Since its debut in June 2011, Apple’s iCloud has maintained a modest free tier of 5GB. While that amount is undeniably insufficient for most users fifteen years later, my concern lies elsewhere—specifically, with iCloud’s paid subscription options.
History of iCloud Storage Options
For some time now, Apple has provided several iCloud storage tiers: 50GB for $0.99/month, 200GB for $2.99/month, and 2TB for $9.99/month. These rates have not changed since they were first introduced in 2017.
Prior to that, from 2015 to 2017, a $9.99/month subscription granted you only 1TB of storage, while 2TB cost $19.99/month. It’s a positive development that the 2TB plan is now more affordable since 2015, but the removal of the 1TB option has created a notable gap in the offerings—this is an issue I will elaborate on later.
Since the pricing update in 2017, Apple has integrated additional features into iCloud, including Private Relay, Custom Email Domains, Hide My Email, and HomeKit Secure Video for subscribers of the 2TB plan or higher. In 2021, the company also rebranded its iCloud storage plans as iCloud+.
In 2023, Apple recognized a rising demand for increased iCloud+ storage capacities. Following the introduction of Apple One in 2020, it became apparent that subscribers could acquire Apple One Premier for $34.95/month (which provides 2TB of iCloud) and combine it with a separate 2TB iCloud subscription for an overall storage of 4TB.
While it’s uncertain how many users opted for Apple One Premier solely for the additional 2TB of iCloud storage, Apple took a step forward by adding new 6TB and 12TB iCloud+ options in 2023, priced at $29.99/month and $59.99/month, respectively.
Despite the addition of new, larger tiers, Apple left the original storage plans intact. The options first presented in 2017 still exist, now accompanied by higher tiers for users with significant storage needs.
The current three-tier structure (excluding the extreme options) seems to be working well for Apple. I’ve often advocated for a straightforward 1TB option to fill the gap between 200GB and 2TB, but there might be a strategic reason for this omission. Instead, I propose an easier solution.
My Suggestion
Rather than introducing a new lower tier, why not enhance the storage allocations across the board? After nearly ten years of maintaining the same 50GB and 200GB plans, I believe it’s time to update these offerings. As file sizes continue to expand, 50GB barely covers most users’ iPhone backups today.
Here’s my suggestion:
- Free: 5GB (admittedly not ideal, but it’s not the primary focus here)
- $1.99/month: 100GB
- $3.99/month: 400GB
- $9.99/month: 2TB
My inspiration for the 100GB plan comes from Google, which currently offers a similar option for $1.99/month. Given that both Google and Apple charge the same $9.99/month for 2TB, I find it a reasonable comparison for pricing.
The proposed 400GB tier priced at $3.99/month offers a good balance: it provides extra storage at a competitive rate while not overly undercutting the value of the 2TB plan.
Some might argue that Apple creates this gap between the 200GB and 2TB options to encourage users to pay for excess space. However, I believe that many customers who hit the 200GB limit often resort to reducing their iCloud usage by storing files locally or deleting unnecessary items instead.
Conclusion
For many users, utilizing 2TB of storage feels distant, leading them to question the necessity of paying for it upfront. My proposed pricing structure aims to narrow that gap and offers a more appropriate amount of storage for today’s requirements.
When Apple rolled out the current storage tiers, iPhones were just beginning their transition from 32GB to 64GB of baseline storage. Nowadays, users often choose between 128GB and 256GB, depending on the model, highlighting the need for the iCloud tiers to adapt accordingly.
Do you agree with these proposed storage tiers, or do you prefer a different approach? Many might advocate for an increase in the free storage allocation as well, which would surely be a welcome improvement. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Check out my favorite iPhone accessories on Amazon:
Follow StrongChimp on: X/Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram
: We use income-earning auto affiliate links. More.
