Google Photos is one of the most popular cloud storage options for backing up and organizing your photos and videos. But how much does Google Photos cost? Is it still free, or do you need to pay for extra storage?
Let’s break down the pricing, storage plans, and best ways to save money on Google Photos. 👇
💲 Google Photos Pricing & Storage Plans
Google Photos no longer offers unlimited free storage for high-quality images (as of June 2021). Instead, your photos count toward your Google Account’s 15GB of free storage, which is shared across:
✅ Google Photos
✅ Google Drive
✅ Gmail
If you need more storage, you’ll need a Google One plan, which offers expanded storage options:
Google One Plan |
Monthly Cost |
Annual Cost |
Storage Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
Free Plan |
$0 |
$0 |
15GB |
100GB Plan |
$1.99 |
$19.99 |
100GB |
200GB Plan |
$2.99 |
$29.99 |
200GB |
2TB Plan |
$9.99 |
$99.99 |
2TB |
5TB Plan |
$24.99 |
$249.99 |
5TB |
10TB Plan |
$49.99 |
$499.99 |
10TB |
20TB Plan |
$99.99 |
$999.99 |
20TB |
30TB Plan |
$149.99 |
$1,499.99 |
30TB |
🔹 Key Takeaways:
- Google Photos is free for up to 15GB, but that includes Gmail & Google Drive storage.
- Paid plans start at $1.99/month for 100GB.
- Annual plans save you about 16% compared to monthly payments.
- Heavy users (photographers, videographers) may need a 2TB+ plan.
📸 How Much Storage Do You Really Need?
Storage Plan |
Number of Photos (at 12MP) |
Video Storage (1080p, 1-min clips) |
|---|---|---|
15GB (Free Plan) |
~5,000 photos |
~250 minutes of video |
100GB |
~33,000 photos |
~1,700 minutes of video |
200GB |
~66,000 photos |
~3,400 minutes of video |
2TB |
~330,000 photos |
~17,000 minutes of video |
💡 Pro Tip: If you only use Google Photos for photos (not videos), 100GB is usually enough for casual users.
🏆 Google Photos vs. Other Cloud Storage Costs
How does Google Photos pricing compare to other popular cloud storage providers?
Cloud Storage Provider |
Free Storage |
100GB Plan |
1TB Plan |
2TB Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Google Photos |
15GB |
$1.99/mo |
❌ (Next step is 2TB) |
$9.99/mo |
Apple iCloud |
5GB |
$0.99/mo (50GB) |
❌ (Next step is 2TB) |
$9.99/mo |
Dropbox |
2GB |
❌ (Next step is 2TB) |
$9.99/mo |
$9.99/mo |
Microsoft OneDrive |
5GB |
$1.99/mo (100GB) |
❌ (Next step is 1TB) |
$6.99/mo (1TB) |
Amazon Photos (for Prime Members) |
Unlimited (Photos Only) |
❌ (No specific 100GB plan) |
❌ (Next step is 1TB) |
$6.99/mo (1TB) |
🔹 Key Takeaways:
- Google Photos offers more free storage (15GB) than Apple iCloud, Dropbox, or OneDrive.
- Amazon Prime members get unlimited photo storage, making it a good alternative for photographers.
- iCloud is cheaper for Apple users ($0.99/month for 50GB).
💾 What Happens If You Run Out of Google Photos Storage?
If you exceed your storage limit, Google Photos will:
❌ Stop backing up new photos & videos.
❌ Block you from sending/receiving Gmail messages (since Gmail shares storage with Google Photos).
❌ Prevent new Google Drive uploads.
💡 To fix this, you must either:
✔ Delete old files to free up space OR
✔ Upgrade to a Google One storage plan
🛠 Ways to Save Money on Google Photos Storage
💡 Here’s how to avoid paying for extra Google Photos storage:
✅ Compress Your Photos & Videos – Choose “Storage Saver” mode in Google Photos settings (saves space by compressing files).
✅ Use Multiple Free Accounts – Each Google account gets 15GB free, so create extra accounts for free storage.
✅ Move Videos to YouTube (Private) – Large videos take up a ton of space. Upload them privately to YouTube instead.
✅ Delete Unnecessary Files – Check Google Drive & Gmail for large attachments eating up storage.
✅ Use Amazon Photos (If You Have Prime) – Amazon Prime members get unlimited photo storage for free.
💡 Example: Switching Google Photos to “Storage Saver” mode can double or triple your storage capacity without losing much quality!
🚀 Is Google Photos Worth the Cost?
Google Photos is a convenient and affordable way to store and organize your pictures, but extra storage costs can add up over time. If you only store photos, you may be better off using Amazon Photos (if you have Prime) or another free service.
💡 Key Takeaways:
✅ Google Photos is free for up to 15GB, but that storage is shared with Gmail & Google Drive.
✅ Paid plans start at $1.99/month for 100GB, with 2TB plans costing $9.99/month.
✅ Google Photos is cheaper than Dropbox but more expensive than Amazon Photos (for Prime members).
✅ Running out of space blocks Gmail & Google Drive uploads, so managing your storage is essential.
✅ You can avoid paying for extra storage by compressing files, deleting old emails, or using other free services.
💬 How do you store your photos? Do you think Google Photos is worth the cost? Drop a comment below! 👇
🚀 For real-world tech pricing insights, bookmark CostHowMuch.com!
