OpenDrive VS. JustCloud
In the current digital age, consumers are fortunate to be able to thoroughly research the options that are available as they are looking for the best cloud storage service that can fit their needs. Popularity and market share aren’t always the most important things, especially with the wealth of information we have at our fingertips, accessed quickly and efficiently through the World Wide Web. So why shouldn’t your cloud storage provider provide that same convenient service, allowing you to access your files from any device anywhere, all at your fingertips? Which services are most convenient, versatile, affordable or accessible?
Once again, we will compare another popular cloud storage service to OpenDrive in 6 key categories: Flexibility, Productivity, Security, Reliability, Support and Affordability.
Flexibility
OpenDrive offers a wide range of compatibility across multiple platforms, providing an application for just about any need, whether you are on a Mac, Windows PC, mobile device, tablet and even a Linux box. There is also a wide range of features that can accommodate most business and personal needs, and the service as a whole can provide options to sync, back up, store, share and collaborate on files, both publicly and privately.
JustCloud provides a great deal of flexibility as well, over most popular cloud storage services, and is rated highly on most peoples lists. They offer selective file syncing across multiple devices, private file sharing, unrestricted file types, and support for PC, Mac, IOS and Android. This is definitely better than most other popular services, but does not stack up against the wealth of features and flexibility that OpenDrive has to offer.
Winner: OpenDrive
Productivity
OpenDrive offers several productivity tools, including online document editing, usage statistics, user management on multiple levels, detailed permissions settings for different levels of privacy, collaboration on files, sending files through email, and much more. These features also include file versioning up to 99 versions, unlimited file sizes, support for mapped and external drives, and much more.
JustCloud does not yet offer any public file sharing abilities and they have a 5GB file size limit on all accounts, which is the Google Cloud server restriction. The limit actually defaults to 2MB on signup and has to be increased manually in the settings menu. File versioning is supported, as it is with OpenDrive, but only back to 7 versions, while OpenDrive can store as much as 99 versions of each file. They also do not have support for mapped network drives.
Winner: OpenDrive
Security
OpenDrive offers 128 bit SSL connections through all applications, as well as AES 256 bit encryption on its desktop apps. In addition, their desktop apps feature a Secure Files Folder, which provides Zero Knowledge Encryption, allowing total anonymity of data, no matter who tries to access your files, including the company itself. Your data is truly and completely safe.
JustCloud also offers AES 256 bit encryption on their apps, which is the standard for Google Cloud servers, but they do not have Zero Knowledge Encryption, an option that is becoming more necessary than ever in today’s world, as total privacy is becoming more of a concern in certain countries.
Winner: OpenDrive
Reliability
OpenDrive maintains its own servers in a secure data center and is responsible for its own maintenance, upgrades, etc. The service is always there when you need it. There are no hidden restrictions, no fine print. Their unlimited storage plans are truly unlimited and you are not stopped in the middle of tasks to be urged to upgrade your service.
JustCloud employs Google Cloud servers, which are the biggest, most diverse and most reliable in the world, but they are not maintained by JustCloud, which is another provider that stores their users data via collocation, which is a process of sub-contracting server space for a fee that can be marked up for a profit when the customer pays for the plan at the set price. Their tiered plan structure, though, often finds you being stopped in the middle of a task to be informed that the particular function you wish to perform requires a feature upgrade. This is most inconvenient when the situation calls for productivity and efficiency.
Winner: OpenDrive
Support
OpenDrive offers virtually every type of support possible to all customers, both free and paid, including, a support desk, forum, email, social media, knowledge base, toll free number and more. Their standard response time is 7 hours for email and support tickets, which is one third of the 20 hour industry standard. Support requests sent within OpenDrive office hours are usually answered within the hour, ensuring that help is there when you truly need it.
JustCloud offers the same diversity of support options, including various toll free and international numbers, which few large companies will do. Their support page is also very organized and it is easy to find the info you are looking for in their FAQs and knowledge base, which saves a lot of hassle. Like any bog company, however, email response times can be 2 or 3 days, even longer sometimes, depending on the nature of the problem. When time is of the essence though, OpenDrive has the edge, if just barely.
Winner: OpenDrive
Affordability
OpenDrive offers tiered storage plans ranging from $5 per month and unlimited storage plans are only $12.95 per month with no hidden fees, restrictions or fine print. You can customize your plan depending on your productivity and budget needs, and their prices are some of the lowest you will find anywhere. The only extra fees you will pay will be to add user login slots to your account.
JustCloud offers several affordable plan options, but their tiered structure makes it confusing for people who think they are getting a value, only to find out later that there are certain features that must be unlocked for an additional fee. Their frequent pop-up ads at random times can be off-putting, especially for users who are accustomed to having ads removed from a service they are paying a fee for. When it comes down to it, JustCloud is just not the most affordable option and there are just too many surprises for those who are not more informed and do not read all of the fine print.
Winner: OpenDrive
Verdict
In all areas, OpenDrive is once again the winner! Come take a drive with OpenDrive today!
