High quality templates, easily customizable Download content instantly Over 10,000 verified reviews Quality made in Germany
Free Trial

Back to the comparison

From the Cloud backup & online storage comparison

HiDrive compared: pricing model, features, assessment

Advertising: Links marked * are affiliate links. If you buy through one, TutKit earns a commission; your price does not change. TutKit also sells its own courses on some programs, marked “TutKit’s own offer”. This selection is not exhaustive. How we compare

S Sync B Backup Sh Sharing

Use cases

Storage and sync for project files, share links for clients, target for Synology or QNAP NAS (with the protocol add-on) and device backup for Windows PCs (add-on or included in the Family plan).

Our assessment

Suits you if storage in Germany only and a data processing agreement without extra effort matter to you. For NAS access and zero-knowledge encryption, however, the personal plans need paid add-ons.

  • Germany (choice not confirmed) – not confirmed for the plan considered
  • End-to-end encryption: Paid add-on only
Published
12 Oct 2026
Updated
12 Oct 2026
Provider
10
Stefan Petri Selection, review and responsibility

Strengths

  • Data centres in Berlin and Karlsruhe, processing in Germany only[2]
  • Data processing agreement automatically included in new contracts, free of charge[2]
  • Two-factor sign-in in all plans[1]
  • Supports Synology and QNAP NAS, with guides for Hyper Backup and Cloud Sync[1][6]

Weaknesses

  • Protocol access and end-to-end encryption cost extra in the personal plans[1]
  • The Windows device backup keeps no backup revisions[9]

Fact sheet

Product
HiDrive (Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android)
Vendor
STRATO GmbH
Licence
proprietary
Pricing model
Subscription (monthly)
Plan
HiDrive Plus, 2 TB, monthly
Data location
Germany
Company headquarters
Germany
Location selectable
not stated
Location applies to this plan
not stated
Note on location
Two data centres in Berlin and Karlsruhe; processing in Germany only
Data processing agreement (GDPR Art. 28)
Yes
End-to-end encryption
Paid add-on only
Note on encryption
Zero-knowledge encryption as an add-on: data is encrypted locally before upload, in the Windows software and the mobile apps. Without the add-on, HiDrive stores data encrypted with AES128.
Two-factor authentication
Yes
Version history
Snapshots at an adjustable frequency; not all automatic ones are kept permanently, manual ones are
Retention of deleted files
not published by the provider (Not described by the provider)
Behaviour after accidental deletion
HiDrive automatically backs up your data in snapshots whose frequency you set. Not all automatically created snapshots are kept permanently; manually created ones are. STRATO does not describe a trash.
External drives and NAS
SFTP, WebDAV, SMB, rsync, SCP and Git (personal plans: add-on); Synology Hyper Backup via rsync, Cloud Sync via WebDAV; QNAP supported
Number of devices
not stated
Operating systems
Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android
Cancellation and term
not stated

Location and DPA

STRATO is based in Berlin and operates two data centres, in Berlin and in Karlsruhe. According to STRATO, data processing takes place only there, i.e. exclusively in Germany. The data centres are ISO 27001 certified.

Important for freelancers: for all contracts concluded since 18 July 2022, the data processing agreement is automatically included, according to STRATO. For older contracts you conclude it in the customer login; the service is free of charge. This information comes from STRATO's general FAQ on the DPA, which does not distinguish between products.

You can protect your login with two-factor authentication in all plans.

Encryption

Transfers are encrypted, and according to HiDrive, stored data is encrypted with AES128.

If you want only yourself to be able to read your files, you add end-to-end encryption. Your data is then encrypted on your device before upload; STRATO calls this zero-knowledge. In the personal plans this is a paid option. According to STRATO's help pages, the encryption works in the Windows software and in the mobile apps – so check beforehand whether it fits your workflow if you mainly work on a Mac or via a NAS.

NAS, protocols and device backup

HiDrive offers the access methods SFTP, WebDAV, SMB, rsync, SCP and Git. In the personal plans they are an optional add-on; in the business plans, depending on the tier, WebDAV and SMB or all protocols are included. In the customer login you can add protocol packages to any plan.

For Synology NAS, STRATO describes two ways: Hyper Backup via rsync and Cloud Sync via WebDAV. QNAP devices are also supported, according to STRATO. Macs back up via Time Machine over SMB, provided the protocol is active in your package.

The device backup for Windows backs up folders on your PC manually or on a schedule. It is an add-on in Starter, Basic and Plus and included in the Family plan. According to STRATO, backup revisions are not possible; BackupControl separately offers snapshots of HiDrive files. The available sources do not establish that these can recover earlier versions of device backups.

Snapshots and plans

HiDrive automatically creates backups called snapshots. You decide how often. Not all automatically created snapshots are kept permanently; manually created ones are. A snapshot only takes up as much space as has changed since the previous one. STRATO's help text does not state how long the automatic snapshots are kept exactly, and STRATO does not describe a trash either.

The personal plans range from Starter with 500 GB and Basic with 1 TB to Plus with 2 TB for one user; Family offers 2 TB for five users. Billing is monthly, and you can add more users. The business plans go up to 10 TB and 20 users. You'll find current prices and promotions directly at STRATO.

Who HiDrive suits

In our view, HiDrive suits you if you are looking for online storage with sync software, share links and snapshots and want your data stored in Germany only. The automatically included data processing agreement saves you a step as a freelancer. With the apps for iOS and Android you can access your files on the go, and share links let you send results to clients without email attachments.

If you mainly want to back up a NAS, factor in the protocol add-on or look at the business plans, which include protocols depending on the tier. If you need a complete computer backup with several versions of individual files, a specialised backup service may be the more suitable addition.

Who is HiDrive suitable for?

Editorial assessment

  • For photographers partly suited

    Client images with share links and storage in Germany

    Share links and a German location fit; for large RAW archives the personal plans only go so far.

  • For designers well suited

    Sync project files and protect them with snapshots

    Sync software, snapshots and share links cover everyday work with project files well.

  • For freelancers and small teams well suited

    Team storage with a DPA in Germany

    DPA included automatically, data centres in Germany only, business plans with several users.

Conclusion

HiDrive covers much of what freelancers in Germany need: data centres in Berlin and Karlsruhe, a data processing agreement that is automatically included in new contracts, two-factor sign-in, snapshots and share links. If you want to back up a NAS or encrypt data end-to-end, you add paid add-ons to the personal plans; the business plans include more. According to STRATO, the Windows device backup keeps no backup revisions. BackupControl separately offers snapshots of HiDrive files; the available sources do not establish recovery of earlier device backups from these snapshots.

Visit provider – HiDrive. Opens the provider’s website in a new tab

Sources

  1. HiDrive Cloud-Speicher: Hosted in Germany | STRATO · provider · HiDrive plan cards, contract term view "1 Monat"; note "Preise inkl. MwSt." · As of 11 Oct 2026
  2. Häufige Fragen zur AVV und DSVGO | STRATO · provider · As of 11 Oct 2026
  3. Impressum - STRATO · provider · As of 11 Oct 2026
  4. HiDrive Ende-zu-Ende-Verschlüsselung │STRATO · provider · As of 11 Oct 2026
  5. BackupControl für HiDrive: Sichern Sie Ihre Daten | STRATO · provider · As of 11 Oct 2026
  6. Datensicherung mit der Synology NAS auf HiDrive | STRATO · provider · As of 11 Oct 2026
  7. Cloud Sync: Daten aus der Cloud synchronisieren | STRATO · provider · As of 11 Oct 2026
  8. Cloud-Apps: Vorteile und Download | STRATO · provider · As of 11 Oct 2026
  9. HiDrive Geräte-Backup unter Windows · provider · As of 11 Oct 2026

Alternatives in this comparison

* Affiliate link: if you buy through this link, TutKit earns a commission. Your price stays the same.

Product names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners and are used for identification only. No partnership, certification or endorsement by the manufacturers; for commissions, see the advertising notice.

Report an error