How much storage do I need?
Calculate how much space you and your family will need for all your documents, photos and other files, and how much it’ll cost you
Entry-level iCloud accounts include 5GB of storage. That sounds like a lot until you start to use it, when it can easily be consumed by a single iOS device backup, a few emails with chunky attachments and a handful of iWork documents.
It isn’t really a practical option if you want to use iCloud’s more advanced features, such as syncing a Mac’s Desktop and Documents folders to make them available everywhere, putting your Photos library online, and using iCloud as an alternative to Dropbox.
Fortunately, upgrading is a quick and painless process. On a Mac, go to System Preferences > Settings > iCloud > Manage Storage > Buy More Storage to switch to another tier. Note the last option will say Change Storage Plan if you’ve already upgraded.
On an iOS device, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage. Tap either Change Storage Plan or Buy More Storage, as appropriate. Whichever option you choose – on either the Mac or iOS – your subscription will automatically renew every month, but you can downgrade again if you no longer need it.
Tidy up or start sharing
Alternatively, check what’s consuming your existing space and remove what you no longer need. Open your iCloud settings on either platform and click Manage (macOS) or tap Manage Storage (iOS), then work your way through your apps and, provided you have backups, use the Delete Documents & Data option to remove assets stored by each one.
iCloud works with Family Sharing, which gives up to six family members access to iTunes, iBooks and App Store purchases. Only the top two tiers – 200GB ($2.99/mo) and 2TB ($9.99/ mo) – are eligible for Family Sharing, which makes the 2TB account excellent value. If a six-member family divide it equally, that equates to $1.67 each per month for over 300GB apiece.
If you previously set up an iCloud account at iCloud.com (to use Pages, Numbers and Keynote), that account will have just 1GB of storage. Upgrading to 5GB is as simple as signing in to that iCloud account on your Mac or iOS device.