Google Drive gives you the most free cloud storage: 15 GB, compared with 5 GB on both iCloud and OneDrive. For paid storage, the cheapest plans cost $0.99 a month for 50 GB on iCloud+ and $1.99 a month for 100 GB on Google One and Microsoft 365 Basic. The best choice usually depends less on price and more on your devices: iCloud for iPhone and Mac users, Google Drive for Android and Gmail users and OneDrive for people who use Windows and Microsoft Office. This guide compares the free storage, prices and extras of each service.
How much free cloud storage do you get?
| Service | Free storage | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Google Drive (Google One) | 15 GB | Shared across Google Drive, Gmail and Google Photos |
| iCloud | 5 GB | iCloud Drive, iCloud Photos, device backups and more |
| OneDrive | 5 GB | OneDrive files and photos |
Google’s 15 GB looks generous, but remember that your emails and photos use the same space. On iCloud, iPhone backups and photos fill 5 GB quickly, which is why many iPhone owners upgrade first.
How much does extra cloud storage cost?
These are the US monthly prices listed on each company’s official page in October 2026.
| Storage | Google One | iCloud+ | Microsoft 365 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 GB | None | $0.99 | None |
| 100 GB | $1.99 (Basic) | None | $1.99 (Basic) |
| 200 GB | None | $2.99 | None |
| 1 TB | None | None | $9.99 (Personal) |
| 2 TB | $9.99 (Google AI Plus) | $9.99 | $12.99 (Family, shared) |
| 5 to 6 TB | $19.99 for 5 TB (Google AI Pro) | $29.99 for 6 TB | $19.99 (Premium, up to 6 TB, 1 TB per person) |
| 12 TB | None | $59.99 | None |
Paying yearly is cheaper on some services. Microsoft lists Basic at $19.99 a year and Personal at $99.99 a year, and Google says annual billing saves up to 16%.
What extras come with each plan?
Google One
Google One storage works across Drive, Gmail and Photos, and you can share it with up to five other people. The 2 TB and 5 TB plans are now sold as Google AI Plus and Google AI Pro, which bundle AI features with the storage.
iCloud+
Every paid iCloud+ plan includes iCloud Private Relay, Hide My Email, a custom email domain and Apple Invites, and you can share it with up to five family members. Plans also support HomeKit Secure Video cameras: one on 50 GB, up to five on 200 GB and unlimited on 2 TB and larger plans.
Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 Basic is mostly storage. The Personal, Family and Premium plans add the Microsoft 365 apps, such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, which makes them good value if you would pay for Office anyway.
Which cloud storage should you choose?
- You use an iPhone, iPad or Mac: iCloud+ is the most seamless choice, because backups, photos and settings sync automatically. The 50 GB plan at $0.99 is enough for many single users.
- You use Android and Gmail: Google One makes sense because Gmail, Photos and Drive share the same storage. Start with the free 15 GB and move to 100 GB if you run out.
- You use Windows and Office: Microsoft 365 Personal gives you 1 TB of OneDrive storage and the Office apps for $9.99 a month.
- You share with family: Google One and iCloud+ both share with up to five other people, and Microsoft 365 Family shares 2 TB.
- You mix devices: Google Drive and OneDrive both have apps for iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac, so they are easier to use across platforms than iCloud.
How can you free up cloud storage before you pay?
- Delete large videos you no longer need, then empty the Recently Deleted or Trash folder in your photo app.
- Remove old device backups for phones you no longer own.
- In Gmail, search for
has:attachment larger:10Mto find large emails. - Compress large images before you upload them. Our free image toolkit shrinks photos in your browser, and our guide on compressing images without losing quality shows the right settings.
Google’s 2 TB and 5 TB plans now include Gemini AI features. See how Gemini compares with other assistants in our ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini guide.
Running out of space already? Try our guide on how to free up Google Drive and iCloud storage before paying for more.
Wondering how private your files are? Read is cloud storage safe for encryption details and security steps.
Need to share a big file today? See how to send large files for free with Drive, OneDrive, Mail Drop and more.
If your Google storage fills up for no clear reason, see Google Drive storage full but no files.
Frequently asked questions
Which service gives the most free storage?
Google, with 15 GB shared across Drive, Gmail and Photos. iCloud and OneDrive each give 5 GB.
What is the cheapest paid cloud storage?
iCloud+ 50 GB at $0.99 a month is the cheapest plan of the three. For 100 GB, Google One Basic and Microsoft 365 Basic both cost $1.99 a month.
Can I use more than one cloud service?
Yes. Many people keep phone backups in iCloud or Google and use another service for work files. Just be careful not to pay for storage you do not use.
The bottom line
Pick the cloud service that matches the devices you use most, start with the free tier and upgrade only when you need more space. To protect what you store, read our guide on backing up your phone photos to the cloud.
Sources
This article is based on the official documentation and reporting listed in the sources above, checked on October 17, 2026. Features and prices change, so confirm details on the official pages before you buy. ShokokoTech does not accept payment for coverage. Read our editorial policy.
