The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Free cloud storage ranges from 2 GB on Dropbox Basic to up to 15 GB per Google Account. Apple iCloud and Microsoft accounts each list 5 GB free. The headline number can be misleading: Google pools storage across Drive, Gmail and Photos, while Microsoft counts OneDrive and other Microsoft account storage items. Paid plans add capacity, but may also bundle family sharing, recovery, privacy, AI or productivity features.
The prices below are US listings observed on October 3, 2026. Prices, tiers and features vary by market and can change; check your local provider page before buying.
Free and paid cloud storage plans compared
These plans are not identical products: some quotas cover several services, and paid subscriptions may bundle benefits beyond storage.
| Provider | Free storage | Paid example (US listing, Oct. 3, 2026) | What the plan covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 15 GB per Google Account | Basic: 100 GB for $1.99/month; Google AI Plus: 2 TB for $9.99/month; Google AI Pro: 5 TB for $19.99/month | Storage is shared across Drive, Gmail and Google Photos. Google One storage can be shared with up to five other people; higher tiers include AI and other benefits. Google One plans; Google storage help. | |
| Apple iCloud | 5 GB | iCloud+: 50 GB for $0.99/month; 200 GB for $2.99/month; 2 TB for $9.99/month; 6 TB for $29.99/month; 12 TB for $59.99/month | iCloud+ adds privacy and service features. A plan can be shared with up to five other family members; feature availability varies by region. Apple iCloud+. |
| Microsoft OneDrive / Microsoft storage | 5 GB | Microsoft 365 Basic: 100 GB for $1.99/month or $19.99/year; Personal: 1 TB for $9.99/month or $99.99/year | The Microsoft quota covers OneDrive and other Microsoft account storage items. Personal bundles Microsoft 365 apps. Family assigns 1 TB to each of up to six people. Microsoft OneDrive plans; Microsoft storage FAQs. |
| Dropbox | 2 GB | Plus: 2 TB for $9.99/month | Plus lists 30 days to restore deleted files. Family has 2 TB for six users. Online-only files save local device space but require cloud access. Dropbox plans and sync features. |
Google says, “All Google accounts come with up to 15 GB of storage, which is included as part of the total storage offered in other Google One plans.” The up-to-15-GB figure is a Google Account quota, not a separate 15 GB for each of Drive, Gmail and Photos.
#1 Best Overall
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
What your free allowance actually covers
Google: one quota for Drive, Gmail and Photos
Files in Drive, Gmail and Google Photos draw from the same account storage. If email attachments or a photo library already use much of the quota, the space available for documents is correspondingly smaller. Check the storage breakdown in your Google Account before choosing a tier. Google explains its storage quota.
Microsoft: OneDrive plus other account storage
Microsoft’s 5 GB free allowance is not limited to files in OneDrive; its storage FAQ also includes other Microsoft account items, such as Outlook attachments. A full mailbox can therefore affect room for files. See Microsoft’s storage FAQ.
Rank #2
- Easily store and access 5TB of content on the go with the Seagate portable drive, a USB external hard Drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Apple and Dropbox: different starting points
Apple lists 5 GB free for iCloud, which is commonly used for Apple-device backups and syncing. Dropbox Basic lists 2 GB, a smaller allowance that may suit a focused file-sync need. These figures alone do not establish which service is the better fit: device ecosystem, existing storage use and plan features matter too. Apple iCloud+; Dropbox.
How family sharing differs
A family plan’s total capacity does not mean the same thing at every provider. Microsoft describes its Family plan as 1 TB per person for up to six people, while Dropbox lists 2 TB for six users. Google One allows sharing storage with up to five others, and Apple allows an iCloud+ plan to be shared with up to five other family members. The cited plan descriptions do not specify an individual allocation for each Google or Apple member, so check the current sharing terms before assuming each person gets a fixed quota.
Rank #3
- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
When paid storage is worth it
- You are running out of room in a pooled quota. Work out how much is taken by email, photos, backups and files before buying more. A larger quota solves the capacity limit, but it does not remove clutter you no longer need.
- You want a service that fits your existing workflow. iCloud may make sense if you depend on Apple backup and sync; Google storage if you use Gmail, Drive and Photos; Microsoft if you rely on OneDrive and Microsoft 365 apps; Dropbox if its file-sync workflow suits you.
- You will use the extras in the subscription. iCloud+ lists privacy and HomeKit features; Microsoft 365 Personal includes Microsoft 365 apps; higher Google tiers include AI benefits. Treat those as part of the value only if they are useful to you, rather than as extra storage.
- You need shared capacity or separate family allocations. Compare who can join and whether the provider describes a shared pool or per-person allotments. Microsoft Family’s 1 TB per person is a different arrangement from Dropbox Family’s listed 2 TB for six users.
- You need a recovery window. Dropbox Plus lists a 30-day period to restore deleted files. Recovery terms differ by provider and plan, so check them if restoring deleted work is important.
Check the cost and cancellation terms before upgrading
The listed prices are US rates checked October 3, 2026, not universal prices. Google notes that pricing can depend on location and taxes; Apple says features vary by country or region. Microsoft’s cited listings show both monthly and annual options for Basic and Personal. Compare the actual total for your market and billing term, and review renewal and cancellation terms on the provider’s page.
Downgrading can have consequences if your stored data exceeds the free quota. Microsoft says cancelling Basic or Personal returns the allowance to 5 GB. If the account is over quota, uploads and syncing can stop and mail may be affected; Microsoft also says it may delete OneDrive files after six months over quota. Before cancelling, reduce what is stored or download important files, and consult Microsoft’s current rules. Microsoft storage and cancellation details.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- [Upgraded Version] - This external hard drive features a mirrored logo stripe combined with a striped anti-slip design, and the rounded corners of the casing make it easier to grip. The stripes also have a heat dissipation function, ensuring stable and fast data transfer.
- 【Ultra-thin and quiet】 - The motherboard adopts JMicron 578 noise-free solution, giving you a quiet working environment. Lightweight and portable size designed to fit in your pocket for easy portability.
- 【Ultra-Fast Data Transfers】 - Pairing this external hard drive with JMicron 578 solution USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 interfaces enables blazing-fast data transfer. It boasts theoretical read speeds of up to 125MB/s and write speeds of up to 103MB/s.
- 【Plug and Play】 - With no software to install, just plug it in and the drive is ready to use.The hard disk chip is wrapped with an aluminum anti-interference layer to increase heat dissipation and protect data.
- 【What You Get】 - 1 x Portable Hard Drive, 1 x USB 3.0 Cable, 1 x User Manual, Gift-type shell packaging ,Three-year manufacturer's warranty and free technical support services.
Rank #4
- Easily store and access 4TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
A practical way to choose
- Measure what you use now. Check the storage breakdown in the account you already use, including email, photos and backups where applicable.
- Decide what you need to store and share. Estimate the space required, then identify whether family members need one shared pool or individual allocations.
- Compare the matching tiers. Check capacity, the price for your country and billing term, recovery features, and any bundled services you would actually use.
- Plan for leaving the plan. Read what happens on cancellation and how to retrieve or remove data if your account would exceed the free quota.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
