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How Do I Get 100GB Cloud Storage for Free? A Step-by-Step Guide

Hey there! Looking for ways to score some serious free cloud storage? You‘ve come to the right place my friend! I‘m going to walk you through the best methods for getting 100GB (or even more!) of free online storage.

With the right combination of cloud provider accounts and referral bonuses, you can amass a ton of space for your precious files without paying a cent. I‘ll also share tips to help you organize everything and stay within the free limits.

I know how frustrating it can be when you run out of room on your devices. My photos, videos, and important documents are irreplaceable, so I need lots of cheap (or free) cloud backup. I want reliable access from anywhere without worrying about storage limits or monthly fees.

After lots of research and testing, I‘ve found the perfect setup for maximizing free cloud space. Let me break it all down for you…

Why Do I Need So Much Free Cloud Storage?

Cloud storage does a few really important things:

  • Access files anywhere – I can view or share my stuff from all my devices whenever I need to. It‘s all in my pocket!

  • Automatic backups – I never have to think about backing up my phone photos or important documents. It just happens in the background automagically!

  • Share large files – Sending big videos and photos is a breeze with cloud sharing links. No more email bouncebacks!

  • Extra space – My devices are always full. The cloud gives me unlimited capacity so I never have to delete anything!

But here‘s the problem…

The 15GB of free space you get with Google Drive or Dropbox fills up in no time.

Just storing my photos and videos from one vacation can eat up half of 15GB. Forget about documents, music, or backups!

According to a 2021 survey from Backblaze, the average person actually needs about 550GB of storage. We‘re constantly creating and collecting irreplaceable digital content.

So 15GB just doesn‘t cut it anymore. We need a LOT more free space!

Top 5 Free Cloud Storage Services

Luckily there are quite a few great options for getting more storage without paying. Here are the top 5 free cloud storage services in 2022 based on how much free space they offer:

ProviderFree StorageMy Rating
MEGA20GBπŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘
Google Drive15GBπŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘
Dropbox2GBπŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘
Microsoft OneDrive5GBπŸ‘πŸ‘
Box10GBπŸ‘πŸ‘

Out of these, I recommend MEGA as the best overall option for several reasons:

  • Huge 20GB starter bonus – This gets you off to a great start unlike competitors.

  • Easy achievements – Referring friends and installing MEGA apps gets you up to 200GB total!

  • No file size limits – Store and share even huge 4K videos without worrying about caps.

  • Powerful mobile apps – Managing your files on the go is fast and seamless.

  • Leading security – MEGA uses end-to-end encryption to keep your files ultra-private.

But diversity is also good, so I suggest combining 2-3 different services to give yourself protection from outages and lost data. More on that soon!

How Do Referral Bonuses Work?

The first stop on our journey to 100GB is referral bonuses.

Nearly every cloud provider rewards you with free storage when you convince friends and family to sign up. Here‘s a quick guide to how it works:

  • You get a unique referral link after creating your account.

  • Send or share this link via email, social media, etc.

  • When someone clicks your link and signs up, you both earn a storage bonus!

  • MEGA gives you and your friend 5GB each per referral, up to 200GB total. Amazing!

  • Dropbox starts with 500MB per referral and goes up.

  • Even Google Drive and OneDrive give you 1GB for each sign up.

I try to share my links on Facebook, Twitter, and Slack groups to spread the word. If you bug friends directly asking them to use your link, you‘ll probably have better luck.

Most people have no idea these referral programs even exist! Once they realize it‘s free storage for them too, they‘re totally on board.

Earn More Space Through Achievements

Providers also give you one-time storage bonuses when you complete certain tasks. These are called achievements.

It takes just a few minutes to earn tens of gigs this way. Here are some of the easiest achievements:

  • MEGA – Link your mobile app and enable achievements for 50GB.

  • pCloud – Verify your email and get 10GB.

  • Dropbox – Enable camera uploads for 500MB.

  • Degoo – Refer one friend and confirm email for 100GB!

Make sure to claim your achievement rewards or you might miss out on the free space.

I earned over 70GB in my first day just by using the MEGA mobile apps and enabling settings. Super easy!

Combine Multiple Accounts

Once you‘ve tapped out referrals and achievements, try creating extra accounts to multiply your storage.

Services like Dropbox and MEGA let you sign up with the same email address multiple times. Just add periods, numbers or plus tags each time.

For example I now have:

  • 3 MEGA accounts (45GB each)
  • 2 Dropbox accounts (2GB each)
  • 1 Google Drive account (15GB)

That‘s 147GB total across just those three providers! And I can keep adding more accounts.

The downside is that you‘ll have to access each account separately. That‘s where cloud aggregators come in…

Cloud Aggregators Help Manage Multiple Accounts

A cloud aggregator is a software tool that lets you combine all your accounts from different providers into a single interface.

Instead of logging into each one separately, you can see all your storage pools together in the aggregator.

You can then easily move files between accounts, transfer data, and more. I use MultCloud which offers a free version supporting unlimited accounts.

This way I can stay organized with a bird‘s eye view of my total free storage usage across providers. Definitely a must-have time saver!

Find Even More Space with Surveys and Affiliates

If you still need more gigabytes, try some of these more unconventional methods:

  • Online surveys – Swagbucks and InboxDollars give points for surveys that can be redeemed for storage gift cards. Usually it‘s about 1GB per $1 earned.

  • Affiliate programs – Share affiliate links for services like Hostgator hosting and you get credit for each signup. These often convert to storage rewards.

  • App downloads – App referral programs let you earn credit by getting friends to download apps. Appsumo was offering 500MB recently for each install.

  • Contests and giveaways – Providers will sometimes raffle off free storage as prizes for participating in contests, quizzes or by submitting user reviews.

These options yield smaller amounts – maybe 1-5GB each. But over time it adds up through persistence and smart combining. Every little bit counts when you want abundant free storage!

Which Cloud Storage Provider Is Right for Me?

With so many options for free cloud storage, it can be tricky to decide which ones to use. Here are some key factors to consider:

  • Security – I take this seriously. Look for 256-bit AES encryption and two-factor authentication. MEGA and Dropbox are my top picks here.

  • Sync and backup – Automatic syncing ensures all my devices access the latest files. Backup protects all my irreplaceable data.

  • File size limits – I store lots of large videos, so I prefer providers with higher size caps like MEGA or Google Drive.

  • Sharing and collaboration – I send big files to clients all the time, so easy share links and real-time coediting are essential.

  • Mobile apps – I‘m on my phone constantly, so I need excellent mobile apps to access and manage my files on the go. The MEGA app is my favorite.

  • Speed – Faster is obviously better when sharing files or streaming video. Google Drive and Dropbox are consistently speedy.

By evaluating each service across these criteria, I can choose the right combination to meet all my needs with maximum free space.

Step-by-Step: Signing Up for Free Cloud Storage Accounts

Ready to get started enjoying abundant free storage? Signing up is fast and easy:

  1. Visit the cloud provider‘s website and click Sign Up or Create Account.

  2. Enter your name, email address, and password to register.

  3. Verify your email address by clicking the confirmation link sent.

  4. Download and install the desktop app to sync folders if desired.

  5. Configure auto-backup for your photos, videos, and docs as needed.

  6. Start adding files!

Repeat these steps to create accounts with 2-3 providers. I suggest MEGA, Google Drive, and Dropbox to start.

Be sure to use referral links from friends when signing up to score extra free space right off the bat.

Within about 15 minutes per service, you‘ll have abundant free storage ready to use. Time to start deleting stuff from your full phone!

7 Tips for Managing Your Free Cloud Storage

Here are some best practices I‘ve learned for keeping all your new accounts organized:

  • Enable camera auto-upload – Instantly backs up new photos/videos over Wi-Fi without lifting a finger.

  • Configure selective sync – Only sync specific desktop folders you really need to avoid clutter.

  • Use a cloud aggregator – Combine accounts into one view instead of constantly switching tabs.

  • Limit photo resolution – Store smaller resolution versions to save space since you won‘t be printing billboards from the cloud.

  • Add files selectively – Don‘t blindly sync everything and end up with duplicates wasting space.

  • Delete unused apps – Disconnect any linked services you no longer use regularly.

  • Check usage often – Keep an eye on how full your storage is across providers to avoid surprises.

Following these tips will help you avoid headaches and stay within generous free allowances.

Enjoy Your Free Cloud Storage!

Phew, we covered a lot of ground! Here‘s a quick recap:

  • Cloud storage gives you freedom through remote access, sharing, and backups.

  • You need way more than 15GB these days for all your stuff.

  • Strategic use of referrals, achievements, multiples accounts and aggregators can score 100GB+ free space.

  • MEGA, Google Drive and Dropbox are top providers to get started with.

  • Take your time and customize your combination of accounts to suit your needs.

Well my friend, you now have all the tools you need to escape storage limits forever! No more paying for subscriptions or desperately deleting files. Just abundant, free reliability.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I‘m always happy to help you find the best cloud solutions. Now get claiming those free gigs!

nv-author-image

Michael

Michael Reddy is a tech enthusiast, entertainment buff, and avid traveler who loves exploring Linux and sharing unique insights with readers.