Updated September 2026: I wrote this in April 2021, right after Google announced that Photos backups would start counting against storage, and explained why I chose the Microsoft 365 Family plan. Prices and bundles have changed since, so I have rewritten it around how to choose, and whether my choice still holds.
From 1 June 2021, new photos backed up to Google Photos in the old "high quality" setting began counting against each account's free 15 GB. For my family, that meant the free ride was over. I compared the paid options and moved everyone to Microsoft 365 Family. Five years later, this is how I would make the same decision.
What does a family actually need from cloud storage?
Three things, in this order. Automatic photo backup from every phone without anyone having to remember. Enough space per person that nobody hits a limit and quietly stops backing up. And separate accounts, so one person's full storage does not stop another's backups. Price matters, but only once those three are met.
How do the main family plans compare?
- Microsoft 365 Family: up to six people, each with their own 1 TB of OneDrive, plus Word, Excel and PowerPoint. The per-person storage is the strongest part of the deal. Microsoft added Copilot AI features to its consumer plans in 2025 and raised prices in many markets at the same time, so check the current price in your region.
- Google One: one pool of storage shared with up to five family members. Photos backup is the most polished of the three on Android. Because the pool is shared, one heavy user can fill it for everyone.
- iCloud+: also a shared pool with Family Sharing for up to six people. It is the natural choice if everyone uses iPhones, and the weakest if the family is mixed.
Is OneDrive good for photo backup?
It is good enough. The OneDrive app backs up camera photos and videos automatically on both Android and iPhone. Browsing and searching photos is less polished than Google Photos, and sharing albums with relatives outside the plan takes a few more taps. For backup, which is the main job, it does what it needs to.
Does the same choice still make sense today?
Yes, for a family of four to six people who also need Office apps. The per-person terabyte is still hard to beat, and the Office licences are something we would otherwise pay for separately. For a couple who only need photo backup, a mid-sized Google One plan is often cheaper and simpler. For an all-Apple household, iCloud+ avoids juggling another app.
What is the one mistake to avoid?
Treating cloud sync as your only copy. If a photo is deleted on the phone, sync can delete it from the cloud too, and recycle bins only hold items for a limited time. Keep a second copy of the photos that matter, on an external drive or a second service, and check once a year that you can actually open it.
My 2021 post ended with a promise to keep updating my views. This is that update: the choice has held up, but it is a choice for families who need space per person, not a default for everyone.
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