The Best iCloud Alternative for iPhone Backup & Transfer

Don’t want to pay for extra storage space for iCloud? If you are looking for iCloud alternative, just try the best iCloud alternative for iPhone/iPad/iPod introduced in this guide to backup and share files among your iOS devices and computer with no effort.

Demi

By Demi / Updated on October 25, 2024

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iCloud alternative for iPhone

So after having iCloud stop syncing on my Windows PC, I think I’ve finally decided to seek an alternative. When it works, I’d like to be able to see my files through desktop folders rather than logging into something online. I’m seeking recommendations for alternatives, please! With thanks.

- Question from Reddit

Have you had enough of the shortcomings of iCloud and looked for an iCloud alternative for your iPhone to backup data or share files with your other iOS devices like iPad, iPod? Here comes this guide, introducing you one of the best iCloud alternatives for iPhone/iPad/iPod to backup and transfer. First of all, let’s talk about why you want an iCloud alternative for your iOS devices first.

Why do you want an iCloud alternative for iPhone?

Out of different kinds of reasons, you may eager to try the iCloud alternative. And the most common reasons are concluded below. If anyone of them comes to the point of yours, this guide must be worth reading for you.

iCloud Logo

For the backup function of iCloud
✘ Limited free storage to save backup files. This may be the main reason for most people to stop using iCloud.
✘ iCloud backup seems to take forever sometimes. You will never know when the iCloud finishes backing up.
It’s hard to preview or restore specific data on iCloud backup. You have no idea which data has been backed up or not.
✘ You may also have concerns about the security of the cloud service. Recent forums have seen posts of iCloud data leaks, where your backed up photos and videos may appear on strangers' iPhones.

For the file-sharing function of iCloud
✘ Cannot transfer specific data. You’re not allowed to choose the wanted files to share with others.
 Invisible transfer process. You cannot keep track of the transfer process exactly. What you can only do is to keep refreshing your iPhone.
✘ Sharing files online between iDevices using iCloud is limited to the same Apple ID only. You may have difficulty transferring data between iPhone with different Apple ID. Luckily, you can rely on the iCloud alternative to make it.

The best iCloud alternative for iPhone - AOMEI FoneBackup

It is highly recommended AOMEI FoneBackup, the professional backup and transfer software, which is also one of the best iCloud alternatives for iPhone, iPad, and iPod. You can download the tool to your computer by clicking the icon below and enjoy its fabulous services.

Download FreewareWin 11/10/8.1/8/7
Secure Download

Function 1. Backup iPhone Fully or Selectively

To meet your different backup demands, AOMEI FoneBackup offers you two types of backup solutions - Full Backup & Selective Backup. Literally, the Full Backup function backup everything on your iPhone, while you are also able to customize your iPhone backup using Selective Backup function.

What AOMEI FoneBackup overweighs from iCloud
✔ Unlimited storage space. Apart from local folders on computer, FoneBackup plays a role in an alternative to iCloud storage to backup iPhone to Synology and any other NAS and external hard drives.
✔ Preview and selective backup process. You can preview and backup specific files with it. The incremental backup promises no duplicate backups.
✔ Easy and fast backup task. It just requires a few clicks to finish backing up tasks. It just takes you 3 seconds to backup 100 photos.
✔ Safely save backup files in local folders on computer. It is reported in iCloud privacy leakage from time to time. While, AOMEI FoneBackup keeps backup files safe offline to greatest extent.

Three steps to backup iPhone selectively
Step 1. Connect your iPhone to computer > Run AOMEI FoneBackup and click Phone Backup > Locate Selective Backup and click Get Started to begin.

Custom Backup

Step 2. Click each icon to preview and choose the wanted files to backup > Click OK to confirm.

Select Files

Step 3. Choose a destination to save your backup files (local folders, USB, NAS, etc.) > Click Start Backup to begin the task.

Click On Backup

When it is finished, you’re free to go to the My Backups screen to browse or restore the backup files whenever you want to.

Restore To Device

Function 2. Transfer Files Between iOS Devices and Windows PC

AOMEI FoneBackup is not only the alternative to iCloud for iPhone backup, but also a nice helper to share files among iOS devices and your computer.

Main features of its file-sharing service
✔ Powerful transfer function. It supports transferring files from iDevices to iDevices, iDevices to computer, and the other way round.
✔ No restriction of Apple account. The tool makes it possible and easy to transfer data between different Apple IDs.
✔ Transfer more items. As for music, both purchased and non-purchase music is allowed to transfer.

e.g. Transfer music from iPhone A to iPhone B
Step 1. Connect iPhone A to computer with USB > Launch AOMEI FoneBackup and click Phone Transfer > Get to iPhone to PC and click Get Started.

Transfer To Computer

Step 2. Check the Music icon to select the music you’d like to transfer > Click OK to continue.

Choose Songs

Step 3. Choose a storage path from Transfer Settings to save the music > Click Start Transfer to start the task.

Transfer

Step 4. Unplug iPhone A and plug iPhone B into the computer > Choose PC to iPhone from Phone Transfer > Click Start Transfer.

Transfer To iPhone

Step 5. Drag and drop music to the box or click the plus icon to add it > Click Start Transfer to make it.

Transfer

Bonus functions of AOMEI FoneBackup

1# Manage iCloud. AOMEI FoneBackup enables you to manage photos, contacts, notes, videos in your iCloud account, as well as files in your iCloud Drive. You are able to upload files to iCloud to backup, download iCloud files to PC locally, and delete iCloud files to free up storage space.

sign in icloud account

2# iPhone to iPhone transfer. Do you want to transfer all data to new iPhone without backup? The iPhone to iPhone function is available for you to make everything simpler and more efficient.

iPhone To iPhone Transfer

3# Backup iPhone WhatsApp to PC. In WhatsApp app on your iPhone, you can backup WhatsApp to your iCloud account automatically. However, chat history in WhatsApp can run out of your iCloud storage in a short time. In this case, you can rely on AOMEI FoneBackup to backup iPhone WhatsApp to PC alternatively.

start backup whatsapp

Conclusion

In conclusion, AOMEI FoneBackup is more than an iCloud alternative for iPhone, and many other functions are waiting for you to explore. If this guide is useful, please share it to help more people.

Demi
Demi · Editor
Demi from AOMEI group, knows iOS devices like the back of her hand. She's great at fixing problems and keeping data safe. She loves to help people keep their iOS running well. When not teaching, Demi enjoys hiking and taking pictures of nature.