Summary
With thousands of photos filling our phones, managing them manually is nearly impossible. Thankfully, Apple Photos and Google Photos automate the process—but which one is right for you?
After testing both, here’s my in-depth comparison to help you decide.
1. Cloud Storage Pricing: iCloud vs. Google One
iCloud: Better for Light Users
✔ 50GB for $0.99/month (Best for casual users)
✔ 200GB for $2.99/month (~$0.75 per 50GB)
✔ 2TB for $9.99/month (Shared with family)
🔹 Pros: Cheaper at lower tiers, seamless with Apple devices.
🔹 Cons: Only 5GB free (shared with device backups).
Google One: More Storage, Bigger Jumps
✔ 100GB for $1.99/month (Same price as iCloud’s 50GB)
✔ 2TB for $9.99/month (~$0.25 per 50GB)
✔ 5TB+ plans available
🔹 Pros: More free storage (15GB), better for heavy users.
🔹 Cons: No mid-tier option between 100GB and 2TB.
Verdict: If you need small, affordable storage, iCloud wins. For heavy users, Google One offers better value.
2. Photo Organization & Memories
Apple Photos: Smarter Trip & Memory Curation
📌 “Memories” feature automatically creates themed albums (e.g., vacations, anniversaries).
📌 “Trips” collection organizes travel photos separately.
📌 Strong facial recognition (People & Pets).
🔹 “I love how Apple Photos groups photos of my wife and me over the years.”
Google Photos: More Manual Control
📌 Easier to create albums, collages, and animations manually.
📌 Better for merging photos from multiple sources (e.g., DSLR, Android, iPhone).
📌 Simpler sharing with partners/family.
Verdict:
✔ Apple Photos = Best for automatic nostalgia.
✔ Google Photos = Best for manual organization.
3. Cross-Device Compatibility
Google Photos: Works Everywhere
📱 Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, even Huawei (HarmonyOS)
💻 Automatic backup from any device
🌎 No ecosystem lock-in
Apple Photos: Only Fully Functional on Apple Devices
📱 iPhone, iPad, Mac = Seamless sync
🖥️ Windows/Android = Browser-only (clunky)
🔹 “If you switch from iPhone to Android, iCloud becomes a hassle.”
Verdict:
✅ Google Photos wins if you use multiple device brands.
✅ Apple Photos is best for all-Apple households.
Final Decision: Which Should You Choose?
Pick Apple Photos If You…
✔ Only use Apple devices.
✔ Want automatic memory curation.
✔ Need cheap, small-scale storage.
Pick Google Photos If You…
✔ Use Android, Windows, or multiple platforms.
✔ Prefer manual album control.
✔ Need more free storage (15GB vs. 5GB).
My Choice? Google Photos (For One Big Reason)
Even though Apple Photos has better nostalgia features, I stick with Google Photos because I switch between iPhone and Android. If Apple ever opens iCloud to full Android support, I might reconsider—but for now, Google’s flexibility wins.