Amazon Photos vs Google Photos: which one wins for your camera roll?
Amazon Photos gives Prime members unlimited full-resolution photo storage. Google Photos ended free unlimited storage in 2021 and now counts against your 15 GB Google One tier. If you have Prime, this is barely a comparison. Prices checked September 3, 2026.
The short answer
✓ Prices checked September 3, 2026
| Provider | Free | Photos storage | Video storage | Sharing | Requires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Photos | 5 GB non-Prime | Unlimited full-resolution (Prime) | 5 GB video (Prime) | Family Vault (up to 5 members) | Prime membership for unlimited |
| Google Photos | 15 GB Google account total | Counts against Google One quota | Counts against Google One quota | Shared albums, family sharing | Google One paid tier for more space |
When Amazon Photos wins
You have Amazon Prime. Prime membership at $139/year (or $14.99/month) includes unlimited full-resolution photo storage on Amazon Photos, plus 5 GB of video storage. Nobody else in the category matches unlimited full-res photos at that price point. If you already pay for Prime for the shopping and streaming, the photo storage is essentially a free bonus.
When Google Photos wins
You are not a Prime member and you value the search, editing, and AI features. Google Photos has better auto-organization, better face recognition, and better memories and highlights than Amazon Photos. The trade-off is that Google Photos storage now counts against your 15 GB Google One tier, so it fills fast and you end up paying for Google One at $1.99/month for 100 GB or higher.
Where they tie
Both have solid mobile apps on iOS and Android. Both offer secure sharing links, albums, and family-member access. Both back up automatically from your phone.
The bottom line
Prime member: Amazon Photos, no reason to complicate. Non-Prime, want the smartest photo AI: Google Photos with a Google One paid tier. Non-Prime, want cheap unlimited: iCloud+ 2 TB at $9.99/month is a better bet than Google Photos if you have an iPhone.
Common questions
Is Amazon Photos really unlimited?
For Prime members, yes: unlimited full-resolution photo storage plus 5 GB of video. Non-Prime accounts get 5 GB total for photos and video combined, which is the standard free tier.
Did Google Photos really end free unlimited storage?
Yes, on June 1 2021. Photos uploaded before that date do not count against your Google One quota. Uploads after that date count. That is why Google Photos went from best-in-class free to a paid product overnight.
Can I use both?
Yes. Many people back up to both Google Photos (for the AI search and features) and Amazon Photos (for unlimited full-resolution archive on Prime). No cross-platform sync, just redundant backup.
Get the updated tables monthly.
One email when prices change. No spam, unsubscribe any time.