Cloud storage is essential, especially if you need to protect your data from loss or have limited iPhone storage. We’ve already compared the prospects of buying a larger storage iPhone variant versus cloud storage. However, there are two main options when it comes to cloud storage: Apple’s iCloud+ or Google One. So which one is better for your iPhone? Let’s find out by comparing their features, pricing, and pros and cons.
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Using iCloud+ on iPhone
By default, you get 5GB of free iCloud storage with each Apple account. However, that’s insufficient and fills up quickly. At this point, you’ll be prompted to subscribe to iCloud+, which provides more storage and additional privacy features. It is also tightly integrated with the Apple ecosystem.
Here’s What You Get with iCloud+:
iCloud+ offers 50GB, 200GB, 2TB, 6TB, and 12TB cloud storage plans. These plans give you more space to back up your iPhone’s photos, apps, emails, documents, files, and more to Apple’s cloud. Subscriptions start at $0.99 per month for 50GB and go up to $59.99 per month for 12TB (more on this later).
Beyond storage, iCloud+ includes valuable privacy features, starting with end-to-end encryption. When you enable Advanced Data Protection in your iCloud settings, your uploaded data becomes completely secure, and even folks at Apple cannot access your encrypted data.
iCloud+ also includes the following features:
- Automatic Backups: Automatically syncs and backs up your iPhone data to the cloud, including photos, videos, and other files.
- Optimize iPhone Storage: When this feature is enabled, your iPhone offloads full-resolution photos and videos, keeping only thumbnails or low-resolution previews locally. When you view a photo or video, the full version is downloaded from iCloud. This helps save local storage.
- Private Relay: Masks your internet browsing activity.
- Hide My Email: Creates unique, disposable email addresses.
- Custom Email Domains: Allows you to use a personalized domain with iCloud Mail.
- HomeKit Secure Video: Encrypts and stores your home security camera footage.
Using Google One on iPhone
You get 15GB of free cloud storage space with every Google account. This storage is shared across Google services, including Gmail, Google Photos, Google Drive, and Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
For more storage, you can subscribe to Google One, which offers additional storage and extra perks. However, Google One isn’t directly integrated with Apple devices.
Here’s What You Get with Google One:
Google One offers 100GB, 200GB, 2TB Premium, and 2TB AI Premium plans. The 100GB subscription costs $2 per month, while the 2TB AI plan goes as high as $20 per month. Google generally offers free 1-month and 3-month trials, along with discounts when you purchase annual plans.
Besides cloud storage, Google One comes with the following features:
- Automatic Photo Backups: Syncs and backs up your photos and videos to the cloud.
- Free up space: Deletes all backed up photos and videos from your iPhone to save local storage space.
- Family Sharing: Share your Google One plan with up to five family members.
- Magic Editor with Unlimited Saves (2TB Premium): Google Photos’ Magic Editor typically allows only 10 saves a day, but the Google One Premium plan provides unlimited edits and saves.
- Gemini Advanced (2TB AI Premium): Includes complimentary access to the Gemini Advanced chatbot.
- Gemini in Gmail, Docs, and More (2TB AI Premium): Offers access to Gemini in Gmail, Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Meet.
iCloud+ vs. Google One: Pricing
Here are all the iCloud+ subscription plans and their pricing:
- 5GB – Free
- 50GB – $0.99/ month or $11.88/year
- 200GB – $2.99/ month or $35.88/year
- 2TB – $9.99/ month or $119.88/year
- 6TB – $29.99/ month or $359.88/year
- 12TB – $59.99/ month or $719.88/year
Here are all the Google One plans and their pricing:
- 15GB – Free
- 100GB – $1.99/month or $19.99/year
- 200GB – $2.99/month or $29.99/year
- 2TB Premium – $9.99/month or $99.99/year
- 2TB AI Premium – $19.99 monthly
- 5TB – $24.99/month or $249.99/year
- 10TB – $49.99/month or $499.99/year
- 20TB – $99.99/month or $999.99/year
- 30TB – $149.99/month or $1499.99/year
Google currently does not display the 200GB plan on its site; however, it informed 9to5Google that the 200GB plan is still available and will be offered as an option to those already subscribed to the 100GB plan. Therefore, you should be able to upgrade to it if you’re on the 100GB plan.
When comparing Google One and iCloud+ pricing, you’ll notice the following:
- Google One’s 100GB plan costs twice as much as iCloud+’s 50GB plan, but it offers double the storage.
- Both services provide 200GB and 2TB plans at the same monthly price, though Google One is about 16% cheaper annually.
- For larger plans, where iCloud stops at 12TB and Google One extends up to 30TB, Google One offers significantly more storage, albeit at a much higher price point.
Also, read: Using Google Photos? Here’s a guide on migrating media from Google Photos to iCloud.
iCloud vs. Google One: Comparison Table
| iCloud+ | Google One | |
|---|---|---|
| Integration | Seamless with Apple ecosystem | Works across platforms, less integrated with Apple |
| Backup your iPhone | Yes | No |
| Backup Photos and Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Backup WhatsApp on iPhone | Yes | No |
| Pricing | Slightly more expensive | Cheaper, especially for annual plans |
| Privacy | End-to-end encryption with Advanced Data Protection | No similar encryption available |
| Other Features | Hide My Email, Private Relay, HomeKit Secure Video | Family sharing, Gemini Advanced, Google Photos features, and more |
| Best for | Backing up your entire iPhone and its data | Backing up your photos and videos to Google Photos, and storing files on Google Drive |
iCloud+ vs. Google One: Which One to Choose and Why?
When deciding between iCloud+ and Google One for your iPhone, your choice will largely depend on your existing ecosystem, storage needs, and how much you value privacy features.
iCloud+ is the better option if you are deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem. It integrates seamlessly with all Apple devices and offers end-to-end encryption, making it more secure than Google One. It’s also ideal for those looking to back up their entire iPhone, including apps, data, and settings—something you can’t do with Google One.
On the other hand, Google One is more versatile, especially if you use both Apple and non-Apple devices and are involved with Google Workspace apps like Gmail, Sheets, and Docs. It provides more storage at slightly lower prices, particularly with annual plans, and offers plans up to 30TB, which Apple doesn’t yet match.
You can even share the storage with your family members at no extra cost. However, while Google One includes perks like enhanced Google Photos features and Gemini AI in higher-tier plans, it doesn’t offer the same level of device integration or privacy features as iCloud+.
In short:
- Opt for Google One if you need cross-platform storage, larger storage tiers, or prefer more affordable annual pricing. It’s ideal if your main usage on iPhone involves backing up photos, videos, and uploading files to Google Drive.
- Choose iCloud+ if you want to back up your entire iPhone to the cloud, including apps, their data, and files on your iPhone. It’s particularly useful when switching between iPhones or recovering your data if your device is lost.
