Google Drive Vs Google Docs – Overview & Comparison

Whether you’re looking for flexible cloud storage solutions or powerful word processors, the tech-giant Google offers you everything you need to sustain a digital lifestyle. Knowing about the various details of such technologies, you can make better decisions for your work processes. Let us check out, Google Drive Vs Google Docs.

Google offers these storage solutions and document creation services to both businesses and individuals. However, as both also work together as integrated by default, a lot of people find it confusing to identify the line of difference between the two. 

To make things easier for you, let’s take a quick look at some of the significant differences to understand Google Drive Vs Google Docs through a head-to-head comparison of both the services. As you progress through this guide, you’ll be able to choose the best one as per your needs.

Google Drive Vs Google Docs

Google Drive and Google Docs are both subsets of G-Suite, which is a part of Google’s productivity and collaboration tools. Due to this hierarchy, the confusion between the two is evident. Here’s the definition of both the products that show the difference on a macroscopic level and will help you learn more on Google Drive Vs Google Docs. 

• Google Docs: It is a web-application-based document editing and word processing client that helps you create, edit, and share documents collaboratively on the cloud. The service is also accompanied by other office tools such as slides and sheets. Additionally, everything can be accessed and updated in real-time, which makes it a perfect match for remote work.
• Google Drive: It is a cloud-based storage platform, which allows you to add an additional online storage volume to your existing system specifications. With the help of this cost-effective and secure storage solution, you can easily keep your documents, files, presentations, videos, music, and other files safe from intruders and access them anywhere as per your needs. 

As you read above, both of these products by Google have a unique and different purpose. However, they’re both categorized in office productivity tools. Let us now dive deeper into the comparison by discussing the features of the two separately.

Read: Advantages and disadvantages of Google Drive

Exclusive Features of Google Docs

Google Docs is full of unique and amazing features for both individuals and businesses. In addition to usual work editing and processing capabilities, it also provides collaborative benefits. Let’s take a look at some of the most prominent features of Google Docs:

1. Access from anywhere, anytime

It is a web-based program. Also, it doesn’t require any kind of software or the hassle of installation like other tools such as Microsoft Office. All you need is an active internet connection to access and edit your documents through literally any part of the world.

2. Everything’s in your control

With this Google product, you can allow multiple people to access, comment, or make changes to your dog, as per your preferences. Moreover, it also allows you to define the privilege of the various people who can access the document.

3. Collaborate on the go

For collaborative purposes, you can also assign different levels to your group with access to the document. This allows you to provide only the required access to people. It also prevents them from gaining higher permissions, causing a threat to the privacy of an organization.

4. Complete Tracking and Monitoring 

If anyone makes changes to a specific doc, the differences will be highlighted, along with the name and email of the person who did it. This helps you keep track of all the changes and lets you know about the entity responsible for them.

5. Document restoration made easy

If your document is heavily edited and you need access to the earlier version, Google Docs allows you to restore the previous version of your document. Simply make a few mouse clicks, and you can restore even the beginning history of your doc.

6. Made for remote work

You can add suggestions and comments to specific paragraphs or parts of your document. It also allows collaborators to make changes at their convenience. This makes remote work exceptionally smoother and convenient for both parties.

7. Exceptional compatibility with other tools

Documents created through other tools like Microsoft Word can also be accessed and edited through Google Docs. With this kind of compatibility, you’re always covered in terms of document-related responsibilities.

8. Several supported formats

You can save your documents in several formats. It includes RTF, PDF, HTML, and even make a zip package out of it. Additionally, there is also an in-text search feature to help you get through some specific parts of the doc quickly.

With such a fantastic repository of features, remote work is surely something you’ll no longer dread for. With that said, let’s now keep the comparison ongoing by highlighting the major features of Google Drive.

Read: How to Upload Video from Google Drive to YouTube

Unparalleled Features of Google Drive

Google Drive is a file storing and sharing platform with support for various types of files with an inbuilt virus scanner as well. It is filled with various exciting features that make file storage and sharing a cakewalk. Here’s a list of unique features of Google Drive: 

1. Everything Under One Hood

Google Drive can be considered as a hub or a central location for the collaboration of various Google tools. For instance, you can share a Google Doc file in Google Drive. Moreover, members who have access to the latter can also access, edit, comment, or add suggestions to the document.  

2. No Annoying Perquisites

Remote work is extremely easy with Google Drive. With just an active internet connection, you can easily access both your individual and collaborative work saved in your Drive account. Furthermore, you make changes to files as per your requirements.

3. Quick Save and Restoration

With Google Drive, multiple members of your team can work and make changes on the same project at the same time. Moreover, all the changes are saved automatically to prevent losing data. You can also restore to earlier versions with just a single click.

4. More Than Just a Backup Solution

A lot of people consider that Google Drive is only a backup solution for your existing storage. However, it is rather an extension for the same and allows you to store more files backed up automatically on the cloud.

5. Par Level Flexibility

If you feel that the free storage is not fulfilling your requirements appropriately, you can purchase additional extensions with a monthly and yearly membership of Google One. There are several affordable plans available to extend your storage in case you run out of the existing one.

Read: What does green checkmark mean on Google Drive?

How To Access Google Drive or Google Docs?

For people who want to use these services individually, all they need is a Google account, and they’re good to go. With a Google account, you’ll gain access to various other services as well, like Calendar, Gmail, and a lot more.

In case you’re running a small business and need collaborative access to these tools, you can check out the various plans offered by G-Suite. There are three different plans available, namely Basic, Business, and Enterprise, at very affordable prices for varying needs.

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Google Drive vs Google Docs – Final Verdict

Based on the various features stated about the two, it is evident that both the tools have a unique purpose, along with excellent compatibility with each other. Therefore, whether you’re looking for file storage or word processing, both tools can be accessed through a single account.

Therefore, it can be considered that both the tools are the best of both worlds and serve a great purpose for remote work. So, make a Google account right away and have a look at both the services to determine what matches your personal and professional requirements better. Got an idea of, what is the difference between google doc and google drive?