In the US plan listings checked on October 3, 2026, free cloud storage ranges from Dropbox’s 2 GB to Google’s 15 GB; Apple iCloud and Microsoft accounts each include 5 GB. The headline capacity does not tell the whole story: Google pools storage across Drive, Gmail and Photos, and Microsoft’s quota covers OneDrive plus other Microsoft account items. Paid plans add capacity, but may also bundle family sharing, recovery, privacy, AI or productivity features.
Free and paid cloud storage plans at a glance
The figures below are US listings observed on October 3, 2026. Plans, prices and availability can change, and prices may differ by country, taxes and billing term. Check the provider’s current listing for your market before subscribing.
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| Provider | Free storage | Paid example | What the storage covers and notable inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 15 GB per Google Account | Basic: 100 GB for $1.99/month; Google AI Plus: 2 TB for $9.99/month; Google AI Pro: 5 TB for $19.99/month | Storage is shared across Drive, Gmail and Google Photos. Google One storage can be shared with up to five others; higher tiers include AI and other benefits. Google One plans and Google’s storage help. | |
| Apple iCloud | 5 GB | iCloud+: 50 GB for $0.99/month; 200 GB for $2.99/month; 2 TB for $9.99/month; 6 TB for $29.99/month; 12 TB for $59.99/month | Paid iCloud+ adds privacy and other service features. A plan can be shared with up to five other family members; feature availability varies by region. Apple iCloud+. |
| Microsoft OneDrive / Microsoft storage | 5 GB | Microsoft 365 Basic: 100 GB for $1.99/month or $19.99/year; Microsoft 365 Personal: 1 TB for $9.99/month or $99.99/year | The Microsoft quota includes OneDrive and other Microsoft account storage items. Personal bundles Microsoft 365 apps. Microsoft 365 Family provides 1 TB per person for up to six people. Microsoft storage FAQs and Microsoft plan prices. |
| Dropbox | 2 GB with Basic | Plus: 2 TB for $9.99/month | Plus lists 30 days to restore deleted files. Dropbox Family has 2 TB for six users. Online-only files reduce local device storage use but require cloud access. Dropbox plans and file storage. |
These are not equivalent bundles or a simple price-per-gigabyte ranking. Microsoft 365 Personal includes productivity apps, higher Google tiers include AI benefits, and iCloud+ includes Apple services. Those extras add value only if they fit your needs.
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A provider’s advertised allowance may be a shared account quota rather than a bucket reserved just for files. Google says its account storage is shared among Drive, Gmail and Photos. Microsoft says its storage includes OneDrive files and photos and other Microsoft account items, such as Outlook attachments. Email and photo libraries can therefore leave less room for documents and backups than the headline figure suggests.
#1 Best Overall
- Massive capacity, up to 22TB capacity. (1TB = one trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment.).Specific uses: Personal
- Includes software for device management and backup with password protection (Download and installation required. Terms and conditions apply. User account registration may be required.)
- 256-bit AES hardware encryption
- SuperSpeed USB (5 Gbps); USB 2.0 compatible
- Trusted storage built with WD reliability
Google describes its free allocation this way: “All Google accounts come with up to 15 GB of storage, which is included as part of the total storage offered in other Google One plans.” In other words, the free allowance is not added on top of a paid plan’s stated capacity.
Apple’s 5 GB free allowance is used for iCloud services such as backup and sync. Dropbox Basic’s 2 GB is a smaller allowance suited to a narrower file-sync need. To understand your practical free space, look at what the provider counts and how much of your quota is already occupied.
Rank #2
- Easily store and access 4TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- 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.
How family storage is shared
“Family plan” does not mean the same allocation model everywhere. Microsoft explicitly describes 1 TB per person on Microsoft 365 Family; some other plans describe sharing without specifying an individual allotment in the cited plan information.
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| Provider | Family or sharing arrangement stated by provider |
|---|---|
| Google One storage can be shared with up to five others; the cited plan information does not specify a separate allocation per person. | |
| Apple | iCloud+ can be shared with up to five other family members; the cited plan information does not state an individual allocation. |
| Microsoft | Microsoft 365 Family provides 1 TB to each of up to six people. |
| Dropbox | Dropbox Family lists 2 TB for six users; the cited plan information does not specify a separate allocation per person. |
Before choosing a plan for several people, confirm how its storage is pooled or allocated and whether the account owner controls the subscription.
Rank #3
- Slim durable design to help take your important files with you
- Vast capacities up to 6TB[1] to store your photos, videos, music, important documents and more
- Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
- Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
- 3-year limited warranty
How to choose a plan that fits
- Check the quota scope. Include email, photos, device backups and attachments where the provider counts them, not just files you intend to upload.
- Estimate annual cost. Compare the full cost for the billing term available in your country, including renewal terms and taxes. The listed Google, Apple and Dropbox examples above are monthly US prices; Microsoft lists both monthly and annual US rates for Basic and Personal.
- Match your workflow. iCloud may suit someone relying on iPhone backups and Apple services; Google storage may be practical for someone using Gmail, Drive and Photos; Microsoft plans can combine storage with Microsoft 365 apps; Dropbox emphasizes file sync and online-only storage options.
- Value only the extras you will use. Consider Apple privacy and HomeKit features, Microsoft apps, or Google AI benefits only if they matter to you.
- Plan for recovery and exit. Check deleted-file recovery periods and what happens to files, syncing and email if you cancel or exceed the free quota. Download or reduce data before downgrading.
What happens if you cancel or exceed the quota?
Microsoft says that cancelling Basic or Personal returns the storage allowance to 5 GB. If the account is over that limit, uploads and syncing can stop and mail may be affected; Microsoft says it may delete OneDrive files after six months over quota. Review Microsoft’s current storage FAQ before downgrading, since account rules can change.
Recovery terms also differ: Dropbox Plus lists 30 days to restore deleted files. That is a stated feature of Plus, not a universal guarantee for every provider or plan. Check the plan’s current recovery conditions before relying on cloud storage as your only copy.
Rank #4
- Slim durable design to help take your important files with you
- Vast capacities up to 6TB[1] to store your photos, videos, music, important documents and more
- Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
- Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
- 3-year limited warranty
Are the listed prices available everywhere?
No. The prices in this comparison are US listings observed October 3, 2026, not global prices. Google notes that pricing varies by location and taxes; Apple says some features are unavailable in certain countries or regions. Other providers can also change tiers and terms by market. Check the linked provider page using your country and preferred billing term.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- Slim durable design to help take your important files with you
- Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
- Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
- 3-year limited warranty
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.
