iCloud
Apple's storage and sync service for photos, files and backups
iCloud report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Oct 9, 2026
Best for backups and photos across Apple devices
Got an iPhone? Then iCloud is how it gets backed up, and how your photos and files stay the same on your iPad and Mac. Paid plans start at $0.99 a month for 50 GB and can be shared with up to five other people. The catches: the free 5 GB has to hold backups, photos and files together, and there's no Android app.
Who iCloud is for
- Great if your devices are mostly iPhone, iPad and Mac
- Handy when you want your iPhone backed up and your photos kept without thinking about it
- Good for families, since any iCloud+ plan can be shared with up to five other people
Who iCloud is not for
- Skip it if anyone you share with is on Android, as Apple lists no Android app
- Tight if you're staying free, because 5 GB has to hold backups, photos and files together
- Not for you if you want end-to-end encryption without touching a setting, since it's an optional switch
Why iCloud gets a 3.2
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- BValue for money$0.99 a month for 50 GB, $2.99 for 200 GB and $9.99 for 2 TB, the same as Google charges for 200 GB and 2 TB. Every paid plan adds Private Relay and Hide My Email, and can be shared with up to five other people. It's monthly only, with no annual price.
- BFree plan and trial5 GB with every Apple Account. That has to cover device backups, photos and files together, so it doesn't go far. No trial of the paid plans is listed.
- AFeaturesiCloud Drive for files, iCloud Photos with space-saving copies on each device, and automatic iPhone and iPad backups. Share by link and edits appear as they're made. End-to-end encryption for Drive, Photos and Backup needs Advanced Data Protection switched on.
- BEase of useSign in on an iPhone, iPad or Mac and your files show up in the Files app or the Finder, and backups run by themselves on power and Wi-Fi. But there's no App Store rating on record to go by, so it stops at a B.
- BPlatforms and integrationsiPhone, iPad, Mac, a Windows app and iCloud.com. Apple lists no Android app, and what it connects to is mostly Apple's own, like HomeKit and Apple One. No API is listed.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Apple's own pages on 5 October 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
Make iCloud? Put this grade on your site
Paste this where you want the badge. It links here and follows the grade if it changes. About badges
<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/icloud#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/icloud.svg" alt="iCloud: 3.2 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>What is iCloud?
iCloud is Apple's service for keeping photos, files, device backups and app data in sync across iPhone, iPad and Mac, with access from Windows PCs and iCloud.com. Every Apple Account starts with 5 GB free. The paid iCloud+ plans add storage from 50 GB to 12 TB along with privacy features such as Private Relay and Hide My Email.
iCloud has a free plan. Paid plans start at $0.99 per month for 50 GB. See every plan
Good for
- People whose devices are mostly iPhone, iPad and Mac
- Automatic iPhone and iPad backups and photo libraries
- Families: any iCloud+ plan can be shared with up to five other people
Worth knowing
- The free tier is 5 GB, which has to cover device backups, photos and files together.
- Apple lists access through iPhone, iPad, Mac, the iCloud for Windows app and iCloud.com; no Android app is listed.
- End-to-end encryption for iCloud Drive, Photos and Backup applies only after turning on Advanced Data Protection, which is optional.
- Plans are priced per month only; the page lists no annual billing option.
Key features
- iCloud Drive
- Files and folders are reachable from the Files app on iOS and iPadOS, the Finder on a Mac, File Explorer on Windows PCs, or iCloud.com.
- iCloud Photos
- Keeps high-resolution photos and videos in iCloud with space-saving versions on each device. Shared Albums accept contributions from people on Android or Windows devices.
- iCloud Backup
- Data on an iPhone or iPad, including apps, is backed up automatically whenever the device is connected to power and Wi-Fi.
- Sharing and collaboration
- Share files, folders and documents by sending a link, control who can view, edit or share the work, and see edits appear as they are made.
- iCloud+ privacy features
- Paid plans add Private Relay for browsing in Safari, Hide My Email for random forwarding addresses, and a custom domain for iCloud Mail.
- Advanced Data Protection
- An optional setting that raises the number of end-to-end encrypted data categories to 25, including iCloud Backup, Photos, Notes and iCloud Drive.
iCloud pricing
- Starts at
- $0.99 per month for 50 GB
- Free plan
- 5 GB of iCloud storage, given the first time you sign in to an iPhone, iPad or Mac with an Apple Account.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| iCloud 5GB | $0 | 5 GB to back up data and keep it in sync across devices and iCloud.com. |
| iCloud+ 50GB | $0.99per month | 50 GB plus Private Relay, Hide My Email, Custom Email Domain and HomeKit Secure Video recordings for one camera. |
| iCloud+ 200GB | $2.99per month | Everything in the 50GB plan, with 200 GB and HomeKit Secure Video recordings for five cameras. |
| iCloud+ 2TB | $9.99per month | Everything in the 200GB plan, with 2 TB and HomeKit Secure Video recordings for unlimited cameras. |
| iCloud+ 6TB | $29.99per month | Everything in the 2TB plan, with 6 TB of storage. |
| iCloud+ 12TB | $59.99per month | Everything in the 6TB plan, with 12 TB of storage. |
Read from apple.com on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with iCloud before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Other savingsIncluded in every Apple One bundle
iCloud+ is part of all Apple One plans, which bundle it with up to five other Apple services. Apple lists Apple One at $21.95, $27.95 or $39.95 per month depending on the plan.
Stated on apple.com
Works with
- Apple One
- Apple Invites
- HomeKit
- Windows File Explorer
iCloud alternatives
- iCloud vs Google Drive
Free plan · from $1.99/mo
- iCloud vs Microsoft OneDrive
Free plan · from $1.99/mo
- iCloud vs Dropbox
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
- iCloud vs Proton Drive
Free plan · from $3.99/mo
- iCloud vs pCloud
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Common questions
Is iCloud free?
iCloud has a free plan. 5 GB of iCloud storage, given the first time you sign in to an iPhone, iPad or Mac with an Apple Account. Paid plans start at $0.99 per month for 50 GB.
How much does iCloud cost?
iCloud lists 6 plans. iCloud 5GB: $0. iCloud+ 50GB: $0.99 per month. iCloud+ 200GB: $2.99 per month. iCloud+ 2TB: $9.99 per month. iCloud+ 6TB: $29.99 per month. iCloud+ 12TB: $59.99 per month. Prices were read from apple.com on Oct 5, 2026.
What platforms does iCloud work on?
iCloud is available on iOS, macOS, Windows and Web.
Does iCloud offer any discounts?
iCloud publicly lists the following: Included in every Apple One bundle.
Does iCloud have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. iCloud is listed for iOS, macOS, Windows and Web.
Does iCloud have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. iCloud is listed for iOS, macOS, Windows and Web.
Is iCloud open source?
iCloud is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
What does iCloud integrate with?
iCloud's listing names Apple One, Apple Invites, HomeKit and Windows File Explorer. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes iCloud?
iCloud is made by Apple.
What are the alternatives to iCloud?
The closest alternatives to iCloud in our directory are Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, Proton Drive and pCloud. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with iCloud.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026.