Mac storage basics · External storage and adding space
Is cloud storage or an external drive better for freeing Mac space?
Short answer: Cloud storage gives access anywhere and online-only files but costs monthly and needs a connection; an external drive is a one-off cost, fast and offline but must be plugged in.
They solve slightly different problems:
- Cloud storage (iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive) makes files available everywhere and can keep them online-only on your Mac. It needs a connection to open files that aren't downloaded and is a monthly cost.
- An external drive is a one-off cost, fast and works offline, but must be plugged in and is one more thing to back up.
Many people combine them: documents in the cloud, big media and projects on an external SSD. Storage Studio works with both — moving folders and apps to an external drive and keeping cloud files online-only. See iCloud and moving folders.