pCloud vs iCloud: photo storage costs, family sharing and payment options

pCloud vs iCloud+ for a photo library

iCloud+ and pCloud both hold a photo library, but they bill differently. iCloud+ 2 TB is $9.99 a month and billed monthly only, as read on 6 October 2026. pCloud's 2 TB plan, Premium Plus, is $9.99 a month, $99.99 a year or $499 one-time, as listed on 3 October 2026.

Monthly only, or yearly and one-time

Apple's US price table says iCloud+ is billed monthly after you upgrade, and shows no yearly or one-time option. Residents of some US states have tax added to the monthly payment. pCloud sells each personal plan on three bases: Premium 500 GB is $4.99 a month billed monthly, $49.99 a year billed yearly or $219 one-time. Neither iCloud+ nor pCloud's paid personal plans show a free trial; pCloud's refund window is 14 days, and Apple's page lists no guarantee.

pCloud takes credit and debit cards on its website, and PayPal only through a linked card. Inside its iOS and Android apps it takes payment through the App Store or Google Play, and a plan bought there is canceled in that store, not on pcloud.com. pCloud's help center does not say whether the 14-day refund covers a store purchase.

Family sharing on iCloud+ and pCloud

Apple says any paid iCloud+ tier can be shared with up to five other family members. pCloud Family is Lifetime only: 2 TB for up to 5 users is $749 one-time, listed on 25 September 2026. That count includes the owner, who invites up to 4 family members, and each member gets a private space with a quota only the owner sets. pCloud Family plan walks through the steps.

Phone photo upload on pCloud

pCloud's Automatic upload runs in its iOS and Android apps. It copies new photos and videos to pCloud, keeping photos at their original quality, and pCloud says you can free up phone space once an upload completes. It is one-way: photos you delete on the phone stay in pCloud and keep using its storage.

iCloud Photos works the other way. Apple says deleting content from a device also removes it from iCloud and from every device that has iCloud Photos turned on.

Pick iCloud+ to share one monthly plan with up to five other family members. Pick pCloud to pay by the year or once. iCloud alternative compares more options, and pCloud pricing lists every pCloud plan.