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Why is the upgrade for OneDrive Storage so much money?

Anonymous
2025-01-26T20:27:29+00:00

I get 1TG of storage with the $99/yr personal account, to add 1TG to that it's an additional $10/month, so more than a full year of having the storage and Microsoft programs that I pay for. If I switch to a family plan it's $30/yr more and I get 6 accounts of 1TG each for a total of 6TB.

Am I missing something here? The pricing seems way off here. I am tempted to switch to open office which is free and just pay for drop box or google drive at $9.99/month for 2TG.

I don't mind paying for an upgrade, but to go from $99/yr to $220/yr just to add 1TG seems crazy expensive.

***Moved from Microsoft 365 and Office / OneDrive / For business / Mac***

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | Other | MacOS

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-01-27T15:17:06+00:00

    Although I appreciate the reply. The first part literally gave me what I already wrote in my post. The solutions are not helpful. Upgrading to family version doesn't help with extra storage since it's per account and onedrive only allows one personal account per computer so I'm not able to utilize that on desktop, so not sure why you would suggest that in any way. The file management efficiency is honestly a horrible system and doesn't help in any way with my problem.

    I already know the prices, The problem I'm seeing is that $99/year INCLUDES the programs, so why would another TB cost MORE since you're already paying for the programs. Makes no sense. I wouldn't have a problem paying $50 or so extra but for that storage to be $120 more is asinine. Especially since the family plan is $30 more an gives a total of 6TB.

    If OneDrive allowed me to sign in to more than one account like it does allow with a business account that would be perfect to have a family plan, but in this case it's $30 for nothing since I can't use different accounts at once.

    The pricing structure simply doesn't make sense.

    $99 = software + 1TB

    $120 = 1TB

    Make it make sense. You can't!

    9 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2025-02-04T05:16:17+00:00

    I just canceled mine. A 30% increase is unacceptable to me.

    8 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2025-01-27T06:10:05+00:00

    Hello, Kristie Leigh.

    Welcome to Microsoft community.

    I fully understand how you feel at this moment. You might be looking for a more "cost-effective" subscription version that suits your current needs, and you may have some doubts. Here are some analyses and suggestions regarding the issues you mentioned:

    1--> OneDrive Pricing Model

    • Microsoft 365 Personal ($99/year*):* Includes 1TB of storage and access to all Microsoft Office applications. Additional Storage Charges: $9.99 per month for an additional 1TB (total storage of 2TB). This means an extra $120 per year, bringing the total cost to $220.
    • Microsoft 365 Family ($129.99/year): Includes up to 6 accounts, each with 1TB of storage (up to a total of 6TB), and supports sharing the Office subscription.

    2-->Why Still Choose Microsoft?

    Microsoft's ecosystem is not just about storage services. More importantly, it integrates productivity tools, security, and seamless multi-device collaboration into a unified subscription. Compared to standalone storage services, Microsoft 365 has the following advantages:

    • Complete Office Suite:
      • Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc., are industry standards with strong compatibility.
      • You not only have storage but can also create, edit, and share files anytime without worrying about format compatibility issues.
    • Higher Security:
      • OneDrive Personal Vault: Provides high-security folder protection with two-factor authentication.
      • Data encryption, ransomware protection, and file history features.
    • Seamless Cross-Device Integration:
      • Smooth usage on Windows PC, Mac, iOS, and Android, whether for storage or Office applications.

    ⭐Tips: How to Upgrade Storage More Cost-Effectively Based on Your Current Needs?

    Microsoft offers different pricing versions to better meet the needs of different consumers.
    >If you need a lot of extra storage space, it is more recommended to consider upgrading to the Microsoft Family version.
    >If you only need a little extra storage space, you can consider keeping the Personal version and adding 200GB of storage for $1.99 per month:

    1. Consider Upgrading to the Family Version:
      • If you don't mind paying an extra $30 per year, the Family version ($129.99/year) is the most recommended option because:
        • It can provide up to 6 users with their own 1TB of storage space, and each can enjoy the full Microsoft Office suite.
        • Even if you only use one account, the remaining accounts can be shared with family or friends, or even for small team collaboration, making it more economical.
        • Simplified calculation: The Family version costs only $21.67 per TB per year (6TB ÷ $130), much lower than the $120 per year for additional storage in the Personal version.
    2. If You Only Need More Storage and Want to Control the Budget:
      • Although OneDrive's additional storage seems expensive, you can:
        • Keep the $99/year Personal Microsoft 365 (for Office applications).
        • Upgrade 200GB of storage ($1.99/month): If you only need a little extra space, you can expand it more cheaply instead of directly upgrading to 2TB for $9.99/month.
    3. Utilize OneDrive's File Management Efficiency:
      • OneDrive's intelligent storage management (such as automatic cleanup, duplicate file cleanup, etc.) can also help you free up more space. For example:
        • Compress large files or archive old data to an external hard drive.
        • Use OneDrive online mode to avoid occupying local space on the device.

    Hope this helps! If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask. Should you have any questions or require clarification, do not hesitate to reach out to me. I‘d like to do my utmost to assist you.

    Best Regards,

    Hannah.Z- MSFT |Microsoft Community Support Specialist

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2025-04-20T06:58:17+00:00

    That's crazy. With Google you can see exactly where you are using the storage. You just go here https://drive.google.com/settings/storage and hopefully that can help you see where you can delete stuff.

    That's crazy. With Google you can see exactly where you are using the storage. You just go here https://drive.google.com/settings/storage and hopefully that can help you see where you can delete stuff.

    Google is fine . You get 2tb of storage for $9.99 per month. One drive is $1.99 a month for 100gb. And supposedly another 100gb for emails in Outlook, which I'm at 13% I'm Outlook ,so I'm literally even more confused. my OneDrive is the account that mysteriously increased to 500+ gb. I've had an MSN account since computers became a thing. I literally still have an MSN email address lol. The computer I bought came with the "disc" smh. i am well versed in Microsoft products like excel, word, power point etc for years for work but as far as storage etc I am clueless , clearly . can barely find things most times. I have sooooo many photos, documents etc etc etc over a decade+ old and am so afraid to lose them, that's why I keep all 3 subscriptions. To be honest when I was advised I needed to pay $9 99 a month for Google I was like are you out of your effing mind? Lol. And that's not even a lot compared to other plans. Idk. I appreciate you taking the time to help me. Means a lot. Microsoft customer service isn't helpful at all, in my experiences with them. I LOVE repeating myself over and over and over. Fun. Thanks again. Btw it's all a cash grab. That's all it is for them, $$$$$

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2025-02-04T16:04:34+00:00

    There was no increase. You just have to switch to classic, which is the original price. Completely shady in my opinion, but I’m still paying the same price I have for a while.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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