Google Drive vs SharePoint

Google Drive vs SharePoint - Which Is Right for Your Business?

Stop researching and start deciding. Our feature-by-feature comparison of Google Drive and SharePoint gives mid-market Australian businesses the clarity they need - in minutes, not hours.

Features compared

50+

Clients advised

98%

Client retention

12+

Years experience

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Feature Comparison

Side-by-side feature analysis for Google Drive and SharePoint.

Storage capacity

Google Drive

15GB free storage shared across Google services provides a generous starting point for individuals and small teams

SharePoint

SharePoint provides storage capacity functionality, popular with Financial Services businesses

Google Drive highlights storage capacity as a core strength. SharePoint offers the capability but does not position it as a primary differentiator.

File sharing controls

Google Drive

Tightly integrated with Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides for real-time collaborative editing without downloading or uploading files

SharePoint

SharePoint provides file sharing controls functionality, popular with Financial Services businesses

Google Drive highlights file sharing controls as a core strength. SharePoint offers the capability but does not position it as a primary differentiator.

Collaboration features

Google Drive

Best for businesses using Google Workspace that need integrated file storage with real-time collaboration in Docs, Sheets, and Slides, particularly teams that work primarily in a browser.

SharePoint

Best for mid-market businesses using Microsoft 365 that need an intranet, document management system, and collaboration platform with strong governance and compliance capabilities.

For collaboration features, evaluate both platforms against your specific workflow requirements rather than feature lists alone. A free trial or vendor demo will clarify the differences.

Version history

Google Drive

Limitation: Non-Google file formats (Word, Excel, InDesign, etc.) can only be stored and synced, not collaboratively edited without conversion

SharePoint

Document management with metadata, content types, retention policies, and version history suits organisations with strict document control needs

SharePoint highlights version history as a core strength. Google Drive offers the capability but does not position it as a primary differentiator.

Security and encryption

Google Drive

Google Drive provides standard security controls. Contact the vendor for detailed compliance certifications

SharePoint

SharePoint provides standard security controls. Contact the vendor for detailed compliance certifications

Both platforms cover the security and encryption basics. The edges - automations, reporting depth, mobile parity - are where their opinions show.

Search functionality

Google Drive

Search is powered by Google, making finding files across Drive, Docs, and Gmail fast and effective, even within document content

SharePoint

List functionality provides a powerful structured data tool similar to a database, useful for tracking projects, assets, and processes

Both platforms are strong here. Google Drive emphasises this as a core strength, and SharePoint also invests heavily in search functionality. Review each platform's approach to see which aligns with your team's workflow.

Offline access

Google Drive

Offline access through Chrome allows working on files without internet, with automatic sync when connectivity returns

SharePoint

SharePoint provides offline access functionality, popular with Financial Services businesses

Google Drive highlights offline access as a core strength. SharePoint offers the capability but does not position it as a primary differentiator.

Third-party integrations

Google Drive

Google Drive connects with 41+ tools natively, offering one of the broadest integration ecosystems in its category

SharePoint

SharePoint supports 37+ native integrations, covering the most common tools in a mid-market tech stack

Both platforms have similar integration breadth (41 and 37 native connectors respectively). Either will connect to the major tools in a mid-market stack.

Admin and team management

Google Drive

15GB free storage shared across Google services provides a generous starting point for individuals and small teams

SharePoint

Intranet and knowledge management capabilities with team sites, communication sites, and news pages create a central information hub

Both platforms are strong here. Google Drive emphasises this as a core strength, and SharePoint also invests heavily in admin and team management. Review each platform's approach to see which aligns with your team's workflow.

Mobile experience

Google Drive

Google Drive offers a mobile experience. Check the vendor site for current mobile app capabilities

SharePoint

Limitation: User experience is often criticised as unintuitive, particularly for non-technical staff navigating between sites, libraries, and lists

On paper mobile experience looks similar across Google Drive and SharePoint, but the admin experience, reporting, and permission model tend to be the real differentiators.

Ease of setup

Google Drive

Google Drive provides onboarding resources. Setup complexity depends on your configuration requirements

SharePoint

SharePoint provides onboarding resources. Setup complexity depends on your configuration requirements

On paper ease of setup looks similar across Google Drive and SharePoint, but the admin experience, reporting, and permission model tend to be the real differentiators.

Value for money

Google Drive

15GB free with personal Google account. Included in Google Workspace from approximately $10/user/month (30GB), Standard from approximately $17/user/month (2TB pooled), Business Plus from approximately $26/user/month (5TB pooled) (AUD).

SharePoint

Included in Microsoft 365 Business Basic from approximately $9/user/month. SharePoint Online Plan 1 standalone from approximately $7.50/user/month, Plan 2 from approximately $15/user/month (AUD). Storage: 1TB base + 10GB per licence.

Pricing models differ significantly. Compare the total cost of ownership including add-ons and per-user fees, not just the headline price.

Pricing Comparison

General pricing information for each platform.

Google Drive

Prices shown are approximate and may differ based on your plan, team size, and billing cycle. Verify directly with the vendor for current AUD rates.

SharePoint

Pricing may vary based on team size, features, and region. Contact the vendor for the latest Australian pricing.

Pros & Cons

An honest look at the strengths and limitations of each platform.

Google Drive

Pros

Tightly integrated with Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides for real-time collaborative editing without downloading or uploading files
15GB free storage shared across Google services provides a generous starting point for individuals and small teams
Search is powered by Google, making finding files across Drive, Docs, and Gmail fast and effective, even within document content
Shared drives (team drives) provide organisation-owned storage that persists when team members leave, unlike personal My Drive files
Offline access through Chrome allows working on files without internet, with automatic sync when connectivity returns

Cons

File organisation relies on a flat structure with shortcuts rather than true nested folders, which confuses users accustomed to traditional file systems
Desktop sync client (Drive for Desktop) can be resource-intensive and occasionally has sync conflicts with large file sets
Sharing permission management becomes complex in large organisations without clear policies around link sharing and folder access
Non-Google file formats (Word, Excel, InDesign, etc.) can only be stored and synced, not collaboratively edited without conversion

SharePoint

Pros

Intranet and knowledge management capabilities with team sites, communication sites, and news pages create a central information hub
Document management with metadata, content types, retention policies, and version history suits organisations with strict document control needs
List functionality provides a powerful structured data tool similar to a database, useful for tracking projects, assets, and processes
Deep integration with Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI) enables building business applications on top of SharePoint data
Included in Microsoft 365 business plans at no additional cost, providing substantial functionality without incremental subscription fees

Cons

Administration complexity is significant, with site collection management, permissions inheritance, and governance requiring IT expertise
User experience is often criticised as unintuitive, particularly for non-technical staff navigating between sites, libraries, and lists
Customisation through SharePoint Framework (SPFx) requires developer skills in TypeScript and React, limiting self-service modifications
Search across multiple site collections can be inconsistent, requiring careful configuration of search schemas and managed properties

Best For

Which tool suits which use case.

Choose Google Drive if you need

✓ Document management
✓ Moderate data needs (files, folders)
✓ Version control
✓ Professional Services businesses
✓ Education organisations

Choose SharePoint if you need

✓ Teams needing extensive third-party integrations
✓ Manufacturing organisations
✓ Document management
✓ Moderate data needs (sites, lists)
✓ Financial Services businesses

Expert Verdict

Our Harvard-educated consultants' take on this comparison.

Clever Ops Recommendation

Choose Google Drive if businesses using Google Workspace that need integrated file storage with real-time collaboration in Docs, Sheets, and Slides, particularly teams that work primarily in a browser. Choose SharePoint if mid-market businesses using Microsoft 365 that need an intranet, document management system, and collaboration platform with strong governance and compliance capabilities. Avoid Google Drive if businesses working primarily with non-Google file formats (Office documents, design files) where OneDrive or Dropbox provide a more seamless experience. Avoid SharePoint if small businesses that only need file storage (where OneDrive suffices), or organisations without IT resources to manage SharePoint administration and governance. If you are still weighing the trade-offs, Clever Ops offers a free assessment where our Harvard-educated consultants map your requirements to the right platform.

Migration Notes

What to know about switching between Google Drive and SharePoint.

Migrating Between Google Drive and SharePoint

Since Google Drive and SharePoint are both file storage tools, they share similar data structures - making migration more predictable. Clever Ops maps permissions along with custom fields, automations, and workflows. We have completed similar file storage migrations many times and typically finish within 4-8 weeks.

Google Drive vs SharePoint FAQ

If both tools are in the same category, you typically choose one as your primary system. However, some businesses run both during migration periods or for different teams. Google Drive and SharePoint share 1 common data types, making integration feasible. Clever Ops can sync them so your data stays consistent across both platforms.

Google Drive: 15GB free with personal Google account. Included in Google Workspace from approximately $10/user/month (30GB), Standard from approximately $17/user/month (2TB pooled), Business Plus from approximately $26/user/month (5TB pooled) (AUD).. SharePoint: Included in Microsoft 365 Business Basic from approximately $9/user/month. SharePoint Online Plan 1 standalone from approximately $7.50/user/month, Plan 2 from approximately $15/user/month (AUD). Storage: 1TB base + 10GB per licence.. When comparing costs, factor in per-user charges, add-on modules, and implementation costs, not just the headline price. Clever Ops can model the total cost of ownership for your team size during a free assessment.

Google Drive is generally simpler to set up. SharePoint typically requires more configuration and may benefit from expert implementation support. Clever Ops provides implementation services for both platforms, typically completing setup within 2 weeks.

We audit your current workflows, team size, budget, and growth plans, then recommend the platform that fits. Our advice is vendor-neutral: we do not earn commissions from Google Drive, SharePoint, or any vendor. Our Harvard-educated consultants have helped 50+ businesses make informed technology decisions over 12+. Book a free assessment to get started.

Switching costs include data migration, team retraining, workflow rebuilding, and potential downtime. Google Drive pricing: 15GB free with personal Google account. SharePoint pricing: Included in Microsoft 365 Business Basic from approximately $9/user/month. Beyond licensing costs, budget for implementation (Clever Ops typically completes migrations in 4-8 weeks) and training. We run parallel systems during transitions and provide 3 months of post-migration support to minimise disruption.

Free trials are useful for testing the user interface, but they rarely reveal how a platform performs at scale, with your specific data model, or alongside your existing integrations. Google Drive manages 6 data object types and SharePoint manages 7. Evaluating that complexity in a trial period is difficult. A more efficient approach is to combine a short trial with expert advice from our Harvard-educated consultants, who can identify the right fit based on 12+ of implementation experience.

For Professional Services, the answer depends on your operational model. Google Drive is best for businesses using Google Workspace that need integrated file storage with real-time collaboration in Docs, Sheets, and Slides, particularly teams that work primarily in a browser. SharePoint is best for mid-market businesses using Microsoft 365 that need an intranet, document management system, and collaboration platform with strong governance and compliance capabilities. Clever Ops has helped businesses across Professional Services choose the right stack. Book a free assessment for advice specific to your situation.

SharePoint typically requires a longer onboarding period due to its 7 data object types and configuration depth. Google Drive is generally quicker to get started with. With Clever Ops support, full onboarding for either platform, including configuration, data import, and team training, typically takes 4-8 weeks.