iCloud Guide: Everything you need to know about the Apple Cloud
What Google Drive is for Android owners or OneDrive for Microsoft users, iCloud is for Apple users. But what is iCloud actually? And how expensive is the service anyway? You can find the answers in this article.
What is iCloud?
Unlike Google Drive or OneDrive, iCloud is more of a synchronisation service with cloud storage attached. Since its launch in 2011, around one billion people have been using Apple’s cloud service.
What does iCloud store?
Since its launch, the range of functions has been steadily expanded. Not only does iCloud store the backups of your iPhone as well as documents and other files, but it also synchronises settings, messages and much more. The following table gives an overview of the range of functions:
| Features | Description |
| Backup & Restore | iCloud makes a backup of all iOS and iPadOS devices when they are powered and connected to a Wi-Fi network. If you have a new iPhone or iPad, you can back it up and pick up where you left off. |
| Email addresses ending in @icloud.com are also part of iCloud. | |
| Find My | The Find My app can be used to locate other Apple devices, items tracked with AirTag and – with consent – friends and family members. |
| Shared Photo Library | The shared photo library allows you to share selected photos with up to 5 people, using iCloud storage space only once. So the pictures from the family party can be shared with everyone without using their iCloud storage space. |
| Keychain | Keychain is Apple’s password manager and stores your passwords and credentials and makes them available to you on all other devices. |
| iTunes Match | Those who own a lot of CDs and music files outside the Apple Music app (formerly iTunes) can store them in the iCloud with iTunes Match and thus access them from other devices.Important: iTunes Match costs CHF 35 per year. Find out how to subscribe here. |
| iWork | iWork is Apple’s alternative for Microsoft’s office suite. iWork documents can be edited on iCloud.com, online changes are synchronised with the normal iWork apps. |
| iCloud Photos | When activated, your photos are stored in the cloud and can be viewed on iCloud.com and other Apple devices. |
| News | Your iMessages and SMS are stored in the cloud |
| Apple ID | All purchased digital media (e.g. apps, books, movies, etc.) are linked to your Apple ID and are part of iCloud. |
| iCloud Drive | iCloud Drive comes closest to Google Drive, OneNote or Dropbox. Here you get up to 2 TB of storage space for your data – even non-Apple files. |
| Contacts, Notes Reminders, Safari & Calendar | Your contacts, notes, bookmarks, reminders and calendar entries are synced across devices with iCloud. |
| Hide My Email | (iCloud+ subscribers only) This feature allows you to create temporary email addresses in Safari and Mail (for example, to register on untrusted sites). Emails to this address will be forwarded to your real email address. |
| Own e-mail domain | (iCloud+ subscribers only) Instead of an @icloud.com address, this feature allows you to run your own email domain through iCloud and add family members to that domain |
| Private Relay | (iCloud+ subscribers only) With iCloud Private Relay, your internet activities are hidden from website operators and mobile carriers, similar to a VPN. |
| Homekit Secure Video | HomeKit Secure Video stores the video streams of your surveillance cameras in the iCloud – encrypted and therefore secure. The videos are not counted towards your storage and can be watched from (almost) any Apple device.Important: The Smart Home cameras must support Apple HomeKit in order to use this feature. |
What is the difference between iCloud vs iCloud+?
If this is your first iPhone, you should create an iCloud account first. Every iCloud account comes with 5GB of free storage, which you can use however you like. However, this 5GB is usually not enough, which is why many people choose to upgrade their storage so they can continue to store photos, backups, emails and more in the cloud. Once you pay for more storage, you automatically have iCloud+ and can enjoy the iCloud+ features.
iCloud costs: How much does iCloud cost per month?
The basic version of iCloud is free. You can find out how much additional storage space costs in the table below.
| iCloud | iCloud+ | |||
| Costs | free of charge | CHF 1.- | CHF 3.- | CHF 10.- |
| Storage space | 5 GB | 50 GB | 200 GB | 2 TB |
| Private Relay | – | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Hide My Email | – | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Family release | – | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| HomeKit Secure Video | – | 1 | 5 | unlimited |
iCloud under Windows: Is that possible?
Few Windows users are likely to be interested in creating an iCloud account if they do not own any Apple devices. However, those who use both Apple and Windows devices – for example at work – can use iCloud under Windows. The app can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store.
Once installed, you can now sync photos, videos, emails (with Outlook), passwords (Chrome or Edge) and bookmarks (Chrome or Firefox) there. With iCloud Drive, you can open your files and folders directly in Windows Explorer, save them and share them with friends.
More iCloud tips
Set up two-factor authentication
Your iCloud account is yours and is sure to contain photos, documents or other sensitive files. Protect your account with another layer of security by turning on two-factor authentication (2FA). You can find the option in iPhone Settings > Apple ID > Password & Security.
Activate “Find My?”
Locate your Apple devices with Where Is? This is especially useful if your iPhone or other Apple device is lost or stolen. If you’ve enabled Where’s in Settings > Apple ID > Where’s, you can also see the current location of your Apple device in the browser on iCloud.com.
Share your plan with family and friends
Many families and couples pay double and triple for iCloud. Your iCloud storage plan can be easily shared with others. All files and documents remain private and are not automatically shared.
Conclusion: Powerful but not perfect cloud
An iCloud account is mandatory for every Apple user, if only because of the backup and localisation function. The fact that you have to pay at least CHF 1 for more features is annoying, but worth the price. The temporary email addresses in particular are a very helpful thing in the fight against spam.
By the way, you can find more information about Apple’s services on our overview page.
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