Box vs Google Drive: Cloud Storage Showdown 2024
Box and Google Drive appeal to teams and individuals looking for great collaboration tools that enhance productivity. Despite their many similarities, a few significant differences set these two cloud services apart. Find out more in our Box vs Google Drive comparison.
Written by Jason Stagnitto (Writer)
Reviewed by Valentina Bravo (Editor)
Facts checked by Igor Kurtz (Fact-checking editor)
Last Updated: 2024-03-20T10:49:04+00:00
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways: Box vs Google Drive
- The main difference between Box and Google Drive is the amount of storage you get. The cap with Google Drive is 2TB, or up to 5TB with a Google Workspace account, while Box Business has unlimited storage.
- Box is a better choice than Google Drive if you need third-party connections.
- Google Drive is a good option for people who want affordability or for those who are already invested in the Google ecosystem.
Facts & Expert Analysis:
- Box is best for professionals and those who need collaboration tools, as it has an excellent suite of features and many third-party connections.
- Google Drive is best for those who are already invested in the Google ecosystem, as it integrates seamlessly with other Google products.
Box and Google Drive have much in common, as both focus on providing users with everything they need to collaborate on projects and increase productivity. It can be tough to choose between the two since they have similar tools and features. We break them down in our Box vs Google comparison guide.
You’ll find Box and Google Drive on our list of the best cloud storage services, and for good reason. Both offer many features that working professionals and teams from all walks of life are looking for in cloud storage. As you will see in the following sections, Box and Google Drive make it easy to share and collaborate. However, there are some noticeable differences.
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03/18/2024 Facts checked
Article rewritten with current features and up-to-date comparisons.
Box vs Google Drive: Our Comparison Guidelines
Having tested more than 400 products and services, we’ve spent a lot of time with cloud storage, including Google Drive and Box. When we conduct this type of comparison, we consider the features that both services offer and areas where one differs from the other. Using this information and our expertise, we feel qualified to present you with an accurate comparison.
Cloudwards Editor’s Choice: Box
Box is our top choice because it offers similar features to Google Drive, but has better sync functionality and more file-sharing options. It integrates with Google Workspace apps and Microsoft 365 (formerly Microsoft Office). However, it’s not a perfect service; it can get expensive, especially if you want advanced features like Box KeySafe.
Google Drive vs Box: Comparison at a Glance
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| 100GB – Unlimited GB$5 / month(All Plans) | 100GB – 30TB$1.67 / month(All Plans) | |
| Review | Review | |
| Sync | ||
| Sync Folder | ||
| Block-Level Sync | ||
| Selective Sync | ||
| Bandwidth Throttling | ||
| Sync Any Folder | ||
| Max File Size | 150 GB | |
| Network Drive | ||
| File Sharing | ||
| File Link Sharing | ||
| Link Passwords | ||
| Link Expiry Dates | ||
| Folder Sharing | ||
| Folder Permissions | ||
| Link Download Limits | ||
| Upload Links | ||
| User Management | ||
| User Groups | ||
| Set User Roles | ||
| Monitor User Activity | ||
| Restrict User Storage | ||
| Remote Device Wipe | ||
| Productivity | ||
| File Previews | ||
| Edit Files | ||
| In-App Collaboration | ||
| Office Integrations | Office365, Google Workspace | |
| Notes App | ||
| Media Playback | ||
| Mobile Apps | ||
| Deleted File Retention | ||
| Versioning | ||
| WebDAV | ||
| Security | ||
| At-Rest Encryption | ||
| In-Transit Encryption | ||
| Two-Factor Authentication | ||
| Client-Side Encryption | ||
| Data Residency | ||
| SSO Integration | ||
| Custom Password Requirements | ||
| Support | ||
| 24/7 Support | ||
| Live Chat Support | ||
| Telephone Support | ||
| Email Support | ||
| User Forum | ||
| Knowledgebase | ||
| Misc | ||
| Free Plan |
Which Is Better: Box vs Google Drive?
Google Drive is the better choice for those who are already invested in the Google ecosystem. A Google account comes with Google Drive, so it’s not a standalone product, as it includes integrations with Docs and Sheets. For more information, check out our Google Drive review.
Box appeals to a broader audience, making it a better choice. In addition to Google and Microsoft integrations, it has a host of other third-party apps and includes access to in-house tools like Box Notes. We cover these elements and more in our Box review.
gives you access to many of its features.
Who Is Box For?
- Teams and collaborators: Box integrates with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, has a built-in task manager and has a marketplace with thousands of app connections.
- Those who need unlimited storage: Most of Box’s business plans have unlimited storage.
- Multimedia users: Box includes some photo-editing features, plays music in the browser and lets you connect external apps for more functionality.
Who Is Google Drive For?
- Google users: Google Drive integrates seamlessly with other Google products.
- Those who want easy file sharing: The platform doesn’t limit how you share files, making it easy to send them by using an email address or creating a link.
- Productivity-focused individuals: With Google Drive, you can easily move between apps, embed files in emails or collaborate in real time, which is great for those who value productivity.
If You Want to Consider Other Services, Check Out…
IDrive offers cloud storage and online backup features, making it an excellent choice for syncing and protecting your data. You can opt for zero-knowledge encryption when you first sign up. Additionally, there are separate storage allotments for cloud storage and online backup. Check out our IDrive review for more.
free plan is changing to a 30-day free trial.
Sync.com has outstanding features and offers zero-knowledge encryption to protect your entire account. Its file versioning is very generous, as Sync.com only limits how long it keeps older files. File sharing is secure, with an option to enable end-to-end encryption. We cover these features and more in our Sync.com review.
encryption, which helps protect your account.
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Box Key Features
- File sync: You can choose which files to sync to your account using selective sync.
- File sharing: Paid plans let you add a password for protection when sharing files.
- Native apps: Box Notes, a web-based word processor, is one of several apps that Box has created.
- Unlimited storage: All plans except for one business plan have unlimited storage space.
- Third-party integrations: Box’s app marketplace boasts more than 1,500 external connections, including popular choices like Zoom and Slack.
Google Drive Key Features
- File sharing: You can share files with others and determine the level of access that collaborators have.
- Collaboration: Google apps like Docs and Slides support real-time collaboration.
- Google Workspace: Every Google Drive account includes access to popular apps like Sheets, Gmail, Meet and Chat.
- Free storage space: Google Drive’s 15GB of free storage isn’t limited by features or access.
- Affordability: The most expensive Google One plan costs $99.99 per year with 2TB of storage.
Box vs Google Drive: Similarities
Box and Google Drive have much in common; both appeal to users who are looking for productivity and collaboration tools.
Security
Google Drive and Box share the same security measures to protect your data.
| Protocols | | |
|---|---|---|
| At rest | AES 256-bit | AES 256-bit |
| In transit | TLS/SSL encryption | TLS/SSL encryption |
| 2FA-authentication |
Third-Party Integrations
Box has a robust marketplace with hundreds of apps that you can connect to your account. Popular options include Microsoft Teams, Gmail integration, Outlook and Zapier, to name a few. As mentioned earlier, Box supports integrations with Google’s productivity apps.
helping increase productivity.
Google Drive has an app store with external connections, though it has fewer options than Box. Notable app integrations include ChatGPT, Salesforce and Google Analytics. Google doesn’t support connections to other productivity ecosystems like Microsoft, except for the Microsoft Teams app.
that you can connect to your account.
Downloadable Apps
Google Drive and Box have downloadable sync tools for Apple and Android devices, and for Mac and Windows computers. Both services sync data across your devices.
| Platform | Mobile Devices | Desktop OS |
|---|---|---|
| iOS & Android | macOS & Windows |
| iOS & Android | macOS & Windows |
by downloading the respective app on your device.
Box vs Google Drive: Differences
Very little separates Google Drive and Box. However, some significant differences could help you decide between the two cloud storage services.
Price
The cost of storage is an important area where Box and Google Drive differ. Google easily offers better personal plans based on storage alone, with 2TB of storage costing less than Box’s comparable plan with 100GB of storage. Overall, Google is the least expensive of the two services across the board, although you get more storage space with Box Business.
| Platform | Personal | Business |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Pro with 100GB, $14 per month or $120 per year | Business Plus with unlimited data, $33 per user per month or $25 per user per month (billed annually) |
| Premium 2TB, $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year | Business Standard with 2TB of shared data, $12 per user per month (billed annually) |
A free Google One account has 15GB of storage space. The Basic plan increases the capacity to 100GB and costs $19.99 per year. The Premium plan costs $99.99 per year with annual billing and includes a VPN. If you already have a Google One account, you will see additional plan choices with storage amounts of 100GB and 2TB.
If you need more Google Drive storage space, consider a Google Workspace account. These plans are billed annually and offer Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus and Enterprise options. Storage ranges from 30GB to 5TB of pooled data, and the plans include the full suite of Google productivity apps, along with added security and additional features.
Box has a range of business plans but only one paid personal plan. If Box’s free 10GB plan isn’t enough space, you can choose to upgrade to the Personal Pro plan. It costs $10 per month with annual billing, and it has 100GB of storage. Additional features include Box Notes and Box Canvas, the platform’s productivity apps.
Box also offers an array of Business plans. The Starter plan is a good option for small teams, offering 100GB of shared cloud storage. The Business and Enterprise plans have unlimited storage and added features such as advanced search filters, HIPAA compliance, two-factor authentication for external users and password enforcement.
File Sharing
Box and Google both let you quickly and easily share files with others by using an email address or creating a shareable link. However, the two services differ in their options and settings for sharing. Google lets you share with people or to Google Calendar. You can also determine the level of restriction for recipients.
to all the files you share with Box.
Box has similar access restrictions, though more collaboration tools are locked behind paid plans. With a subscription, you also have the option to add a password to a shared file, which helps increase security and prevent unauthorized access.
the kind of access the recipient has.
File Sync
Google Drive has a few file sync settings with which users can customize how files synchronize in their accounts. The main option is to keep the files in the cloud or have them mirrored on your computer. This is a version of selective sync, though you can’t select individual folders.
files in the cloud or mirror them on your hard drive.
Box allows users to sync specific folders to their accounts, which they can view in the web interface when selecting a file. This level of customization regarding what syncs to a Box account gives users greater control over how their data storage is used.
Versioning
File versioning is very different between Google Drive and Box. Google has one versioning policy, while Box’s versions change with your plan.
| Platform: | Versions | Number of Days | Keep Forever? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free -1 version Personal Pro -10 versions Business Starter – 25 versions Business/Business Plus – 50 versions Enterprise -100 versions | No limit | |
| 100 | 30 |
The Verdict: Why We Think Box Wins Overall
Box does nearly everything that Google Drive does while giving its users access to Google Workspace apps. It has more versatility and external connections, and it’s a better option for a wider variety of users. Pricing could be an issue, as Google Drive is the more affordable choice. However, choosing Box will help you meet your productivity and collaboration needs.
Do you use Box or Google Drive? If so, what has your experience been like? Is there an alternative that you prefer? Let us know in the comments section below. Thanks for reading our article.
FAQ: Google Drive vs Box
Box is the better option, as it offers access to Google Workspace apps, provides unlimited storage on business plans and has more features than Google Drive.
Box Notes is similar to Google Docs. Both are web-based word-processing apps that support easy sharing and real-time collaboration.
No, Box does not sync with Google Drive. However, you can create and edit Google Sheets, Docs and Slides in your Box account.
No, Box is a separate company based in Redwood City, California.