Last updated: April 2026

OneDrive, Google Drive or iCloud: Which Cloud Storage Suits You?

Server room with rows of servers representing cloud storage and data centres

Choose OneDrive if you use Microsoft 365. Choose Google Drive if you live in Google's world with Gmail and Docs. Choose iCloud if you have an iPhone, iPad and Mac. All three are safe and reliable, but they work best within their own ecosystems. Here is an honest comparison.

Free storage

All three services give you free storage, but the amount varies:

OneDrive: 5 GB free.
Google Drive: 15 GB free (shared with Gmail and Google Photos).
iCloud: 5 GB free.

Google is clearly the most generous with free storage. But 15 GB fills up quickly if you use Gmail actively and take lots of photos with Google Photos. For most people, the free tier is not enough regardless. You end up paying.

Data centre rack with servers – the infrastructure behind cloud storage services

Prices for more storage

Prices are per month and reflect Norwegian prices in 2026:

OneDrive 100 GB: approx. NOK 25/month. Microsoft 365 Personal (1 TB + Office apps) costs approx. NOK 90/month.
Google One 100 GB: approx. NOK 25/month. 2 TB costs approx. NOK 120/month.
iCloud+ 50 GB: approx. NOK 12/month. 200 GB costs approx. NOK 39/month. 2 TB costs approx. NOK 129/month.

OneDrive with Microsoft 365 offers the best value because you get Word, Excel, PowerPoint and 1 TB of storage in one subscription. The family subscription at approx. NOK 130/month gives up to six people 1 TB each.

Integration and ecosystem

OneDrive

Integrated into Windows, Microsoft 365 and Teams. Files appear directly in File Explorer. You can edit Office documents straight from the browser. For businesses, OneDrive is the natural choice with SharePoint integration and management via Microsoft 365 Admin.

Google Drive

Works best with Google Workspace: Docs, Sheets, Slides and Gmail. Everything is web-based, and real-time collaboration is Google's biggest strength. There's nothing to install. Just open a browser. Google One bundles storage, VPN and family sharing in one subscription.

iCloud

Built into iPhone, iPad and Mac. Photos, documents and backups synchronise automatically. Works reasonably well on Windows with the iCloud app, but the experience is best on Apple devices. Family Sharing lets up to six members share storage.

Sharing and collaboration

Google Drive is the best for collaboration. Multiple people can edit a document at the same time without conflicts. It's intuitive and only requires a browser.

OneDrive has equivalent features via Office Online, and it works well. Especially for businesses using Teams, collaboration is tightly integrated.

iCloud is the weakest for sharing and collaboration. You can share files and folders, but real-time editing is not as stable as with Google and Microsoft.

Security

All three encrypt your files in transit and at rest. But there are differences:

OneDrive: Personal Vault provides extra protection for sensitive files with two-factor authentication. Ransomware detection alerts you to suspicious activity.
Google Drive: Strong encryption and good account management. Google's Advanced Protection Program is available for high-risk users.
iCloud: Advanced Data Protection offers end-to-end encryption for almost all content. This means even Apple cannot read your files.

Regardless of service: enable two-factor authentication. It is the single most important thing you can do to protect your account.

Family subscriptions

All three offer family solutions:

Microsoft 365 Family: Up to 6 people with 1 TB each. Includes the Office apps. Best value for families using a PC.
Google One: Shared storage between up to 6 family members. 2 TB is shared between everyone.
iCloud+: Family sharing of storage between up to 6 people with Apple devices.

Which should you choose?

The simple answer: use the one that fits your ecosystem.

Windows PC and Office? OneDrive.
Gmail and Google Docs? Google Drive.
iPhone and Mac? iCloud.

Need help setting up cloud storage for yourself or your business? An IT support service like Datafolka can help you choose the right solution and move your files safely.

Many people use two services in parallel. For example iCloud for photos on their phone and OneDrive for work-related documents. That works perfectly fine. Just make sure you know where your files are. Important: Cloud storage is not the same as a backup – if you delete a file there, it typically disappears from all synced devices. Read our backup guide with the 3-2-1 rule for proper backups.