I don’t use Google Drive, Dropbox, or Box on Android: I use this ingenious app instead – Android Police

A cloud storage service is essential in our workflow. After trying popular services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and Box, I recently dove into the redesigned OneDrive app for Android phones and was impressed with Microsoft’s solution. From its revamped Gallery view with slick editing tools (background removal, anyone?) to the robust security of Personal Vault and enhanced sharing options, OneDrive stepped up its game.The tight integration with the Microsoft ecosystem is the icing on the cake. Here is why I ditched the big names and chose a different solution for my Android cloud storage needs.You may notice a redesigned OneDrive UI throughout the post. At the time of writing, it is available only in the beta program.Keep your files organized from the startI wasn’t a fan of the old OneDrive UI on Android. It had a blue theme and used a standard bottom bar to switch between menus. However, Microsoft gave OneDrive a significant facelift, which is a major improvement. The app now prioritizes your photos with a visually rich interface. The company designed it to make it feel more like a gallery app.I like how the search bar was moved to the bottom of the screen. It’s accessible with one hand, especially on larger devices. This aligns with modern UI trends and improves usability. However, the company’s AI-powered search is still a work in progress, and it failed to find photos using natural language. Here is where Microsoft has some catching up to do with Google Photos.Coming back to the UI, I found it cleaner and more modern, with a white theme that gives it a fresh look.Instead of offering a separate OneDrive-powered Microsoft Photos on Android, the software giant revamped the current app with a gallery-like experience. In addition to Google Drive and Dropbox, OneDrive can replace Google Photos.The new gallery view displays your photos and videos in a visually appealing and organized manner. You can create albums, mark photos and videos as favorites, and access your cherished memories in no time. It also offers a comprehensive suite of editing tools, including Crop, Adjustments, Filters, Markup, and the Background removal tool.Here is where OneDrive shines. It offers a Personal Vault that acts as a digital safe within your OneDrive account. It provides an additional layer of security for your most sensitive files and documents, such as your passport, driver’s license, birth certificate, financial documents, bank papers, insurance information, and more.This gives me a peace of mind. Even if someone gains access to my OneDrive home, they can’t peek over essential files without the extra authentication step. I also like the direct option to scan documents or save pictures into my Personal Vault. The best part is that OneDrive syncs Personal Vault data across all the platforms.In addition to the Personal Vault, OneDrive offers several security settings to help you control access to your shared files and folders. You can set an expiration date for your shared links. After the set date, the link becomes inactive, and the recipient can no longer access the file or folder. This is useful when you only want to grant temporary access.If you use OneDrive on the web, you can set a password to your shared link. So, even if someone gets hold of the sharing link, they can’t access the content without the password. The same option isn’t available on OneDrive for Android.Don’t let your files become lost to the cloud OneDrive’s seamless integration with Microsoft services is a major advantage, especially for someone like me who is deeply invested in the company’s ecosystem. I can access my files from the Microsoft 365 mobile app on my phone, which is super convenient when I’m on the go. When I want to create a new document, spreadsheet, or presentation, I can do that from the OneDrive app.Since I primarily use an HP Spectre, I like how OneDrive is integrated into Windows. I can access my OneDrive files from File Explorer (and from the Start Menu), like other folders on my computer. It made my workflow much smoother. OneDrive offers a 100GB paid plan, but its real value unlocks with the Microsoft 365 bundle. You can get Microsoft 365 Home for $70 a year and access all the class-leading Office apps on the desktop and 1TB of OneDrive storage. The value is better when you factor in the Microsoft 365 Family plan. It offers 1TB of OneDrive storage to every group member (up to six).A 1TB storage plan is perfect for me. It provides all the space I need without the extra cost of larger Google One and iCloud+ plans. As a Windows user who frequently creates presentations and spreadsheets, I find the Microsoft 365 bundle valuable.OneDrive seamlessly blends a stunning and intuitive interface with a powerful suite of features. This app isn’t only a place to store your files. It’s a dynamic workspace that lets you do more with your digital content. OneDrive raises the bar for what a mobile cloud experience should be.If you are new to OneDrive, check out my dedicated guide to learn its top tips and tricks. However, with dozens of options available, picking a relevant one can be daunting.We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.Your comment has not been savedAnother “article” from XDA that disguises itself as sponsored content You’re from XDA? I’m reading this on AndroidPolice… Sus.Shameless.I have Google’s 2TB plan and use a majority of Google’s apps, not Microsoft’s. I pay $99 and even share it all with my immediate family. They can use the space as well.But 2TB is for ALL users, they all share the same storage quota. Microsoft’s offer is much, much better as you’ll get 1TB per account, which equals to 6TB per subscription. And if you ever run out of space per account, you can always make a shared folder and dump your stuff onto another account. Also when you buy a plan from Google, the main account holder lose 15GB of free storage (for example, if you buy a Google One 200GB plan, you’ll have 200GB, not 215GB). Microsoft lets you keep the free storage, if you purchase Microsoft 365 family plan and you have 5GB of free storage, you’ll have 1029GB, not 1024GB.I’ve been subscribing to M365 since 2020, and the value is insane. Split the cost between 6 friends, and you get cheap cloud storage while also having a robust office suite, and free Skype minutes that save me money when I need to make a call oversea.Reads like a paid-for endorsement pitching MS 356 Home subscriptions. Think I’ll stick with Google Drive. My own home use requires nothing more than Google Workspace provides.Is this editorial content or an advertisement? Were you compensated by Microsoft for this post? If so, it must be marked as such.Don’t damage your reputation on this. It’s not worth it.Why pay anything?! I’m running a self hosted solution at home on a n old Linux machine with a 4tb drive attached.just a guy who ‘ditched the big names’ and went with MicrosoftWhen we first started looking at cloud-based back-up services we found out that a subscription to MS Office (MS 365) Family provided more cloud storage via OneDrive either for the same price – or lower – then the major competitors, while tossing in the MS Office suite “for free.”With “Family” we end up with 6 potential “users,” of which we utilize 5: youngest daughter; wife; shared account for wife & I; and 2 accounts for myself. It IS inconvenient that MS limits each user to only 1 TB – would prefer a 6TB total that could be distributed however one wished – but if you use an account as an “Archive” and seldom access it the inconvenience is reduced.Also, given the TIME Requirements to Upload / Download chunks of data to a cloud service, it is something that is not attractive to “Shop around,” and given the Importance of the stored data (or at least some of it….) it doesn’t seem wise to entrust it to companies that may go out of business, or be tempted to use it in some manner – whether for advertising or AI training. Agreed. The time and stress involved with changing services and re uploading TB of data is huge. I know, I’ve done it when I moved from OneDrive to pCloud.I’m on the fence about how I feel about it. The 1 time Black Friday price for pCloud 2TB account was a no brainier. On the other hand, the OneDrive app interface is way better and easier to navigate and OneDrive integrates way better in Windows. I borderline regret the move for the loss of features and I interface of OneDrive but the thought of moving all my data again is daunting. Really don’t want to do that again.As much as this article was a shill for MS 365, it was accurate in many ways so I’ll give it a pass. My quest for secure cloud storage finally ended with Proton DriveManage your calendars from within SparkQuick access for quick solutionsCompletion dates, a new filter, and moreMy unexpected journey to privacy with ProtonPremium gets more premium

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