Google Drive

Productivity

7.5~~/10~~

Our score

★ 4.3 Google Play·10B+ installs

Reviewed by Editorial Team, ScoredApps editorial · updated 2026-09-05

Screenshots

Suggested files list showing recent edits and collaborators

Create menu with Upload file, Scan document and Google Docs options

Search filtered by chips for type, people and the last seven days

Activity tab listing access requests and approvals for shared files

Gemini summarising a PDF report with sources and follow-up questions

About Google Drive

Drive is Google's file store on a phone: documents, spreadsheets and slides open and edit in place, the camera scans paper into PDFs, search filters by type, person and date, and an activity tab shows who asked for access to what. Gemini summarises a file on request. The app is free; the storage is the paid part, and the free 15 GB is shared with Gmail and Photos.

App information

DeveloperGoogle LLC

Version2.26.365.0 (Android) · 4.2635.41602 (iOS)

Size34.49 MB (Android) · 455 MB (iOS)

Price / In-appFree

Contains adsNo

In-app purchasesYes

Content rating4+

Requires (Android)Android 8.0+

Requires (iOS)iOS 17.0+

Offline modeFiles marked for offline open without a connection; sync and search need one

Interface languagesAF, AM, AR, HY, AZ, EU + 60 more

Store rating (Google Play)4.3 from 10,838,174 ratings

Installs10B+

Updated by developer2026-09-04

Data checked2026-09-07

Specs come from the official store listings and were last checked on 2026-09-07. Developers change pricing and requirements — check the store page before installing.

Google Drive Review: 15 GB Shared With Gmail and Photos

The Free 15 GB Covers Three Products at Once

This is the detail that catches people out: the free allowance is a single pool shared by Drive, Gmail and Google Photos, so a full photo backup stops mail arriving. Beyond it, Google One starts at $1.99 a month for 100 GB, runs to $9.99 for 2 TB, and $19.99 buys 5 TB alongside the AI features. All the plans share storage with up to five other people, which makes the family option cheaper per person than it looks. Prices are US listings. Storage is also the reason the app appears free while quietly being the entry point to Google's only consumer subscription.

Scanning, Search Chips and Access Requests

Three things make it more than a folder. The plus button includes Scan document, which turns pages photographed with the camera into a PDF without a separate scanner app. Search narrows with chips for file type, person and modification date rather than a plain text box — the store example filters a camp folder to the last seven days. And the activity tab collects the administrative noise: who asked to view a file, who wants edit access, what was approved, with a manage-access link beside each request.

Gemini Reads a File and Answers About It

Opening a PDF and asking about it returns a structured summary with the sources cited and follow-up questions offered — the example in the store listing summarises a technology trends report into key findings with figures. It is the same assistant as elsewhere in Google's apps, working on the document in front of it. Google Play lists eleven collected categories for the app, with no third-party sharing declared, and there is no advertising badge; the ratings run 4.8 on the App Store and 4.3 across 10.8 million Play reviews.

Pros

Document scanning built in, no separate app needed
Search chips filter by type, person and date
Docs, Sheets and Slides open and edit in place
Gemini summarises a file with sources shown
No advertising badge on the Play listing

Cons

The free 15 GB is shared with Gmail and Photos
Eleven collected data categories, including location
Storage costs $1.99 to $19.99 a month beyond the free tier
Editing documents needs the separate Docs apps installed

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Verdict

A capable file app rather than just cloud storage — scanning, filtered search and access management are the parts worth knowing about, and Gemini summarising a long PDF genuinely saves time. Understand the quota before relying on it: 15 GB shared across Drive, Gmail and Photos runs out faster than people expect, and the fix is a subscription starting at $1.99 a month.

Core function8.5Files sync reliably, scanning works, and search finds documents by more than name.

Ease of use8.0Suggested files first, chips for narrowing; the activity tab keeps sharing requests visible.

Monetisation7.0Free to a point, then a shared-quota subscription starting at $1.99 a month.

Performance7.5Uploads and previews are quick, though the install is large for a file manager.

Privacy & permissions5.5Eleven collected categories on the account that also holds your mail and photos.

7.5out of 10 · weighted average of the five scores above

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Frequently asked questions

Is Google Drive free?

The app is free with no advertising. Storage is where money enters: 15 GB comes with the account, shared across Drive, Gmail and Google Photos. Beyond that, Google One plans start at $1.99 a month for 100 GB and reach $19.99 for 5 TB with AI features included.

Can it scan documents?

Yes — Scan document sits in the same plus menu as Upload file and Create folder. Pages photographed with the camera become a multi-page PDF saved straight to Drive, with edge detection handling the framing. For receipts and forms it removes the need for a dedicated scanner app.

How much does more storage cost?

$1.99 a month for 100 GB, $9.99 for 2 TB, and $19.99 for 5 TB bundled with Google's AI Pro features. Every plan can be shared with up to five other people, and the quota covers Drive, Gmail and Photos together rather than Drive alone.

What happens if storage fills up?

Uploads stop and, more disruptively, Gmail stops receiving new mail, because both draw on the same 15 GB. Clearing large attachments or old photo backups frees space without paying. The activity tab is unaffected, so sharing requests keep arriving even when the quota is full.

What are the alternatives?

iCloud Drive is tidier on an iPhone and starts at a similar price. Dropbox syncs more reliably across desktops but gives far less free space. This one makes sense if you already use Gmail and Docs, since it is the same account and the same quota.