Apple’s iCloud+ value depends on storage needs and device use
Engadget compares Apple’s paid iCloud+ tiers, from 50GB to 12TB, and the added services available to subscribers.
Apple’s iCloud+ plans can be worthwhile for users managing multiple devices or storing substantial photo, video and document libraries, according to an assessment by Engadget.
Apple has offered 5GB of free iCloud storage since the service launched in 2011. That capacity can quickly be consumed by backups, messages, passwords, notes, emails, photos, videos and documents, which iCloud can synchronise across Apple devices.
Engadget lists the 50GB plan at $0.99 a month and the 200GB plan at $2.99 a month. It suggests 50GB for lighter users needing to sync contacts, app settings, messages and documents, while 200GB may better suit users with larger photo and video libraries.
Apple also offers 2TB, 6TB and 12TB plans for heavier users, including those storing RAW photographs, 4K video or large Mac files. Engadget notes that users moving between three or more Apple devices may have greater need for additional cloud capacity. Prices for those larger plans were not specified in the assessment.
The paid service includes Private Relay, Hide My Email and access to HomeKit Secure Video. Larger plans support more security cameras, making the subscription potentially more useful for households using HomeKit cameras. Apple One bundles iCloud+ with services including Apple Music, Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade, although value depends on which services a user regularly uses.
Local device capacity is separate from iCloud storage. While many current Apple devices offer 256GB of on-device storage, that does not increase the cloud allocation available for synchronisation and backups.
