iCloud Costs: All storage plans, prices, and which one is worth it

Every Apple account comes with 5 GB of free iCloud storage – regardless of how many devices are linked. That's enough for a few photos and a backup – nothing more. Anyone using an iPhone with a large photo library will quickly reach this limit. iCloud+ solves this problem with more storage and additional privacy features. But which plan is really worth it? And what else do you get besides the storage?

What is iCloud+ and how does it differ from iCloud?

iCloud is Apple's cloud service, pre-installed on every Apple device. Photos, contacts, calendars, notes, passwords, and backups are automatically synchronized and available across all devices. The free version offers 5 GB of storage – unchanged since iCloud's launch in 2011.

iCloud+ is the paid upgrade. It expands storage to up to 12 TB and includes additional features not available in the free version: iCloud Private Relay, hide your email address, a custom email domain, and HomeKit Secure Video. All iCloud+ plans can be shared with up to five family members.

Storage plans and prices in Germany

All iCloud+ plans are monthly subscriptions with no minimum term. You can switch between plans at any time – up or down. There are no annual subscriptions and no discounts for longer terms.

What else is included in iCloud+ besides storage?

For many, the storage alone justifies the upgrade. But iCloud+ brings four additional features that are missing in the free version.

iCloud Private Relay

Private Relay masks your IP address and browsing history when using Safari. Data traffic is routed through two separate servers – Apple knows your IP address but not the website you're visiting. The second server knows the website but not your IP address. It's not a full-fledged VPN, but it significantly improves your privacy for everyday browsing.

Private Relay only works in Safari and is not available in all countries. Some websites may require additional login steps after activation.

Hide email address

This feature creates random, unique email addresses that forward to your real address. This is useful when registering on websites or in apps where you don't want to reveal your personal email address. Each generated address can be deactivated individually – if spam arrives, the disposable address is simply deleted.

Own email domain

iCloud+ allows you to use your own domain (e.g., name@myfamily.com) for iCloud Mail. Up to five custom domains are possible. Family members can have their own addresses under the same domain. It's a niche feature, but attractive for freelancers or tech-savvy families.

HomeKit Secure Video

HomeKit-enabled security cameras can store their recordings encrypted in iCloud. Video analytics (person, animal, and vehicle detection) runs locally on a HomePod, Apple TV, or iPad as a control center. These recordings do not count against your iCloud storage quota. The number of supported cameras depends on your chosen plan: one camera with 50 GB, up to five with 200 GB, and unlimited with 2 TB.

Which plan suits whom?

50 GB (€0.99/month)

The entry-level plan. Sufficient for an iPhone backup and a manageable photo library. If you don't take many photos, don't record 4K videos, and only use one Apple device, this will do the trick. At €0.99 per month, it's the cheapest upgrade and eliminates the constant "storage full" warning.

200 GB (€2.99/month)

The sweet spot for most users. 200 GB is enough for a large photo library, backups from two to three devices, and documents in iCloud Drive. Especially attractive for families: Family Sharing allows up to six people to share storage without having access to each other's data. For just €2 more than the 50 GB plan, you get four times the storage.

2 TB (€9.99/month)

For power users, photographers, and large families. 2TB offers space for tens of thousands of full-resolution photos, extensive video libraries, and backups of all devices in the household. Starting with this plan, HomeKit Secure Video is enabled for an unlimited number of cameras. Those who subscribe to Apple One Premium (€34.95/month) already receive 2TB of iCloud+ bundled with Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Apple Fitness+.

6 TB and 12 TB (€29.99 / €59.99/month)

These plans are designed for professional users with very large amounts of data – such as photographers with RAW libraries, videographers, or families with decades-long photo and video archives. For most private users, these plans are overkill.

iCloud+ vs. Alternatives

iCloud+ scores points with its seamless integration into the Apple ecosystem. Photos, backups, keychain, messages, and app data sync automatically without any configuration required. For users outside the Apple ecosystem—such as those with Android or Linux—iCloud is less attractive because there are no native apps for these platforms. Access via iCloud.com in a browser is functional, but limited.

Google One offers more storage per euro than iCloud+ with 100 GB for €1.99, but is less deeply integrated into the iPhone system. Microsoft 365 is unbeatable for anyone who needs Office apps – 1 TB of storage plus Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for a price only slightly higher than iCloud+'s 2 TB plan.

iCloud+ via Apple One: The bundle option

Those who use Apple Music, Apple TV, or Apple Arcade in addition to iCloud+ save money with Apple One:

• Apple One Individual (€19.95/month): 50 GB iCloud+, Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Arcade
• Apple One Family (€25.95/month): 200 GB iCloud+, all shareable with up to 6 people
• Apple One Premium (€34.95/month): 2 TB iCloud+, plus Apple Fitness+

The iCloud+ storage included in Apple One can be combined with a separate iCloud+ plan. For example, someone using Apple One Family (200 GB) who adds an extra 50 GB will have a total of 250 GB available.

Which Apple One model is worth it is shown in the Apple Music vs. Spotify comparison, which also breaks down the bundle prices in detail.

Manage storage: How to keep iCloud tidy

Before subscribing to a more expensive plan, it's worth checking your actual storage usage. Under Settings > Apple ID > iCloud, iOS shows which apps and data are taking up the most space.

The biggest storage hogs are usually the photo library (especially with iCloud Photos syncing enabled), backups of old devices, and messages with many pictures and videos. Old backups from devices that are no longer in use can be deleted here. Disabling iCloud syncing for individual apps whose data doesn't need to be in the cloud can also free up storage space.

If you regularly hit storage limits despite cleaning up, you should consider the next larger plan. More tips on freeing up storage can be found in the article "Clearing the iPhone Cache".

iCloud+: Is the upgrade worth it? – the most important points at a glance

The free 5 GB of iCloud storage is insufficient for most users. The 50 GB plan, at €0.99 per month, already eliminates the most common storage problems. For families, the 200 GB plan at €2.99 offers the best value – four times the storage for just €2 more. Additional privacy features like Private Relay and the ability to hide your email address are included in every iCloud+ plan and are a real plus for privacy.

Those who already use Apple Music or Apple TV save with Apple One and get iCloud+ bundled with it. The seamless integration into the Apple ecosystem makes iCloud+ the most obvious cloud solution for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those for HomeKit. (Image: Apple)

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Frequently Asked Questions: iCloud Costs

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