Guide
How much cloud storage really costs.
Six services, six different pricing models. This guide puts them side by side so you don't have to open six tabs — including the ones with no affiliate program, because they're still relevant to the comparison.
How we compare
This comparison covers six services: iCloud+, Google One, Dropbox, pCloud, IDrive and Backblaze. Right now IDrive and pCloud have an active affiliate link on this page — Backblaze and the other three (iCloud+, Google One, Dropbox) are still included because they're relevant options, and the comparison stops being useful if we exclude them just because they don't generate a commission. That's the honest test of a real comparison: if a service with no commission still shows up when it's the best fit for a use case, the comparison isn't biased toward whatever pays more.
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them, ArchivoLab may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. This does not change what we recommend — the comparison stays the same with or without a commission involved.
Price comparison table
Prices in US dollars (the billing currency for most of these services); the local-currency equivalent varies with the exchange rate. Not all of them use the same pricing model: some charge by fixed GB tiers, others by unlimited backup of a single device.
| Service | Entry tier | ~2 TB tier | Pricing model |
|---|---|---|---|
| iCloud+ | $0.99/mo (50 GB) | $9.99/mo | Monthly only, no annual plan |
| Google One | $1.99/mo (100 GB) | $9.99/mo ($99.99/yr) | Monthly or annual |
| Dropbox | Starts at 2 TB | $11.99/mo (billed annually) or $19.99/mo | Monthly or annual, no small tier |
| pCloud | $4.99/mo (500 GB) | $9.99/mo ($99.99/yr) or $399 one-time | Subscription or one-time lifetime payment |
| IDrive | 5 TB from $6.99/mo the first year (billed annually) | The Personal plan already starts at 5 TB — there's no 2 TB tier | Promotional first-year price; increases to $9.99/mo on renewal |
| Backblaze | Doesn't sell by GB | $9/mo or $99/yr (unlimited backup for 1 computer) | Unlimited per device, not by capacity |
"Promotional" entry prices (like IDrive's) usually apply only to the first year and increase on renewal — check the renewal price, not just the welcome price, before subscribing.
Which one fits which use case
Automatic backup of an entire computer: IDrive and Backblaze are built for this — they run in the background and back up whole disks, not just a synced folder. Backblaze is simpler (unlimited backup for one machine, flat price); IDrive lets you back up several devices under one account and gives you more control over what's included.
IDrive Personal — 5 TB
Automatic backup for your PC, Mac, phone and NAS under one account.
- Editor's Choice pick from PCWorld and How-To Geek, among other tech publications.
- Backs up several devices (not just one) under a single plan, with historical snapshots — useful for restoring an earlier version if ransomware infects your files.
- 256-bit AES encryption, with an optional private key that not even IDrive can read.
- Includes BMR (bare-metal recovery) to restore a full computer, not just individual files.
- Promotional entry price for the first year — check the renewal price on the page before subscribing.
$6.99 USD/month in the first year (billed annually) — $9.99/month list price
Read our full IDrive review, with verified pricing and who it's best for.
General storage with a good price per GB: pCloud has one of the best price-to-capacity ratios in the group, especially if you take the one-time lifetime payment instead of a recurring subscription.
pCloud
One of the best price-to-capacity ratios, with a one-time lifetime payment option.
- 500 GB or 2 TB on subscription, or a one-time lifetime payment with no recurring monthly fee.
- A good fit if you'd rather pay once and skip the monthly charge.
From $4.99 USD/mo (500 GB) or $399 one-time (2 TB lifetime)
Read our full pCloud review, with verified pricing and who it's best for.
Deep integration with your ecosystem: if you use iPhone and Mac, iCloud+ syncs with the system with zero friction; if you use Android and Google services, Google One does the same. Neither has an affiliate link in this guide — they're recommended anyway because, for that specific use case, they're the simplest option.
Collaboration and file sharing with a team: Dropbox is still strong here, though it no longer has small pricing tiers — its cheapest plan starts at 2 TB.
Is it worth paying for more space, or compressing what you have?
It depends on how long you've been avoiding the problem. If deleting and compressing files takes you several hours every few months, the real cost isn't just the plan price — it's your time. For most personal use cases, moving up one storage tier (say, from 200 GB to 2 TB) costs less per year than a few hours of repeated cleanup work each month.
Frequently asked questions
What happens to my files if I cancel my subscription?
Most of these services offer a grace period (usually 30 days, check each provider's specific policy) before restricting access or deleting files that exceed the free-tier limit. Don't assume cancellation deletes everything immediately, but also don't assume your files stay safe forever without an active plan.
Does cloud storage replace a local backup?
Not on its own. It's a good "second medium" within the 3-2-1 rule explained in the backup guide, but it's best combined with at least one local copy.
Why don't IDrive and Backblaze show a price per GB like the others?
Because their model isn't "how many GB you buy" — it's "how many devices you back up." Backblaze in particular doesn't cap the amount of data from a single machine — it charges per device, not per capacity.