Apple iCloud vs Google Drive

Apple iCloud vs Google Drive

Introduction

You probably want to pay for the best cloud storage solution if you want to store documents and photos online. People have typically turned to external drives when their own machines run out of space, and businesses have relied for a long time on costly in-house servers that can be costly to maintain. True remote access is not, however, guaranteed by either option. Two of the best cloud storage platforms available today are probably already familiar to you: Apple iCloud and Google Drive. For individuals who work in the imaginative ventures, these two distributed storage stages are among the most well known choices.

These two cloud storage services work exceptionally well and are extremely useful. Fans of the cloud also need to think about why they need cloud solutions. Do you require cloud storage for documents? Services for cloud management? A cloud storage service that’s free? Or something else? We’ve compared the two most popular storage options on the market to help you figure out which one is best for you or your business. The differences and features between iCloud and Google Drive will be discussed in depth in this article.

Features

Apple’s iCloud Drive can be found on any device running macOS or iOS that you purchase. Because it is already a part of Apple hardware, if you use any of the company’s devices, you probably already know how smoothly it syncs documents between your devices. Although it also syncs contacts, reminders, and calendar entries, we will only talk about the document and photo aspects here. While you can optimize your device’s storage by downloading all files for immediate access or keeping them in the cloud until you need them later, it lacks greater control over things like bandwidth throttling that other desktop clients offer. Background syncing happens automatically.

You can sync more things by downloading the iCloud Drive software if you work from a Windows device. Although some features require additional configuration, it is nowhere near as polished as the macOS version. The browser experience is ultramodern, easy to use from a computer, and includes online versions of the company’s Pages, Numbers, and Keynote word processing applications. There is software for iOS and macOS in these, but there is no equivalent for Windows or Android. Microsoft Office files can be opened by Apple software with only a few compatibility restrictions, such as formatting.

While many of its features are comparable to those of iCloud Drive, Google Drive is a dominant company’s answer to cloud storage. However, it primarily provides an online-only experience. It is a useful piece of software that provides decent control over proxy settings and bandwidth throttling. You probably won’t need to download the Drive to your computer if you intend to use Google’s own word processing applications, such as Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Because applications like Docs are only available online, it is simpler to access Google Drive from a browser. However, browser-based apps are just as user-friendly and feature the same functionality as Apple’s own apps.

Google’s efforts to integrate third-party applications, such as mind-mapping tools and document converters, will be appreciated by businesses. In addition, only Google Drive offers business-oriented plans as part of its “Workspace” subscriptions.

Performances

Good upload/download speeds and other features are provided by both Google One and iCloud Drive. With both services functioning flawlessly whenever you require them, it is rare to encounter a problem.

Using the Files app on iOS, you can easily manage your documents and files thanks to iCloud’s integration. The Photos app makes it simple to access your videos and photos across all of your Apple devices if you have the iCloud Photo Library enabled.

On the other hand, Google Drive is available in a variety of formats, including a free desktop app and a mobile app that can be downloaded to iOS devices to access your files stored in the cloud. Additionally, it provides access to free web-based applications for document and spreadsheet creation.

Support

You can be rest assured that these two cloud storage platforms will not cause any problems for you. Google and Apple are both well-known for having user-friendly customer service representatives and high-quality support websites. Both iCloud and Google Drive share how-to guides, community forums, expert articles, and video tutorials, and there is not much that sets them apart.

Live chat and phone support are also available to all Apple customers, which is great if you need answers right away. The chat service can be accessed through iMessages, the iOS Support app, or through a browser.

Google only provides support to paying customers via email, phone, and live chat; however, given that serious users will likely require more than 15GB of free space, this will likely include a significant number of users.

Pricing and Plans

There is no iCloud Drive business plan, as previously stated; however, if you are a personal user who is deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem, there are some opportunities to save money. Users who want more space end up signing up for one of the iCloud+ plans because the 5GB free tier is only a third of what Google offers. They charge $0.99, $2.99, and $9.99 per month for 50GB, 200GB, and 2TB, respectively. Additionally, they offer the choice to use your own email domain, Hide My Email, and iCloud Private Relay, all of which are intended to slightly obscure your browsing locations. You can also access storage for one, five, or all of your devices if you use cameras with HomeKit Secure Video enabled.

For $1.99, $2.99, or $9.99 per month, paid Google One plans offer 100GB, 200GB, or 2TB storage space that can be shared by up to six individuals. The range-topper adds access to a VPN app for iOS and Android devices, while the two highest plans also include 3% and 10% Google Store cashback, respectively. If you pay for Google One annually rather than monthly, you can save 16%. Apple doesn’t offer a discount like that. With Google, you can share any plan with your family, but only the 2TB plan with iCloud.

When it comes to pricing, there is very little that sets the two platforms apart, and both of them are very affordable.

Security

Security-wise, Apple wins because its platform is much safer than Google One. The 128-bit AES standard is used to encrypt almost all of the data that is stored on iCloud’s servers both in transit and at rest. Additionally, iCloud has a number of security features that can be very useful, such as the iCloud Keychain, Safari History, and fully encrypted Wi-Fi passwords.

Google encrypts data at rest and in transit as well, yet it doesn’t offer start to finish encryption. This indicates that Google employees or anyone else to whom Google provides access to your data may gain access to it. Even though the likelihood of this occurring is extremely low, it is still a possibility.

Conclusion

The response to two demographics is straightforward: iCloud Drive is the solution if you use Apple hardware, and Google Drive makes perfect sense if you use Chromebooks or Android. However, this leaves a significant portion of Windows users in the middle. The very comparable and competitive pricing makes this a difficult decision. Additionally, creatives using Windows devices may encounter compatibility issues with iCloud.

Google Drive’s 15GB of free storage is one of the best in the business if you rely on it. In a similar vein, Google’s free apps also make it the service of choice if you do not have access to Microsoft Office apps. If you own an iPhone or iPad, it’s hard to ignore iCloud Drive, which combines various services.

Overall, Google Drive is a better option for creative professionals. It has a web app that is the best in its class and works flawlessly on all devices.