OneDrive alternatives: where to go, and how to switch OneDrive off without losing a file
Eight destinations in detail, one per reason to leave, and a seven-step exit plan.
The short answer: Proton Drive if nobody but you should be able to read your files, Sync.com for simple encrypted sync on Windows and Mac, Dropbox for big files you share with clients, pCloud if you never want another subscription, kDrive for the most storage per dollar from a Swiss host, Koofr to copy OneDrive cloud to cloud, Filen for cheap encrypted storage, Nextcloud to host it all yourself. One rule first: never uninstall OneDrive as step one. Turn off folder backup and bring your files home, or your Desktop may show up empty.
Our ranking is editorial: a sponsored spot is always labeled on its card, and no affiliate link ever changes a score.
Why people leave OneDrive, and why the exit trips so many of them up
OneDrive works fine if you live in Word and Excel, and it ships on every Windows PC. That is exactly the issue for a lot of people: they never picked it. Most departures come from a tiny free tier, a backup feature that switches itself on almost by accident, and a subscription that got pricier once Copilot arrived. Six reasons, reviewed in 2026.
5 GB free, shared with Outlook.com
A free Microsoft account gets 5 GB of cloud storage. That same 5 GB holds your OneDrive files, your photos and your Outlook.com attachments. Once it's full, OneDrive stops syncing new files, existing files go read-only, and Outlook.com stops sending and receiving email.
Stay over quota and the account gets locked, then wiped
Almost nobody reads this rule. If you stay over your quota, Microsoft locks your OneDrive after 3 months. After 6 months it may delete the OneDrive and everything in it, and the official help page says deleted files can't be recovered. Canceling Microsoft 365 with 200 GB online starts that clock.
Windows backup moved your folders
OneDrive folder backup (Known Folder Move) doesn't copy your Desktop, Documents and Pictures. It moves them: your Desktop goes from C:\Users\you\Desktop to C:\Users\you\OneDrive\Desktop. On Microsoft's Q&A forum, one user describes accepting a OneDrive pop-up by mistake and then being unable to find files, because they had been moved, not copied. Switch OneDrive off without moving them back and your local folders look empty.
Some of your files only live in the cloud
With Files On-Demand, on by default, many files you see in File Explorer are just placeholders: the content stays at Microsoft until you open them. Copy the OneDrive folder to another service in that state and the copy fails or leaves gaps. Turn the setting off and wait for the full download first.
The subscription costs more since Copilot
In 2025, Microsoft bundled Copilot into Microsoft 365 Personal and Family and raised the price. In 2026, Personal is $99.99 a year for 1 TB and Family is $129.99. On Microsoft's Q&A forum, subscribers called the jump unacceptable and said they canceled. If you mostly paid for storage, 1 TB is much cheaper elsewhere.
Your files sync, until they don't
Sync errors are the most common complaint in OneDrive communities. One Reddit user describes years of sync issues before canceling Microsoft 365 for LibreOffice and another cloud. Consumer reviews follow the same split: OneDrive scores well with business buyers and poorly with home users who lost files or couldn't reach support.
You're leaving because… go with…
The right OneDrive alternative depends on what's pushing you out. Usually only one line applies to you. Each card jumps to the full profile below.
End-to-end encryption, even on the free 5 GB.
You want encrypted sync with zero setupSync.com1 TB for $9 a month billed yearly in year one.
You send big files to clientsDropbox2 TB for $9.99 a month, still the sync benchmark.
You're done with subscriptionspCloud500 GB for life, $219 one time.
You want the most space for the moneykDrive3 TB for CHF 4.99 a month before tax, direct OneDrive import.
Your OneDrive is huge and your upload is slowKoofrIt connects to OneDrive and copies cloud to cloud.
OneDrive alternatives, one by one
For each tool: why switch to it, who it's for, its limit, how to get your OneDrive files in, and what it costs. Prices are what each vendor showed in 2026, in its own currency: US dollars for Proton, Sync.com, Dropbox and pCloud, Swiss francs before tax for Infomaniak, euros for Koofr and Filen. Google Drive has no card here because its paid tiers weren't priced on its official page; our guide to leaving Google Drive covers it.
Proton Drive: cloud storage even the vendor can't read
Our top pickWhy switch to Proton Drive. Proton encrypts every file on your device before upload. The Swiss company doesn't hold the keys, so it can't read your files or hand over anything readable. That is the exact opposite of OneDrive on privacy, and encryption is included on the free 5 GB plan.
Who it's for. Lawyers, therapists, journalists, and anyone already on Proton Mail. Drive Plus is 200 GB for $4.99 a month, Duo is 2 TB for $19.99, and Drive Professional is 1 TB per user for $9.99.
Who it's not for. A team co-editing spreadsheets all day: Proton's document editor is basic. On Reddit, one user calls Proton Drive very solid and reliable, but only after a rough start.
How to move from OneDrive. No direct import. Proton's own guide: download your folders from onedrive.live.com (OneDrive caps each download at 250 GB or 10,000 files), unzip, drag everything into the Proton Drive folder of the Windows or Mac app, then delete the leftover local copies.
Price. 5 GB free, Drive Plus 200 GB at $4.99 a month.
- Free
- 5 GB, encrypted
- Paid
- Drive Plus 200 GB, $4.99/mo
- Best for
- sensitive data
- Limit
- no direct OneDrive import
Sync.com: encrypted storage that just works, unless you're on Linux
Encrypted, no setupWhy switch to Sync.com. Sync.com is end-to-end encrypted, installs like OneDrive on Windows and Mac, and needs no tuning. The company is Canadian.
Who it's for. Freelancers who want an encrypted replacement without thinking about it. Personal gets you 1 TB for $9 a month billed yearly ($108 for the first year).
Who it's not for. Linux users: there's no Linux client, and it's the first thing people point out on forums.
Its limit. The headline price is a first-year price. After that, Personal goes to $12 a month billed yearly. Budget for that number.
How to move from OneDrive. Bring your files back to your PC (steps below), then drop them in the Sync folder.
Price. 1 TB at $9 a month billed yearly in year one, then $12.
- Paid
- 1 TB, $9/mo billed yearly (year one)
- After
- $12/mo billed yearly
- Best for
- encrypted on Windows and Mac
- Limit
- no Linux client
Dropbox: big files and clients
For creativesWhy switch to Dropbox. For syncing large files across machines and sending them to clients without accounts, Dropbox is still the benchmark. On Reddit, a business that moved from OneDrive to Dropbox called it infinitely better, while admitting some challenges remained.
Who it's for. Studios, video editors, photographers and agencies. Plus is 2 TB for $9.99 a month; Standard is $15 per user per month for teams.
Who it's not for. Anyone after a real free tier: Basic stops at 2 GB.
How to move from OneDrive. Bring your files back to your PC with the steps below, then drop them in the Dropbox folder. Our page on leaving Dropbox covers its weak spots if you're on the fence.
Price. Basic 2 GB free, Plus 2 TB at $9.99 a month.
- Free
- 2 GB
- Paid
- Plus 2 TB, $9.99/mo
- Best for
- big files, clients
- Limit
- small free tier
pCloud: pay once and forget it
One-time paymentWhy switch to pCloud. If a rising Microsoft 365 bill is why you're leaving, pCloud flips the model: 500 GB for life for $219, 2 TB for $499, 10 TB for $1,499, paid once. The company is Swiss.
Who it's for. People who store a lot and edit little: archives, photos, family videos.
Who it's not for. Teams working on live documents: pCloud has no Word-in-the-browser equivalent.
Its limit. Lifetime means the company's lifetime. End-to-end encryption isn't in the base plan. Keep a second copy of anything you can't replace.
How to move from OneDrive. Bring your files back to your PC, then drag them into the pCloud Drive volume.
Price. 500 GB lifetime at $219, 2 TB at $499.
- Lifetime
- 500 GB, $219
- Lifetime
- 2 TB, $499
- Best for
- archives, no subscription
- Limit
- no office suite
kDrive: the most storage for the money, hosted in Switzerland
Most storage per dollarWhy switch to kDrive. If you paid for Microsoft 365 mostly for the terabyte, kDrive beats it on volume: the Solo plan is 3 TB for CHF 4.99 a month before tax. Infomaniak is a Swiss host, your files stay in Switzerland, and built-in OnlyOffice opens and edits Word, Excel and PowerPoint files in the browser.
Who it's for. Freelancers and small teams who want one European cloud. Team covers 6 users for CHF 10 a month billed yearly. There's a Linux client.
Who it's not for. Anyone who needs desktop Word and Excel: kDrive stores Office files, it doesn't give you the apps. Linux users are also less happy with the sync client, judging by the Ubuntu forums.
How to move from OneDrive. In kDrive, Settings, General, import external data: OneDrive is a supported source. Per the official help: files shared with you aren't imported, a second import doesn't fill gaps (no duplicate handling), and you shouldn't change your Microsoft password until it finishes.
Price. Free my kSuite to start, Solo 3 TB at CHF 4.99 a month before tax.
- Paid
- Solo 3 TB, CHF 4.99/mo before tax
- Team
- 6 users, CHF 10/mo billed yearly
- Best for
- small teams, nonprofits
- Limit
- no desktop Office apps
Koofr: copy OneDrive without touching your PC
Easiest migrationWhy switch to Koofr. This is the trick most lists of alternatives miss. On paid plans, Koofr connects to your OneDrive account and shows its files next to yours, so you copy cloud to cloud instead of downloading 300 GB at home. The Files On-Demand problem goes away, because nothing passes through your PC.
Who it's for. People with a large OneDrive or a slow connection, and anyone juggling several clouds (3, 6 or 10 accounts per provider depending on plan). It's a Slovenian company, and VAT is included in listed prices.
Who it's not for. Teams that edit documents together: Koofr stores and shares, it doesn't replace Office online.
How to move from OneDrive. Take a paid plan, connect OneDrive in Koofr, copy the folders you want, then compare sizes on both sides.
Price. 10 GB free; 1 TB for €10 a month, billed yearly only.
- Free
- 10 GB
- Paid
- 1 TB, €10/mo billed yearly
- Best for
- large OneDrive, slow upload
- Limit
- no office suite
Filen: the cheapest encrypted option, hosted in Germany
Cheapest encryptedWhy switch to Filen. Filen encrypts everything on your device, like Proton, at regular storage prices: 200 GiB for €1.99 a month, 500 GiB for €3.99, 2 TiB for €8.99. Plans stack if you need more. Company and servers are in Germany.
Who it's for. Individuals and freelancers who want end-to-end encryption on a budget. In a forum thread about leaving OneDrive, one user calls it easy to use.
Who it's not for. Teams that need shared, editable documents.
Its limit. A younger, smaller vendor than Microsoft or Proton: keep a second copy of key archives elsewhere.
How to move from OneDrive. No OneDrive import: bring your files back to your PC, then drop them into the Filen desktop client.
Price. 200 GiB at €1.99 a month, 2 TiB at €8.99.
- Paid
- 200 GiB €1.99/mo, 2 TiB €8.99
- Servers
- Germany
- Best for
- encryption on a budget
- Limit
- young vendor, no direct import
Nextcloud: host it all yourself
Open sourceWhy switch to Nextcloud. Nextcloud is open-source software that rebuilds a full OneDrive (files, sharing, calendar, and documents through Collabora or OnlyOffice) on a server you control. No US vendor between you and your data.
Who it's for. Organizations with someone technical on hand. If you'd rather not run a server, hosts such as Hetzner and Murena sell ready-made Nextcloud space.
Who it's not for. A solo user in a hurry: a server needs updates and backups. One user also notes that Hetzner's hosted plan doesn't support OnlyOffice or Collabora.
How to move from OneDrive. Bring your files back to your PC, then drop them in the Nextcloud client.
Price. The software is free. Businesses that want vendor support pay from €71.29 per user per year before tax (Standard, 100 users minimum).
- Software
- free, open source
- Vendor support
- from €71.29/user/yr before tax
- Best for
- teams with a tech person
- Limit
- you run the upkeep
The 8 alternatives side by side
Our default pick: Proton Drive if privacy comes first, Sync.com if you want encryption without any setup, Dropbox if you trade big files with clients. For scale, Microsoft 365 Personal is $99.99 a year for 1 TB, Dropbox Plus gives 2 TB for $9.99 a month, and pCloud sells 2 TB once for $499. The right column also shows how your files get there from OneDrive.
| Company based in | First paid plan and move from OneDrive | |
|---|---|---|
| OneDriveStarting point | United States (free: 5 GB shared with Outlook.com) | Microsoft 365 Personal 1 TB, $99.99/yr; Family 2 TB shared, $129.99/yr |
| Proton DriveEncrypted | Switzerland (free: 5 GB encrypted) | Drive Plus 200 GB, $4.99/mo; ZIP download, then desktop app |
| Sync.comEncrypted, no Linux | Canada | 1 TB $9/mo billed yearly in year one; bring files home, then Sync folder |
| DropboxBig files | United States (free: 2 GB) | Plus 2 TB, $9.99/mo; bring files home, then Dropbox folder |
| pCloudPay once | Switzerland | 500 GB lifetime $219; bring files home, then pCloud Drive |
| kDriveMost storage | Switzerland | Solo 3 TB, CHF 4.99/mo before tax; direct OneDrive import |
| KoofrCloud to cloud | Slovenia (free: 10 GB) | 1 TB, €10/mo billed yearly; direct OneDrive connection |
| FilenEncrypted, budget | Germany | 200 GiB €1.99/mo; bring files home, then desktop client |
| NextcloudSelf-hosted | Open source, your server | Server cost; bring files home, then Nextcloud client |
Prices shown by vendors in 2026, in their own currency, subject to change. kDrive before tax.
Leave OneDrive in seven steps, in this order
Order is everything. The accepted answer on Microsoft's Q&A forum, given to a user who couldn't find their files, follows the same logic: don't move anything by hand, turn off backup, unlink the PC, uninstall, then grab what's missing from the web. We add what it leaves out: Files On-Demand, the Personal Vault, and copying to your new home.
Take stock of your OneDrive
Day 1On onedrive.live.com, check how much space you use. In OneDrive settings on your PC, see whether Desktop, Documents and Pictures backup is on: that decides how hard the exit will be. Note whether you use the Personal Vault and OneNote notebooks.
Then check your disk: everything you bring back has to fit on your PC or an external drive.
- Time
- half an hour
- Note
- folder backup on or off
Turn off Files On-Demand
Before any copyRight-click the OneDrive folder and choose "Always keep on this device". OneDrive then downloads the real content of every file. Wait until every icon shows a solid green circle before moving on.
On a big account that can take a night. It's the price of not copying empty placeholders.
- Done when
- solid green circles everywhere
Stop folder backup, one folder at a time
The critical stepIn OneDrive, Settings, Sync and backup, Manage backup: stop backup for Desktop, Documents and Pictures, one folder at a time. Don't move anything by hand meanwhile.
Then open your Desktop, Documents and Pictures. If they're empty, your files are in the OneDrive folder on your PC or on onedrive.live.com: copy them back before going further. On Windows 11, an "Opt out of backup" button also shows up in some prompts. It's about Windows Backup and doesn't turn OneDrive off.
- Trap
- empty Desktop after stopping
- Check
- Desktop, Documents, Pictures
Empty the Personal Vault and handle OneNote
Often forgottenThe Personal Vault doesn't travel with migration tools: unlock it and copy its contents by hand. Even Google's business migration tool skips it.
Your OneNote notebooks live in OneDrive too, but they aren't regular files. Handle them separately: our guide to leaving OneNote walks through it.
- By hand
- Personal Vault, OneNote
Copy to your new home
Day 1 to 3Three routes. Cloud to cloud: kDrive's built-in import or Koofr's OneDrive connection, with nothing passing through your PC. From your PC: drag your local files into the Proton Drive, Sync.com, Dropbox, pCloud, Filen or Nextcloud folder. From the web: onedrive.live.com downloads at most 250 GB or 10,000 files at a time as a ZIP, so split by folder beyond that.
For a business moving to Google Workspace, the admin console migration tool copies files, up to 180 versions and sharing permissions. It skips the Personal Vault, favorites, shortcuts and files owned by external users. Our page on leaving Google Workspace shows the other side.
- Web export
- 250 GB or 10,000 files per ZIP
- Cloud to cloud
- kDrive, Koofr
Check what's missing
Don't skipCompare file counts and total size between OneDrive and the destination, folder by folder for the ones that matter. Open a few Excel and Word files at random.
Don't rerun a full import to fill a gap: on kDrive it creates duplicates. Copy just the missing folder.
- Compare
- file count and size
Unlink, uninstall, keep the account
LastOnly now: OneDrive, Settings, Account, "Unlink this PC". Microsoft says this doesn't delete any files: everything stays on onedrive.live.com. Uninstall OneDrive, restart, and leave the online copy alone for a month as a safety net.
Keep your Microsoft account: Windows, Outlook.com and Xbox use it. But don't leave it above 5 GB after canceling Microsoft 365: after 3 months it's locked, after 6 months its content may be deleted for good. Bring it under 5 GB at the end of your safety month.
- Safety net
- one month before emptying
- Free cap
- 5 GB
Is your tool missing from this page? Email us: hello@hackceleration.com
What makes a OneDrive exit go wrong
The same mistakes show up on Microsoft's Q&A forum, on Reddit and in university IT help desks. None of them is technical: they're steps done in the wrong order.
Uninstalling OneDrive first
While folder backup is on, your Desktop lives inside the OneDrive folder. Uninstall before stopping it and you get an empty Desktop and a scavenger hunt on the web.
Copying placeholders
With Files On-Demand, what you see isn't necessarily on your disk. The copy fails or leaves holes. Force the full download first.
Canceling Microsoft 365 with 1 TB online
Your account drops to 5 GB. Above that, OneDrive goes read-only, Outlook.com stops sending and receiving, the account locks at 3 months and can be wiped at 6. Move your files before the renewal date.
Forgetting the Personal Vault
It's locked, so import tools can't see it. Unlock it and copy its contents by hand: it often holds your most important documents.
Changing your password mid-import
A cloud-to-cloud import runs on your Microsoft sign-in. kDrive's help is explicit: don't change passwords until the import is done.
Comparing prices across currencies
Dollars, Swiss francs before tax, euros with VAT: bring everything to a yearly price in your currency, and look at the year-two price. Our cloud storage ranking helps compare.
- Space used and folder backup status noted
- Files On-Demand off, everything downloaded
- Backup stopped folder by folder, Desktop checked
- Personal Vault and OneNote handled separately
- Copy done to the new service
- File counts and sizes compared
- PC unlinked, then OneDrive uninstalled
- Microsoft account kept, under 5 GB
OneDrive alternatives: frequently asked questions
How do I turn off OneDrive without losing files?
In this order: turn off Files On-Demand, stop folder backup and check your Desktop, then unlink the PC and uninstall. Unlinking deletes nothing: Microsoft keeps everything on onedrive.live.com. If a local folder looks empty, its files stayed in the OneDrive folder or online.
What's the best free OneDrive alternative?
Koofr gives 10 GB free, twice OneDrive's allowance, and Proton Drive gives 5 GB with end-to-end encryption. Neither counts your email against that quota, while Microsoft's 5 GB also holds Outlook.com attachments.
What happens if my OneDrive is over 5 GB after I cancel?
Files go read-only and Outlook.com can't send or receive email. After 3 months over quota the OneDrive account is locked; after 6 months Microsoft may delete it and everything in it, with no recovery.
Is there a privacy-focused OneDrive alternative?
Yes: Proton Drive, Sync.com and Filen all encrypt files on your device before upload, so the vendor can't read them. Proton is Swiss, Sync.com Canadian, Filen German. Microsoft, like any US company, is subject to the CLOUD Act.
Can I keep Word and Excel without OneDrive?
Yes. Microsoft also sells Office 2024 as a one-time purchase with only the free 5 GB of OneDrive, so you save files elsewhere. You can also keep your subscription and simply stop using OneDrive.
How do I move OneDrive to Google Drive?
For a business, the Google Workspace admin migration tool copies files, versions and sharing permissions, minus the Personal Vault and shortcuts. For personal use, download your folders from onedrive.live.com and upload them to Google Drive. Our guide to leaving Google Drive shows its downsides.
Proton Drive or Sync.com?
Both are end-to-end encrypted. Proton Drive has a real free tier (5 GB) and a cheaper 200 GB plan at $4.99 a month; Sync.com is simpler on Windows and Mac but has no Linux client and its price rises from $9 to $12 a month billed yearly after the first year.
Does Microsoft 365 Family still give 1 TB per person?
Not according to the official page in 2026: Family lists up to 2 TB of shared storage for up to 6 people, at $129.99 a year. If everyone in the house stores lots of photos, do the math before you renew.
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