Google Drive Personal vs Business – What’s The Main Difference?

Google Workspace and Google Drive are the most familiar cloud storage solutions. Once you create an account, you will receive 15GB of free cloud storage.

However, if you require more cloud storage, especially if you run a business, Google offers a premium version to upgrade.

Every user might be confused about which is the best storage. In this article, we are going to compare and discuss Google Drive Personal and Business.

So, without any delay, let’s get started.

Google Drive Personal vs Business

Below are the main differences discussed where one could get to know Google Drive personally vs Business.

Google Drive Personal is a cloud storage and syncing platform for storing or backing up data. With Google Drive Personal, you only get access to the Google cloud storage service.

Once you upgrade the plan, you will get a few extra features, such as the ability to add up to five family members to your current account free of cost.

As the name suggests, Google Drive Personal is designed for personal usage. Whether you want to upload your pictures and videos or want to take a backup of your files, Google Personal is a good choice for you.

Google Drive is a great storage solution even if you are a freelancer or running a small business and already have access to any other toolkit.

On the other hand, Google Drive Business provides you access to cloud storage along with a bunch of features and tools that can help you easily collaborate with your team and grow your business. Plus, you get additional security and management control.

Workspace is designed to serve the needs of a business. You should consider it mainly if you run a mid to big-sized business with a team to manage and work that revolves largely around collaboration.

Google Drive Personal vs Business- Pricing

When it comes to cloud storage alone, Google Drive Personal appears to be a very affordable option. Three plans are available: Basic, Standard, and Premium.

For $1.99 a month, you can get 100 GB of cloud storage with the basic plan. It can be yours for $19.99 a year if you choose the annual plan.

There are four plans available with Google Workspace: Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, and Enterprise. Google Drive Business’s entry-level plan only provides 30 GB of cloud storage for $6 per month.

On the other hand, this plan offers you additional features like secure and personalized business email, management control over security, and more.

Google Drive Personal vs Business- What You Get

The main purpose of Google Drive Personal is to meet user’s needs for cloud storage. However, you can still access many features, like adding up to six people to your Google Drive account.

You also get access to Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, as well as other cloud-native collaboration apps.

Moreover, shared drives are accessible through Google Drive. The files contained in this folder can be accessed and uploaded by any member of your team, and you get access to all of Google Drive’s basic features.

When it comes to Google Workspace is a set of tools for collaboration and productivity.

Google Workspace offers additional features, such as secure business email and access to multiple Google Meet features, in addition to cloud storage.

You also get access to productivity and collaboration tools such as Jamboard, Keep, Forms, Sheets, Docs, and more.

Plus, Google Drive Business users can also connect with the customer support team regarding any queries. Sadly, this option isn’t available for Google Drive Personal users.

One more thing that I like about Google Drive for Business is that it gives you access to an Audit function. This audit function lets administrators analyze and track the activity of all employees.

Administrators also get data such as documents accessed by fellow collaborators, changes made by them, and more.

Google Drive Personal vs Business- Compatibility

I don’t think there is any comparison when it comes to compatibility. Whether you opt for Google Drive Personal or Business, you can access the service using Google Drive’s official applications.

Google Drive client is available for Windows and Mac PCs. Applications designed for Android and iOS smartphones are also available. The web-based version of Google Drive is also available for Linux users or users of other OSs or devices.

Google Drive Personal- Pros and Cons

Pros

• Easy to Use
• Provides 15GB of free space
• Desktop and Mobile Apps available
• Gives Offline Sync 
• Multiple Add-ons available
• Compatible with every operating system

Cons

• Security Risks
• File Size Limits
• Have multiple bugs and eros

Google Drive Business- Pros and Cons

Pros

• Document Management and Workflow
• Perfect for Team Collaboration
• Multiple collaboration tools are available
• Easy to manage multiple Gmail Accounts

Cons

• Can be costly
• Requires knowledge to manage the features
• No desktop tools for productivity

Can I use personal Google Drive for business?

Well, you can surely use Google Drive for your business if you are not ready to spend a large amount of money on the Business Suite.

A lot of users who have a smaller team to handle and do not have a lot of files to work on can easily manage with the personal and limited features provided by Google Drive.

However, you may find things difficult if you are thinking of using it in larger organizations that have tons of files and accounts to work on. If you are hoping to share a field amongst thousands of employees Google Workspace is the best way to go.

Customers Using Google Workspace Can Get Help

For any technical questions, Google Workspace Administrators can contact Google Support by phone or chat 24/7. You will also receive Technical Support if you subscribe through Google Authorized Reseller, which includes special support like customer service representatives who speak your native tongue, a customized customer support portal, etc

Conclusion

This will clarify Google Drive business vs. Personal. It entirely depends on the user’s requirements. Ultimately, one is better than the other. By this comparison of Google Drive for business and personal, you will get clear clarity before buying.

Google Drive Personal will be a wise purchase if you currently have access to other productivity and collaboration tools, like Microsoft Office 365, and you only need Google Drive for cloud storage.

However, Google Drive Business will undoubtedly be a good option if you are just starting out in business and want the features provided by Google Workspace, particularly the business email feature.

You may like the following Google Drive tutorials:

• Cannot Download Files from Version History on Google Drive
• How to Backup Contacts to Google Drive
• Combine PDF Files in Google Drive