAM). In response to the backlash, Apple paused the rollout and, by December 2022, officially abandoned the plan. Google faced similar backlash in 2025 when reports emerged about its implementation of a feature that scans user photos on Android devices without explicit user consent, leading to widespread criticism and raising questions about user privacy.

Knowing that the same companies offering free cloud storage might be quietly scanning your data under the guise of “safety” makes me question their motives. While I don’t mind some level of scrutiny for security, the idea of a tech giant accessing my files without my clear consent makes me feel uneasy. Besides, the risk of free cloud storage isn’t worth the squeeze when you realize that free is actually very limited.

Storage Limitation

Services like Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox offer a limited amount of space without a paid plan. For instance, Google Drive gives you 15GB, while Dropbox starts with just 2GB. That might have been enough years ago, but with today’s smartphone photos taking up 2-8MB each, that space fills up fast. Even Google’s 15GB limit isn’t as generous as it sounds, since it’s shared across Gmail, Google Photos, and other Workspace services.

Despite growing file sizes and cheaper storage, these free storage limits haven’t been updated for several years now. The small quotas make it hard to use free cloud storage as a viable storage solution when you have so many files to keep. Instead of using cloud services for their convenience, you’re now spending more time sorting, downloading, and deleting pictures just so you can continually store your photos on the cloud.

Risk of Data Loss

Another issue with free cloud storage is the risk of data loss. Unlike paid options, free cloud services may not guarantee the same reliability, and when things go wrong, you could lose access to your data. In some extreme cases, that loss could be permanent, especially if you don’t have backup strategies in place.

Another risk is the unpredictable nature of these services. Free cloud storage providers can shut down without any warning, forcing users to scramble to recover their data. Take the 2013 shutdown of Nirvanix as an example—users had limited time to transfer their files, showing just how vulnerable your data can be when it’s only stored in one place.

On top of these issues, free cloud storage often comes with little to no customer support. So, if you encounter problems accessing or retrieving your data, you’re mostly on your own. This lack of support can turn even simple issues into frustrating, time-consuming problems.

My New Approach: Storing Photos Locally

With growing concerns about free cloud storage, I decided to take control of my digital files and privacy by switching to a more localized setup. My system includes a NAS (Network Attached Storage), a couple of external hard drives, and the SD cards I use with my mirrorless camera.

I repurposed my old laptop into a DIY NAS using TrueNAS Scale. This local server gives me cloud-like convenience, letting me view, upload, and download my photos from anywhere. I also run an open-source application called Immich. This app makes my NAS better suited for storing images by providing improved support for displaying and managing both photos and videos.

For redundancy, I back up the NAS to an external hard drive connected via USB. I replicate snapshots using a ZFS file system, which copies only new or changed data. That makes every backup after the first one much faster. I update the drive monthly, or immediately after uploading important new photos.

I don’t just save the photos I take with my camera to my NAS—I also keep the original files on the SD cards I use for each trip or special event. SD cards are inexpensive, so I usually buy one per occasion and label them with the date and location. Later, I transferred the photos to both my NAS and external hard drive.

Depending on the event, I find that a 16GB to 64GB SD card is usually enough. I don’t bother with ultra-high-speed cards either. Since I mostly shoot at slower shutter speeds, UHS-I cards work just fine for me. Of course, if you shoot in ultra-high resolution or use burst mode, you’ll likely need higher-capacity SD cards with faster write speeds.

Altogether, I rely on these three backup methods. If one device fails or a method runs into issues, I still have other copies to fall back on. I check my gear regularly and update everything as needed.

I do have access to a shared Google One subscription, but with only 100GB split between five people, space is limited. So I store just a few folders with my most important memories. It’s not enough to serve as my main photo storage solution, but it does give me a small space for essential backups.

Why I Still Recommend Getting a Paid Cloud Storage

Even with reliable local storage solutions, I still recommend paying for cloud storage, especially if your data truly matters to you. While local storage gives you control and peace of mind, they still have one major flaw—they’re all stored in the same physical location. If something catastrophic happens at home, all your photos could be lost in one go. Also, simply syncing your photo to the cloud without a local copy isn’t enough. Remember, syncing and backing up your data isn’t the same.

That’s where the 3-2-1 backup rule becomes essential. You should have at least three copies of your data, stored on two different media types, with one kept off-site or in the cloud. A paid cloud storage service is the most practical way to meet that final requirement and protect your files against the unexpected.

I don’t see paid cloud storage as a full replacement for local backups, but as a final safety net, it’s hard to beat. Having my most important memories stored off-site gives me one less thing to worry about. A small subscription fee feels worth it when it means I’m covered from every angle.

Free cloud storage may be convenient, but it’s not worth the trade-offs regarding privacy, reliability, and control. By managing my own backups and using paid cloud storage sparingly, I’ve built a system that keeps my photos safe on my terms. In the end, peace of mind is better than “free.”