For US consumers, the cheapest useful cloud storage depends on how much space you need and which services you already use. iCloud+ starts at $0.99/month for 50GB; Google One offers 100GB for $1.99/month; both list 2TB for $9.99/month. Microsoft 365 Personal may be the better value if you also want Office apps, pCloud is the researched option with a lifetime plan, and Proton Drive is the privacy-focused choice. IDrive is primarily for backup, not ordinary file syncing.
Cheap cloud storage plans compared
These prices are for US plans where a US price was available in the cited source. Billing terms matter: monthly subscriptions, annual rates, introductory offers and lifetime promotions are not directly interchangeable.
| Service | Free storage | Paid capacities and prices | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google One | 15GB per Google account, according to Google (2026). | 100GB for $1.99/month; 2TB for $9.99/month; 5TB for $19.99/month, according to Google’s US pricing (2026). | People who use Google Photos, Drive and Gmail. Google says storage covers all three services. |
| Apple iCloud+ | 5GB, according to Apple’s US pricing (2026). | 50GB for $0.99/month; 200GB for $2.99/month; 2TB for $9.99/month; 6TB for $29.99/month; 12TB for $59.99/month, according to Apple (2026). | People using Apple devices, iCloud Photos or iCloud device backup. |
| OneDrive with Microsoft 365 Personal | 5GB, according to TechRadar’s 2026 comparison. | 1TB with Microsoft 365 Personal from $70/year, according to TechRadar (2026). Check Microsoft’s checkout for the current price and terms. | People who want OneDrive storage along with Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. |
| pCloud | 10GB, according to TechRadar’s 2026 comparison. | 500GB annual plan listed at $3.99/month; 2TB annual plan listed at $7.99/month; 500GB lifetime offer listed at $199, according to TechRadar (2026). The lifetime price is promotional and can change. | People considering paying upfront rather than keeping a recurring subscription. |
| IDrive | 10GB, according to TechRadar’s 2026 comparison. | Storage options listed from 100GB to 100TB. TechRadar lists a 10TB introductory offer at $4.98 for one year (2026); renewal pricing is not established here. | People who need to back up computers and mobile devices, rather than just sync files. |
| Proton Drive | 5GB, according to Proton’s pricing page (2026). | Drive Plus offers 200GB. A current dollar price was not available on the cited page. | People prioritizing end-to-end encryption. |
Dropbox is not included as a US-price comparison: its official page was captured in an Australian locale, where Basic is free with 2GB and Plus is listed at AU$184.67/year for 2TB. That Australian price should not be treated as a US price.
Which is cheapest for 1TB or 2TB?
For 2TB
Google One and iCloud+ both list 2TB at $9.99/month on their US pages (2026). At the same headline price, choose based on where you need the space: Google storage covers Photos, Drive and Gmail, while iCloud+ fits Apple’s storage and backup ecosystem. pCloud’s 2TB annual plan is listed at $7.99/month by TechRadar (2026), but compare its annual billing commitment with a monthly plan rather than assuming the prices have identical terms.
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- Get NVMe solid state performance with up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds in a portable, high-capacity drive(1) (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device & other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
- Up to 3-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance mean this tough drive can take a beating(3) (Previously rated for 2-meter drop protection and IP55 rating. Now qualified for the higher, stated specs.)
- Use the handy carabiner loop to secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind.
- Help keep private content private with the included password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption.(3)
- Easily manage files and automatically free up space with the SanDisk Memory Zone app.(5). Non-Operating Temperature -20°C to 85°C
For 1TB
The researched comparison does not establish a standalone 1TB plan price for these services. TechRadar lists Microsoft 365 Personal from $70/year with 1TB of OneDrive storage and Office apps (2026), making it a potential bundle value if you would use those apps. It is not a like-for-like price for storage alone, and the current Microsoft checkout price should be checked before subscribing.
For more than 2TB
Google lists 5TB for $19.99/month in its US pricing (2026). Apple lists 6TB for $29.99/month and 12TB for $59.99/month in its US pricing (2026). IDrive’s listed capacity range extends to 100TB, but it is a backup-oriented service and its cited introductory offer is not a general renewal price.
Rank #2
- Solid state performance with up to 800MB/s read speeds in a portable drive. (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device, interface, usage conditions and other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
- Back up your content and memories on a storage solution that fits seamlessly into your mobile lifestyle.
- Take it with you on your adventures—up to two-meter drop protection means this durable drive can take a beating. (Based on internal testing.)
- Secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind thanks to the tough rubber hook.
- From Sandisk, a brand professional photographers trust to take on assignments.
Is Google One cheaper than iCloud+?
It depends on the capacity tier. On the cited US prices for 2026, iCloud+ is the lower-cost entry plan: 50GB costs $0.99/month, compared with Google One’s 100GB at $1.99/month. The capacities differ, so that is not an equal-size comparison. At 2TB, both cost $9.99/month. Apple offers a 200GB tier at $2.99/month; Google lists 100GB at $1.99/month, so pick the capacity and ecosystem that match your use rather than comparing monthly prices alone.
Google says its 15GB free storage is shared across Google Photos, Drive and Gmail. Apple’s free iCloud allowance is 5GB, according to its 2026 US pricing. If you already use one of those services heavily, the practical value of its paid storage may be greater than the headline price suggests.
Rank #3
- Capacity Display Variance: 500GB external ssd often appears as around 465GB on Windows. MacOS can show full 500 GB capacity. This is binary calculation difference and doesn’t affect SSD hard drive actual physical storage
- 1050 MB/s Speed: Instantly access to your files with blazing-fast 10Gbps external SSD read up to 1050MB/s and write up to 1000MB/s. LED Light indicates USB SSD instant activity
- Data Security: Solid state drives S.M.A.R.T. health diagnostics and adaptive TRIM optimizing data block management ensures consistent write speeds and extends the longevity of the portable SSD
- USB-C & USB-A Cable: Both cables featuring rapid USB 3.2 Gen2, this USB SSD effortlessly bridges devices, enabling seamless cross-platform file transfers and backup between computers, smartphones, tablets and iPhone
- Always Fast: No slowdowns for large file transfers. With SLC caching (25% of current available capacity allocated as high-speed cache), this external SSD delivers steady 10Gbps for transfers within the cache capacity
What is the best cheap cloud storage for a family?
Google says its plans can be shared with up to five others, and Apple says every iCloud+ plan can be shared with up to five other family members at no extra cost (both sources, 2026). The cited pages do not establish how much storage each person receives or whether each plan’s space is pooled in the way your household needs. Check the sharing and allocation details before dividing a plan price by the number of people.
Should you buy Microsoft 365 for OneDrive storage?
Consider Microsoft 365 Personal if you want the included Office apps as well as OneDrive. TechRadar’s 2026 comparison reports 1TB of OneDrive with Microsoft 365 Personal from $70/year, alongside Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. If you only need storage, that bundle may not be the cheapest fit; if you would otherwise pay for the apps, comparing the bundle’s full value makes more sense. Confirm the current price and subscription terms at Microsoft’s checkout.
Rank #4
- NEARLY 2X FASTER THAN OUR PREVIOUS GENERATION(8) – move 1,000 high-res photos in under 60 seconds(6) with up to 2000MB/s transfer speeds(2).
- IP65 RATING AND UP TO 3M DROP PROTECTION(3) – protects against spills and drops.
- POCKET-SIZED – fits easily in pockets and small bags.
- SPACE TO OWN YOUR AI CONTENT – speed and capacity to download your high-res clips and photo edits.
- 256-BIT AES ENCRYPTION(4) – helps keep private files secure with password protection.
Is pCloud lifetime storage worth it?
TechRadar lists pCloud’s 500GB lifetime offer at $199 (2026), alongside annual plans of 500GB at $3.99/month and 2TB at $7.99/month. A lifetime payment can avoid recurring plan charges, but it is a promotional offer that can change, and paying upfront shifts the risk: you pay now for continued access to a digital service rather than keeping the flexibility of a subscription. Weigh the upfront cost against the recurring plan you would actually use, and consider how you would retrieve or move your files if you later left the service.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the cheapest private cloud storage?
Proton Drive is the privacy-focused option in this comparison. Proton says Drive uses end-to-end encryption so that only you and recipients you choose can access files, not Proton. The cited Proton pricing page lists 5GB free and a 200GB Drive Plus plan, but does not provide a readable current dollar price; compare its live price directly before deciding. Do not assume that another provider offers the same encryption protections unless that provider specifically documents them.
Best Value
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Do you need cloud storage or a backup service?
Choose based on the job you need done. Cloud drives such as Google Drive, iCloud Drive, OneDrive, pCloud and Proton Drive are commonly used to sync and share files. IDrive is the backup-oriented choice in this comparison: TechRadar says it supports backups across computers and mobile devices. Its cited 10TB offer is introductory—$4.98 for one year in TechRadar’s 2026 comparison—not a guaranteed renewal rate.
Before calling any plan cheap, check the practical limits that affect recovery and exit: file-version retention, deleted-file recovery, export options, bandwidth limits and the number of devices you can use. Those details are not established in the price facts above, so verify them in the provider’s current terms for your plan.
Quick Recap
How to choose without overpaying
- Estimate the space you actually need. An entry tier of 50–200GB, a 2TB plan and a plan above 5TB solve different problems. Avoid paying for capacity you will not use, but leave room for the files and backups you intend to keep.
- Compare equivalent billing. Convert annual totals to a monthly equivalent only for comparison, and keep the annual commitment visible. Treat pCloud lifetime pricing and IDrive’s introductory offer separately from recurring rates.
- Account for the ecosystem. Google One is tied to Google Photos, Drive and Gmail storage; iCloud+ fits Apple’s services; Microsoft 365 combines OneDrive with Office apps.
- Check household sharing and recovery. Confirm who can share the plan, how storage is allocated, and how you can restore or export files before storing anything you cannot easily replace.
- Separate syncing from backup. If your priority is backing up several devices, assess a backup service such as IDrive rather than assuming a sync drive is equivalent.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
