Owning a modern Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone involves actively using the manufacturer’s ecosystem, and the centerpiece is the Mi Account. It gives you access to synchronization of contacts, photos, notes and, most importantly, to cloud storage. Many users wonder how expensive it is to keep their data safe and whether it makes sense to switch to paid rates when the base limit runs out.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how much Xiaomi Cloud costs in the current realities, what payment methods exist from Russia and whether it is worth spending money on a subscription at all, if there are alternatives. You will learn about the hidden nuances of charging, understand the difference between regional prices and learn how to manage your space as efficiently as possible.
Cloud storage costs are not static, they depend on your account currency, your region, and your company’s current offerings, and understanding the price structure will help you avoid unexpected write-offs or overpayments for unnecessary gigabytes that can stand idle for years.
Basic conditions and free storage
Every user who registers a new Mi Account automatically accesses the basic layer of service, which is 5 gigabytes of free space that is shared across all types of synchronized data, which can last for years for some, especially if you don't include high-resolution gallery synchronization.
But today's standards of photography and video are dictated by the rules: One minute of 4K video can weigh several hundred megabytes, and the 5GB limit fills up catastrophically quickly, and that's where users face the need to either clean up their memory or consider expanding.
It’s important to note that free space is an entry ticket to the ecosystem, which allows you to evaluate the convenience of synchronization between devices, for example, between a smartphone and a Xiaomi Pad tablet. If you only use contact and calendar synchronization, you may never have to pay a ruble.
⚠️ Note: When free storage overflows, syncing of new photos automatically stops, although old data remains available for viewing.
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Use the Cleanup feature in the Gallery app to remove similar images and screenshots before they take up space in the cloud.
Remember, 5GB is the industry standard set a few years ago, and for text documents and system settings, that’s more than enough, but multimedia content requires a more serious approach to storage.
Current tariff plans and prices
Xiaomi offers a flexible charging system that allows users to choose the amount of memory depending on their needs. Prices can vary depending on the country of registration of the acca!unt, but the overall structure remains the same for most regions.
The most popular option is a 50GB tariff. This is the best choice for the average user who wants to make sure that all family photos and videos from vacations are kept safe. The next stage, 200GB, is aimed at those who shoot a lot of videos or use the cloud to back up multiple devices.
For professionals and large families, there are rates of up to 2TB. This allows you to store archives for many years without having to delete old files. The cost of such subscriptions is already comparable to renting a physical server, but the ease of access is worth it.
Here is a table of indicative prices, and remember that in different regions (China, Global Version, India, Europe) the value may vary due to exchange rates and tax policies.
| Tariff plan | Memory capacity | Estimated price (mo) | Who's right for? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 5GB | 0 rub. | Only contacts and settings |
| Standard | 50GB | ~99 rubles. | One user, photo |
| Expanded | 200GB | ~199 rubles. | 4K video, multiple devices |
| Maximum | 2 TB | ~699 rubles. | Family access, archives |
It is worth noting that payment is usually made monthly, but there are often discounts when paying for the year ahead, which saves up to 15-20% of the total cost of the subscription, which, with prolonged use, gives a tangible benefit.
Payment for Xiaomi Cloud subscription in Russia is currently only possible through binding international bank cards (Visa/Mastercard, issued outside the Russian Federation or through mobile payment systems that support direct write-offs.
Methods of payment of subscription from Russia
Payment for Xiaomi services for Russian users is particularly acute in light of recent geopolitical developments, with direct payment by Russian bank cards using standard methods of Google Play or Apple App Store often unavailable or operating with restrictions, but the company is looking for workarounds.
One way is to use balance payments through mobile operators, if this option is supported by your provider and your account region, and users often resort to using virtual cards of foreign banks or intermediary services that allow you to pay for subscriptions.
Alternative replenishment methods
If automatic renewal fails due to a payment method issue, you usually have a grace period (grace period) during which the data is not deleted, but the download of new files is blocked.
For those who do not want to mess with complex payment schemes, there is the option of buying activation codes or payment cards from third-party digital goods stores, although this carries certain risks and requires carefulness when choosing a seller.
⚠️ Please always check your account region when paying via third-party services, as the codes purchased for the Turkish region will not work on an account registered in Russia or Europe.
Keep in mind that prices can vary dramatically from region to region, and it is sometimes easier and cheaper to change your account region (if service policies permit) than to look for payment options in the current one.
Family access and shared storage
One of the most useful features of Xiaomi Cloud is the ability to organize family access, which is ideal for couples or families with children, allowing you to share the purchased amount of memory between multiple accounts.
When you create a family group, the organizer (usually the one who pays for the subscription) can invite up to 5-6 members, all of whom have access to a common pool of gigabytes, which is much more profitable than buying individual subscriptions for each family member.
In addition, family access allows you to share purchases from the app store (where applicable) and track the location of children’s devices, which adds added value to the service beyond simply storing files.
☑️ Set up a family group
It's important to understand that when you use a shared repository, you keep your personal folders private, and each user sees only their own files unless they're shared in a shared family folder, which balances the shared space with the personal boundaries.
The subscription in the family group is managed through the organizer's account, and it is from his card that the funds are deducted, and he is responsible for timely payment so that all participants do not lose access to data.
Comparison with competitors: Google and iCloud
To understand how profitable Xiaomi Cloud is, you need to compare it with the main competitors in the market, with the leaders here being Google One and Apple iCloud, which also offer cloud solutions that are deeply integrated into operating systems.
Google Drive offers 15GB for free, three times more than Xiaomi. However, those 15GB are shared between Mail, Drive and Photos. For active Gmail and Android smartphone owner, the place ends very quickly. Google tariffs are often more flexible and easier to pay in Russia through various methods.
iCloud, in turn, gives only 5 GB for free, as does Xiaomi, but its ecosystem is closed to Apple devices. Going from iPhone to Android with iCloud is difficult. Xiaomi Cloud in this regard is more open to Android devices of any brand through the web interface or the Mi Cloud application.
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Xiaomi Cloud wins against competitors by depth of integration with system settings MIUI/HyperOS, allowing you to restore not only the photo, but also the layout of the desktop, alarm clocks and system settings.
The pricing policy of the three is similar, at about $1-2 per 100 GB per month, the difference being ease of payment and extra chips, such as Google giving bonuses for scanning checks or using Google Fi, and Apple for using Apple Card.
If you’re deeply immersed in Xiaomi’s ecosystem (you have a phone, watch, air purifier and laptop from the brand), then their cloud becomes the most logical choice thanks to a single point of control for all devices.
How to manage your subscription and save space
Even if you buy a subscription, you don't have to be careless about your space, and there are many ways to optimize your cloud usage so you don't have to constantly buy extra gigabytes or switch to a more expensive rate.
First of all, set up sync over Wi-Fi. Turn off video upload to the cloud over the mobile network, or even turn off video sync, leaving only photos. Videos take up the lion's share of space, and they are easier to store locally on a memory card or computer.
Use the "Clear Originals" feature. In the Xiaomi gallery settings, there's an option that, after successful synchronization, deletes the original photos from the device, leaving them only in the cloud, which frees up space on the phone itself, but requires the Internet to view old photos.
⚠️ Before you turn on the "Clear Originals" function, make sure that the sync is complete and all files are displayed on the i.mi.com website, otherwise you risk losing data irretrievably.
Check the Recycle Bin folder regularly. Deleted files don't disappear immediately, they're stored there for 30 days, taking up space in your limit. Cleaning the Recycle Bin is the fastest way to get back a few gigabytes.
Hidden large files
Also worth considering is the alternative of local backups: periodically copy important data to your computer or external hard drive, which will not only save you money on your subscription, but also create an additional copy of the data in case of account problems.