iCloud needs versioning so badly. Until then I refuse to use it. Google Email/Drive/Docs/Photos are just better than the Apple equivalents.
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Report: iCloud Is the Most Popular Apple Subscription Service in the US
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They do, but some of them, like Google, offer 15GB for free.
Why is it the most popular?
Probably because without the extra space you cannot backup your iPhone normally?
Probably because without the extra space you cannot backup your iPhone normally?
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Ummmmm, this is the lone FORCED Apple service by shipping products with iCloud storage features turned on by default... such as Photos... so of course it is going to win this contest. And even for someone with a LOT of Apple knowledge, when called in to "help" people later reel in its usage, it is not very easy to switch things off of iCloud and confidently know that you don't risk losing personal media. In other words, there's a fairly complex mix of steps involved to go from iCloud dependency to escaping that "habit" and even more so when the user has several Apple products, which need iCloud related settings synchronized to escape the dependency (and forever rent).
As we all did BEFORE iCloud, we can easily get by without it... though working out setups back to a "without it" state is NOT "just works" easy. So many people just pay... and- when they run out of space- they just pay more for the next tier... and the next. Apple knows how to maximize that service revenue. 💰💰💰
I work with the free 5GB only, turning off a variety of features that arrive default ON whenever I buy a new Apple device. This "hard drive in the sky" (controlled by total strangers with for-profit motivations) can be a hard drive in a main Mac/PC at home... or a NAS owned by us... or our own cloud we can own and control in a Synology NAS or similar. What's the difference? The same as any rent vs. own debate.
I suspect if iCloud was something people opted into instead of being defaulted into, this chart would look different. I can make some arguments FOR IT (I do use some of the 5GB of free space myself), but I am no big fan of ANY storage "in the sky" controlled by strangers.
As we all did BEFORE iCloud, we can easily get by without it... though working out setups back to a "without it" state is NOT "just works" easy. So many people just pay... and- when they run out of space- they just pay more for the next tier... and the next. Apple knows how to maximize that service revenue. 💰💰💰
I work with the free 5GB only, turning off a variety of features that arrive default ON whenever I buy a new Apple device. This "hard drive in the sky" (controlled by total strangers with for-profit motivations) can be a hard drive in a main Mac/PC at home... or a NAS owned by us... or our own cloud we can own and control in a Synology NAS or similar. What's the difference? The same as any rent vs. own debate.
I suspect if iCloud was something people opted into instead of being defaulted into, this chart would look different. I can make some arguments FOR IT (I do use some of the 5GB of free space myself), but I am no big fan of ANY storage "in the sky" controlled by strangers.
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US workers earn more than Europeans, but they also seem to spend much more lavishly on services. Gotta keep the economy humming I guess 🥳.
yes you can. local encrypted backups -> auto sync to preferred cloud storage.
As for local backups - it’s too inconvenient for most…
Me, that is the only way to do it, simple HDD is sufficient, and I have 4 backups of all my data
I pay the .99/mo for the 50GB simply to keep my photos synced between all my devices and not risk losing them. I don't store anything else in iCloud. If Apple would make it easy to selectively choose which albums or a time range of what I want stored in the cloud I could do away with it completely. I hate that it's an all or nothing situation. I keep all photos on my Macs in the Photos app, but I don't need 15+ years of photos always synced to my phone and ipad etc..
Yes I know I can export and create new photo libraries on the Mac, but it's proven to be very cumbersome switching back and forth and trying to keep things organized and synced properly. Ideally I should be able to pick certain albums I want in the cloud, and keep the rest local, just like you can do with dropbox or any other file sync/cloud service out there.
Yes I know I can export and create new photo libraries on the Mac, but it's proven to be very cumbersome switching back and forth and trying to keep things organized and synced properly. Ideally I should be able to pick certain albums I want in the cloud, and keep the rest local, just like you can do with dropbox or any other file sync/cloud service out there.
iCloud:
United States (USD)
50GB: $0.99
2TB: $9.99
Google One:
100GB: $1.99
2TB: $9.99
literally the same $ / GB / mo
So taking 20 min and play your phone into your preferred computer is not “normal”?.
Ok, got it
The only subscription that I have with Apple is $0.89 monthly 50 GB iCloud storage so that I can keep essential back up of my iPhone. I already take backup using my OneDrive (6 TB for $70 year) subscription which is integrated across all eco system. Also basic Google Drive subscription of 100 GB (for $17 a year). I use Spotify, Amazon Music, other various Video Over the Top Apps on my Android TV / Set Top Box with a bundled video subscriptions including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Sony etc..). I trust Apple more on its devices than its services.
Even If I don't lose it or break it, it's worth $15 (or whatever I pay per month) to not have to worry about it.
We've come a long way in the past 20 years lol. Having fully automatic backup of all devices with the absolute bare minimum of effort required to set it up and maintain it is just something that provides value to those who can afford the recurring costs. I certainly can't fault anyone for finding value in that any more than I can find fault in anyone who prefers to do things differently.
No one and I mean absolutely no one is forced to pay for or buy anything from Apple.
I totally agree, just that people here are complaining about cost and being “forced” into using cloud services, they’re not.
And, check on your “20 years” - it’s been maybe 10
so much salt... $10/month for everyone in my family to back up, store and access their files is nothing. no pain, no worries... jesus christ in flops...
Thanks for charging $200 for 256GB storage.
Paid iCloud storage overwhelmingly remains the most popular Apple service in the United States, according to a new report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP).
Nearly two-thirds of Apple customers in the United States opt for paid iCloud storage, surpassing other services like Apple Music, Apple TV+, and AppleCare in terms of user adoption. In comparison, Apple Music and Apple TV+ have achieved moderate penetration rates among Apple customers, with 42% and 32% adoption, respectively. AppleCare, the company's extended warranty service, sees even lower adoption, with only 17% of iPhone buyers opting for the additional coverage.
These other services, while significant contributors to Apple's Services revenue, operate in highly competitive markets, unlike the cloud storage market where no service is able to offer such a deeply integrated experience with Apple devices as iCloud. Many users opt for just one music service and multiple video subscriptions, which limits the growth potential for Apple's subscription offerings. As Apple's hardware sales growth slows, the company has increasingly turned to its services segment as a source of revenue.
Paid iCloud subscriptions start at $0.99 per month for 50GB of storage, $2.99 per month for 200GB, and $9.99 per month for 2TB. These standalone iCloud storage plans can also be bundled with other Apple services through Apple One, which offers three tiers: the Individual plan at $16.95 per month includes 50GB of iCloud storage, Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade; the Family plan at $22.95 per month includes 200GB of iCloud storage and extends those services to up to six family members; and the Premier plan at $32.95 per month includes 2TB of iCloud storage and adds Apple News+ and Apple Fitness+.
Article Link: Report: iCloud Is the Most Popular Apple Subscription Service in the US
I actually had to look and see that I’m an iCloud “subscriber”. I do manual backups of my phone and the only thing it seems I’m using iCloud for is passwords.
I do see a “next backup is too big” message in there but I have backup to iCloud turned off so I don’t notice.
I would have to say Apple Music is the subscription service from Apple I use the most. I get this as part of the bundle with my VZW plan so I don’t really pay for it, but I use it almost daily.
I also have AppleCare on my MBP and Watch ultra. I had to pay to replace a screen on a Mac once. Never do that again. I just pay $99/yr for AC and to me that’s just peace of mind. Same thing with the watch. The repair costs on the ultra are so crazy I’m not even going there for how cheap AC is on it. I may never use it but I would kick myself for not getting it if I broke the sucker.
If you regularly offload photos from your phone (and then delete them from your phone) and you delete the large attachments that people send to you by iMessage, Whatsapp, etc. then the minimal iCloud tier is sufficient for backups. Apple likes people who don't delete anything from their phones because they have to keep upgrading to bigger iCloud tiers...
This is a FORCED service that you can't nearly use even a single device without it.
I give Apple the $10/mo. Bugs me when I think about it knowing the cost of storage and how much storage we are actually using. But wife loves to see the new photo on her phone every day. And it's very convenient backup when you also have 2 kids and a wife to corral (and who may or may not have a Mac themselves.)
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Honestly, I've gotten way more value out of the extended warranty with AppleCare+ than I ever did for accidental damage. The one time somebody scratched my phone's display, Apple refused to repair/replace it even though I was willing to pay the deductible and outright expected it to be handled as accidental damage (versus warranty/defect). Other than that, I've never needed it. (So that's even more reason to skip it.)
All of the other times I've exercised AppleCare+ coverage, it was the warranty coverage for malfunctioning display/touch screens, battery replacement, and keyboard issues.
As time has gone on, I have come around to the mindset that rather than dumping hundreds of dollars into "coverage" that Apple will then use their discretion to deny when you need it, you're better off just foregoing it and upgrade/replace a device if it becomes broken or non-functional. I mean, after 2 years I'm ready to upgrade anyway. Why spend money upfront to, at best, end up with an obsolete replacement device?