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 most well-liked cloud storage platforms that make it simple to entry your paperwork, spreadsheets, and different important work anyplace. They work on most phones and laptops and are additionally nice for backing up your settings, images and different valuable knowledge you possibly can’t afford to lose.

We will by no means have sufficient house for our ever-growing libraries, and cloud storage supplies peace of thoughts that our knowledge is safe, even when our gadgets get misplaced, broken, or stolen. However which one works finest and gives probably the most options? I’ve examined each for work and play and can break down the attracts and downsides 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 Net, 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 gives 5GB of free space for storing. It additionally supplies quite a few paid choices linked to its Workplace 365 suite. The Workplace 365 Primary package deal consists of 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 embody:

• 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 consists of Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets and gives simple sharing and collaboration for customers.

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

• 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 supplies 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 package deal with 1TB of storage, which is greater than sufficient house for my work, images, and media library. I like that I need not manually again up my info as a result of it robotically 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 package deal additionally has some benefits. Not like Google Docs and Sheets, that are purely cloud-based, Phrase and Workplace may 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 robotically up to date, so I all the time have the most recent 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 anyplace 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 robotically 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 trouble as a result of OneDrive has me coated. As an alternative, I create a separate folder to repeat and paste all the data 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 lately, I completely used the Google Drive internet app in my Chrome Browser and did not want the desktop app due to how nicely 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 cellular?

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

Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive are important cellular apps as a result of I can entry all my info on the fly and not using a laptop computer. In addition 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 cellphone, and OneDrive is the easiest way to again up my images. My gallery robotically syncs with OneDrive, and I can view my images anytime, irrespective of the place I’m or what machine I am utilizing.

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The OneDrive cellular 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 lately opened Phrase and Excel paperwork and shared recordsdata. If I would like extra display house, I can use the solid characteristic to view my OneDrive recordsdata and folders on my TV as a substitute of my cellphone show.

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

The Google Drive cellular app retains issues easy, with all my considered objects on the house display 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 characteristic however makes up for it with a shortcut to the digital camera app, which may retailer images and movies straight within the cloud.​​​​​​​

Which cloud storage app is finest for you?

It depends upon what you want

Each have execs and cons — Google Drive is the higher choice for customers requiring much less house and do not want entry to Microsoft Workplace merchandise as a result of it gives 15GB of space for storing and entry to Docs and Sheets totally free. 100GB of storage prices the identical throughout each apps, however OneDrive is cheaper whenever you go increased.

OneDrive is healthier if you need extra space for storing for much less, and supplies higher integration when you’ve got 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 package deal.

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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 workforce. OneDrive provides me extra space for storing to again up my PC and cellphone gallery, and I simply love utilizing Workplace apps on the go.