There is no single best cloud storage service for everyone in the UK. OneDrive is a strong first option if you already use Microsoft 365, iCloud+ fits Apple-centred households, and Google Drive makes sense if you collaborate in Google tools. Choose by the storage tier you need, how your devices work together, and whether you will use any bundled extras—not by treating these as hands-on test winners.
UK cloud storage plans and prices
The prices below are a snapshot checked on 4 October 2026. Provider prices and plan details can change, so verify the UK checkout page before subscribing. Microsoft and Apple figures are from their UK provider pages; the Google One figures are from Which?, a secondary source, and were not verified against an official Google UK pricing page for this comparison.
| Service and plan | Published storage | Published UK price | What to note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Basic | 100 GB | £1.99/month or £19.99/year | Microsoft UK plan example. |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | 1 TB | £8.49/month or £84.99/year | Includes Microsoft 365 apps; count their value only if you will use them. |
| Microsoft 365 Family | Up to 6 TB total: 1 TB per person for up to six people | £10.49/month or £104.99/year | Each person gets an allocation; it is not one shared 6 TB pool. |
| iCloud+ 50 GB | 50 GB | £0.99/month | Apple UK plan example. |
| iCloud+ 200 GB | 200 GB | £2.99/month | Apple UK plan example. |
| iCloud+ 2 TB | 2 TB | £8.99/month | Apple UK plan example. |
| iCloud+ 6 TB | 6 TB | £26.99/month | Apple UK plan example. |
| iCloud+ 12 TB | 12 TB | £54.99/month | Apple UK plan example. |
| Google One 100 GB | 100 GB | £1.59/month | Which? price snapshot; not verified against official Google UK pricing. |
| Google One 200 GB | 200 GB | £2.49/month | Which? price snapshot; not verified against official Google UK pricing. |
| Google One 2 TB | 2 TB | £7.99/month | Which? price snapshot; not verified against official Google UK pricing. |
Compare like with like: a low entry price may be irrelevant if you need a larger tier, and annual Microsoft billing should not be compared as though it were monthly. For Microsoft 365, assess the storage and apps together; for Google One, confirm the current price and plan on Google’s UK purchase flow.
Which service fits your devices and work?
Choose OneDrive if you already use Microsoft 365
OneDrive is a sensible candidate when your household or work already depends on Microsoft accounts, Windows, or Microsoft 365 apps. Microsoft 365 Personal pairs 1 TB with its apps; Family provides up to 1 TB for each of as many as six people. That per-person setup can suit a household in which everyone needs their own storage, but it does not let one person use another person’s unused allowance as part of a common pool.
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- 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.
Choose iCloud+ for an Apple-centred household
iCloud+ is the natural comparison for people who mainly use Apple devices and want cloud storage alongside their Apple account. Apple says an iCloud+ plan can be shared with up to five family members while each person’s photos and files remain separate. Match the plan to the space your household actually needs; the available UK tiers in the checked price snapshot range from 50 GB to 12 TB.
Choose Google Drive and Google One for Google collaboration
If you already create, store, or collaborate on files in Google tools, Google Drive is a practical starting point. Google One is the storage plan comparison; the listed UK prices here are Which? figures rather than official Google UK pricing evidence, so verify the live offer before choosing a tier.
Rank #2
- 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.
Consider Dropbox or Proton Drive for a specific reason
Dropbox is another option to investigate if straightforward file sharing is your priority. Current UK plan prices were not established for this comparison, so compare them directly before deciding. Proton Drive may be worth considering if privacy is a deciding factor, but current UK plans and security controls were not verified here. Neither alternative is a demonstrated overall winner.
What UK users say they use cloud storage for
Ofcom’s 2024 Online Nation survey, covering July 2023 to June 2024, asked users about their activities. Cloud file storage was reported by 77% of Google Drive users, 75% of OneDrive users, 88% of iCloud users, and 57% of Dropbox users. Shared-file collaboration was reported by 30%, 37%, 8%, and 16% of those services’ users, respectively. These are survey responses about reported use—not measurements of speed, reliability, or product quality.
Rank #3
- High capacity in a small enclosure – The small, lightweight design offers up to 6TB* capacity, making WD Elements portable hard drives the ideal companion for consumers on the go.
- Plug-and-play expandability
- Vast capacities up to 6TB[1] to store your photos, videos, music, important documents and more
- SuperSpeed USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps)
The split is useful context rather than a scorecard: respondents reported collaboration more often for OneDrive and Google Drive than for iCloud, while all four services had users who said they stored files in the cloud. Ofcom also found that 26% of UK internet users aged 16 and over said their household had access to a paid Apple iCloud subscription; that is household access, not a measure of individual ownership or service quality.
How to choose the right plan
- Estimate the space you need. Check how much storage your files, photos, and backups currently use, then allow room for growth. Compare plans at that capacity rather than choosing by the cheapest advertised entry tier.
- Match the service to your devices and apps. Consider whether your household is mainly on Windows and Microsoft 365, Apple devices, Google tools, or a mix. A service that works naturally with the tools you already use may be more convenient than one with a marginally lower price.
- Check how household storage is allocated. A family plan may divide storage into individual allowances or provide a shared pool. Microsoft’s Family plan, for example, allocates 1 TB per person for up to six people rather than offering a common 6 TB pool.
- Test the sharing and collaboration workflow you need. If people need to work together on files, look at how the service handles shared links, permissions, and collaboration in the apps your group already uses. Storage alone does not tell you whether the workflow fits.
- Review privacy, security, and recovery controls before uploading important files. Compare the provider’s current account-protection and recovery options directly. The available information does not establish a comparative security or privacy winner.
- Count bundle benefits only when they matter to you. Microsoft 365 apps can add value to a Microsoft plan if you would otherwise use them; an included benefit you do not need should not determine the storage choice.
- Confirm the live UK offer. Check the provider’s current plan and checkout details, including billing period and storage allocation, immediately before subscribing.
What this comparison can and cannot establish
The recommendations are conditional choices based on published plan information and reported usage, not the results of upload or download tests, account setup, or a security audit. They do not establish which service is fastest, most reliable, or most secure. Use the price table as a dated comparison point, then confirm current terms and consider your own device mix, sharing needs, recovery requirements, and household allocation.
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Rank #4
- Plug-and-play expandability
- SuperSpeed USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps)
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.
