OneDrive, Google One and iCloud: Each One's Weak Spot

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1:29 AM

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Ragu

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Updated September 2026: in 2021 I listed the "showstopper" in each cloud storage option: OneDrive lacked Google-style photo organising and Chromecast casting on iPhone, Google lacked bundled apps, and so on. I have rewritten it into a comparison of what each service still does not do well.

I spent a long time choosing cloud storage because each option lacked something I wanted. OneDrive was affordable and included Office, but its photo organising was basic, it could not cast to a Chromecast from an iPhone, and it had no bundled music or video. Google Photos had the best photo tools and casting, but no bundled apps. Each choice was a compromise.

What is OneDrive weakest at?

Browsing and rediscovering photos. It backs up reliably and has added more photo features, but search, automatic albums and memories are less polished than Google Photos. Casting support also varies by device and app version. Its strengths are per-person storage on family plans and Office apps.

What is Google One weakest at?

Storage sharing and extras for non-Google users. The family plan shares one storage pool, so one heavy user can fill it. Higher tiers add AI features, but there is no music or office suite bundled in the way Microsoft and Apple bundle theirs. On iPhone, backup works well but lacks the deep system integration of iCloud.

What is iCloud weakest at?

Anything outside Apple devices. iCloud works through a browser and a Windows app, but Android support is minimal. Its photo features are good on Apple devices only. For a mixed Android and iPhone family, it is the least flexible choice.

So which showstopper matters least?

If you care most about photos, accept Google One's shared pool.
If you need storage per person and Office, accept OneDrive's weaker photo tools.
If everyone uses Apple devices, accept iCloud's poor Android support.

Can combining services solve it?

Partly. Many families use OneDrive for storage and a small Google One plan for photos. It costs more and adds apps to manage, so do it only if the missing feature truly matters to you.

Has anything improved since 2021?

All three services have added features, especially AI search and editing, and prices have changed. The basic trade-offs, though, are the same ones I found then.