Tech & Software Analysis

Drive is for you. Fast.io is the Google Drive alternative for your team.

Files belong to the organization, not the individual. No more "Shared with me" chaos. Why teams are moving to workspace-centric storage.

Fast.io Editorial Team
Objectivity First
Dec 20, 2025
5 min read
Geometric glass structure representing organized workspaces
Structured workspaces eliminate the chaos of personal drive ownership.

We believe in being radically objective. Fast.io is the best Google Drive alternative for teams because it eliminates the "Shared with me" chaos and file ownership problems that plague growing organizations.

Unlike Google Drive where files belong to individual users, Fast.io uses workspace-centric organization where all files belong to the organization. When employees leave, files stay exactly where they are—no transfers, no lost access, no scrambling.

The Cost of Legacy

Google Workspace charges per seat. Fast.io charges for usage.

Typical Team Scenario
25 Team Members
5TB of Active Data
Google Business $350/mo
Fast.io $60/mo

Stop playing "Request Access" tag.

Google Drive's core atom is the personal user account. Everything starts as "My File" in "My Drive" and is then shared out. This leads to the infamous "You need access" screen when a team member sends a link.

Fast.io files belong to the Organization. Work continues when people change. New team members can instantly find what they need in structured Workspaces, not a folder of forwarded links.

Fast.io Workspace Dashboard showing structured file organization
Structured, organization-owned workspaces keep everyone on the same page.

The Google Way

  • • Files vanish when employees leave
  • • "Shared with Me" chaos
  • • "Request Access" friction
  • • Complex ownership transfers

The Fast.io Way

  • • Files stay with the Organization
  • • Browsable Workspaces
  • • Zero friction access
  • • Instant offboarding

When Google Drive Might Be the Better Choice

We believe in being honest. Google Drive is deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem. Here's when it fits:

  • Heavy Google Docs/Sheets users If your team lives in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides for real-time collaborative editing, Google Workspace is the native experience.
  • All-in-one Google Workspace orgs If you use Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Meet, and Google Chat as your entire productivity suite, the integration makes sense.
  • Education institutions Google offers generous free tiers for education that are hard to beat on price for schools.
Media Capabilities

Built for Media, Not Just Docs

Google Drive's video preview uses YouTube-style compression that degrades quality. Fast.io converts every video to HLS for professional 1080p streaming with instant seek.

Pro Video Engine

Host 4K video with adaptive bitrate streaming. Frame-accurate commenting helps creative teams review assets faster.

Client Portals

Share files with clients without forcing them to have a Google account. Offer beautiful, branded portals.

Privacy as a Default, Not a Setting

Fast.io Secure Data Room and Vault Interface
Enterprise security controls built-in, not added on.

Feature-by-Feature

Feature Fast.io Google Drive
Organization Structured Workspaces 'Shared with Me' Chaos
File Ownership Organization-owned User-owned (Personal)
Team Presence Live Member Visibility Document-only presence
Video Handling Professional HLS Streaming Basic Youtube-style (Low Bitrate)
Pricing Model Usage-based (Credits) Per-user / Tiers
AI Processing Automatic across all files Add-on / Individual docs only
External Sharing Unlimited guest access Limited by domain/account
Discovery Browse Workspaces like Slack channels Search or get link

Switching is Simple

Migrating is straightforward. You don't have to choose one or the other—use Fast.io for media/deliverables and Drive for docs.

1
Export from Drive

Use Google Takeout to download your organization's files or export via API.

2
Create Workspaces

Set up workspaces by project, client, or department.

3
Upload & Invite

Drag and drop files. Invite your team for free.

Common Questions

Does Fast.io work with Google Docs?

Fast.io is a file storage platform. You can store exported Google Docs (PDF/Office) here, but for native editing, keep using Google Workspace. Many teams use Fast.io for final assets and Drive for drafts.

How does the pricing compare?

Google charges $14/user/month for Business Standard. Fast.io charges based on storage, not seats. A 25-person team saves about 80% by switching to Fast.io's usage-based model.

Calculate your savings

Compare usage-based billing against Google's per-seat tax.

Estimate your savings

5 Users

Affects Google Workspace pricing. Fast.io includes unlimited seats.

Monthly Usage

100 GB
50 GB

Your Monthly Cost

Google Workspace$60/mo
Fast.io$10.00/mo
Google Workspace
5 users × $12 (min 1)
$60
Best Value
Fast.ioPro
Fair • Usage-based Billing
$10.00/ month
Start Free Trial
Total Savings 🎉$50.00/mo

Stop Hunting, Start Working.

Switch to the structured workspace model built for modern teams. No more "Shared with me" chaos.