Tech
Choosing where to keep photographs and documents
The important differences are not about capacity.
What matters most is what happens when you stop paying. Some services make files read-only and keep them; others delete after a notice period. That policy decides whether a lapsed subscription is an inconvenience or a loss.
Version history is the second difference. A service that retains previous versions for a meaningful period protects against accidental deletion and against ransomware, which synchronises its damage like any other change.
Being able to export everything in a usable form matters when you want to move. Services that make bulk export difficult are harder to leave than they appear at sign-up.
For photographs specifically, check whether originals are stored or only compressed copies. Several services reduce quality on the free tier, and the originals are not recoverable afterwards.
What to do next. Check what happens to your files if you stop paying, and whether originals or compressed copies are stored.
studentaid.gov outranks this page. Rules, figures and dates change
between academic years. This is written to help you read the official sources, not to
stand in front of them. Start there.
Nothing here is a determination. We cannot tell you what you qualify
for, and no website can. The programme and the office that runs it decide that, after
you apply.
Still have a question?
Describe what you are trying to work out and a member of the team will answer, or direct you to the office that makes the decision.