The 13 Best Cloud Storage for Photographers in 2025

Cloud storage for photographers is a safer option to keep your hard-earned photographs safe and secure compared to a hard drive. However, it could be challenging to select one cloud service among so many options. As photographers work with high-resolution photographs, they always stay in need more space. Along with that, they have to maintain the safety of their hard-earned photographs.

Whether you are a beginner or a professional photographer, cloud storage will always come in handy to store your photographs. Photographs are the most sensitive thing to a photographer as they require immense dedication, hard work, and passion for capturing photographs. So, maintaining its safety is the greatest priority of a photographer. 

The 13 Best Cloud Storage for Photographers in 2025 include Microsoft OneDrive, Creative Cloud for Desktop, Adobe Creative Cloud, Google Drive, Zoolz Cloud Storage, iCloud Storage, Google Photos, Backblaze, Dropbox, IDrive Cloud Storage, Photoshelter, Flickr Cloud Storage, and SmugMug Cloud Storage. Here, we mentioned the 13 best cloud storage services for photos below.

1. Microsoft OneDrive 

OneDrive is an excellent choice for Windows users as it is integrated with Windows 10 and works very smoothly. Windows users don’t have to download any additional apps to access OneDrive as it is built into the system. 

It has amazing features like automatic file upload, a great file sharing functionality, a voice search option through Cortana, recognizing photographs that help to add tags, organizing photographs, maintaining the dates and events, and so on.  Another amazing feature is that you can create a personal vault folder for extra safety, which cannot be unlocked without verifying two-factor authentication.  Even though it is made especially for Windows users, it is supported on iOS and Android too. However, you would need to install the OneDrive App for that. 

Pricing Categories

They offer both free and paid services. The free version limit is 5 GB. The paid version has different ranges like standalone, personal, and family plans, which may cost from $1.99 to $9.99/month. They also offer a Business plan (annual subscription) which costs $5 to $12.50 per user/month. You have to link your credit or debit card with your PayPal or Microsoft account for the payment.

Pros	Cons
Easy synchronization on other devices	Free use is only up to 5GB
The file can be easily restored	Extra cost for Windows users gets more priority
Added vault ensures additional security	Offline access is limited
The file can be easily restored	iPad app requires improvement
Reliable service
Most image formats are supported

2. Creative Cloud for Desktop

If you are on a tight budget and want cheap yet the best cloud storage, then Creative Cloud is one of the best cloud storage for photographers like you. Despite offering services at a comparatively cheaper rate, they won’t compromise your privacy. You can share your photographs through URLs and even create automatically expiring links. You can also use passwords to safeguard your photographs. 

No matter from which device you upload photographs manually or have automatic uploads through their app, all your photographs will be organized in a gallery view in the PCloud interface, which will make browsing easy for you.  Moreover,  the Desktop version works more like a folder, which makes it one of the best drag-and-drop cloud storage solutions for photographers. Isn’t it more convenient to drag over to upload or sync the photographs rather than selecting them manually? 

Pricing Categories

Both free and paid services are available here. You can enjoy up to 10 GB free. If you want to take an individual plan, then it may cost $49.99 to $99.99/year.  Moreover, if more than 3 users want to use one plan, then they can use their business plan, which costs $9.99 to $19.98/user/month. If you want to be their forever loyal customer, then they also have a one-time payment for a lifetime option, which may cost $175 to $990. 

Pros	Cons
Easy sharing options	Paid plans offer less variety
No restriction on file size	Extra cost for Zero-knowledge Encryption
Great security	Files can’t be edited
Lifetime subscription opportunity	iPad app requires improvement
Can preview RAW files
Files can be easily transferred from other platforms

3. Adobe Creative Cloud 

Adobe Creative Cloud is considered the best cloud storage for professional photographers, as the cloud storage is connected to photo editing and graphic design apps. The feature that makes Adobe Creative Cloud distinct from other cloud storage is that they have different plans for Individuals, Businesses, Students, Teachers, and even schools and Universities. You can enjoy discounts if you use it for educational purposes. Isn’t this amazing? However, you can take their service only based on their Apps like Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, and so on. Moreover, you can store RAW file formats from Windows, iOS, Mac, and Android. 

Another good feature is that you can collaborate on your project with your clients and co-workers. If necessary, you can even share comments on the projects. But if you don’t have a business license, then you can’t use it on more than two computers.

Pricing Categories

Their price is set according to their services. You can take their one-app service or even all-app services. They have also categorized them into individual and business plans. You can expect to spend $9.99 to $35.99/month. If you add Adobe Stock, then you will get the chance to enjoy a 30-day free trial. 

Pros	Cons
Incorporated with Adobe apps	Storage is provided only with Adobe software
Numerous discounts	Files can’t be synced between devices
Excellent collaboration facility	Some plans are quite expensive
User-friendly
AWS-powered
Great for any business

4. Google Drive 

Google Drive is one of the most popular cloud storage services for its easy management and coexisting tools, which include Google Photos. Interestingly, syncing albums from Google Photos will let you access them through Google Drive. The simple interface helps to keep the dashboard organized by giving you the option to create folders and make them easily manageable. Besides, if you are a beginner photographer or don’t want to spend a huge sum on storage, then Google Drive is one of the best options.

Google Drive supports Android, Windows, and iOS. So, you can use its app through your phone or on your computer. Also, you can access it through the web. 

Pricing Categories

They are offering up to 15 GB of free use and 3 plans for the paid services, which are basic, standard, and premium. Their price ranges from $1.99 to $9.99/month. Credit or Debit cards can be used to purchase a Google Drive plan. However, Google Pay and PayPal can also be used if supported by your location.

Pros	Cons
Incorporated with Android devices	Ordinary web interface
Easy sharing option	Large downloads is time-consuming
Simple interface	Can’t access it without a Gmail account
Reasonable price	Can’t access without a Gmail account
Huge free storage	Storage fills quickly as other Google apps share the same space
Well secured

5. Zoolz Cloud Storage

Zoolz is a cloud-based photo storage service from which you can restore files in case you lose the original one. The affordable pricing and user-friendly interface make it a great option for both professional and personal use. Besides, the smart AI recognition system can identify emotions with 90% precision and add tags to the photographs to make searches convenient.

The best part is that it can pull photographs from other platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, etc., if you link it to them. Also, you can connect a camera to your computer to store photographs online. Most importantly, they have the Zero-knowledge encryption feature, which will keep your photographs private even from their engineers. However, you have to keep your encryption key safe, or else you won’t be able to access your photographs. 

Pricing Categories

They are offering 1TB to 5TB storage for unlimited users only for $99.99 to $499.99/year. They even provide a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you are not satisfied with their service.

Pros	Cons
Easy interface	F2A feature absent
File versioning	Live backup is unavailable
Reasonable price	Recalling data is time-consuming
Provides cold storage	Desktop app requires improvement
Hybrid backup feature
Provides Zero-knowledge encryption
Good for both business and personal use

6. iCloud Storage

Even though iCloud is the standard in-built storage system for iOS platforms, it can be operated on Windows and Android as well. All you need is an Apple ID to be a part of their official website. The best part is that you can ensure the safety of your house and workplace by connecting your security cameras with your iCloud account. You can also share your plan with 5 family members. 

Moreover, everything gets uploaded automatically, ensuring zero hassle of manual uploading. And surprisingly, the price is reasonable compared to Apple devices and services. Its smooth use makes it the best cloud storage for iPhones. 

Pricing Categories

You can enjoy up to 5GB for free. Their paid plan starts from 50GB to 2TB, which costs $0.99 to $9.99/month. You can pay through Apple Card, Apple Pay, Apple ID balance, and PayPal. In the case of paying by Credit card, you have to link your Credit card to your iCloud account. 

Pros	Cons
Reasonable price	Insufficient free storage
Can be shared with family	Often shows syncing issues
Strong security, including two-factor authentication	Incorporated with Apple devices
Automatic backup system
Can be connected to security cameras
Strong security, including two-factor authentification

7. Google Photos 

Google Photos is popular among people who love to take photos with their smartphones. The best feature of Google Photos is that the photos will be uploaded automatically from your iOS and Android devices if you have an internet connection, and get synced across all your connected devices. You can store .png, .jpg, .gif, and .web file formats in Google Photos. You get the option to create albums to keep everything organized. It also creates animations and collages automatically and proposes to adjust exposure in the photographs. Smart AI recognition can identify faces, places, documents, colors, objects, sky, monuments,  cities, etc., and keep them separately, which you can search easily from these categories. It will also show your old memories every day if available. Moreover, it can automatically generate albums by recognizing photographs of various events and trips. 

However, it is not recommended for professional photographers as photographs over 16 MP get compressed to 16 MP to save space. The algorithm mainly acts as the best cloud storage for personal use.

Pricing Categories

Their free storage limit is 15 GB. However, the paid service ranges from $1.99 to $9.99/month. The annual pre-payment will save 16% on Basic and Standard plans and 17% on the Premium plan. You can add your credit or debit card for payment. Also, if your location supports PayPal, then you can use that as well. 

Pros	Cons
Great free storage	Mediocre web interface
Reasonable price	Not most excellent in terms of privacy
Great AI recognition	Doesn’t provide zero-knowledge encryption
Incorporated with Android devices	Not most excellent in terms of the privacy
Auto-uploading feature available

8. Backblaze

Backblaze can be considered the best cloud storage for photographers who need to back up photographs from numerous hard drives. It is more like a backup system rather than a storage system. That is if the file is deleted from the computer, it will also get removed from the backup storage. If you are engaged in continuous work, then it will be easier for you to incorporate all your work through synchronization. The best part is that no matter which plans you opt for, you will get to enjoy unlimited storage.

Sadly, one of the bothersome features is that all the files from your computer get auto-selected for uploading. Hence, you have to deselect the files manually, whichever ones you want to exclude from the backup list. 

Pricing Categories

Their pricing starts from $7/month to $130 for every 2 years.

Pros	Cons
Unlimited storage	A bit outdated
Affordable price	Unsatisfactory customer service
Easy file recovery	Drain Windows battery faster
Automated backup system	Multiple devices add cost
Provides Zero-knowledge encryption	Can’t be used on smartphones

9. Dropbox

Dropbox is one of the best go-to choices for storing photographs online because of its simple interface. The photographs can be stored by creating folders on both iOS and Android devices. This helps the users to find their desired photographs easily without any hassle. To use Dropbox, you have to create an account on the Dropbox website. Then the Dropbox software will get downloaded on your PC. Also, you can download the app on your smartphone and sync all your files. 

Pricing Categories

They have both free and paid plans. The paid plan has 2 variants: personal and work plan, which you can pay for monthly and annually. They are offering only 2GB for free.  However, the personal plan ranges from $11.99/month to $19.99/family/month (maximum 6 users). And a work plan can cost $19.99 to  $18/user/month (3+ users).

The annual payment will help you save 17% to 20%. You can pay with your credit or debit card. However, to use PayPal, you will have to link your credit card to your PayPal account.

Pros	Cons
Files can be backed up instantly	Unsatisfactory customer service
Folders can be locked	Expensive
Large files can be transferred	Not enough flexibility
Gets fast updates
Supports various devices

10. IDrive Cloud Storage 

iDrive is a growing cloud service provider among giant companies like Google Drive, Apple iCloud, Microsoft, and many more. You can download its app on your Windows, Mac, and even on your smartphone. Though it supports common file formats like JPEGs, TIFFs, etc., it doesn’t support the viewing of RAW files. Besides, you can use it for desktop-to-desktop synchronization along with cloud backups. 

On top of that, zero-knowledge encryption ensures top-notch security. So, you don’t have to worry about safety. Also, the photographs are automatically arranged in the dashboard according to their dates. This makes the gallery simple, organized, and user-friendly.

Pricing Categories

Their free usage limit is only 5 GB. For paid service, they have 4 different plans which are iDrive mini, iDrive personal, iDrive Team, and iDrive Business, which is for unlimited users. The cost of their service starts from a minimum amount of $3.71/year and can increase to $1124.62/year.

Pros	Cons
Fast backup	Two-factor authentication is not available
Sync tool works continuously	RAW files can’t be previewed
Ensures outstanding security
Has Zero-knowledge encryption
Easy sharing option to social sites
Deleted files can be restored easily

11. Photoshelter 

Photoshelter can be regarded as an outstanding cloud storage for professional photographers who would prefer to showcase their work or want to create a portfolio. Photoshelter is such a platform where you can store your high-resolution photographs of any size as well as create your website using their available templates. You can use that website as your portfolio. And most importantly, you can even earn by using the partnerships with major print labs and their built-in shopping cart. You can also share your photographs on social media. 

You will have full control over the privacy of your website. You can select which photographs to keep private and which ones public. Moreover, if you want to be sure about their service, then you can use their 14-day trial option. 

Pricing Categories

They are offering 3 plans, which are basic, standard, and pro. Their plan costs $12.99/month to $49.99/month, in you can enjoy unlimited storage. Payment can be made from PayPal, Stripe, and merchant accounts. 

Pros	Cons
Great security	Expensive
Can be used for a portfolio	Not designed for backup
Gives an earning opportunity
Gives earning opportunity

12. Flickr Cloud Storage 

Flickr is a renowned cloud storage service, also known as a photography social media site. You will get the opportunity to get to know other photographers. Even though it is like a social media site, it can be used as a photo backup site. However, there is a restriction on the file size. The photographs can have a maximum size of 200MB, and the video can be 1 GB. 

The price they are offering for unlimited storage is a lucrative offer compared to other service providers. Because at such a reasonable price, you can store your photographs as well as establish your photography career.

Pricing Categories

You can upload up to 1000 photographs or videos for free. However, to enjoy unlimited space, you have to pay $5.99/month or $49.99/year.

Pros	Cons
Keeps resolution unchanged	Doesn’t support RAW files
Excellent security	Syncing is not available
Copyright laws prevent stealing	Auto-uploader adds cost
	Not designed for backup

13. SmugMug Cloud Storage 

SmugMug offers you unlimited photo storage features, along with allowing you to control the privacy settings of your photographs. Your photographs will have public visibility or private, which ill be decided by you only. However, your photographs should be within 150MB in size, and videos should be within 3GB, having a max 20-minute duration. 

You can use SmugMug as a photography portfolio as well. SmugMug also has its App. So, you can access your photos from anywhere. Besides, photos are backed up automatically through the App. 

Pricing Categories

They have 3 plans, which are power, portfolio, and pro. Their plan costs $13 to $42/month or $360/year.  They are also offering a storage plan for RAW files, which you can use from 512GB to 1TB for $3 to $5/month. However, if you exceed 1TB, then you have to pay an additional $5/month for each TB.  Within 512GB, you can easily store more than 12,000 RAW files. Moreover, paying annually will help you save 29% to 33%. You can use a Credit card or PayPal for website purchases, and an Apple/iTunes account for iOS app purchases. 

Pros	Cons
14-day free trial option	Invoicing unavailable
Infinite photo storage	User-unfriendly contact form
Has sharing option	Free subscription tier not available
File security guaranteed
Functional for eCommerce

What is Cloud Storage?

Cloud storage is an online storage platform where, by utilizing public cloud infrastructure, you can easily store your photographs, videos, and other forms of digital data.

Cloud storage can be accessed with the help of the internet and devices like computers, smartphones, tablets, etc. Some cloud services can be operated through their apps, and others can be accessed through any web browser. It provides more security than storing on an external hard drive, as well as gives the option to access them from any location or device. In simple words, it is the most convenient place to store data in this modern era. 

What are the Essential Cloud Features Every Photographer Should Use?

The essential cloud features every photographer should use include a Built-in Viewing Gallery, Built-in Sharing Features, Smartphone Synchronisation, Built-in Editing Tools, Multiple Device Synchronisation, and Low-Cost Storage.  

1. Built-in Viewing Gallery

Cloud storage having an inbuilt viewing gallery is one of the essential features for a photographer, as a gallery-like view gives the dashboard of the cloud storage a neat and organized look. Apart from that, it makes browsing, searching, and other activities less time-consuming and more convenient. 

2. Built-in Sharing Features 

What is the point of storing a photograph if that cannot be shared? Cloud storage must have a variety of sharing options, such as through URLs, email, and other social media sites.

To ensure additional safety, password-protected sharing options can also be provided. However, this feature is present in some services.  

3. Smartphone Synchronisation 

Modern smartphones are built with an advanced and better version camera that makes photography way easier and more convenient than doing photography with big or high-tech cameras. 

Hence, the cloud storage service apps that automatically upload photographs to the cloud are the most suitable service. This will make the work a lot easier and store the photographs with utmost safety. 

4. Built-in Editing Tools 

Raw pictures often require a quick touch-up, like fixing lights and colors. If the editing tool is built within the cloud storage, then it makes the work a lot easier. 

Though the photos can’t be edited like the advanced photo editing apps, sometimes such editing tools come in handy for quick fixing. 

5. Multiple Device Synchronisation 

Nowadays, using more than one device is quite popular. Almost every photographer uses at least 2 devices. So, choosing a service that allows synchronization among multiple devices is important. 

You will get many service providers who have apps for desktops as well as smartphones that work in the background and keep synchronizing files among the devices continuously.  

6. Low-Cost Storage 

Lastly, pricing is an essential function to be considered when choosing a cloud service. Since there are many available cloud storage service providers, you can compare their offers and decide on which one will be most suitable for you according to your budget and needs.

Do Photographers Keep Old Photos?

It depends on the individual’s preference whether they want to preserve their photographs for a long time or not. Some photographers have a much greater attachment to their photographs, may preserve them for 20 to 30 years, or some may keep them for a few weeks to a few months. However, even if they store them, your privacy will be maintained. You don’t have to worry about getting your photographs shared with others without your permission.

What Things to Consider When Picking the Best Photo Cloud Storage

Things to consider when picking the best photo cloud storage include supported devices, storage capacity, file formats, cataloging and editing features, ease of use, pricing, and privacy.

1. Supported Devices 

The first thing that you should consider is to check if the service supports your device or not. 

Windows, Linux, and macOS users are in a safe zone as the majority of the services support these systems. 

However, if you mostly use your phone for photography, then you have to check and be sure if you are eligible to use the service through your phone. Also, auto backup or uploading is one of the essential features for phone users as it saves a lot of time and energy. 

Moreover, make sure you can use the service on multiple devices. If yes, then how many devices can be connected at a time is should also be inquired.

2. Storage Capacity 

As a photographer, you will be working with photos daily, which requires massive storage capacity to keep your photographs safe and preserved. That’s why you should pick the service that will provide you with immense storage. Usually, you can store around 100k high-quality photographs if you go for a 1TB storage plan. 

If you feel that selecting a large storage plan may be a waste of money for you at the initial stage, as you may not need that much space, you should select a plan that can be upgraded in the future, in case you feel a shortage of space. 

It’s better to select a plan considering future necessities. Shifting all your photos from one service to another will be bothersome.

How Many Pictures Can 100GB Hold?

You can store around or over 30,000 photographs safely and securely within 100GB of cloud storage space. This much space is enough for a beginner photographer.

3. File Formats, Cataloging, and Editing 

The file format that is supported by the majority of the cloud storage service providers is .jpg. But professional designers and photographers need access to other file formats like RAW files and TIFF, which are offered by only a few service providers. 

So, if you need to access files other than .jpg, then make sure the service you are thinking of taking supports them or not. 

Moreover, apart from a basic preview system, some company offers a better-organized gallery, including recognition features that study the photographs and categorize them accordingly. Furthermore, if you prefer to work online, select the service that provides  Software as a Service (SaaS)- based photo editing features, as most services provide only basic editing options. So, it is important to reflect upon every feature beforehand. 

4. Ease of Use 

One of the most important things that should be considered while selecting a cloud storage service is how easy the service is to operate. Especially, the service should be bug-free. 

Also, the process starting from sign-up to uploading photographs should have an easy interface. Besides, the photographs should be synced properly throughout all the devices, even getting auto-uploaded from phones. Many service providers may claim that their service is bug-free, but in reality, it’s not. So, to be sure about the quality of the service and get comfortable with the use, you can opt for free storage options provided by many companies. 

5. Pricing 

Choosing a service also depends on the budget. As there are numerous service providers available to choose from, you will get a range of services from reasonable to expensive. 

Some companies may provide small storage at a higher price, whereas you can expect double that storage at half of the price. 

Hence, you have to consider both your budget and the required space while comparing the different cloud service providers. Good research will help you crack the best deal out of all the available offers. However, don’t be a cheapskate; rather, think about all the possible features you may need in the future that will justify the cost so that you won’t have to bear the hassle of changing the service over and over again.

6. Privacy

Last but not least, privacy is a major concern in the case of cloud storage, as there are numerous cases of data being stolen. So, it is important to select the service that will ensure the optimum safety of your photographs. 

To ensure the safety of your photographs, you can opt for services that use 256-bit AES encryption to provide you with security. However, if you want your photographs not to be accessed by your provider as well, then you can choose a service that provides zero-knowledge encryption. Nevertheless, the downside of zero-knowledge encryption is that you won’t be able to connect with any third-party software that you may need in case of editing your photographs online. Also, you have to maintain your encryption keys, as losing it means you won’t be able to access them ever again. 

Therefore, it’s better to select a service provider that will ensure your safety from their end. All you need to do is use a strong password to keep your account safe.