Cloud storage is a convenient way to store your files online and access them from any device. There are many different cloud storage services available, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Let’s compare the famous iCloud to some of the other popular cloud storage services, including Google Drive and OneDrive. We will look at factors such as price, storage space, features, and security to help you decide which cloud storage service is right for you.
Overview
Google Drive is Google’s cloud storage service, and it’s one of the most popular cloud services available. Google Drive offers 15GB of free storage, with paid plans starting at $1.99 per month for 100 GB.
OneDrive is Microsoft’s cloud storage service. It is tightly integrated with Microsoft Office, making it a good choice for users who use Office products. OneDrive offers 5GB of free storage, with paid plans starting at $1.99 per month for 100 GB.
And lastly, the main competitor here is iCloud. iCloud is a cloud storage service made by Apple, integrating seamlessly with Apple products. The general consensus is that it’s one of the best cloud storage services out there. iCloud offers 5GB of free storage, with paid plans starting at $0.99 per month for 50 GB. Most Apple users default to iCloud as their cloud storage service because the service is mostly built into the Apple ecosystem, so it’s easier that way. But what are the other options? Is iCloud truly the best cloud storage service out there, even for Apple product users?
So let’s see how iCloud holds up when compared with other cloud storage services. For this article, we’ll be pitting iCloud against fellow cloud storage services like Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive.
Security
When it comes to security, Google Drive is the more advanced cloud storage service among the three. Closely followed by OneDrive, and then iCloud.
One of the reasons Google Drive is the most secure option out of the three is that it offers something called zero-knowledge encryption for certain files. This means that even Google doesn’t have access to your encryption keys. So they can’t access the files.
Apart from this feature, all three have pretty similar features like two-factor authentication, data encryption, data breach notification, etc. So all of them are very well protected from hackers. The onus is now on users to use strong passwords.
Pricing
All three are priced pretty similarly, so using price as a determining factor doesn’t make much sense here. The only major difference here is the plans offered; for example, iCloud has a 50GB plan while the rest don’t. This can make it seem like one plan is pricier than the others, but it’s really not.
So at the end of the day, no matter what service you choose, the price difference is minuscule, and at the very least, you’re getting good value for your money.
Free Storage
All three cloud storage services mentioned in this article offer free storage. Google Drive offers by far the highest free storage, at 15 GB. This is While OneDrive and iCloud offer a measly 5GB.
Easy to Use
If you’re using an iPhone, then iCloud would be an easier storage service for you to use on this list. The problem with iCloud is that once you move to the Android side, the iCloud experience becomes a janky experience.
So when it comes to ease of use between both platforms, Google Drive takes the cake here because of the fact that it’s baked into Android, so it’s easier to use, and also because it works just as well on iOS and even a Windows PC or MacBook.
OneDrive is a close second here, as it syncs well between all platforms. So you won’t have too much difficulty using it anywhere.
Features
Here are some of the key features of OneDrive, iCloud, and Google Drive:
| Feature | iCloud | Google Drive | OneDrive |
| Data encryption | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Two-factor authentication | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Data breach notification | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Personal Vault | No | No | Yes |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | No | Yes | No |
Conclusion
Ultimately, the best cloud storage service for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. If you use mostly Apple products, then iCloud may be the best option for you because it is well-integrated with Apple devices.
Say you’re looking for a service with a lot of free storage space, something that works well with all platforms, and lots of features, Google Drive is a good choice. If you use Microsoft Office and want something that offers seamless multi-platform syncing, OneDrive may be a better choice.
So at the end of the day, iCloud can hold its own against other cloud storage services, but the best lesson from this article is that no matter which cloud storage service you choose among these three, you’re going to have a good experience.
