As well as being a search engine and email provider, Google offers one of the best cloud storage solutions available. Launched in April 2012, Google Drive provides a comprehensive file storage and synchronization service that allows user to store files online and access them across multiple devices. In addition to its web interface, Google Drive offers apps with offline capabilities across different platforms like computer, smart phone and tablet. It also permits collaborative editing for Google Docs suite of documents, files created and edited are auto-saved in Google Drive.
In total, 9,857,604 reviews are found in Google play store with 4.3 stars rating. There has been 5,000,000,000+ installs. While in Apple app store, Google Drive is ranked #7 in Productivity with 4.7 stars rating by 330.1K users.
In the latest update version, the development team behind Google Drive has made fixes and adjustments based on the latest issues and glitches encountered by users during use, and optimized the overall stability and performance of the cloud.
Google Drive's local application for consumers is Backup & Sync, which lets you sync almost any file or folder on a computer wherever they are. With a free Google account, you get 15GB of free cloud storage which across all the Google apps, Gmail and Google Photos include. Keep in mind that not everything counts towards storage limits. Files created under Google's proprietary, online formats apps, for example, Google Docs, Sheets, and other in-Drive apps don't count toward that quota, nor do files shared with you. However, if you are running out of space, you can sign up for a Google One personal plan. For businesses, Google Workspace plans give you all Google apps plus features tailored to business users.
Google Drive provides a number of simple to use file-sharing options. It also keeps track of version of the files uploaded. Historical version can be easily accessed within the Drive interface, and to download or restore any previous version of files.
Pros
•Ease of use Includes desktop-to-desktop file-syncing.
•Interface well designed with easily navigable folder structure.
•Great for storing photos and videos.
•Seamlessly integrated with other Google products and excellent productivity-suite collaboration.
•Generous free storage space.
•Synchronization between devices is automatic and quick.
Cons
•Some users have pointed out that backups and transfers using the app take an inordinately long time to complete, which is unacceptable and impractical.
•Privacy concerns and tighten security may be considered.
•No end-to-end encryption.