Our verdict: Icedrive gives you 10 GB for free and a tidy virtual drive in File Explorer. The free plan is clearly a sampler, though: desktop folder sync, client-side encryption, file versions and password-protected links all need a paid plan, so free users get online storage and not much else.
About Icedrive
The Icedrive desktop app mounts your account as a virtual drive, so you can open, copy and save cloud files from any program without downloading the whole account. Paid plans add an encrypted virtual drive with zero-knowledge client-side encryption and two-way folder sync on 3 to 10 devices.
The free plan includes 10 GB of storage, the virtual drive, the mobile app with camera upload and public links. It does not include desktop sync, client-side encryption, file versioning, user-to-user sharing or link expiry and passwords. Paid plans offer 2 TB to 6 TB with 30 to 90 days of file versions.
What it does well
- Virtual drive. Mounts your Icedrive storage as a drive in File Explorer.
- Public links. Share any file with a link, even on the free plan.
- Mobile camera upload. The mobile apps upload photos automatically.
- Encrypted drive. Zero-knowledge client-side encryption on paid plans.
- Folder sync. Two-way desktop sync of chosen folders on paid plans.
Who it is for
Good fit
People who want 10 GB of extra online storage accessible like a drive letter.
Look elsewhere
Anyone who wants free folder sync or encrypted storage.
Pros and cons
Pros
- 10 GB of free storage
- Virtual drive works with any program
- No ads, tracking or data selling, according to Icedrive
Cons
- No desktop folder sync on the free plan
- No client-side encryption or file versions on the free plan
- Closed source
How to install Icedrive
Run the installer, which contains 32-bit, 64-bit and ARM64 builds, and sign in. The Icedrive drive then appears in File Explorer; free accounts get the virtual drive only, as sync is a paid feature.
Questions about Icedrive
Is Icedrive free?
Yes. The free plan includes 10 GB of storage and the virtual drive app. Sync, encryption and file versions need a paid plan.
Is Icedrive end-to-end encrypted?
Only on paid plans, which add zero-knowledge client-side encryption. Free accounts get encryption at rest on Icedrive's servers.
Can I sync a folder with Icedrive for free?
No. Desktop sync is included only in the Pro, Pro+ and Pro Max plans.
