Learn ways to avoid the high cost of iCloud. Read more!
It's no secret that iCloud+ is one of the most expensive storage services in Brazil. Apple announced price changes for its monthly cloud storage service at the end of June.
The values vary from R$ 3.50 to R$ 4.90 in the basic plan and from R$ 34.90 to R$ 49.90 in the most expensive version, that is, the subscription value increased by almost 40%.
For users who want to save money and avoid iCloud+ price increases, but still need free space in the cloud, there are other alternatives, and platforms like Google Photos can help. Keep reading and check out tips to save on storage services.
Compare the values
Before learning the tips, it is important to know all the iCloud plans and the changes they have undergone.
- 50 GB – R$ 3.50 – R$ 4.90
- 200 GB – R$ 10.90 – R$ 14.90
- 2TB – R$ 34.90 – R$ 49.90
Back up to iTunes
You don't need to back up your iPhone (iOS) using only iCloud to save your information. This feature is great for convenience, but if you don't want to pay for iCloud+ storage, you can use iTunes on your device to back up.
To do this, you need to install the iTunes app on your computer. If you’re using a Windows computer, you can download it from the Microsoft App Store or from Apple’s website if you’re using iOS. After installing iTunes on your computer, connect your iPhone (iOS) to the computer and wait a few seconds for the program to recognize your phone. Then, tap the iPhone icon in the left corner of the screen in the top bar of iTunes and select the Summary option. Click “Back Up Now” to continue and wait a few minutes for the backup to complete. The data will be saved to your computer. So, if you ever change your iPhone, you can use iTunes to restore the backup to your new phone.
Disable App Sync
Since iCloud can store all of your iPhone (iOS) information in the cloud, it also stores data from apps installed on your phone. However, if you want to save space on iCloud, one option is to not back up this app’s data. Syncing can be disabled via settings quite simply. To do this, go to your iPhone’s settings and click on your name. Then, select the “iCloud” tab and click on “Programs that use iCloud”. On the next page, scroll down and disable the apps that don’t need to sync with the cloud.
For example, delivery and shopping apps can do this, so the space the app takes up can be used for store information most important.
Store in alternative applications
Another tip to avoid an iCloud subscription is to use an alternative app to back up your photos. In this case, apps like Google Photos or Amazon Photos can help. Google Photos offers up to 15 GB of free storage shared with Gmail and Google Drive. All you need is a Google account to use it and save your images to the cloud.
Amazon Photos offers 5 GB of free space to store photos and videos. This service is available to anyone with an Amazon account. In other words, users do not need to be Prime subscribers.
Upload documents to Google Drive or Dropbox
In addition to the app that backs up your photos, you can also use other apps to upload your documents. Google Drive is a good choice for this, as it offers 15 GB of free space, but there are other alternatives to iCloud, such as Dropbox or OneDrive, that can free up space in the cloud on your iPhone (iOS).
The app also has a paid subscription service, but it can be useful for “unloading” iCloud by freeing up space. For example, Dropbox gives users access to 2 GB of free storage space, while OneDrive offers 5 GB for free. To stop documents stored on your iPhone (iOS) from being automatically backed up, go to your phone’s settings and tap on your name. Then tap “iCloud” and then “iCloud Drive.” Turn off the switch next to “Sync this iPhone” to complete the process.
Choose to downgrade
You can free up a lot of iCloud space by following the tips above. If you want to continue using the service, you can choose to downgrade to reduce storage and the monthly cost of using the tool.
To do this, go to your phone’s settings, click on your name, and click on “iCloud.” Then, tap on the “Account Storage Management” tab and click on “Change Plan.” Then, click on “Downgrade Options” and log in to your Apple account. Then, click on one of the available options to see the cheapest storage plan. To cancel your subscription, simply select the 5 GB free option.
