Source-backed analysis8
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
8 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 10, 2026
How we review
Google Drive Review
File storage and sharing tied to Gmail, Docs and Photos, with 15 GB free
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- Web
- Windows
- macOS
- iOS
- Android
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
Google Drive suits people already on Gmail, Google Docs or Android who want simple, low-cost file storage and sharing. The trade-off is that free storage is shared with Gmail and Photos, and accounts created since 9 March 2026 start with only 5 GB.
Best for: Gmail and Google Docs users who want to store files, share by link and co-edit
Skip it if: Anyone who wants end-to-end encryption for all personal files, since client-side encryption is limited to some Workspace plans
Pros
- Web, Windows and macOS desktop sync, and iOS and Android apps
- Edit Google Docs, Sheets and Slides, Microsoft Office files and PDFs in place; over 100 file types supported
- Low-cost paid tiers: Basic 100 GB at $1.99 per month on the US Google One page, plus a Lite 30 GB tier at 19,000 VND per month in Vietnam
Cons
- Storage is shared with Gmail and Photos; when full you cannot upload or create files
- Accounts created from 9 March 2026 get 5 GB and need phone verification to reach 15 GB
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
More pros
- The iOS app rates 4.8/5 from over 1.3 million ratings on the Vietnam App Store
More cons
- Wikipedia records a 2023 bug that made some files disappear over about six months, fixed in December 2023
Best for
- People who need a little extra space, from $1.99 per month for 100 GB in the US
Skip it if
- Anyone wanting free storage dedicated to Drive rather than shared with Gmail and Photos
Problems it solves
Experience & key features
What is Google Drive?
Google Drive is Google's cloud storage and file-sharing service, launched on 24 April 2012 with 5 GB free and apps for Windows, macOS, Android and the web; the iOS app followed in June 2012, per Wikipedia. In May 2013 the free storage of Gmail, Drive and Google+ Photos was merged into a single 15 GB allowance. Drive is also where Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Office files live.
Key features
Per Google's product page you can share files with editor, commenter or viewer roles, set expiry dates and block certain actions. You can edit Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Microsoft Office files and PDFs in place, save Gmail attachments to Drive and scan documents to PDF with the mobile app. Gemini in Drive gives cited answers from Drive, Gmail, Calendar and Chat content, and AI-powered search is available. Client-side encryption, DLP and e-signatures belong to Workspace Business and Enterprise plans.
Pricing and value
A Google Account gets up to 15 GB free, shared across Drive, Gmail and Photos. The US Google One page lists Basic 100 GB at $1.99 per month, Google AI Plus 2 TB at $9.99 and Google AI Pro 5 TB at $19.99 per month, the AI plans with higher Gemini limits; Vietnam also has a Lite 30 GB tier at 19,000 VND per month. An annual option saves up to 16% but the page lists no annual prices. Per Google's support page, accounts created from 9 March 2026 start with 5 GB and unlock 10 GB more by verifying a phone number.
More analysis
Who it's for and how it compares
Drive fits best for people already inside the Google ecosystem. If you use Windows and Microsoft 365, OneDrive is more tightly integrated; Dropbox, Box and MEGA are other options, each with its own free allowance and pricing. Do not treat Drive as your only backup: the 2023 bug that made some files disappear is a reason to keep another copy elsewhere.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026
Official US prices (USD)
- Free (15 GB)PersonalFree
- Google One Basic (100 GB)Personal$1.99/mo
- Google AI Plus (2 TB)Personal$9.99/mo
- Google AI Pro (5 TB)Personal$19.99/mo
Miễn phí / Free
PersonalFree
A Google Account gets up to 15 GB shared across Drive, Gmail and Google Photos. Accounts created from 9 March 2026 start with 5 GB, with 10 GB more unlocked by verifying a phone number.
Google One Lite
Personal₫19,000/mo
30 GB shared across Photos, Drive and Gmail. 19,000 VND per month on the Vietnam Google One page (the US page lists no Lite plan); an annual option saves up to 16% but the page lists no annual price.
Google One Basic
Personal₫45,000/mo
100 GB shared, can be shared with up to five other people. $1.99 per month in the US.
Google AI Pro
Personal₫489,000/mo
5 TB, shareable with up to five others, plus higher Gemini app limits, Gemini in Gmail, Docs and Vids, Google Flow, Gemini Notebook and YouTube Premium Lite. $19.99 per month in the US.
- Free plan limits
- When the account is full you cannot upload or create files in Drive. If a paid plan ends and usage exceeds the default quota, Gmail, Google Photos and Drive can be interrupted. Google Workspace plans are per user and a separate product.
- Free trial
- No free trial
Cancellation & refunds
The pages consulted do not state a refund policy for Google One.
Privacy
Google's privacy policy says it does not show personalised ads based on your Drive, Gmail or Google Photos content unless you choose to make that data available to other Google services. The policy says Google may use publicly accessible sources to train AI models but does not explicitly address private Drive content; if you opt in to features such as Personal Intelligence, services can process data from other Google services. You can delete data, set activity auto-delete and download a copy through Google Takeout; deleted data may remain in backups for a while. For Workspace, Google also lists client-side encryption on some plans.
Google Drive alternatives
Frequently asked questions
How much free storage does Google Drive give?
A Google Account gets up to 15 GB free shared across Drive, Gmail and Photos. Accounts created from 9 March 2026 start at 5 GB and unlock 10 GB more with phone verification.
How much does extra storage cost?
On the US Google One page: 100 GB at $1.99 per month, 2 TB (Google AI Plus) at $9.99 and 5 TB (Google AI Pro) at $19.99 per month; Vietnam also has a 30 GB Lite tier at 19,000 VND. Annual billing saves up to 16%.
What happens when Drive is full?
You cannot upload or create files in Drive. If a paid plan lapses while usage is over the default quota, Gmail, Photos and Drive can be interrupted.
Does Google use Drive files for ads?
Google's policy says it does not show personalised ads based on Drive, Gmail or Photos content unless you choose to make that data available to other services.
Review evidence & sources8
Scores
- Ease of use
- 8.8
- Features
- 8.0
- Value for money
- 8.5
- Performance
- 7.9
- Support
- 6.5
- Privacy & security
- 6.8
Why this score
Link sharing with clear viewer, commenter and editor roles; the iOS app scores 4.8/5 from over 1.3 million ratings in Vietnam.
Why this score
Desktop sync, scanning to PDF, AI search and Gemini in Drive. Fewer advanced encryption options than security-focused storage services.
Why this score
15 GB free for existing accounts and plans from $1.99 per month in the US are cheap; marked down because storage is shared and new accounts start at 5 GB.
Why this score
No independent sync-speed benchmarks were found. The deduction reflects the 2023 bug in which some files disappeared in Drive for desktop, per Wikipedia.
Why this score
A help centre and community forum exist; the pages consulted show no direct contact channel for consumer users.
Why this score
Google commits not to personalise ads from Drive content and offers deletion and export tools. Marked down because the policy does not say whether private Drive content is used for AI and there is no end-to-end encryption for consumers.
What users say
- App Store (Vietnam)4.8/5 · 1,345,899
Sources
- Vendor-providedGoogle Workspace: Drive product pageNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedGoogle One plans (Vietnamese, VND)Nov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedGoogle Drive Help: storageNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedGoogle Drive Help: storage quotasNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedGoogle Privacy PolicyNov 10, 2026
- Community-reportedWikipedia: Google DriveNov 10, 2026
- storeApp Store: Google Drive (Vietnam)Nov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedGoogle One plans (US, USD)Nov 11, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- Google LLC
- Headquarters
- United States
- Launched
- 2012
- Category
- ProductivityUtilities
Capabilities
- Real-time collaboration
- AI features
- Works offline
- Integrations
- Mobile app
Platforms
- Web
- Windows
- macOS
- iOS
- Android
Interface languages
- Vietnamese
- English
- Japanese
- Chinese
- Spanish
- French
- Korean
- German
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Thai
- Indonesian
Integrations
- Gmail
- Google Docs
- Google Sheets
- Google Slides
- Google Photos
- Slack
- Zoom
- Salesforce
- Gemini
Support
- Help center
- Community forum
Change history
- Limits.New Google Accounts start with 5 GB, with 10 GB more unlocked by verifying a phone number.
- Update.Google releases a fix for a bug that made some files disappear in Drive for desktop over about six months.
- Feature.Google Drive for desktop launches, replacing Drive File Stream and Backup and Sync.
Full change history (8)
- Limits.Google ends unlimited storage for newly created Docs-format files and new Photos uploads at Saver quality.
- Company.Storage plans, including the free 15 GB tier, move to the Google One brand.
- Price.Storage plan prices fall by about 80%.
- Limits.Free storage across Gmail, Drive and Google+ Photos is merged into a single 15 GB allowance.
- Launch.Google Drive launches with 5 GB free, with Windows, macOS and Android apps and a web interface.
About the author
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