iCloud+ vs. Google One: Which Cloud Storage is Better for iOS Users

Both iCloud+ and Google One offer cloud storage, file synchronization and additional features but they differ in pricing, privacy, device integration and overall functionality.

iCloud+ is designed to work seamlessly within Apple’s ecosystem, while Google One connects storage with Google Photos, Gmail, Google Drive and other Google services.

The choice comes down to more than storage space. Which service offers better value?

In this guide, we’ll compare iCloud+ and Google One across their storage plans, pricing, features, security, privacy and compatibility.

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:

1. 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:

Cost difference between iCloud+ and Google One

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.

2. 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.

Photo by Hazel Z on Unsplash

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.”

But 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.

3. Photo & Video Backup

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.

Photo by Samsung Memory US on Unsplash

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?It depends on your interest and ease of use. Google Photos is flexible but iCloud+ Photos is more secure.

4. Security and Privacy

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+.

Photo by Dan Nelson on Unsplash

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.

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.

4. File Transfer Limits

You can upload files up to 50 GB in size with iCloud. This is enough to share HD movies, long 4K videos, and big design files. You 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.

5. 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.

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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.

6. Customer Support

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.

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.

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.

FAQs

1. Can I use both iCloud+ and Google One on the same iPhone?

Yes! You can use both on the same iPhone. iCloud+ handles our native Apple apps like Photos, Notes, and Mail, while Google One can back up files, photos, and contacts.

2. Which is more secure in iCloud+ and Google One?

Both are secure, but in different ways. iCloud+ uses end-to-end encryption for many Apple apps, and features like Private Relay and Hide My Email protect our privacy. But Google One offers strong account protections and an optional VPN for premium plans on Pixel Phones.

3. Does Google One work seamlessly with the iOS Photos app?

Google One backs up your photos to Google Photos, which is separate from the iOS Photos app. You can still view and manage your photos in Google Photos, but edits or albums in iOS Photos won’t sync automatically with Google.

4. What happens if I stop paying for iCloud+ or Google One?

Downgrading keeps our data safe, but storage limits drop to 5 GB on iCloud+. So new backups or uploads will automatically stop. Our data remains in Google Drive, Photos, or Gmail in Google One, but we can’t add new files beyond the free 15 GB.

5. Which is cheaper for families on iOS devices?

iCloud+ offers 200 GB and 2 TB plans that can be shared with family members at no extra cost. Google One also allows family sharing for most plans.