iCloud vs OneDrive on Windows: real advantages and limitations

If you use Windows daily and are wondering whether it's better to switch to iCloud or OneDrive for your files, photos, and backupsYou're not alone. We're increasingly reliant on the cloud for work, study, and storing our digital lives, and choosing the right service can save you money, headaches, and more than a few security scares.

In this analysis we will compare in depth iCloud vs OneDrive on Windows, with their advantages and limitations, relying on what they actually offer: prices, storage, synchronization speed, apps On mobile and desktop, we'll cover security and privacy (including OneDrive's popular Personal Vault and iCloud's hidden photos). We'll also explore when it's worth considering alternatives like Google Drive and how all of this fits in if you use a mixed Windows + Apple ecosystem, as well as tools for transfer files between cloud services.

iCloud vs OneDrive on Windows: A Quick Overview

Before going into detail, it's important to have a clear overall picture: Both iCloud and OneDrive allow you to save files in the cloud and sync them between devicesBut they're not designed for the same type of user or the same ecosystem. OneDrive is built into Windows and Microsoft 365; iCloud is clearly designed with [the user] in mind. iPhone, iPad y Macand their experience with Windows is considerably more limited.

In practice, that means that OneDrive is usually the most logical choice if your main computer is a Windows PC.especially if you work with it daily WordExcel, PowerPoint, or other Microsoft apps. iCloud is a better fit if your main operating system is a Mac or iPhone and you only use Windows occasionally, because the native integration and stability within Apple's system are far superior. If you're going to use a mixed Windows + Apple ecosystemIt's a good idea to plan what remains in each cloud.

It should also be noted that, although here we focus on iCloud vs OneDrive, Google Drive remains a very strong competitor in terms of free storage and compatibilityGoogle offers 15 GB of free storage, while iCloud and OneDrive only offer 5 GB in their free plans, which is key if you want to save money.

Prices and storage capacity: who offers more for less

One of the most important factors in the decision-making process is the price per GB. If you need a lot of space for photos, videos, and documents, the cost difference is quite noticeable.especially in the medium and long term. We're going to break down how iCloud and OneDrive behave, also including a reference to Google Drive for context.

In the case of OneDrive, The free version starts with 5 GBThis is somewhat limited once you start saving photos or copies of documents. From there, you have several payment options for home users: a standalone 100 GB plan for around €1,99 per month; and the Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans, which include 1 TB and 6 TB respectively, in addition to the full Office suite. In terms of cost per GB, when you subscribe to Microsoft 365, OneDrive is becoming very competitive for those who need a lot of storage space. and they also use Word, Excel or PowerPoint.

In the professional sphere, OneDrive offers business plans with 1 TB per user in the most basic options and the possibility of Virtually unlimited storage on higher-tier plansFor organizations that generate a lot of data, the balance usually tips in favor of OneDrive due to its cost-effectiveness and integration with other Microsoft services (Teams, SharePoint, etc.).

iCloud, for its part, also starts with 5 GB free associated with your Apple IDThose 5 GB are used for iPhone/iPad backupsiCloud Drive, iCloud Photos, and other services. As soon as you have more than one device or back up photos and videos, that space fills up quickly. Paid plans (iCloud+) range from 50 GB for €0,99/month, through 200 GB for €2,99/month, up to 2 TB for €9,99/month, with the cost per GB in line with Google Drive in the 200 GB and 2 TB tiers.

In practice, if we compare the average ranges, The price per GB for iCloud and Google Drive is virtually identical for 200 GB and 2 TB.And it's a more affordable option than subscribing to OneDrive solely for standalone storage. However, when you join the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, you're no longer just paying for the cloud, but for the entire productivity suite, and that's where the overall value is usually higher for heavy Office users.

Regarding Google Drive, it's worth remembering that It offers 15 GB of free shared between Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos.If you frequently receive emails with attachments or store photos in the Google cloud, that space fills up faster than you might expect. Even so, if you want maximum free storage, it offers the most flexibility without paying; you can read more about other options. free cloud storage.

File synchronization in Windows: speed, file types, and stability

The key point for day-to-day use is how iCloud and OneDrive behave when syncing files on Windows. It's not just speed that matters, but also... reliability and the file types they accept without problemsas well as the quality of desktop applications.

OneDrive has one very clear advantage: It comes integrated as standard in Windows.This means you don't need to install anything extra to start using it, and the OneDrive folder behaves like a natural extension of File Explorer. Furthermore, it employs block-level sync technology that divides files into chunks and only uploads changes, resulting in... faster upload and download speeds compared to other services when you work with documents that you are constantly modifying.

Comparative measurements show that, to upload 1 GB of data, OneDrive is usually somewhat faster than Google Drive and clearly ahead of iCloud.The indicative figures place OneDrive at around 107 KB/s, Google Drive at around 97 KB/s, and iCloud at around 86 KB/s, always depending on the connection. In practice, when syncing many small folders and office documents, the difference becomes noticeable.

Regarding formats, OneDrive imposes certain limitations with very specific types (some 3D models, certain camera RAW files, or uncommon formats), but for Office documents, PDFs, regular images, standard audio and video work without problemsFor most users, there are no restrictions that affect their daily lives.

iCloud, in theory, supports a fairly wide range of text, image, audio, and video formats, including many file types common in the Apple environment. However, the experience on Windows isn't quite as seamless: The iCloud app for Windows has caused quite a few headaches with slow syncing, crashes, or photos that never finish uploading or downloading.If you're having problems, here's a guide for Configure iCloud Drive on Windows It can help improve stability. It doesn't always happen, but it's frequent enough that many users who combine Windows and Apple are reconsidering using it as their primary cloud service on PCs.

If your workflow is heavily focused on Windows, frequently involves editing files and sharing documents, OneDrive is usually more stable and faster than iCloud on this operating systemIf, on the other hand, most of your work is on a Mac and you only use your desktop PC occasionally to check something, you can manage with iCloud on Windows as a secondary access point, assuming the experience isn't as polished.

Mobile apps and experience on iOS, Android and desktop

The cloud is no longer used only from a computer. The quality of mobile apps makes all the difference when you want to upload photos on the fly, share files, or view documents from your phone.Here, OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox share a similar philosophy; iCloud plays in its own league, more closed to the Apple ecosystem.

The OneDrive mobile app in iOS y Android It offers a fairly clear interface, with tabs such as Home, Files, Shared, Photos, and a profile section. It's somewhat more image-oriented, with Automatic upload of photos from mobile and creation of albums which you can then share. It also lets you scan documents, take photos directly to the cloud, or create Office files if you have the apps installed. Everything you upload is then synced with your OneDrive folder on Windows, making it easy transfer files between mobile and PC.

Google Drive, for its part, follows a similar structure: a home tab with the latest updates, a files section, a starred area, and a shared documents section. Integration with Docs, Sheets, and Slides Google's features make collaborative work incredibly convenient. On mobile devices, uploading and creating files is simple, with optional automatic photo backup, and you can bookmark items for offline access.

Dropbox, while not the focus of this comparison, remains a benchmark for user experience: its mobile app is highly intuitive, with Home, Files, Photos, and Account sections. It allows you to upload multiple files at once, scan documents, record audio, and prioritizes a automatic photo copying system that's very easy to set upFor those who want something very simple and stable, it remains a solid option.

In the case of iCloud on mobile devices, the primary access to storage is through the Files app on iOS and iPadOSThis app allows you to view the content of iCloud Drive and also Connect other cloud services like OneDrive or Google Drive within the app itselfAnd although there isn't a complete official app for Android, there are guides on How to access iCloud on Android in an alternative waybut the way of working is less direct than in the rest.

Another important limitation is that Automatic photo backup to iCloud is not controlled from the Files app, but from the Photos app itself and the system settings.This can be confusing if you're coming from OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox, where photo uploads are configured and viewed directly within the cloud application itself, or if you need organize photos by albums en Windows 11.

Security, privacy, and sensitive content: iCloud vs. OneDrive

When we talk about private photos and videos, personal backups and sensitive documents, security becomes a priority. Both iCloud and OneDrive feature two-step authentication and encryption.But there are practical differences worth understanding, especially in how they protect your most sensitive content.

iCloud implements two-factor authentication and uses TLS/SSL encryption in transit and 128-bit AES encryption to protect data. Furthermore, in recent years Apple has strengthened its defenses following past security incidents that revealed vulnerabilities. Now, Each time you log in from a new device, you receive a verification code. to ensure it's you. Some information (like keychain passwords) can be end-to-end encrypted, preventing even Apple from accessing it.

However, when it comes to private photos, iCloud does not offer a segregated vault with additional protection within the cloud itselfSimilar to OneDrive, iOS offers the option to hide photos in the gallery, but those images remain part of your iCloud photo library. When you access your photo library from a browser or another device, the distinction between hidden and unhidden photos doesn't function like a separate vault, but rather as a visual filter within the system itself.

OneDrive also uses two-step authentication and encryption for data in transit and at rest. An important distinction is that, In the business environment, SSL encryption and other advanced security layers are better defined.While some of these mechanisms are implemented differently in purely personal accounts, for the average user, the protection is robust and adequate.

The biggest difference in this area is the Personal Vault. It's a special folder within your account that It requires a second verification step even if you are already logged in in OneDrive. This means that to access the Vault you may need an SMS code, authenticator, or biometric data (fingerprint, face, device PIN, etc.). Additionally, the vault automatically locks after a period of inactivity.

This makes it a very interesting option for saving intimate photos, confidential documents, scans of ID cards or passports And any other files you don't want immediately visible when you open your Microsoft account in a browser to use PowerPoint, Excel, or your email. What's stored outside the Vault is protected by your password and two-step verification, but is immediately visible once you sign in; what goes inside the Vault adds that extra layer of security.

Regarding the common question of whether photos outside the Vault are safe when you log into your account to use other Microsoft services, the answer is that They remain protected by your account access and standard security mechanisms.The risk, as always, is that someone could obtain your password or gain access to an unlocked device. Therefore, if something is particularly sensitive, it's best to store it in your Personal Vault and keep your two-step authentication up to date.

If privacy is your top priority, you might consider using additional encryption before uploading certain files, regardless of whether it's iCloud or OneDrive. Even so, for typical user use who wants to save files, this is sufficient. private photos and videos with reasonably high securityThe combination of Personal Vault in OneDrive and two-step verification offers a very strong level of protection on Windows.

Real-world use: daily work, battery life on Mac, and mixed ecosystems

Beyond charts and specifications, what really matters is how iCloud and OneDrive perform in everyday use. A very common scenario is that of someone who He's had his files on OneDrive for years on Windows and suddenly he buys a MacBookThe question arises: does it make sense to switch everything to iCloud to "integrate" into the Apple ecosystem? If you're thinking about switch to macOSIt's worth considering what to migrate and what to keep in OneDrive.

OneDrive offers two very powerful advantages in that scenario: on the one hand, the file version historyThis allows you to recover previous versions of documents without going crazy or having to create full backups. For office work and collaboration, this is invaluable. Furthermore, its extensive cross-platform compatibility—clients for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and seamless web integration—makes OneDrive a great choice. If you're coming from Windows and rely on your cloud files for work, sticking with OneDrive even after buying a Mac makes perfect sense.

One drawback that many users mention is that OneDrive on Mac can consume battery and resources noticeably.This is especially true if you have many synced folders or large photo libraries. It's usually not a major issue, but it can impact battery life if your laptop is constantly uploading and downloading files. You can mitigate this by disabling syncing for folders you don't need locally or by adjusting the on-demand file options.

And what advantages would switching to iCloud as your primary cloud service have when you move to a Mac? The main one is... deep integration with the entire Apple systemDesktop and Documents in iCloud Drive, iCloud Photos synced with your entire photo library, automatic backups of iPhone and iPad, iCloud Keychain for passwords, etc. The experience is very smooth if you're using only Apple products, but on the Windows side, you lose points in stability and sync speed compared to OneDrive.

If you primarily work with Office and collaborate with other users who use Windows, Keep OneDrive at the heart of your work documents This is usually the most sensible option, even if you have a Mac. You can continue using iCloud for iPhone backups and more personal matters, and OneDrive for all your work. This hybrid approach is very common and combines the best of both worlds.

On the other hand, if you've practically abandoned Windows, your main tools are Apple apps, and you barely share Office documents, using iCloud as your primary storage makes sense, knowing that Its behavior on Windows remains its Achilles' heel.In that case, the PC would become more of a secondary device for occasional consultation.

File sharing and access control

Another key aspect of any cloud service is how it allows you to Share files and folders with other people, control who accesses them and for how longHere, OneDrive and Google Drive offer more advanced options than iCloud.

iCloud Drive lets you create sharing links so other users can access specific files or folders. However, the control is quite basic: There is no option to protect the link with a password or to configure very detailed rules.If someone has the link, they can access it depending on the permissions you've assigned (mainly read-only or edit-only), but if that link circulates too much, you lose fine control.

OneDrive also lets you share via links, but it includes the ability to Configure passwords and expiration dates for those links (especially with certain plans). This way, if you send sensitive or temporary documents, you can set the link to expire after a certain time or restrict access to files only to those who know the password. This adds an extra layer of security compared to iCloud when it comes to sharing information.

Google Drive does not integrate a serial link password into basic accounts, but it does offer very detailed control of Permissions by user, domains, and advanced editing or read-only optionsespecially in Google Workspace environments. At a collaborative level, it remains a benchmark for online teamwork.

If you often share many work folders from Windows, with documents that you don't want to be fully accessible to just anyone with the link, OneDrive offers a combination of convenience and access control that is somewhat more robust than iCloud.This is especially well-suited for businesses and users who share proposals, budgets, or confidential material with clients.

Taking all of the above into account, the balance between iCloud and OneDrive on Windows depends entirely on your situation: If your primary environment is Windows, you work with Office, and you value speed, sharing control, and a dedicated vault for sensitive content, OneDrive is usually clearly superior.If your digital life revolves around Apple, iCloud offers very convenient integration on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, although its Windows experience and the absence of a reinforced vault for private photos mean that many users opt for a mixed approach using both services depending on the file type and device.