If you are thinking Change your cloud storage service For one of the European alternatives Available, we will help you a little in the process. Because the cloud forms a very important part of our digital day to day allowing us to take our files and photos always with us.
If you come using the clouds of Google Drive or ICLOUD of Apple, or if you use Dropbox but want to move on to a European alternative with better privacy standards, we will tell you several things you should take into account When making the change.
The goal is that if you are thinking of giving the change, you know in advance everything you have to do, and that you do not forget anything. Some steps are to help you choose the alternative What best suits your needs, and others are to help you with migration.
What to look at when choosing the alternative
The first step is in turn the one that will take you the most, the Choose the best alternative Cloud storage. There are none that is universally the best, but you have many each with its unique characteristics, such as Pcloud, Fofr, Jottacloud, Filen or the Spanish Internxt.
The first thing you should look at is Its safety and privacy standards. It is convenient that they have an end-to-end encryption, an encryption method 256-bit AES so that no one can access your data, and some extras such as their methods to allow you to recover the data in case of hacking or problems.
In addition, if you bet on European companies services, make sure that all servers where their data are on European land, that they do not make you the trick that they are a European company but the servers are in another continent.
Another aspect to take into account, perhaps one of the most important for the user is The quantity of storage and price. Look at the rates of each alternative, and look for those that are somewhat cheaper. Then, beyond the price looks at the extras that can offer you those that cost a little more, and to what extent they are worth it.
To forget monthly payments, if you want to have a cloud for several years it should be investigated If they offer the option of a life plan for a single payment. This means that instead of paying 5 or 10 euros per month, maybe you pay 200 or 400 in exchange for having this life storage without having to pay anything additional.
Here, look at the prices of the life plans and calculate how many monthly payments you would have to pay to complete it. If, for example, it is the equivalent of 2 years and you know that you will use the service for much more, you can know to what extent a greater effort of the unique payment is worth it.
As we have told you, prices may varybut in addition to the storage if there are some services offered by other additional extras. For example, in some cases they can offer you a high -speed VPN, antivirus, calendar services or office services.
For example, if you have become accustomed to using Google Dogs services or spreadsheets that Google Drive includes, you may be looking for an alternative that also has these services. But it is also possible that you prefer to save a little in exchange for EU does not have these extras.
And of course, it is also important that you have options for protecting files In a safe way, adding passwords so that anyone with the link cannot access them. Look also the options when sharing files offered by each service in the event that it is something that interests you.
Apps available in each service
Not all services have apps for all operating systemsand not always have the same functions. Therefore, it is important that you look that the service you are going to choose covers with your needs in this aspect. Look that you have at least applications for your computer and mobile, and then you can notice if you have support for other devices, or if apps have options such as sending content by Chromecast or Airdrop.
Another thing you can look at is in the operation of the app, and if you integrate well into the file explorer of your device. Come on, it appears in Windows, Macos, Android or iOS as an extra storage unit, something that will allow you to manage the files much better than if you need to actively enter the application to see the content.
Another of the things you can look at is If they offer any type of proof For a certain period of time, or if there is a free plan and how much storage. Finally, look at the withdrawal policies, with the conditions and in the time you have to ask that the money be returned in the event that they have not convinced you.
Look if there is specific app for photos
It is one thing to replace Dropbox, Drive or ICloud as cloud storage, and a very different one is Be able to replace Icloud Photos or Google Photos. For the second, you have to make sure that the cloud storage service that you are going to hire has a specific app
This app should be able to make a backup of photos In the memory of your mobile, as well as keep all those you have in the cloud even if you delete them from memory.
First lower all your current cloud data
When making migration, the easiest way to move your data from one cloud to another is First ask for a copy of everyone In the service where you are currently. All cloud services usually have the option of requesting a copy, they are obliged to have it, although keep in mind that it will take many days to offer you the links to download them.
Once you already have the original downloaded, then load them directly in the new cloud. This is important above all for photo storage, to make sure you save the original versions of them instead of lowering or migrating one that is compressed.
Notice that all the data has been migrated
A advice that comes from experience. Make sure all the data you move to the new cloud They have risen correctlyespecially if you do from the file explorer.
There are times when you start moving large amounts of files, especially when some of them are very heavy as videos, some error and stay on your local hard drive, inside the cloud folder, but without synchronizing. Therefore, notice that everything is well synchronized and do not erase anything until you make sure it is backed in the cloud.
If you have requested a copy of all your data and the casualties on your computer to proceed then upload them to the new cloud service, I strongly recommend that You keep a second copy on an external hard drivealready be possible that you make periodic updates.
The clouds fail, and there may be some fatal mistake that makes the data be lost, they may not even synchronize well. It does not usually happen, it is very rare that something fails, but just in case it is always advisable to have an additional copy to which you can resort, and that you have physically without depending on your Internet connection.
Keep your old service for a time
One last advice is that Do not delete your data in the old cloud of which you have gone, or cancel the service immediately after starting the new one. Give yourself a margin of a few months before taking this final step.
Because? Because the new alternative may not be convenient for you and you want to turn back, or that something happens with a file, in which case it is good to have the old copy in that cloud. In addition, you can also make sure that you do not leave any files without leading to the new storage service.
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In Xataka Basics | 61 European alternatives to Google, X, Gmail, Chrome, Maps, Dropbox, Google Drive, WhatsApp and other popular services
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