Google Drive
Cloud storage for files, scans and shared folders, tied into your Google account
by Google LLC · listed Oct 19, 2026
Quick verdict
For most people with a Google account, Drive is the obvious place to store and share files, and the free tier covers light use. Heavy users will likely end up paying for extra storage.
Best for People who already use a Google account and want simple cloud storage and file sharing across phone, tablet and web
Reviewed by AppsPicks on Oct 19, 2026. How we review
Google Drive review
Google Drive is Google's cloud storage app for keeping files, folders and scanned paperwork in one place and reaching them from a phone, tablet or browser. It suits anyone with a Google account, from students swapping assignments to small teams passing contracts back and forth. It also works closely with Gmail, Docs, Sheets and Photos.
Day to day, it is mostly about finding and sharing things. Search looks inside files as well as at their names, filters narrow results by type or date, and a recent files view keeps current work near the top. Sharing a link and choosing who can view or edit takes a few taps. The built-in camera scanner turns receipts or forms into PDFs. Files you make available offline open without a connection. Editing Google documents happens in the separate Docs, Sheets and Slides apps, which Drive hands off to.
Why we picked it: The free 15GB and straightforward sharing make it an easy default for storing and swapping files across devices and platforms.
Watch out for: That 15GB is shared with Gmail and Google Photos, so it can fill up faster than expected. The AI summaries, shared drives and admin controls need a paid Google Workspace plan.
What we like
- 15GB of free storage with any Google account
- Search covers file contents, not just file names
- Camera document scanning built in
- Granular sharing and permission controls
- Works on iOS, Android and the web
What could be better
- Free storage is shared with Gmail and Google Photos
- AI and team features require a Google Workspace subscription
- Editing Google Docs, Sheets and Slides needs separate apps
- Offline access has to be set up per file in advance
Questions about Google Drive
Is Google Drive free?
Yes. Every Google account includes 15GB of storage at no cost. More space is available through a Google One or Google Workspace subscription, which you can buy in the app.
Can I use Google Drive offline?
Yes, for files you have marked for offline access. You can view them without a connection, and changes sync once you are back online.
Which platforms does it run on?
There are apps for iPhone, iPad and Android, and Drive also works in any web browser. Google offers a desktop sync app for Windows and Mac as well.
Does it count my Gmail and photos against my storage?
Yes. The 15GB free allowance is shared across Drive, Gmail and Google Photos, so large mailboxes or photo backups reduce the space left for files.
What are the alternatives?
Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive and Apple iCloud Drive cover similar ground. OneDrive suits people who rely on Microsoft Office, and iCloud Drive suits people who mostly use Apple devices.
From the developer: how Google Drive describes itself
Google Drive lets you securely store, intelligently organize and collaborate on files and folders from anywhere, on any device.
With Drive, you can: • Safely store and access your files anywhere • Edit and store 100+ file types, including PDFs, Office files, videos and more • Scan and upload paper documents using your device’s camera • Quickly access recent and important files • Search for files by name and content • Filter files by type, last modified date and more • Share and set permissions for files and folders • View your content on the go while offline • Receive notifications about important activity on your files
Google Workspace subscribers have access to additional Drive functionality, including: • Using AI to summarize information, retrieve quick facts, and surface insights from your files • Security and management controls for admins to help meet data compliance needs • Sharing files and folders directly with groups or teams within your organization • Creating a shared drive to store all of your team’s content • Requesting electronic signatures and manage vendor agreements, customer contracts, and more
Learn more about Google Apps update policy: https://support.google.com/a/answer/6288871
Google accounts get 15GB of storage, shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. For additional storage, you can upgrade to Google Workspace or Google One as an in-app purchase.
Storage subscriptions purchased from the app will be charged to your iTunes Account, and automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Subscriptions and auto-renewal may be managed by going to iTunes Account Settings after purchase.
Google Privacy Policy: https://www.google.com/intl/en_US/policies/privacy Google Drive Terms of Service: https://www.google.com/drive/terms-of-service
Follow us for more: X: https://x.com/googleworkspace and https://x.com/googledrive LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/googleworkspace Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/googleworkspace/
Text from the app store listing, quoted for reference. Our own take is above.
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