European alternatives to OneDrive
Microsoft's cloud storage, baked into Windows and Microsoft 365 so it fills up almost by default. Files sit on Microsoft's US-governed infrastructure under the CLOUD Act, without end-to-end encryption by default.
Company information about OneDrive
- Company
- Microsoft Corporation
- Headquarters
- Redmond, United States
- Founded
- 2007
- Data jurisdiction
- United States
- Ownership
- Publicly traded
- GDPR
- No
- Open source
- No
- Infrastructure
- Own infrastructure
Why people switch away from OneDrive
Answers to US law
Microsoft is a US company, so OneDrive files sit under the CLOUD Act – American authorities can compel access wherever they're stored, outside GDPR's reach.
No end-to-end encryption
OneDrive files aren't end-to-end encrypted by default, leaving Microsoft technically able to access content that law-enforcement requests can also reach.
A growing environmental footprint
Microsoft's 2026 sustainability report showed emissions up 25% in a single year, driven largely by AI data-centre construction underpinning services like OneDrive.
Everyday annoyances
- Storage fills up fast. Free accounts get just 5GB, shared with Outlook attachments, so most people hit the ceiling almost immediately.
- Sync conflicts are common. The sync client has a long-running reputation for creating duplicate 'conflicted copy' files and getting stuck mid-sync.
- Windows nudges you to enrol. Windows setup repeatedly prompts you to back up folders to OneDrive, sometimes redirecting Desktop and Documents without a clear opt-out.
- Best value locked behind 365. The most useful storage tiers require a Microsoft 365 subscription, bundling cloud storage with apps many users don't need.
European alternatives to OneDrive
Spanish zero-knowledge cloud storage founded in Valencia in 2020. Open-source, end-to-end encrypted, ISO 27001:2022 certified. Audited by Securitum in 2025. 1M+ users, EU data centres via OVHcloud, post-quantum encryption. Also offers VPN and antivirus.
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage from a small German team, with all servers in Germany. Zero-knowledge AES-256 encryption, open-source apps, and one of the most generous free tiers in the category at 10GB - a genuinely private alternative to Dropbox and Google Drive.
Swiss cloud storage from an ethical hosting company. 100% renewable energy, full data sovereignty, no investor pressure.
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage from Proton AG in Geneva. Zero-knowledge architecture means even Proton cannot access your files. Own servers in Switzerland and Germany, ISO 27001 certified. Part of the Proton ecosystem alongside Mail, VPN, and Pass.
Zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage built by a Welsh team. Client-side Twofish encryption, a slick drive-style interface, and a generous 10GB free tier - a British alternative to Dropbox and Google Drive that can't read your files.
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage. Swiss-based with zero-knowledge architecture.
Want more options? Browse all European Cloud storage alternatives →
People also replace
Box 
Google Drive 
Dropbox 
iCloud Start somewhere.
Switching everything overnight is not realistic. Start where it matters most: your email, your cloud storage, your business tools. Replace one thing at a time.
The European Alternative already exists.
Pick Europe.
Why avoid United States-owned services?
CLOUD Act
Forces US companies to hand over data stored anywhere in the world upon government request, including data on European servers.
FISA Section 702
Authorises mass surveillance of non-US persons using data held by US tech platforms, without a warrant or notification.
GDPR vs US law conflict
EU courts have repeatedly found that US surveillance law conflicts with European fundamental rights. Schrems I and II both invalidated EU-US data transfer agreements.