Start with the size of the photo and video library you actually plan to back up—not a generic “photos per gigabyte” estimate. Add the space already used by other files in the same account, estimate how quickly your media library is growing, and choose a plan that leaves room for that growth. The right amount depends on your originals, backup quality, recording settings, and how long you want to keep the library online.
How to estimate the storage you need
Use the storage used by your existing originals or backup library as your baseline. Photo counts and video minutes do not translate reliably into a single number of gigabytes: file sizes vary with resolution, format, camera settings, and whether the cloud service stores compressed copies or originals. The official sources below do not establish a universal average photo size, video size, or annual library growth rate.
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- Measure your current media library. Check the storage breakdown on your device or in the service that holds the library you plan to back up. Use the size of the actual files or backup, not a count of items.
- Count other data against the same quota. Include email, documents, device backups, and other users’ files where applicable. A plan’s headline capacity may be shared rather than reserved for photos.
- Estimate your own growth. Compare storage usage across a representative recent period. Extend that observed increase across the number of years you want to retain the library. A travel month or major event may be atypical unless you expect that level of use regularly.
- Add current use and future growth. Combine the existing media library, other content already using the account, and projected media growth.
- Choose a tier above that total. Leave practical headroom, then review usage periodically as your habits, devices, and recording settings change.
This is a planning method, not a claim about typical annual growth. The storage figure shown by your own device or service is more useful than an assumed size for each photo or video.
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Why quality and file type change the calculation
Make sure your estimate matches the copy you intend to keep. Google Photos says it can back up full-resolution RAW images and large 4K video files. Google also says Original quality storage counts against the account limit. A compressed or storage-saver backup may use a different amount of space than originals, so do not base a plan on one quality setting and then switch to another without checking the resulting usage. See Google Photos’ backup and storage information.
#1 Best Overall
- 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.
Very large files
Google Support lists maximum backup limits of 200 MB or 200 megapixels per photo and 10 GB per video. Those are per-item eligibility ceilings, not typical file sizes or a guide to how many items fit in a plan. Check Google’s backup limits and guidance if you work with unusually large media.
Which storage plan fits your library?
Compare usable capacity, not just the number in the plan name. These are examples on official pages checked on October 4, 2026; plan names, prices, availability, and features can change and may vary by region.
Rank #2
- Easily store and access 5TB of 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 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.
| Service | Capacity examples | What shares or defines the allocation |
|---|---|---|
| Apple iCloud+ | On Apple’s US page: 50 GB for $0.99/month; 200 GB for $2.99/month; 2 TB for $9.99/month; 6 TB for $29.99/month; and 12 TB for $59.99/month. | Apple says iCloud Photos keeps high-resolution photos and videos in iCloud. An iCloud+ plan can be shared with up to five family members. Apple describes access on Apple devices, Windows PCs, and iCloud.com. Apple iCloud+ |
| Google accounts include 15 GB. The plans page showed 100 GB Basic at $1.99/month and a 2 TB Google AI Plus example at $9.99/month. | Google storage is shared by Photos, Drive, and Gmail, so those files all draw from the account allocation. Google One plans | |
| Microsoft OneDrive | Microsoft’s quota table listed 5 GB for a free account, 100 GB for Basic, 1 TB for Personal, and 1 TB per person for Family, up to six people. | Cloud storage includes OneDrive files and photos. Microsoft’s table separately lists a 100 GB mailbox quota for these plans. Microsoft storage quotas |
Prices above are listed only where the cited page supplied them. Check your local plan page for current pricing and renewal terms before choosing.
How to choose between services
- Account sharing: Google’s quota also covers Drive and Gmail. Microsoft describes cloud storage as including OneDrive files and photos. Check what else draws from your account before treating the full allowance as photo space.
- Family use: Apple says an iCloud+ plan can be shared with up to five family members. Microsoft lists 1 TB per person for Family, for up to six people. Those allocations work differently, so consider whether your household needs one shared pool or storage assigned per person.
- Quality and workflow: Confirm that the service preserves the resolution and formats you want, and that you can access your library on the devices you use. Google Photos is available on iOS and Android as well as desktop and tablet; Apple describes access across Apple devices, Windows PCs, and iCloud.com.
- Local price and terms: The listed prices are region-specific examples, not a universal comparison. Verify the current offer for your country and the renewal terms.
How many photos fit in 100 GB?
There is no dependable universal item count. A 100 GB plan can hold different numbers of photos and videos depending on their file sizes, backup quality, and how much account space other content uses. Measure your own library and check the service’s current quota rather than converting 100 GB into an assumed number of images or video minutes.
Rank #3
- Easily store and access 1TB to 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. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- 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.
Should you also keep a local copy?
A portable external drive can provide another local copy of a large archive, but it is not cloud storage and does not provide the same off-site access or protection. Treat it as a complement to a cloud backup, not a replacement for an off-site copy. Apple describes iCloud as keeping photos, files, and more backed up and available across locations; that is Apple’s description of its service, not an independent performance guarantee.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Plug-and-play expandability
- SuperSpeed USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps)
Rank #4
- 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.
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