Free cloud storage for students
VirtualDrive gives every student 20 GB of cloud storage free, with no credit card and no student email required. Notes, slides, PDFs and photos sync between the web, iPhone and Android, and the mobile apps include a document scanner for handouts. If you need more, Pro has 2 TB for $9.99 a month.
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VirtualDrive at a glance
| Free plan | 20 GB, no credit card |
|---|---|
| Pro plan | 2 TB · $9.99/month or $79.99/year |
| Ultra plan | 5 TB · $19.99/month or $159.99/year |
| Free trial | 7 days on Pro yearly, for first-time subscribers |
| Largest file | 5 GB per file on Pro and Ultra |
| Apps | Web, iPhone and iPad, Android |
| Encryption | AES-256 at rest, TLS in transit (not end-to-end) |
| Share links | No account needed to open; password and expiry on file links; view-only or download |
| Languages | 21 languages on the web and in the apps |
Prices are in US dollars for checkout on the web. In the iOS and Android apps, Apple and Google charge their own store prices.
What students need from cloud storage
20 GB free
Enough for course notes, readings and assignments, with no credit card and no student email check.
Phone to laptop without emailing yourself
Scan a handout or photograph the whiteboard on your phone and open it on your laptop in the web app. Camera Backup can upload new photos automatically.
Share with your study group
Send a link to a file or folder. File links can have a password and an expiry date, and shared workspaces suit group projects.
How to back up your course files for free
Create a free account
Sign up with Google, Apple or email. No credit card is needed.
Make a folder per course
Create one folder per course or semester and drag in existing notes; nested folders upload as they are.
Install the phone app
Get VirtualDrive from the App Store or Google Play and scan handouts with the document scanner.
Share with classmates
Create a link to a file or folder, or set up a shared workspace for a group project.
Questions students ask
- What is the best free cloud storage for students?
- Compare how much free space you get and what else uses it. VirtualDrive Free gives 20 GB for files alone, with apps for web, iPhone and Android. Google's free 15 GB is shared with Gmail and Google Photos, and iCloud's free tier is 5 GB.
- Is there a student discount?
- There is no separate student plan. The Free plan with 20 GB needs no student email, and Pro paid yearly ($79.99) costs less than paying monthly.
- Do I need a credit card to sign up?
- No. The Free plan needs only an email address, or a Google or Apple account.
- Can I scan documents with my phone?
- Yes. The iPhone and Android apps include a document scanner that uploads scans straight into your folders.
- Can I use it for group projects?
- Yes. Create a shared workspace and invite classmates by email as members or viewers, or share a single folder by link.
- Is my data private?
- Files are encrypted at rest with AES-256 and in transit with TLS. VirtualDrive has no ads and does not train AI models on your files.
Start with 20 GB. Free.
Encrypted, ad-free, and never used to train AI. Sign up in 20 seconds — no credit card.
20 GB free · No credit card · Cancel anytime