GMX Cloud and Web.de online storage 2022 in the test: twice mediocre

1. Online storage with email compulsion

2. German data protection

3. End-to-End Encryption

4. Share files and edit online

5. Subscriptions and Pricing

6. How to cancel Web.de online storage and GMX Cloud

7. Conclusion

Both GMX Cloud and Web.de online storage belong to 1&1 and are intended to enhance the network operator’s portfolio as cloud services. Both services have completely identical functions and differ only in design. So that you don’t lose sight of this confusing situation, we present both offers to you.

Experiences with GMX and Web.de Cloud: Online storage with email compulsion

Although GMX and Web.de market their cloud storage as independent products, in reality it is an extension of the respective e-mail mailboxes. Because you can only use the cloud via a GMX or Web.de address. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to set one up first. While this is also the case with Google, it is not the case with most of the other competitors in the market.

Once registered, you get two gigabytes of free cloud storage. This grows by another two gigabytes as soon as you upload a file. The cloud can be accessed either via the GMX or Web.de website or via software for Windows, iOS and Android. A macOS version is missing. On the Mac, the cloud can only be temporarily integrated as a network drive. The available applications are very lean and work smoothly.

Basically, the services work like any other cloud: the application creates a folder on your computer that is constantly synchronized with the cloud. This means that you can always access the latest versions of your files from all end devices.

GMX and Web.de Cloud in the test

This is what the providers’ interfaces look like

Experiences with GMX and Web.de Cloud: German data protection

The “Made in Germany” slogan represents the core of their own marketing strategy at Web.de and GMX. In this sense, the companies promise to only store your data on German servers and to handle it in accordance with German data protection standards. However, in practice this should have little effect.

On the one hand, the level of data protection is almost identical across the EU, so there is no advantage over providers from other EU countries. On the other hand, providers from third countries outside the EU are also bound by identical EU regulations if you are a customer in the EU. Because data protection is based on the customer’s location, not the company’s headquarters.

Experiences with GMX and Web.de Cloud: end-to-end encryption

The cloud services from GMX and Web.de now also offer end-to-end encryption of your data. This is particularly useful and recommended for sensitive data, as you can encrypt files in a targeted manner and save them in encrypted form in your cloud.

Cloud storage in comparison: 13 providers in the test

The fact that GMX and Web.de deliver an identical cloud package is also obvious when it comes to encryption. The function is called GMX Tresor or Web.de Tresor for the respective services and has congruent features. On a positive note, the safe function works both in the desktop app and on the smartphone.

This is an additional tool that, after installation, creates an AES 256-bit end-to-end encrypted folder in your cloud. Similar to Boxcryptor, you provide particularly sensitive data with extremely strong protection against unauthorized views. This works well in the test. However: the providers do not provide any information about any encryption of all other data in the cloud. SSL encryption is only promised for the transmission path. Most competitors offer more here.

Experiences with GMX and Web.de Cloud: share files and edit them online

As is usual for a cloud service, it is also possible with GMX and Web.de to share files with others quickly and easily. You can do this by sharing a link. If desired, the link can be limited in its validity period and provided with a password. While both files and folders can be shared in the online interface, sharing via the context menu under Windows is incomprehensibly limited to folders.

Also on board is an online office, as known from the cloud solutions from Microsoft, Google and Apple. Web.de and GMX rely on a proprietary system that is compatible with all common file types. In the test with DOCX and PPTX files, the cloud office actually works amazingly accurately, although 100% compatibility cannot of course be guaranteed in every case.

As much as we like the Cloud Office at first glance, there is one major point of criticism, because it is not possible to work together on documents – unlike most of the competition. That’s a shame, after all, this is where the greatest benefit of such an offer lies.

Experiences with GMX and Web.de Cloud: subscriptions and prices

In addition to the free storage space, Web.de and GMX offer some upgrades. Specifically, the following packages are available. Overall, the prices are a bit lower if you are one of those people who are Web.de Club, GMX Promail or Topmail customers. For EUR 2.99 or EUR 4.99 per month, however, it is not worth signing up for these premium tariffs just for the benefits.

Web.de and GMX have greatly adjusted their prices to the market in recent years. While you used to have to pay twice as much for the services compared to the competition, the prices are now okay. Unfortunately, the connection to the cloud has not changed for a whopping 12 months. The fact that monthly termination is only possible after one year is discouraging and very unusual in the industry. A flexible product looks different.

How to cancel Web.de online storage and GMX Cloud

As a subscription product, your purchased storage space is automatically extended by another year when it expires. GMX and Web.de are also some of the few providers who provide a notice period. Specifically, you must cancel at least four weeks before the end of a purchase so that there is no extension. The easiest way to cancel is via the GMX website/Web.de website.

GMX/Web.de Cloud

editorial rating 7.4 reader ratings

5 reviews

Storage Capacity and Upgrades

8.0

GMX/Web.de Cloud: The best alternatives

Don’t you agree? Are you looking for suitable alternatives? Below you will find the best GMX/Web.de cloud alternatives.

We also recommend that you take a look at our cloud storage leaderboards. You can find comparable products, for example, in the “Cloud storage in comparison: 13 providers in the test” list.

GMX/Web.de Cloud: Data sheet

Here you will find the technical data for GMX/Web.de Cloud. You can easily compare size, weight and other properties with other products.

Storage in the free version	4GB
Package with the largest storage space	1TB
collaborative working	✘ no
photo management tools	✘ no
Data encryption on the transmission path	✔ Yes
Data encryption on server	Partially

Show all technical data❯