What else can I use Instead of iCloud? Best iCloud Alternatives

iCloud is built into every Apple device. That means all your stuff — photos, files, notes, and more — is safe, up to date, and available wherever you are.

Everyone gets 5GB of free iCloud storage to start. And you can upgrade to iCloud+ anytime for powerful new features and more storage.

Cloud is a cloud storage and cloud computing service from Apple Inc. launched on October 12, 2011. As of 2018, the service had an estimated 850 million users, up from 782 million users in 2016.

Apple users report major outages across the world

Users from multiple countries report being locked out of iCloud accounts

Apple has experienced major outages in some of its six US-based data centres, locking people out of their iCloud accounts and preventing them from logging into iPhone and Mac devices with Apple ID.

The outages caused many users mistakenly to assume there was a problem with their personal device or password. “Apple ID” has been trending on Twitter, with many people reaching out to Apple for clarity or to mistakenly report they had been hacked.

The issues were related to Game Center, iCloud back up, iCloud storage upgrades, iCloud Web Apps, iCloud mail, iMessage and Photos. The outages appear to have been global, with users from multiple countries sharing screenshot images of being locked out in a variety of languages.

“Apple services have been fairly stable so this incident stands out,” said Alp Toker, director at NetBlocks, which tracks disruptions on the internet. “The incident was unusual enough that users around the world blamed their own devices or their internet providers.”

Some iCloud services are currently down due to unexpected outage

If you’re experiencing problems when trying to access some iCloud services, you’re not alone. iCloud Backup, iCloud Mail, and iCloud Photos are currently down for some users.

Apple has confirmed the outage through its System Status website. The company says that “some users are affected” and that they may be “experiencing a problem with this service.”

According to the website, iCloud Backup, Mail, and Photos are partially or completely offline for some users on Tuesday night.

Can You Replace iCloud? Best iCloud Alternatives

Best iCloud Alternatives

Here is a summary of the best iCloud alternatives currently available for iPhone, iPad and Mac, and I will assess their performance, usability, and security credentials.

the Best iCloud Alternatives for iPhone, iPad and Mac

Best overall alternative to iCloud: pCloud.com
Best security alternative: Sync.com
Best local drive alternative: Icedrive
Best free alternative: Google Drive

pCloud

Main Features:

TLS/SSL Encryption
Unique client-side encryption
Zero-knowledge
Swiss Data Protection
10 GB free storage
iOS and macOS compatible
Website: www.pcloud.com

Sync.com

Main features:

Unlimited Data Transfer
Full support for Microsoft Office
End-to-end encryption (E2EE)
5 GB free storage
iOS and macOS compatible
Website: www.sync.com

Icedrive

Main Features:

Twofish encryption
Virtual Drive
Intelligent cache control
10 GB free storage
iOS and macOS compatible
Website: www.icedrive.net

Google Drive

Main Features

Google tools integration
AI search technology
Drive encryption
Priority – for rapid file access
15 GB free storage
iOS and macOS compatible
Website: www.google.com/drive

what is CloudKit?

CloudKit is an integrated macOS and iOS API that functions as a backend as a service (BaaS). CloudKit is the framework that powers iCloud on iOS, macOS and on the web.

What is Apple CloudKit used for?

The CloudKit framework provides interfaces for moving data between your app and your iCloud containers. You use CloudKit to store your app’s existing data in the cloud so that the user can access it on multiple devices. You can also store data in a public area where all users can access it.

What is CloudKit on Macbook?

CloudKit is a framework that lets app developers store key-value data, structured data, and assets in iCloud. Access to CloudKit is controlled using app entitlements. CloudKit supports both public and private databases.

Can I use Google cloud instead of iCloud?

You can use Google Drive to back up content on your iPhone and iCloud account. Photos will back up to Google Photos.

Can I backup iPhone to something other than iCloud?

iTunes Backup

To back up with iTunes, plug your iPhone into your PC or Mac, open iTunes, and sync your files between your PC or Mac and iPhone. Unlike iCloud, iTunes backs up all your photos, images, media files not purchased from iTunes, messages, call logs, application data, settings, memos, calendar, and bookmarks.

Three Ways to Back Up Your iPhone

There are many different backup solutions on the market that back up your iPhone. iTunes and iCloud are different types of backup solutions offered by Apple. There are also other backup solutions from third-party vendors. Acronis True Image 2020 offers a comprehensive and easy way to not only back up your iPhone data, but also lets you back up to the cloud and your computer, back up multiple mobile devices, recover accidentally deleted files, and more.

iCloud Backup
iTunes Backup
Acronis True Image

iCloud and iTunes backup have their advantages and we recommend using them. But for complete peace of mind when backing up your iPhone, also use Acronis True Image 2020 to protect and easily recover all your data.

The Best iCloud Alternative in 2022

With Apple announcing (and then delaying) its CSAM scanning capabilities, you might be concerned about what the tech giant has in store for its users. If you’re worried about your privacy being breached, then check out our list of the best iCloud alternatives below.

Let’s face it, iCloud was never the best cloud storage service (in fact, we’ve never had it on our top cloud storage list).

Sure, it is convenient to use what’s preinstalled on your iPhone and Mac, but iCloud Drive lacks some basic features, and it’s certainly not the most secure service (remember the “fappening”?). That’s not even considering Apple potentially scanning your entire photo storage, so if you’re using the service, you might want to find an iCloud alternative.

If you’re concerned about Apple snooping on your cloud storage, you should probably look for a reliable iCloud alternative.
The best iCloud alternative should be easy to use, have good media storage capabilities and be light on the wallet, with a good free plan.
pCloud is the best alternative to iCloud, but Sync.com and Icedrive are also good choices.
If you value convenience over privacy, then Google Drive and OneDrive might be more up your alley.

With Apple potentially increasing the scope of its intrusion into its users’ privacy via CSAM scans, there’s never been a better time to find a replacement for iCloud Drive. In this article, we’ll reveal the best iCloud alternatives and go into detail on each of them.

What Makes the Best iCloud Alternatives?

While privacy should be your main concern with an alternative, there’s also the matter of the convenience that iCloud and iCloud Photos offer. The ideal alternative to iCloud strikes a balance between keeping your data private and being unobtrusive. The five cloud storage services we’ve picked do just that (some more successfully than others).

Best cloud storage service for Mac

iCloud Drive is much improved in recent years, but there are plenty of other options. Which is best?

We round up the best cloud storage options for users of Macs and other Apple devices

All the best iCloud alternatives: the cloud storage services for Mac, iPhone and iPad that offer the most appealing combination of price, features, security and reliability.

Apple iCloud Drive

RRP: Free

Amazon Drive

RRP: $12.99 p/m (Included in Amazon Prime Membership)

Box

RRP: Free (more storage from $10 per month)

Dropbox

RRP: Free (more storage from $9.99 a month)

Google Drive

RRP: Free (more storage from $1.99 a month)

Microsoft OneDrive

RRP: Free (more storage from $1.99 a month)

pCloud

RRP: Free (more storage from $4.99 per month)

How do I backup my iPhone without iCloud or iTunes?

Connect your iOS device to your computer and open Finder.
Unlock your phone and trust the computer.
Click [your iPhone’s name] under “Locations”.
Click “Back Up Now” to start backing up your iPhone to computer without iTunes.

Is it worth paying for iCloud storage?

The iCloud Drive file-syncing and storage service is worth using, especially if you’re committed to Apple’s ecosystem, but it doesn’t quite measure up to the competition from Google and Microsoft.

Can I use OneDrive on iPhone instead of iCloud?

You can install OneDrive app on each of your devices and any files that you save to OneDrive can be accessed from all of the devices. It will not sync your Contacts, Calendars, Notes, Reminders, Keychain, etc automatically from those Apple apps the way that you can do it with iCloud.

Is Microsoft OneDrive free?

When you initially sign up, you get 5 GB of storage for free. If you need more space, buy OneDrive Plans with a higher storage limit. Important: If you upgrade from OneDrive +100 to Microsoft 365 Family or Personal, you must cancel the OneDrive 100 GB subscription at Services and subscriptions.