Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Google Drive VS Azure File Storage

Compare Google Drive VS Azure File Storage and see what are their differences

Google Drive logo Google Drive

Access and sync your files anywhere

Azure File Storage logo Azure File Storage

Try Azure File Storage for managed file shares that use standard SMB 3.0 protocol. Share data with on-premises and cloud servers, integrate with apps, and more.
  • Google Drive Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-06-21
  • Azure File Storage Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-11

Google Drive features and specs

  • Accessibility
    Google Drive is cloud-based, allowing access to files from any device with an internet connection. This facilitates easy collaboration and remote work.
  • Collaboration
    Multiple users can work on the same document simultaneously, which is beneficial for team projects and real-time editing.
  • Integrations
    Works seamlessly with other Google services like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, enhancing productivity by providing a unified environment.
  • Storage Space
    Offers 15 GB of free storage which is more than most other cloud storage providers, and you can buy additional storage if needed.
  • File Versioning
    Keeps a version history of all documents, allowing users to revert to previous versions if needed.

Possible disadvantages of Google Drive

  • Privacy Concerns
    Being a Google product, there are ongoing concerns about how Google collects and uses personal data, which can be a significant drawback for privacy-conscious users.
  • Storage Limits
    Although it offers 15 GB free storage, this space is shared between Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos, which can fill up quickly.
  • Internet Dependency
    Requires a stable internet connection for optimal use. While offline access is available, it is limited and not as smooth as online access.
  • File Size Restrictions
    Individual file uploads are limited to 5 TB, which may not be suitable for users who need to store very large files.
  • Complex Interface
    For new users, the interface can be somewhat complex and may require time to get used to.

Azure File Storage features and specs

  • Scalability
    Azure File Storage can seamlessly scale up to support your data storage needs without sacrificing performance, ensuring that businesses can grow without concerns about storage limitations.
  • Managed Service
    As a fully managed service, Azure takes care of the maintenance, updates, and infrastructure, reducing administrative overhead for IT teams, and allowing them to focus on other business-critical tasks.
  • Integration
    Azure File Storage integrates well with other Microsoft products such as Windows Server and other Azure services, enabling a cohesive and efficient ecosystem for consistent and smooth user experiences.
  • Access Control
    Provides robust access control through Azure Active Directory, setting up specific permissions, ensuring that data remains secure and only accessible to authorized users.
  • Cross-platform Access
    Supports the SMB protocol, allowing access from various operating systems including Windows, Linux, and macOS, enabling diverse environments to interact seamlessly with the storage service.

Possible disadvantages of Azure File Storage

  • Cost
    Costs can accumulate rapidly, especially in scenarios involving large volumes of data, frequent access, or high redundancy, potentially leading to substantial operational expenses.
  • Complex Pricing Model
    The pricing model can be complex with various tiers and charges based on operations, data redundancy, and outbound data transfer, making it difficult to predict the exact costs effectively.
  • Latency
    While generally fast, there can be latency issues, particularly in situations where files are accessed from regions that are geographically distant from the storage location, affecting performance.
  • Limited Customization
    Compared to on-premise solutions, there is limited capacity for customization of the infrastructure and may not meet specific needs of certain businesses that require tailor-made setups.
  • Dependency on Internet Connectivity
    Azure File Storage relies on stable internet connectivity, which can be a risk for businesses situated in areas with unstable networks or outages, impacting the ability to access data.

Analysis of Google Drive

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Google Drive is considered a good option for cloud storage and collaboration due to its robust features, ease of use, and integration with a wide range of applications.

Why this product is good

  • Google Drive is a popular cloud storage service that offers seamless integration with other Google services like Google Docs, Sheets, and Gmail. It provides a generous amount of free storage, advanced collaboration tools, and accessibility across multiple devices. Furthermore, its intuitive interface and stable performance make it a reliable choice for both personal and professional use.

Recommended for

  • Students who need to collaborate on projects and store educational materials.
  • Professionals who require seamless sharing and editing of documents.
  • Individuals looking to back up personal photos, videos, and important files.
  • Teams that need efficient collaboration and file management tools.

Google Drive videos

Google Drive vs Dropbox!

More videos:

  • Review - Google Drive vs iCloud vs Dropbox vs OneDrive | Pricing
  • Review - What is Google Drive and How Does It Work - Updated for 2019

Azure File Storage videos

No Azure File Storage videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Google Drive and Azure File Storage)
Cloud Storage
93 93%
7% 7
File Sharing
100 100%
0% 0
Project Management
0 0%
100% 100
Encrypted Cloud Storage
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Google Drive and Azure File Storage. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Google Drive and Azure File Storage

Google Drive Reviews

  1. FaizaAdeel
    · Owner at Peacock.collection111 ·
    Excellent Cloud storage

    Well first of all its easy to carry as its in my mobile device plus laptop. File sharing is not only secure but also easy to use. giving me all kind of access to google doc, google presentation, data and etc. working on big projects with big teams is being made easy by google drive.

    🏁 Competitors: Dropbox
    👍 Pros:    Storing and collaboration is best feature for me
    👎 Cons:    Nothing, so far

Best MEGA Alternatives in 2024 : These 5 Are Much Better!
Google Drive supports file versioning of up to 30 days, with up to 100 versions of your files. Some of them, however, can be kept forever if you deem them important. Overall, Google Drive is pretty simple to use, and while expensive, it’s still cheaper than MEGA.
Source: www.01net.com
Best Free Cloud Storage for 2024: What Cloud Storage Providers Offer the Most Free Storage?
It would be madness if an article about the best free online cloud storage did not include Google Drive. As our Google Drive review shows, it’s one of the best free cloud services, thanks to its seamless integration with Google Docs. Plus, there’s a generous 15GB storage limit which makes it the best cloud storage for students and free users.
Best Top 12 MEGA Alternatives in 2024
Google Drive is a comprehensive cloud storage and collaboration platform that integrates seamlessly with other Google services. It's an ideal choice for those heavily invested in the Google ecosystem.
Top 5 Solutions for Sending Files Securely in 2023 
Google Drive is a popular cloud storage and file-sharing platform that also offers secured file transfer. Users can share files with specific individuals or groups, and set permissions to control who has access to the files. Google Drive also includes advanced security features such as two-factor authentication and encryption to protect files from unauthorized access.
Source: blaze.cx
11 Top Confluence Alternatives & Competitors For Team Collaboration
A few reasons that make Google Drive worthy are its centralized administration and data loss prevention. The Vault for Drive (an information governance tool) helps you retain, hold, search, and export users’ Google Workspace data.
Source: clickup.com

Azure File Storage Reviews

We have no reviews of Azure File Storage yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Azure File Storage should be more popular than Google Drive. It has been mentiond 14 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Google Drive mentions (2)

  • Google Drive is syncing stuff from my trash - anyone else noticing this? (Ventura 13, latest beta)
    I'm running the latest beta of Ventura and the Google Drive sync app installed from google.com/drive. Source: over 2 years ago
  • How to use Google Drive for backup files
    Is Google Drive good for backing up files? Safety of personal Data loss is important, choosing Google Drive as means to Store files and folder is key to preventing loss of Data. Backup files to Google Drive are very useful for to managed personal files and making files easier to share with family and friends. How to use Google Drive for backup. Source: about 3 years ago

Azure File Storage mentions (14)

  • A Step by Step Guide on How to Migrate from AWS to Azure
    If your workloads require shared storage, Azure Files is a nice pick. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Searching for online alternative for a synology
    Azure Files perhaps? Or if you need frequently accessed files to be quicker then Azure File Sync. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • How To Upload and Delete files in Azure Blob Storage Using Blazor Apps With .NET 7
    ​To know more details: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/storage/files/. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • Hosted, mappable storage?
    If you have a use case that affords any kind of budget, maybe consder Azure Files. It is an SMB share you access over the internet. Basically, windows file server but hardened and entirely managed by Microsoft. This is as hands-off as it gets for an SMB share. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Microsoft cloud drive options
    I have a client that (finally!) decided to go all-in on Azure; I had prepared the owner to expect additional costs based on their need for a file share -- I was expecting to have to use Azure Files. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Google Drive and Azure File Storage, you can also consider the following products

Dropbox - Online Sync and File Sharing

Cyberduck - A libre FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, S3, Backblaze B2, Azure & OpenStack Swift browser.

Mega - Secure File Storage and collaboration

Igloo Software - Igloo is a modern intranet, it connects people with the information they need to do their best work.

Microsoft OneDrive - Secure access, sharing & file storage

IBM Cloud File Storage - IBM Cloud File Storage is flash-backed, durable, fast, and flexible NFS-based file storage.