Cloud storage has gained a lot of momentum in the past two decades. Companies and People rely on cloud storage platforms to save their important data. Cloud Storage makes the data dynamic as well by making it available whenever and wherever needed. It also promotes transparency in who is using the data and for what purposes.
The two most popular Cloud Storage platforms are Google Drive vs OneDrive. These two different cloud storage platforms are managed by 2 big tech giants, Google and Microsoft respectively. However, if we have to choose one for ourselves or our business, which would be the best Cloud Storage solution? In this Google Drive vs OneDrive comparison, we are going to compare both these platforms on various parameters.
Pricing Plans:
Both Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive have multiple pricing plans depending upon the storage required. Microsoft OneDrive’s Free plan offers 5 GB of Cloud Storage and Google Drive’s free plan offers 15 GBs of free space.
If you need storage space more than what is being offered in the free plans with both the Cloud Storage platforms.
Google Drive Pricing:
This Google Drive plans range from $1.99/month for 100 GBs to $299.99/month for 30 TBs. Google Drive offers 6 Different options to choose from according to your needs.
OneDrive Pricing:
OneDrive offers fewer number of options when compared with Google Drive. But OneDrive pricing is a bit more affordable than Google Drive.
- $1.99/month for 100 GB
- $6.99/month for 1 TB (1000 GBs)
- $9.99/month for 6 TB (6000 GBs)
Google Drive offers 2 TB of Cloud storage for $9.99/month and Onedrive offers 6 TB of Cloud storage for the same price as Google Drive. So, if you are looking for Free Cloud Storage space, Google Drive offers 15 GB which is triple the space that Microsoft OneDrive offers for free. But if you are a business person and require more storage space, OneDrive definitely offers more Value for money than Google Drive.
In plans $6.99/month and $9.99/month, OneDrive comes equipped with Microsoft Office 365 that also saves you money by offering free utility tools that every business owner requires.
Therefore, in Pricing, OneDrive is the Clear winner.
Data Security:
With cloud storage, anyone with the authority can access confidential business and personal files from anywhere around the world. But this functionality can turn into a nightmare if the access falls into the wrong hands. All your confidential and sensitive data is at stake.
Big Cloud Storage Platforms like Google Drive and Dropbox have been popular for such wrong reasons. Google’s Cloud Storage platform has reported Data leaks on different occasions; in 2012, 2014, and 2016 as well. In these attacks, data of more than 30 Million users has been compromised in total. Big numbers like these definitely raise questions on the company’s
On the other hand, Microsoft seems to be taking online cloud storage security pretty seriously because no big data breach in Microsoft’s Cloud Storage platform OneDrive has ever been reported. I would stop myself from saying that Microsoft was lucky because being a big name, it is the most obvious target for many hackers. But it still has managed to keep the files of its users safe and secure.
File Sharing:
The primary purpose of using a Cloud Storage platform to store data and files is anytime and anywhere access on any device. File Sharing through Cloud storage has become the absolute requirement for any business that works at more than one place.
File Sharing system on both the platforms; Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive is the same. If you are on a mobile device, you just need to click on the file and share it with the desired Cloud Storage platform; on both the Google Drive app and Microsoft OneDrive app.
If you want to share the file with a third person, the process for both the platforms is pretty simple and similar. You just have to select the file and click share. Enter the email address of the person you want to share the file with or you can share the link of the file on messages and WhatsApp as well.
So, on this parameter, both the platforms are neck and neck in the quest of being the Best Cloud Storage platform available.
Also Read: Best Cloud Security Solutions (Antivirus)
Online Privacy:
Online privacy is debatable on the online platforms. I may seem a bit biased towards Microsoft but it is the fact that Google has been caught getting its hand dirty in online data selling. Although the selling is just for the purpose of Advertisement and not to harm anybody with the information, but it still is a breach of security.
After all, Online Cloud Storage was meant to be a personal space that was only accessible by the person in charge. According to terms and conditions and legal rights, Microsoft too is allowed to go through the content of users to search if there is any objectionable content. However, Microsoft doesn’t misuse this opportunity for some extra bucks.
On the basis of the information, we can easily conclude Microsoft OneDrive to be the best Cloud storage platform among the two Google Drive vs OneDrive.
Applications:
In 2020, Cloud Storage is not expected to provide just cloud storage but more; more tools and more services. With Google Drive, you get the access to google utility tools such as Google Docs and with Microsoft OneDrive you get the access to your normal MS Excel and Word but online.
Utility tools offered with both the platforms are capable but not equally capable. Utility tools with Microsoft OneDrive have been used by everybody for decades now all around the world. Microsoft utility tools like Excel, Word, and PowerPoint are much more powerful and user-friendly when compared with newly introduced Google docs and sheets.
In Addition to that, Microsoft also offers Office 365 free with the monthly plans of $6.99 and $9.99. So, if you are inclined towards Microsoft One Drive on this point, I am with you.
With all the above given factors considered, Microsoft OneDrive seems to be a more logical choice on every parameter. However, if you are looking for Free Cloud Storage, you might get a little more inclined towards Google Drive as it offers relatively more space, 15GBs instead of 5GBs in Microsoft OneDrive.
We hope we were able to help you choose a Cloud Storage platform that is suited to your needs. Do let us know your views on this, we love hearing from you.
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Chris Smith
Ease of access with Google Drive is high on Android devices as Gmail users are higher than Outlook/Hotmail users. I prefer Google Drive! Comparison is nicely done...