How Much Do iCloud Plans Cost?

Published on October 20, 2025 | Prices Last Reviewed for Freshness: November 2025
Written by Alec Pow - Economic & Pricing Investigator | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Educational content; not financial advice. Prices are estimates; confirm current rates, fees, taxes, and terms with providers or official sources.

Storage is a utility. When the 5GB free allowance is consumed by a single iPhone backup and a modest photo library, upgrades keep your devices protected. The choice is more than raw space, because iCloud+ also toggles premium privacy features and smart home video support, and those extras affect what you get for each dollar. Upgrades are monthly. No annual option—see the Apple Support pricing page.

This guide focuses on plain-English pricing, the trade-offs that change your monthly bill, and how to avoid unnecessary spend. You will see the exact U.S. prices, a single reference table of tiers and included perks, real-world vignettes for individuals and families, and a worked annual bill that shows how storage and services stack up.

One long sentence to remember is that across the United States as of October 2025, iCloud+ offers five paid storage tiers from $0.99 for 50GB to $59.99 for 12TB, all sharable with up to five family members and bundled with Private Relay, Hide My Email, and HomeKit Secure Video camera support that scales by tier.

The piece also compares Google One, Microsoft OneDrive, and Dropbox at the most common sizes, since many Apple households mix platforms at work and home. Where regional context helps, you will see EU and Canada references, because Apple lists parallel euro and local-currency prices on the same support page.

Bullet summary

• U.S. iCloud+ pricing is $0.99 for 50GB, $2.99 for 200GB, $9.99 for 2TB, $29.99 for 6TB, and $59.99 for 12TB, billed monthly.
• HomeKit Secure Video limits scale from 1 camera on 50GB to unlimited cameras on 2TB+, and HSV recordings do not count against storage.
• Google One and Dropbox match the $9.99 price at 2TB, but they do not back up iOS devices the way iCloud does.
• Family Sharing stretches value, dropping the effective per-person rate on 2TB to a few dollars each.
• International users will see local-currency prices like €9.99 for 2TB with VAT included, and Apple updates these lists by country.

How Much Do iCloud Plans Cost?

Apple keeps the iCloud+ lineup simple in the U.S.: 5GB free, then 50GB for $0.99 per month, 200GB for $2.99, 2TB for $9.99, 6TB for $29.99, and 12TB for $59.99. The paid plans unlock Private Relay, Hide My Email, Custom Email Domain, and HomeKit Secure Video. As the plan grows, HomeKit camera limits jump from one camera at 50GB to five cameras at 200GB and unlimited on 2TB and above, and recorded video does not count against your storage limit.

If you live outside the U.S., Apple lists equivalent regional prices. In the euro area, the 2TB plan commonly appears at €9.99 per month, and the 50GB and 200GB plans often show €0.99 and €2.99 respectively, with VAT and exchange rates accounting for minor differences by country. Apple hosts a current country list on its support page and updates it when currencies shift.

For context, rivals track closely at mainstream sizes. Google One charges $1.99 per month for 100GB, $2.99 for 200GB, and $9.99 for 2TB, each sharable with up to five others. Microsoft positions 100GB at $1.99 per month, while its best value is Microsoft 365 Personal at $69.99 per year with 1TB per user and Office apps. Dropbox Plus prices 2TB at $9.99 per month for one user, with a Family plan at $16.99 for up to six people. These competitor figures are useful when you do not need Apple’s device-level backup or HomeKit video perks.

Table 1. iCloud+ U.S. storage tiers, monthly price, and key perks (as of Oct 2025)

Apple spells out both pricing and camera limits on its official help pages, and also clarifies that HomeKit Secure Video recordings do not count toward your storage total.

Eskimo Travel echoes the Apple pricing tiers for 2025 with the same monthly rates and notes that all paid plans support Family Sharing for up to five family members, making the plans useful for households or groups sharing storage.

Apple iCloud Plan Page details the differences in storage sizes and associated prices, emphasizing that users can upgrade or downgrade their plans based on need, with options to pay monthly or annually. The page also underscores that pricing varies by region but the US prices are as mentioned above.

SaaSGenius provides a detailed cost breakdown comparing the value per gigabyte among plans, confirming the same $0.99, $2.99, and $9.99 monthly price points, and highlights features bundled with the plans like custom email domains and privacy enhancements.

Additionally, TrustRadius lists iCloud pricing for 2025 focusing on the most popular tiers: 50GB at $0.99/month, 200GB at $2.99/month, and 2TB at $9.99/month, reinforcing Apple’s pricing consistency and ecosystem integration benefits across devices.

Real-life cost examples

Solo iPhone owner in Denver, Colorado

Alex snaps a lot of photos but rarely shoots 4K video. They upgrade from free 5GB to 200GB at $2.99 per month to cover one iPhone and one iPad, plus a Mac desktop folder sync. Over 12 months, Alex spends $35.88 and never hits the limit, so there is no need to jump to 2TB. The privacy extras are included and used for burner mail addresses.

Family of four in Berlin, Germany

Two iPhones, one iPad, a MacBook, and two HomeKit cameras over the driveway. The family chooses 2TB at $9.99 per month in the U.S. price equivalent, which is €9.99 per month locally, shares it across four Apple IDs, and records ten days of encrypted footage that does not count against the storage pool. If they added three more cameras, the plan would still cover them because 2TB and above allow unlimited cameras. Total annual spend is $119.88 equivalent, divided by four people, which is cost-effective compared with four separate 200GB plans.

Also read our articles on the cost of Apple Arcade, Apple TV Plus, or Google Drive Storage.

Freelance creator in Toronto, Canada

Jay edits video on a MacBook Pro and uses an iPhone for ProRes clips. They start at 2TB for $9.99 but hit the ceiling after several months, then move to 6TB at $29.99 to keep a rolling archive in iCloud Drive while leaving finished projects on an external SSD. The jump raises the bill by $20.00 per month, or $240 per year, but avoids juggling folders across three services. If Jay had a mixed environment, Google One at $9.99 for 2TB would be similar on price, yet Jay values Apple’s device backups and Photos library sync, so the higher tier makes sense.

Worked example, twelve-month household budget

Four-person U.S. family with two iPhones, one iPad, one Mac, and three HomeKit Secure Video cameras chooses the 2TB plan at $9.99. Storage: $119.88 per year. Cameras: included, unlimited on this tier, with video not counting toward storage. Add an Apple One Family bundle if they want Music, TV+, and Arcade, often priced so that the storage effectively rides along, but if the family only needs space and camera support, the plain iCloud+ bill remains $119.88. If they outgrow 2TB, moving to 6TB at $29.99 lifts the annual line to $359.88, which is still cheaper than mixing multiple cloud providers and paying for duplicates of similar features.

Cost breakdown

Base subscription is the monthly figure in Table 1. This covers space for Photos, iCloud Drive, device backups, and more. Private Relay, Hide My Email, and Custom Email Domain are part of iCloud+, not add-ons. The free 5GB tier lacks these features.

Taxes and regional surcharges vary by country and may be included in posted prices where VAT applies. Apple’s support page lists pricing by country or region and denotes that billing occurs monthly after you upgrade. A city like London shows inclusive VAT in the sterling price, while U.S. displays pre-tax figures.

HomeKit Secure Video scales with plan size. The 50GB plan supports one camera, 200GB supports up to five, and 2TB, 6TB, and 12TB support an unlimited number of cameras, and Apple documents that recorded video does not count against your storage. That design keeps smart home costs predictable.

Family Sharing spreads one subscription across up to five other people, which lowers the per-person rate dramatically at 200GB and above. A family on 2TB paying $9.99 is effectively at $2.00–$3.33 per person depending on how many members join the share.

“Hidden costs,” quick call-out
Carrier data to re-upload large libraries after a device reset, local sales tax where applicable, and optional Apple One bundles can change your total. Some households also pay for third-party cloud tools, so it is easy to double-pay for storage if you stop using another provider but forget to cancel it.

Factors influencing the cost

Demand and device mix dictate the tier. High-res iPhone video, RAW photo workflows, and multiple Macs push buyers toward 2TB or 6TB. Casual users who mainly need safe device backups usually sit on 50GB or 200GB for years.

Privacy and platform integration are part of the value proposition. iCloud+ folds in Private Relay, Hide My Email, and HomeKit Secure Video in ways that require no extra setup beyond your Apple ID, and those perks are priced into the monthly fee. Apple documents the package and camera limits clearly, which helps households choose correctly the first time.

Exchange rates and local taxes drive international price differences. Apple maintains regional price tables and adjusts from time to time, usually by adding tiers rather than changing headline U.S. prices. When Apple introduced 6TB and 12TB, it left 50GB, 200GB, and 2TB at their familiar U.S. rates, which makes historical comparisons straightforward for long-time users.

Legal clarity around storage totals has even surfaced in court. In 2025, a U.S. appeals court affirmed that iCloud+ storage amounts replace, rather than add to, the free 5GB, rejecting a claim from a user who expected 200GB to stack on top of the free tier. It is a reminder to read the plan description as the total included space (Reuters report).

Competitive pressure keeps mainstream sizes aligned. Google One, OneDrive, and Dropbox cluster near $9.99 at 2TB, but only iCloud+ includes full-device backups for iOS and iPadOS out of the box, along with camera recording that does not meter against your storage cap, which is why many Apple households prefer to keep their primary storage inside the ecosystem.

Alternative products or services

Google One offers 100GB at $1.99, 200GB at $2.99, and 2TB at $9.99, all sharable with up to five family members. Google’s advantage is deep integration with Docs, Gmail, and Android devices, and an optional Google AI Pro tier at a higher price for 2TB with AI features. If you live in Google’s apps, this can be the better fit for collaboration and search tools.

Microsoft OneDrive sells 100GB at $1.99 per month, then pushes value through Microsoft 365 Personal or Family, which bundle Office apps and 1TB per user. This is attractive for Windows-heavy homes and mixed OS workplaces that want Word and Excel in the same subscription.

Dropbox positions Plus at $9.99 per month for 2TB and Family at $16.99 for up to six users with 2TB shared. Power users appreciate its sharing and recovery tools, though Apple users who need device backups and HomeKit video usually end up keeping iCloud+ anyway.

Many households run a hybrid setup. Keep iCloud+ for device backups and Photos, then use Google or Microsoft for docs. The overlap is fine if the price reflects what you actually use. Space runs out fast.

Ways to spend less

Use Family Sharing at 200GB and above. On 2TB, five or six people can consolidate under one payment and pay less per head than buying multiple 200GB plans.

Pick the first workable tier rather than the biggest. If your Photos library is 110GB and two iPhones total 40GB of backups, 200GB at $2.99 leaves headroom and costs $35.88 per year, which is far cheaper than jumping straight to 2TB at $9.99.

Consider Apple One only if you already pay for Music, TV+, or Arcade. If you do not use those services, bundling can inflate the monthly bill without delivering value.

Avoid duplicate clouds unless you truly need them. If you migrate your photo library from Google Photos to iCloud Photos, cancel the matching Google One tier after a safe overlap period.

Audit HomeKit camera needs before picking a plan. If you intend to deploy six or more cameras, budget for 2TB or higher once, then enjoy “unlimited cameras” without metering recorded video against your space.

Answers to Common Questions

What is the cheapest iCloud+ plan that supports HomeKit cameras?

The 50GB plan at $0.99 supports one HomeKit Secure Video camera. Move to 200GB at $2.99 for up to five cameras, or 2TB+ for unlimited cameras.

Do paid amounts stack on top of the free 5GB?

No. Your plan’s storage is the total. A 200GB plan gives 200GB total, not 205GB, a point affirmed in a 2025 U.S. appeals court ruling.

Is there an annual discount on iCloud+?

Apple bills iCloud+ monthly. There is no annual billing option today, though Apple One bundles can change the equation if you already pay for other Apple services.

How does iCloud+ compare on price to Google One?

At common sizes the prices align, with 200GB at $2.99 and 2TB at $9.99 on both. Choose on ecosystem fit and features like device backups and HomeKit Secure Video versus Google’s collaboration tools.

What if I only need document storage on a Windows PC?

Microsoft OneDrive 100GB at $1.99 or a Microsoft 365 subscription with 1TB per user may be better, especially if you want Office apps in the same payment.

If you remember one rule, buy the smallest plan that covers your current backups and Photos library, share it with your family, and revisit the tier only when your real-world usage grows.