Family Photo Backups After Google Photos' Free Limit
Updated September 2026: in 2021 I wrote about regretting that I had moved my whole family onto Google Photos, trusting its unlimited free storage, just as Google announced photos would start counting towards storage limits. I have rewritten it as a guide to managing a family's photo backups when free storage runs out.
Google announced that photos would count against each account's storage limit, and anyone over the limit would need to pay. I started looking at alternatives, and my main criterion was cost. Google's paid storage seemed a little more expensive than rivals such as Microsoft OneDrive, and leaving Google Photos was painful. The bigger problem was my family. Trusting the unlimited offer, I had installed Google Photos on my relatives' phones, helped them upload all their old photos and made sure they kept backing up every time they changed phones. Moving now meant finding an option with family sharing and plenty of storage at a fair price.
What changed with Google Photos storage?
From June 2021, new photos and videos uploaded in the space-saving quality started counting towards the free 15 GB that each Google account shares across Gmail, Drive and Photos. Photos uploaded before then remained free.
Which services offer family storage sharing?
- Google One: paid plans can be shared with family members.
- iCloud+: storage can be shared through Family Sharing on Apple devices.
- Microsoft 365 Family: each person gets their own OneDrive storage.
Plans and prices vary by country and change over time, so compare current offers.
Is it easier to stay or to move?
For families, staying is often simpler. One shared paid plan can cover everyone without changing their habits or apps. Moving several people to a new service takes time and support.
How do you keep family backups under control?
- Check each person's storage a couple of times a year.
- Delete duplicates and forwarded images, which fill space quickly.
- Keep an offline copy of important photos on an external drive.
What if a family member runs out of space?
Backup stops quietly. Set a reminder to check, or add them to a shared plan before it happens.
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