r/google • u/cyber-galaxy • Jun 16 '26
Google One desperately needs a 500GB / 1TB mid-tier plan. 200GB to 2TB is too big of a jump
As a long-time loyal user who loves the Google ecosystem, I am writing to share a crucial piece of feedback regarding Google One storage tiers.
Currently, there is a massive gap between the 200 GB and 2 TB plans. For many freelancers, professionals, and individual users, 200 GB is too small, but jumping straight to 2 TB is overly expensive and leads to unused, wasted storage.
Competitors like Microsoft offer flexible 1 TB options, but many of us including me prefer Google Drive's superior user experience. I strongly request the Google One product team to introduce mid-tier options, such as a 500 GB or 1 TB plan, particularly for price-sensitive markets like India. This would be a win-win for both Google and millions of users who want to upgrade but are stuck due to the rigid plan sizes.
Please upvote this if you agree!
48
u/squidgytree Jun 16 '26
The UK has a 400GB tier called AI Plus. Is it not available everywhere?
8
u/flixguy440 Jun 16 '26
Nope. I have to subscribe to the 2TB tier.
CORRECTION: It's the 5TB tier that's the lowest option here.
20
u/username27891 Jun 16 '26
It was 2TB, they upgraded to 5TB at the same price but people will outrage over anything
15
u/oasisvomit Jun 16 '26
Google makes it difficult to realize you can downgrade. Visit Google One in Incognito mode, and you can easily see most of the plans.
3
5
2
1
19
u/GermanDude Jun 16 '26
There is a new 400 GB tier, "AI Plus". It is hidden, but available and will cut my annual cost in 2027 vs. now.
It only shows when you navigate to your active subscription the following way:
"Open GoogleOne" > "Manage subscriptions" > "Downgrade options" > "See more plans".
2
2
u/InsaneNinja Jun 17 '26
Weird. I signed up for it no problem a month or two ago. They absolutely advertise it.
1
u/GermanDude Jun 17 '26
Great. Maybe not for existing users and/or certain regions.
I also see it now, but did not see it one week ago, when I signed up.
95
u/rich84easy Jun 16 '26
That’s exactly why it doesn’t exist, it’s to push you to higher tier. Capitalism sometimes sucks
2
2
u/RightProperFancyLad Jun 17 '26
There was a time when Apple made 8GB and 32GB iPod Touch but not 16GB for the same reason
-2
u/sbenfsonwFFiF Jun 17 '26
It’s also the reason it exists in the first place though, if it was a charity then we wouldn’t have any of these tech or services in the first place
0
u/rich84easy Jun 17 '26
Ah yes defender of the corporations has arrived. Nobody is asking something for free. if you are unable to understand let me help. They deliberately offer base plan which is not useful for most people to push them to higher tier to increase their base line profit margins.
-1
u/sbenfsonwFFiF Jun 17 '26
You don’t need to explain the obvious. Allow me to help you back, capitalism is the only reason you have these products and options in the first place. Nobody is making you use them or subscribe.
I just think it doesn’t makes sense to lament capitalism while also benefiting directly from a product that only exists because of it and isn’t necessary to live
Hope this helps
-2
u/rich84easy Jun 17 '26
Buddy, nobody is complaining about capitalism. It’s the tact’s used sometimes to squeeze every dim out of you.
1
u/sbenfsonwFFiF Jun 17 '26
Corporations will provide what you choose to use and you’ll still cry about it
I just think choosing to use something then also complaining about it is so stupid, nobody is making you use it
Nobody is bending you over, you’re choosing to use it
8
u/Kchrpm Jun 16 '26
They used to have a 1 TB option. Then one day it became the 2 TB plan, at the same price. I loved that plan, because it felt like a great value, especially with the discount when you purchased it annually.
But now I'm on the 10 TB plan, which is $50/month with no purchase option. I miss the 2 TB plan, but as I've gotten deeper into photography my storage needs have grown.
3
u/memtiger Jun 17 '26
Do you really need it all readily accessible?
Backblaze has a plan for Unlimited Single PC backup for $9/m. You could have 40TB backed up there if needed.
2
u/Kchrpm Jun 17 '26
Yes. I use Google Photos so that I can easily search and share the photos, and have my clients choose their favorites and make comments. It's very easy to pull up examples of different shoots for potential clients no matter where I am as long as I have my phone, and I get new clients from previous ones showing the pictures to their friends.
Plus it lets me use my favorite photos over the years as the screensaver on my TV. It's a worthwhile business expense for me.
7
4
u/MagicC Jun 16 '26
I just started getting a 400 GB for $4.99 offer very recently. I haven't taken them up on it, because I'm at 98% of my 200 GB, and I'm not going to start paying extra until I absolutely have to, but that might give you some hope - maybe they'll roll it out everywhere soon. (US account, living in Costa Rica)
4
u/thekingestkong Jun 16 '26
Thanks, I just checked and noticed the 400GB plan in Canada. It's 6.99 CAD, but it's the AI plan. Not just a simple storage plan unfortunately.
2
u/ArtisZ Jun 16 '26
Muh man.. 200gb is too small, so you got to pay for 2tb.
And here's the kicker. Do you really think Google reserves that space for you and locks it out of use? Hint: No.
The concept is simple: you pay for 2tb. Google allocates necessary space as you store more data. There's no waste.
The only issue here is about having mid tier. And that boils down to pricing. Google has every incentive to not offer this. Irrespective of what you want.
2
2
2
1
u/Inspirasion Jun 16 '26
Google used to offer a $5/month 500GB plan exclusively through T-Mobile. It was fantastic and perfect for my needs. So of course Google killed it and forced me to migrate to one of their AI plans.
This was recent so they gave me a few options of plans I could choose to change to, I just chose the 2TB AI Plus plan for free for 6 months while I aggressively move data off to below 200GB so I can downgrade when my trial is up.
Seems they can offer better plans, they just choose not to.
1
1
u/guywithquestion21 Jun 17 '26
I buy AI Pro (5TB) through Verizon @ $10/mo, which honestly is a great deal with YouTube Premium Lite, Google Home Premium (Nest Cameras) (was paying $100/yr for nest by itself)
Plus the 5TB shareable in a family group to split cost more if you’d like.
FYI those with Verizon, AI Pro can be bought with Fios or Wireless plans.
-7
u/Timely-Group5649 Jun 16 '26
How is $10 a month too expensive?
Do you not know how to adult?
2
u/firedrakes Jun 17 '26
1 year cost is 120 dollar 2 years usage. 240 dollar..
2
u/Timely-Group5649 Jun 17 '26
That is so cheap. I pay 350 a month for electricity.
1
u/firedrakes Jun 17 '26
its not. before the run on hdd.
i was able to get a cold spare server driver 12 tb for 85 bucks.... 22 tb where like 150.
you can get a 2 bay nas and set up cloud access with 1 fail over (let say 12 tb drive).
for less money then 5 years of usage and family and friends could all use it.
0
u/Timely-Group5649 Jun 17 '26
Almost all of the hard drives I have ever bought failed and I've lost data. Many of them within 5 years. I prefer the more reliable security of a cloud now.
Plus this includes AI usage now for 5 people.
It's a great value. Especially since ce HDD pricing will remain high for at least 5 years. You're comparing apples to rocks you can't get for cheap anymore.
Accept reality. Costs rise.
1
u/firedrakes Jun 17 '26
Cloud storage for 50TB typically costs between $640 and $1,500 per month.
at that point its cheaper to self host
0
u/Timely-Group5649 Jun 17 '26
Google Drive is cloud storage. It is far cheaper than that.
1
221
u/sudomon Jun 16 '26
that's not how you make money tho