Google Drive Review: Can It Back Up Its Reputation in 2024?

Easily Integrate Drive Across All Google Platforms

Google Drive is well-known as a Google product, but many people may not have a full understanding of what the cloud storage solution has to offer. Its free plan comes with 15GB of storage, plus speedy backup and upload times, and excellent security settings and features to keep your data protected.

One of Google Drive’s strengths is its simple design. The app integrations available (which are plenty) also add to its ease of use. You’ll be sharing your cloud storage with other products (Gmail and Google Photos), but upgrading your plan isn’t costly – both personal and team accounts are reasonably priced.

I like how straightforward every aspect of using this cloud storage was. From setting up my account to sharing data with collaborators, I found the process a breeze… although there were a few minor exceptions.

All in all, Google Drive is fairly easy to use, but is it the right cloud storage solution for you? I detailed my experience with this service, focusing on how well it performed and whether it lived up to my expectations.

Dynamic Features, Even on the Free Plan

Google Drive is full of useful features, including document management, app integrations, and collaboration tools. It isn’t the most feature-heavy cloud storage solution I’ve used, but what it does offer, it does extremely well.

Part of what makes it a dynamic tool is its integration with Google’s other products, like Gmail, Google Meet, and even Google Calendar. While using Google Drive, you can access and manage these other products. If you’re already using several Google services, it might make sense to use Google Drive for cloud storage and backup.

Backup or Sync Files

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You have two options for data storage with Google Drive: backups and syncs. If you want to back up your device, you can use the desktop app.

Once you download and install it, you’ll need to sign into Google’s MyDrive and choose whether you want to back up all files and folders or just images and videos (including or excluding RAW files and screenshots), which can be uploaded directly to Google Photos.

Once your backup is complete, you can decide between syncing the entire drive or just a select few folders or files. Synced files can be accessed from any connected device.

Google gives you a generous 15GB of data storage for free, which is about 10GB more than what other cloud storage solutions usually offer. But remember, you’ll be sharing your Google Drive storage limit with your Gmail and Google Photos accounts – so that 15GB often fills up quickly.

30 Days to Restore Your Data

Similar to other Google products, you can still access and restore My Drive deleted files from your trash bin. There’s a 30-day retention policy for personal accounts, so you’ll need to restore any trashed files before this period ends to prevent them from being deleted permanently. (I’ll get into more details on file restoration in the Performance section.)

If you’re using Google Workspace for your team, a feature called Google Vault allows you to set custom retention periods. This means that data will remain available in the Vault, even if your team members empty their trash.

If sensitive information must be completely removed from your storage, you can permanently delete files in your Vault as needed. Google Vault is included with most team plans, but you’ll have to purchase a license for it if you have an existing G Suite Basic or Frontline plan.

Layers of Security for All Plans

Google takes security very seriously, so I wasn’t surprised by how extensive my security settings were. These settings aren’t Google Drive-specific, so any changes you make will apply to all your Google products and accounts.

From the security settings, you can view devices that have been inactive, see Google’s security recommendations, and adjust how to sign into your account (including turning on two-factor authentication).

Your recent security history is also viewable, which makes it easy to verify that you authorized each action. There’s even an option to locate a lost device.

Google uses AES 256-bit and TLS encryption to protect your data during transfer and at rest. Its data centers are guarded 24/7 and outfitted with thermal and CCTV cameras that cover the entire property. Each facility has a 6-layer defense system that includes mandatory biometric authentication to access the building and a specific floor for data destruction.

Straightforward Interface on Desktop, Web, and Mobile

Google Drive is easily one of the most user-friendly cloud storage solutions I’ve ever used. The user interface is very simple and easy to figure out because most actions can be accessed by a right-click (or a control-click) on the file. There’s also a broader menu on the left-hand side of the screen.

All in all, I had no trouble exploring its various features, but here are a few of the ones that stood out the most.

Scan Documents Straight from Your Phone

One of my favorite features is the ability to scan documents with your device. From the mobile app, you can use your phone’s camera to take a photo of a document, which is then saved as a PDF. You can crop, rotate, edit, and rename the scan before saving it My Drive or your folder of choice.

I also appreciate the fact that you can add multiple pages to one scan. It’s a life-saver if you have a multi-page document and don’t have the time (or patience) to scan each page individually.

Three File Sharing Permissions

As one of Google Drive’s simplest but most used features, file sharing can be accomplished by inviting collaborators via email or providing a direct link.

If you want to give specific people or groups access to the file, you can add their email address. The collaborators will then receive an email to let them know that you have shared this file with them, and they can only access this file from the email address you’ve added.

You can also grant access to anyone through a link, but with permissions attached. Changing the share setting to Anyone with the link will allow the file to be viewed freely, but you’ll still be able to assign file permissions, including keeping the file view-only.

There are three types of collaborators: viewers, commenters, and editors. As the names suggest, file permissions will vary. By default, viewers and commenters have the option to download, print, and copy files, while editors can change permissions and share the file. Before sharing the file, you can disable these permissions.

Rich App Integrations

From currency converters and task managers to mind mapping and photo editing apps, chances are that you’ll be able to find an app that’s compatible with Google Drive. When I connected to DocHub, an eSignature app, I was able to sign documents directly from Google Drive.

Some of the more popular options – especially for work – are Asana, Smartsheet, Xero, and Slemma.

To access the apps, head to Settings > Manage Apps > Connect more apps. From here, you can search for a specific app or do a general topic search to view the options available. You can also click on the top left corner menu to view apps by categories, such as Accounting & Finance, Web Development, and Academic Resources.

Access Everything through Your Google Account

You’ll need to make a Gmail account before you can use Google Drive (in fact, your Gmail account will give you access to most Google products). Once you’ve created your email account, you can head over to Google Drive to pick your plan and set everything up. If you already have a Gmail account, you can set up your account through the Google dashboard.

Download the desktop app to connect your Drive to your computer. After you sign in, you’ll be able to easily manage your desktop preferences by clicking on the Google cloud icon in your system tray. You can edit bandwidth and proxy settings, disconnect or add a device, and even upgrade your storage limits.

Using the mobile app is just as easy as using the desktop and web applications. From here, you can select the data you want synced and backed up. You can also adjust your phone’s backup settings, including whether you want to save on data and set file transfers to use Wi-Fi only.

Google Drive’s mobile app lets you backup your contacts, text messages, display settings, languages, wallpapers, Wi-Fi network passwords, and more. If you switch phones, you can simply connect your new device to your Google account and your data will automatically restore.

Unlike some cloud storage options, there isn’t a limit to the number of devices you can connect to your Drive account – even on the free plan – although you’ll need to share the storage space limit across all devices.

Backing Up Your Data is Fast and Simple

A cloud storage solution is only as good as its performance, so I decided to test Google Drive by running a few upload and download tests over several days. Will day of the week or the time of day affect upload speeds? The folder I used for my test upload was 3.6GB and contained a variety of documents, images, and videos.

Before I started, I did a speed test to determine my Wi-Fi speeds and averaged 163Mbps for downloads and 173Mbps for uploads.

I’m located in Trinidad and Tobago, which puts me over 3,000 miles away from the nearest Google data server. Although my internet connection is high-speed, I wasn’t sure what to expect from my upload times. Thankfully I had nothing to worry about, as each of my tests returned impressive results.

The first test was on a Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. and the 3.6GB folder only took 7 minutes and 43 seconds to upload. For my second test, I waited until Thursday and ran it around 5:00 p.m. Thursday’s upload was even quicker and finished in 5 minutes and 50 seconds.

My last upload was on a Saturday at 10:00 a.m. because I was interested in how weekend traffic would affect my results. This test fell in the middle – it came in at 7 minutes and 10 seconds, which was quicker than Tuesday’s test but 2 minutes longer than Thursday’s test.

Looking at my results, time of day doesn’t seem to have as much of an effect on upload speeds as the day of the week. An evening or overnight upload in the middle of the week may return the best results. But if you have slower internet speeds, you’ll want to be mindful that your uploads and backups may take much longer than this.

Since I selected my computer’s Desktop and Photos folders to backup automatically, I was also able to test the speed of my regular backups. These folders combined came in at 4.5GB (I admit, I hang onto things for a long time) and were fully backed up to my Google Drive in 19 minutes and 40 seconds.

Once I was finished testing backup and upload speeds, I was curious about how long it would take to restore (read: download) the same folder to my computer. Google Drive compressed (zipped) the folder before it downloaded, so the entire 3.6GB folder was done in 5 minutes and 40 seconds.

I found that both the desktop and mobile apps also have relatively quick sync and backup times, but your best bet is to use the web application when possible.

Privacy Settings Let You Manage Your Shared Information

Google’s Privacy controls help you manage your privacy settings, and from here you can also access the Privacy Check-up, which gives you privacy checkpoints to consider. You can decide whether you want Google to save your location history, or web and app activity, as well as manage third-party app access.

Google (and therefore, Google Drive) collects your personal information when you set up your account. It also collects any secondary information you enter, like payment details, phone numbers, and addresses. Although you can adjust your privacy settings, you’ll need to be comfortable sharing considerable amounts of your information with Google before you sign up.

Keep in mind that the content you create, share, and upload across Google products is also stored. Your browser type and device type, settings, mobile network information, and operating system are just a few of the types of data that’s collected when you use any of Google’s services.

Its privacy policy states that it shares information in three cases: with your consent, to domain administrators, and for legal reasons. Since Google is a US-based company, it is under the jurisdiction of both the Patriot Act and Five Eyes (a multinational intelligence alliance).

Google does state that it will occasionally fight governmental requests for information, but it is ultimately under legal and compliance obligations. To cater to businesses with compliance and regulatory needs, Google Workspace is also HIPAA and GDPR compliant.

24-Hour Support Team

Google’s Help Center has thousands of articles covering nearly every aspect of its many products. The Help Center is where I found most of the answers to my questions about file recovery. I couldn’t find direct information on idle backups, so I reached out to live chat support to gain some clarity. (Spoiler alert: Google Drive doesn’t offer idle backups.)

The support agent I spoke to was polite and well-informed, and was able to answer all of my follow-up questions. I chose the live chat option for convenience, but you can also contact support via phone and email. Google Support is offered 24/7, and response time is usually fair.

You can also utilize the community forum as an alternative. You have the option to post a question to fellow community members or browse through resolved posts to check if there is already a solution available for your issue. It is recommended to utilize the forum when your question or issue is not time-sensitive, as immediate responses may not be guaranteed.

Budget-Friendly Pricing on Paid Plans

You’re instantly signed up as a free user when you create a Google account. Since the free plan has up to 15GB of storage, choosing to upgrade to a paid plan probably isn’t necessary. But depending on how you use your account (and if you’re sharing it with Gmail and Google Photos), that 15GB may be used up more quickly than you realize.

The Basic plan starts at $1.99 and has a generous 100GB of storage space that can be shared with family. However, if your storage needs are even more significant, Google also offers 200GB and 2TB storage plans.

Google Workspace plans, which are best suited for medium- and large-sized businesses, are priced at a per user/per month fee. Your storage options begin at 30GB per person and go up from there. The most expensive plan, Enterprise, offers unlimited storage (or, as Google puts it, “as much storage as you need”).