The Livedrive Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Livedrive in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Livedrive
The Insider’s Guide
Unlimited PC and Mac backup with an online Briefcase folder
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among file storage and sync services, read from Livedrive’s own pages.
Made by Livedrive Internet Ltd. · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Livedrive’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Livedrive’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 13 of the 45 other file storage and sync services we grade
Livedrive is a UK cloud service that sells computer backup and an online Briefcase folder, alone or together as the Pro Suite. Backup copies files from a Windows or Mac computer to UK data centres, and Briefcase lets you open, edit and share files from any device. Business and reseller versions are sold separately.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Livedrive, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, but you install it and it starts backing up.
- 1
Best for backing up one PC or Mac with unlimited space
The trial length isn't stated, a second computer costs extra, and prices show in pounds with VAT on top.
- 2
Paid plans start at about $8.59 a month
As its pricing page puts it: £7.69 per month (Backup), £76.90 billed annually.
- 3
You can try it first
Free trial offered on each plan; length not stated on the page
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
- 5
Automatic computer backup
Installed on a Windows or Mac computer, the software copies files such as photos, documents and videos to UK data centres.
- 6
Version history
The backup page says up to 30 previous versions of files are kept so an unwanted edit can be restored.
- 7
Briefcase folder
Files placed in the online Briefcase can be viewed or edited from computers, phones and tablets.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 13 of 45
That is against the other file storage and sync services we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Livedrive you would be making files kept in step across devices without losing one. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Livedrive at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from £7.69 per month (Backup), £76.90 billed annually
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Free trial offered on each plan; length not stated on the page
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Livedrive Internet Ltd.
- Category
- File Storage & Sync
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for backing up one PC or Mac with unlimited space
Livedrive backs up one PC or Mac for GBP 7.69 a month, with Briefcase online storage as a separate product. The trial length isn't stated, a second computer costs extra, and prices show in pounds with VAT on top.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Backup is GBP 7.69 a month, near $9.70, in the dearer quarter of the category ($9.99 and up) but not its dearest tenth. |
| Free plan and trial | D | A free trial is offered on each plan with no length stated, and no free plan. |
| Features | C | Backup for one computer and a Briefcase folder, but a second computer or NAS is extra and Briefcase has its own 2 TB limit. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but you install it and it starts backing up. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android apps, with no integrations listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Livedrive is for
- Fits if you have a single PC or Mac and want it backed up with no limits
- Works for someone who wants Briefcase for access from other devices
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you have several computers: Backup covers one PC or Mac user
- Skip it if you want a free plan, as there is none and the trial's length isn't stated
- Watch out: Briefcase is a separate product, 2 TB alone and 5 TB in the Pro Suite
- Watch out: prices are in pounds by default and VAT is added on top
Good to know
Good for
- Home users who want a simple backup of one PC or Mac
- Households backing up up to 5 computer user accounts
- UK and EU buyers who want data kept in UK data centres
Worth knowing
- Prices are shown in pounds by default; the page offers a currency switch whose US dollar figures could not be read here.
- Backup covers one PC or Mac user account; a second computer or a NAS drive is an extra purchase.
- Briefcase is a separate product with its own storage limit: 2 TB alone, 5 TB in the Pro Suite.
- Pricing notes say the VAT rate of your jurisdiction applies on top of the displayed amounts.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
~$8.59
A month to start
Livedrive is a paid product with a free trial, starting at £7.69 per month (Backup), £76.90 billed annually.
A free trial is offered on each plan with no length stated, and no free plan.
Backup
£7.69
per month, 1 PC or Mac user (£76.90 billed annually)
Unlimited cloud backup storage for one computer user account. Amounts exclude VAT where it applies.
Briefcase
£11.99
per month (£119.90 billed annually)
2 TB of online folder storage to access, edit and share from any device, with tablet and mobile backup.
Pro Suite
£17.59
per month (£175.90 billed annually)
Backup plus Briefcase: backup for 5 PC or Mac users and 5 TB of Briefcase storage.
Trying it first
Free trial offered on each plan; length not stated on the page
Read from livedrive.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save 16% with annual billing
Choosing annual instead of monthly billing is advertised on the pricing page as saving 16%.
Stated on livedrive.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android
Unlimited PC and Mac backup with an online Briefcase folder. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: file sync, file sharing.
Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android apps, with no integrations listed.
- Automatic computer backup
- Installed on a Windows or Mac computer, the software copies files such as photos, documents and videos to UK data centres.
- Version history
- The backup page says up to 30 previous versions of files are kept so an unwanted edit can be restored.
- Briefcase folder
- Files placed in the online Briefcase can be viewed or edited from computers, phones and tablets.
- Private and public sharing
- Briefcase files can be shared by a link with a username and password, or by a public link.
- Two-factor sign-in
- Accounts support two-factor authentication, and the data centres are described as ISO 27001 certified.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Livedrive is made by Livedrive Internet Ltd.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
13/45
Other file storage and sync services it is graded above
Livedrive's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 13 of the 45 other file storage and sync services we grade, and level with 4.
It stands best on ease of use (B, above 23 of 45) and worst on free plan and trial (D, above 1).
Its paid plans start at about $8.59 a month, against a middle price of $6.32 for the category: 29 of the 37 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 11 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 46 file storage and sync services we grade, cut by the letter each got. Livedrive’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 9 of 45
- DFree plan and trialAbove 1 of 45
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 45
- BEase of useAbove 23 of 45
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 12 of 45
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 40 file storage and sync services. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Livedrive is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Livedrive you would be making files kept in step across devices without losing one. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 28 of the 45 other file storage and sync services grade higher. It costs $103.04 a year.
What you could not
- Files kept in step across devices without losing one.
- Storing and serving files for other people.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Livedrive’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
IDrive, Jottacloud, pCloud, Zoolz and Sync.com
The 5 tools Livedrive is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
IDrive
Free plan · from $0.25/mo
Cloud backup for many devices in one account, with a sync folder.
- IDrive has a free plan. Livedrive does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only IDrive lists a Linux app.
- 2.4GPA
Jottacloud
Free plan
Norwegian cloud storage and backup for all your devices.
- Jottacloud has a free plan. Livedrive does not, though it has a free trial.
- 2.6GPA
pCloud
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Swiss cloud storage sold by subscription or one-time payment.
- pCloud has a free plan. Livedrive does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only pCloud lists a Linux app.
- Only pCloud lists a browser extension.
- 2.0GPA
Zoolz
Free trial · from $7.99/mo
Cloud backup for businesses, sold by storage tier.
- Only Livedrive lists iOS and Android apps.
- Livedrive also covers file sync.
- Zoolz also covers file management.
- 2.4GPA
Sync.com
Free plan · from $6/mo
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage and file sharing for teams.
- Sync.com has a free plan. Livedrive does not, though it has a free trial.
- Sync.com is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Livedrive free?
No, Livedrive is a paid product, but you can try it first. Free trial offered on each plan; length not stated on the page.
How much does Livedrive cost?
Livedrive lists 3 plans. Backup: £7.69 per month, 1 PC or Mac user (£76.90 billed annually).
What platforms does Livedrive work on?
Livedrive is available on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
Does Livedrive offer any discounts?
Livedrive publicly lists the following: Save 16% with annual billing.
Does Livedrive have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Livedrive is listed for Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
Is Livedrive open source?
Livedrive is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Who makes Livedrive?
Livedrive is made by Livedrive Internet Ltd.
What are the alternatives to Livedrive?
The closest alternatives to Livedrive in our directory are IDrive, Jottacloud, pCloud, Zoolz and Sync.com.
How does Livedrive compare with other file storage and sync services?
Livedrive's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 13 of the 45 other file storage and sync services we grade, and level with 4.
Is Livedrive good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Livedrive C for value for money. Its paid plans start at about $8.59 a month, against a middle price of $6.32 for the category: 29 of the 37 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Livedrive?
To replace Livedrive you would be making files kept in step across devices without losing one.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Livedrive’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Livedrive's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Livedrive Internet Ltd. Prices change, so check livedrive.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Livedrive, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/livedrive
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Livedrive: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/livedrive
Know someone choosing between file storage and sync services?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/livedrive/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded file storage and sync services after Livedrive, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- File Storage & Sync Insider's GuideEvery one of the 46 file storage and sync services we grade, compared
- Google Drive Insider's GuideCloud storage tied to Google Docs, Gmail and Photos3.6 GPA
- Filen Insider's GuideEnd-to-end encrypted cloud storage from Germany with open source apps3.4 GPA
- Microsoft OneDrive Insider's GuideMicrosoft's cloud storage, bundled with Microsoft 365 plans3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Livedrive’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Livedrive is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Livedrive Internet Ltd. Prices and plans change: check livedrive.com before you buy.