File Syncing Showdown: Google Drive vs. Dropbox vs. OneDrive

Lets break down three of the most popular file syncing services out there and see which one reigns supreme.

The Contenders

Youre probably already acquainted with Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive.

That said, things have changed a little for all three services since then.

Here are the basics:

Google Drive:Google Drive launched in 2012. more storage for a monthly fee.

Google Drive has apps available for Windows, OS X, Android, and iOS.

Dropbox:Dropbox launched in 2007.

OneDrive lets you store any file punch in, and organizes them by file punch in for you.

The service is also integrated tightly with Microsoft Office, and its built into Windows 8 and Windows 10.

Its available on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Windows Phone.

Dropbox:2GB of free storage with a Dropbox Basic account (can earn more free storage).

OneDrive:5GB of free storage with a Microsoft account.

They also removed their 100GB and 200GB plans.

Dropbox:ADropbox Pro accountwill give you 1TB for $10 a month.

OneDrive:Microsoft offers a50GB option for $2 a month.

If youre looking for the most free storage with minimal effort, Google Drive is the way to go.

Google Drive and OneDrive, for example, are deeply integrated into their respective ecosystems.

Lets take a closer look at some of their standout features and major differences.

If you use Gmail, Google Drive lets you attach and save attachments directly through Drive.

Photos automatically organizes your photos by where you took them and whos in the photo.

Its useful when youre sharing large files like music, movies, or photos between devices at home.

That said,Dropbox shouldnt be your sole backup for files.

Dropboxs open API makes it easy for developers to integrate Dropbox with almost anything.

Most cloud storage and file sharing services make a run at emulate it.

OneDrive is essentially Microsofts answer to Apples iCloud, but it works with multiple platforms.

So if youre on Windows 10 and have a Microsoft account, youre kind of already a OneDrive user.

Microsoft Office is also completely integrated with OneDrive.

you could share other files with an email invitation or link just like Google Drive and Dropbox.

Of course, whats the point of all this storage if it isnt secure?

That bad news is that neither Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive support encryption natively.

That means if someone can get into your cloud storage, they can access all of your stored files.

Dropbox also lets youstore encrypted volumes and then unpack them on your gear.

Beyond that, its really about what additional features you need.

Google Drive is easy to set up and offers a lot of storage for free.

Its also not bad if you just need a ton of no-hassle, free file storage.

The same applies if you use Outlook and Xbox Live frequently.

Dropbox is for everyone else and it works great no matter what platform you use.

In fact, if youre a die-hard Linux user, its your best option.