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Here we are, as promised, an article dedicated to decentralized alternatives to Google Drive. We decided to make a separate article from the one on alternatives to Google Drive (which could possibly be integrated in some way) to talk more explicitly about decentralization and to avoid bringing too many things together in a single cauldron. However, as mentioned, it is possible that that article will be updated with perhaps a link to this article in a section dedicated to decentralized alternatives.
Disclaimer: this article talks about decentralization and accordingly cannot completely ignore either blockchain nor cryptocurrencies which make these two presumptions a reason for living. We have tried, as always, to screen out the minor and inadequate projects, leaving only those that we consider worthy of the report. However, if cryptocurrencies and the so-called web3 give you hives, and we understand it, we advise you to skip this article :)
What's the difference between Google Drive and a decentralized alternative?
Normally when we talk about aalternative to Google Drive it is taken for granted that we are talking about another place, other than Google, where we can place our files. As we well know the cloud it is nothing more than someone else's computer, and is generally a collection of servers with various backups and other security systems to avoid losing data or to prevent it from being stolen.
It is the most classic of systems and it can be done with Zero-knowledge encryption or without Zero-knowledge encryption and generally one or more data centers are used which are often then backed up on other data centers possibly in different locations.
As we will see in today's article, there are different types of decentralized clouds but the central theme that we will mainly try to follow is this: the files must not all be kept in a single data center, the system to be used must be simple and intuitive (just like Google Drive) and must be a project that is already stable and reliable in some way.
Decentralized alternatives to Google Drive
The alternatives are chosen in alphabetical order to avoid preferences of any kind. We will try as far as possible for each alternative to specify the way in which the files are distributed, listing their strengths and weaknesses.
The strength therefore of this type of cloud is the resilience that is, the ability to remain intact even if something were to happen to the companies and also the resistance to censorship: deleting a file that is duplicated all over the world in hundreds of copies is decidedly more complex than deleting one that is simply supported on a cloud. This is obviously a double-edged sword but as we well know it is not a tool that is good or bad but its use.
Arweave
basically the files are in clear text, possible End-to-end encryption
Open source
associated with the AR cryptocurrency
files are encrypted and distributed worldwide via blockchain
It's a very interesting project that we are also trying to use as a personal alternative to the Internet Archive. Unlike all other projects the files on Arweave are permanent. Once uploaded into the blockchain they are distributed worldwide through all available nodes and you cannot delete the file in any way. The only way to get the entire network to delete content is to get more than 50% nodes to agree to delete it - this is designed to prevent illegal content from being uploaded 1.
It is therefore a very particular alternative, also quite expensive, but the files are potentially online forever or at least as long as there is someone who maintains this cryptocurrency. The project seems quite solid and well underway and therefore this can also mean greater resilience than any cloud that offers "lifetime" space.
In order to upload files to the blockchain it is necessary to use some provider. We mainly chose and tried Akord which offers 100MB free permanent as well as its own cloud (encrypted but centralized, on AWS servers) to be used alongside the permanent one. Permanent space can be purchased in single GB and the cost changes based on the value of the cryptocurrency, currently around €10/GB. We explained how it works a little in the article on alternatives to Archive.org, we also summarize it here: once the file has been uploaded to permanent storage, the file can be share through their site (which is user-friendly but less secure because if they disappeared all the links would be 404 and difficult to recover) or, better, you can share the blockchain link complete with the transition ID: https://yoejsggd72pocx24w5wxeq5jmrzczo5d6prqel7yfdeyr4fgwm2a.arweave.net/w4iZGMP-nuFfXLdtckOpZHIsu6Pz4wIv-CjJiPCmszQ. In this case if the domain arweave.net were to die just change the gateway (which can be created by anyone). As you can see, the file is visible both here: https://jswqquqd2yxc4fxtaqwqdx32fwqehsxbiqs5w3lb7lgap6xlikta.ar-io.dev/TK0IUgPWLi4W8wQtAd96LaBDyuFEJdttYfrMB_rrQqY than here https://jswqquqd2yxc4fxtaqwqdx32fwqehsxbiqs5w3lb7lgap6xlikta.permagate.io/TK0IUgPWLi4W8wQtAd96LaBDyuFEJdttYfrMB_rrQqY and so on.
It is worth underlining that the uploaded files are public and visible to anyone on the blockchain. Akord also allows you to upload encrypted files: https://arweave.net/PUCSAL6CI6XKvreJd_S6fL9SUca9stN9HRHEDEbzaJk in this case it is an encrypted image and in fact you cannot see it. To decipher it, however, you must use the site Akord therefore we recommend one local encryption from you if you need it.
Another storage that uses Arweave is ArDrive.
• • • •Hive
Zero-knowledge encryption
files are encrypted, shredded, and distributed to computers operated by users around the world
This is one of the very few decentralized networks that does not have its own token or cryptocurrency. Hive exploits among other things the IPFS protocol 2. Before being uploaded online, the data is encrypted, chopped up and then distributed to the computers of users all over the world.
When you download the program to use hiveDisk you will be asked if you want to participate in the program for sharing your unused space. You can therefore choose a hard disk on your computer where the data of other users will be saved, encrypted. You can give the percentage of space you prefer. The contribution is voluntary and paid thanks to discounts that will be applied to the paid service you have chosen.
There is currently no way to use it in the Browsers but you can sign up and use it only through one of their applications. Once logged in the files will be synchronized with all devices. It is possible to have a free plan (currently 25GB, normally 3GB) and then eventually switch to a paid plan.
•Peergos
Open source
Zero-knowledge encryption
independent security audit
the files are distributed worldwide thanks to the IPFS protocol
Peergos uses the IPFS protocol and the Zero-knowledge encryption to offer a practical and simple to use service. It is still a little slow to use and does not have smartphone applications but should be used as a WebApp.
The basic plan starts from €5 per month for 100GB and you can purchase up to 4TB for €40 per month.
• •Pinata Cloud
Open source the IPFS project is Open source
the files are distributed worldwide thanks to the IPFS protocol
This cloud called Pinata uses the IPFS protocol and allows you to "pin", i.e. keep online, files that would otherwise go offline when you, or someone else, no longer keeps them online. It is free up to a maximum of 500 files, 1GB and 10GB of bandwidth per month. Next there are quite expensive paid plans starting from 20$ per month. Furthermore, in the free plan it is not possible to upload any format but only some pre-established ones.
Once registered, you can use it Pinata like a classic cloud with an easy-to-use web interface. However, the costs remain quite prohibitive.
• •Storj
Zero-knowledge encryption
Open source the project is Open source
associated with the STORJ cryptocurrency
compatible with S3
files are encrypted, chopped up and distributed to nodes managed by users around the world
It is probably the most important, best known and most used decentralized alternative, also chosen by Adobe 3. It was born in 2014 and was officially launched in 2018, to date it has over 24 thousand active nodes with beyond 32PB (petabytes).
Uploaded files are first encrypted, then broken into small pieces and distributed on nodes managed by users around the world 4. In fact, anyone can host a node and therefore be part of the network of Storj.
You can also use it as Object Storage and it is compatible with Amazon S3. It is a fast and secure network designed primarily to be used by developers as Object Storage but can also work reasonably well as a personal drive.
It has a free plan temporary, once finished you pay based on how many GB are actually occupied and used month by month.
• •Other decentralized clouds
There are also other decentralized clouds which, however, are less user-friendly and therefore cannot be used by anyone in a simple and pre-configured way like Google Drive or those we have listed:
- BitTorrent it is one of the main peer-to-peer protocols. A .torrent file is created which, together with the Trackers, allow you to share a file on all computers in the world with extreme simplicity. It is widely used for pirated software or videos but also to distribute large files without a central server such as Linux ISOs.
- Cubbit it seems to have been trying to forge its own path for some time. He started with Cubbit Cells, which was a sort of NAS connected to their network that allowed you to have your data distributed on Cubbit Cells all over the world. Then it moved on to being a decentralized online cloud while now it is trying the path of cloud storage, therefore used by devs for software and more. They offer 15 days free and then switch to a paid plan (but the price of which is not public). We don't put it among the alternatives at the top mainly due to the fact that it doesn't have a clear plan accessible to anyone but it seems more dedicated to companies and not to private files.
- Filecoin, is a cryptocurrency designed specifically for sharing and storing files through the blockchain. However, we couldn't find any user-friendly providers to use as a real cloud.
- I2P, a decentralized alternative created to create an anonymous network.
- IPFS, a protocol designed specifically to decentralize files. You can also use it natively thanks to Brave.
- IS, an encrypted cloud where each person can make their computer available to increase the network space.
- Synching, an obligatory mention of which we have also created a ad hoc article. Unlike traditional clouds, this software allows you to have your files in a private cloud without using external hosts. In fact, synchronization of your devices is used to prevent data from being lost.
- What happens if illegal or malicious content is uploaded? | Archive | Arweave[↩]
- Hive's P2P storage: A new paradigm for data management | Archive | Arweave[↩]
- Adobe chose a revolutionary cloud storage system for its popular video editor — and it could come to a computer near you | Archive | Arweave[↩]
- How it Works | Archive | Arweave[↩]
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