File Storage & Backup · head to head
Microsoft OneDrive vs IDrive
Microsoft OneDrive
File Storage & Backup
Cloud storage that comes with Microsoft 365
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
IDrive
File Storage & Backup
Affordable online backup with multiple device support
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only IDrive has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Microsoft OneDrive storage is not sold standalone at these tiers; it is bundled into Microsoft 365 subscriptions, with Basic limited to 100 GB and only Personal and above reaching 1 TB per person; IDrive the advertised annual rates are first year introductory prices, with standard pricing applying from the second year onward
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft OneDrive and IDrive actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft OneDrive | IDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | Windows, Mac, Linux, Web |
| Founded | Unknown | 1995 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (File Storage & Backup).
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 Microsoft OneDrive
Nothing recorded that IDrive does not also cover.
Only in IDrive
- Multiple device backup
- True archiving
- Continuous protection
- IDrive Express
- Snapshots
- File sharing
- iOS
- Android
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft OneDrive
No use cases recorded yet. See the Microsoft OneDrive review.
IDrive
- Online backup for computers, servers and mobile devicesnot Microsoft OneDrive
- Backing up multiple machines under one accountnot Microsoft OneDrive
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Microsoft OneDrive
- Storage is not sold standalone at these tiers; it is bundled into Microsoft 365 subscriptions, with Basic limited to 100 GB and only Personal and above reaching 1 TB per person
- Family and Premium plans cap shared storage at 1 TB per person even when only 1 of the allotted 6 people are using the subscription
- Subscriptions automatically renew and must be canceled through the Microsoft account dashboard to stop billing
IDrive
- The advertised annual rates are first year introductory prices, with standard pricing applying from the second year onward
- The two year offer discounts only the first year, so the second year reverts to the full rate
- Team plans tie user and computer counts to the storage tier, so 10 TB means exactly 10 computers
- Business storage costs far more per terabyte than Personal, at $719.88 a year for 1.25 TB against $143.88 for 5 TB
Pricing, plan by plan
Microsoft OneDrive
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft OneDrive review.
IDrive
Free- Personal$4/month
- 5TB storage
- Unlimited devices
- IDrive Express
Which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft OneDrive if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft OneDrive from IDrive on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Choose IDrive if
- You need multiple device backup.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Web.
- You also want true archiving.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft OneDrive or IDrive better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft OneDrive starts at On request and IDrive at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft OneDrive or IDrive?
- IDrive has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Microsoft OneDrive and Free for IDrive.
- Does Microsoft OneDrive or IDrive run on more platforms?
- Microsoft OneDrive runs on Web. IDrive runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Web.
- Can I use IDrive for free?
- Yes. IDrive has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Microsoft OneDrive starts at On request.
- What can Microsoft OneDrive do that IDrive cannot?
- IDrive covers Multiple device backup, True archiving, Continuous protection, IDrive Express.
Related pages
More on Microsoft OneDrive
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- IDrive vs Veeam Backup & Replication
- IDrive vs Carbonite
- IDrive vs Backblaze
- IDrive vs Barracuda Backup
- IDrive vs Arq Backup
- IDrive vs CrashPlan
- IDrive vs Duplicati
- IDrive vs Zerto
- IDrive vs Box
- IDrive vs Nextcloud
- IDrive vs pCloud
- IDrive vs Sync.com
- IDrive vs Tresorit
- IDrive vs TrueNAS
- IDrive vs Veritas NetBackup