iCloud Backup vs PhotoCircle
iCloud Backup
apple.comPhotoCircle
photocircleapp.comSide by side
| Figure | iCloud Backup | PhotoCircle |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $0.83/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 9 | 10 |
| Spec score · Photo Storage Services | 9.3 (#5) | 7.9 (#43) |
Plans
iCloud Backup
- iCloud freeFree
- iCloud 5GBPriced on request
- iCloud 5GBPrice not published
- iCloud+ 50GB$0.99 a month
- iCloud+ 200GB$2.99 a month
- iCloud+ 2TB$9.99 a month
- iCloud+ 6TB$29.99 a month
- iCloud+ 12TB$59.99 a month
- iCloud 5GBFree
PhotoCircle
- Friends & FamilyFree
- PhotoCircle+$1.29 a month
- PhotoCircle+$9.99 a year
- Professionals & Consultants$10 a month
- Business$15 a month
- Business$15 a month
- Professionals & Consultants$80 a year
- Business$120 a year
- Business$120 a year
- Enterprise$180 a year
In their own words
iCloud Backup
iCloud Backup is Apple’s iOS service for backing up and synchronizing files and other data across devices. It supports mobile and video backup, file restoration, original-quality storage, face search, shared albums, family sharing, and a desktop app. The free plan includes 5 GB. Paid iCloud+ storage starts at $0.99 a month for 50GB, with monthly tiers of 2.99 USD for 200GB, 9.99 USD for 2TB, 29.99 USD for 6TB, and 59.99 USD for 12TB. The 50GB tier adds iCloud Private Relay, Hide My Email, Custom Email Domain, and HomeKit Secure Video for one camera. The 200GB tier supports five cameras, and 2TB supports unlimited cameras; higher tiers include the preceding features. Computer and server backup are not supported, and ransomware protection is not included. The service is listed for iOS.
PhotoCircle
PhotoCircle is a media-sharing platform for organizing photos, videos, and documents in private Circles. Members can join through a shareable link, QR code, or in-app invitation. Families can use private albums for events, vacations, weddings, birthdays, and other shared occasions; business users can share up to 20 photos or videos through a web link. The free Friends & Family plan supports mobile apps, videos up to one minute, single-item downloads, and bulk uploads of up to 40 media items. PhotoCircle+ costs $1.29 a month and adds web access, search, web slideshows, videos up to four minutes, and bulk uploads of up to 200 items. Professional and business plans include Canva integration. Business includes custom branding, roles and permissions, and 30-day deleted-data recovery; Enterprise includes 90-day recovery, API integration, archiving, reporting, SSO enforcement, and training. Organizations need a paid seat for each employee or representative, while customers and other audience members may be guests. PhotoCircle runs on Android, iOS, and the web. It says it launched as a family photo-sharing tool in 2012 and describes SOC 2 Type II certification and NIST CSF alignment.