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File Storage · head to head

Google Drive vs Microsoft OneDrive

Google Drive logo

Google Drive

File Storage

Google's consumer cloud storage app, sharing the same 15GB quota as Gmail and Google Photos

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Microsoft OneDrive logo

Microsoft OneDrive

File Storage

Cloud storage that comes with Microsoft 365

From
$1.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Google Drive has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Google Drive free storage is a 15GB pool shared with Gmail and Google Photos, so heavy use of any one of those services reduces what is left for the others.; Microsoft OneDrive free tier not available; minimum cost is $1.99/month for 100 GB storage
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive differ
AttributeGoogle DriveMicrosoft OneDrive
Starting priceFree$1.99/month
Pricing modelFree tier plus paid storage add-onsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOSWeb

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (File Storage).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Google Drive

  • Cloud file storage and sync
  • Google Docs, Sheets, Slides
  • Shared drives and permissions
  • Offline access
  • Version history
  • Third party format support

Only in Microsoft OneDrive

Nothing recorded that Google Drive does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Google Drive

  • Backing up and syncing personal files across a phone, laptop and desktopnot Microsoft OneDrive
  • Collaborating on a document, spreadsheet or presentation in real time with othersnot Microsoft OneDrive
  • Sharing a folder of files with specific permission levels with a defined groupnot Microsoft OneDrive
  • Storing large attachments to send by link instead of email attachment size limitsnot Microsoft OneDrive

Microsoft OneDrive

  • Personal cloud storage and file backupnot Google Drive
  • Family file sharing and collaborationnot Google Drive
  • Business document managementnot Google Drive
  • Enterprise ransomware protectionnot Google Drive

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Google Drive

  • Free storage is a 15GB pool shared with Gmail and Google Photos, so heavy use of any one of those services reduces what is left for the others.
  • Version history and recovery for accidentally deleted files has limits, and permanently deleted items are unrecoverable after a set retention period passes.
  • Sharing links can be misconfigured to be more open than intended, and Google's permission model has been a source of accidental oversharing for organisations and individuals alike.
  • Native Google Docs format files do not export perfectly to Microsoft Office formats in all cases, and complex formatting can shift on conversion.
  • This is the consumer product with consumer-grade support; organisations needing admin controls, audit logs and larger storage pools need the separate paid Google Workspace product instead.

Microsoft OneDrive

  • Free tier not available; minimum cost is $1.99/month for 100 GB storage
  • Higher-tier plans required for advanced Copilot features
  • Per-user pricing increases significantly with family plans

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Drive

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 15GB shared across Gmail, Drive and Photos
  • Google One 100GB$1.99/month
    • 100GB shared storage across the same Google services
  • Google One 2TB$9.99/month
    • 2TB shared storage

Microsoft OneDrive

$1.99/month
  • Microsoft 365 Basic$1.99/month
    • 100 GB cloud storage
    • Outlook access
    • OneDrive access
  • Microsoft 365 Personal$9.99/month
    • 1 TB cloud storage
    • Desktop Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote)
    • Copilot features
  • Microsoft 365 Family$12.99/month
    • Up to 6 TB cloud storage (1 TB per person)
    • 1-6 users supported
    • Same apps and features as Personal
  • Microsoft 365 Premium$19.99/month
    • Up to 6 TB cloud storage (1 TB per person)
    • 1-6 users
    • Extensive Copilot feature access

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Drive if

  • You need cloud file storage and sync.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want google docs, sheets, slides.
Google Drive review

Choose Microsoft OneDrive if

Nothing in the data separates Microsoft OneDrive from Google Drive on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Microsoft OneDrive review

Questions people ask

Is Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Drive starts at Free and Microsoft OneDrive at $1.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive?
Google Drive has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Drive and $1.99/month for Microsoft OneDrive.
Does Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive run on more platforms?
Google Drive runs on iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS. Microsoft OneDrive runs on Web.
Can I use Google Drive for free?
Yes. Google Drive has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Microsoft OneDrive starts at $1.99/month.
What is Google Drive best used for?
Google Drive is most often used for backing up and syncing personal files across a phone, laptop and desktop, collaborating on a document, spreadsheet or presentation in real time with others, sharing a folder of files with specific permission levels with a defined group, storing large attachments to send by link instead of email attachment size limits. Of those, backing up and syncing personal files across a phone, laptop and desktop and collaborating on a document, spreadsheet or presentation in real time with others are not what Microsoft OneDrive is typically brought in for.
What can Google Drive do that Microsoft OneDrive cannot?
Google Drive covers Cloud file storage and sync, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Shared drives and permissions, Offline access.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Google Drive: Is Google Drive free?

Yes, up to a 15GB storage pool shared with Gmail and Google Photos; more storage requires a paid Google One subscription.

Microsoft OneDrive: How much does Microsoft OneDrive cost?

OneDrive pricing starts at $1.99/month for Microsoft 365 Basic with 100 GB storage. Personal plan costs $9.99/month with 1 TB storage. Family plan at $12.99/month supports 1-6 people with up to 6 TB total storage. Premium tier at $19.99/month adds advanced Copilot and AI features.

Source
Google Drive: Is this the same as the Save to Google Drive browser extension?

No, that is a separate browser extension for saving web pages directly into Drive; this entry covers the storage and document app itself.

Microsoft OneDrive: Is there a free version of Microsoft OneDrive?

Microsoft does not offer a free OneDrive plan through their paid subscription tiers. However, users with Microsoft accounts receive 5 GB of complimentary OneDrive storage at no cost when creating a Microsoft account.

Source
Google Drive: Do I need Google Workspace for business use?

For individual or informal use the free or Google One consumer tiers work, but organisations wanting admin controls and larger pooled storage need Google Workspace.

Microsoft OneDrive: What security features are included in OneDrive plans?

All OneDrive plans include ransomware detection with files restore, password-protected and expiring-link file sharing settings, and anywhere editing with real-time collaboration. Premium and higher tiers offer exclusive agentic AI security features.

Source
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