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Between phones full of pictures and videos, computers filled with files, and email inboxes overflowing with messages, most people have extensive digital dossiers. For many, cloud storage has become a necessity rather than a luxury, as additional storage is often needed to keep up with the sheer volume of files, photos, emails, and more that the average person has in the modern era.
To get a better understanding of how cloud storage is utilized today, All About Cookies conducted a nationwide survey of U.S. adults to examine how many people use the cloud, what they store, how much they pay, and more.
More than half of respondents (55%) say they pay for cloud storage after running out of space on their phone. This jumps to 70% among iPhone users.
Cloud usage is nearly universal, with 88% of people saying they store personal files in the cloud.
Cloud storage serves as a safety net, with 55% of users reporting they’ve recovered files they thought were permanently lost.
Cloud commonality: How many rely on additional storage
While modern smartphones and computers come with hundreds of gigabytes of built-in storage, so much of life takes place digitally these days that even that much space isn’t enough for most people.
The vast majority of users, 88%, say they use cloud storage for personal files, which may speak to just how overwhelming most people’s digital file collections are. While there are a number of free, high-quality cloud storage products available, the majority of users find that it is worth paying for cloud storage, as 62% said they pay for at least one such service on a monthly basis.
Even more telling, the average person’s cloud usage isn’t limited to a single solution, as respondents said they utilize 2.67 different cloud services on average. The average amount users report paying for cloud storage comes out to $5.92 per month, or a little more than $70 annually.
Supplementing device storage
So much of modern life takes place digitally, and between work and personal files, device and account storage can fill up fast. When that happens, users are faced with the choice between deleting things or finding a cloud storage solution.
When it comes to smartphones, most people choose to pony up some dough to supplement the built-in storage. Being able to keep all their pictures, videos, and apps together is important enough that 55% of respondents said they pay for extra storage on their phone, significantly higher than the percentage who do the same for their email account (29%) or computer (26%).
It is worth noting, however, that our survey found that iPhone users are more than twice as likely as Android users to need to pay for extra storage: 70% of iPhone users say they pay for extra cloud storage, compared to just 31% of Android users. This difference may be due to several factors, such as differences in file compression capabilities, Android apps being smaller, and the ability to expand storage on Android phones by inserting SD memory cards. In the iPhone vs Android debate, storage space appears to be a clear win for Android.
Most common uses for cloud storage
Most people use the cloud, but what exactly are they storing on it?
Photos and videos are the clear top answer in that regard, as 93% of respondents indicate they store those file types in the cloud. This should not be terribly surprising, as modern smartphones with built-in cameras have made it easier than ever to take pictures and videos. As a result, many people now have ever-growing camera rolls documenting their lives. It also helps explain why so many people pay for extra phone storage.
The only other file type that more than half of users say they store in the cloud is personal files, such as text documents and spreadsheets for personal (non-work) use. 62% of people keep those kinds of files in the cloud. About a third report storing media files such as movies or TV show episodes via the cloud.
Most popular cloud storage providers
Given the ubiquity of cloud storage, we wanted to find which cloud solutions are the most popular among users.
Google Drive, which offers users 15 GB of free storage and can sync with other Google products, is the top answer in this regard, as 62% of those who use cloud storage say they have a Google Drive account. 19% say they have upgraded their Google Drive through the paid Google One program.
There is a steep drop-off in usage from the top spot to number two: just 37% of users say they subscribe to Apple iCloud+, the paid tier of Apple’s proprietary cloud service. This number jumps to 59% when limited to just iPhone users, however.
A third giant name in the tech industry takes the bronze in cloud storage popularity, as 31% of respondents say they use Microsoft OneDrive, which offers 5 GB of free storage, though paid tiers are available both separately and as part of Microsoft OneDrive with Microsoft 365.
Advice from the experts
As cloud storage has become a default part of how people save and protect their personal data, there are still questions around security, privacy, and long-term reliability. To provide readers with more context, the team at All About Cookies asked a panel of experts to weigh in.
Answers may have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
Cloud storage offers an internet-accessible “warehouse” of remote computers called servers used to store your data. Therefore, users can store, access and manage their data via the internet allowing them to view, edit and share files from anywhere. These servers are located in large data centers managed by third-party providers.
There is a common adage in cybersecurity: "The cloud is just someone else's computer." It's reductive for comedic effect, but it's accurate. More technically speaking, cloud storage is a system where the service provider stores and maintains the servers and infrastructure used to store your data. It's not any different, really, than hosting your own data center on premises, except the cloud computing model makes it more cost effective by scaling with need due to its elastic capacity. Cloud computing is not a new technology. It's a new modality. You offload the risk to a service provider. They take on the worry of buying and managing the hardware. The risk you take on is trusting them to handle your data according to your contractual agreement.
The security of cloud storage services depends on several core factors, including whether data is encrypted, how access is controlled, and whether information is stored redundantly across multiple servers and locations to protect against failures. It also matters whether data is isolated or stored alongside other users’ information in ways that could introduce vulnerabilities, and whether organizations can manage authentication and access decisions in real time.
Equally important is the cloud provider’s use of detection systems, firewalls, and physical security controls at data centers, as well as the provider’s ability to defend against cyberattacks, quickly patch emerging threats, and respond to security incidents. Ideally, they have more resources and expertise than individual users or organizations could maintain on their own.
This depends a lot on the service provider. Whenever I find myself conducting a security review of cloud storage providers, I always look for a few things. As a security professional, first off, you need to realize and accept that at the end of the day you have no firm controls over the provider. You're primarily protected by the contract. My advice is to be prepared to walk away if you don't like what you see.
In addition to the contract, look for their current security policies, accreditations and certifications, service level agreements, and always ask a few stock questions directly to the person handling your account even if the material they provide already covers it (i.e. "What is your data retention policy for customer data? What is your methodology for sanitizing disks once a contract is complete? Do you demarcate customer data, or can we expect to share hardware with other customers? Do you have data centers in (list of countries with historically poor data security laws or antagonistic geopolitical positions)?" At the end of the day you're forming a trust relationship with them, so you should know who you're dealing with. If they're not willing to answer those questions — move on.
Are there specific files and data you'd recommend keeping on a hard drive instead?
Each individual and organization must conduct an assessment balancing risks, liabilities, convenience, and costs … of storing data on a local hard drive versus storing with a cloud storage provider.
For organizations, federated identity management allows organizations to hold sensitive PII (personally identifiable information) required to define, authorize, and grant access to identities. Thus, organizations can control sensitive PII and authentication decisions locally.
Anything you wouldn't put on a hard drive and physically hand to a contractor. Business documents and standard day-to-day operational data? Sure. In those cases stability and scalability outweigh the risk. Proprietary R&D or sensitive customer information? Higher risk, greater value. Probably better off maintaining a permanent solution and providing controlled remote access.
Bottom line
Having additional storage can not only benefit your day-to-day life, but also provide added security for files. Here’s how to make your data and files more secure.
Make sure you’re using the most secure cloud storage possible. Check out our Total Drive review and Dropbox review to get the full details on what sets them apart.
Adding your storage provider passwords to a password manager. Like your other accounts, you’ll need a password to log into your cloud storage account. Keep these passwords safe by using a top password manager.
Investing in antivirus software. A bad virus can leave your personal data and files compromised. Investing in the best antivirus software can add a much-needed layer of protection.
Methodology
All About Cookies surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults via a survey platform in February 2026.
4.5
AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Josh Koebert is a seasoned data journalist whose work has appeared in top-tier outlets including CNET, PCMag, Forbes, TechCrunch, and a range of other respected media platforms. His work explores topics relating to privacy, data security, and technology in an increasingly digital world.
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