Every Google account comes with 15 gigabytes of free cloud storage shared across Google Drive, Google Photos, and Gmail. But with videos of your kids, hi-res photos of your pets, and work files, that space doesn’t stretch far these days. Google One is the company's subscription service, with several tiers to expand your cloud storage for a monthly fee. Storage can be shared with your family, but it's just the start—there are other benefits to subscribing.
If Google's not for you, there are other cloud storage options. If you want to change your data-hoarding habits, we also have advice on how to stay under your 15-GB allowance. All in on Apple? Read our guide to Apple One.
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What Google One Includes and How Much It Costs
Google One has three main tiers:
100-GB Plan: For $2 per month or $20 per year, you get 100 gigabytes you can share with up to five family members, plus access to Google experts, Play Store credits, special editing features in Google Photos, discounts on Google hardware, and deals on select hotels.200-GB Plan: For $3 per month or $30 per year, you get 200 GB with the same perks as above, plus 3 percent back on purchases from the Google Store.2-TB Plan: For $10 per month or $100 per year, you get 2 terabytes with family sharing, the same perks as the first tier, 10 percent back on purchases from the Google Store, and a VPN for Android and iOS.
In the unlikely event that 2 TB is not enough, you can increase your storage, but the option to upgrade to an even larger plan is available only for current subscribers and in select countries. Here are the plans (no annual discount on the 10-, 20-, or 30-TB plans):
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5-TB Plan: For $25 per month or $250 per year, you get 5 TB with family sharing, the same perks as the original tier, 10 percent back on purchases from the Google Store, and a VPN for Android and iOS.10-TB Plan: For $50 per month ($600 per year), you get 10 TB with family sharing and the same perks as the 5-TB plan.20-TB Plan: For $100 per month ($1,200 per year), you get 20 TB with family sharing and the same perks as the 5-TB plan.30-TB Plan: For $150 per month ($1,800 per year), you get 30 TB with family sharing and the same perks as the 5-TB plan.Google One Benefits
The main benefit of a Google One plan is the extra cloud storage you can share with up to five family members. While families can share the same space, personal photos and files are accessible only to each owner unless you specifically choose to share them. Everyone in the family can also share the additional benefits (provided you all live in the same country).
Let’s take a closer look at those benefits:
Access to Google Experts
You get instant access to Google experts for general questions or tech support for any of your Google products or services. You can contact support by phone, chat, or email through the Google One app 24/7. Response times for phone and chat are 2 to 3 minutes, while emails can expect a response within 24 hours.
Extra Benefits
A few things fall into this category:
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Extra Editing Features in Google Photos: This adds Portrait Light and Portrait Blur for Android or iOS, enabling you to brighten faces and eliminate shadows or blur backgrounds for that bokeh effect. Both features work with any portrait photo in your Google Photos app. These features are available on Google Pixel phones, even if you don't subscribe to Google One.Google Play Credits: You will occasionally get credits to redeem in the Play Store on books, movies, apps, or games. The amount and frequency vary.Hotel Deals: US subscribers can claim up to 40 percent off stays in select hotels, but the available discounts change frequently. When you sign in to your Google account and search hotels, you will sometimes see One member price listed. You can also use Google’s Hotel Search.Discounts, Trials, and Other Perks: You may get offers for discounted Google services or hardware, extended free trials of Google services, and other perks (for example, Google offered everyone upgrading to a 2-TB plan a free Nest Mini). These offers pop up and disappear seemingly at random.Cashback on Purchases
The 200-GB plan nets you 3 percent back in Google Store credit for any Google Store purchases you make. The 2-TB plan and above nets you 10 percent back. If you are thinking about buying multiple Google devices, this could prove useful. It can take up to one month to get the credit after your purchase, and it will have an expiry date attached.
VPN for Android and iOS
The 2-TB and higher plans come with Google’s virtual private network service for Android and iOS devices. It's good for privacy and designed to prevent logging (so no one can see what you are doing on the internet), but it is a limited service compared to our favorite VPNs, chiefly because it works only with Android and iOS devices (no web support), and there’s no option to choose servers in specific countries.
How to Subscribe to Google One
If you want to sign up, it’s easy. Create or log in to a Google account, then visit the Google One website or install the Android or iOS app.
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