Google Drive vs OneDrive
In this article, we compare Google Drive and OneDrive and show the differences and similarities.
Google Drive
Google Drive is a cloud storage service from Google. Anyone with a Google account can use Google Drive for free. With an account, you can buy more storage space and use it.
Google Drive is web-based, and you can access it with all modern browsers. There is also a desktop version for Windows and Mac. With the desktop version, you can only synchronize files.
The other Google products (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Calendar) are only web-based for desktop. For mobile devices (Android, iOS) there are apps. These products are all free and can be used with a Google account.
Advantages of Google Drive
- Share storage space with up to 5 people
- easy collaboration with others
- Integration in Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail, Calendar
- Everyone with a Google account can work on documents (without subscription)
Disadvantages of Google Drive
- only web based
OneDrive
OneDrive is a cloud storage service from Microsoft and is installed by default on Windows systems. OneDrive can be used for free and with a subscription, you can access more features.
For the synchronization of files, there is a desktop version for Windows and Mac.
To work with other Microsoft products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) you need a Microsoft account with a subscription for the respective products. There is also a web version, but it does not have all the features of the desktop version.
Advantages of OneDrive
- Integration in Windows
- Integration in Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Nachteile OneDrive
- Only available for Windows
- Web version does not have all the features
- Only available in Office 365 ⇒ additional costs
- Each user needs a Windows device with Office 365 subscription
Comparison
| Name | Google Drive | OneDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Microsoft | |
| Free storage space | 15 GB | 5 GB |
| Versioning & Recovery | yes | yes |
| Working with Word, Excel, PowerPoint | yes | yes (subscription required) |
| Working with Google Docs, Sheets, Slides | yes | no |
| Collaboration with others | yes | yes |
| Web version | yes | yes |
| Desktop version | yes | yes |
| Desktop version (programs) | no | yes |
| Price for 100 GB (year) | 20 CHF | 20 CHF |
| Offline access | yes | yes |
Conclusion
Google Drive and OneDrive have many similarities. Both require an account and can be used for free with limited storage space. On both, you can buy more storage space with a subscription and then have access to additional features. In addition, there are other products for both products to edit different documents.
Google Drive is a good cloud storage service that is suitable for collaboration with others. With Google Drive, you can easily work with other Google products. For these products, no subscription is required, and they are web-based or available as an app on mobile devices. Office documents can also be edited with Google Docs, Sheets, Slides.
OneDrive is installed by default on Windows systems and can be used with Office 365. However, a subscription from the user is required for Office 365. There is also a web version, but it does not have all the features like the desktop version.
Therefore, Google Drive is better suited for collaboration with other people. If each user has a Windows / Mac system with an Office 365 subscription, OneDrive is better suited, as the users are better acquainted with Office 365.