Apple has reportedly considered building out its own cloud infrastructure to compete directly with Amazon Web Services (AWS). This revelation, emerging from recent industry reports and insider sources, highlights Apple’s growing ambitions beyond consumer hardware and software, potentially setting the stage for a new era of competition in enterprise cloud services.
Apple’s interest in the cloud is not new. The company’s iCloud service, launched in 2011, has become an integral part of the Apple ecosystem, providing seamless backup, storage, and syncing for hundreds of millions of users. However, behind the scenes, Apple relies heavily on third-party cloud providers—including AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure—to power iCloud and other online services.
According to analysts, Apple spends well over $1 billion annually on AWS alone. This dependence not only represents a significant ongoing expense but also limits Apple’s control over the security, scalability, and innovation of its cloud offerings.
While Apple has not officially announced any plans, sources suggest the company has explored building large-scale data centers and proprietary cloud platforms.
Entering the cloud infrastructure market is no small feat. AWS, launched in 2006, has spent nearly two decades building out a global network of data centers, developing advanced services, and cultivating a massive customer base.
However, Apple’s vast resources, loyal customer base, and track record of entering and disrupting established markets (as seen with the iPhone and Apple Silicon) suggest it could be a formidable competitor if it chooses to enter the space.
For consumers, an Apple-run cloud could mean even tighter integration, better privacy, and potentially new features for iCloud and related services. For businesses, Apple’s entry could drive innovation, lower prices, and force existing players to enhance their offerings—much as competition has done in other tech sectors.