SkyDrive versus Google Drive

A new Tech war starts with the launch of Google’s cloud storage service, Google Drive. The war between the popular and free cloud services like SkyDrive from Microsoft, iCloud from Apple, Google Drive, Dropbox is interesting with everyone doing something innovative to take the lead and capture the market. We start with the comparison between Microsoft’s SkyDrive and Google Drive. Let’s see who takes the lead. Will the market be Microsoft’s or Google’s ?

Let us compare the features offered by the tech giants.

Free Storage Capacity

SkyDrive - Originally, SkyDrive was launched with the storage capacity of 5 GB then they upgraded to 25 GB before downgrading to 7 GB. However, loyal customers can keep the 25 GB if they claim.

Google Drive - Google Drive offers only 5 GB through Google Drive.

Uploading the Files

SkyDrive - SkyDrive uses SkyDrive desktop uploader app and a file of maximum size 2 GB can be uploaded to the cloud drive.

Google Drive - Google Drive uses web upload and upload via folder through the Google Drive application available in Google Drive’s site.

Pricing Options

SkyDrive – SkyDrive’s pricing options are a bit reasonable. 100 GB in SkyDrive costs around Rs.2600/year.

Google Drive - Google Drive is costlier compared to SkyDrive. 100 GB disk space costs nearly Rs.3100/year ($4.99[per month cost]*12*USD-INR Converstion rate).

Most of the users, at the maximum, use 25 GB of cloud storage. SkyDrive costs Rs. 520.00 for 20 GB additional storage along with existing one while Google Drive cost up to Rs.1600 for 25GB($2.49[per month cost]*12*USD-INR Conversion rate).SkyDrive holds the edge when you go for paid storage services.

Mobile Support

SkyDrive - Microsoft has better mobile support to SkyDrive for mobile devices compared to Google Drive, which is still growing in Mobile segment. Microsoft should consider supporting for Android and Linux.

Google Drive - Since it is new, we cannot expect much in Mobile. Google Drive supports Android and more and more Android users have become Google Drive customers through Android App.

Mobile segment for Cloud Storage may come into the hands of Google Drive unless Microsoft supports Android.

Integration with Operating System

SkyDrive - SkyDrive will come handy with Microsoft’s new Operating System – Windows 8. When it comes, we can expect SkyDrive’s demand will be increasing as it will turn more OS users into SkyDrive’s customers and Microsoft will be able to able to integrate some of its services with it successfully. Hope, it will be a boost up to Windows 8.

Google Drive -Google Drive is integrated with Google Chrome OS. Unfortunately, it is not that popular as Windows already is. So, the popularity of Google Drive may not depend on Chrome OS. But it is a boon for those who buy laptops with Google Chrome OS.

Format Support

SkyDrive - SkyDrive supports nearly 38 file formats which includes all the file formats for Office documents including ODF or Open Document Format.

Google Drive - Google Drive supports 30 file formats. The advantage is that you can open Photoshop and Illustrator files for editing unlike in SkyDrive where only they are supported.

Office Integration

SkyDrive - SkyDrive is tightly integrated with Office Live. You can create, edit, manipulate and perform all Office Operations in Word, Excel, Powerpoint, OneNote in Online itself. Editing the document is much easier as there is no need for format conversion between the file online and file offline.

Google Drive - Google Drive supports Office Documents but not like SkyDrive. The files can be uploaded and shared. But to make the changes, it either has to be converted to Google Document or edited by downloading.

Privacy Policy

SkyDrive - SkyDrive is clean and clear in its Privacy Policy. It does not claim ownership of the file you upload in their server through the cloud based service.

Microsoft Terms of Service

Google Drive - Watch out for Google Drive. Their privacy policy tells that Google owns the files you upload in Google Drive. So it is better to avoid using such service if you use Cloud based service for confidential purpose.

Google Terms of Service

[ Link to Microsoft TOS ] | [ Link to Google TOS ]

Disadvantage(s)

SkyDrive - The major drawback is that SkyDrive is not available for Linux and Android users.

Google Drive - The major drawback is that Google Drive is not available for Linux and Windows Phone users.

At the End….

SkyDrive may have scored a little low in its services compared to Google Drive. But it’s TOS is clear and the ownership of files is with you. If you use cloud storage for official purpose, SkyDrive is highly recommended.

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