Upgrade Your Cloud: Apple, It’s Time to Level Up iCloud Storage

Key Points:

• Apple has maintained its iCloud storage pricing tiers since 2017, with 50GB, 200GB, and 2TB options available at $0.99/month, $2.99/month, and $9.99/month respectively.
• The lack of a 1TB option has been a gap in the storage lineup, leaving users with limited options.
• The author proposes new pricing tiers: 100GB for $1.99/month, 400GB for $3.99/month, and 2TB for $9.99/month.
• The proposal aims to fill the gap between the current 200GB and 2TB options, providing more affordable and accessible storage options for users.

As a tech journalist, I’ve been following the development of iCloud storage and its pricing tiers for years. While Apple has introduced new features to its paid iCloud tiers like Private Relay, Custom Email Domains, and HomeKit Secure Video, the company has maintained a peculiar pricing structure.

For nearly a decade, the free tier has remained at 5GB, which is barely sufficient for most users’ needs. The paid tiers, introduced in 2017, are 50GB for $0.99/month, 200GB for $2.99/month, and 2TB for $9.99/month. Although the 2TB option was once 1TB for $9.99/month, Apple removed the 1TB tier, leaving a gap in the storage lineup.

The author proposes new pricing tiers to fill this gap and provide more accessible storage options for users. In 2023, Apple introduced new 6TB and 12TB iCloud+ tiers for $29.99/month and $59.99/month, respectively. However, the original tiers have remained unchanged.

My proposed solution is to adjust the pricing tiers to offer more storage options. For instance, a 100GB plan for $1.99/month, 400GB for $3.99/month, and 2TB for $9.99/month. This would provide a more gradual increase in storage options, making it more appealing to users who require more storage.

Regarding the free tier, I acknowledge that 5GB is unlikely to change, but the other tiers can be adjusted to better reflect the needs of users. After all, file sizes have increased significantly since 2011, and 50GB is barely enough for most people’s iPhone backups.

By introducing more affordable storage options, Apple can better cater to its user base. The proposal is based on Google’s 100GB for $1.99/month pricing, which is a fair reference point. The 400GB option would provide a balance between offering more storage and not cannibalizing the customer base for the 2TB tier.

Ultimately, it’s up to Apple to adjust its pricing tiers to better serve its users. As technology continues to advance and file sizes expand, it’s crucial for the company to revisit its storage options. Perhaps it’s time for Apple to acknowledge the growing need for more storage and adjust its pricing tiers to reflect this reality.

What do you think? Do you agree with the proposed tiers, or would you like to see something else? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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