Storing your data in the cloud has its pros and cons, but one of the biggest drawbacks has to be the speed at which you can both upload and download data from your storage pool. Not all online storage providers are equal, but there’s also factors unique to your PC and internet setup to consider too.

If you’re in the market for signing up for online storage with the likes of Box.net or DriveHQ, it goes without saying you’ll want to know which ones are quickest when it comes to making a decision. This is where a new freeware tool, currently in beta, comes into play: Online Drive Benchmark is designed to let you know which provider performs best on your computer.

At present, the program currently only supports five online storage providers – the aforementioned Box.net and DriveHQ, plus Trend Micro SafeSync, filesanywhere and UK/German service Strato HiDrive. Other providers may be added in due course after successful evaluation – interested parties can contact Ocster to request a provider is considered for future inclusion.

The software is simple to use: install, launch, pick your chosen providers then follow the prompts to set up accounts and connect them to Online Drive Benchmark. It will then perform a series of tests and produce the results as benchmark scores, allowing you to determine which providers work better in your current setup.

Online Drive Benchmark 1.0 Beta is available as a freeware download for PCs running Windows XP or later.