iCloud+ vs Google One: Best Cloud Storage for iOS Users

Data storage and transfer were not easy before iCloud and Google storage. We had to carry USB drives everywhere just to move files from one device to another. Data storage was good back then, but it was scary. What if we lose that tiny USB? What if it stops working after some time? These thoughts used to hunt us, and we were in constant fear of losing our precious photos, school projects, and important work files. 

We have also witnessed the era of  SD cards and microSD cards. They were tiny flat chips that we used to insert like a SIM card in our phones to move files in 1999 and 2003. But they were also not trustworthy. People started to report that these chips stopped working for no reason, and they lost their data. But tech giants were already working to solve this problem among all this hassle. 

Everything changed when Apple launched its personal cloud service (iCloud) on October 12, 2011. This shift was beneficial for iPhone and iPad users and Apple users were the only ones to use this iCloud. According to a Fortune Business Insights report, the global cloud storage market is expected to reach 2.47 billion by 2030. This growth shows that cloud services will become essential for both our work and personal lives. But the cloud was not just Apple’s playground anymore. Google also released its cloud-based file storage and synchronization service (Google Drive) soon after, on April 24, 2012. Everyone started shifting to a digital cloud system to share their files, photos, and backups. But this was just a start. 

Google and Apple started a cloud war where they continuously upgraded their storage services. Google built its own powerful storage solution called Google One. What started as Google Drive has grown into a complete subscription service. But Apple was not the one to be left behind. They also offered premium upgrades in iCloud+ after a few years of Google One. These upgrades left many of us confused. 

Although previous free versions have limitations, are these premium ones truly worth it? Should we stick with Apple’s integrated iCloud+ or consider Google One for data storage? This decision isn’t as simple as it seems. iOS users often find themselves confused between Apple’s ecosystem and Google’s popular apps like Gmail, Photos, and Docs. 

Although both cloud services have their unique strengths and limitations, there is constant debate about which one is best for iOS users. Does iCloud+ offer more benefits compared to Google One? Therefore, we are going to discuss a detailed comparison of iCloud+ and Google One to answer these questions. Does Google sell or scan our information to third parties? We will also cover everything from storage plans, pricing, security, apps, and compatibility of Google One with iCloud+.

iCloud to iCloud+

Apple introduced iCloud on 6 June 2011 during the WWDC event. It was launched to make it easy for Apple users to store their files, photos, contacts, and backups in sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. iCloud gained massive popularity soon after its launch. It replaced MobileMe and quickly became an essential part of the Apple ecosystem. iCloud had 20 million users within a week after launch. Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, said,

“Today, it is a real hassle and very frustrating to keep all your information and content up-to-date across all your devices. iCloud keeps your important information and content up to date across all your devices.” 

Apple’s idea of iCloud was to make it easy for its users to share data, but iCloud grew beyond just storage over the years. It became an essential part of services like iCloud Photos, Find My iPhone, and iCloud Drive. The service had an estimated 850 million users in 2018. 

As user needs expanded and online privacy concerns grew, Apple introduced iCloud+ in 2021. It wasn’t a replacement but an upgrade in iCloud. iCloud+ brought premium features and tools like Private Relay and Hide My Email to strengthen our privacy. But is iCloud+ better than Google One?

Google Drive to Google One

Google joined the cloud storage game a year later in 2012 with Google Drive. This cloud service was designed to work with Gmail, Google Docs, and many other Google services. Google Drive quickly became popular because of its free storage and massive user base. We still get flashbacks when we first used Google Drive to store our photos. It was easy and cost-free, but Google didn’t stop there.Google was the first one to expand its storage offering as user needs grew. They introduced Google One in 2018. It replaced paid Google Drive plans and added extra features like family sharing, customer support, and perks such as credits for Google Store purchases. Google One is the subscription plan for users who need more than the free 15 GB shared across Gmail, Drive, and Photos. But the best thing is that it also provides benefits like VPN services and AI-powered tools for Google Photos, like Apple.

Features of iCloud+ and Google One Compared

Here is the comparison of iCloud+ with Google One. Let’s see which works better for iOS users:

Pricing & Plans

The first thing that comes to our mind when we think about purchasing cloud storage is the price. Although the prices of both cloud storage are almost equal, they vary to some extent. Apple iCloud+ plans provide us with a wide range of options, from light to very heavy ones. All these plans include features like iCloud Private Relay, Hide My Email, Custom Email Domain, HomeKit Secure Video, and Family Sharing (up to 5 other people). Google One also offers basic storage and premium plans with AI-enhanced features. The price structure differs by region, but here is the general comparison:

But it still leaves many of us confused about which one is best. iCloud+ works well at lower and mid-tiers (50 GB, 200 GB, 2 TB). Its pricing is fair, and we also get Apple’s privacy features. But Google prices are more decent for content creators who need massive storage space like 20TB. Google One provides a better cost per gigabyte.

A Reddit user shared in a thread:

“Price-wise, Google is slightly cheaper with its annual 2TB plan as compared to iCloud.”

Apps and Compatibility

We don’t want to jump between different apps or tabs just to check our photos or backup files. But many iOS users still end up doing exactly that. Apple provided us with iCloud+ as the default cloud service, but sometimes it feels like we are struggling between multiple apps to get things done. It’s not only about how much space we get in iCloud, but it’s also about comfort and ease of use. 

Apple designed iCloud+ for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users. We get a bundle of apps and features that come built in iPhones. Our photos sync automatically across devices and notes update instantly no matter where we open them. We use keychain, iCloud email and Drive without any worry. But Apple’s cloud storage is struggling for those who share files with Android users. It’s the drawback of iCloud+ that we cannot access our data on other devices except Apple. 

Many people access iCloud+ via iCloud+ for Windows or the web, but it is not as fluid as on Apple hardware. iCloud+ is not compatible with any other device out there except Apple’s and it creates many hurdles for iPhone users. When we share any file on iCloud+ with our team, they cannot open and view it with Android devices. A Reddit user summed this scenario up,

“You can have Google on iOS and Android, but you can have iCloud only on Apple. So if you ever want to escape Apple, it’s going to hurt like hell.”

Another user shared his concerns that Apple is for those who want to live here forever. He also added that transferring from one cloud to another is no fun but with Google’s services, you get good experiences regardless of your device. Therefore, many iPhone users end up downloading the full lineup of Google apps. It’s not built in but it works for all Android and iPhone users. The best thing is that the Google One app has a glowing 4.7/5 rating on the App Store. Google’s cloud sharing strategy helps it attract a large audience. We can access our files and photos on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and any web browser with Google One. You should get iCloud+ only if you love to stay within Apple’s ecosystem, but Google One is a more practical option. You can open files and even share photos without any hassle.

Photo & Video Backup

We all love taking photos and videos, but the real headache comes when storage runs out. iCloud+ Photos and Google One Photos are the two main choices for iOS users. Apple only gives us 5GB free storage so we have to upgrade to iCloud+. iCloud+ backs up our photos and videos in original quality and syncs instantly across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It is super easy for iPhone users because it’s built right into the Photos app. We can view them from any Apple device after backup. 

Google One also keeps our photos and videos in original quality in Google Photos. Everything we used to upload, photos, videos, and were free until June 2021 in Google Photos. But now we have to purchase the Google one after the free storage ends. 

iCloud+ Photos gives us built-in editing tools inside the Photos app, including crop, adjust brightness, filters, live photo tweaks, etc. But Google Photos is more advanced. We can enjoy premium editing features like HDR effects, portrait light, and sky filters. iCloud+ Photos organizes our media by date, albums, and memories. But Google Photos uses AI to auto-group people, pets, locations, and even objects (like “beach” or “birthday”). This smart search helps us to organize everything when we have thousands of pictures. 

But the question is, which one is better for iOS users? Should you download Google Photos or stick to iCloud+ Photos? It depends on your interest and ease of use. Google Photos is flexible but iCloud+ Photos is more secure. A Reddit user responded to this debate:

Apple isn’t scanning through your stuff, at least not yet. Google is well-documented that it scans through your stuff and will even block you from accessing your files. And in some cases, we will permanently ban your account. Potentially blocking you from accessing any service you have associated with that email.

Security and Privacy

Security and privacy are two of our main concerns when we think about anything that is digital. We cannot compromise on our privacy especially on a cloud that knows everything about us. We upload photos, videos, CNICs, and many important documents for our easy access, but they have become an easy target for hackers. So it’s important to choose the right cloud service to protect our data. We have heard people screaming and debating about Apple’s privacy. 

Apple provides us with Private Relay in iCloud+ which works like a mini-VPN. It hides our browsing activity from network providers and even Apple itself. There is also the Hide My Email feature, which lets us create random email addresses from one email. Many people love this feature because it allows them to sign up for apps and websites without exposing their personal email. We can also add on end-to-end encryption for things like iMessage, Keychain, and Health data in iCloud+.

Private Relay In iCloud+

But Google One doesn’t stay behind. It offered Google One VPN in its premium plans, which used to secure our connection on public Wi-Fi. But Google officially shut down the Google One VPN service in mid-2024 because of low user engagement. They integrated VPN for Pixel phones later, which is separate from the discontinued Google One service. 

One of the best features of Google One is the dark web monitoring. It alerts us if our personal information appears in data leaks. It also protects our account with 2-step verification and security checkups. Google does encrypt files while sending and storing them, but many people say its business depends more on user data than Apple’s. But they are true to some extent. 

Google Docs recently locked K. Renee out without any reason, and it sparked a controversy on social media.  She received an alert that

“You no longer have permission to view this document,” and “If you believe this is an error, contact the document owner.” 

She was working on ten projects and wrote 222,000 words and hundreds of pages across multiple files and folders on Google Docs. But all of a sudden they were no longer accessible on her devices. She received a message from Google stating, “You cannot share this item because it has been flagged as inappropriate,” but she could not tell what part of her writing was deemed “inappropriate.” Because she sometimes writes spicy scenes as a romance writer. 

But this was a reminder that our activities are plainly visible to Google. It can decide what will happen to our files and is also responsible for providing data to law enforcement if it receives a valid legal request. A Reddit user shared in a thread that he uses iCloud+ due to privacy and easy sync. He added that;

“People need to wake up and understand how privacy-invasive Google is. Their business practices are just criminal, and most people don’t care or know, which is alarming. It’s one thing to use free services and know you’re the product, but to actually PAY Google to still have them spy on you is just wild.”

Therefore, some iPhone users are scared of using Google One. Choose iCloud+ because it feels more private, and Apple markets itself as not relying on ads or data profiling. But go for Google One if you want security tools like VPN access and leak monitoring on iOS.

File Transfer Limits

Sometimes we try to send a video lecture or an important file to our friends, but that annoying “file too large” error pops up. But we don’t have to worry about this anymore with iCloud+ and Google One. We can upload files up to 50 GB in size with iCloud. This is enough for us to share HD movies, long 4K videos, and big design files. We can also share a link with others after uploading files to iCloud+. 

But Google One storage allows files up to 750 GB per day and individual uploads as large as 5 TB. This file transfer limit is huge compared to iCloud+.  iCloud+’s 50 GB per file is more than enough for casual users. But choose Google One if you are dealing professionally with huge video projects or massive archives.

File Versioning

Sometimes we edit a document, save it, and later wish we could go back to the earlier version. This is called file versioning, but not every cloud service provides this feature. Although Apple and Google cloud services are the best, Google takes an extra point here due to convenience. It saves us from panic, stress, and the guilt of losing a file. iCloud only stores previous versions of our documents in the File Recovery option for 30 days. It does not have any option to keep particular file versions forever like on Google OneDrive. A Reddit user shared in a thread:

“iCloud does not have versioning. Find out when you next have a corrupt file or save a file with wrong content, and why that sucks.”

Google One keeps older versions of non-Google file types (like PDFs, Word, videos) for up to 30 days or 100 versions. But the best part is that version history is basically unlimited for native Google files (Docs, Sheets, Slides). So we can go back years and even see our first file there. This feature of Google One makes it best for long-term projects and collaborations. 

One user said he switched from iCloud back to OneDrive. The reasons were that OneDrive is cheaper and sharing files is much easier. If you’re only using iCloud for quick backups and light file editing, its 30-day window works fine. But Google One offers way more flexibility if you need a longer and more detailed version history.

Customer Support

We all get frustrated when cloud storage glitches or we can’t figure out how to recover a file.  Apple has a reputation for keeping its ecosystem smooth and stable. iCloud+ rarely crashes or loses data, especially on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. But if something goes wrong we can contact Apple Support via chat, phone, or in-store Genius Bars. Apple’s customer support is strong in countries where Apple has official service, but in-person support is limited in some regions.

Google One stands out with 99.9% uptime for Google Drive. We can access 24/7 live chat and email support from Google for storage issues with premium subscriptions. There was a support tab on the lower right corner of the Google One before June 2024. But Google removed it and added Help in the navigation menu. Google support is usually easy to reach from almost anywhere, but it may feel less personal compared to Apple’s in-store assistance. Many people complained about Google’s customer support recently. A Reddit user wrote:

“I hate having to deal with Google customer service. Doesn’t matter, Google store, Google One, Pixel support. All outsourced and terrible.”

Many other users responded to the thread and added that they are also facing the same issues. They praised Apple for its customer support and stated that there is not a huge price difference between Pixels and iPhones anymore. This shows that people don’t care about paying a few dollars extra, but all they want is a response. We will see how Google will improve its customer service over time, and whether Apple will lead this market.

iCloud Plus setup

Your device needs iOS 15 or later, iPadOS 15 or later, or macOS 12 or later models. You can also access iCloud+ on Windows devices with Windows 10 or later to use most features. Here are four steps to activate iCloud+ on iPhone or iPad:

1. Open Settings and tap your Apple ID.
2. Go to iCloud and then click Manage Storage or iCloud Storage.
3. Tap Buy More Storage or Change Storage Plan.
4. Choose a plan and activate iCloud+ features for a fee.

Here are the five steps to use iCloud+ on Mac:

1. Open System Preferences on your Mac and select “Apple ID”.
2. In the iCloud section, click “Manage”.
3. In the window that opens, click “Change storage plan”.
4. Select the plan you want and click “Next”.
5. Complete the purchase by entering your password.

All our apps, like Photos, Notes, Mail, and Keychain will automatically sync across Apple devices once iCloud+ is activated.

Google One Setup

You need an iOS 12 or later device to use Google One. You can also use Google Drive for Desktop to sync files with Google One storage on a Mac. Here are the four steps to activate Google One on iPhone or iPad:

1. Download and install the Google One app from the App Store.
2. Sign in with your Google account.
3. Tap Storage and select Upgrade to buy more storage if needed.
4. Enable backup for Photos, Contacts, and device data inside the app.

Here are the three steps to use Google One on a Mac:

1. Install Google Drive for Desktop.
2. Sign in with your Google account.
3. Choose which folders to sync with Google One storage.

Google One makes it easy to access our files across iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac.

Cancel an iCloud Plus and Google One Plan

We can easily downgrade our subscription when we don’t need the extra storage or features of iCloud+. Just go to the section where we manage our plan and click “Downgrade Options.” Select a cheaper plan or switch to the free version of iCloud from there, which cancels iCloud+. This change does not happen immediately. The downgrade will cancel at the start of next month for users who pay monthly.

Likewise, it’s easy to adjust our Google One plans in the browser and app. Go to Settings and click on Change Membership Plan to change plans in the app. Select the bigger, smaller, monthly or annual plans to fit your needs from there. We can also cancel or change our plans through the browser. Go to the Google One website and make sure you’re signed in to the correct Google Account. Click Storage on the left side, and then select Get More Storage or scroll down for additional options. Pick your desired plan and follow the onscreen instructions. It changes the plan, but chooses Cancel Membership to downgrade it permanently.

Comparison of iCloud vs. iCloud+ vs. Google Drive vs. Google One

Conclusion

Choosing the right cloud storage for iOS is not going to be confusing anymore. iCloud+ works best if you only use Apple devices because everything syncs smoothly. Its native apps and built-in privacy features like Private Relay and Hide My Email make our lives simple and secure. But Google One offers flexibility and cross-platform compatibility. It keeps our files, photos, and backups accessible anywhere. You should go for Google One if you use a mix of Windows, Android, and iOS devices. 

File versioning, original quality photo backups, and 24/7 support for premium users attract many iOS users. But your choice depends on how you use your devices. Stick with iCloud+ if you don’t want to leave Apple’s ecosystem. But go with Google One if you need more flexibility or if you switch between multiple devices. 

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