When comparing Google Drive vs IDrive, the Slant community recommends Google Drive for most people. In the question“What are the best cloud backup services?” Google Drive is ranked 1st while IDrive is ranked 24th. The most important reason people chose Google Drive is:
Google account holders and non-holders can be set to access and/or collaborate on files/folders in real-time. Additionally, you can find files you've shared not only by filename but by person you've shared the files with.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro File sharing & collaborative editing
Google account holders and non-holders can be set to access and/or collaborate on files/folders in real-time. Additionally, you can find files you've shared not only by filename but by person you've shared the files with.
Pro 15GB free
This space is shared across Drive, Gmail & Google Photos.
Pro Built-in office suite
Includes tools for writing, presentations and spreadsheets.
Pro Integrates with other Google services
For example, you can use search to search through both Drive and Gmail.
Pro Extended functionality via apps
Third party Drive applications running in Chrome or Android can add functionality such as image/video editing, project management, flowchart creation, etc.
Pro Mobile integration
You can work from any device, especially mobile.
Pro Save files to drive directly from Gmail
Drive lets you save any file from your email.
Pro Cheap for extra storage
$1.99 per 100GB, for up to 16TB.
Pro Revision control
By clicking Ctrl + Alt + G in Windows or Command + Alt + Shift + G is OS X you can access previous version of the file.
Pro Indexes images
You can search images by object, place, or face when they've been added to your google photos collection. Google Assistant also helps you find screenshots that could be archived, images that aren't in the correct orientation and pictures that would work well as animations or albums.
Pro Web UI admin console has a feature to individually update IDrive program *settings* on each device or make all the same
This is very helpful to remotely update one or more devices or ensure all settings are the same on devices when managing multiple device backups on the same account.
Pro Web UI admin console has a feature to individually update IDrive *installed program version* on each device or make all the same
This enables updating the installed version on remote devices.
Pro The client UI has a backup progress indicator
The progress indicator can show total bytes backed up and remaining, and the file that's being backed up.
Pro The client UI "Backup" tab has a summary list of folders and files and their sizes selected for backup
Pro Reasonably priced subscription plans
It's one of the few options with subscription plans for unlimited devices and tiered backup quotas, and not a ridiculous price.
Pro It's one of the cheapest options
Cons
Con No official client for Linux
Google as of yet has a client for Linux, leaving many who use the service forced to use third party apps or the webpage.
Con Data privacy not guaranteed
Data privacy is widely known as one of Google's weaknesses. Data shared through Google is most likely matched up with the user's profile inside other Alphabet inc. subsidiaries, and, due to the business model, used commercially.
Con Terms and Conditions allow Google to own anything on Google Drive
They can create derivative works, they can perform it, they can modify it, and they can publish it at will. There are many other specific rights they take over your product. Read the Terms carefully and compare with ANY others.
Con Very unreliable
Desktop client constantly crashes.
Con No WebDAV, FTP or SFTP
It supports none of these common protocols used for access to network storage, which severely limits OS integration. You are forced to use the browser or a standalone client, which isn't possible on all systems.
Con Low bandwidth
Can't even upload all my files to this
Con Low sync speed
Con No universal Windows app
Con Doesn't integrate well with OS
Con Support is slow to respond or non-responsive
They offer same-day responses when emailed feature requests but take days and days and non-helpful responses when inquired on issues.
Con IDrive program does not auto-update to new versions (many other backup programs do)
While not having an automated version upgrade doesn't enable unattended backup (particularly desired for remote devices or for non-techy users), these options exist:
- The web UI admin console has an option to update the version.
- When a new version exists, an "Upgrade" button appears on the client UI.
Con The backup often misses files
While testing it by editing a file, the app missed it for many hours. However, it usually found the file a many runs later/the next day and backed it up. This flakiness is enough to be concerned.
Con The backup regularly "locks up" on a file in OS-specific directory during backup
When including OS-specific directories in the backup, it regularly freezes on a file, and never the same file. It's possible to cancel the backup, run it again, and it almost always works. Support said not to backup OS directories, and this is true for other backup products too; CrashPlan did not have this issue.
Con Requires too much manual monitoring because it is an unreliable product
It's necessary to regularly check if it's working because it can lock-up on some files, or continually say "verifying files". It's a flakey product.