While iCloud is the most seamless app for iPhone users, Google Photos is the default backup app for Android devices. Amazon Photos is another decent option.
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As we spend our daily lives with capable cameras built right into our smartphones, we are capturing more photos than ever. Some of these photos are shared on social media, whereas others simply reside on our phones. However, most gadgets, including smartphones, aren’t impervious to failure caused by physical damage, software issues, or hardware troubles. This makes storing your precious clicks only on your phone a risky endeavor, as you could lose your photos in the blink of an eye. The same goes when you are clicking photos using a mirrorless or a DSLR camera.
This is where cloud storage services come into play. These services allow you to store your photos seamlessly in the cloud, where they are secure and at a significantly lower risk of getting lost. Cloud storage services are also relatively easy to use, have mobile apps with built-in automatic backup options, and typically offer limited or unlimited storage for free. But which cloud storage apps are most suitable? Consumer Reports, which is known for offering trusted and unbiased information about products and services, has shared its recommendations for the best cloud storage services after evaluating some of the most popular options for regular folks. Here are the top five picks.Amazon Photos
If you’re an Amazon Prime member, one of the hidden Amazon Prime perks is unlimited photo storage at full resolution. This is excellent if you simply want to store all your photos in the cloud, without worrying about paying for storage upgrades, and don’t need too many fancy features. Amazon Photos has official apps for Android, iOS, and desktop, giving you a seamless way to automatically upload your photos wherever they are stored. Besides photos, you can also store videos, but you only get 5 GB of storage for that. Moreover, if you’re not a Prime member, you’ll get 5 GB of total storage for both photos and videos.
Amazon Photos also has a partnership with Shutterfly, allowing you to receive a 45% discount on your regular-priced Shutterfly orders and free shipping on orders worth $35 or more. This gives you access to seamless prints for any of your stored photos. Amazon Photos is available in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Japan. CR highlights the machine-learning-assisted search feature of Amazon Photos, which lets you use even simple search terms, such as tree, sun, and door, to get photos featuring these subjects. The only con to Amazon Photos is that it’s most useful when you have a Prime membership, which can cost $139 annually or $15 per month.
