Key Points
- Every Apple device comes with iCloud, which keeps your data safe, current, and accessible from anywhere.
- Google One, formerly known as Paid Google Drive Storage, is Google’s cloud storage service and it launched in 2018.
- iCloud is free for up to 5GB of storage, while Google One has free storage of up to 15GB.
- For both services, you can set up multiple users so that different people have access to different parts of their files — either individually or together on one list (although there’s no option yet for team accounts).
- Google One paid plans start at 100 gigabytes and go up to 30 terabytes, an increase from the free Google Account storage capacity of 15 gigabytes, which is shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.
- iCloud has an estimated 850 million users.
Google One and iCloud are two of the most popular cloud-based storage solutions on the market today, with many individuals, families, and businesses using both of these services to store their important files, documents, and media files online in order to access them from anywhere on any device. But which one is best? Find out in this iCloud vs. Google One comparison.
Both provide cloud storage services to their customers, which allow you to store files in the cloud and access them from any device with an Internet connection. However, there are several differences between these two services that can help you determine which one will best fit your needs.
iCloud vs. Google One: Side-by-Side Comparison
| iCloud | Google One | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Cloud-based storage solution | Cloud-based storage solution |
| Developer | Apple, Inc. | Google and OEMs |
| Release Date | October 2011 | August 2018 |
| Free Storage | 5GB | 15GB |
| Additional Storage | 50GB: $0.99/month 200GB: $2.99/month 2TB: $9.99/month | 100GB: $1.99 per month 200GB: $2.99 per month 2TB: $9.99 per month |
| Operating System | macOS, Windows, iOS, iPad OS | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
iCloud vs. Google One: Overview
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iCloud
This is Apple’s cloud-based storage solution, which allows you to back up your photos and other files to the cloud. The service also offers automatic syncing between multiple devices and will automatically back up any changes you make to files on your computer. iCloud was first introduced in 2011 and was designed to store files across multiple devices. It was a game-changer for users who were using multiple Macs or PCs.
Users can now store all their photos, videos, and documents on iCloud without worrying about losing files from one device to another. It also comes with 5GB of free storage space that you can upgrade if needed. For instance, if you need more than 5GB of space, you have three options: 50GB for $0.99 per month, 200GB for $2.99 per month, and 2TB for $9.99 per month.
Google One
This is a service that helps you keep your email, documents, and photos organized. It also offers cloud storage options and other tools that help you manage your Google account. The service was launched in 2018.
Google One has a lot of features to help you keep your inbox organized. It’s designed to make it easy to work with others by providing built-in tools like file storage, document editing, and backup. You can also use Google One to sync all of your contacts across devices so they’re always up to date.
This online storage solution gives you access to 15GB of cloud storage space for all your files, photos, and more at no charge. You can add more space to your account by paying an additional monthly fee. For example, if you want an extra 100GB of cloud storage space, it will cost $1.99 per month. If you require more than 200GB, it will cost $2.99 per month. All your data is stored on Google’s servers, which are protected with multiple layers of security.
iCloud vs. Google One: What’s the Difference?
As the most popular cloud storage services, Apple and Google are fierce competitors in the cloud computing industry. Both services offer similar features for file sharing, storage, and security. Both also have apps for accessing files on their servers from anywhere in the world.
They can also be password-protected so that only authorized users can access the files stored on their servers. The two services are similar in many ways, but they also have some significant differences that could impact your decision. Here are the main ones.
Features
Many features between iCloud and Google One are similar. These consist of file versioning, family sharing, device backup and syncing, integration with productivity apps, and custom file and folder linkages.
The Adobe Creative Cloud suite, and other creative suites such as Affinity, can be integrated with both platforms. Actually, there isn’t much to separate the two systems when it comes to the specifics of storage-related capabilities. However, we appreciate that Google One makes it simple to connect to many accounts and switch between them. This is perfect if you operate as a freelancer or with multiple nonprofits and volunteer organizations.
Collaborative Tools
Additionally, Google One provides superior collaborative tools like shared drives. Because of this, the platform is more suited for creatives who are continuously proposing material to clients and co-designing projects with collaborators.
Security
In terms of security features, iCloud is the most reliable option. Despite recent improvements by Google Drive, iCloud still offers a more secure platform. It’s important to note that you can utilize multi-factor authentication on both platforms.
Almost all of the data kept on the iCloud servers is protected using 128-bit AES end-to-end encryption. The iCloud Keychain, iCloud Tabs, Safari History, and WiFi passwords are among the other data types that are completely protected.
Google encrypts data in transit and at rest but doesn’t offer end-to-end encryption, which means that data saved on the platform might theoretically be accessed by Google employees or anyone else to whom Google distributes your data, such as law enforcement. Unfortunately, Google’s vague privacy policy isn’t very reassuring.
iCloud vs. Google One: Pricing
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Google offers all users 15 GB of free storage, compared to Apple’s 5 GB. However, you’ll need to upgrade to a higher capacity plan if you intend to keep anything in addition to the absolute necessities. The cheapest iCloud plan gives the user an additional 50 GB of storage for a total of 55 GB. It has a monthly cost of $0.99. The most affordable Google Drive plan, which costs $1.99 per month and offers 100 GB capacity, is now available.
On both platforms, a 200 GB storage plan costs $2.99 per month, which is exactly the same. At the high-capacity end of the range, the situation is the same. For $9.99 per month, both Google One and Apple’s iCloud offer 2 TB of storage. All of this implies that there is very little difference in pricing between the two platforms, and both are quite reasonable.
However, Google is slightly in the lead for three reasons. Firstly, if you pay annually rather than monthly, you will receive a 16% discount. Apple doesn’t offer a similar discount. Secondly, with 15 GB of bundled storage, Google is somewhat cheaper per GB than iCloud. Finally, all of Google’s plans can be shared with your family, but iCloud only allows for the 2TB plan to be shared.
Performance
Overall, Google One is the more compatible and well-supported of the two platforms. Apps are available for iOS, macOS, iPad, Windows, and Android platforms. The online app for Google One is also the best on the market. You can use it in place of desktop and mobile apps because it is easy to use and responsive even in low network conditions. In short, Google One works equally well on Apple and Windows devices.
Apple iCloud, on the other hand, is best suited to iOS, macOS, and iPadOS devices. This is because the platform is completely integrated into these operating systems and operates virtually exclusively in the background. It ensures that all your data is secure and accessible from an Apple or iCloud-enabled device.
Limitations
Unfortunately, iCloud is limited to the Apple ecosystem. The platform’s apps operate well with other Apple users, but struggle when a PC is added to the mix. It’s also a far less tempting alternative if your main devices aren’t Apple products.
Generally, Google One is the more trustworthy provider for most platforms. It hardly ever crashes and can manage heavy usage even when connection rates are slow and multiple programs are operating at the same time.
iCloud vs. Google One: Support
Accessing basic troubleshooting should be simple because both Google and Apple have a variety of online self-help resources that go beyond their particular cloud drives. All Apple users also have access to live chat and phone assistance, which is useful when you need answers quickly.
The chat service can be accessed via a website, the iOS Support app, or from within iMessages. Google only provides email, phone, and live chat support to paying clients, but given that any serious user will want more than 15GB of free space, this will most likely involve a substantial number of people.
Pros and Cons of iCloud
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| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| You can sync all your iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices together to access the same content across all your devices | Some iCloud capabilities are only available in Apple apps |
| Provides 5GB of free storage | Although iCloud may currently be accessed using a mobile browser or another device that is not a Mac, it does not interface effectively with other platforms, such as Android |
| The simplest method to share files between your Mac, iPad, and iPhone | To access iCloud and everything previously uploaded to the cloud, you must be connected to the Internet |
| The subscription plans contain a number of essential and appealing functions and features, such as the ability to hide email, a custom email domain, and HomeKit Protected Video integration for up to five cameras | Because it doesn’t provide end-to-end encryption, iCloud is vulnerable to security issues |
| It not only stores items such as documents, movies, photos, images, and videos, but it also stores contacts, iBooks, notes, browser bookmarks, and reminders | |
| It also provides accounts with larger capacity at reasonable pricing |
Pros and Cons of Google One
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| You get a lot of storage space for your photos, videos, and other files | There is no way to assign specific storage amounts to family members |
| You can easily share files with family members and friends | Lacks integration with non-Google services |
| It’s available for all of your devices, so you can access your files from any device that has Internet access | File size limit |
| Centralized Google product access | |
| Automated backups for phones | |
| It is based on the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm | |
| Discounts on various Google products |
iCloud vs. Google One: Which Is Best?
With the advent of cloud computing, you can now store data in the cloud without having to worry about its safety or storage space. The best part is that you don’t have to pay a monthly fee to keep these services running. With iCloud, users have 5GB of free space to store any kind of file they want—photos, videos, documents—you name it.
If users want more space than that, they can pay $0.99 per month for 50GB or $2.99 per month for 200GB in addition to their initial 5GB allotment. Meanwhile, with Google One, users get 15GB of free storage. If they want to access more storage, they can buy 100GB for $1.99 per month or 2TB for $9.99 per month. If free storage is important to you, Google One is the best option.
In terms of security, iCloud offers full end-to-end encryption, meaning that even if your data gets stolen or hacked, it’s still impossible for unauthorized people to find out what you’re storing on the cloud. Google One doesn’t offer full end-to-end encryption, which means that your information could be accessed if someone hacks into the system directly.
This could expose sensitive information if you’re using Google One for personal matters like banking or medical records. Still, Google Drive is a better platform for designers. It operates across all devices and has a best-in-class web app.
iCloud and Google One in the News
On March 8, 2023, Google announced that all of its Google One plans now include VPN access to provide users with an added layer of protection while on the web. It will be available in 22 countries for all Google One plans, including the Basic price plan. Google also announced that its US members would have access to a dark web report to allow users to be check whether their personal information is on there. It will include a notification if their information is found, as well as a guide on how to report it or prevent it from happening again.
On December 7, 2022, Apple announced three new security features to help users protect their information in the cloud. One of the features is advanced data protection for iCloud users which includes end-to-end encryption. The new features provide users with the opportunity to further protect the data and files that they store in iCloud.
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