Recently, we have seen a noticeable improvement in the performance of cloud storage services. That has particularly allowed users to shift from local drives to cloud-based drives. Several cloud storage services are currently present in the market, offering a range of diverse features. The two most common ones are Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive.
Even though they have similar offerings, these two platforms have a unique set of tools. They enable safe, secure, and reliable storage of your files over the internet. However, detailed know-how of their fundamental differences is required when selecting such a service for your personal needs or a business.
One Drive vs. Google Drive
In the following article, we will discuss some of those crucial aspects. Each of these must be reviewed before choosing either Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive.
1. Specifications & Features
First and foremost, we will discuss both platforms’ features. Since Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive provide services in the same niche, most features are similar. However, when inspected closely, you can find some key differences. Before diving into the specific details, it must be mentioned that both drives offer equally good collaboration tools, file access, OS integration, and document sharing.
Google Drive is particularly well-known for its seamless incorporation of office files. Besides that, sharing files through Google Drive is easier and more intuitive. Furthermore, thanks to Google linking all of its platforms perfectly well, users have no issues transferring files from one device to another.
On the other hand, Microsoft OneDrive excels in collaborative tools. The file management system of OneDrive is developed to offer maximum utility to shared accounts. It also calls for more permission levels. However, OneDrive is not easy to navigate and cannot match the user experience on Google Drive.
A significant distinction between these two services’ features is how they sync files. You can read the following article on fixing Google Drive’s not syncing issue. OneDrive employs block-level copying while Google Drive does not. It allows OneDrive to specifically modify that part of the file which has been edited. Consequently, a user can notice faster-syncing speeds on OneDrive than on Google Drive. However, there is one drawback: block-level copying only works seamlessly with native files of MS Office.
There is a crucial aspect in which Google Drive takes the edge over its counterpart. That is its cross-platform application. Since most of our laptops and mobile devices have pre-installed Google services, you do not have to go out of your way to integrate similar features on every device. It is certainly not the case when it comes to Microsoft. Here, you can read about transferring data from Dropbox to Google Drive.
2. Efficiency & Performance
Any software product must be pretty efficient in performance if it needs to keep up with ever-changing user requirements. As OneDrive is a Microsoft product, you can expect it to integrate with Windows easily. Even though you can use the OneDrive web application on other operating systems, there is no local support. The performance of that online OneDrive account is not as seamless and perfect as it is on Windows. Meanwhile, Google Drive was designed for web users and had developed platforms for multiple operating systems. All of those renderings work perfectly well with any device. That gives Google Drive a substantial lead in terms of performance.
The file management system of Google Drive has improved in recent years. It has now been transformed into a comprehensive platform covering all user requirements within the drive. Learn how to remove quick access from Google Drive.
You might not notice the difference between speeds if you have a stable and fast internet connection. However, as the internet speeds drop, there is a noticeable dip in OneDrive’s performance. Still, that downside is balanced because it uses block-level copying, allowing for faster syncing.
The processing requirements for Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive are pretty much similar. There is no noticeable difference in system requirements. Your device’s hardware is not affected by the choice between Google Drive and OneDrive. Nevertheless, you will have to keep in mind that the downloadable clients of Microsoft OneDrive take up more space than the ones for Google Drive. It might pose some issues, mainly if you have limited storage space.
3. Safety & Security
Most people feel concerned for their data when it comes to cloud storage. It is one of the primary reasons why a significant chunk of the user base still uses local storage. Unfortunately, Microsoft OneDrive does not support end-to-end encryption. Yet, some sophisticated protocols and security features can always protect your data. It is not to say that such additions are impossible to crack. If someone breaches these security elements, your data can be accessed within moments.
To minimize the chances of that ever happening, there are some workarounds in Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive. Google Drive supports two different encryption types. When your files are stored on the drive, they are secured through AES 128-bit encryption, and when they are shared with someone else, SSL/TLS 256-bit encryption is applied. Over the internet, data is more prone to attacks when transported from one location to another. Google Drive has solved this issue using a more advanced encryption protocol while sharing.
Microsoft OneDrive applies AES 256-bit encryption in both cases. Your files on OneDrive are equally protected even when they are not shared. To summarize, Google Drive provides end-to-end encryption but slightly simple encryption on stored files. Microsoft OneDrive does not offer end-to-end encryption but applies advanced encryption algorithms to stored and shared files. Knowing that, you can now choose the service that seems more reliable and appropriate.
4. User Experience & Support
In many cases, the level of support and overall user experience makes or breaks the deal. Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive have free as well as paid packages. The level of support provided under these packages is different. On OneDrive, paid packages come with 24/7 support, including live chat, live calls, and an online ticketing system. It must be noted that you might have to wait for extended periods before your query is answered. In the ticketing system, paid users are slightly preferred over individuals using OneDrive for free. The support staff is quite cooperative and can easily handle all kinds of problems. Moreover, there is ample online support content and knowledge base accessible.
Support for Google Drive users is quite similar as well. All users can access detailed setup guides and helpful information regarding day-to-day drive usage. However, 24/7 support over the phone, email, and chat is only offered to users with a paid plan. The critical difference between the support system of these two services is the response and action time. Having a massive team of support staff, Google Drive can direct, manage, and resolve your issues within no time. Additionally, if you have bought an Enterprise plan, that process will be even quicker.
Another great feature that sets Google Drive support apart from OneDrive is upgrading. The level of support you get on Google Drive can be upgraded without changing your current storage plan. It is helpful for individuals or businesses who need premium support while using a free plan for storage space. No such option is available on Microsoft OneDrive as of now.
5. Packages & Pricing
Lastly, we will examine the packages provided by these two services and how they are priced. Pricing can be decisive whenever you need to choose between two platforms that offer services to the same target audience. Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive are professional service providers and provide excellent value for money. They have free plans, but their paid packages are certainly worth their respective prices.
When you log in to your account on Google Drive for the first time, you get 15 GBs of free space. It can be upgraded with a monthly or annual subscription if you need more than that. The packages start from $1.99/month for 100 GBs and go to $9.99/month for 2 TB. For Google Workspace users, there is an additional storage space of 30 GBs at a discounted rate of $6/month. If you want to employ cloud storage for an enterprise, you can ask for personalized quotes depending on the number of users, storage space, and support level.
Unlike Google Drive, OneDrive only provides 5 GBs of free space for the first time. However, the paid packages offered by OneDrive are slightly more affordable than Google Drive. You can include a plan for Microsoft 365 under the same billing cycle. OneDrive also provides flexibility in pricing plans, though it depends on several factors.
Conclusion
Having read this article, we hope that you now have a clear winner in mind based on your specific needs and requirements. Both Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive provide quality cloud storage services to their users. They are widely used in personal and business applications all over the world. Some key aspects must be considered when selecting one service from these two. These include storage features, performance, data security, level of support, and pricing plans. A detailed comparison of these facets has been provided, enabling you to make an informed decision.
