Carbonite vs iCloud: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Carbonite and iCloud side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Carbonite leads on higher user rating; iCloud leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Carbonite
Effortless, continuous backup and recovery for all your devices
Best for you if:
- • You want automatic backup
iCloud
Sync files, photos, and data across all your Apple devices
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | Carbonite | iCloud |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $8/mo flat, billed yearly Basic plan | Free plan, paid from $0.99/mo, billed monthly iCloud+ 50 GB plan |
Category | File Management Cloud Storage | File Management Cloud Storage |
Rating | 3.8/5 Trustpilot 3.4 · G2 4.0 · Capterra 4.3 3,442 reviews | 3.5/5 Capterra 4.7 · SourceForge 2.1 117 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | Business plans have storage limits | Free tier is 5 GB shared across Photos, backups, and iCloud Drive. A single iPhone backup often fills it. |
Choose Carbonite or iCloud?
Choose Carbonite if
- You want automatic backup
- You want ransomware protection
Choose iCloud if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want apple integration
- You want seamless sync
In-Depth Analysis
Carbonite
Effortless, continuous backup and recovery for all your devices
Watch out
Business plans have storage limits
Strengths
- Pro: Automatic backup
- Pro: Ransomware protection
- Pro: Business plans
Weaknesses
- Con: Slow uploads
- Con: Per-computer pricing
Key features
iCloud
Sync files, photos, and data across all your Apple devices
iCloud is free at 5 GB, then iCloud+ starts at $0.99/mo for 50 GB in the US.
Watch out
Free tier is 5 GB shared across Photos, backups, and iCloud Drive. A single iPhone backup often fills it.
Strengths
- Pro: Apple integration
- Pro: Seamless sync
- Pro: Good privacy
- Pro: Family sharing
- Pro: Fair pricing
Weaknesses
- Con: Apple ecosystem only
- Con: Limited free storage
- Con: Windows app basic
- Con: No Linux support
- Con: Less features than others
Key features
Plans and prices: Carbonite vs iCloud
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Carbonite |
| carbonite.com read Nov 1, 2026 |
| iCloud |
| apple.com/icloud read Oct 31, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Carbonite pricing and iCloud pricing.
Key Takeaways
Carbonite
- Higher user rating: 3.8/5 vs 3.5/5
iCloud
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, Carbonite leads on higher user rating; iCloud leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Carbonite has the higher user rating (3.8/5 from 3,442 reviews for Carbonite, 3.5/5 from 117 reviews for iCloud).
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Carbonite $8/mo flat, billed yearly; iCloud $0.99/mo, billed monthly.
- Only iCloud has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Carbonite and iCloud compare in 2026?
On the data below, Carbonite leads on higher user rating; iCloud leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Carbonite has the higher user rating (3.8/5 from 3,442 reviews for Carbonite, 3.5/5 from 117 reviews for iCloud). Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Carbonite $8/mo flat, billed yearly; iCloud $0.99/mo, billed monthly. Only iCloud has a free plan.
What are Carbonite and iCloud used for?
Carbonite: Effortless, continuous backup and recovery for all your devices. iCloud: Sync files, photos, and data across all your Apple devices.
What does Carbonite cost vs iCloud?
Carbonite's cheapest paid plan is Basic at $8/mo flat, billed yearly. iCloud's cheapest paid plan is iCloud+ 50 GB at $0.99/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between Carbonite and iCloud?
Carbonite's main strength: automatic backup. iCloud's main strength: apple integration.