AppBreakup

Google One alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Google One: only useful inside Google's own apps; it isn't a standalone sync tool, and no end-to-end encryption for stored files. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Google One, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. iCloud Drive currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Microsoft OneDrive logoMicrosoft OneDriveFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +28 of 862.6
2Dropbox logoDropboxFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +34 of 461.8
3pCloud logopCloudFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +35 of 559.4
  1. Microsoft OneDrive logo

    1. Microsoft OneDriveTop pick

    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 One

    Bundled with Microsoft 365, so you get Office apps alongside a large storage allowance.

    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
    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 One alternative?

    Verified facts

    8 of 8 verified
    Free storage
    5 GB
    Checked Oct 29, 2026support.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Microsoft 365 Basic
    100 GB
    Checked Oct 29, 2026support.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Microsoft 365 Personal
    1 TB
    Checked Oct 29, 2026support.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Max file size
    250 GB
    Checked Oct 29, 2026support.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $19.99 a year or $1.99 a month (Microsoft 365 Basic)
    Checked Nov 1, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Microsoft 365 Personal plan
    $99.99 a year or $9.99 a month
    Checked Nov 1, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Microsoft 365 Family plan
    $129.99 a year or $12.99 a month
    Checked Nov 1, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    1 month (Microsoft 365 Personal)
    Checked Nov 1, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Dropbox logo

    2. Dropbox

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

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

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google One

    Works the same on every platform and isn't tied to one company's mail and photo apps.

    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
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is Dropbox a good Google One alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    2 GB
    Checked Oct 29, 2026dropbox.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    30 days
    Checked Oct 29, 2026dropbox.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Plus storage
    2 TB for one person
    Checked Oct 29, 2026dropbox.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Founded
    2007
    Checked Oct 29, 2026dropbox.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. pCloud logo

    3. pCloud

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

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

    59.4

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google One

    Offers lifetime plans and optional client-side encryption that Google One lacks.

    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
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is pCloud a good Google One 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 29, 2026pcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Data location
    Europe or USA
    Checked Oct 29, 2026pcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    File size limit
    None
    Checked Oct 29, 2026pcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Google One alternative for…

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

iCloud Drive logo

Best Google One alternative for most people

iCloud Drive

The obvious pick for iPhone and Mac households, with family sharing of one storage plan.

Microsoft OneDrive logo

Best Google One alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Microsoft OneDrive

Bundled with Microsoft 365, so you get Office apps alongside a large storage allowance.

Dropbox logo

Best Google One alternative for Mac

Dropbox

Works the same on every platform and isn't tied to one company's mail and photo apps.

pCloud logo

Best Google One alternative for Windows

pCloud

Offers lifetime plans and optional client-side encryption that Google One lacks.

Dropbox logo

Best Google One alternative for Linux

Dropbox

Works the same on every platform and isn't tied to one company's mail and photo apps.

Microsoft OneDrive logo

Best Google One alternative for iPhone and Android

Microsoft OneDrive

Bundled with Microsoft 365, so you get Office apps alongside a large storage allowance.

iCloud Drive logo

Best Google One alternative for working in the browser

iCloud Drive

The obvious pick for iPhone and Mac households, with family sharing of one storage plan.

Google One alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Google One?

iCloud Drive ranks first right now. The obvious pick for iPhone and Mac households, with family sharing of one storage plan. Microsoft OneDrive and Dropbox follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Google One?

Yes. iCloud Drive (free plan + paid), Microsoft OneDrive (free plan + paid), Dropbox (free plan + paid) and pCloud (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 One?

None of the 4 alternatives in this list is open source.

Which Google One alternatives work on Linux?

Dropbox and pCloud run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Google One?

The complaints we hear most: only useful inside Google's own apps; it isn't a standalone sync tool; no end-to-end encryption for stored files; plan names and bundles have shifted toward AI tiers, which can be confusing.

How is this list ranked?

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