Cheap Backup Tips to Replace When You Run Out of iCloud Storage

Apple's iCloud sounds like a good idea on paper, but when you really look at it, that 5GB of free storage doesn't amount to much. That's why many people use a cheaper, more efficient way to back up their iPhones.

Why does iCloud fill up so quickly (and what does iCloud actually back up)?

Apple offers 5GB of free iCloud storage to every iPhone owner. That's great! But when you really start looking at how iCloud works and what it backs up, you quickly realize how small that amount of space really is.

By default, iCloud backs up your iPhone's photos and videos, messages, attachments, app data, settings, device configuration, and any documents you've transferred to iCloud Drive.

Once everything is done, that free 5GB of storage will run out pretty quickly, especially if you have an iPad or Mac that's also backing up to iCloud.

Some people hate having to deal with limitations so much that they don't even use iCloud on their iPhone. Luckily, you don't have to rely solely on iCloud, as there are plenty of other backup options.

Back up iPhone to Mac or Windows PC

One of the most reliable ways to back up your iPhone is to use Finder on a Mac or iTunes on a Windows PC. Both options give you a lot of control over what you back up.

Additionally, you can easily control where your backups are stored using programs like Time Machine on your Mac to back up to an external hard drive after you've done it. Backing up to a Mac or Windows PC is also pretty easy, although you'll have to manually connect your phone to your computer.

Another handy benefit of backing up to your computer is that you can back up everything on your iPhone and even encrypt that data. This means that no one can access your backup data without knowing the password you set.

Of course, the downside is that you could lose all your data if you forget your passcode, so make sure you keep it somewhere safe. Manually connecting your iPhone to your computer can also be inconvenient—or you may not have a computer to back it up to.

While it's a bit of a hassle, backing up to your PC or Mac is great because you'll never have to struggle with iCloud storage space again.

Get cheaper cloud storage from Google or Microsoft

If you prefer a cloud solution, you can always switch to other services like iCloud from Google or Microsoft. Both Google One and Microsoft 365 offer a number of different storage options.

Google gives you 15GB of free storage just for having a Google account. However, you can get 100GB of storage by signing up for Google One for $1.99/month, with other options like 2TB for just $9.99/month. Google also offers a number of AI plans, starting at $19.99 for 2TB, plus access to Gemini Advanced .

On the Microsoft side, you'll want to use OneDrive if you want to use the Windows maker's cloud service. OneDrive only gives you 5GB of free storage, but you also get access to Word and other online versions of Microsoft Office apps.

Microsoft now also offers ad-supported versions of Word and other Office desktop apps. If you want more OneDrive storage, you'll need to sign up for a paid Microsoft 365 plan. However, you can sign up for Microsoft 365 Basic for just $19.99 a year (or $1.99 a month), which gives you 100GB of cloud storage, ad-free versions of Outlook, and all the same features as the free version.

For $99.99/month, you get ad-free access to the Microsoft Office Suite, along with advanced security features from Microsoft Defender, AI features like Copilot access, and 1TB of cloud storage.

Alternatively, if you have multiple family members who need cloud storage, you can opt for a family plan from Microsoft or Google, which costs a bit more but offers dedicated storage for each user and all the other benefits of a premium plan.

Compared to Apple's iCloud+ services — which start at $0.99/month for 50GB and go up to 12TB for $59.99/month — you could easily choose Google or Microsoft.

The downside to using just Google or Microsoft is that you won't be able to back up your iPhone settings and all your device information.

Combine the two for smarter, more secure backups

The real trick to getting the most out of your backups is to combine cloud storage with physical backups. This method allows you to use the free versions of Google Drive, iCloud, or Google Drive, and has made the 200GB of shared data much more usable.

Back up your most important information, like your iPhone settings and messages, to iCloud. Then use the free Google Photos app to download and edit, relying on Google's storage for most of your photos and videos. You can still store some photos in iCloud, but most of them are backed up to Google.

Plus, if you opt for the Google One family plan, you'll get extra storage for videos and other important items like documents. If you follow the golden rule of backup, you should back up your iPhone to your Mac using Finder's built-in backup feature.

This feature allows you to store all your messages, settings, and other important iPhone data in an encrypted file to keep them out of the hands of bad guys. It's a win-win situation.

If you're tired of fighting with iCloud for more storage space, combining digital and physical backups will help you get the most out of your various cloud services while ensuring that all your data is backed up and ready to go when you need it.

David Pac

Update 26 May 2025