How Much Storage Do I Need?

Calculate how much space you and your family will need, and how much it’ll cost you

Entry-level iCloud accounts include 5GB of storage. That sounds like a lot until you start to use it, when it can easily be consumed by a single iOS device backup, a few emails with chunky attachments and a handful of iWork documents.

It isn’t really a practical option if you want to use iCloud’s more advanced features, such as syncing your Mac’s Desktop and Documents folders to make them available everywhere, putting your Photos library online, and using iCloud as a file-sharing alternative to Dropbox.

Fortunately, upgrading is a quick and painless process. On a Mac, go to System Prefs > Settings > iCloud > Manage Storage > Buy More Storage to switch to another tier. Note the last option will say Change Storage Plan if you’ve already upgraded.