Both platforms are great for storing your documents and many other things, but what is the best option in 2021? Let’s find out.
There is no perfect solution, it doesn’t matter if it is paid or “free” (The Price of Free Online Services) yet, there are good alternatives for storing your documents, photos, and various files that you need to keep somewhere on the Internet.
We are going to go through some of the reasons Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive (which is part of Microsoft 365) are the best two options for the mainstream market.
Note: There are many other options but those are not as multi-platform as these two are.
Google One
Formerly named Google One. It’s the Office Software suite that Google has created. It has a large number of components (sub-products, services, apps) that work astonishingly great with Google’s Suite.
Google’s openness is its biggest forte; anyone can take advantage of their API to create more complex workflows or products that integrate their platform, this is the reason Google overtakes many of its competitors. Anyway, let's see its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
Multi-platform Google is everywhere, this means that they have native (or mostly native) applications for all the biggest platforms, and for those that do not have a native app it offers a Web Application that works exceptionally well
Complex and complete Web Application Google’s Web Application offers and very lengthy and complex set of features. It is so close to an installable application that it can almost replace them
Integration with other Google Services Google Drive in general can “talk” with all the other applications that Google has built. You can reference documents from emails, search from Google Docs, and the web for finding synonyms or antonyms. You can even reference files uploaded to your Drive directly from Google Docs without leaving the actual document that you’re working on
Google Photos
Do we need an introduction to this service? I honestly don’t think we need one. Google Photos is easily the best option to make a backup of your photos and videos, it’s so well designed and tough, that even Apple offers to help you transition to it. (Transfer a copy of your iCloud Photos collection to another service - Apple Support)
People are very used to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and they feel that Google equivalent does not replace those apps
Microsoft OneDrive
Formerly known as Microsoft 365. It’s the Office Software suite that Microsoft has created. Loved and hated by many, it is one of, if not, the best Office Software product that exists.
If you’re in the Enterprise world your company is likely using Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, SharePoint, and many other of their tools. If you’re a student or a home user, the chances that you grow up using these products are very high. There is no doubt that Microsoft has been leading this market for decades. However, let’s look at its pros and cons.
Advantages
Multi-platform
Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is available on Windows, Mac, iOS, and iPad OS
Software recognition, friendliness
Microsoft products are so well known that are second nature to people
Business Oriented but good for Personal use
Reputation precedes the Office Suite; it's so respected that many Enterprise businesses use Microsoft Suite and OneDrive. Fortunately, Microsoft Suite is easy to use for most users
Disadvantages
Microsoft Web Apps are very basic when compared to Google’s equivalent. Let’s not compare their Web App with their Desktop Apps they are two distinct products
Microsoft is easy if you use it from Windows or Mac but if you were going to use their Online platform, you’ll find it difficult. Trying to change your profile picture, you’ll end up on Microsoft Website; in their Delve Profile Settings, and who knows where else…
If we stick with the Personal and Families pricing strategy you will find it fairly easy. But if we go to their Business and Small Business offers you will start having nightmares at night. Their business offering is so complex that in many cases you would rather pay a consultant to determine what is the best plan offering for your business.
Wrap Up
There is not a winner, not even a draw; both are strong solutions that will satisfy their customer. If you’re indecisive about what is best for you, we would invite you to try both solutions yourself.
We are aware that there are other alternatives, such as iCloud, Zoho Workplaces, Only Office, WPS, and many others but those offerings are not what most people use, except for iCloud, however, the Apple equivalent works only on Apple Ecosystem therefore we don’t consider it comparable to any of the other options.
As for us, we rarely use Google Docs or Microsoft Office, there are more interesting alternatives now to make a presentation or a document.
