Cloud Storage Comparison: Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and iCloud
Overview of Pricing and Storage
Here's a comparison of the pricing and storage options for Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and iCloud:
Google Drive
- Free Storage: 15 GB shared between Drive, Gmail, and Photos.
- Paid Plans:
- 100 GB: $1.99/month.
- 200 GB: $2.99/month.
- 2 TB: $9.99/month.
- Business Plans: Business Starter ($6/month for 30 GB), Business Standard ($12/month for 2 TB), Business Plus ($18/month for 5 TB).
- Cost per GB: $0.020 for 100 GB, $0.015 for 200 GB, $0.005 for 2 TB.
Dropbox
- Free Storage: 2 GB.
- Paid Plans:
- Plus: $9.99/month for 2 TB.
- Family: $16.99/month for shared 2 TB.
- Professional: $16.58/month for 3 TB.
- Business Plans: Standard ($12.5/month for 5 TB), Advanced ($20/month for as much space as needed).
- Cost per GB: $0.005 for 2 TB, $0.006 for 3 TB, $0.003 for 5 TB.
OneDrive
- Free Storage: 5 GB.
- Paid Plans:
- Standalone: $1.99/month for 100 GB.
- Microsoft 365 Personal: $6.99/month for 1 TB.
- Microsoft 365 Family: $9.99/month for 6 TB (shared among 6 users).
- Business Plans: OneDrive for Business (Plan 1) $5/month for 1 TB, OneDrive for Business (Plan 2) $10/month for unlimited storage.
- Cost per GB: $0.020 for 100 GB, $0.0068 for 1 TB, $0.0016 for 6 TB.
iCloud
- Free Storage: 5 GB.
- Paid Plans:
- 50 GB: $0.99/month.
- 200 GB: $2.99/month.
- 1 TB: $9.99/month.
- 2 TB: $19.99/month.
- 12 TB: $59.99/month.
- Cost per GB: Varies based on location and plan.
Key Differences
- Free Storage: Google Drive offers the most free storage at 15 GB, while Dropbox offers the least at 2 GB.
- Cost-Effectiveness: iCloud is generally cheaper for smaller storage needs, while Google Drive and OneDrive are competitive for larger storage needs.
- Integration: Google Drive integrates well with Google Workspace, OneDrive with Microsoft Office, and iCloud with Apple devices.
- Business Plans: OneDrive offers unlimited storage for business users, while Google Drive and Dropbox provide tiered plans.
Conclusion
Each service has its strengths:
- Google Drive is ideal for those deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem.
- Dropbox is known for its ease of use and strong business features.
- OneDrive is best for Microsoft users, offering seamless integration with Office.
- iCloud is perfect for Apple users due to its native integration with Apple devices.
