Google One vs Google Drive: Are They the Same Thing?

If you’re a Google user, you may have seen or heard about Google One without knowing what it actually is. In the past, if you wanted more storage for your Google Drive account, you would just pay extra.

Now, Google One offers a method to access additional cloud storage, with the potential for extra features to be added to your Google account.

To make the topic of Google One vs Google Drive clearer, this article will cover:

• Is Google One the same as Google Drive?
• Differences between Google One and Drive
• Features & benefits
• Pros and cons of Google One and Drive
• Alternatives to Google Drive

By the end of this article, you will know whether Google One’s services are right for you, or whether there are other options to better fit your needs.

Table of contents

• Is Google One the same as Google Drive?
• Difference between Google One and Google Drive
• Google One vs Google Drive features
• Google One pricing
• Google One and Google Drive alternative
• Internxt vs Google One vs Google Drive
• Internxt vs Google One vs Google Drive
• Google One vs Google Drive conclusion

Is Google One the same as Google Drive?

No, although they’re related, Google One is not the same as Google Drive.

Google Drive is where you store and manage your files in the cloud and access other Google services, including Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.

Google One is the plan that increases your storage space and adds perks like family sharing, Google support, and additional features. Google One is essentially an upgrade to your Google account that works with Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.

Difference between Google One and Google Drive

Now that we know the main distinction of the two services, we can focus on the main differences. If you have a Google Drive account, then you get 15GB of free cloud storage and these features:

• Cloud storage service to upload, store, organize, and share files like documents, photos, videos, and spreadsheets.
• Cloud storage that is shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.
• Web, desktop app, and mobile apps
• Manage and collaborate on files with others.
• File sharing, versioning, and offline access to files.
• Gemini AI integration with a 2TB Google AI Pro plan

Google One includes:

• Monthly and annual subscription plans from Google to increase your storage across Drive, Gmail, and Photos.
• Offers various storage tiers, from 100 GB to 30 terabytes for the Google AI ultra plan.
• Includes additional benefits such as family sharing (up to 5 members), access to Google support, a 14% discount on YouTube Premium, and 10% back from the Google Store.

The main difference between Google One and Google Drive can be summarized below:

• Purpose: Drive is for storing and managing files, while One is for expanding storage and adding more features.
• Free vs Paid: Drive provides free storage by default; One is a paid upgrade for more storage and benefits.
• Functionality: Drive lets you interact with files directly. One only affects your storage limits and adds extras; it does not replace Drive.
• Scope: Drive is limited to cloud storage. One affects all Google services that use storage.

Google One vs Google Drive features

Google Drive gives you access to its cloud storage and office suite, but with Google One, you get the opportunity to add much more.

When you upgrade, the features you get depend on the pricing tier you choose. For example, the 100GB plan you get:

• Family sharing for up to 5 people
• Limited access to Gemini AI features
• Video generation with Veo3 AI
• Limited access to Google search with Gemini

Google’s highest plans, AI Pro and AI Ultra, offer more storage, higher file uploads, and access to the latest and most advanced Gemini AI models with higher quotas and quality for AI-generated images or videos. Google One pricing

Google One pricing

Google One prices are broken down into the following tiers

• Free 15GB
• Basic 100GB €1.99/mo
• Standard 200GB €1.99/mo
• Premium 2TB €1.99/mo
• Google AI Pro 2TB €1.99/mo
• Google AI Ultra 30TB €1.99/mo

AI features are broken down into limited, expanded, and highest, as shown below.

The full features and limitations of a Google One account and additional benefits and discounts, can be viewed on Google’s website.

Is Google One right for you?

Google One is a suitable option if you have full cloud storage and need more. It is also useful if you’re a videographer, graphic designer, or work in any other industry that integrates AI into its workflow.

It’s also a useful option if you have family members to share photos, documents, or videos with, as its sharing options allow you to add up to 5 members to your account.

Below you can find the pros and cons of Google Drive, which you may wish to consider before subscribing or upgrading your storage with Google One.

Pros of Google Drive

• Compatible with various devices
• Instant access to edit files
• Quick file search
• Expansive AI suite
• Ability to view, download, and upload different file types
• Easy sharing
• Generous free storage space of 15 GB
• Option to restrict file access
• Access to Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Photos, etc

Cons

• Security Risks
• Requires Internet connection
• Daily file upload size limit
• Google can browse content saved in Google Drive
• Privacy concerns regarding user data

Google One and Google Drive alternative

Considering its status as one of the most recognized cloud storage providers, you may wonder why people consider alternatives to Google Drive.

The main issue is privacy. Google has a past of GDPR violations, costing it millions for breaching user privacy, with fines related to:

• Lack of transparency in how user data was collected and processed.
• Insufficient consent for personalized ads and tracking.
• Tracking users without proper consent across services and platforms.
• Failure to comply with GDPR requests for data access and deletion.

For this reason, people are choosing cloud providers with an emphasis on protecting user data. This is why Internxt is becoming a popular cloud alternative to Google, OneDrive, iCloud, and more

Find out why below to see how Internxt could be the cloud solution you are looking for if you want to upgrade your storage, or get more features to protect your devices and online privacy.

Internxt vs Google One vs Google Drive

Like Google, Internxt is based on providing cloud storage, but with one key difference.

Privacy.

Internxt uses zero-knowledge encryption, so your files are encrypted on your device. With this kind of encryption, you manage the keys directly on your device, so nobody except you can access or view your files.

Cloud storage with zero-knowledge encryption is the most secure and private method to store your files, as not even the cloud provider can view your files.

With Google, OneDrive Dropbox, etc, encryption keys are managed on their servers. As they have access to these keys, their employees can view your files or give law enforcement access to your accounts. They can even delete your files if they suspect you are violating their terms and conditions.

With Internxt, therefore, zero-knowledge encryption keeps your files protected and gives you total control over who can access your files. No spying, and no breaches of your privacy.

Like Google, Internxt also offers more products and features in its cloud storage plans, but prices are broken down into annual or lifetime plans if you want to forget the subscription model and pay once to access Internxt forever.

Prices start from just €1.50/month. The features of Internxt plans can be found on their website or below.

Internxt vs Google One vs Google Drive

Internxt offers the following features for its Essential, Premium, and Ultimate plans, plus more, which you can view from the Internxt website or from the table below.

Internxt pricing

Below are Internxt’s pricing, with lifetime plans offering an affordable solution to access a lifetime of cloud storage with a one-time payment.

• Free 1GB
• Essential 1TB €18 /annual or €195 lifetime
• Premium 3TB €36 /annual or €285 lifetime
• Ultimate 5TB €54 /annual or €435 lifetime

Family, business, family, and S3 storage plans are also available with Internxt.

You can stack your lifetime plans if you run out of storage, and you can also pay for a lifetime plan with cryptocurrency or split the cost into monthly, interest-free payments.

If you have a Google account and want to migrate your data to Internxt Drive, you can follow the article from our help center below to help you get started with Internxt.

Google One vs Google Drive conclusion

If you already have a free Google account and want more storage, then Google One is for you if you want to stay with Google and get more storage.

If you are looking for a zero-knowledge and private alternative to Google, then consider Internxt, with zero-knowledge encryption and an extensive product suite. Internxt helps you take control of your data and store your files in total privacy.