Google Photos vs Google Drive: What’s the Difference?

When it comes to storing your files or photos online, the number of choices can be overwhelming. To make things more confusing, some services focus on cloud storage and photos, and others offer both, such as Google Photos and Google Drive.

But what’s the difference?

Although both appear to be the same, they have some differences based on whether you need photo or file storage. Both have advantages and features to meet your needs as a photographer or for general cloud storage.

This article will cover Google Photos vs Google Drive, including advantages, use cases, and potential limitations depending on which service you pick. As a bonus, we will also offer an alternative to Google if you want guaranteed privacy for your photos or documents with Internxt.

Table of contents

• Is Google Photos the same as Google Drive?
• Google Photos vs Google Drive overview
• Google Drive vs Photos features
• Google Photos vs Drive features
• Google Photos vs Google Drive cost
• Google Photos vs Google Drive pros and cons
• Internxt vs Google Photos vs Google Drive
• Google Photos vs Drive: Which one should you choose?

Is Google Photos the same as Google Drive?

No, although they share some similarities, they are both different services.

Google Photos is for storing, organizing, and sharing images and videos. It automatically backs up your media and offers smart search features such as facial or location recognition to instantly find your photos.

Google Drive focuses on file storage, collaboration, and sharing.

So while both use Google’s cloud, Google Photos is focused on media management, while Google Drive is built for file organization and collaboration.

Google Photos vs Google Drive overview

So now we know the general difference between Google Photos and Drive, the table below shows a general comparison of both services.

Next, we will look at the Google Photos vs Google Drive features, explaining what you get and what you can do with each service.

Google Drive vs Photos features

As Google Drive focuses on file management and collaboration, you get the following features as a Google Drive user. Some features, such as Gemini AI integration, are only included in the Google AI Pro plan.

However, here are the main features of Google Drive.

• Ransomware detection & file restoration: Google Drive for Desktop now detects ransomware attacks by pausing file syncing and alerts users and admins. File restoration is enabled by default to help recover if you or your team are targeted in a ransomware attack.
• Enhanced document scanning on mobile: The mobile app offers improved editing tools for scanned documents, including cropping, rotating, color adjustments, and shadow removal.
• AI-powered PDF insights: Integration with Google's Gemini AI allows users to receive more detailed responses when querying PDFs stored in Drive.
• Advanced file classification: Drive now supports training multiple AI models on demand to easily search and access files.
• SharePoint migration: Organizations can now migrate files from Microsoft SharePoint Online to Google Drive.
• File versioning: Drive's version history feature allows users to track changes over time, restore previous versions, and compare document revisions to keep everyone updated and recover files in case important information is accidentally deleted or lost.
• File collaboration: Multiple users can edit documents simultaneously, with changes reflected in real-time..
• Offline access: Users can mark specific files and folders for offline use, ensuring access to important documents even if you don’t have wifi access.
• Integration with Google Workspace: Google Drive integrates easily with Docs, Sheets, and Slides, useful if your use case focuses on document management.

Google Photos vs Drive features

Google Photos is part of Google’s suite of products, but is managed in a separate app for mobile and web.

With Photos, you get the following features.

• Photo to video: Transform still images into short video clips from the "Create" tab in the Google Photos app.
• Remix: Apply artistic styles to photos, converting them into formats like anime, comics, sketches, or 3D animations.
• Gemini AI: Google’s AI can be used to edit, enhance, and improve your photos, giving you the best version of your photos to share with others.
• Magic editor: An advanced editing tool that enables users to make significant adjustments to photos, such as changing backgrounds or removing unwanted objects, (or photobombers)
• Share photos via a QR code: Quickly share albums or photos by generating a QR code to give instant access to your photos without worrying about setting file permissions.
• Photo stacks: Automatically group similar photos, making it easier to organize and manage your photo library.
• Highlight videos: Create short videos highlighting specific events or themes by selecting relevant photos to easily share memorable moments of special occasions.
• Cinematic photos: Add subtle motions to your photos to bring them to life.
• Collage and animation tools: Combine multiple photos into collages or create animations of your favorite memories.

Google Photos vs Google Drive cost

As Google Photos is part of the Drive ecosystem, there is no separate cost for photos. Instead, you get 15GB of free storage, which applies to both Photos and Drive, which is enough for

• Standard JPEG (5 MB per photo): ~3,000 photos
• High-resolution RAW (25 MB per photo): ~600 photos
• Medium-quality JPEG (3 MB per photo): ~5,000 photos
• Compressed smartphone photo (1 MB per photo): ~15,000 photos
• 4K video frames (30 MB per frame): ~500 frames

If you need more storage, you can upgrade to any of the three monthly or annual plans offered by Google:

• Free 15GB
• Basic 100GB €1.49/ month or €23.88/ annual
• Premium 2TB €2.49/ month or €119.88/ annual
• Google AI Pro €21.99/month or €263.88/ annual

Google Photos vs Google Drive pros and cons

As Google’s flagship product, it offers many features to store and collaborate and collaborate with your team easily, but it is not without its cons, either.

Google Photos pros

• AI organization: Automatically sorts photos by faces, places, and events, making it easy to find specific images without having to scroll or search through hundreds of photos.
• Automatic backup: Ensure all your files are safe in the cloud with automatic backups. Take your photo and forget about it; Google will save it in the cloud for you.
• User-friendly sharing: Create albums and share them with friends and family.

Google Photos cons

• Impact on other services: If you exhaust your storage, you will lose access to other Google services, such as receiving new emails.
• Image compression: Unless you choose "Original quality," Google Photos will compress your photos and videos to save space, potentially diminishing the quality.
• Privacy concerns: All files are stored on Google’s servers, which may raise concerns about data usage, tracking, and potential third-party access.

Google Drive pros

• Generous free storage: 15GB is enough to meet basic photo or cloud storage needs, and is larger than most free cloud storage offers.
• File format support: Can store and open a large number of file types, so you can collaborate with others regardless of file types.
• Accessible from anywhere: Supports a large number of operating systems, cross-device syncing, and offline access.

Google Drive cons

• Daily upload limit: Google Drive has a daily upload limit of 750 GB per user, which can be restrictive for those backing up large amounts of data.
• Privacy concerns: Storing files on Google's servers raises privacy concerns, as Google could theoretically scan content for policy violations and delete your account or give access to external bodies like law enforcement.
• Security risks: There are risks associated with data security, such as the potential for hacking, social engineering, or the accidental exposure of files through improper sharing settings.

Internxt vs Google Photos vs Google Drive

Now that we have a general overview of Google Drive vs Photos, including features and pricing, what other options are available?

For photos and photo-sharing apps, we have a comprehensive list of options for you to choose from, so if you’re interested in storing photos specifically, check out the article from our blog below.

For an alternative to Google Drive, plus additional tools for your online privacy, Internxt is an open-source alternative to Google Drive, designed to store, share, and backup your documents, photos, and videos in total privacy.

Unlike Google, Internxt uses zero-knowledge and post-quantum encryption. Not only does this give you maximum security, but it also gives you total control over the privacy of your files. With Internxt, everything is encrypted on your device, meaning it's impossible for anyone, including Internxt, to view your files.

Internxt Drive also includes password-protected file sharing, or free encrypted file sharing with Internxt Send. Paid Internxt plans also include access to Internxt Antivirus and VPN, protecting your device and internet connection wherever you are.

Internxt plans go up to 5TB, offering 3TB more than Google’s largest plan. Plus, lifetime plans have the option to stack your storage whenever you need, so if your cloud storage is full, you can add more storage to your account.

Internxt's annual and lifetime plans are broken into the following tiers:

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

When taking into account the top-tier plans, with Internxt Ultimate annual plans, you could save 79% compared to Google and get access to many more features, including Internxt Cleaner Internxt Meet, and, in the future, Internxt Mail for Ultimate plans.

So while Google offers generous free storage, this comes at a price:, your data. For fully private and secure cloud storage, and a product suite designed to protect your privacy online, try Internxt for free, or choose your plan by checking out paid plans at the link below.

Google Photos vs Drive: Which one should you choose?

For most users, if your focus is on photos and videos, Google Photos is better; if you need general file storage and teamwork features, Google Drive is the better choice.

Choose Google Photos if your main goal is to back up, organize, and share photos and videos easily.

Choose Google Drive if you need a versatile cloud storage solution for all types of files, want collaboration tools, and need to integrate with Google Workspace apps like Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

For an affordable and private alternative to Google Drive, consider Internxt as your privacy ally, with zero-knowledge encryption, compliance with multiple regulators such as HIPAA and ISO 27001 Internxt offers total security and privacy for personal, business, or enterprise use.