The 5 Best Free Online Music Storage Services

Back up and store your music files online for free

By
Mark Harris
Mark Harris
Writer
  • University of Wolverhampton
Mark Harris is a former writer for Lifewire who wrote about the digital music scene and streaming music services in an easy to understand, no-nonsense manner.
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Updated on June 11, 2021
Reviewed by
Michael Barton Heine Jr
Michael Heine headshot
Reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr
    Michael Heine is a CompTIA-certified writer, editor, and Network Engineer with 25+ years' experience working in the television, defense, ISP, telecommunications, and education industries.
    lifewire's editorial guidelines

    The websites below store MP3s and other music online for free and some support other file types like videos and documents. All have unique features that make them perfect for your online music storage needs.

    There are other free ways to store files online, like through a free cloud storage site or a free online backup service. The websites below were handpicked for usability and capacity for storing music.

    01
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    Best Overall Free Storage: pCloud

    pCloud website
    What We Like

    • Up to 20 GB of free storage.

    • Apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

    • Offline file support.

    • Back up files from Facebook and Instagram.

    What We Don't Like

    • File encryption costs extra.

    • Password protection is unavailable for shared folders or files.

    pCloud is one of the best places to upload your music collection because of its music playback features, sharing capabilities, and reasonable free storage of up to 20 GB. Above all, pCloud exceeds in its playback ability. It automatically finds and sorts your music files into an Audio section, separating your files by song, artist, album, and playlists you make.

    What's more, you can add music to a queue and use the built-in controls to play your music through your account without downloading the files to your computer. When you first sign up for pCloud, you get 10 GB of free space for all file types, including music. If you verify your email and complete other basic tasks, you get up to 20 GB total for free.

    pCloud has free apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and other devices.

    02
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    Most Storage: YouTube Music

    YouTube Music
    What We Like

    • The upload limit is 100,000 songs.

    • Music is automatically cataloged into created playlists.

    • Play songs in the background, ad-free, and offline with a free membership.

    • Stream radio stations for free based on your mood or favorite music.

    What We Don't Like

    • No apps for Windows or macOS.

    • Music uploads don't influence music recommendations.

    Google has a free music service through YouTube with a companion app that lets you stream your music files from anywhere. It works through your Google account after you upload your music collection.

    Unlike other services that limit the space you're allowed to use for music, Google puts a limit on the number of songs you can upload. It's rather large at 100,000 songs. This means you can upload your entire music collection online and stream the files from your computer or through the mobile app. You can also stream your music on your Chromecast at home.

    A free app is available on iOS and Android devices so that you can stream your music from your phone.

    03
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    Best Security Features: MEGA

    Mega website
    What We Like

    • Apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and Windows Phone.

    • A recovery key for extra security.

    • The quick interface tutorial gets you familiar fast.

    • The desktop app allows for easy uploading.

    What We Don't Like

    • The audio player is basic.

    • No audio playback through the desktop program.

    Unlike pCloud and YouTube Music, MEGA doesn't have the advanced playback features available in its app or through its website. However, it lets you store 50 GB of music for free. MEGA is a great place to store your files if you're concerned that someone may hack into your account. This file storage service is built around privacy and security.

    MEGA has an advanced option to share your music online with or without the decryption key. When you share a music file or folder with the decryption key, anyone with the link can get the music. If you don't include the key, the recipient must know the decryption key to download the file (which you can give them at any time). This makes sharing secure on MEGA, something you might like if you're concerned about someone stealing your music.

    04
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    Most Established: Apple Music

    Apple Music website.
    What We Like

    • Store your iTunes library.

    • Access millions of songs.

    • Offline listening support.

    • A free trial is available.

    What We Don't Like

    • No permanent free option.

    The Apple subscription service, Apple Music, combined with iCloud is a seamless way to make your music available on all your devices all the time. Your music library and Apple's vast music library are available wherever you can access a Wi-Fi or cellular signal on your Mac, PC, Android mobile device, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch, or Apple TV. When you're offline, you can listen to all your downloaded music.

    05
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    Best Sharing Features: Sync

    Sync website
    What We Like

    • Store any type of file securely.

    • An app is available for computers and smartphones.

    • The app syncs any device to the cloud.

    • Share files with a link or team shares.

    What We Don't Like

    • Uploading is a bit slow.

    • Only provides 5 GB of free storage.

    • No audio playback tools.

    If you're looking for a place to easily share your music files with friends and family in a secure environment, Sync might be your answer. While you may only get 5 GB of free storage, its clean interface and easy sharing make Sync a viable storage alternative.

    When sharing your music, Sync creates an encrypted link for friends and family. Additional security options include password-protecting the link, setting expiration dates, and activity logs for the download. You don't need an account with Sync to access someone's share.

    Back Up Your Music

    Back up your music collection online to avoid losing your music to a hard drive failure or virus infection, or to get more space for your growing collection. It's not a requirement to keep your music online since you can ​transfer your music library to a different location like an external hard drive. However, an online backup website lets you add another layer of protection for redundancy.

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