Last Updated: January 28, 2026
If you’re wondering what Amazon Photos is and if it’s still a relevant choice in 2026, let me be clear: it’s one of the most powerful services bundled with an Amazon Prime subscription. For many, the free, high-quality photo storage is the killer feature that justifies the entire annual membership fee.
But with competitors like Google Photos and iCloud constantly evolving, the key question is: is it still worth it? As a tech editor and professional photographer, I’ve put the service through its paces to give you a definitive answer.
In this ultimate 2026 guide, we’ll break down its features, updated pricing, the good, the bad, and how it compares to its biggest rivals. By the end, you’ll know for sure if Amazon Photos is the right cloud for your memories.
What is Amazon Photos in 2026?
Amazon Photos is a cloud-based photo and video storage service that comes as a core benefit of an Amazon Prime membership. As of 2026, Amazon Prime has solidified its position as an all-in-one service package that goes far beyond just fast shipping. For an annual fee of around $149 (pricing can vary), you get access to a robust ecosystem:
- Prime Video: A constantly growing catalog of streaming movies and TV shows.
- Prime Music: Access to millions of ad-free songs.
- Prime Gaming: Free games every month and exclusive in-game content for popular titles.
- And, of course, unlimited full-resolution photo storage with Amazon Photos.
The app has consistently maintained high ratings in the app stores over the years, a testament to its reliability and ease of use. But let’s dig into the technical details that really matter.
Amazon Photos Pros and Cons (2026)
Before we dive deep, here’s a quick rundown of my expert take on its strengths and weaknesses today.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| Unlimited, Uncompressed Photo Storage: Save every photo at full resolution without losing a single pixel of quality. This is a game-changer. | Limited Video Storage: The included Prime plan only offers 5 GB for video. This is a major bottleneck for anyone who shoots a lot of video. |
| RAW File Support: A critical advantage for hobbyist and professional photographers who need to back up their digital negatives. | Less Advanced AI Features: While it has improved, its search and auto-editing capabilities aren’t as powerful as Google Photos. |
| Incredible Value if You’re Already a Prime Member: If you’re already paying for shipping and other perks, Amazon Photos is essentially a high-value freebie. | Requires Prime to Be Useful: Without a Prime subscription, the service is limited to 5 GB, making it irrelevant against the competition. |
| Family Vault: Easily share your unlimited photo storage with up to 5 family members, creating a central library for everyone. | Not for Professional Commercial Use: The terms of service explicitly prohibit using it as the primary storage for a photography business. |
Is the Photo Storage *Really* Unlimited?
Yes, but with one major catch. In 2026, Amazon’s policy remains clear: if you are an Amazon Prime member, you get unlimited, full-resolution photo storage. This means you can upload a 20 MB JPEG or a 100 MB RAW file, and it won’t count against any limit. This is its single greatest competitive advantage.
The “gotcha” is video. Your Prime membership only includes 5 GB of video storage. Anything beyond that requires a paid storage plan. Non-Prime members are also limited to a combined 5 GB for both photos and videos.
If you need more space for video, the Amazon Photos storage plans in 2026 are competitively priced (estimated):
- 100 GB: around $2.49/month (enough for about 14 hours of 1080p video).
- 1 TB: around $6.99/month (about 140 hours of 1080p video).
- 2 TB: around $11.99/month (about 280 hours of 1080p video).
These plans can be purchased by Prime members to expand their video storage or by non-members to increase their general storage.
Comparison Chart: Amazon Photos vs. The Competition (2026)
To give you a clear view of the market, I’ve put together this table comparing the top cloud storage services for photos and videos.
| Service | Free Tier | Premium Storage (Photos & Video) | Photo Quality | Pricing (Base Plan) | Key AI Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Photos | 5 GB total | Unlimited photos + 5 GB video (with Prime) | Full resolution (incl. RAW) | Included with Prime (~$149/year) | Object and people search, automated “Memories.” |
| Google Photos | 15 GB (shared with Drive & Gmail) | Plans from 100 GB to 5 TB+ | Full resolution (if “Storage saver” is off) | $1.99/month (100 GB) | Best-in-class search engine, Magic Eraser, advanced editing, smart album creation. |
| iCloud Photos | 5 GB total | Plans from 50 GB to 12 TB (with Apple One) | Full resolution (incl. ProRAW) | $0.99/month (50 GB) | Seamless integration with Apple ecosystem, shared albums, Memories. |
| Dropbox | 2 GB total | Plans from 2 TB | Full resolution | $11.99/month (2 TB) | Less of a gallery, more of a file-syncing tool. Basic viewing features. |
How to Get Started with Amazon Photos: Quick Guide
Setting up Amazon Photos is incredibly simple and lets you automate your photo backups. Here’s how to do it on any device.
- Verify Your Amazon Prime Subscription: This is the first and most important step. Without it, you won’t get unlimited storage.
- Download the Right App:
- On PC/Mac: Search for the “Amazon Photos Desktop app” on Amazon’s website and download it.
- On Android/iOS: Head to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and search for “Amazon Photos.”
- Sign In and Set Up Auto-Uploads:
- Open the app and sign in with your Amazon account.
- The app will ask if you want to enable “Auto-Save.” I strongly recommend turning this on. This will back up every photo and video you take with your phone.
- You can configure it to upload only over Wi-Fi (recommended to save cellular data) and whether to include videos.
- Organize Your Photos: Once your photos start uploading, you can access them from any device. Take some time to create albums (“Vacation 2026,” “Personal Projects”) and explore the search feature to find images by place, person, or object.
Amazon Photos: Key Features Reviewed
Image Quality: Does It Compress My Photos?
No. And this is the point I can’t stress enough. Amazon Photos stores your images exactly as you upload them, at full, original resolution. This is a massive advantage over services that apply compression in their free or “storage saver” tiers, which degrades image quality. For anyone who cares about the quality of their photos, this is a deciding factor.
Family Vault: Your Shared Family Archive
One of the most practical features is the Family Vault. It lets you invite up to five other people to create a shared photo archive. Each member can add photos to the Family Vault, and everyone can view and download them. Crucially, each invited member also gets their own private, unlimited photo storage. It’s a fantastic way to centralize family memories without any hassle.
Privacy: Who Can See My Photos?
Cloud storage always raises privacy questions. Amazon scans your photos to index them for search. For example, it allows you to search for “dog” or “beach,” and it will show you all matching photos. According to their policies, this data is used to improve your library’s organization and is not shared with third parties for advertising purposes.
Google Photos, on the other hand, uses this data more extensively to build a profile of your interests for targeted ads. If privacy is a top priority for you, Amazon’s approach is less intrusive. You can also disable image recognition in the settings, although you’ll lose the powerful search functionality.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Amazon Photos in 2026
What Happens to My Photos If I Cancel Amazon Prime?
This is the million-dollar question, and the answer is reassuring: you don’t lose your photos. When you cancel Prime, your account is downgraded to the free 5 GB plan. If you have more than 5 GB of photos and videos stored, you will still be able to view and download them, but you won’t be able to upload any new files until you free up space or purchase a storage plan.
Does Amazon Photos Support RAW Files?
Yes, and it’s one of its best features. Amazon Photos supports most RAW file formats from major camera brands like Canon (CR2, CR3), Nikon (NEF), Sony (ARW), Fujifilm (RAF), and many others. This makes it an incredibly valuable option for photographers who need a reliable backup of their original, uncompressed files.
What’s the Difference Between Amazon Drive and Amazon Photos?
Let’s clear up some old history: Amazon Drive was discontinued for personal use at the end of 2023. As of 2026, the distinction no longer exists. Amazon Photos is now the company’s sole consumer-facing service for media storage (photos and videos). While you can purchase paid plans to store other files, the interface is optimized to be a media gallery, not a general file manager like Drive was.
The Final Verdict: My Expert Take on Amazon Photos in 2026
After a thorough analysis of the current landscape, my opinion on Amazon Photos is crystal clear:
For Amazon Prime members, Amazon Photos is not just worth it—it’s a no-brainer. The value of unlimited, full-resolution photo storage, including RAW files, is immense and easily justifies a significant portion of the Prime fee on its own. It is, without a doubt, the best option on the market for this user profile.
For non-Prime members, it’s a different story. The free 5 GB plan is simply not enough, and the paid plans, while competitive, go head-to-head with Google Photos, which offers a more advanced AI and editing ecosystem. In that scenario, the decision comes down to whether you value pure, uncompressed storage (Amazon) over intelligent organization and editing tools (Google).
Ultimately, Amazon Photos in 2026 remains a titan in the photo storage space, a cornerstone of the Prime ecosystem, and an indispensable tool for anyone serious about preserving their digital memories in the highest possible quality.