Is ICloud Storage Worth It? Reasons To Get ICloud!

You have many photos, videos, music, and files that need safe storage. iCloud is Apple’s option for keeping your data secure and accessible on all your devices. But is it worth the cost? After testing several cloud storage services, I’m sharing my honest experience with iCloud storage—the good, the bad, and whether it’s the right choice for you.

In this iCloud review, I’ll cover everything you need to know about Apple’s cloud storage. We’ll examine iCloud storage plans, pricing, and how it stacks up against other providers. Whether you’re thinking about iCloud for Mac, iPhone, or just want to know the pros and cons, this guide will help you decide if iCloud storage fits your personal or business needs.

Table of Contents

What is iCloud?

iCloud is Apple’s cloud storage service that launched in 2011. Now, over 782 million people use this cloud storage technology to keep their data safe.

This cloud storage solution stores your documents, photos, and music on remote servers. You can access them from your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Windows PC. I love that it backs up your devices automatically. No more manual backups with iTunes! Your device backs up every day over Wi-Fi when it’s locked and charging.

Some apps don’t use iCloud backups. Their data stays only on your device. But apps like Pages still sync through iCloud.

What is iCloud

iCloud Storage: Good and Bad Points

I’ve used iCloud a lot. Here’s what I found in this honest review:

GOOD POINTS:

Your files back up automatically with strong encryption
Get your files from any device with internet
Share files with other iCloud users
5 GB free storage
Works great with Apple devices
Photos sync across all your devices
End-to-end encryption for important data
Find My iPhone/iPad/Mac helps locate lost devices
iCloud Keychain stores passwords and credit cards safely
Share with up to six family members

BAD POINTS:

Paid plans cost more than some competitors
Hard to share files with non-iCloud users
Some file types don’t work well
Storage management could be easier
No Linux support
Uploads can be slow
Not as good for teamwork as Google Workspace
Sometimes devices don’t sync right
No one-time payment option

iCloud Storage Plans and Pricing

Apple gives you 5GB free storage. It’s not enough if you have many devices or lots of photos. Here are the iCloud storage plans and pricing:

50GB for $0.99/month – Good for light users with one or two devices
200GB for $2.99/month – Works well for most families
2TB for $9.99/month – Best for photographers or people with lots of media
6TB for $29.99/month – For people who need lots of storage
12TB for $59.99/month – For businesses or heavy users

You can upgrade from your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or PC. Need more than 12TB? Contact Apple Support for business options.

iCloud stores:

Device backups
Photos and videos
Files in iCloud Drive
Mail messages
App data and settings
Health data (if you turn it on)
HomeKit settings
Siri information
Call history
Messages (if you turn it on)

What doesn’t use your storage? Music, books, apps, and TV shows you bought from Apple. Shared photo albums also don’t count.

Tips to Save iCloud Storage Space

I’ve run out of iCloud storage many times. Here’s what helps:

Delete files you don’t need – I do this every month
Turn on “Optimize iPhone Storage” – This keeps smaller photo versions on your phone
Use iCloud Drive for active files only
Delete old device backups – Remove backups from phones you don’t use anymore
Delete big email attachments
Offload apps you don’t use – This saves space but keeps your data
Check WhatsApp media storage
Delete old messages with big attachments
Remove bad photos and duplicates
Try cleaning apps – Apps like Gemini Photos help find and delete junk files

For more help with managing your digital storage, see my ultimate guide to sending large files online.

How to Back Up with iCloud

Setting up iCloud backups confused me at first. Now it’s easy. Here’s how to back up your data:

First, sign in to iCloud. On iOS, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud.

Pick what to sync:

On iOS: Photos, contacts, calendars, bookmarks, documents, and more
On Mac: Photos, contacts, calendars, documents, and mail

Your data uploads to iCloud. You can get it from any device. I like using iCloud.com on Windows computers.

Check your backups often! On iOS, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud > Manage.

For full backups, turn on:

iCloud Backup
iCloud Photos
iCloud Drive
iCloud for apps that support it
Keychain sync
Find My iPhone/iPad/Mac
Siri sync
Health data sync (if you use the Health app)

Is iCloud Storage Worth It? Reasons To Get iCloud! 1

When Your iCloud Storage is Full

I’ve hit my storage limit many times. Here’s what I do when my iCloud storage is full:

See what’s using space – Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage. This shows what’s taking up room.
Delete files you don’t need:
- iCloud Drive files: Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > iCloud Drive
- Photos: Settings > [your name] > Photos > Optimize iPhone Storage
- Old backups: Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups
- Mail: Delete big attachments in the Mail app
Buy more storage – Sometimes you need more space. I upgrade at Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Change Storage Plan.
Try Family Sharing – Share one plan with family members to save money.
Use other services for big files – I store large videos in other cloud services.

Other Cloud Storage Services I’ve Tried

iCloud works well with Apple devices. But I’ve tried other cloud storage providers too:

pCloud

pCloud works on all devices. It has free storage and lifetime plans. iCloud doesn’t offer lifetime plans. The security is great, and it’s easy to use. I like that pCloud lets you access files without storing them on your device. If you’re wondering if pCloud is safe for backup, I’ve found it to be very reliable. For those concerned about security, check out my article on whether pCloud encryption is worth it. And if you’re considering their premium offering, I’ve reviewed if the pCloud 2TB lifetime plan is worth it.

Dropbox

I use Dropbox for work. It’s easy to share files with anyone. The sync works perfectly. But the free storage is small. Dropbox has saved me when I deleted files by mistake. You can get old versions of files too.

Google Drive

Google Drive works well for documents and Android. It gives you 15GB free – three times more than iCloud. It works great with Google’s apps. The real-time teamwork features are the best. I use it for working with others. If you’re looking for Google Drive alternatives, I’ve tested several options that might work better for your needs.

Microsoft OneDrive

OneDrive works well with Windows and Office. You get 5GB free. The Personal Vault adds extra security for important files.

Amazon Photos

Amazon Prime members get unlimited photo storage. It’s great for photo lovers. Non-Prime members get 5GB free for photos and videos.

Questions About iCloud Storage

How much free iCloud storage do I get?

Apple gives you 5GB free. This covers backups, photos, files, emails, and more. 5GB was enough when iCloud started. Now, phone cameras take big photos. Apps are larger too. Most people need to upgrade within a few months. This is true if you have many Apple devices or take lots of photos.

What happens when I run out of iCloud storage?

When you run out of space, important things stop working. Your device won’t back up to iCloud. New photos won’t upload. Mail won’t sync attachments. Apps won’t sync data. You can still see your old data. But you can’t add new data or make new backups. Apple sends warnings when you’re almost out of space. This gives you time to fix it before things stop working.

How do I buy more iCloud storage?

It’s easy to buy more storage. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Change Storage Plan. You’ll see the options: 50GB for $0.99/month, 200GB for $2.99/month, 2TB for $9.99/month, 6TB for $29.99/month, or 12TB for $59.99/month. Pick your plan and buy it. The extra storage starts right away. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud > Manage > Change Storage Plan. On Windows, open iCloud for Windows and click Storage. You can also upgrade at icloud.com.

What files use my iCloud storage?

Most things in iCloud count toward your limit. This includes photos, videos, files, backups, emails, app data, contacts, calendars, bookmarks, notes, voice memos, and health data. Some things don’t count: music, movies, TV shows, apps, and books you bought; shared photo albums; files others share with you; and some app data (but message attachments do count). Remember: bought content doesn’t use iCloud space, but downloading it uses space on your device.

Can I share iCloud storage with family?

Yes, you can share storage with family. If you have a 200GB or 2TB plan, you can share with up to five family members. Each person gets their own private space. Your files stay private unless you share them. To set this up, go to Settings > [your name] > Family Sharing. Invite family members. Then go to Settings > [your name] > Family Sharing > iCloud Storage to share your plan. This saves money compared to separate plans.

Is iCloud safe?

Yes, Apple built iCloud with strong security. All data gets encrypted when sent and stored. Health data and passwords have end-to-end encryption. Only you can see this data – not even Apple. Two-factor authentication adds more security. But some data isn’t end-to-end encrypted by default. This includes emails, contacts, and calendars. Apple could see these if required by law. You can turn on Advanced Data Protection for more encryption. But this isn’t available everywhere.

How does iCloud compare to other services?

iCloud works best with Apple devices. But it has some weaknesses. Google Drive gives you more free space (15GB vs 5GB) and better teamwork features. Dropbox syncs files better and makes sharing easier. pCloud offers lifetime plans and more options. OneDrive works better with Windows and Office. Amazon Photos gives unlimited photo storage to Prime members. iCloud’s strengths are its deep Apple integration, automatic backups, and device sync. But it costs more per gigabyte than many competitors. It doesn’t work as well on other platforms. It has fewer teamwork features than some alternatives.

Can I use iCloud on non-Apple devices?

Yes, but with limits. On Windows PCs, download iCloud for Windows. It syncs photos, bookmarks, mail, contacts, calendars, and files. You can also use iCloud.com in any web browser. This gives you access to Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Photos, iCloud Drive, Notes, Reminders, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and Find iPhone. But it doesn’t work as smoothly as on Apple devices. Some features like automatic backups don’t work on non-Apple devices. Android users can use iCloud.com but can’t use the native apps.

What happens if I stop paying for iCloud?

If you stop paying, you don’t lose data right away. Apple gives you 30 days to reduce your storage to 5GB. During this time, you can still see all your data. But you can’t add new data that goes over 5GB. If you don’t reduce your storage after 30 days, Apple might delete some data. They start with backups and photos. To avoid losing data, download files to your device or move them to another cloud service before downgrading. Things you bought from Apple (apps, music, movies, books) won’t be affected. These don’t count against your iCloud storage.

My Final Thoughts on iCloud Storage

I’ve used iCloud a lot. I’ve also tried Google Drive, Dropbox, and pCloud. iCloud is worth it if you use Apple devices. The integration, automatic backups, and device sync are great. Having your photos, files, and settings sync across all Apple devices is so easy. Other services can’t match this.

But if you use different types of devices or need more sharing options, consider other services. Or use iCloud with another service like I do. I use iCloud for backups and photos. I use Google Drive for documents. I use pCloud for large media files I want to access on different devices.

For most Apple users, iCloud is the simplest way to back up and access your data. The peace of mind from knowing your data is safe and ready when you need it is worth the monthly cost. This is especially true when you think about losing important photos or files.