Regarding storage in the cloud, experience on an office is only half of history. The real test lies in the functionality, design and performance of Cloud Mobile storage applications.
I did a one -month trial of the Android application of each service to find the one that offers the most transparent and powerful configuration.
These were not only file transfers. Instead, it was a deep dive in the user interface, the efficiency of backing up photo, confidentiality and offline capabilities of each platform.
And let me tell you that the difference was austere. I will break down what each application does well and where it is absent and give you a final verdict on the best cloud storage application for your Android device.
Google Drive
For an Android user, the Google Drive application is less like a separate application and more as an integral part of the operating system, and a large part of this comes down to its fantastic user interface.
The language design language, propelled by the material you, is a joy to use and navigate. It is clean, intuitive and everything feels right where it should be. Carefully designed home screen widgets are a huge plus for me; They offer quick access to my most used files.
The integrated scanner is another feature on which I came to count strongly – it is fast, precise and prevents me from downloading a separate scan application.
However, I have always found boring that there is no native way to protect the application with a fingerprint or a face scan.
On a brighter note, the collaboration experience is fluid. Since almost all those I know have an ID Gmail, sharing files and folders is completely without friction. We can modify documents, leave comments and see changes in real time without a single hiccup.
OneDrive
For the longest time, OneDrive on Android looked like a reflection afterwards – a list of functional files but without inspiration.
The recent overhaul has completely changed the game. The new interface is focused on the media and makes it a breeze to browse my photos and videos.
From a security point of view, the features are excellent. I love the personal safe, which is like a digital safe for my most sensitive documents. The possibility of fixing an expiration date gives me peace of mind when sharing files sensitive to time with team members and customers.
My biggest reproach, however, was with the download and download speeds. Although they are in no way unstable, they constantly feel slower than Google Drive and Dropbox, especially on bulky files.
Onedrive’s main advantage is its transparent integration with Windows. I can access my recent files from the Windows boot menu and the entire library directly from the file explorer. This does work between my Android phone and my Windows PC fluid.
Dropbox
From the point of view of the user experience, Dropbox has always been a winner in my book.
The user interface of the Android application is clean and concentrated. This simplicity does not mean that it lacks power. Its download and download speeds are always excellent, which is crucial when it comes to important on the move.
Security and sharing orders are also of first order. I appreciate the possibility of protecting my files with a password and an expiration date. I can even completely deactivate the downloads. The integrated scanner is another feature that I came to count on.
However, an area where Dropbox is short is media management. The application is fantastic to store and manage files, but it is far from a real photo and video hub.
The organization of the media is basic, and it simply cannot compete with gallery experiences rich in AI that you get with OneDrive or Google Photos.
NextCloud
NextCloud is a beast fundamentally different from other applications.
All the philosophy is built around private and accommodated cloud storage, which means that my data is stored on a server that I have or manages. This gives me a level of control and intimacy that none of large technological companies can offer.
The Android application is robust and well designed (unlike many self-housing applications). It has a dedicated multimedia tab that allows you to easily browse my photos and videos, and the automatic download function works transparently in the background.
However, it is not a service for everyone. There is surely an learning curve involved. The configuration and maintenance of your own server requires technical know-how.
NextCloud, however, goes behind a storage supplier. He offers a messaging service, contact management, notes, tasks and much more on the web.
The Cloud Storage Battle Royale
After a month of life with the four tools, the verdict is clear: there is no “best” application for everyone. The choice is finally summed up with your priorities. Let me simplify the equation for you.
For those who live and breathe the Google ecosystem, Google Drive should be an obvious choice. In addition, everyone has a Google identifier, so collaboration is never a problem.
OneDrive establishes the perfect balance between convenience and productivity, and it should be an essential option for Power Windows users.
For more simplicity, speed and a minimalist design, Dropbox remains a stellar choice which excels in its main function of file synchronization.
However, for the user concerned about confidentiality who wishes complete control over their data without sacrificing a set of rich features, NextCloud is a surprisingly polite competitor which proves that you can have both.
As for me, I decide between OneDrive and NextCloud – although I lean towards the first because of its tight integration with Windows (my essential office platform).
