DB LabsWhat Are the iCloud Storage Plans in 2026?
Apple offers six iCloud storage tiers in 2026: 5 GB free, 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. All paid plans include iCloud+ features like Private Relay, Hide My Email, and HomeKit Secure Video. The 200 GB plan is the best value for most individuals, while the 2 TB plan offers the best per-person value for families sharing via Family Sharing.
All iCloud Plans and Pricing
| Plan | Monthly Price | Annual Cost | iCloud+ Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 GB | Free | $0 | No |
| 50 GB | $0.99 | $11.88 | Yes |
| 200 GB | $2.99 | $35.88 | Yes |
| 2 TB | $9.99 | $119.88 | Yes |
| 6 TB | $29.99 | $359.88 | Yes |
| 12 TB | $59.99 | $719.88 | Yes |
What iCloud+ Includes
Every paid iCloud plan automatically includes iCloud+ features at no extra cost.
- Private Relay: Encrypts your Safari browsing traffic through two separate relays so no single entity (including Apple) can see both who you are and what you visit.
- Hide My Email: Generate unique, random email addresses that forward to your real inbox. Great for sign-ups and avoiding spam.
- HomeKit Secure Video: Store security camera footage in iCloud without it counting against your storage. Supports 1 camera on 50 GB, 5 cameras on 200 GB, and unlimited cameras on 2 TB+.
- Custom Email Domain: Use a personalized email domain with iCloud Mail.
Which Plan Is Right for You?
50 GB: Minimal Users
Enough for iPhone backup and a small photo library (under 5,000 photos with no video). You will outgrow this quickly if you take photos regularly. Not recommended for long-term use.
200 GB: Best for Most Individuals
Handles 30,000-50,000 photos, multiple device backups, iCloud Drive documents, and app data comfortably. At $2.99/month, it is the best value tier. Includes 5 HomeKit Secure Video cameras.
2 TB: Best for Families
Ideal when shared with up to 5 family members via Family Sharing. Each person gets private storage from the shared pool. Supports unlimited HomeKit cameras, large photo libraries across multiple devices, and years of backups. At $9.99/month split across a family, it can cost as little as $2/month per person.
6 TB and 12 TB: Professionals
Designed for professional photographers, videographers, and people with massive media libraries. If you shoot ProRAW photos and 4K/ProRes video, you may need these higher tiers. Most consumers never need more than 2 TB.
Family Sharing: How It Works
Family Sharing lets up to 5 additional family members share your iCloud+ storage plan. Each person has their own private space, and no one can see each other's files, photos, or backups.
- The plan organizer pays for the storage and can view how much each member uses (but not what they store).
- Set up at Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing > iCloud Storage.
- Each member must accept the invitation and opt into shared storage.
- If the organizer downgrades or cancels, family members revert to the free 5 GB plan.
Reduce Your iCloud Costs
Clean your photo library before upgrading your iCloud plan. You might not need more storage — just fewer unwanted photos.
Free · iPhone · iOS 16+ · 100% on-device, zero uploads
Free · iPhone · iOS 16+
The Bottom Line
The 200 GB iCloud+ plan at $2.99/month is the best value for most individuals. For families, the 2 TB plan shared via Family Sharing offers the most storage per dollar. Before upgrading, clean your photo library to make sure you actually need more space rather than less clutter. The free 5 GB tier is essentially unusable for anyone who takes photos or backs up their iPhone.