Jottacloud

Jottacloud is a cloud storage and backup service that automatically uploads files from devices and supports Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. Its free plan gives one user 5 GB and backs up all devices. File versioning lets users restore earlier file versions, and uploaded files retain their original quality without compression. Data is stored in Norway under Norwegian and European privacy laws. Business data sent to or from Jottacloud uses 256-bit AES encryption. Business plans support two to unlimited users and allow sharing files of any size. Other tools include AI photo search that finds photos from a user's timeline using descriptions and integration with Microsoft Office Online for collaborative editing. The service offers a free trial. Paid plans include Home 1 TB for five users at $7.99 per month billed annually at $79.90 per year, and Unlimited for one user at $12.99 per month billed annually at $129.90 per year. Upload speed on Unlimited is gradually reduced after 5 TB. Jottacloud has provided cloud storage since 2008; its operator, Jotta Group AS, is based in Oslo, Norway.

Jottacloud offers device backup, file versioning and storage plans for individual, household and business use. Consider the 5 TB upload-speed limit on Unlimited and the different user and storage allowances across plans.

Jottacloud suits people who want device backup across desktop and mobile platforms, with version restoration and a free 5 GB tier. Its business plans may suit teams needing multi-user storage and file sharing.

Jottacloud is a cloud storage and backup service with apps for major desktop and mobile platforms. It suits people who want automatic backups across devices, especially households that need a shared storage pool or businesses that need administration and collaboration tools. Its broad backup coverage and file-version restoration make it a practical option, but privacy-conscious users should note that it does not offer zero-knowledge encryption.

Overview

Jottacloud automatically uploads files and covers all devices, so a single account can protect files across a household’s computers and phones. Restoring older file versions adds a useful recovery path when a file changes. Files retain their original quality, and AI photo search can find images in a timeline from descriptions. These capabilities give the service a strong backup focus, though the 5 GB free allowance is limited if you want to cover several devices.

Data is stored in Norway under Norwegian and European privacy laws. Business data sent to or from Jottacloud uses 256-bit AES encryption, but the service does not offer zero-knowledge encryption; users who require a provider to be unable to access stored data should look elsewhere. Its data center and business operations use renewable hydropower. Jotta Group AS is based in Oslo and has provided cloud storage since 2008; Jottacloud says it has 1.9 million users.

Key features

• Automatic backup and version restoration: Automatic uploads cover all devices, and older file versions can be restored. That is useful for recovering a changed file, although it does not establish how long versions remain available.
• Original-quality storage and AI photo search: Uploaded files are not compressed, and photo search can locate images from timeline descriptions. This is a good fit for people who want their photos preserved at original quality and searchable without browsing manually.
• Office collaboration and business sharing: Jottacloud integrates with Microsoft Office Online for collaborative editing, and business users can share files of any size. Those tools make the business offering more than a backup destination, while its business plans range from two users to unlimited users and include admin controls.

Pricing

The free plan costs nothing and includes 5 GB for one user, with backups for all devices. It is a sensible way to cover a small amount of data, but not a generous household backup pool.

• Unlimited: $12.99 a month, billed annually at USD 129.90/year, for one user and unlimited storage. Upload speed is gradually reduced after 5 TB, so it suits a single user with a large archive better than someone who expects maximum speed throughout heavy uploads.
• Home 1 TB: $7.99 a month, billed annually at USD 79.90/year, for five users, 1 TB and no bandwidth limitation. It is the clearest household choice, trading unlimited storage for a defined shared allowance without the stated speed reduction.
• Home 5 TB: Custom pricing for five users and 5 TB. It offers a larger household quota than Home 1 TB, but without a published price, buyers should compare the quote against their storage needs before choosing it.
• Pro 10 TB: $29.90 a month, billed annually at USD 299/year, for one user, 10 TB, maximum speed and commercial use. It is aimed at a business user who needs a large quota and a commercial license rather than a multi-seat plan.
• Pro 20 TB and Pro 30 TB: Both have custom pricing and one user, with 20 TB and 30 TB respectively. These are for single-user storage needs beyond Pro 10 TB; the larger quotas come without a published price to compare.

The free tier and paid plans are part of a freemium offering, and Jottacloud offers a free trial. The annual billing terms matter for paid plans: the monthly figures are not monthly-billed rates.

Platforms

Jottacloud supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS and Windows. That breadth is useful for people backing up a mix of phones and computers, rather than keeping their files within one device ecosystem.

Who it's for

Choose Jottacloud if you want automatic coverage across multiple device types, file-version recovery, or a five-user household plan. Businesses may find its admin controls, Office Online collaboration and any-size file sharing useful, particularly when commercial use and larger storage quotas matter. It is a weaker fit for people who require zero-knowledge encryption or expect the Unlimited plan to maintain full upload speed beyond 5 TB.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Automatic backup spans all devices and file versions can be restored, giving users both ongoing coverage and a route back to earlier files.
• Pro: Home 1 TB covers five users without bandwidth limitation, a clear shared plan for households that do not need unlimited capacity.
• Pro: Business plans pair administration controls with Office Online collaboration and sharing of files of any size.
• Con: The free plan provides only 5 GB for one user, which limits its usefulness as a backup plan for multiple devices.
• Con: Unlimited upload speed is gradually reduced after 5 TB, a meaningful drawback for users with very large uploads.
• Con: No zero-knowledge encryption means it is not suitable for users who require provider-inaccessible storage.

Alternatives

IDrive is worth considering if you want another freemium backup option with apps for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web and Windows; its Basic plan includes 10 GB, twice Jottacloud’s free allowance.

Google Drive is a better fit if you want cloud storage tied to a Google Account and a larger free allowance: its free plan includes 15 GB.

Internxt Drive may suit readers who value publicly available, externally audited code, while Jottacloud emphasizes device backup and offers no zero-knowledge encryption.

Koofr is another freemium storage option, with a 10 GB free plan and 7 days of deleted-file retention.

MEGA, pCloud, PhoneCopy and Microsoft PowerPoint are alternatives to consider for different storage or software needs.

Verdict

Jottacloud is a strong choice for households and businesses that want cross-platform automatic backup, version restoration and storage plans sized for more than one kind of user. Home 1 TB is the most straightforward household option, while Unlimited makes sense for a single user who can accept slower uploads after 5 TB. Look elsewhere if provider-inaccessible encryption is essential or if you need uninterrupted upload speed at very high volumes.

Browse our Cloud Storage Services, Cloud Backup Services and Backup software lists to compare other options.