Best Cloud Storage for Photos (2026): 7 Compared on Real Pricing
Best Cloud Storage for Photos (2026): 7 Compared on Real Pricing
How we make money: if you buy pCloud through our links, pCloud pays us a commission. You pay the same price. None of the other six services pay us, and those links go straight to their official pricing pages.
Every service here will back up your phone’s camera roll. The real differences show up later: what a few terabytes cost year after year, whether your RAW files survive untouched, who can see your photos, how easily your family can share space, and how well you can find one picture among 50,000. We compared seven options people actually weigh, using each provider’s live pricing page, help docs, and published reviews. The short answer is below.
Our picks at a glance
US prices, Oct 5, 2026pCloud
Best for keeping a large photo library for years. 2 TB is $99.99/yr, or $499 once for a lifetime plan. RAW and video files are stored unchanged. Zero-knowledge encryption is a paid add-on, and Google Photos and iCloud have smarter face and object search.
- Google Photos: smartest search and editing15 GB free · 2 TB for $99.99/yrRead more
- iCloud+: best for iPhone and Apple families5 GB free · 2 TB for $9.99/moRead more
- Amazon Photos: best if you already have PrimeUnlimited photos with Prime · 5 GB videoRead more
- OneDrive: best value with Microsoft 3651 TB plus Office apps for $99.99/yrRead more
- Dropbox: best for sending big files2 GB free · 2 TB for $9.99/mo yearlyRead more
- Flickr Pro: best for sharing with photographersUnlimited for $82/yr · no RAWRead more
Comparison table
US prices before tax, from each provider’s pricing page on October 5, 2026. Prices are for the 2 TB plan (or closest) unless noted.
| Service | Best for | Free storage | 2 TB per year | Monthly | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pCloud | Long-term library, RAW | Up to 10 GB | $99.99 | $9.99 | $499 once |
| Google One | Search and editing | 15 GB, shared | $99.99 Google AI Plus | $9.99 | No |
| iCloud+ | iPhone, Apple families | 5 GB | $119.88 billed monthly | $9.99 | No |
| Amazon Photos | Prime members | 5 GB | $139 Prime: unlimited photos | $14.99 Prime | No |
| OneDrive | Microsoft 365 users | Not listed | No 2 TB plan 1 TB: $99.99 | 1 TB: $9.99 | No |
| Dropbox | Sharing big files | 2 GB | $119.88 Plus, billed yearly | $11.99 | No |
| Flickr Pro | Photo community | 50 private items | $82 unlimited, no RAW | $11 | No |
What 2 TB of photos actually costs per year
2 TB holds a big family archive or a few years of camera RAW files. Here’s the yearly cost for one person storing 2 TB of photos, using the cheapest way each provider sells it, before tax.
| Service and plan | Per year | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Flickr Pro (annual) | $82 | Unlimited full-resolution photos, but no RAW uploads, videos capped at 1 GB and 1080p, and no refunds |
| pCloud Premium Plus (annual) | $99.99 | Add pCloud Encryption for $49.99/yr if you want zero-knowledge privacy. Or pay $499 once for lifetime |
| Google AI Plus, 2 TB (annual) | $99.99 | Space is shared with Gmail and Drive. Includes Gemini features. Can share with up to 5 others |
| iCloud+ 2 TB | $119.88 | Billed monthly at $9.99. Can share with up to 5 family members |
| Dropbox Plus (yearly) | $119.88 | $143.88 if paid monthly. For 1 person |
| Amazon Prime (Amazon Photos) | $139 | Unlimited photos, but only 5 GB for videos. Larger storage plans are priced only after you sign in |
| Microsoft OneDrive | n/a | Personal plans stop at 1 TB per person. Family ($129.99/yr) gives up to 6 people 1 TB each |
The lifetime math: pCloud’s 2 TB lifetime plan costs $499 once, about five years of its $99.99 annual plan. Over 10 years, that works out to about $50 a year, half the price of the $99.99 subscriptions above. The catch is that you pay it all upfront, and “lifetime” means your lifetime or 99 years (whichever is shorter), assuming pCloud stays in business.
Privacy, RAW files, family sharing, and photo search
Price isn’t everything with photos. These are the differences that matter once your library is large. “Zero-knowledge” means only you hold the encryption key, so the provider can’t see your files. pCloud sells it as a paid add-on (a Crypto folder), and Apple offers it as an opt-in setting called Advanced Data Protection.
| Service | Photo search | RAW files | Family sharing | Zero-knowledge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pCloud | Basic: timeline, map, opt-in AI | Stored unchanged | Family plans, 5 users | Paid add-on |
| Google Photos | Best: people, places, things | Most RAW formats | Up to 5 others | No |
| iCloud+ | Strong: people, pets, places | Yes, via Photos | Up to 5 others | Optional, off by default |
| Amazon Photos | People and things search | Common formats | Family Vault, 6 people | No |
| OneDrive | Limited | Stored as files | 6 people, 1 TB each | No |
| Dropbox | Basic gallery only | Stored as files | Plus is 1 person | No |
| Flickr Pro | Manual tags and albums | Not supported | Individual only | No |
The honest summary: if finding photos by face or by “beach 2019” matters most, Google Photos and iCloud are ahead of pCloud. If privacy, untouched originals, and long-term cost matter most, pCloud is ahead, especially with the Encryption add-on.
The 7 services, reviewed
Each review covers what the service is best at, the limits that matter, and who should skip it.
pCloud: best for keeping a large library for years
- Free planYes: up to 10 GB
- 2 TB$99.99/yr · $9.99 monthly · $499 lifetime
- CompanySwiss; EU or US data storage
pCloud is general cloud storage with a growing photo layer on top. That makes it a strong home for a photo archive: RAW, video, and edited files are stored exactly as you upload them, with no compression and no special photo quotas. Plans are 500 GB, 2 TB, and 10 TB at $4.99, $9.99, and $29.99 a month, or $49.99, $99.99, and $299.99 a year. pCloud is also one of the few services that sells lifetime plans: $219, $499, and $1,499 one-time on October 5, 2026 (the page showed these as discounts from $279, $709, and $2,799). Family lifetime plans give up to 5 users their own space: $749 for 2 TB or $1,849 for 10 TB.
Be clear on privacy. Standard pCloud plans encrypt files in transit (TLS) and on its servers (256-bit AES), which is the same model as most rivals: pCloud holds the keys. Zero-knowledge, client-side encryption is pCloud Encryption, a separate add-on at $4.99/mo, $49.99/yr, or $150 lifetime, and it covers files in a dedicated Crypto folder. pCloud Photos (timeline, map view, and opt-in AI grouping) is newer and simpler than Google Photos or Apple Photos.
Pros
- Pay once: 2 TB lifetime for $499, about five years of the annual price
- RAW, video, and any file stored unchanged, with no photo-only quotas
- Choose EU or US storage; previous file versions and 30-day recovery
- Family lifetime plans for up to 5 users, each with their own space
Cons
- Zero-knowledge encryption costs extra ($49.99/yr or $150 lifetime)
- Face and object search are well behind Google Photos and iCloud
- “Lifetime” means your lifetime or 99 years, and relies on pCloud staying in business
- Only a 14-day money-back window; no refunds for unused time after that
Skip it if you mainly want automatic face search and editing (choose Google Photos), or your whole family lives on iPhones (choose iCloud+).
Google Photos (Google One): smartest search and editing
- Free plan15 GB, shared with Gmail and Drive
- 2 TB$99.99/yr · $9.99 monthly
- Pricing modelGoogle One plans, shared storage
Google Photos is the best at finding and fixing photos. It groups faces, understands places and things, and has strong editing built in. Storage comes from Google One: Basic 100 GB ($1.99/mo or $19.99/yr), Google AI Plus with 2 TB ($9.99/mo or $99.99/yr), and Google AI Pro with 5 TB ($19.99/mo or $199.99/yr). Every plan can be shared with up to 5 others. Photos backed up in Original quality, including most RAW files, count toward your storage.
Pros
- Best-in-class search by people, places, and things
- Strong editing tools and automatic albums
- Share any plan with up to 5 others
- Backs up most RAW formats
Cons
- Storage is shared with Gmail and Google Drive
- The 2 TB plan is now bundled with Gemini AI features
- No zero-knowledge encryption option
- “Storage saver” compresses photos over 16 MP if you choose it
Skip it if privacy from your provider is the priority, or you’d rather pay once than subscribe forever.
iCloud+: best for iPhone and Apple families
- Free plan5 GB
- 2 TB$9.99/mo (billed monthly)
- Pricing modelMonthly plans, 50 GB to 12 TB
If you use an iPhone, iCloud Photos is the path of least resistance: it’s built into the Photos app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and recognizes people, pets, and places. US plans are $0.99 (50 GB), $2.99 (200 GB), $9.99 (2 TB), $29.99 (6 TB), and $59.99 (12 TB) a month, and Apple says you’re billed monthly. Every iCloud+ plan can be shared with up to five other family members. You can also turn on Apple’s optional Advanced Data Protection, which extends end-to-end encryption to iCloud Photos.
Pros
- Seamless on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
- Share storage with up to 5 family members
- Optional end-to-end encryption with Advanced Data Protection
- Plans scale up to 12 TB
Cons
- Billed monthly, with no annual discount on Apple’s pricing page
- Only 5 GB free
- Awkward on Android and Windows
- Advanced Data Protection is off by default
Skip it if anyone in your household uses Android, or you want a cheaper long-term option.
Amazon Photos: best if you already have Prime
- Free plan5 GB for all Amazon customers
- With PrimeUnlimited photos + 5 GB video
- Prime price$139/yr or $14.99/mo
Amazon Photos is the best deal on this list if you already pay for Prime: unlimited full-resolution photo storage, including common RAW formats (NEF, CR2, CR3, ARW, ORF, with limited DNG support), at no extra cost. A Family Vault lets up to six people, including you, each get their own unlimited photo storage. The limit is video: Prime includes only 5 GB for videos and other files. Extra storage starts at $1.99/mo for 100 GB, but Amazon shows larger plan prices only after you sign in.
Pros
- Unlimited full-resolution photos, including RAW, with Prime
- Family Vault: up to 6 people with their own unlimited photo storage
- Photo prints and Echo Show and Fire TV display built in
Cons
- Only 5 GB for videos
- Leave Prime and you drop to 5 GB total
- Larger storage plan prices are hidden until you sign in
- No zero-knowledge encryption
Skip it if you shoot a lot of video, or you’d be paying for Prime only for photo storage.
Microsoft OneDrive: best value with Microsoft 365
- Storage100 GB, or 1 TB per person
- Paid from$19.99/yr (100 GB) · $99.99/yr (1 TB)
- Family$129.99/yr, up to 6 people × 1 TB
OneDrive makes sense if you’d pay for Word and Excel anyway. Microsoft 365 Personal ($99.99/yr or $9.99/mo) includes 1 TB plus the Office desktop apps. Family ($129.99/yr or $12.99/mo) gives up to six people 1 TB each, which is excellent value for a household. Basic is 100 GB for $19.99/yr. The ceiling is 1 TB per person on these plans, so a single 2 TB photo library doesn’t fit.
Pros
- Office desktop apps included from Personal up
- Family plan: 6 TB total for $129.99/yr
- Ransomware protection for photos and files
Cons
- Maximum 1 TB per person on personal plans
- Photo search and organizing are limited next to Google and Apple
- No zero-knowledge encryption
Skip it if one person needs more than 1 TB for photos.
Dropbox: best for sending big files
- Free plan2 GB
- 2 TB (Plus)$9.99/mo yearly · $11.99 monthly
- Pricing modelPlus is for 1 person
Dropbox is excellent file storage and sharing, and it keeps RAW files exactly as uploaded. Plus gives one person 2 TB for $9.99/mo billed yearly ($119.88) or $11.99 month to month, with 30 days to restore deleted files and transfers up to 50 GB. It isn’t built as a photo library, though: there’s no Google-style face or object search, and the plans page doesn’t list a family plan.
Pros
- Reliable syncing and easy sharing with clients
- Send files up to 50 GB on Plus
- Stores RAW and edits unchanged
Cons
- Costs more than pCloud or Google for the same 2 TB
- Basic photo browsing, no face search
- Only 2 GB free; Plus covers 1 person
Skip it if you want a photo library rather than a file drive.
Flickr Pro: best for sharing with photographers
- Free planYes (50 private items max)
- Pro$82/yr · $148 for 2 years · $11 monthly
- StorageUnlimited full-resolution photos
Flickr is a photo community first. Pro gives unlimited full-resolution uploads, ad-free browsing, stats, and an Auto-Uploadr, which makes it the cheapest “unlimited” option here at $82 a year. But Flickr’s help center says RAW photos aren’t supported, videos are limited to 1 GB and 1080p, and subscriptions are non-refundable. Use it to share and showcase, not as your only archive.
Pros
- Unlimited full-resolution photos for $82/yr
- Large photography community and groups
- Auto-Uploadr backup for Pro members
Cons
- No RAW support
- Videos capped at 1 GB and 1080p
- Pro subscriptions are non-refundable
Skip it if you shoot RAW or need a private family archive.
How we picked
To be clear about our method: this guide is based on research, not a months-long hands-on test of every service. Here’s what went into it:
- Live pricing pagesWe loaded every provider’s pricing page on October 5, 2026 and recorded monthly, yearly, and lifetime prices.
- Help docsRAW support, video limits, family sharing, refund terms, and how “lifetime” and “unlimited” are defined.
- Published reviewsIndependent reviews and recurring user complaints about search, syncing, and support.
- Fit for real situationsBig archives, RAW shooters, iPhone families, Prime households, and privacy-first users.
Commissions don’t decide the ranking, and we’ve said plainly where our top pick is weaker. pCloud is first because it’s the only option here that combines untouched originals, flexible sizes, an optional zero-knowledge add-on, and a pay-once plan that beats every subscription over time. If smart search matters more to you, Google Photos or iCloud+ is the better fit, and we say so above. We left out computer-backup services such as Backblaze, which back up a whole computer rather than manage a photo library. We also left out pro portfolio sites like SmugMug, which costs from $20/mo billed annually and charges separately for RAW storage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best cloud storage for photos?
It depends on what you value. If you want to own a large library long-term, keep RAW files untouched, and have the option of paying once, we'd start with pCloud. If you want the smartest search (faces, places, things) and editing, Google Photos with a Google One plan is stronger. iPhone users and Apple families will find iCloud+ the most seamless. If you already pay for Amazon Prime, Amazon Photos gives you unlimited full-resolution photo storage at no extra cost (videos are limited to 5 GB).
How much does 2 TB of photo storage cost per year?
Based on pricing pages checked October 5, 2026, for one person: pCloud Premium Plus is $99.99/yr (or $499 once for a lifetime plan), Google AI Plus (2 TB) is $99.99/yr, iCloud+ 2 TB is $9.99/month ($119.88/yr), and Dropbox Plus is $119.88/yr billed yearly. Amazon Photos has no 2 TB photo limit for Prime members ($139/yr Prime) but caps video at 5 GB. Microsoft's personal plans top out at 1 TB per person.
Is pCloud's lifetime plan worth it?
It can be, if you plan to stay. pCloud's 2 TB lifetime plan was $499 one-time on October 5, 2026, which equals about five years of the $99.99 annual plan. After that, it's cheaper than any subscription. The risks: you pay everything upfront, pCloud defines lifetime as the account holder's lifetime or 99 years (whichever is shorter), the plan depends on pCloud staying in business, and the 14-day money-back guarantee is the only refund window. Client-side encryption is a separate purchase.
Which cloud storage for photos is the most private?
Most services encrypt your files in transit and on their servers, but they hold the keys. pCloud sells pCloud Encryption, a client-side, zero-knowledge Crypto folder, as a paid add-on ($49.99/yr or $150 lifetime on October 5, 2026). It isn't included in regular plans. Apple offers optional end-to-end encryption for iCloud Photos through Advanced Data Protection, which you must turn on. Google Photos, Amazon Photos, Dropbox, and OneDrive personal plans don't offer zero-knowledge encryption for your photo library.
Which cloud storage supports RAW photos?
pCloud and Dropbox store RAW files like any other file, unchanged. Google Photos can back up most RAW files, and they count toward your storage. Amazon Photos supports common RAW formats (NEF, CR2, CR3, ARW, ORF, with limited DNG support), and they count as photos under Prime's unlimited photo storage. Flickr doesn't support RAW uploads, according to its help center.
Is Amazon Photos really unlimited?
For photos, yes, if you're a Prime member: Amazon says Prime includes unlimited full-resolution photo storage, plus 5 GB for videos and other files. Up to five more people can join your Family Vault, each with their own unlimited photo storage. If you cancel Prime, you keep the 5 GB of storage all Amazon customers get. Extra storage plans start at $1.99/month for 100 GB. Larger plan prices are shown only after you sign in.
Do you earn money from these recommendations?
Only from pCloud. If you buy through our pCloud links, pCloud pays us a commission at no extra cost to you. None of the other services on this page pay us, and links to them go straight to their official pricing pages.