Stop wasting money on unnecessary iCloud storage
Your iPhone is full again. Yet another message about running out of storage. You delete photos, clean up apps, and yet the problem keeps recurring. iCloud storage seems like the logical solution—just buy a few extra gigabytes and you're done. But here's the catch: most Apple users pay monthly for storage they barely use. Or worse, they choose the wrong plan and are stuck with the same problems.
The real problem isn't how much storage you have, but how you use it . With the right approach, you can solve storage problems for good, without wasting money on space you don't need. From smart backups to choosing the right external storage accessories , and even how your AirPods can help with music streaming instead of storing it locally.
Understanding the Storage Problem in Apple Devices
We're all familiar with the "storage almost full" message. It usually pops up at the most inopportune moment: in the middle of a vacation when you're trying to take that perfect photo, or during an important meeting when you need to quickly download a document. This problem doesn't just happen out of the blue. Apple devices come with limited internal storage, and it fills up faster than you think.
Photos and videos are the biggest culprits. A single 4K video lasting a few minutes can easily take up a gigabyte. Add to that the thousands of photos that accumulate over the years, plus apps that get bigger and bigger with every update, and you can see why 64 GB or even 128 GB suddenly seems insufficient.
iCloud storage: more than just extra space
iCloud isn't just extra storage; it's a complete system that syncs your digital life across all your Apple devices. The photo you just took with your iPhone is on your iPad and Mac in seconds. Documents you edit on your MacBook are instantly accessible on your phone.
The free 5GB that Apple offers by default is really only enough for basic backups and some documents. For most users, this is too little, especially if you have multiple devices. Paid plans start at 50GB for less than a euro per month—less than a cup of coffee at most cafes.
The different storage plans explained
- The 50GB plan (€0.99/month) works well for individual users who primarily store photos and documents. This is enough for about 25,000 photos or 12 hours of 4K video. Perfect if you have one or two devices and don't film extensively.
- The 200GB plan (€2.99/month) is ideal for families or people with multiple Apple devices. You can share this storage with up to five family members through Family Sharing. Everyone retains their privacy, but you share the cost and space.
- The 2 TB plan (€9.99/month) is for heavy users. Photographers, videographers, or families where everyone produces a lot of content. With two terabytes, you'll practically never have to worry about storage again.
Smart strategies for optimal use
The secret to effective iCloud usage isn't buying the largest storage option, but rather managing your storage wisely. Start by enabling "Optimize iCloud Photos" on your devices. This feature saves full-resolution versions in the cloud, but only keeps smaller previews locally on your device. This saves a significant amount of space without losing quality.
Regularly check which apps are using iCloud. Some apps store unnecessary data in your account. Go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud, and disable syncing for apps you don't consider essential. Games, in particular, can take up a surprising amount of space with their save files.
Smart approach to backups
Your iPhone backup is probably taking up more space than necessary. Go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Back Up > This iPhone, and see which apps are included. Apps you can redownload from the App Store don't necessarily need to be in your backup. WhatsApp, for example, creates its own backups; you don't need to double-backup those.
Also consider storing large videos locally on an external drive instead of iCloud. Videos take up a disproportionate amount of space. Filming a single evening at a concert can take up months of storage space.
Alternatives and additional solutions
Besides iCloud, there are other ways to address your storage issues. A Lightning to USB adapter lets you transfer files directly to an external drive. This works great for videos and large project files you don't need daily.
Google Photos offers free storage for high-quality photos (not original resolution). This can be a good supplement to iCloud, especially for older photos where high quality isn't as important. Upload your archive to Google and keep only recent photos in iCloud.
Privacy and security considerations
Storing your personal data in the cloud might feel awkward. Apple encrypts everything sent to iCloud, both during transmission and at rest. Even Apple itself can't access most of your data. For extra-sensitive information, you can enable two-factor authentication, which is recommended by default.
Important to know: certain data like iCloud Mail, Contacts, and Calendars is stored encrypted, but Apple has technical access to this data to provide the service. For truly sensitive documents, you're better off using local encryption or keeping them outside the cloud.
Practical tips for daily use
Make it easy on yourself by setting automatic uploads to Wi-Fi only. This prevents you from using up your mobile data and gives you control over when large files are synced.
Use the Files app on your iPhone or iPad as a central hub. Here you can see at a glance what's stored locally and what's in iCloud. You can mark files to always be available offline, handy for important documents during flights.
Share photo albums with friends and family using shared albums. These don't count against everyone's individual storage, so it's a smart way to share memories without everyone keeping copies.
When upgrading is really necessary
If you're consistently hitting your storage limit despite regularly clearing it, it's time for an upgrade. Don't wait until your device is so full that it slows down or crashes. A rule of thumb: if you're using more than 80% of your storage, consider the following plan.
For students or those who temporarily need extra space, you can adjust your plan monthly. Upgrade during a major project or vacation, and scale back when you no longer need the extra space.
The most important thing is to find a system that works for you. Whether that means minimal iCloud usage with plenty of local storage, or everything in the cloud with multiple devices that sync seamlessly, with the right approach, you'll never see that annoying "storage full" message again.
The smart approach to Apple storage management
You can't solve storage problems on your Apple devices by blindly buying the largest iCloud plan. It's all about smart management : use photo optimization, regularly clean up your backups, and disable syncing for unnecessary apps. For most users, the 50 or 200 GB plan is more than sufficient, especially when combined with smart external storage accessories .
The most important thing is to choose a system that suits your needs. With the right approach, you'll never see that annoying "full storage" message again, without paying too much every month for space you don't use.
