Most people pay for cloud storage because their free 15GB (Google) or 5GB (Apple) fills up with phone photos. Here is how to choose and how to minimise the cost.
Price Comparison
| Storage | Google One | iCloud+ |
|---|---|---|
| 50GB | — | €0.99/mo |
| 100GB | €1.99/mo | — |
| 200GB | €2.99/mo | €2.99/mo |
| 2TB | €9.99/mo | €9.99/mo |
Ecosystem Integration **Google One:** Best for Android users and heavy Gmail/Drive/Photos users. Automatically backs up Android phones.
iCloud+: Essential for iPhone users. Backs up iPhone automatically. Includes iCloud Drive, iCloud Photos, iCloud Mail, Hide My Email, and Private Relay VPN.
The Hybrid Strategy Many users benefit from paying for both — Google Photos for backup redundancy (100GB at €1.99/month) and iCloud for iPhone integration. Total: ~€5/month for comprehensive coverage.
How to Reduce Storage Costs 1. Delete duplicate photos with an app like Gemini Photos 2. Archive old photos to external drive annually 3. Use HEIF format on iPhone (50% smaller than JPEG) 4. Empty deleted photos albums (they count against storage)
For most iPhone users: 50GB iCloud+ at €0.99/month is the minimum sensible plan.