Now that everyone has a high-resolution camera with professional filters in their pocket, a lot more photos and videos are being taken. And the higher the quality, the more space is needed to store those files.
It doesn’t take long for a smartphone’s storage space to get eaten up by all those images, so users will often look to free cloud storage so they can offload their treasured memories and free up space on their phone to take more photos.
Those using a free service like iCloud or the free plan on Dropbox, quickly realize just how fast that free cloud storage can get filled up as well. All except for one free service, Google Photos.
For years, Google Photos has allowed unlimited free storage of photos and videos, making it a favorite for many users – both individuals and small businesses.
But the free ride just ended, causing a bit of a panic among its users as they look for other cloud solutions that aren’t going to cost them an arm and a leg for storage space.
What’s happening with the policy, and does it mean your images will be deleted?
We’ll go through several burning questions below about the new Google Photos policy.
What Is Google Photos?
Google Photos is a cloud storage service from Google. It’s offered free use as part of any Google account. It also has paid options.
Users can connect their devices to their Google Photos account to automatically back up photos and videos as they take them.
The service also makes it easy to share images with others through a link. They can share an individual file or a folder containing several images.
When Did Google Photos Stop Being Unlimited?
Google changed its unlimited storage policy on June 1, 2021. As of that date, any new photos and videos that are uploaded to the platform will count towards your allowable storage space on Google.
What Is the New Policy?
The new policy states that as of June 1, 2021, any new photos and videos you store in Google Photos will count towards the 15GB storage limit for free accounts, or whatever your limit might be for a paid Google account.
By default, Google gives users 15GB of free storage, and several things are factored into this, including:
- Gmail emails
- Google Sheets files
- Google Docs files
- Google Slides files
- Files stored in Google Drive
- And now: Google Photos files
What Happens If I’m Already Over the 15GB Limit in Photos?
You don’t have to worry about your current photos and videos stored in Google Photos being deleted if you’re over the limit. The new policy only includes NEW photos and videos. The existing files that you stored in Google Photos before June 1st will stay where they are and will not count towards your storage limit.
Is There an Exemption for Pixel Users?
Google Photo users that backup photos and videos from a Google Pixel phone, versions 1 through 5, are exempt from the new storage limitations. They can continue enjoying no storage space limitations.
How Much Does Additional Storage Space Cost at Google?
If you find you’re now running out of space on your free Google account and don’t feel like moving all your files or photos or syncing to another service, you do have some affordable options to expand your space.
Google One Pricing:
- 100GB for $1.99/month or $19.99/year
- 200GB for $2.99/month or $29.99/year
- 2TB for $9.99/month or $99.99/year
What Other Options Do I Have for Online Storage?
When it comes to free services, Google is still the one that offers the highest storage amount for no charge (15GB). If you want to choose another free or paid cloud storage service, you have several options.
You might even have storage space you don’t realize you have if you already subscribe to Microsoft 365 or Adobe Creative Cloud.
Free Options for Cloud Storage:
All of these services also have paid options to get more storage space.
Free With a Subscription:
- If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, each user gets 1TB of OneDrive storage.
- If you have an Adobe Creative Cloud Photography subscription, you get 20GB of image storage space.
- If you have a Google Workspace subscription, each user gets between 30GB and 5TB of storage, depending upon the plan.
Get Help Choosing the Best Cloud Storage Solutions for Your Needs
Rocky Knoll Technologies can help your Charlotte area business review your options and current subscriptions to identify the most cost-effective cloud storage solution.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. Call 704.594.7292 or reach us online.
