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Comparison
Best cloud storage for photos
Updated July 2026
At a glance
- Best overall: Google Photos, for auto-backup, search, and editing.
- Best value: Amazon Photos, unlimited full-quality photos with Prime.
- Best for Apple: iCloud Photos, built into every iPhone and Mac.
- Best for RAW: Amazon Photos and pCloud, no recompression.
The best cloud storage for photos keeps your images at full resolution, backs them up on its own, and does not quietly shrink your files to save space. Photos and video are also what push most people from a free tier onto a paid plan, so value matters. We compared the services that handle photo libraries well below, then explain which one fits your camera and your budget.
| Service | Free storage | Original quality | RAW files | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Photos | 15 GB (shared) | Yes | Yes | Auto-backup, search, and editing |
| Apple iCloud Photos | 5 GB | Yes | Yes | iPhone and Mac owners |
| Amazon Photos | Unlimited photos with Prime | Yes | Yes | Prime members and RAW shooters |
| pCloud | 10 GB | Yes | Yes | A media library you pay for once |
| Proton Drive | 5 GB | Yes | Yes | Private photo backup |
Seen July 2026. Amazon Photos storage is unlimited for photos with an active Prime membership; video counts against the Prime storage allowance. The pCloud and Proton Drive free tiers are "up to" amounts that require completing setup steps.
Best overall: Google Photos
Google Photos remains the most complete home for a photo library. It backs up from any phone automatically, its search finds people, places, and objects without you tagging anything, and the editing tools are strong. Photos share the 15 GB free allowance with Gmail and Google Drive, so a heavy library will need a Google One upgrade. One thing to check: make sure backup is set to original quality rather than the older compressed mode, so your files are stored exactly as shot.
Best value: Amazon Photos
If you have Amazon Prime, you already have one of the best photo deals available. Amazon Photos stores full-resolution images, including RAW files, without counting them against a storage cap. That makes it a quiet favorite among photographers who would otherwise pay for a large plan elsewhere. Video is the exception, since it draws on the smaller Prime storage allowance, so pair Amazon Photos with another service for clips.
Best for Apple users: iCloud Photos
On an iPhone or Mac, iCloud Photos keeps your library backed up and in sync across devices with no setup. The free 5 GB fills fast once a camera roll grows, so most Apple users move to a paid iCloud+ tier. With Advanced Data Protection turned on, your photos are end-to-end encrypted, which is a privacy edge the other mainstream photo services do not match by default.
Best for RAW and large libraries: pCloud
Serious photographers with RAW files and 4K video need space that does not recompress anything and does not cost a fortune to keep. pCloud fits, especially through its lifetime plans, which let you pay once for a media library you keep for years. Files stay exactly as uploaded, and the optional Crypto add-on encrypts anything you want locked. Compare the one-time pricing in our cheapest cloud storage guide.
Keeping photos private
Photos are personal, and most photo services can read them. If that matters to you, Proton Drive backs up images with zero-knowledge encryption, and iCloud Photos does the same once Advanced Data Protection is on. Whatever you choose, turn on two-factor authentication so a stolen password cannot expose years of memories. Our cloud storage safety guide covers the steps.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best cloud storage for photos?
Google Photos is the best all-round choice for its auto-backup, search, and editing. Amazon Photos is the best value for Prime members because it stores full-resolution photos without counting against a storage cap. Apple users are well served by iCloud Photos.
Does cloud storage reduce photo quality?
It can. Google Photos once offered a compressed 'storage saver' mode, so check that original quality is selected. Amazon Photos, iCloud Photos, pCloud, and Proton Drive all keep full-resolution files by default.
What is the best cloud storage for RAW photos?
For RAW files, Amazon Photos is a standout because Prime members get unlimited full-resolution storage including RAW. pCloud and IDrive also handle large RAW libraries well without recompressing them.
How much storage do I need for photos?
A phone camera roll of a few thousand photos fits in 100 GB. A serious photo and video library, especially with RAW files or 4K video, usually needs 1 TB or more.
More in cloud storage: Best for personal use · Cheapest
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