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Cloud Storage Calculator
Calculate exactly how much cloud storage you need based on your photos, videos, documents, and music collection. Compare storage plans from Google Drive, iCloud, OneDrive, and Dropbox to find the best value for your needs.
Cloud storage needs vary enormously by user type. A casual user with some documents needs 15-50 GB. A photographer shooting RAW files needs hundreds of gigabytes. A videographer working with 4K footage may need several terabytes. Understanding your needs before choosing a plan prevents paying for unused storage.
Formula
Total Storage = Photos × Size per Photo + Videos × Size per Video + Docs + Music + Backup
Cloud Storage Plan Comparison
Major cloud storage providers offer generous free tiers and affordable paid upgrades. Google Photos alone justifies Google One for many users, while Apple users benefit from iCloud integration across all Apple devices. Microsoft 365 subscribers already have 1 TB of OneDrive storage included.
Service
Free Tier
Paid Plans
Best For
Google Drive/One
15 GB free
$2.99/mo (100GB), $9.99/mo (2TB)
Best for Android/Gmail users
iCloud
5 GB free
$0.99/mo (50GB), $2.99/mo (200GB)
Essential for iPhone/Mac users
OneDrive
5 GB free
$1.99/mo (100GB), included in M365
Best value with Microsoft 365
Dropbox
2 GB free
$9.99/mo (2TB, Plus plan)
Best for file sharing/collaboration
Amazon Photos
Unlimited photos
$10.99/mo (Amazon Prime included)
Best for Prime members
Backblaze
No free tier
$9/mo (unlimited backup)
Best for full PC backup
Photo Storage Requirements
File sizes depend heavily on device and quality settings. iPhone 14 Pro HEIF photo: 2-5 MB. iPhone RAW: 25-35 MB. Android 50MP photo: 8-15 MB. DSLR RAW (24MP): 25-40 MB. DSLR JPEG: 5-10 MB. A photographer shooting 200 RAW photos per session needs 5-8 GB per shoot — 50 shoots per year = 250-400 GB annually.
Average smartphone photo: 3-5 MB (HEIF) or 5-15 MB (JPEG). If you take 10 photos/day: 10 × 5 MB × 365 = 18.25 GB/year. For DSLR RAW shooters: 30 MB × 50 photos/session × 50 sessions = 75 GB/year. Plan for 2-3 years of storage minimum.
Google Drive: 15 GB free (shared with Gmail and Google Photos). Mega: 20 GB free. Dropbox: 2 GB. iCloud: 5 GB. pCloud: 10 GB. For most users, Google One 100 GB ($2.99/month) is the best value paid option. Apple users should prioritize iCloud for seamless device backup.
Upload time = File size / Upload speed. At 20 Mbps upload: 100 GB takes 100×1024×8/20 = 40,960 seconds = 11.4 hours. First backup of a large photo library can take days on typical home internet. Use wired ethernet and schedule overnight for large initial uploads.
iPhone/Mac users: iCloud integrates seamlessly with the Apple ecosystem — device backup, photo library, iMessage, and document sync all work automatically. Android/Windows users: Google Drive is the better choice with more generous free storage (15 GB vs 5 GB). Many users benefit from both.
Major providers (Google, Microsoft, Apple, Dropbox) encrypt data at rest and in transit. However, providers can technically access your data. For truly sensitive files, use zero-knowledge encryption services (Tresorit, ProtonDrive, Cryptomator) where only you hold the encryption keys. Never store plaintext passwords or unencrypted financial data in standard cloud storage.
Google One 2 TB: $9.99/month ($99.99/year). iCloud+ 2 TB: $9.99/month. OneDrive 1 TB: included with Microsoft 365 ($6.99/month). Dropbox Plus 2 TB: $9.99/month. Backblaze unlimited: $9/month. For 2 TB, Microsoft 365 Personal (includes Office apps + 1 TB OneDrive) is excellent value at $6.99/month.