Best Google Drive Alternatives for Business Teams

Why Teams Look for Google Drive Alternatives

Google Drive works well for individuals and small groups collaborating on Google Docs. But when organizations try to use it as their primary file storage, problems emerge:

15GB runs out fast. The free tier sounds generous until you upload a few video files or project archives. Then you're buying Google One storage or managing constant cleanup.

Privacy concerns are real. Google scans Drive files to improve AI products, detect policy violations, and serve targeted advertising across its ecosystem. 45% of users switching from Drive cite privacy as a primary reason.

"My Drive" creates chaos. Files live in personal accounts by default. Shared Drives help, but the permission model gets confusing. Who owns what? Where did that file go? Why can't this person see that folder?

Per-user pricing scales poorly. Google Workspace starts at $7/user/month for business. A 50-person team pays $4,200/year before adding extra storage.

Files disappear when employees leave. Unless you've set up Shared Drives correctly, files in a departing employee's "My Drive" become inaccessible or require admin intervention to transfer.

If your team shares files with clients, handles large media files, or needs clear file ownership, Google Drive's consumer-first design gets in the way.

What Google Drive Alternatives Are

Google Drive alternatives are cloud storage services that offer different features, pricing, or privacy approaches than Google's ecosystem.

Some focus on privacy with end-to-end encryption Google doesn't offer. Others target specific use cases like video production or enterprise compliance. A few take entirely different architectural approaches, like usage-based pricing instead of per-seat fees.

The right alternative depends on what's pushing you away from Google Drive:

If Privacy Is Your Concern

Look for services with end-to-end encryption where the provider can't read your files. Proton Drive, Sync.com, and Tresorit encrypt data before it leaves your device.

If You Need Better Team Organization

Look for organization-owned files and shared workspaces rather than personal accounts with sharing bolted on. Fast.io, Box, and Dropbox Business offer team-centric architectures.

If Pricing Is the Issue

Look for usage-based pricing or generous free tiers. Fast.io charges by storage and transfer rather than per seat. MEGA offers 20GB free.

If You Work with Large Media Files

Look for adaptive streaming and instant previews. Waiting to download a 4K video file before watching it wastes time. Fast.io and some specialized media platforms stream video instantly.

9 Best Google Drive Alternatives Compared

Here's how the main alternatives stack up for business use:

Fast.io

Fast.io approaches cloud storage differently than Google Drive. Instead of personal accounts with sharing added later, files belong to your organization from day one. Workspaces replace folder chaos with discoverable, joinable project spaces.

What sets it apart from Google Drive:

• Organization-owned files: When employees leave, their files stay. No transfer requests, no admin cleanup.
• Real-time collaboration: See who's viewing a workspace, follow their cursor, comment on specific regions of files.
• HLS video streaming: Watch video files instantly without downloading. Adaptive bitrate adjusts to connection speed.
• Branded client portals: Share files professionally with your logo, colors, and custom domain.
• Usage-based pricing: No per-seat fees. A 25-person team costs around $60/month versus $450+/month on Dropbox.

Best for: Teams sharing files with clients, video and creative professionals, organizations that want predictable costs without per-seat pricing.

Dropbox

The original cloud sync service. Dropbox reliably keeps files synchronized across devices, and the mobile apps are polished. Most people already know how to use it.

Advantages over Google Drive:

• More reliable sync engine with better conflict resolution
• Paper and DocSend add document workflow features
• Simpler interface for file management

Limitations:

• $18+/user/month adds up fast for teams
• Sync-based architecture means local storage requirements
• Consumer DNA shows in team features

Best for: Teams who need reliable sync and don't mind per-seat pricing.

OneDrive

Microsoft's cloud storage option. If your company already uses Microsoft 365, OneDrive works well with Word, Excel, and SharePoint.

Advantages over Google Drive:

• Strong Office integration for document collaboration
• Often included in existing Microsoft 365 subscriptions
• SharePoint underneath for complex permission structures

Limitations:

• SharePoint complexity lurks below the surface
• Per-seat licensing applies
• No differentiated external sharing experience

Best for: Organizations already paying for Microsoft 365 who want to stay in that ecosystem.

pCloud

Swiss-based cloud storage known for lifetime pricing plans. Pay once, store forever.

Advantages over Google Drive:

• Lifetime plans eliminate recurring costs
• Swiss jurisdiction with optional client-side encryption
• No file scanning for advertising

Limitations:

• Consumer-first design lacks team architecture
• pCloud Crypto encryption costs extra
• Limited collaboration features

Best for: Individuals who want to pay once and own their storage, or privacy-conscious personal users.

Sync.com

Zero-knowledge encryption where Sync can't read your files, even if they wanted to.

Advantages over Google Drive:

• True end-to-end encryption by default
• Canadian jurisdiction with strong privacy laws
• Competitive pricing for encrypted storage

Limitations:

• Interface feels dated
• No real-time collaboration
• Basic client delivery features

Best for: Teams where encryption matters more than collaboration features.

MEGA

New Zealand-based service offering 20GB free with end-to-end encryption.

Advantages over Google Drive:

• 20GB free versus 15GB
• End-to-end encryption included
• Generous paid plans

Limitations:

• Controversial history and leadership changes
• Not designed for team collaboration
• Limited business features

Best for: Individuals wanting encrypted storage with a generous free tier.

Proton Drive

From the makers of ProtonMail. Swiss privacy focus with end-to-end encryption.

Advantages over Google Drive:

• End-to-end encryption by default
• Swiss privacy protection
• No data monetization or file scanning

Limitations:

• Small free tier (1GB versus 15GB)
• Missing team and business features
• Relatively new service

Best for: Privacy-first users already in the Proton ecosystem (ProtonMail, ProtonVPN).

Box

Enterprise-focused cloud storage with strong compliance and admin features.

Advantages over Google Drive:

• Detailed audit logs and compliance certifications
• Strong admin controls for large organizations
• Good external sharing analytics

Limitations:

• $20+/user/month pricing targets enterprise budgets
• Overkill for small-to-medium teams
• Complex feature set

Best for: Large enterprises with specific compliance requirements.

Nextcloud

Open-source, self-hosted cloud storage. You run it on your own infrastructure.

Advantages over Google Drive:

• Complete data ownership and control
• No vendor lock-in
• Highly customizable

Limitations:

• Requires technical resources to deploy and maintain
• You're responsible for security, backups, and scaling
• Support costs can exceed hosted alternatives

Best for: Organizations with strong IT teams who need complete control over their data.

Who Each Alternative Is Best For

The right Google Drive alternative depends on your situation:

Choose Fast.io If You:

• Share files with external clients regularly
• Work with video or large media files
• Want organization-owned files, not personal accounts with sharing
• Prefer usage-based pricing over per-seat fees
• Need branded, professional delivery experiences

Choose Dropbox If You:

• Need reliable sync across many devices
• Already use Dropbox and don't want to retrain users
• Prioritize familiar interfaces over new features
• Have budget for per-seat pricing

Choose OneDrive If You:

• Already pay for Microsoft 365
• Need tight Word/Excel integration
• Prefer staying in one ecosystem
• Have IT resources for SharePoint complexity

Choose pCloud or MEGA If You:

• Are an individual, not a team
• Want to avoid recurring subscriptions
• Prioritize storage over collaboration
• Don't share files with external clients

Choose Proton or Sync.com If You:

• Have serious privacy or regulatory concerns
• Need end-to-end encryption by default
• Can accept fewer collaboration features
• Work primarily with documents, not media

Choose Box If You:

• Work at a large enterprise
• Have specific compliance requirements
• Have IT budget for enterprise pricing
• Need detailed admin controls

Choose Nextcloud If You:

• Have technical staff to self-host
• Need complete data sovereignty
• Want maximum customization
• Can handle your own security and maintenance

Google Drive vs Fast.io: Direct Comparison

For teams considering a move from Google Drive to Fast.io, here's how they compare:

When Google Drive Makes Sense

Google Drive works well when:

• You're heavily invested in Google Workspace and Docs collaboration
• Individual users need free storage for personal files
• Document editing is more important than file delivery
• You're okay with Google's data practices

When Fast.io Fits Better

Fast.io targets teams that:

• Deliver files to external clients as a core workflow
• Handle video and large creative files regularly
• Need organization-owned files that survive employee turnover
• Want costs tied to usage, not headcount
• Require branded, professional sharing experiences

What Is the Most Private Cloud Storage?

Privacy means different things to different people. Here's how to think about it:

End-to-End Encryption (Highest Privacy)

With E2E encryption, files are encrypted on your device before upload. The provider can't read them. If law enforcement requests your data, the provider can only hand over encrypted files they can't decrypt.

E2E encrypted options:

• Proton Drive (Swiss, E2E by default)
• Tresorit (Swiss, enterprise-focused)
• Sync.com (Canadian, zero-knowledge)
• MEGA (New Zealand, E2E included)
• pCloud with Crypto (Swiss, E2E as add-on)

Trade-off: E2E encryption typically means no server-side features like search, previews, or AI summaries. The provider can't process what they can't read.

Strong Privacy Policies (Good Privacy)

Some providers don't offer E2E encryption but have strong privacy policies, no data monetization, and favorable jurisdictions.

• Fast.io (no file scanning, no ad targeting)
• Dropbox (US-based, but no advertising business model)
• OneDrive (no ad targeting from files)

What Google Drive Does

Google Drive encrypts files at rest and in transit, but Google can read your files. They use this access to:

• Detect policy violations and illegal content
• Improve AI and search products
• Show relevant ads across Google services

If you're storing sensitive business documents, client information, or anything you wouldn't want scanned, Google Drive's approach may not match your privacy requirements.

How to Migrate from Google Drive

Moving from Google Drive takes some planning. Here's how to do it:

1. Audit Your Current Storage

Check what you actually have in Drive:

• Go to drive.google.com and check storage usage
• Note how much is in "My Drive" versus Shared Drives
• Identify files shared externally that need new links

2. Choose Your Export Method

Google Takeout (for complete export):

• Go to takeout.google.com
• Select Google Drive
• Download your entire archive
• Can take days for large accounts

Backup and Sync App (for selective migration):

• Install Google Drive for Desktop
• Enable selective sync for files you need
• Copy from local sync folder to new platform

Third-party migration tools (for large organizations):

• Tools like MultCloud or CloudHQ can transfer directly
• Useful for avoiding massive local downloads
• Cost varies based on data volume

3. Plan Your New Structure

Don't copy Google Drive's folder mess. Use the move as a chance to reorganize:

• Group files by project, not by who created them
• If moving to Fast.io, design workspace structure before uploading
• Create clear naming conventions going forward

4. Update Shared Links

Old Google Drive links will keep working until you delete the files. But:

• Find active shares that people outside your team use
• Create new share links on your new platform
• Tell people you share files with about the change
• Set a deadline for shutting down old links

5. Handle Google Docs

Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides only exist in Google's format. Export options:

• Download as .docx, .xlsx, .pptx (Microsoft formats)
• Download as PDF for archival
• Some formatting may change in conversion

6. Run Parallel for a Month

Keep Google Drive running while you switch:

• Verify everything copied correctly
• Give users time to adjust
• Catch any files you missed
• Update any connected apps or automations