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If theres one thing that I am generally terrible at, its remembering to back up all my data.
And in my line of work, that has the potential to be a disaster.
Google Drive on an Android phone
(Foolishly, I turned off automatic backups to save on data.)
Cloud-based backups may seem straightforward.
Why do I need to back up the contents of my phone to the cloud?
Google Drive on an Android phone
Two things should have you getting a backup plan in place that includes cloud storage.
A cloud-based backup also makes moving over to a new rig much easier.
That backup stored on the cloud lets you retrieve all your old apps and files.
What are the most widely available options for cloud-based backups?
Toms Guide has a round-up of thebest cloud backup servicesfor storing your most important files in another location.
For many people, the main service theyll use will be the one that comes installed on their rig.
As such, Im focusing on more basic cloud storage.
Apple and Google cloud storage options offer a seamless experience with a dependable level of security.
Does my pop in of phone limit the cloud-based service I can use?
Google Drive on an Android phone
And if youre an Android user, are you limited to Google Drive?
Its certainly easier to stick with the backup option that comes with your phone of choice.
But nothings stopping you from using any service.
Its a little trickier with iCloud from an Android gear.
While iPhones can automatically stash backups on Apples cloud service, Android phones cant.
You will need toset up an Apple accountfirst, though.
What do I get with a free account on iCloud or Google Drive?
Just be prepared for some limitations.
The free version of iCloud features 5GB of storage.
Google Drive has a bigger storage limit for its free users 15 GB.
That includes backups from Google Photos and Gmail.
What are the paid options for iCloud and Google Drive?
Both iCloud and Google Drive offer different subscription tiers based on storage amounts.
iCloud and Google Drive subscriptions offer other features, too.
iCloud+ also allows users to hide their email by creating random email addresses that forward to their personal inbox.
Finally, iCloud+ can be shared with family members with Apple accounts.
Finally, much like iCloud+, you might share the Google One subscription between five family members.
Unfortunately, while Google One used to offer a VPN, that feature has since been discontinued.
What are the pros and cons of iCloud and Google Drive?
Both iCloud and Google Drive offer relatively similar features with noticeable pros and cons to each.
This means that its much easier to share files and backups between your Apple devices.
The added security that comes with iCloud+ remember, it can hide IPs and emails is also a bonus.
Google Drive and Google One have a lot to offer users.
Still, there are drawbacks to Google Drive.
Even the larger 15GB capacity can fill up fast, especially if you have a particularly busy Gmail account.
Security offerings dont exactly stand out, especially after Google removed its VPN add-on.
