One cloud to rule all of them? I put Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive to the take a look at

Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive are two of the preferred cloud storage platforms that make it straightforward to entry your paperwork, spreadsheets, and different crucial work wherever. They work on most phones and laptops and are additionally nice for backing up your settings, photographs and different treasured knowledge you’ll be able to’t afford to lose.

We will by no means have sufficient house for our ever-growing libraries, and cloud storage gives peace of thoughts that our knowledge is safe, even when our units get misplaced, broken, or stolen. However which one works finest and presents essentially the most options? I’ve examined each for work and play and can break down the attracts and disadvantages of every.

Value, availability, and specs

Varied choices can be found relying in your necessities

Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive can be found on a number of platforms, together with Internet, Mac, iOS, Android, and Home windows. Google Drive is built-in into Chrome OS on Chromebooks, and OneDrive is baked into Home windows 11.

Microsoft OneDrive is built-in into Home windows and presents 5GB of free space for storing. It additionally gives quite a few paid choices linked to its Workplace 365 suite. The Workplace 365 Primary bundle contains Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and OneDrive. The Private and Household Packages add Defender, Clipchamp, Groups, and Editor.

Whereas free storage sits at 5GB for Microsoft OneDrive, paid storage plans embrace:

• 100GB for $2 monthly
• 1TB for $7 monthly
• 6TB for $10 monthly

In the meantime, Google Drive is designed for people and small companies requiring cloud space for storing and entry to Google productiveness instruments. It contains Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets and presents straightforward sharing and collaboration for customers.

Google Drive’s free storage plan is 10GB greater than Microsoft’s at 15GB, and paid storage plans embrace:

• 100GB for $2 monthly
• 200GB for $3 monthly
• 2TB for $10 monthly
• 10TB for $100 monthly

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I examined Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive on my laptop computer to see how they carry out

Every gives viable storage options

The benefit of Microsoft OneDrive’s Home windows integration is that my desktop, paperwork, downloads, and different info sync with the cloud, so I do know they’re secure. I’ve a Microsoft 365 Private bundle with 1TB of storage, which is greater than sufficient house for my work, photographs, and media library. I like that I need not manually again up my info as a result of it routinely syncs with the cloud. OneDrive seems as a neighborhood location in Home windows Explorer, and I can all the time copy and paste different knowledge from exterior drives or reminiscence sticks into my OneDrive folder when wanted.

Having Microsoft Workplace Merchandise included within the bundle additionally has some benefits. In contrast to Google Docs and Sheets, that are purely cloud-based, Phrase and Workplace might be saved as particular person recordsdata and in numerous codecs. I additionally get entry to the Microsoft Clipchamp app, which I exploit for video enhancing. All of the included apps are routinely up to date, so I all the time have the newest variations and safety updates.

I can entry OneDrive by way of the Microsoft Edge Browser as a substitute for the app. The net-based OneDrive provides me entry to my laptop computer’s desktop, paperwork, and different recordsdata, so I can simply entry them wherever on any laptop. I additionally get entry to my Phrase, Excel, and PowerPoint recordsdata, which I can open on-line with out the downloaded apps.

The Google Drive desktop app works equally to Microsoft OneDrive and seems in a neighborhood location in Home windows Explorer. It will not routinely sync my paperwork and different system folders by default, however I can simply add them within the settings menu if I wish to, however I normally do not hassle as a result of OneDrive has me lined. As an alternative, I create a separate folder to repeat and paste all the knowledge I wish to sync with Google Drive.

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One benefit of the Google Drive app is that it creates shortcuts to Docs and Sheets on my desktop, so I can simply entry my recordsdata with out navigating by way of menus to seek for them. I additionally love its simplicity as a result of it seamlessly integrates with Home windows as if it is a part of the system.

Till not too long ago, I completely used the Google Drive internet app in my Chrome Browser and did not want the desktop app due to how properly it labored. I exploit Chrome as my go-to browser, and opening my Docs, Sheets, and different recordsdata is handy as a result of they open in a brand new tab, and I need not change between apps or home windows to entry them.

Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive: Which is finest on cell?

Sync your photographs to the cloud so that they’ll by no means get misplaced

Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive are important cell apps as a result of I can entry all my info on the fly with out a laptop computer. Additionally they save me time and optimize my effectivity as a result of I can work on Google Docs, Microsoft Phrase, and different productiveness instruments whereas having espresso or ready in line on the grocery retailer.

I exploit a Samsung Galaxy telephone, and OneDrive is one of the best ways to again up my photographs. My gallery routinely syncs with OneDrive, and I can view my photographs anytime, regardless of the place I’m or what machine I am utilizing.

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The OneDrive cell app is user-friendly. I can view my desktop folders, downloads, and extra in the identical logical association as my laptop computer, and it additionally provides me entry to my not too long ago opened Phrase and Excel paperwork and shared recordsdata. If I want extra display screen house, I can use the forged function to view my OneDrive recordsdata and folders on my TV as an alternative of my telephone show.

Google Drive lets me again up my telephone’s addresses, configuration, and different settings to the cloud. I may again up and sync my photographs with Google Drive if I exploit Google Pictures as my default app as an alternative of Samsung Gallery.

The Google Drive cell app retains issues easy, with all my seen gadgets on the house display screen for fast entry. I can view all my folders within the Information menu and entry my different work within the Shared and Starred menu. Google Drive lacks a casting function however makes up for it with a shortcut to the digital camera app, which may retailer photographs and movies immediately within the cloud.​​​​​​​

Which cloud storage app is finest for you?

It relies on what you want

Each have execs and cons — Google Drive is the higher possibility for customers requiring much less house and do not want entry to Microsoft Workplace merchandise as a result of it presents 15GB of space for storing and entry to Docs and Sheets without cost. 100GB of storage prices the identical throughout each apps, however OneDrive is cheaper once you go larger.

OneDrive is best if you would like extra space for storing for much less, and gives higher integration in case you have a Home windows laptop computer. It is also the one to decide on when you want Phrase, Excel, and different Microsoft merchandise, as a result of it is a part of the Office365 bundle.

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I exploit OneDrive and Google Drive each day and might’t do with out both. Google Drive is nice for storing work-related info and makes it simpler for me to collaborate with my group. OneDrive provides me extra space for storing to again up my PC and telephone gallery, and I simply love utilizing Workplace apps on the go.