When Google was launched back in 1998, it entirely changed the way people used the Internet. It kept on launching more and more services to help people with their digital lives. Google Drive is one of these services.
It is a cloud platform that is used to store, manage, and share files across the Internet.
It’s a freemium service and is used for both personal and business purposes. If you’re interested in knowing more about what Google Drive is, you’re at the right spot. In this beginner’s guide, I am going to provide an overview of this service in detail.
Let’s start.
What Is Google Drive?
Google Drive is a cloud platform launched by Google that is used to store and share files easily. It works as a centralized hub that automatically saves and synchronizes data across all the connected files. It reduces the risk of losing files and stores them safely on the cloud via different devices.
With this cloud storage service, users can collaborate with each other in real-time and see the updated versions of documents.
The best thing about Google Drive is its integration with major Google tools. Anything you do on the following tools is automatically synced and saved on this drive:
- Google Sheets
- Google Docs
- Google Photos
- Google Slides
- Google Keep
Key Features Of Google Drive
Google Drive comes with a bunch of different useful features. I’ve given their details below:
1 – Cloud Storage
Google Drive is a cloud storage service. It saves data on cloud servers so that people don’t have to use their physical hard drives. Even if people use these hard drives, they can store their most important data in the storage to keep it safe and readily accessible.
2 – Free 15 GB Storage
The service gives every user a free 15 GB storage to save their files. This storage space can be used to store files like:
- Pictures
- Videos
- Documents
- Spreadsheets
- Slides
Once the space runs out, you have to option to purchase more space by subscribing to Google One. (I’ll discuss it more in a minute).
3 – Automatic Data Syncing
Another useful feature of Google Drive is its automatic data syncing ability. Data on any device with the Google account will be synced automatically to the drive. There’s no need to upload and store data on different devices separately. It makes data storage easier for people who work on multiple devices.
4- Real-Time Collaboration
This cloud drive offers real-time collaboration to users. In professional sectors, people have to work together on different projects. The platform allows these people to share files with each other and work collaboratively in real-time. Every change is visible to everyone. It makes collaboration work both convenient and transparent.
5 – Easy File Sharing
Cloud storage services, including Google Drive, have become the most convenient way to share files. There’s no need to send heavy files to each other and wait for hours for downloading and uploading. Instead, you can simply share the file’s link with other people, and they will have access to the file directly.
6 – Easy File Organization
This platform offers simple and easy file organization options. You can create folders, sub-folders, and sort them according to the preferred criteria. Besides this, it’s also very easy to search for different files. You can either search by name or use filter options to find data.
7 – Safe & Secure
Google Drive is very safe and secure as well. It utilizes the advanced encryption technology, which is pretty advanced when it comes to securing people’s data. You also get different security controls. For example, you can control who gets access to the shared data and what actions that person can take when it comes to making changes in the document.
8 – Store Any Type Of Data
This platform isn’t only built to save data created on Google tools. You can save any type of data here as well. For example, you can upload your pictures and videos here as well. Besides that, files like software setups and PDFs can be stored here also.
9 – Integrated With Gemini
Google Drive is integrated with Gemini as well. It offers a lot of benefits to people who work a lot within the Google product ecosystem. With Gemini, you can do a lot of stuff, such as:
- Summarize long documents.
- Ask questions about the content.
- Get smart suggestions and insights for working better.
- Draft emails and reports by using context from Drive files.
10 – Mobile Application
There’s a mobile app also available for this service. Users can download the app on their phones and directly access stored data without having to open the browser version. They can do different things via the app, such as managing and editing files.
How To Get Google Drive?
To get Google Drive, you just need to create a Google account. From this account, you can access and use the service.
Here’s how to do it:
- Open an Internet browser.
- Search for “Create A Google Account”.
- Click on the indicated link in the image below.
- Now, click on “For Myself”.
- Enter your full name.
- Provide basic information, which includes gender and date of birth.
- Select a preferred email address or create your own.
- Create a password.
- Now, provide your phone number.
- Follow and complete any further instructions (which usually include verifying the phone number via a code and confirming terms and conditions).
- Once you have created an account, open Google Chrome.
- At the top-right corner, you’ll see a grid icon.
- Click on the icon.
- Here, you can find the Google Drive option.
- Any data you create on Google tools will be saved here.
Google Drive Premium Plans
Google Drive’s premium version is purchased via Google One. Here are its pricing plans:
- Basic (100 GB): $1.99/month
- Premium (2 TB): $9.99/month
- Google AI Pro (2 TB): $19.99/month
Advantages & Disadvantages Of Google Drive
Google Drive comes with both advantages and disadvantages. I’ve discussed them both below:
Advantages:
- Free 15 GB storage for every user.
- Data can be accessed from anywhere at any time.
- It seamlessly integrates with Google Workspace.
- Updating and syncing are pretty much automatic.
- You can track a file’s version history and even restore the old versions.
Disadvantages:
- Since it’s a cloud service, accessing data offline is not possible.
- Upload limits for certain file types and sizes.
- Heavily depends on Google’s ecosystem.
- Deleted files can only be recovered within 30 days.
Sum Up
Well, there you have it. Google Drive is a cloud storage that has revolutionized the way people store and share data. This product is designed to allow people to store files in a safe online space. They can access these files at any time and from any device they have.
It’s also a lot easier to collaborate on such data with other people. Both individuals and businesses can utilize this service for their unique requirements.
People Also Ask
What Is Google Drive Used For?
Google Drive is primarily used for storing, managing, and sharing data online.
Why Would Someone Use Google Drive?
People who need an online place to store their important files usually use this device. Users who do not want to spend their physical hard drive storage also prefer saving data on such a cloud service.
How DO I CREATE A Google Drive?
To create Google Drive, you need to create a Google account. You can use any browser to create this account. It requires basic information such as your name, phone number, etc.
Is Google Drive free?
It is free for saving 15 GB of data. After that, you have to pay for more storage.
