All about cloud subscription apps

Learn how cloud apps work and how you can access them using a web browser.

Cloud apps are different

Cloud apps don't need to be installed onto your device; they run online instead. When you use a cloud app, you don't need anything else apart from a web browser and a free cloud account. This can make cloud apps a fast and convenient alternative to other apps.

Cloud apps need an active internet service with available data. Most cloud apps are free, and you can access them using a cloud account. To access cloud apps, you sign in to your cloud account with an email address and password.

Some examples of cloud apps include:

Google Earth
Microsoft To-do
Apple Reminder
Google Shopping
Microsoft Office online edition
Apple Mail.

Cloud apps are part of your cloud account with brands such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, or others. The apps themselves won't fill up your cloud storage, but data from files or documents created in the apps can.

You can subscribe to cloud apps

When you pay for a monthly or yearly subscription to a cloud service, you may get:

Uploaded photos that are better quality
More options for editing photos in the cloud
Extra features in some apps
Access to apps that aren't included for free
More storage space for your files and other data.

What you need to access cloud apps

To get started using cloud apps via a browser, you'll need:

A desktop or laptop computer
An internet connection with available data
A web browser, such as Edge, Chrome, or Safari.

What is a cloud app ecosystem?

Because of all the different ways cloud apps connect, they are said to be in an ecosystem. The main ecosystems are Microsoft, Apple, and Google, and depending on the device you use, you may already have access to one of them.

How to tell which cloud apps you may have already

If you use an Apple ID to sign in to an Apple device, you can use this account to access Apple's iCloud ecosystem and apps.

If you use a Microsoft account to sign in to your Windows computer, you can use this account to access Microsoft's cloud ecosystem and apps.

If you use a Google account for email, or for signing in to Chrome or an Android device, you can use this account to access Google's cloud ecosystem and apps.

Sticking to one ecosystem of cloud apps, rather than mix and match, means you only need to remember one strong password and learn one set of software!

Comparing free cloud accounts

The free accounts offered by Microsoft, Google, and Apple, are very similar, with the main differences being the email service, how much free storage you get, and how each synchronises (syncs) with your files and devices.

To sign in to a cloud app account, you use an email address and a strong password.

Microsoft

Uses the Outlook app for email
Comes with 5GB of cloud storage
Can sync to all computers and mobile devices
Uses the Photo view in OneDrive to sync photos
Stores your contacts in the People app, which can sync to all mobile devices (with an extra app download)
Uses the Skype app for messaging.

Apple iCloud

Uses the Mail app for email
Comes with 5GB of cloud storage
Can sync to Apple computers and mobile devices
Uses the iCloud Photos app to sync photos
Stores your contacts in the Contacts app, which can sync to all your Apple devices
Uses the Messages app for messaging.

Google

Uses the Gmail app for email
Comes with 15GB of cloud storage
Can sync to all computers and mobile devices
Uses the Google Photos app to sync photos
Stores your contacts in the Contacts app, which can sync to all mobile devices (with an extra app download)
Uses the Chat app for messaging.

A contacts app is very useful because if you lose your phone, all your numbers and contact details are safe in your cloud app account. When you link your cloud app account to a new phone, all your saved information is ready to access.

How a cloud subscription works

When you subscribe to a paid plan on your cloud account, you receive extra cloud storage. For example:

A free account might come with 5GB of storage
A $40-per-year plan might have 200GB of storage
A $120-per-year plan might have 1-2TB (1000-2000GB) of storage.

Before purchasing a cloud storage plan, make sure to read the fine print and consider if the subscription is right for your needs.

Some subscription plans give you more than just storage. For example:

Microsoft 365 gives you access to much more powerful versions of Microsoft's apps
Google One gives you more options for storing photos at higher quality.

Your cloud storage app will ask if you want to increase your allocated storage (at a cost). There's no need to purchase a subscription if you aren't running out of your free cloud storage space. When buying, look for the cheapest plan. You can always upgrade later.

You can cancel a month-to-month plan at any time, but a yearly plan is a 12-month commitment. Some plans let you share the storage with up to five people (usually family). This can be the best value.