Privacy in the Cloud: Top Providers Compared

Sync: The Ultimate in Private Cloud Storage

If you're looking for a cloud storage provider that truly respects your privacy and keeps your personal information secure, look no further than Sync. After carefully analyzing the privacy policies of five top-rated cloud storage providers, Sync emerges as the clear winner when it comes to protecting your personal data.
Sync's commitment to privacy is evident in their minimal data collection practices, collecting only your name and email address to create an account. They never sell or share your data with third parties and are headquartered in Canada, a country known for its strong privacy laws. Plus, Sync deletes all user data within 30 days of account closure, ensuring your information doesn't linger after you've left the service.

While other providers like Tresorit and pCloud also have strong privacy practices, Sync goes above and beyond to ensure your personal information remains private and secure. So if you value your privacy and want a cloud storage provider you can trust, Sync is the way to go.

Let's take a look at how the best in highly secure cloud storage companies treat your personal information. For many people they would not only like to know that their data is safe, but also that their personal information used in creating and interacting with their online data is kept private. And for good reason as some providers have decided that your personal information should be sold or exchanged with third parties.

Why keeping your personal information private is important?

If for no other reason, if you can’t trust your provider to keep your personal information that you used to create your account private, then you can’t trust them period. If they don’t respect their paying customers who keep them in business, then it’s simply a shady company.

Which provider has the best privacy policy?

I compared the 5 highest scoring cloud providers in my most secure cloud providers review for how they treat their user’s personal data.

Here is my evaluation of the cloud storage providers from best to worst in terms of protecting user privacy, along with key facts about each provider's privacy practices and a summary of how they handle user data:

Key privacy features of cloud storage providers

Sync    

• Collects minimal personal information like name and email only.
• Deletes all user data within 30 days of account closure.
• Headquartered in Canada with strong privacy laws.
• Does not sell user data or use it for advertising/marketing. 

Sync has a very privacy-centric approach, encrypting all user files so even Sync can't access them, collecting minimal personal data, promptly deleting user data when an account is closed, not sharing data with third parties, and being located in privacy-friendly Canada. User privacy seems to be a top priority. Read my review of Sync!

Tresorit    

• Only collects necessary account data like email, name, payment info.
• Deletes encrypted user content within 90 days of a folder being deleted.
• Headquartered in Switzerland which has strong privacy laws.
• Will only disclose user data when legally required.

Tresorit also focuses heavily on user privacy by using client-side encryption, only collecting essential account info, deleting data after 90 days, and being located in privacy-friendly Switzerland. They will disclose some user data when legally required. Overall very good privacy practices.

pCloud    

• Collects account info like name, email, payment details, and some usage data.
• Allows user data to be used for personalized ads and shared with affiliates.
• Deletes user data 30 days after account closure.
• Headquartered in Switzerland but stores data in the US.

pCloud provides good privacy with its Crypto add-on that prevents pCloud from accessing files. However, it collects more data than Sync/Tresorit and allows some data sharing for advertising. Being based in Switzerland is good for privacy but storing data in the US is not ideal. Decent privacy but not as protective as the top 2. Read my review of pCloud!

MEGA    

• Collects account data like email, name, IP address, some usage stats.
• Generates previews of some file types which are not end-to-end encrypted.
• Permanently deletes user data when an account is closed.
• Headquartered in New Zealand but stores data in other countries.

MEGA's end-to-end encryption provides good privacy for file contents. However, it collects more metadata than Sync/Tresorit, generates unencrypted previews for some files, and stores data in various countries with different privacy laws. Fairly privacy-centric but a step below the top providers.

Icedrive    

• Collects account info, IP addresses, usage stats, and tracks user behavior.
• Privacy policy does not specify data deletion timeframe.
• Headquartered in the UK which is not considered a top location for privacy.

Icedrive seems to be the least privacy-focused. Their policy does not mention end-to-end encryption, they collect a fair amount of user info and tracking data, do not specify data deletion practices, and are located in the UK which has more intrusive surveillance laws. The weakest on privacy compared to the other providers here.

In Conclusion

Sync and Tresorit are the clear leaders in privacy, followed by pCloud and MEGA which still use strong encryption but have a few more downsides. Icedrive brings up the rear with a concerning lack of information on encryption and data practices. Should you haev any questions feel free to aks us!

FAQ's

Which cloud storage provider collects the least amount of personal information?

According to our analysis, Sync collects minimal personal information, requiring only a user's name and email address to create an account.

Do any of these providers share or sell user data to third parties?

Sync and Tresorit do not share or sell user data to third parties. pCloud allows user data to be shared with affiliates and used for personalized ads. MEGA and Icedrive do not explicitly mention data sharing practices in their privacy policies.

How long does it take for user data to be deleted after closing an account?

Sync deletes user data within 30 days of account closure. Tresorit deletes user data within 90 days of folder deletion. pCloud deletes user data 30 days after account closure. MEGA permanently deletes user data upon account closure. Icedrive does not specify a data deletion timeframe.

Which providers are headquartered in countries known for strong privacy laws?

Sync is headquartered in Canada, while Tresorit and pCloud are based in Switzerland. Both Canada and Switzerland are known for their strong privacy laws.

Can I trust these providers to protect my personal information?

While no provider can guarantee 100% privacy, Sync and Tresorit have demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting user privacy through their minimal data collection, no data sharing with third parties, and prompt data deletion practices. However, it's always important to review privacy policies carefully and make informed decisions based on your personal privacy preferences.