Google Drive is a cloud-based file storage and synchronization service developed by Google.
It allows users to store files in the cloud, synchronize files across devices, and share files.
It was launched on April 24, 2012.
Here are the top seven benefits of Google Drive.
1. Free
With a Gmail account, you get 15GB of free storage.
If you need more storage, there are three paid plans: 100GB for $1.99/month, 1TB for $9.99/month, and 10TB for $99.99/month.
Compare this to Dropbox, which offers 2GB of free storage with a basic account and charges $9.99/month for 1TB of storage.
2. Easy to use
Google Drive has a very user-friendly interface. Uploading, downloading, editing, and sharing files are all very simple functions to perform within the app.
Another great thing about the ease of use is that there are many helpful tutorials available online if you need assistance with anything or want to learn some tips and tricks.
3. Integrates with other Google products
If you’re a heavy Google user, then you’ll appreciate how well Google Drive integrates with other products in the Google ecosystem, such as Gmail, Calendar, Sheets, Docs, etc.
This makes using Google Drive a seamless experience because you can easily access your files from any other Google product that you’re using without having to leave that product’s interface or open a new tab.
Furthermore, if you use multiple devices (e.g., your work laptop, personal computer, phone), then having all your files synced and accessible across all devices is extremely convenient and saves a lot of time in the long run.
4. Offers real-time collaboration
One of my favorite features of Google Drive is the ability to collaborate with others in real time on documents, presentations, and spreadsheets.
This is an incredibly powerful tool for team projects, or anytime you need input from someone else.
All you have to do is share the file with the person (or people) you want to collaborate with and then they can make comments, suggest edits, or even chat with you directly within the document.
The person who originally created the file always has control over who can access and edit the file.
5. Great mobile app
The Google Drive mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices, and it’s great for accessing your files on the go.
The app is very user-friendly and has all the same features as the desktop version.
As mentioned before, the app integrates with other Google apps such as Gmail, Calendar, and Sheets, so you can easily access your Drive files from those apps as well.
6. Security features
It offers several security features to help keep your data safe.
For example, you can set expiration dates for shared links, require a passcode to open certain files and enable two-step verification for your account.
Additionally, all data stored in Google Drive is encrypted both in transit and at rest, so you can be confident that your data is secure.
7. Large file storage limit
This app also allows you to store up to 5TB of data per user.
This is significantly more than the 2GB limit imposed by Dropbox and should be more than enough for most users.
If you need more storage, Google also offers an unlimited storage plan for businesses and enterprise customers.
Conclusion
If you haven’t started using Google Drive yet or if you’re on the fence about whether or not to switch from your current file storage/sharing service to Google Drive, I hope this blog post helped sway you in favor of giving it a try!
It really is an excellent service with many great benefits.
Thanks for reading!