iCloud+ review

If everyone in your home uses an iPhone, iCloud+ is the most natural place for photos and backups. It is already built into iPhone, iPad and Mac, so iCloud Photos uploads full-resolution pictures and videos and keeps lighter copies on each device, while iCloud Backup saves your phone's data whenever it is charging on Wi-Fi. Apple lists five paid tiers in the US: 50 GB for $0.99 a month, 200 GB for $2.99, 2 TB for $9.99, 6 TB for $29.99 and 12 TB for $59.99. Any iCloud+ plan can be shared with up to five other family members at no extra cost, and the Shared Photo Library lets up to six people pool their pictures. You also get privacy features such as Private Relay in Safari and Hide My Email. The free tier is only 5 GB, though, which most iPhone owners outgrow quickly, and there is no Android app, so mixed households will find it awkward.

Who it is for

iPhone, iPad and Mac owners who want device backups and photos stored without installing anything.

Price

5 GB free; 50 GB $0.99 per month, 200 GB $2.99, 2 TB $9.99, 6 TB $29.99, 12 TB $59.99.

50GB $0.99/month Storage for thousands of photos, videos, and files.
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 9, 2026.

Key features

• iCloud Photos keeps full-resolution photos and videos in the cloud with space-saving versions on devices
• iCloud Backup saves iPhone and iPad data automatically on power and Wi-Fi
• Shared Photo Library with up to five other people
• Every iCloud+ plan can be shared with up to five family members at no extra cost
• Privacy extras including iCloud Private Relay and Hide My Email

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Cheapest paid tier on this list at $0.99 a month for 50 GB
• Strength: Built into iPhone, iPad and Mac with no extra app
• Strength: Plans scale to 12 TB for large photo libraries
• Weakness: Only 5 GB free, which a phone full of photos fills quickly
• Weakness: No Android app; Windows access goes through the iCloud for Windows app
• Weakness: Device backup only covers Apple devices

Key facts

• Free storage: 5 GB
• Plans: 50 GB, 200 GB, 2 TB, 6 TB, 12 TB
• Cheapest paid plan: $0.99 per month for 50 GB
• Family sharing: Up to five other family members
• Windows access: iCloud for Windows app and iCloud.com

Where it ranks

iCloud+ is No. 2 in our Best Cloud Storage verdict.