Cloud storage: plans and prices compared 2026
Most people already have some free cloud storage — 15 GB with Google, 5 GB with Apple and Microsoft. Paid plans add space, family sharing and extras such as Office apps or a VPN. The right choice depends mostly on which phone and apps you already use.
We compare terms from the providers’ US websites. Prices are in the price block on each product’s page, before sales tax.
Quick picks
If you have an iPhone
iCloud+ backs up your devices and can be shared with up to five family members; plans go from 50 GB to 12 TB.
If you use Gmail and Android
Google One adds storage across Gmail, Drive and Photos, shareable with up to 5 others.
If you need Office apps too
Microsoft 365 Personal and Family include OneDrive storage with the Microsoft 365 apps; Family covers up to six people.
If you want the most free space
MEGA’s free plan has 20 GB; Google gives 15 GB.
If privacy comes first
Proton Drive is part of Proton’s privacy suite; Unlimited and Duo add a VPN.
If you need to restore deleted files
Dropbox Plus keeps deleted files for 30 days, higher plans for 180; MEGA keeps up to 100 versions.
If you want a VPN with your storage
MEGA includes MEGA VPN and MEGA Pass in every paid plan; Proton Unlimited bundles VPN, Mail and Pass.
$0.99/mo
iCloud+ 50 GB
What should you choose?
The service is picked by our score, the plan is the cheapest one that fits the situation. Prices are checked.
To share with family
Proton Drive · Proton Family
$29.99/moPlus sales tax where applicable
- 6 people
For privacy (encryption)
Proton Drive · Drive Plus
$4.99/moPlus sales tax where applicable
- zero-knowledge — the provider has no keys
Services in this category
from $4.99/moPlus sales tax where applicableThere’s also a free plan
Price checked
from $11.14/moPlus sales tax where applicableThere’s also a free plan
Price checked
from $0.99/moPlus sales tax where applicable
Price checked
from $1.99/moPlus sales tax where applicableThere’s also a free plan
Price checked
from $11.99/moPlus sales tax where applicable
Price checked
from $1.99/moPlus sales tax where applicable
Price checked
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How to choose
- 1
Start with your phone
iPhone backups go to iCloud; Android and Gmail use Google storage. Using the matching service is the least friction.
- 2
Estimate the space
Photos and video fill storage fastest; check how much your free tier already uses.
- 3
Count the people
Google One and iCloud+ share with up to 5 others; Microsoft 365 Family covers up to six; Proton Duo two.
- 4
Compare yearly and monthly
Microsoft 365, Dropbox, MEGA and Proton are cheaper per month on a yearly plan.
- 5
Check the transfer limit
MEGA plans include a transfer quota on top of storage — relevant if you share big files.
- 6
Check the billing currency
MEGA shows US dollars as an estimate and charges in euros, so your card statement can differ slightly.
- 7
Know the refund rules
Proton has a 30-day money-back guarantee; MEGA’s terms make US purchases final except for billing errors.
Types of cloud storage plans
Cloud storage is sold in four ways.
Free tiers
Google 15 GB, MEGA 20 GB, Apple, Microsoft and Proton 5 GB, Dropbox 2 GB.
Storage-only plans
Google One Basic, iCloud+, Dropbox Plus, MEGA, Proton Drive Plus.
Storage with apps
Microsoft 365 (Office apps and Copilot) and Google AI plans (Gemini).
Privacy bundles
Proton Unlimited, Duo and Family — storage with Proton’s VPN and other apps.
Encrypted storage
MEGA and Proton Drive encrypt on your device; lose both your password and recovery key and the data is gone.
What to check before you subscribe
Questions the price per month doesn’t answer.
| Question | What to look at |
|---|---|
| How much is free? | What to look atGoogle 15 GB, MEGA 20 GB, iCloud 5 GB, Microsoft 5 GB, Proton 5 GB, Dropbox 2 GB. |
| Can you share with family? | What to look atGoogle One — up to 5 others. iCloud+ — up to five family members. Microsoft 365 Family — up to six people. Proton Duo — 2 users, Proton Family — up to 6. |
| Is there a yearly plan? | What to look atMicrosoft 365, Dropbox (save 15% or more), MEGA and Proton Drive — yes, cheaper per month. |
| How long can you restore deleted files? | What to look atDropbox Plus — 30 days; higher Dropbox plans — 180 days. MEGA — up to 100 versions. |
| Is there a transfer limit? | What to look atMEGA plans include a separate transfer quota; check it if you share large files. |
| What comes with the storage? | What to look atMicrosoft 365 — Office apps and Copilot. Google AI plans — Gemini. Proton Unlimited and Duo — a VPN. |
| Can AI features be shared? | What to look atMicrosoft says Microsoft 365 AI features are only for the subscription owner and can’t be shared. |
| How big can the plan get? | What to look atiCloud+ up to 12 TB, MEGA Pro III 20 TB, Google AI Ultra from 20 TB. |
| Which currency are you charged in? | What to look atMEGA: euros, with USD shown as an estimate. Proton: US dollars. |
| What else comes with the plan? | What to look atMEGA: VPN, Pass and meetings. Proton Unlimited: VPN, Mail, Calendar and Pass. |
When it pays off and when it doesn’t
Pays off
- If your phone backups or photos no longer fit in the free tier.
- If one family plan replaces several individual ones.
- If the bundle covers something you pay for anyway — Office apps, a VPN or an AI assistant.
Doesn’t pay off
- Paying for two clouds that hold the same photos.
- Buying a big plan for a small archive — start small and upgrade.
- A yearly plan before you know how much space you need.
- Choosing encrypted storage without saving your recovery key somewhere safe.
FAQ
In short
Choosing cloud storage in the US comes down to your phone, how many people share, and what else you want in the bundle. This page collects those terms from the providers’ own pages.
Alt-subs is independent of the services on this page. Trademarks belong to their owners and are used only to identify the service. Prices come from the providers’ own websites and are shown with dates.
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