RAW files are the reason photographers run out of space — 25–50MB each, and a single wedding can be 30GB or more. Here’s the best cloud storage for RAW photos in 2026, compared on what actually matters.
What RAW storage needs
- Big capacity — RAW eats space fast.
- Full-resolution, untouched — never compressed.
- Growth without migration.
- Delivery when ready.
Best options compared
| Service | Price (US) | Storage | RAW, untouched | Deliver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snaptide | Free → ~$10/100GB | 100GB→1TB | Yes | Yes |
| Adobe Lightroom | $19.99/mo | 1TB | Yes | No |
| OneDrive | $1.99/mo | 1TB | Yes | No |
| Dropbox | $9.99/mo | 2TB | Yes | No |
| Immich | Free (self-host) | Your hardware | Yes | No |
Prices from vendor pages; Snaptide figures are approximate USD conversions.
The honest pick
For pure RAW archiving, OneDrive and Dropbox offer cheap capacity. But RAW masters usually become delivered photos — and that’s where Snaptide stands apart. It keeps RAW untouched at full resolution, then lets you publish finished galleries to clients with no compression and no commission.
The bottom line: if RAW files are your work, store them where they stay full-resolution and become deliverable. Snaptide does both, and starts free.
Frequently asked questions
How much storage do RAW photos need?
RAW runs 25–50MB each, so a 1,000-file wedding is ~30GB. A full season can easily need 1TB.
Does Snaptide compress RAW files?
No — uploads stay full-resolution and untouched, ready to edit or deliver.
What’s the best place to store RAW masters?
Somewhere that keeps them full-resolution and lets you deliver them later. Snaptide covers both; general clouds just store.
Can I deliver edited RAW work from Snaptide?
Yes — publish a branded, private gallery and share it with clients or guests, with no commission.