How much iCloud storage is free?

Every Apple Account comes with 5GB of iCloud storage at no cost. That 5GB is shared between photos, device backups, iCloud Drive, Mail and app data.

Can I get unlimited iCloud storage for free?

Only temporarily. When you buy a new iPhone or iPad and don't have enough space to back up your current one, Apple lends you the space needed for a full backup for 21 days (extendable once by 21 more days) so you can move to the new device.

Is there a free trial of iCloud+?

Apple doesn't push a standalone iCloud+ trial. The paid storage you can get free comes through Apple One trials, including a three-month offer with an eligible new iPhone, iPad or Mac in a list of countries (US, UK, France, Spain, Mexico and others).

Free iCloud Storage: What Apple Won't Advertise

"iCloud storage full" is one of the most common messages an iPhone ever shows — and one of the most profitable for Apple, because the reflex is to tap "upgrade" and start paying. Before doing that, it's worth knowing exactly what Apple gives away for free, because there is more than the 5GB everyone has heard about.

The permanent free tier: 5GB, shared by everything

Every Apple Account includes 5GB of iCloud storage at no cost, for life. The catch is that this 5GB isn't reserved for anything: photos, full device backups, iCloud Drive files, Mail and app data all draw from the same pool. A single iPhone backup can fill it on its own, which is why the warning appears so quickly on a phone that's only a few months old.

That figure hasn't moved in years, so the real question isn't "how do I get more free GB" — it's how to make 5GB last, and when Apple temporarily lifts the limit.

The free allowance almost nobody uses: temporary iCloud storage

When you buy a new iPhone or iPad and your current device doesn't have enough iCloud space to back up, Apple lends you the space needed for a complete backup — for free, with no subscription. The backup stays available for 21 days, so you can restore it on the new device.

To trigger it on your current device, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset [Device] > Prepare for New [Device] > Get Started. If you're short on space, the screen says you're eligible for free extra iCloud storage.

Two details matter:

If the new device hasn't arrived within the 21 days, Settings > Keep My Backup Longer adds another 21 days.
Once the backup is restored, it remains available for 7 days, then is permanently deleted. The extra space doesn't stay on your account.

It's a moving tool, not a storage plan — but it removes the most common reason people pay for iCloud+ in a hurry.

Free months through a new device purchase

Since September 17, 2026, buying a new iPhone, iPad or Mac from Apple or an authorized reseller can unlock a three-month Apple One trial, and every Apple One plan includes iCloud+ storage: 50GB with Individual, 200GB with Family, 2TB with Premier. The offer runs in a fixed list of countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, France, Spain, Germany, Italy and Mexico.

The offer appears in Settings under "Services included with your purchase". It isn't available to current Apple One subscribers, or to anyone who cancelled Apple One in the previous 60 days.

Watch one trap closely: if you cancel during the trial, Apple ends access immediately — you lose the remaining free weeks, not just the future renewal. If you don't want to pay afterwards, set a calendar reminder a few days before the end rather than cancelling on day one. The same "cancel and lose it now" logic shows up with another service people try for free — and its fine print catches even more people.

Outside the US and Europe: the cheap plan now includes more

In more than 100 countries — including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and India — Apple added Apple TV and Apple Arcade to every paid iCloud+ plan in September 2026, at no extra cost, starting with the cheapest 50GB tier. In those countries, the $0.99/month plan is no longer "just storage". The US, Canada, the UK and most of Europe are not part of this change.

Freeing space before paying anything

Most "storage full" alerts come from three places, and all three can be fixed for free:

Old device backups. Backups of phones you no longer use stay in iCloud. Delete them in Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Storage > Backups.
Photos and videos. Turn on Optimize iPhone Storage so full-resolution files live in iCloud, and clear out "Recently Deleted", which still counts against your space for 30 days.
Backup contents. In the same Backups menu, you can exclude heavy apps from the device backup.

What doesn't exist: "unlimited free iCloud"

There is no code, app or generator that permanently raises your free iCloud quota. Sites offering "free iCloud+ for life" either want your Apple Account credentials — a direct route to losing your photos and your account — or push a profile or app installed outside the App Store. Apple never asks for your password to grant storage.

How much iCloud+ costs if you do pay

In the US, iCloud+ costs $0.99/month for 50GB, $2.99 for 200GB, $9.99 for 2TB, $29.99 for 6TB and $59.99 for 12TB. Every paid plan can be shared with up to five family members through Family Sharing, which divides the real cost per person. If you're comparing ecosystems, Samsung plays a different game entirely: its biggest discounts come from somewhere else.

In short

5GB is free for everyone, forever. Unlimited space is free for 21 days when you change iPhone or iPad. Paid storage can be free for three months through an eligible new device in certain countries. Beyond that, the cheapest legitimate move is to clean up old backups — and anything promising unlimited free iCloud is after your account, not your storage.