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#5 of 8 in Cloud storage services

iCloud+ review

Apple's cloud service, built into iPhone, iPad and Mac. Every account gets 5 GB free, and paid iCloud+ tiers add more storage, Private Relay and Hide My Email.

Last checked · Available: Global

7.3/10, Good

Weighted across
5 criteria

Strongest on ecosystem & sharing (8.5).

See every score and reason

Scorecard

How iCloud+ scores

Each criterion is scored 0-10 from public information, with the reason underneath. The total is the weighted average.
Privacy & encryption25% weight8.0

Optional Advanced Data Protection extends end-to-end encryption to most data.

Value for money20% weight7.5

Fair pricing with Family Sharing, plus privacy extras in iCloud+.

Free tier15% weight4.5

Only 5 GB free, which device backups fill quickly.

Sync & apps20% weight7.0

Seamless on Apple devices, a Windows app exists, but no Android or Linux app.

Ecosystem & sharing20% weight8.5

Deep Apple integration with Pages, Numbers and Keynote.

Best for

People who use Apple devices.

Not ideal for

Windows-first or Android households.

Trade-offs

Pros and cons

What stands out

  • Built into Apple devices
  • Optional Advanced Data Protection
  • Private Relay and Hide My Email on paid tiers

Worth knowing

  • Only 5 GB free
  • Limited outside Apple devices
  • Advanced Data Protection is not offered to new UK users

At a glance

Key facts and pricing

As iCloud+ publishes them. “Not published” means we could not confirm the figure.
Free storage
5 GB
End-to-end encrypted by default
No
Lifetime plan option
No
Official Linux sync app
No
Built-in document editing
Yes
Company base
United States
Price band
Mid-range
Based in
United States

Pricing: 5 GB free; several paid iCloud+ tiers up to multi-terabyte, shareable through Family Sharing. Free plan: yes.

Head to head

Compare iCloud+ with

Also consider

iCloud+ alternatives

Scored on the same rubric in the same list.

Full cloud storage services ranking

Questions

iCloud+: common questions

Is iCloud+ good?

iCloud+ scores 7.3 out of 10 in our cloud storage services scorecard, rank 5 of 8. Apple's cloud service, built into iPhone, iPad and Mac. Every account gets 5 GB free, and paid iCloud+ tiers add more storage, Private Relay and Hide My Email.

Who is iCloud+ best for?

Best for people who use Apple devices. Less suited to windows-first or Android households.

How much does iCloud+ cost?

5 GB free; several paid iCloud+ tiers up to multi-terabyte, shareable through Family Sharing. Free plan: yes.

What are iCloud+'s key terms and features?

Free storage: 5 GB; End-to-end encrypted by default: No; Lifetime plan option: No; Official Linux sync app: No; Built-in document editing: Yes; Company base: United States. As published by the brand, last checked 2026-11-01.

What is a good alternative to iCloud+?

Google One (Google Drive) (7.8/10) is the top-scoring option in the same list. See the full cloud storage services ranking for every alternative.

Transparency

Sources and how we make money

Sources we used

Checked 1 Nov 2026. Brands change terms often; confirm on the brand's site before you buy.

How we make money

Some links to brands may earn AltFTool a commission. That never changes a score, a rank or whether a brand is listed. Scores come only from the criteria above.

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