Which? can now pursue its collective competition claim against Apple over alleged iCloud “lock-in”. The Competition Appeal Tribunal authorised the proceedings on 17 June 2026, but it has not decided that Apple broke the law and no compensation has been awarded. The trial is listed for October 2028.
What Which? alleges about iCloud
Which? alleges that Apple abused a dominant position in the market for the iOS operating system by favouring iCloud over competing cloud-storage services. The claim concerns more than iCloud being Apple’s default service or charging for extra storage.
The alleged problem is that iOS and Apple’s backup system may prevent competitors from offering an equivalent, comprehensive backup. According to the tribunal’s summary, Which? says technical restrictions affect significant file types, meaning users who want a complete and convenient backup of an iPhone or iPad may depend on iCloud. Which? argues that this reduced effective choice and allowed Apple to charge more than it could in a competitive market.
A third-party service can generally store photos, documents and other files. That is different from backing up an entire device, including settings, app data and the information needed for Apple’s integrated restore process. Whether competing services can provide a genuinely equivalent solution is a central issue for the trial, not an established fact.
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Read the tribunal’s summary of the allegations in the CPO judgment.
Apple’s response
Apple denies that customers are forced to use iCloud or locked into it. It says UK customers can choose third-party storage providers, that Apple supports moving data to and from cloud services, and that Which?’s allegations are unfounded. Apple intends to defend the claim.
Those arguments address the availability of alternatives generally. Which?’s case asks a narrower technical and economic question: can those alternatives provide the same practical, comprehensive iOS-backup functionality? The tribunal has not resolved that question.
What the tribunal has decided
The tribunal’s 2 April 2026 judgment and the order made on 17 June 2026 allow the collective proceedings to go forward. A Collective Proceedings Order (CPO) authorises a competition claim to be managed collectively, defines the class and identifies issues suitable for a common trial.
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A CPO is procedural. It is not a finding that Apple is dominant, that its conduct was unlawful, that consumers were overcharged or that any particular sum is payable. The eventual trial must address the alleged conduct, causation, loss and any remedy.
The disputed non-paying-user issue
Apple also sought to strike out part of the case concerning people who did not pay for iCloud but may have valued the service above the alleged competitive price. A majority of the tribunal decided that Apple had not shown this part was legally hopeless and that it should be examined at trial. The chair, Waksman J, disagreed and considered that this head of claim had no basis in English law. The disagreement does not amount to a final decision on compensation for non-paying users. The tribunal’s judgments are listed at CAT judgments.
Which legal rules are involved?
The claim uses the UK’s opt-out collective-action regime for competition cases rather than a conventional US-style class action. The tribunal case page identifies standalone claims under section 47A of the Competition Act 1998 and an alleged breach of section 18 of that Act from 1 October 2015. It also records an Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union claim for 1 October 2015 to 31 December 2020.
The 2015 date describes the legal period alleged in the proceedings. It is not the same as the current consumer class period published by Which?, which has a later starting date.
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Who may be covered?
Which?’s current consumer information says the automatically included class covers people who used iCloud between 8 November 2018 and 8 June 2026 and were living in the UK on 8 June 2026. They are included unless they opt out.
People who used iCloud during the period but were not living in the UK on 8 June 2026 may be able to opt in, subject to the claim’s conditions. Which? states that the deadline to opt out, or to opt in where applicable, is 8 October 2026. Check the official Which? claim information for the current instructions and any changes.
Owning an iPhone does not automatically qualify someone. Eligibility depends on the defined dates, residence, use of iCloud and the applicable class rules. Do not assume that using the free 5GB tier, paying for iCloud+, or no longer owning an Apple device answers the eligibility question by itself.
How much money is involved?
Which? values the claim at approximately £3bn. That is the amount it is seeking, not an award by the tribunal. Earlier Which? reporting estimated that an affected user might receive about £70 and alleged that iCloud storage prices rose by roughly 20%–29% across tiers in 2023. Those are Which?’s calculations and allegations, not findings by the tribunal.
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Any eventual damages would depend on whether Apple is found liable, what competitive prices or conditions would have been, which users suffered compensable loss, how losses are distributed and whether the parties settle. The case also seeks injunctive relief, so a final outcome could involve changes to conduct as well as, or instead of, a payment.
Can you replace iCloud with another service?
You can use services such as Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox for files and photos, but replacing iCloud depends on what you need to protect. File synchronisation is not the same as a full device backup.
| Option | What it is well suited to | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| iCloud | Automatic Apple-device backup, account integration and straightforward restore | Less provider-neutral for people wanting to leave Apple’s ecosystem |
| Google Drive/Google Photos | Cross-platform files and photos | Not a like-for-like replacement for full iPhone system backup |
| OneDrive | Windows, Microsoft 365 and cross-device files | Does not reproduce Apple’s complete iPhone restore workflow |
| Dropbox | File synchronisation and sharing | May require separate tools for device backup and can be poor value for that single purpose |
| Proton Drive | Privacy-focused file storage | Not a full substitute for integrated Apple-device backup |
| Synology NAS | Local ownership and extensive backup control | Higher upfront cost, setup work and ongoing maintenance |
Before switching, map your needs separately: device restore, photos, documents, messages and access from non-Apple hardware may require different solutions. Provider privacy, encryption and account-recovery policies also differ.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happens next?
| Stage | Date or status |
|---|---|
| Proposed claim filed | 8 November 2024 |
| CPO application hearing | 19–20 November 2025 |
| CPO judgment | 2 April 2026 |
| Apple strike-out judgment | 6 May 2026 |
| CPO made | 17 June 2026 |
| Opt-out/opt-in deadline stated by Which? | 8 October 2026 |
| Case-management conference | 27 November 2026 |
| Trial | First available date in October 2028 |
| Estimated trial length | Nine weeks |
The timetable is published on the Competition Appeal Tribunal case page and can change.
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What UK users should do now
- Check the official Which? claim page against your dates, residence and iCloud use.
- Do not treat the £3bn figure or the earlier £70 estimate as guaranteed compensation.
- If considering another provider, distinguish file or photo storage from full iPhone backup and restore.
- Read the opt-out consequences carefully: Which? says opting out means losing the right to compensation from this claim.
- Keep records of relevant Apple accounts, subscriptions and dates, but do not pay a claims intermediary unless the official process requires it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Apple been found liable?
No. The tribunal has authorised Which?’s collective proceedings, but liability and any remedy will be decided at the substantive trial.
Do I have to register if I live in the UK?
People within the certified class are generally included automatically unless they opt out. Use Which?’s official instructions to check whether the class definition applies to you.
Will every eligible person receive £70?
No. £70 was an earlier Which? estimate, not a tribunal award or guaranteed payment.
Can I use Google Drive or OneDrive instead of iCloud?
They can store many files and photos, but neither is established as an equivalent replacement for Apple’s complete device-backup and restore process.
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