Unlike Microsoft Office and Apple’s offerings, Google’s apps are online only: there is no desktop software.įor this reason, we think Google Drive is best accessed through its browser portal.

Google Drive takes a similar approach to managing files in its storage space, however the company’s own suite of word processing apps (Docs, Sheets, and Slides) are among the best in the business. That way, you can drag and drop your files and let them sync in the background without having to wait for an upload or download in the browser. If you prefer to work from a different set of apps, such as Word (opens in new tab), Excel (opens in new tab), and PowerPoint (opens in new tab), the easiest experience will come from using the desktop client which keeps your files in File Explorer or Finder. From the browser, you have access to the entire Google ecosystem, including its free Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps, as well as other apps like YouTube, Maps, and Calendar. Google Drive works in a very similar way to Dropbox, however it’s arguably better when accessed through a browser. Paid accounts get access to three e-signatures per month with the company’s HelloSign service, and while its Paper word processing app is a little limited, third-party integrations are aplenty with direct access to things like Microsoft Office from within the Dropbox interface. It’s arguably a better system than Apple’s Keychain and Google Chrome’s built-in tool thanks to the fact that it’s available on most devices, regardless of operating system or browser, as it works through its own app. The company’s password manager Passwords is bundled in with every account, free and paid, however free accounts are limited to 50 passwords. For confidential files, Dropbox recommends storing them in its ‘Vault’ which is a password-protected space within your storage allowance, which can be handy for family accounts.

Dropbox vs google drive sharing photos