Elain Brown Tech 05.09.2022 19:May PM EDT

Choosing the Best Cloud Storage for Your Needs: Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, or Dropbox?

Cloud storage is a newer way of storing files online. Utilizing the cloud saves us all the hassle and worries when we have stored all of our valuable files on a specific hard drive, disk, or flash drive, and it gets lost, misplaced, snatched, or ruined.

Storage in the cloud is data stored on a physical disk accessible online for users via software from any internet-connected device, whenever and wherever the user desires, hence the word "cloud."

Keeping information in the cloud can significantly simplify your life. If you have a smartphone, tablet, or computer that is linked to the internet, you can access and download files from any device that has internet access. Even if you misplace your phone or your computer crashes, cloud storage provides you with an online backup, ensuring that your contents are never lost.

Google Drive

Google Drive is a cloud-based storage service that integrates a comprehensive collection of office tools. The features included in this service are a little bit of everything, including a word processor, a spreadsheet application, and a presentation builder.

Google Drive can be used on both mobile devices like Android and iOS and desktop computers like Windows and macOS. It also has 15GB of free storage space.

You can access Google Drive if you already have a Google account.

To use the service, go to drive.google.com and enable it. Google account holders receive 15GB of free cloud storage, and they can use this to upload photos, videos, presentations, documents, and numerous downloadable files.

Unless you upgrade to Google One, Google's cloud storage subscription, your 15GB must be shared with your Gmail account, Google Plus photos, and Google Drive documents.

If you are someone who prefers the numerous apps that Google Drive comes with and would opt for higher storage, you can upgrade to a larger storage plan at any time. Paid plans under Google One start at $1.99/month for 100GB. From there, you may add up to 30 TB of storage for $299.99/month.

Dropbox

Another impressive cloud storage option that is quite popular is Dropbox. It is the industry leader in file sharing, and it has a number of features that make it simple to share huge files with others, regardless of whether they use Dropbox.

Due to its simplicity, Dropbox is an excellent alternative for personal cloud storage. Plans are also reasonably priced, and the user interface is visually appealing. It also connects nicely with a wide range of third-party services.

Another feature worth noting with Dropbox is its impressive security: all files are encrypted at rest and in transit, while there is no end-to-end encryption available. However, two-factor authentication can also be used to protect online accounts (2FA).

According to Tom's Guide, Dropbox's free tier is available on all of the major operating systems. Dropbox has both a website and desktop and mobile apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.

It offers a free plan with 2GB of storage space, as well as two other personal options with additional capacity. The Plus Plan, which costs $9.99 a month for 2TB of storage and allows you to send files up to 2GB in size per transfer, is the most expensive.

Microsoft OneDrive

Microsoft's OneDrive is a cloud storage service handy for users dealing with large files.

In most cases, if you use Windows 8 or 10, OneDrive should be pre-installed on your computer. In your computer's file explorer, you should be able to locate it next to all of the other files on your computer's hard disk.

OneDrive sends you notifications when anything is changed, allows you to create passwords for shared links for more protection, and allows you to make a file available even when you are not connected to the internet.

The OneDrive software also allows you to scan documents using your phone's camera, sign them, and then transfer them to OneDrive.

Furthermore, OneDrive automatically backs up your content, ensuring that your contents are safe even if your device is lost or destroyed. Also, as CNET reports, a feature called "Personal Vault" adds another level of security to your files by asking you to show proof of who you are.

This cloud storage offers a free 5GB cloud storage tier that can be upgraded to three premium plans, including a standalone subscription of $2/mo for 100GB.