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Google Drive alternatives: 8 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Google Drive: no end-to-end encryption, and no official Linux client. We ranked 8 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Google Drive, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Dropbox currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Dropbox logoDropboxFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +34 of 466.5
2pCloud logopCloudFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +35 of 555.3
3Nextcloud logoNextcloudOpen sourceYesWeb, Windows, macOS +44 of 453.6
  1. Dropbox logo

    1. DropboxTop pick

    Best for: Freelancers and teams who need sync that just works across every OS

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Drive

    More reliable desktop sync for big folders, with strong file recovery tools.

    Pros

    • Very reliable desktop sync, including Linux
    • Easy sharing and file requests with non-users
    • Version history and deleted-file recovery on every plan

    Cons

    • Free plan is only 2 GB
    • Paid plans cost more per TB than most rivals
    • Not end-to-end encrypted by default
    Visit Dropbox Compare with Google DriveDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Dropbox a good Google Drive alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    2 GB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026dropbox.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    30 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026dropbox.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Plus storage
    2 TB for one person
    Checked Oct 25, 2026dropbox.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Founded
    2007
    Checked Oct 25, 2026dropbox.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. pCloud logo

    2. pCloud

    Best for: People who would rather pay once than keep a storage subscription

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Drive

    Offers lifetime plans and lets you pick EU or US data storage.

    Pros

    • Lifetime plans avoid recurring fees
    • Choice of EU or US data location
    • Virtual drive with a Linux client

    Cons

    • Client-side encryption costs extra
    • Lifetime value depends on the company lasting
    • Frequent sales and upsells make pricing hard to read
    Visit pCloud Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is pCloud a good Google Drive alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Lifetime plans
    From 500 GB, one-time payment
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Lifetime 2 TB
    499 USD (sale price at check)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Company base
    Switzerland
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Data location
    Europe or USA
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    File size limit
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Nextcloud logo

    3. Nextcloud

    Best for: Organisations and tinkerers who want Google Drive features on their own server

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    53.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Drive

    Self-hosted suite with files, calendar and office, so the data stays on your server.

    Pros

    • Free, open source and fully self-hostable
    • Large app ecosystem beyond files
    • Data stays wherever you choose to run it

    Cons

    • You handle updates, backups and performance
    • Can feel slow on modest hardware
    • Quality varies across community apps
    Visit Nextcloud Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.357
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Nextcloud a good Google Drive alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nextcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nextcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Enterprise price
    From €71.29 per user/year (100 users)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nextcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Client apps
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nextcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Google Drive alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Dropbox logo

Best Google Drive alternative for most people

Dropbox

More reliable desktop sync for big folders, with strong file recovery tools.

Nextcloud logo

Best Google Drive alternative for a free option

Nextcloud

Self-hosted suite with files, calendar and office, so the data stays on your server.

Microsoft OneDrive logo

Best Google Drive alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Microsoft OneDrive

The natural switch if you work in Word and Excel rather than Google Docs.

Nextcloud logo

Best Google Drive alternative for open source

Nextcloud

Self-hosted suite with files, calendar and office, so the data stays on your server.

Nextcloud logo

Best Google Drive alternative for self-hosting

Nextcloud

Self-hosted suite with files, calendar and office, so the data stays on your server.

iCloud Drive logo

Best Google Drive alternative for Mac

iCloud Drive

Simpler choice for an all-Apple household, built into every Mac and iPhone.

Proton Drive logo

Best Google Drive alternative for Windows

Proton Drive

End-to-end encrypted storage from a privacy-focused Swiss company.

pCloud logo

Best Google Drive alternative for Linux

pCloud

Offers lifetime plans and lets you pick EU or US data storage.

Google Photos logo

Best Google Drive alternative for iPhone and Android

Google Photos

Better for photos specifically, with automatic organisation and search on the same storage.

SwissTransfer logo

Best Google Drive alternative for working in the browser

SwissTransfer

Free 50 GB transfers that don't eat into your Drive quota, stored in Switzerland.

Google Drive alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Google Drive?

Dropbox ranks first right now. More reliable desktop sync for big folders, with strong file recovery tools. Microsoft OneDrive and iCloud Drive follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Google Drive?

Yes. Dropbox (free plan + paid), Microsoft OneDrive (free plan + paid), iCloud Drive (free plan + paid) and Proton Drive (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Google Drive?

Yes: Nextcloud. Nextcloud can also be self-hosted.

Which Google Drive alternatives work on Linux?

Dropbox, pCloud and Nextcloud run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Google Drive?

The complaints we hear most: no end-to-end encryption; no official Linux client; storage is shared with Gmail, so mail eats into it.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Google Drive, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.