Established in 2019, Icedrive is a newcomer to the online storage market. Thanks to its excellent security and respect for confidentiality and privacy at no extra cost, Icedrive nevertheless appears to be one of the best online storage services.
However, the service still lacks a number of features, particularly when it comes to data sharing, which prevents it from being the best solution for the greatest number of users. For that, you’ll have to look instead to its main competitor, pCloud.
Icedrive is gaining in maturity and reputation, and will attract many users for its very affordable rates, as well as its excellent privacy and security policy.
BENEFITS
- Very low prices, especially with lifetime payments
- Excellent security and privacy (private encryption included)
- 14-day money-back guarantee
- 10 GB free cloud space
DISADVANTAGES
- Website and applications in English only
- Some missing features compared to pCloud or Sync.com
File synchronization
Unlike many other online storage providers, Icedrive doesn’t offer a central synchronized folder on your hard disk (like the Dropbox folder, for example). Here, you can select certain folders on your hard disk that will be automatically synchronized with your online space.
The virtual drive to save hard disk space
Icedrive’s file synchronization features include a virtual drive. Files in this drive are not stored on your hard disk, but are actually synchronized directly from the cloud space when you browse or consult them. In this way, the virtual drive saves disk space on your hard drive.
Unfortunately, this feature is currently only available to Windows users. Mac or Linux users, for example, will only be able to use Icedrive’s more traditional features.
File sharing
It’s probably in the field of data sharing that Icedrive lacks the most to become excellent. Icedrive is still a young company that promises to improve its services and add features to its online storage to make it even closer to the best cloud storage.
We particularly regret the absence of Claude’s links. These are very useful, especially in a professional context, to let another person upload files directly to our online space.
Nevertheless, Icedrive offers the most common file-sharing functions:
- File sharing by e-mail.
- Generate a sharinglink to access the desired file or folder.
- Set a deadline beyond which files will no longer be accessible.
- Set a password to protect access to your files.
Security and privacy
Zero-knowledge” private encryption
In our tests, we place great emphasis on the importance of data security and confidentiality in the cloud. When it comes to online storage, this means encryption, which makes data unreadable to anyone who doesn’t have the necessary keys to decrypt it.
Private encryption, or client-side encryption, involves using a key that is in your sole possession. Data is then encrypted on your machine, even before it leaves it to be transferred to Icedrive’s servers. The huge advantage of this method is that it ensures the secrecy of your files: even Icedrive couldn’t read your files, since they don’t have the key needed to decrypt them.
Icedrive therefore offers this private encryption (with the exception of the free offer, which does not use client-side encryption), making it a preferred option in this field. This even makes Icedrive preferable in this respect to services such as Google Drive or Dropbox, which do not offer this feature and therefore have full access to your files.
Data encryption
The encryption algorithm used by Icedrive differs from those of its competitors. It’s the Twofish algorithm that encrypts data. This has many qualities that make it just as secure as other algorithms.
Prices and packages
Icedrive’s prices are very low. Much lower than most of its competitors for the amount of data offered. This pricing policy alone justifies a closer look at Icedrive as a cloud storage solution.
Icedrive’s packages are very similar to those offered by pCloud:
- A free 10 GB cloud storage package.
- 150 GB, 1 TB and 5 TB monthly or annual subscriptions.
- Lifetime packages of 150 GB, 3 TB or 10 TB accessible via a one-off payment for lifetime use, rather than by subscription. These are the most profitable and economical offers over the long term.
- A 14-day trial period during which you can obtain a refund.
Icedrive lifetime online storage: the cheapest offer on the market
It was pCloud that got us used to the very advantageous formula of online storage for life. In other words, you pay just once for online storage space, which you can then use for life. This type of package is similar to buying an external hard drive, but with all the advantages that the cloud provides: no risk of loss, breakdown or theft, the ability to access your data from anywhere at any time, and so on.
Although still rare on the market, these offers are increasingly sought-after by users who need cloud storage space for life.
Here, “lifetime” of course means as long as Icedrive exists. Icedrive is still young on the cloud storage market, but given the speed with which they’re managing to find their place and their very good reputation, it doesn’t seem too risky to bet on them for the long term.
Icedrive offers three lifetime online storage packages:
- 150 GB for €99. This offer will be perfect for those who simply want a small storage space to store or share their most important data. This is the only cloud storage space that is also available by annual subscription.
- 3 TB for €449. This storage space comes close to the amount of storage provided by an external hard drive, but with all the advantages of online storage. It’s an investment that means users don’t have to pay a regular, long-term subscription fee.
- 10 TB for €999. This is a very large storage space that can be used over the long term without fear of running out of space, even years from now. Users can store all their data with peace of mind.
Discounts of between 33% and 50% on real prices
These prices are advertised on the Icedrive website as huge discounts on the much higher real prices: €99 instead of €198 (50% discount) for 150 GB, €449 instead of €674 (33% discount) for 3 TB, and €999 instead of €1,499 (33% discount) for 10 TB. Although there’s no information on how long these discounts will last, it’s possible that prices for lifetime offers will eventually rise. The current prices are indeed particularly profitable in the long term, and it’s possible that they will serve to attract more customers with the aim of consolidating Icedrive as a major player in online storage.
View Icedrive's lifetime offers
Icedrive subscription-based online storage
Icedrive offers 3 paid subscription packages: Lite (150 GB), Pro (1 TB) or Pro (5 TB). The range of different spaces is therefore very wide, up to 5TB, which few competitors offer or exceed.
Let’s take a look at the prices for monthly and annual subscriptions, or “lifetime” offers:
- The Lite offer for 150 GB is available by annual subscription at €21.99 per year, or €1.83 per month. Note that it is not possible to have a monthly subscription for this package. Only annual billing is available.
- The 1TB Pro package is available in two versions:
- Monthly subscription at €4.99 per month.
- Annual subscription at €49.99 (€10 savings compared with a monthly subscription).
- The 5TB Pro offer is also available in two versions:
- Monthly subscription at €17.99 per month.
- Annual subscription at €179.99 per year (a saving of around €36 compared with a monthly subscription).
See details of Icedrive packages
Free online storage with Icedrive
Like most of its competitors, Icedrive offers a free trial of its cloud storage service. This is at the top of the range, with 10 GB totally free.
Note, however, that Icedrive’s free offer does not include private encryption (or client-side encryption), which is integrated into all paying offers.
Icedrive and its competitors
It was pCloud that got us used to the very advantageous formula of online storage for life. In other words, you pay just once for online storage space, which you can then use for life.
Here, “for life” of course means as long as Icedrive exists. Icedrive is still young on the cloud storage market, but given the speed with which they’re managing to find their place and their very good reputation, it doesn’t seem too risky to bet on them for the long term.
Duration to make lifetime online storage profitable
Icedrive’s subscription rates are fairly standard, similar to those of other, cheaper competitors. What enables Icedrive to position itself as the cheapest cloud storage is its “lifetime” offers at the extremely low prices of €89 for 150 GB, €199 for 1 TB, and €499 for 5 TB.
This price may seem too high, but to evaluate it properly, you need to consider its medium- or long-term benefits. And in this case, it’s an unbeatable offer.
5TB at €499: the cheapest online storage on the market
A quick calculation is all it takes. Here, the price of €499 for 5TB corresponds to less than 3 years’ annual subscription at €179.99. In other words, the one-off payment pays for itself in less than 3 years. Once these 3 years have elapsed, you’ve made your payment worthwhile, because use then becomes “free”: the online space belongs to you, and you can continue to use it, but you’ve already paid for it.
Compare this with pCloud, Icedrive’s only real competitor in the lifetime storage field. pCloud offers its 2TB plan for €350. This offer is already considered incredibly economical over the long term. And yet, on price alone, it’s no match for Icedrive.
For the smaller cloud storages offered by Icedrive (150 GB or 1 TB), pCloud‘s lifetime prices are more attractive.
For 150 GB and 1 TB cloud storage, however, the offer is slightly less attractive, paying for itself in around 4 years.
Icedrive and its competitors
Icedrive vs pCloud
When we take a closer look at online storage offers, it’s not hard to see that Icedrive is encroaching on pCloud’s turf. The lifetime offers are clearly inspired by what pCloud has been doing for years. This is a very good thing, as pCloud is probably the best online storage today. The fact that Icedrive aims to overtake pCloud on its own turf.
Icedrive even manages to surpass pCloud on certain points.
Advantages of Icedrive
- Lower prices than pCloud, even for lifetime offers.
- Private client-side encryption, included by default, where pCloud makes this a paid option. This makes Icedrive’s prices even more attractive than pCloud for those who want private encryption.
Advantages of pCloud
- pCloud has been around longer, and is therefore more stable over the long term.
- PCloud’s service is more comprehensive in terms of functionality and better polished (for example, Icedrive is only available in English).
Icedrive or pCloud: our opinion
Icedrive is an extremely important challenger in the online storage market, and could well quickly overtake its elders as the best consumer cloud.
The service’s extremely aggressive pricing policy means that it is even ahead of pCloud in this field. Added to this is client-side encryption, which guarantees the secrecy of all files stored online. This feature makes Icedrive even more secure and confidential than pCloud.
In conclusion, pCloud will stay ahead for its more comprehensive features, making it more suitable for business use, for example. On the other hand, if you’re looking for large-scale online storage (1TB or 5TB) that respects the confidentiality of all your files, and above all at a very low price, Icedrive could well be the rare gem.
Icedrive vs Google Drive or Dropbox
Faced with the two giants of Cloud storage, Google and Dropbox, Icedrive is positioned as a challenger. However, it has certain qualities that the two behemoths don’t have. Its pricing, security and privacy policies even make Google and Dropbox pale in comparison.
Advantages of Icedrive
- Its private encryption perfectly respects the privacy of its users (the content of files placed in encrypted folders can only be known by you, not even by Icedrive).
- Unbeatable prices, especially when you consider lifetime online storage offers.
Advantages of Dropbox and Google Drive
- Google Drive and Dropbox have better integration with external tools (especially Google Drive, which is part of the Google ecosystem).
- They offer a more comprehensive range of functions than Icedrive.
Who should use Icedrive?
Is Icedrive suitable for the general public? There’s no doubt that the general public will be able to benefit from Icedrive’s most important qualities: lifetime offers at extremely attractive rates, and features that guarantee the security and confidentiality of personal data.
Its shortcomings and the lack of certain functionalities should not, however, be overlooked by the majority of users.
The clincher: lifetime plan rates
Icedrive’s single-payment plans are clearly the most attractive on the market when weighed against the quality of the service on offer. Even pCloud, the forerunner in this field, can’t do better.
In particular, the 5TB cloud storage space at €500 is unbelievably low. To see for yourself, just calculate that it pays for itself in just 3 years compared with a traditional annual subscription. That’s an impressive savings after 3 years.
In conclusion
In short, Icedrive is the perfect choice if you’re looking for an online storage space where you can synchronize your data and access it from anywhere. If the few limitations of the file-sharing system (you can’t send files to a contact so that they can upload them directly to your online space) don’t seem essential to you, then you can give Icedrive a try with no regrets. For this, the10 GB free offer or simply the possibility of getting your money back within 14 days of a purchase will be very useful.
ADVANTAGES
- Very low prices, especially for lifetime payments
- Excellent security and privacy (private encryption included)
- 14-day money-back guarantee
- 10 GB free cloud space
DISADVANTAGES
- Website and applications in English only
- Some features missing compared to pCloud or Sync.com
