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File Storage · head to head

Google Drive vs Sync.com

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
Sync.com logo

Sync.com

File Storage

Cloud storage, backup and sharing with end-to-end encryption

From
$8/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.; Sync.com all Teams plans require a minimum of 3 users
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Drive and Sync.com actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Drive and Sync.com differ
AttributeGoogle DriveSync.com
Starting priceFree$8/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 Sync.com

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 Sync.com
  • Collaborating on a document, spreadsheet or presentation in real time with othersnot Sync.com
  • Sharing a folder of files with specific permission levels with a defined groupnot Sync.com
  • Storing large attachments to send by link instead of email attachment size limitsnot Sync.com

Sync.com

  • Sharing patient records between healthcare providers with HIPAA compliancenot Google Drive
  • Managing confidential legal documents with encrypted folders and version historynot Google Drive
  • Providing secure client portals for financial advisors sharing sensitive datanot Google Drive
  • Maintaining GDPR-compliant file storage for European customer datanot Google Drive
  • Enabling remote work access to sensitive files without third-party trackingnot 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.

Sync.com

  • All Teams plans require a minimum of 3 users
  • The advertised low monthly rate (e.g. $4/month for Teams 1TB) is a promotional annual rate described as 50% off; the standard monthly price is $8/month without the promotion
  • Enterprise pricing for 100+ users is custom and requires contacting a dedicated account manager

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

Sync.com

$8/month
  • Teams 1TB$8/month
    • 1 TB secure storage
    • Advanced sharing
    • Administrator account
  • Teams 2TB$12/month
    • 2 TB secure storage
    • Custom branding
    • Role-based access control
  • Teams 10TB$18/month
    • 10 TB secure storage
    • VIP support
    • 365-day history
  • Sync Enterprise$undefined/mo
    • Custom storage limits
    • Custom branding
    • Role-based access control

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 Sync.com if

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

Sync.com review

Questions people ask

Is Google Drive or Sync.com better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Drive starts at Free and Sync.com at $8/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Drive or Sync.com?
Google Drive has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Drive and $8/month for Sync.com.
Does Google Drive or Sync.com run on more platforms?
Google Drive runs on iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS. Sync.com runs on Web.
Can I use Google Drive for free?
Yes. Google Drive has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sync.com starts at $8/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 Sync.com is typically brought in for.
What can Google Drive do that Sync.com 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.

Sync.com: What are the Sync.com team plan price differences?

Sync.com offers three main team tiers: Teams 1TB at $8/month per user (annual), Teams 2TB at $12/month per user (annual), and Teams 10TB at $18/month per user (annual). All require a minimum of 3 users. Higher tiers include enhanced features like custom branding, admin delegation, and longer file history.

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.

Sync.com: Does Sync.com offer a free trial?

Yes, Sync.com offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card required. All plans also include a full 30-day money-back guarantee.

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.

Sync.com: What file history retention does Sync.com provide?

Sync.com Teams 1TB includes 180-day file history. Teams 2TB and Teams 10TB offer 365-day history. This history duration applies across all shared files and team folders.

Source
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Related pages

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