In an era of rapid development in cloud computing, Google Drive statistics show just how popular the service is.
From personal to business use, Google Drive is now seen as a go-to option for many everyday processes for people.
Regardless of how you look at the tool, Google Drive has a lot of what people need all in one place.
From calendar management to file storage and a wide array of internal applications, Google Drive is an excellent, all-inclusive tool.
Key Statistics
- Google Drive was launched back in 2012
- Google Drive boasts over 3 billion monthly active users
- There are over two trillion files being hosted on Google Drive
- Google Drive has a 36.81% market share of the cloud file storage industry
- The file size limit for Google Drive is 2 TB
- Google Drive’s available free storage limit is 15 GB
- Most people use Google Drive to store their digital photos
- Over 31,000 organizations utilize Google Drive
- Google Drive is available in 130 countries
- 34% of respondents choose Google Drive over other cloud storage services due to a higher trust in security
Google Drive Statistics: The Basics
While almost anyone is familiar with the Google company, many don’t consider the vast range of products and services that exist underneath it.
Google Drive is just one of many and focuses on delivering cloud storage solutions along with many other integrations.
Statistics surrounding this particular aspect of Google are pretty interesting, as it shows how fast this service grew in a little over ten years.
It’s clearly successful and is considered one of the leading forces in the cloud solutions market.
The following statistics provide a general scope of where Google Drive stands in the market today.
1. The Birth of Google Drive
While the Google company was founded back in 1998, Google Drive didn’t come around until many years later.
Some of this simply has to do with the technology of the time, but it wasn’t long ago that cloud technology started to become more prominent.
Eventually, Google Drive was brought to the market as an efficient cloud storage solution.
At first, adoption took a while as many users still didn’t see the need for it.
Any time a new service or buzzing technology comes along, it usually takes a while before the masses catch on.
Google Drive launched in 2012 and has blossomed into a highly efficient and effective product.
People use it for personal and professional needs, and many people can handle plenty of work with the free space it provides.
(HelloLeads)
2. Google Drive Monthly Active Users
Considering the success of the service, you can assume that Google Drive has quite a few users worldwide.
The most recent data on monthly active users is around three billion for Google Drive.
This is a significant portion of the globe and shows the level of influence Google has on the worldwide population.
Even with such a staggering number, this doesn’t really come as a shock, as Google has been a massive company for years.
When you look into the future, the service will likely boast many more users than what you’re seeing today.
In the same vein, you can expect this number to fluctuate heavily.
Many factors play into this, as some users are more consistent than others.
Not to mention the number of users that opt out of the service for whatever reason.
Although fluctuating active user data is normal, this doesn’t really hurt the company by any means.
It’s also important to note that this figure includes Google Drive and all of its integrations, which is equally known as Google Workspace.
(HelloLeads)
3. The Scale of File Hosting
If you look at it from an individual perspective, it may not seem like each user is utilizing very much storage space.
However, looking at Google Drive from a global view includes an insane amount of data storage.
Combining all of the files that are hosted by Google Drive amounts to over two trillion documents.
This can include almost any file type you can think of.
Some of the most popular are photos, text documents, videos, PDFs, and much more.
Nowadays, people see the convenience of having this storage linked to their everyday email accounts.
It helps to clear up clutter on the computer, and you can access your files on essentially any mobile or desktop device.
External hard drives are still very much necessary, but they aren’t as efficient in comparison.
The number of files hosted on Google Drive is a perfect look at the expansive capabilities of cloud storage.
(WindowsReport)
An extremely diverse industry, cloud storage is merely a branch of what cloud technology is capable of.
Nevertheless, file storage is one of its most popular angles, and there are many different players in the market.
Some have been around far longer than Google Drive.
In the chart below, you can get a look at the market share among the most prominent players in the cloud storage industry.
Dropbox isn’t too far off from Google Drive, but it’s clear who’s the dominating force here.
Google Drive offers so many integrations that blend together that it’s hard to pass up.
On top of that, the services of Dropbox, OneDrive, and others are a lot more simplified compared to Google Drive.
This isn’t to say the other companies don’t have their fair share of users, but it’s unlikely they’ll ever surpass Google Drive.
While Google continues to develop new features and integrations for the Drive, more people are bound to lean on it for their cloud storage needs.
(WindowsReport)
5. What’s the Total Storage Limit?
Most everyday users take advantage of the free 15 GB storage limit Google Drive provides.
This tends to be more than enough for most people.
Of course, if you start to run low on space, you can always do a little cleaning to make room.
Nevertheless, there are many others who utilize a lot more cloud storage space.
The total limit for Google Drive storage is 2 TB, which is significantly more space than 15 GB.
To take full advantage of all the space the service has to offer, you’ll have to pay for a subscription to Google One.
The table below shows the various pricing and features that come with the different subscription tiers.
| Basic – 100 GB ($19.99/yr) | Standard – 200GB ($29.99/yr) | Premium – 2 TB ($99.99/yr) |
| 100 GB of storage space | 200 GB of storage space | 2 TB of storage space |
| Access to Google experts | Access to Google experts | Access to Google experts |
| Share with up to 5 other users | Share with up to 5 different users | Share with up to 5 other users |
| More editing features for photos | More editing features for photos | More editing features for photos |
| More member benefits | More member benefits | More member benefits |
| VPN for multiple devices | VPN for multiple devices | VPN for multiple devices |
| Monitor the dark web | Monitor the dark web | Monitor the dark web |
| 3% back on purchases in the Google Store | 10% back on purchases in the Google Store | |
| Google Workspace premium features |
Each tier offers many of the same features, but their biggest selling points always come down to the storage space.
Most everyday users will never use more than the free 15 GB, but a paid subscription makes a lot more sense for business professionals.
(PCMag/Google)
Looking in Between the Lines
Surface-level statistics are relatively easy to find, but if you dig a little deeper, you can get a better idea of how the service is used on a daily basis.
It makes sense to look at user data as a whole, but looking at each individual comes with many different preferences and behaviors.
Aside from that, many nuances of Google Drive play into the whole of its statistical data.
Some examples include file size limits, how many companies use the service, and much more.
For the following sections, we’re going to focus on more niche statistics surrounding Google Drive.
6. How Many Companies Use Google Drive?
Considering the many features, tools, and integrations included with Google Drive, it’s an excellent tool for business purposes.
Since the service is tied to Gmail accounts, thousands of businesses across the world are utilizing Google Drive every day.
It’s important to separate free and paid users, as the free version includes the basics of Google Drive, while paid tiers include Drive and additional features.
Nevertheless, over 31,000 companies use the free version of Google Drive.
The number of organizations that are paid users is a much higher figure.
Around six million businesses around the world pay for Google Drive’s services.
This is due to the need for the additional features mentioned earlier in this article.
Nowadays, it’s evident that many business owners are well aware of the Drive’s benefits.
There are still many businesses that are just now starting to adopt cloud technology.
In reality, the shift toward cloud tech will only become more rapid as traditional servers continue to phase out.
(WindowsReport)
7. Where is Google Drive Available?
To clarify further, this section focuses on the countries where Google Drive’s services can be accessed.
You could go down a rabbit hole over why it isn’t available everywhere, but Google has slowly expanded the service’s reach over the years.
At this time, Google Drive is accessible in 130 countries throughout the globe.
Starting out with some of the most developed nations in the world, Google Drive is now available in countries of varying economic levels.
Here are a few of the countries where Google Drive can be accessed:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- UAE
- Germany
- Brazil
- Italy
- Mexico
- And many more
While there are other cloud storage services these people could choose from, there’s more than one reason people choose Google Drive.
Marketing and value definitely have something to do with it, but the truth is that Google Drive’s services are unmatched from many angles.
(HelloLeads/Google)
8. The Reason Many People Choose Google Drive
There are bound to be varying sentiments on why people choose Google Drive’s services over other companies.
In the same vein, you can also find a primary reason as to why most users choose Google Drive.
Based on data taken from 2018, 34% of respondents seem to admit that they chose Google Drive due to a higher trust in overall security.
Branding is powerful, and this shows that many people choose Google Drive simply because they’re familiar with the brand and its products.
Although companies like Dropbox have been around for a long time as well, there are still many people who have never once used the service.
Once again, these specific sentiments will vary greatly from one person to the next.
However, it does highlight what the general outlook is on Google Drive.
Considering many people utilize cloud storage to store sensitive information, security is a top concern for most.
(Statista)
9. What’s the Most Common File Type?
This question can be answered by looking at what most people use Google Drive for.
While there are plenty of users who utilize every aspect of the service, a majority of people use it as somewhat of a storage dump.
In another report taken from 2018, statistics from the time highlight that 64% of respondents mention using Google Drive to store their photos.
It makes sense, as it’s a secure place that can be easily accessed.
Of course, this information is taken from 2018.
Some aspects of this data have changed over time as Google Drive has introduced new tools and features since then.
Regardless, everyday users don’t take the Drive too seriously.
They keep it simple and utilize it for its base purpose, which is storing digital files.
(Statista)
10. A General Consensus
You can find all kinds of data points about Google Drive over the years.
What really helps to shape an image of how users perceive the service is to listen to what they have to say about it.
In regard to Google Drive, almost every user has something positive to say about it.
Based on data collected by Trust Radius, the following information shows user sentiments toward different aspects of Google Drive.
- 77.61% of participants gave it a positive score of 9-10, with one being the lowest
- On the other hand, only 0.5% of participants gave it a score of 1-2
- 99% believe Google Drive offers good value for the price
- Some of the biggest pros include file storage, easy file sharing, and it’s easy to use
- On average, these participants gave Google Drive an 8-10 across the board
It may seem like Google Drive offers more than enough already, but you can assume Google has more plans for it down the road.
This is what will keep them on top as other companies struggle to even get close to what Google Drive brings to the table.
(TrustRadius)
Facts About Google Drive and its Features
The truth is that statistics on this particular topic would be never-ending.
It’s simple to look at Google Drive as a whole.
When you start diving into the individual features, tools, and services, the data becomes a lot more convoluted.
For the final sections of this article, you’ll learn about more statistics regarding how certain features and functions operate within Google Drive.
These particular data points are interesting more than anything, but they also provide a clear look at the service’s capabilities.
11. Number of Application Downloads
Google Drive can be easily accessed on desktop or mobile devices.
Regarding desktop computers or laptops, most people utilize Google Drive through a web browser.
However, for those who are on the go and need access, the mobile app is the best choice.
Recent data suggest that the Google Drive app has been downloaded over five billion times over the years.
Always remember that many of these downloads led to minimal use or an uninstall for a lot of users.
Nevertheless, the number is an impressive feat.
You can also assume that Google Drive is one of the most popular cloud tech applications on the app stores.
No matter which way you look at it, Google Drive brings in a lot of traffic.
Although the application is a bit different from the desktop version, it’s still an extremely efficient tool.
(WindowsReport)
12. Every File Format You Need
This article has mentioned many things that separate Google Drive from its competitors.
One of the biggest selling points is the number of file formats it can work with. Google Drive supports 50 different file formats, making it an all-in-one solution for file storage.
Similar services are a bit more limited in comparison.
Below, you can get a look at some of the most widely used file formats on Google Drive.
- Text documents
- JPEGs
- Excel documents
- SVG files
- WebM
- PDFs
- And many more
Google’s approach to cloud storage was far above and beyond what its competitors are doing.
While competition is bound to innovate and adapt, they’re still very far off from the value in Google’s ecosystem.
(WindowsReport)
13. Capabilities of Different Features
Whether you’re only using Google Drive for DOCs or a variety of features, it’s helpful to know the lengths of their capabilities.
In short, you have more than enough to work with, but there are eventually a few limits.
- One Google Sheet holds up to 10 million cells
- A single Google Sheet can hold 18,278 columns simultaneously
- A Google Slide presentation can carry up to 100 MB of data
- Google Drive can be integrated with a wide variety of third-party applications
- The service implements multiple automatic security features
- Google Drive as a whole offers a 99.9% uptime reliability
Of course, Google Drive isn’t perfect all the time, but its consistency and adaptability are all most people really need.
The points mentioned above provide a scope of the service’s flexibility, showcasing that you’ll most likely never run out of space.
(WindowsReport)
14. One of the Biggest Downsides for Users
Consistent feedback over the years has shown that some downsides of the platform are concerns for a majority of users.
Even though Google Drive has improved its security features over time, there are still a few areas that are lacking.
What many users wish Google Drive would implement is a password function for specific files.
Due to the easy file-sharing capabilities, many people would feel more secure sharing those links if they could protect them with a password.
This isn’t a deal breaker by any means, but it’s a small addition that could make a huge difference for users.
Even if this feature never becomes a reality, Google Drive offers multi-level security functions to help you keep your information secure.
(HelloLeads)
15. Earnings are Rolling In
No one’s ignoring that there are many facets to business revenue, but it’s safe to say that Google Drive has earned quite a bit over the years.
Alphabet, Google’s parent company, reported back in 2020 that Google Drive has brought in roughly $10 billion.
Considering this was roughly three years ago, that figure is likely to be much higher.
Regardless of the number, it’s no secret that Google Drive brings Google plenty of revenue that didn’t exist ten years ago.
Revenue figures are also on an upward trajectory for the company as it continues to steamroll competition by shelling out new features, services, and benefits.
Google is a conglomerate of products and services, with Google Drive being merely one profitable idea in the bunch.
Final Thoughts
Even if you don’t use Google Drive yourself, there’s a good possibility you’ve heard of it before.
Many people across the world use it on a daily basis, and it’s only becoming a more prominent figure in the cloud storage space.
Although storage is a primary focal point, it’s evident that this isn’t the only capability of the service.
This article has provided a variety of Google Drive statistics to help shine a light on the current state of the service and its mark on the cloud storage industry.
