Is iCloud Plus Worth It in 2026? Our Honest Take
iCloud Plus adds meaningful privacy features on top of expanded cloud storage starting at just $0.99 per month for 50GB. Private Relay masks your browsing in Safari, Hide My Email creates unique email aliases, and Custom Email Domain lets you use a personal domain with iCloud Mail. For Apple device users, the 50GB plan at $0.99 is almost essential since the free 5GB fills up immediately with device backups. The privacy features at this price point make it one of the most compelling low-cost subscriptions available.
What You Get
- Expanded iCloud storage from 50GB to 2TB depending on your plan tier
- Private Relay that masks your IP address and encrypts Safari browsing traffic
- Hide My Email for creating unique random email addresses that forward to your inbox
- Custom Email Domain support for using a personal domain with iCloud Mail
- HomeKit Secure Video support for storing security camera footage in the cloud
What is Missing
- Private Relay only works in Safari, not in other browsers or apps on your device
- Private Relay is not available in all countries due to regulatory restrictions
- iCloud storage is tightly integrated with Apple and difficult to migrate away from
Privacy Concerns
- iCloud data is stored on Apple servers and is accessible to law enforcement via legal requests
- Advanced Data Protection (end-to-end encryption for iCloud) is optional and not enabled by default
- Apple can access most iCloud data types unless you manually enable Advanced Data Protection
The 50GB Plan Is Almost Essential for Apple Users
Apple gives you 5GB of free iCloud storage, which is laughably insufficient for device backups, photos, and documents. Most iPhone users fill 5GB within months. The 50GB plan at $0.99 per month resolves this and includes the full suite of iCloud Plus privacy features. For less than $12 per year, you get enough storage for a single device backup plus privacy features that would cost significantly more from dedicated privacy services. This is arguably the best value subscription Apple offers.
Private Relay and Hide My Email Are Real Privacy Tools
Private Relay routes your Safari traffic through two separate internet relays so that no single party, including Apple, can see both who you are and what you visit. Hide My Email creates unique forwarding addresses for each service you sign up with, preventing your real email from being sold or leaked. These features are genuinely useful privacy tools that work seamlessly within the Apple ecosystem. The limitation is that Private Relay only works in Safari, so Chrome and Firefox users do not benefit.
Enable Advanced Data Protection Immediately
By default, Apple can access most of your iCloud data because the encryption keys are stored on Apple servers. Enabling Advanced Data Protection switches to end-to-end encryption for the majority of your iCloud data, meaning only your devices can decrypt it. This is a critical step that many iCloud Plus subscribers skip. Once enabled, Apple cannot access your data even in response to government requests. The trade-off is that if you lose all your devices and recovery key, your data is unrecoverable.
Verdict: It Depends
iCloud Plus is absolutely worth it for Apple device users, especially at the $0.99 per month 50GB tier. The storage upgrade alone is nearly essential given the inadequate 5GB free allocation, and the privacy features add genuine value. For the 200GB and 2TB tiers, the value depends on your storage needs and household size. Make sure to enable Advanced Data Protection for end-to-end encryption. The main limitation is that all of this is Apple-exclusive, so non-Apple users should look at Proton Drive or other privacy-focused cloud storage instead.
Better Options
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage that works on any platform, not just Apple devices, with a privacy-focused company behind it
A local encrypted backup to an external hard drive gives you full control with no cloud dependency and no monthly cost
Frequently Asked Questions
Is iCloud Private Relay the same as a VPN?
Not exactly. Private Relay uses a dual-hop relay system where Apple sees your IP but not your destination, and the second relay sees your destination but not your IP. This prevents any single party from seeing the full picture. Unlike a VPN, you cannot choose your server location or use it outside Safari. It provides less flexibility than a VPN but integrates more seamlessly for Safari browsing privacy.
Should I enable Advanced Data Protection for iCloud?
Yes, we strongly recommend enabling Advanced Data Protection. It switches most iCloud data types to end-to-end encryption, meaning only your devices can decrypt the data. The trade-off is that if you lose all devices and your recovery key, Apple cannot help you recover your data. Set up a trusted recovery contact and store your recovery key securely before enabling this feature.
Is the 2TB iCloud Plus plan worth it for families?
The 2TB plan at $9.99 per month can be shared with up to five family members through Family Sharing, making the per-person cost very reasonable. If your family stores lots of photos and videos across multiple Apple devices, 2TB provides generous shared storage. However, evaluate whether each family member actually needs cloud storage or if most of their data can be stored locally to save money.