One Drive Vs. Google Drive: Which Cloud Storage Is Better?

Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive are the two most popular cloud storage devices. Although they significantly provide the same service, the approach is entirely different. While Google Drive has a consumer-first focus, OneDrive’s consumer base is focused on operations. That goes a long way toward explaining why Google follows a cloud-only model, and why Microsoft has one foot in the cloud and one on the desktop. Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive are two sides of the same coin.

However, the results will always vary, each having a special effect on every business, including yours. Select the app that will hold all of your business’s details, which you should take seriously. OneDrive and Google Drive are two of the most popular options, and if you want to decide between them, you have a lot of points to differentiate. Let us find out the differences between OneDrive and Google Drive to help you make the correct decision when selecting one for your business.

Pros and Cons of Microsoft One Drive and Google Drive

The approaches adopted by OneDrive and Google Drive have advantages and defects.

The Pros of One Drive

The main advantages of Microsoft OneDrive are:

• Collaboration On-the-Go: The free OneDrive mobile application helps businesses upload, edit, and share files without having to be secured to one’s desktops. This level of real-time collaboration helps businesses uplift efficiency without adding to their costly overheads.
• Integrated Ecosystem: OneDrive lets users use a host of Microsoft Office apps like Word, PowerPoint, etc. It features a web version as well as a desktop version, allowing online and offline work smoothly.

The Cons of OneDrive

The main disadvantages of Microsoft OneDrive are:

• Lack of Third-Party App Integration: Presently, OneDrive for Business does not support third-party app integrations. Users cannot sync business accounts with non-Microsoft apps like message boards, calendars, and project management platforms.
• Microsoft Cannot Protect Your Data: While Microsoft protects against infrastructure dangers such as hardware and software failure, power shock, and natural disasters, it does not protect data at your end from human mistakes, illegal deletion, program/sync mistakes, malicious insiders, malware, and ransomware.

The Pros of Google Drive

The main advantages of Google Drive are:

• Collaboration Made Easy: Shareability and real-time editing features provided by Google Drive have taken personal and professional collaboration to a superior position. Share documents online, spreadsheets, and other content easily with family, colleagues, and friends.
• ID-Proof User Interface: Owing to its intuitive UI, Google Drive catches up regarding usability. Its productive built-in search engine is a climax, letting users search for files by type and owner.

The Cons of Google Drive

The main disadvantages of Google Drive are:

• Collaboration Is Restricted to Gmail: Shareability and real-time editing do not work well if the recipient has a non-Google account. Before the recipient can see the content, they need permission to do so, and even then, they can’t change anything.
• Google Cannot Protect Your Data: Google has top-class security against infrastructure dangers such as hardware and software failure, power shocks, and natural disasters. But it doesn’t protect your data from human error, unauthorized deletion, program/sync errors, malicious insiders, malware, and ransomware.

What Is the Difference Between Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive?

Here are the important differences between Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive:

• Price: Cloud storage services like Google Drive and Microsoft’s OneDrive charge different amounts for different storage sizes.

The following is an example of a pricing plan for OneDrive:

• Users on the free plan have access to 5 GB of space.
• Business Plan 1: $5/month/user for 1 TB of storage space.
• Business Plan 2: $10/month per user for unlimited storage.
• Access to all of Office, including cloud storage, for only $15 per user per month with Office 365 Business Premium.

However, the following are included in Google Drive’s various pricing tiers:

• Enjoy 15 GB of space with no monthly fees with the free plan.
• Storage space of 30 GB is included in the base monthly fee of $6 per user.
• For only $12 per user per month, businesses can provide their employees with limitless storage, enhanced security, and full access to administrative settings.
• The price for the enterprise package is $25 a month per user for unlimited storage and powerful administrative features.
• Speed: In terms of speed, One Drive and Google Drive are on par. The difference arises when you deal with Microsoft native files that support block-level copying, where a file is divided into smaller packages. Only changes to the file are uploaded to the cloud instead of the full file. Eventually, data transfer takes less time. However, if you use Google efficiency apps, block-level copying technology has no real advantage, with both Google Drive and One Drive working at par.
• File Sharing: OneDrive and Google Drive are not only used for storing files but for file syncing, recovering, and sharing. The ease of file sharing is an important factor when selecting cloud storage, as it shows the extent of team collaboration. Usually, there are two ways to share files: using OneDrive file sharing or Google Drive file sharing. You can share files through a shareable link or by entering someone’s email address to provide them access. Google users can set 3 tiers of permission: view, comment, and edit. On the other hand, OneDrive, with the help of SharePoint servers, provides more user permission options.
• File Sync: To sync files across all devices, OneDrive and Google Drive users should download OneDrive Desktop and Backup and Sync. While installing these apps, you must create a folder on your device from your OneDrive or Google Drive account. Users can access any files in that folder from any device at any moment.
• Data Privacy: If there is one thing Google Drive fans or OneDrive lovers can agree on, it’s data privacy concerns. Google has been notoriously culpable for collecting user information for selected advertising. On the other hand, Microsoft has the right to scan through a user’s data for any kind of offensive content. Of course, none of these strategies are deleterious, but the thought of a stranger looking through your data is not particularly helpful.

The Comparison of Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive

Google Drive and OneDrive are both popular cloud storage and file-sharing services that are well suited to various platforms. So, from the official website, here are a few common points for you:

• Both are cloud-based storage service platforms.
• They can be used on different operating systems.
• All users with these accounts can use cloud storage for free.
• Both can share files with others using OneDrive file sharing or Google Drive file sharing.
• To select the ideal one for you, you may have to look at their differences first. Next, we will compare Google Drive and OneDrive from the given points to make selecting your cloud storage easier.
• Price and corresponding storage space
• Performance security
• File management.

The Final Verdict: Google Vs. Microsoft

Both Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive have their advantages and disadvantages. While OneDrive provides three times as much as Google Drive’s storage space for the same cost, Google Drive secures both files in transit and those at rest with its cutting-edge encryption algorithms. If OneDrive provides the similarity and simple use of Microsoft Office, Google Drive lets you have many options regarding app integrations.

So, there is often an adjustment between the two choices. Eventually, it comes down to you as the user to consider what they emphasize in terms of features. It also boils down to the parent company of Microsoft vs. Google.