What are the options other than iCloud for a "full" iPone backup?

[JazzyJeffJax]

With iCloud you have limited options to increase the size of the capacity for backups:

5gb - Free

20gb - .99/month

200gb - 3.99/month

500gb - 9.99/moth

1TB - 19.99/month

With such a big gap between 20gb and 200gb, I am looking for feedback on other cloud options other than iCloud that will backup everything on my new iPhone 6.

Thank you

[kaebfly]

OneDrive gives you 15 GB for free. Not sure what the pay options are but you can check that out. There are others but it might be easier for you to do a Google search to check them out. You also have the option of doing a backup on your computer if backing up is your main concern and Cloud options aren't your only choice. With your computer your storage is only limited by the space available on your hard drive.

[JazzyJeffJax]

Unfortunately, iDrive does not back up everything (apps or text messages).

I'm looking for a provider that does it all.

Thanks

[kaebfly]

iDrive...is that the same as OneDrive (by Microsoft)?

[kaebfly]

Google Drive? Dropbox? Will those fit your needs?

[Weth]

For everything, it is only iCloud or iTunes on your computer.  No other service can do full backup for idevices.  

[mama23dogs · Accepted solution]

Managing the backup of your phone starts with knowing what is backed up, what is NOT, backed up and how to manage your data/phone content.

What is NOT backed up to icloud:

Apps, music, and any other iTunes purchase.  

What IS backed up to icloud:

your personal information, settings and data

if you open settings, icloud, storage, manage storage, show all apps.

this shows your app data amounts in decending order.   You can turn off backup for any app that doesn't need iCloud backup.  For example, I use Dropbox which auto uploads all my photo and video when I connect to home wifi, so I do not backup camera roll, so I turn the switch off.  I do backup data from other apps, but not all of them.

I backup an iPad and iPod touch to the same iCloud account with the 5 free GBS and have not needed more than that.

[JazzyJeffJax]

Apps and text messages are saved by iCloud.  I just upgraded from an iPhone 5 to a 6 and the appas and text messages, among other data, was transferred by the rep in the store.

[Weth]

Apps really aren't backed up to iCloud.  what is backed up is which app is on the device, not the whole app. When restoring the apps are then downloaded from iTunes not iCloud.  The apps don't count against your storage. 

Text messages do back up as you say, and that is a cause of a lot of data use in cases where movies and pictures are sent frequently. 

[kaebfly]

There seems to be some confusion as to what iCloud actually backsup. As mentioned, iCloud doesn't backup the actual app. It backs up the apps data. Your apps are always "saved" in iTunes so they don't have to be backed up. You will always have access to them even if you delete them from your device and never do a backup of any sort. But if you don't backup then all of your data from those apps will be lost if you need to restore them. Same for any other iTunes purchases.

https://support.apple.com/kb/PH12519?locale=en_US&viewlocale=en_US

[jdpenley3]

Have you tried an iTunes backup? There you are only limited by the amount of free space on your computer's hard drive....

[mama23dogs]

All correct, your apps don't back up, but the data within the app does.  None of your iTunes purchases do. ( music, movies, video, TV shows, etc )  But your settings,which remember what was on your phone do back up. 

From experience, any free music downloads do not backup or save and can't be transferred from one phone to another.  

Before  you buy more storage, go through settings, iCloud storage and determine if you need more.

Don't laugh, some people really think their iphone can increase its internal storage by purchasing more iCloud storage .   

[kaebfly]

Free music downloads are transferable to different devices. They are permanently in your iTunes library just like any other iTunes purchase (free or paid)

[mama23dogs]

Not all free music downloads can be stored in itunes.  Music downloads from free MP3 downloader apps are stored within the app and can't be moved to iTunes, or backed up.

[kaebfly]

You didn't specify that you were referring to free downloads outside of iTunes although there are ways to get free (or even purchased) downloads into iTunes that were received from elsewhere. It takes a few steps but once you get it converted you can import it in the same manner you would import your personal CD collection. It's "old school" since many don't seem to remember how to work with physical discs lol. But the option exists. Not the point though...as outside, non iTunes downloaded music won't be saved except for on a physical iTunes library (your computer for example, not your device).

[Snn5]

I remember recording FM to Cassette then to CD then to PC and converting to MP3.  Or going straight from stereo to PC sound card and making a WAV an MP3.  Yep.

[mama23dogs]

I Didn't, and yes, other music that can be added to iTunes can be backed up.  I have a lot from CDs in my iTunes account.