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vsGoogle Drive

Icedrive vs Google Drive

Last updated October 2026

Looking for a European alternative to Google Drive? Here's how Icedrive compares, on EU hosting, GDPR and what it does.

Our pick for a European buyer: Icedrive. We weight data residency, GDPR and EU jurisdiction above everything else — that is the constraint this directory exists to solve.

Icedrive
Google Drive
What it is
Zero-knowledge cloud storage that mounts like a local drive, hosted in the EU, encrypted with Twofish.
Cloud storage and file synchronization service for teams and individuals.
Headquarters
🇬🇧 GB
🇺🇸 US
EU data residency
Yes, for all customers
Available on some plansEU data residency available on request for Google Workspace Enterprise plans.
DSGVO / GDPR
Yes
Yes
Certifications
ISO 27001
ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 27701
Price from
$99/mo
$6/user/mo
Free plan
Yes
No
Open Source
No
No
Ratings
CAPTERRA 4.5/5 (23) · TRUSTPILOT 4.1/5 (826)
No
Integrations
Mountain Duck, Rclone, Boomerang for Gmail, GoTo Webinar, MEGA +1
Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail, Meet, etc.), Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Office (via plugins), Trello +5

Where each one wins

Icedrive

Strengths

  • +Clean, intuitive interface with minimal learning curve and smooth navigation
  • +Fast file uploads, downloads, and responsive apps across desktop, web, and mobile
  • +Strong client-side encryption (Twofish zero-knowledge) and secure data backup for privacy-focused users
  • +Affordable pricing with lifetime storage options and a generous 10GB free tier
  • +Straightforward onboarding with clear instructions and helpful resources
  • +Virtual drive feature allows mounting cloud storage as a physical drive on a system
  • +File-sharing options include password protection, link expiry, and download limits

Limitations

  • −Lacks advanced collaboration tools, real-time document editing, and robust team management features
  • −Limited syncing options, no selective folder sync, and no block-level sync
  • −Few third-party integrations and no API for extensibility

Google Drive

Strengths

  • +Seamless integration with Google Workspace apps
  • +Real-time collaboration features are highly effective
  • +Strong security and compliance measures
  • +Generous storage allowances on higher-tier plans

Limitations

  • −Limited offline functionality compared to desktop apps
  • −Can be expensive for large teams
  • −Learning curve for advanced features
  • −Privacy concerns due to data processing in the US

Data residency & compliance

Icedrive
Google Drive
EU data residency
Yes, for all customers
Available on some plansEU data residency available on request for Google Workspace Enterprise plans.
Transfer mechanism
Not required — data stays in the EU
Standard Contractual Clauses
DPA
not established
Published →
Sub-processors
not established
Listed →
Certifications
ISO 27001
ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 27701

Pricing

Icedrive

  • Free Free 10 GB storage · Basic features · No encrypted virtual drive
  • Pro $99/month or $59/year per month or per year2 TB storage · Encrypted virtual drive included · 30 days file versioning
  • Pro Plus $159/month or $89/year per month or per year4 TB storage · Encrypted virtual drive included · 60 days file versioning
  • Pro Max $269/month or $149/year per month or per year6 TB storage · Encrypted virtual drive included · 90 days file versioning

30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans. Lifetime plans available with separate pricing.

Google Drive

  • Business Starter $6 per user/month30 GB cloud storage per user · Business email through Gmail · Security and management controls
  • Business Standard $12 per user/month2 TB cloud storage per user · Cloud Search functionality · Enhanced security and management controls
  • Business Plus $18 per user/month5 TB cloud storage per user · Advanced security, compliance, and management controls · eDiscovery and retention policies
  • Enterprise On request per user/monthCustomizable storage (up to 30 TB per user) · Advanced security, compliance, and management controls · Data loss prevention (DLP)

Pricing varies by plan and region. Enterprise plan requires custom quote. Billed annually.

Features

Icedrive

Storage & Access
10 GB free storage (free plan), Up to 6 TB storage on premium plans, Virtual Drive mounting (Windows native; macOS/Linux via third-party tools), Desktop sync across multiple devices and sync pairs
Security & Encryption
Client-side zero-knowledge encryption (Twofish algorithm), Encryption at rest and encrypted transfers (TLS 1.2/1.3), Encrypted virtual drive (Pro plans and above), Two-factor authentication (Google Authenticator/SMS)
File Management & Collaboration
File versioning (30, 60, or 90 days depending on plan), Public links and user-to-user sharing with controls (expiry date, download limit, preview-only mode, password protection), Comments and discussions on shared files, Activity stream
Integration & Advanced Use
WebDAV and S3 endpoint support (WebDAV discontinued for new users as of April 2026), Compatible with Mountain Duck and Rclone for scripted workflows and NAS integration, Intelligent caching system for performance optimization

Google Drive

Storage and Collaboration
Store and share files securely in the cloud, Real-time co-editing of documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, Version history and file recovery, Granular sharing permissions (view, comment, edit)
Security and Compliance
Two-factor authentication (2FA) and SSO support, Encryption of data at rest and in transit, Compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, and other regulations, Data loss prevention (DLP) for sensitive content
Productivity and Integration
Search across all files with powerful OCR and text recognition, Automated workflows with Google Apps Script, Third-party app integrations (Slack, Zoom, etc.), AI-powered features like Smart Reply and grammar suggestions
See Icedrive →More Google Drive alternatives