Here is a fantastic tool to compare cloud storages offers from the myriad of providers around the world: https://comparisontabl.es/cloud-storage/
In addition to the very useful information in this online spreadsheet, I encourage you to test for yourself as each provider has unique functions, or lack of thereof, that will only reveal themself through testing. Note that I'm on Apple Mac Silicon, what applies to me doesn't necessarily apply to your situation, so test away! Most if not all providers offer free trials.
WEB SEARCH
For example did you know that the iCloud Drive web app doesn't have a search function? I didn't either, and it's a big annoyance. It's also linked to your AppleID which is another huge gotcha.
OFFLINE / ONLINE (FREE LOCAL SPACE)
How about the ability to free storage space on your device by storing files in the cloud only, but still listing the offline files on your devices, visually signaling the difference between offline and online? Some do it (iCloud, Internxt), some don't (Mega.) Some are supposed to do it, only it doesn't work (kDrive.) Actually it does, see follow-up post.
MULTIPLE WORKSPACES & SELECTIVE SYNC
(*) Drime doesn't have Selective Sync, but is quite unique in offering multiple workspaces, which works like an exclusive root level folder. You're either in one workspace or another. Search for example will only look into the current workspace. That said, you are able move files and folders between workspaces.
kDrive and DropBox have Selective Sync, where you are able to select which files and folders get synced to your device. That's very useful when your cloud storage gets large. This way you can only sync a current files folder for example and not sync all the rest of your arborescence.
(**) Jotta does not have selective sync, but has an Archives space that does not get synced. So you are able to move files and folders you are not currently using to the Archives, and lighten the sync.
BLOCK LEVEL SYNC
I have yet to discover which ones have block level sync (Dropbox does), and which do not (Drime does not have it.)
| Provider | Web Search | Offline/online | Multi Workspace | Selective Sync | Block Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iCloud | No | Yes | No | No | ? |
| OneDrive | Yes | Yes | No | No | ? |
| Mega | Yes | No | No | No | ? |
| GoogleDrive | Yes | Yes | No | No | ? |
| Internxt | Yes | Yes | No | No | ? |
| kDrive | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | ? |
| DropBox | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Drime | Yes | No | Yes | No* | No |
| JottaCloud | Yes | No | No | No** | No |
MAC SPECIFIC NOTE
Drime on macOS syncs and display every .DS_Store file (normally invisible), which is a real pain.
More discoveries in subsequent posts.
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