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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
2Microsoft OneDrive logoMicrosoft OneDriveFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +24 of 462.6
3Proton Drive logoProton DriveFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +25 of 557.2
4pCloud logopCloudFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +35 of 555.3
5Nextcloud logoNextcloudOpen sourceYesWeb, Windows, macOS +44 of 453.6
6Google Photos logoGoogle PhotosFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android4 of 438.6
7SwissTransfer logoSwissTransferFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android3 of 338.6
  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. Microsoft OneDrive logo

    2. Microsoft OneDrive

    Best for: Windows users and anyone already paying for Microsoft 365

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

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Drive

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

    Pros

    • Built into Windows with on-demand files
    • 1 TB comes with Microsoft 365 Personal
    • Real-time co-authoring in Word, Excel and PowerPoint

    Cons

    • Only 5 GB free
    • No Linux client
    • Mac and mobile apps lag behind the Windows experience
    Visit Microsoft OneDrive Compare with Google DriveDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    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 Microsoft OneDrive a good Google Drive alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free storage
    5 GB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Microsoft 365 Basic
    100 GB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Microsoft 365 Personal
    1 TB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Max file size
    250 GB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Proton Drive logo

    3. Proton Drive

    Best for: People who want encrypted storage alongside an encrypted email account

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

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Drive

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

    Pros

    • End-to-end encryption including filenames
    • Open-source, audited apps
    • Bundles well with Proton Mail, VPN and Pass

    Cons

    • Linux support lags behind other platforms
    • Fewer third-party integrations
    • Sync is slower than mainstream services on big libraries
    Visit Proton Drive Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    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 Proton Drive a good Google Drive alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    5 GB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026proton.me(opens source in a new tab)
    Drive Plus
    $4.99/month for 200 GB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026proton.me(opens source in a new tab)
    Version history
    Up to 10 years on Drive Plus
    Checked Oct 25, 2026proton.me(opens source in a new tab)
    Based in
    Switzerland
    Checked Oct 25, 2026proton.me(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, web
    Checked Oct 25, 2026proton.me(opens source in a new tab)
  4. pCloud logo

    4. 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)
  5. Nextcloud logo

    5. 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)
  6. Google Photos logo

    6. Google Photos

    Best for: Android and iPhone users who want the best automatic search and organisation

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    38.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Drive

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

    Pros

    • Excellent search by people, places and objects
    • Strong built-in and AI editing tools
    • Easy shared albums and partner sharing

    Cons

    • Not end-to-end encrypted
    • Free storage is shared with Gmail and Drive
    • Exporting a large library through Takeout is clumsy
    Visit Google Photos Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.37
    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 Google Photos a good Google Drive alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free storage
    15 GB, shared with Gmail and Drive
    Checked Oct 25, 2026google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Storage counting
    Original and Storage saver both count
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pre-2021 uploads
    High quality uploads before June 2021 do not count
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Paid storage
    Google One plans up to 5 TB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026one.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
  7. SwissTransfer logo

    7. SwissTransfer

    Best for: Anyone who wants generous free transfers with data kept in Switzerland

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    38.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Drive

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

    Pros

    • Free transfers up to 50 GB
    • No account needed
    • Storage in Swiss data centres
    • Password and download-limit options

    Cons

    • Fewer tracking and branding features than paid business services
    • Transfers expire after 30 days at most
    • Smaller ecosystem of integrations
    Visit SwissTransfer Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.37
    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 SwissTransfer a good Google Drive alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free limit
    Up to 50 GB, no registration
    Checked Oct 25, 2026swisstransfer.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Data location
    Switzerland
    Checked Oct 25, 2026swisstransfer.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Retention
    Up to 30 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026swisstransfer.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.