Better Mac App For Google Drive

Jun 27, 2012  Google accounts get 15GB of storage free, shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. For additional storage, you can upgrade to a premium subscription plan as an in-app purchase. Subscriptions start at $1.99/month for 100 GB in the US, and can vary by region. Jun 24, 2019  There’s an official Google Drive app for Mac too — an upgraded 2017 version of which is called Backup & Sync and is sometimes referred to as the new Google Drive. Google Drive Backup and Sync download is free and you can expect to install it and have it running in no time and little effort. Google Drive integrates directly into Windows Explorer (we’ll be using Microsoft Windows for these screenshots, but the desktop app is available for Mac OS X as well as mobile devices) which makes it appear as just another location on your computer; there will be a Google Drive folder under your user account in Windows Explorer. Mar 26, 2020  Google Drive: Lets you disconnect the Google Drive folder for your Google account. Once disconnected, the files within your Mac's Google Drive folder remain on your Mac but are no longer synced with the online data in Google's cloud. You can reconnect by signing back into your Google.

Microsoft and Google offer lightweight yet capable word-processing software (OneNote and Google Docs). However, not everyone wants full-blown word editor like Microsoft Word and Apple Pages. That's why some Microsoft and Google productivity suite apps have overlapping features — OneNote and Google Docs, respectively.

Some users may just want to take basic notes, write business letters, prepare a resume, and share it with others.

Both OneNote and Docs are closely tied to their parent company’s ecosystem. In terms of core functions, both software shares many similarities and they also differ in various aspects. Choosing one over the other can be confusing based on your needs and usage pattern.

You may contest that Google Docs is a full-blown word-processor, but it does all the things which OneNote can do. Your focus should be to collaborate with work and editing.

In this post, we are going to compare Microsoft OneNote to Google Docs on multiple fronts. The comparison will be based on UI, note organization, templates, features, backup, sharing, price, and more. Let’s jump in.

Cross-Platform Availability

Microsoft OneNote is available on every possible platform. There is native app support for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. The app is also available as an Online web version.

Google Docs also offers native apps for iOS and Android. It’s a web-based tool for desktop platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Download OneNote for WindowsVisit Google Docs on Web

User Interface and Note Organization

If you have used Microsoft Office apps before, then you will feel right at home with Microsoft OneNote. The app uses a classic ribbon on top to access function.You can switch between menu tabs to use functionalities. It sticks to the proven formula, and I like it.

Microsoft OneNote takes the traditional physical note approach to organize notes. You can create a notebook, add sections in it, and add pages inside a section. I prefer it compared to the tag system offered by Evernote and Bear.

In terms of customization, you can color-code a Notebook, Section, and move pages within it. Google Docs is also similar to Microsoft Word with all the editing options on top and the functions behind the upper menus.

Google doesn’t offer any way to organize the docs here. You can only move docs into folders that get saved on Google Drive.

One can only change the color of folders from the Google Drive app.

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Templates

Microsoft used to offer built-in template support for the OneNote desktop app. The company has abandoned its development in favor of the Windows 10 native app.

The native app doesn’t support built-in templates. You will have to look-out for third-party templates from the web. Also, if you rely on templates too much, then I would advise you to consider Microsoft Word.

Google Docs wins this round. The software offers a wide variety of templates. Whether you are a student/teacher, restaurant owner, running a business, or just want to make a resume, Google Docs has something for everyone.

There are three ways to get started with a template in Google Docs. You can either use a built-in one, search from the web, or make a template in Google Docs and save it for future use.

Features

Both the word-processing software are jam-packed with useful functionalities.

OneNote and Docs provide basic editing options such as the ability to change text size, color, text alignment, image, video, and weblink add-on.

Microsoft is targeting creative folks, students, and artists here. OneNote has added math formulas. You can even use a stylus to jot down notes and perform math equations.

OneNote also lets you draw anything using the built-in drawing tools such as pen and brush with different intensity.

You can add stickers, emojis, highlight words, and even password protect sections in a notebook.

I will advise you to master OneNote keyboard shortcuts to use these functionalities on the fly.

Google Docs takes a more traditional approach. You can perform all the actions one can do in a proper word-processing software like Microsoft Word and Apple Pages.

Some of the functions include page break, paragraph alignment, Google’s superior Spell and Grammar Check, and integration with other Google apps such as Calendar, Keep, and To-Do.

It’s more suitable for long-form writing.

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Sharing and Collaboration

Sharing and real-time collaboration are the areas where Google Docs truly shines.You can send a view-only, comment only, or a link with full editing function to others. One can invite others through their Google ID to make edits in a doc.

The collaborators can leave comments on any section of the doc to highlight their opinion.

Seamless collaboration and real-time editing were (and still are) two of the prime reasons for Google G Suite’s skyrocketing popularity in the education sector. It has come to a point where students are using Google Docs as a messaging app (no kidding, seriously).

OneNote lets you send a page as PDF using a standard share menu.You can also share a whole Notebook with others. I have seen many student groups use it to keep the class notes, tasks, meetings, and exam schedules up to date.

The other author’s edits are shown as small name credentials at the end of the notes section. My only problem with OneNote is, you can’t share a section of a Notebook. You can only share a page or share a whole Notebook.

Backup and Price

OneNote relies on Microsoft’s OneDrive to backup data. The created new Notebook automatically gets synced and stored in OneDrive.The service is completely free to use for 5GB storage. After that, you will have to pay for additional OneDrive data to store notes.

Every Google Doc gets saved in Google Drive account by default. Google offers 15GB of Drive storage.Thankfully, the G Suite documents don’t count against the Drive storage, meaning you can add unlimited Google Docs for free.

Google Drive Mac App

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Which One You Should Use

App

It all boils down to your preference and usage habits in word-processing software. Both OneNote and Google Docs are free and universally available.

OneNote offers better organization and editing functions out of the box. Google Docs pulls ahead in terms of template support and real-time collaboration.

Next up: Apple Notes shines at note-taking and sharing capabilities. Read the post below to see a detailed comparison with Microsoft OneNote.


The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read NextApple Notes vs Microsoft OneNote: Which App WinsAlso See#onenote #comparison Better Mac App For Google Drive

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Google plans to roll-out ARCore to around 100-million Android devices.

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Google Drive is an online storage solution by Google. It allows you to store and sync data across your devices with its 15 GB of free storage space, while its integration with Google Docs for Mac gives your friends or coworkers access to the files or folders you designate for sharing.

There’s an official Google Drive app for Mac too — an upgraded 2017 version of which is called Backup & Sync and is sometimes referred to as the new Google Drive. Google Drive Backup and Sync download is free and you can expect to install it and have it running in no time and little effort.

Upgrade Google Drive with Setapp

Give Setapp a free test drive to unveil the Google Drive secret sauce. Pro-level hacks, tips, and extended Google Drive functionality in one pack.

How To Set Up And Use Google Drive For Mac?

With Google Drive, you can create and edit documents online. But if you rely on Drive for files backup and sync, it’s much more convenient to use the app. To start using Google Drive on Mac, the first thing you need is a Google Drive account.

How to create a Google Drive account?

If you have an account on any of Google services, like Gmail, YouTube, or Google Play, then you actually already have a Google Drive account.

Simply log in to a Google Drive website or app with your existing credentials. Or create a Google account for free by following these steps:

  1. Go to google.com/drive and click on the blue Go to Google Drive button

  2. Click Create Account

  3. Follow the onscreen instructions to create a new Google account (this will also serve as your new Gmail email address)

How to install Google Drive for Mac?

Once you have a Google account, you can download Google Drive for Mac and use it. Here’s how you can do the Google Backup and Sync download:

  1. Go to google.com/drive and click Download near the top of the page

  2. Click on the Download button under Backup and Sync

  3. Read and agree to the terms of service to start the download of Google Drive for Mac

  4. The Google Drive Installer will be downloaded to your Mac’s Downloads folder

When the download is complete, double-click the installer (the file is called InstallBackupAndSync.dmg). Then click and drag the Backup and Sync From Google icon to the Applications folder. Boom, done!

How to sync Google Drive on Mac for the first time?

The first time you open Google Drive on Mac, you have to go through a few steps to get it set up properly. After that accessing Google Drive will be effortless. But to get things up and running:

  1. Launch Google Drive from the Applications folder by clicking on Backup and Sync From Google

  2. A warning sign will appear cautioning that Google Drive is an application you downloaded from the internet ➙ click Open

  3. On the welcome to Google Drive window that appears click Get Started

  4. Sign in to your Google account with your Gmail email address and password

  5. The Google Drive Installer will display a number of tips about using the app and then add a special Google Drive folder to your Home directory on Mac ➙ click Next

  6. You can designate items in your Google Drive folder to be shared with anyone ➙ click Next ➙ Done

The installer will finish by adding a Google Drive menu bar icon and a Google Drive sidebar icon to the Finder. This sets up the two key elements for you to work with Google Drive for Mac: Google Drive folder and Google Drive menu bar icon.

Mac App For Google Drive

Most of the time you’ll use the Google Drive folder — to store items you want to save to the Google cloud as well as share with others. Google Drive menu bar icon is handy for quick access and configuring Google Drive settings.

How to use Google Drive menu bar icon?

The menu bar Google Drive icon gives you quick access to the Google Drive folder on your Mac, opens Google Drive in your browser, displays recent documents that you have added or updated, and tells you if the Google Drive sync has completed. But more importantly, the menu bar icon contains additional Google Drive settings. To set up Google Drive to your liking:

  1. Click on the Google Drive icon in the menu bar and a dropdown menu will appear

  2. Click on the vertical ellipsis in the top right corner ➙ choose Preferences from the menu

The Google Drive Preferences menu lets you configure your Google Drive settings with a three-tab interface.

For
  • My Mac tab allows you to decide whether you want to keep the default setting and have all the folders in your Google Drive folder synced automatically to the cloud or designate only specific folders for Google Drive sync.

  • Google Drive tab manages the connection between your Google Drive folder and the cloud. This is where you go in case of Google Drive not syncing. To sync Google Drive folder with the cloud, make sure you’re signed in to your Google account.

  • Settings tab gives you options to have Google Drive automatically launch when you log in to your Mac, show confirmation messages when shared items are removed from Google Drive, and upgrade your storage to another plan.

How to use Google Drive on Mac?

Now that your Google Drive setup is complete, you have access to this additional storage for you to do as you wish. However, one of the best uses would be to link your Google Drive to multiple devices — for easy access from all of them.

Also remember that Google Drive lets you create and work with others on documents in Google’s own versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in real-time (called Docs, Sheets, and Slides respectively). To enable collaboration on a Google Docs file, simply tap on Share in the top right corner and enter the names or email addresses of the people you wish to engage.

More tips for making Google Drive better

As convenient as Google Drive is, people often use more than one service for their personal and professional data storage. Some popular alternatives include Apple’s iCloud, Microsoft’s OneDrive, and Dropbox. Using a combination of cloud-based storages increases your Mac’s disk space to being virtually unlimited, as long as you have an active internet connection. But in truth, managing different cloud accounts can turn into quite a hustle.

Luckily, there are apps like CloudMounter that allow you to use all your storage solutions in one place, connecting them to your Mac as if they were your regular external drives.

Expand your storage with CloudMounter

Stop worrying about choosing the best storage solution. You can use all of them from one spot with CloudMounter. Give it a try!

This trick lets you deal with cloud data in the same manner as you’d with local one, and even move files between the clouds. Another great benefit of using CloudMounter is the latest encryption algorithm that guarantees the security of your cloud files. Plus, it allows encrypting sensitive data on the cloud and doesn’t share your login info with any third parties.

CloudMounter works perfectly with all major cloud services and could very well become your ultimate cloud manager if you’re constantly dealing with storage issues or feel there’s not enough free space on your Mac’s SSD.

Not even a bit less vital when dealing with loads of data is making sure you have a good backup of the most important files. Get Backup Pro is an elegant backup app just for that.

Get Backup Pro is fast, reliable, and offers a mix of four different backup methods: simple copy, clone, incremental, and versioned. With this app, you can back up folders or files that you think are important, cut the size of archives up to 60% by conducting compressed backups, effortlessly migrate data to a new disk with bootable backups via cloning, and schedule Stealth mode backups — with Get Backup Pro automatically closing once all scheduled processes are finished.

Better Mac App For Google Drive Time

It goes without saying that cloud storage encourages collaboration and file sharing. If you work with different files online and often need to share links, Dropshare should be your app of choice for fast and secure file exchange.

Dropshare is a platform that works brilliantly with your favorite cloud services and lets you upload files in bulk with its easy drag & drop functionality, as well as securely share files, documents, and photos with password-protected expiring download links, and even set your own keyboard shortcuts to complete routine tasks faster.

Google Drive App Mac Os

If you’re still asking yourself how to use Google Backup and Sync — 15 GB of free storage space, excellent collaboration features, and ability to access your files from any of your devices will surely give you lots of ideas on how to make the most of it. With clouds come possibilities, but you‘re the one who really decides what is Google Drive going to be on your Mac.

Google Apps For Mac Os

Best of all, you can find CloudMounter, Get Backup Pro, and Dropshare mentioned above on a free 7-day trial through Setapp, a platform of more than 150 useful Mac utilities that could change the way you work day to day. Ready for action on cloud Google?