Another one bites the dust.
Another freemium, client-side encrypted, file sync & share Cloud storage service did, that is. We’re talking about Cubby, which LogMeIn announced would go defunct on October 18th. While Pro and Enterprise users have until 30 days after their subscription expires to transfer their data, Free users only have until November 16th to get their photos and files out of there.
As such, there is no time to waste. To help speed up the process, BestBackups.com has put together a list of our personally recommended Cubby alternatives. Check them out after the jump!
Best Cubby Alternatives Summary
[top5table SpiderOak CrashPlan IDrive MEGA Tresorit ratings=”5,4.5,4.1,4,3.8″]
PROS- End-to-end encryption
- Two-factor authentication
- Zero knowledge policy
- Secure file sharing
- Backup from unlimited devices
CONS- Software not especially user-friendly
If security was the main factor in your choosing Cubby, than you’ll absolutely love SpiderOak. The company is defined by its commitment to data security (it even comes recommended by the infamous whistleblower himself, Edward Snowden!). Among its top security perks? A strict zero-knowledge policy, 256-bit AES end-to-end encryption, and a user-generated password that only YOU know.
On top of these stellar online privacy measures, SpiderOak has other desirable features that make it our top pick among Cubby alternatives. This includes two-factor authentication, secure file sharing, and file versioning. Better yet, it only sets you back $7 per month for 30 GB, $12 per month for 1 TB, or $25 per month for a whopping 5 TB.
2nd place
CrashPlan
[vpnbest value=”4.5″] 4.5/5
- PROS
- Two-factor authentication
- End-to-end encryption
- User-friendly software
- Good security
- CONS
- No file sharing options
CrashPlan is one of the bigger names in the Cloud storage industry, and it’s easy to see why. The provider is exceptionally well-rounded, balancing out strong security features such as end-to-end encryption, company-generated encryption keys, and two-factor authentication, with more practical services such as unlimited storage space and the ability to upload files from multiple devices.
CrashPlan’s main caveat as one of our Cubby alternatives? It doesn’t have any file sharing options. If you only used Cubby for personal storage, this won’t be a problem, but if you used it to share files with friends, family, and colleagues, you’d be best to pick another provider on this list. If we’ve piqued your interest in CrashPlan, however, check it out via the button below.
3rd place
IDrive
[vpnbest value=”4.1″] 4.1/5
- PROS
- Two-factor authentication
- Set your own private encryption key
- End-to-end encryption
- User-friendly software
- Low price
- CONS
- Poor customer service
On top of an extensive range of features – which includes local backups, archiving, and NAS compatibility – IDrive has security measures put in place that are on par with, if not better than, that of Cubby’s. It uses 256-bit AES end-to-end encryption, has the option to set two-factor authentication, and allows you to generate your own private password to decrypt your files.
IDrive’s low monthly fee of $3.71 is another big factor in it being among our list of Cubby alternatives – such a low price point is sure to be attractive to Cubby’s free users! While this does rise to $4.99 in your second year of subscribing, this hardly breaks the bank, and is still on the cheaper end of the Cloud storage market. Check out IDrive by clicking on the button below!
4th place
MEGA
[vpnbest value=”4″] 4/5
- PROS
- End-to-end encryption
- Set your own encryption key
- File sharing
- Low price
- CONS
- Bandwidth restrictions
MEGA is a bit of a controversial choice due to the drama surrounding Kim Dotcom, but as the provider has yet to show any signs of having its security measures compromised, we’re going to keep it on our list of good Cubby alternatives.
MEGA has features that ex-Cubby users are sure to love, such as the ability to set your private encryption key for your stored data, file sharing, and 128-bit AES end-to-end encryption. All of this comes starting at the low price of $5.35 per month for 500 GB of storage. Click on the button below to learn more about MEGA!
5th place
Tresorit
[vpnbest value=”3.8″] 3.8/5
- PROS
- End-to-end encryption
- Zero knowledge policy
- Two-factor authentication
- Easy file access
- Quick and convenient file sharing
- CONS
- Restricted uploads
- Limited file sharing
Tresorit is the perfect Cubby alternative if you’re looking for something supports file sharing without sacrificing security. Tresorit many of the great security features that I’ve already mentioned in this list – such as a zero-knowledge policy, a private encryption key, two-factor authentication, and end-to-end encryption – in addition to nice features such as a user-friendly interface.
The main reason why Tresorit comes in last on our list? At $12.50 per month it isn’t the cheapest option by far. In addition, it is aimed more at business users than personal users, which means that personal account options are limited. So while a good option for Cubby Enterprise users, Pro and free users may want to consider one of the above. Learn more about Tresorit below!
Considerations for Cubby Alternatives
When searching for Cubby alternatives for this list, we took into account the features of Cubby that customers loved: a decent price, tough encryption, private encryption keys, file sharing, and ease of use. While there is no exact replica of Cubby out on the market, we have no doubt that you’ll find a provider you’ll be satisfied with among the Cubby alternatives mentioned here.
Why Not LogMeIn Pro or Dropbox?
Since announcing that it would be retiring its Cloud storage service, parent company LogMeIn has suggested Dropbox and LogMeIn Pro as its Cubby alternatives. However, we personally didn’t recommend these as LogMeIn Pro, while secure, is quite a bit more expensive than Cubby was. We did not recommend Dropbox for the opposite reason: While cheap, we here at BestBackups.com think that it lacks the strong security that Cubby had.
Conclusion
The Cloud storage industry is savage, so we can’t say that we’re surprised that Cubby has shut down. That said, it is annoying for its customers, who are now left scrambling to find a new Cloud storage service before their time with Cubby is up. If you’re one of the unfortunate users, we hope that this list from BestBackups.com has helped you find the perfect provider – or, at the very least, given you a head start on finding the best Cubby alternatives.
Best Cubby Alternatives Summary
[top5table SpiderOak CrashPlan IDrive MEGA Tresorit ratings=”5,4.5,4.1,4,3.8″]
I know this article was written awhile ago. Have any options popped up that allow you to make your folders a Cubby-like folder, as Fabian suggested?
I have a hard time believing there is not at least ONE solution out there for this.
Hello Fabian, you’re hitting the nail…
Duplication of folders and file structure for sync is the beginning of chaos, leading to uncertainty or multiple versions of anything.
Such a shame. I really liked Cubby. The most attractive feature to me was that I could make ANY folder a Cubby folder, without having to put the files into a special folder. I don’t like having to change my folder structure in order to keep it synced.