Best iCloud storage alternatives for Mac: 8 options compared [2026]

Best alternatives to iCloud storage

1. Google Drive or Google One

Google Drive, in my opinion, is a great iCloud alternative because it works everywhere and starts with 15GB free storage that's shared across your Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos if you use them. Google One starts at $1.99 a month for 100GB, and the 2TB tier is $9.99 a month. If I had to be picky, I’d say its privacy is the downside; there’s no zero-knowledge encrypted storage.

2. pCloud

I’ve put pCloud as second on my list, really because of its lifetime plan. It comes with a 500GB lifetime option listed at $199. It does offer annual plans too, at around $49.99 a year. Its Mac and iOS apps are solid, and the virtual drive setup is useful. pCloud has a Crypto tier that comes with encryption, but that’ll cost you more.

3. Dropbox

While Dropbox only gives you 2 GB of free storage, it’s still one of the best out there for sharing and colab. I like that it integrates well into Finder on my Mac and works well across other platforms. Plus plans start at $9.99 a month, and that’s for 2TB storage and 30-day file recovery.

4. Microsoft OneDrive

If you already use Microsoft 365, then I’d say OneDrive is a logical pick. You get 5GB free, and Microsoft 365 Personal includes 1TB with Office apps. It’s priced at $99.99 a year or $9.99 a month.

5. Internxt

If privacy is your main concern, then I think Internxt is the strongest in this category. It’s open-sourced, which certain types of users love, and has zero-knowledge, end-to-end encryption as default. Yes, it’s 1GB of free storage, which is rather minimal, but its pricing tiers are really competitive; they start at $1.35 a month for 20 GB. If I have to be picky again, I’d say it doesn’t feel as well integrated as Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive.

6. MEGA

MEGA comes with 20GB of free storage, which is a huge plus for many, and it comes with built-in encryption. But lots of people report it being a bit on the slow side with syncing, and the company’s patchy history might make some new users a bit nervous. Pricing for its large storage plans begins at around $10.68 a month.

7. IDrive

IDrive is more focused on backup than sync. You’ll get 10GB of free storage. There’s a first-year promo offer that brings the price down to as little as $2.95 a month for 5TB, but that might vary depending on where you are. Big plus for this one, it can back up multiple computers, mobile devices, NAS, and external drives all under one account. But again,it does feel a bit dated, and uploads can be slower.

8. Apple iCloud as a hybrid

I wouldn’t fully give up on iCloud. You could keep it for some of those core irreplaceable services, like Keychain, and pair it with any other tools from this list.

The right iCloud alternative

It’s going to come down to what you actually want and need.

For photo storage: Google Photos via Google One or pCloud.

Privacy and encryption conscious: Internxt or MEGA.

Collaboration: Google Drive or Dropbox.

Microsoft 365 users: OneDrive

Full device backups: IDrive.

Whatever you opt for, clean your Mac first. This can save you from paying for a higher-tier plan. The Cleanup feature from CleanMyMac can help you sort and save space.

Move from iCloud to another service?

Download your files from Apple's Data and Privacy pages, log in, and request a copy of your data. For photos, download all your originals from iCloud Photos before you upload them elsewhere.

Sort through and properly organize your data. Make sure you delete old downloads and remove any system clutter. Only then install the new service’s sync app on your Mac and iPhone.

Upload in smaller batches, and keep iCloud active until you know everything is 100% transferred safely.

Once you’ve migrated, sync and run a Cloud Cleanup scan with CleanMyMac to stay on top of your stored files.