OneDrive — Microsoft's cloud storage service that syncs files across Windows, Mac, mobile, and the web, with 1TB included in every Microsoft 365 Personal subscription.
By Noahlast updated pricing verified
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OneDrive in 20 seconds
Best for: Households and businesses already using Microsoft 365 who want storage that co-authors Office documents natively.
Pricing: Free for 5GB; Microsoft 365 Basic starts at $1.99/month for 100GB, with 1TB plans from $9.99/month.
- OneDrive free tier includes 5GB of storage.
- Microsoft 365 Personal bundles 1TB of OneDrive storage with desktop Office apps for $9.99/month billed annually.
- Microsoft 365 Family extends storage to up to 6TB across 6 people for $12.99/month.
- OneDrive has no official native Linux desktop client.
Limitations: No official native Linux client.; Free tier storage (5GB) is smaller than most competitors.; Full feature value requires an ongoing Microsoft 365 subscription.
Top alternatives: Google Drive, Dropbox, Box — full list
What is OneDrive?
OneDrive is Microsoft's cloud storage platform: it backs up, syncs, and shares files across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and the web, and stores the working copy of every Word, Excel, and PowerPoint file created in Microsoft 365. OneDrive is not sold as a standalone product for most users — it ships as the default storage layer of Windows 11 and every Microsoft 365 subscription tier, so its value is tied to how deep a household or business already is in Office apps. Personal Vault adds a second layer of identity verification (PIN, fingerprint, or one-time code) for sensitive files like scanned IDs, and Microsoft's ransomware detection can roll files back to a pre-attack version. There is no official native Linux client, which sets it apart from Dropbox and Google Drive.
OneDrive is Microsoft's cloud storage and file-sync service, built into Windows and bundled with every Microsoft 365 subscription. A free account gets 5GB; Microsoft 365 Basic adds 100GB for $1.99/month, and Microsoft 365 Personal bundles 1TB of storage with desktop Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Copilot access for $9.99/month billed annually at $99.99/year. It targets people already inside the Microsoft ecosystem who want file storage that co-authors documents in Office apps and backs up photos from a phone automatically. Family plans extend storage to up to 6TB across six people for $12.99/month.
Standout feature: Personal Vault, a PIN- or biometric-locked folder for sensitive files, combined with ransomware detection that can restore OneDrive to a version before an attack.
Biggest weakness: The free tier is capped at just 5GB (versus 15GB from Google Drive), there is no official native Linux desktop client, and meaningful storage requires paying for a Microsoft 365 subscription rather than buying storage alone.
Pros
- 1TB of storage bundled with a Microsoft 365 Personal subscription that also includes desktop Office apps.
- Personal Vault adds a second authentication layer for sensitive scanned documents and IDs.
- Real-time co-authoring in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint without leaving the desktop apps.
- Family plan splits up to 6TB across six people for $12.99/month.
Cons
- Free tier is only 5GB, well below competitors like Google Drive's 15GB.
- No official native Linux sync client.
- Full value requires a Microsoft 365 subscription, not just storage.
- Sync client has a history of user complaints about performance on large file libraries.
OneDrive pricing
Free tier · paid from $1.99/mo · verified from the vendor's pricing page
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | 5GB of cloud storage, no Microsoft 365 apps included. |
| Microsoft 365 Basic | $1.99/mo | 100GB storage; billed annually at $19.99/year. Includes ad-free Outlook and ransomware protection. |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $9.99/mo | 1TB storage for one person; billed annually at $99.99/year. Adds desktop Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Copilot with higher usage limits. |
| Microsoft 365 Family | $12.99/mo | Up to 6TB (1TB per person) for up to 6 people; billed annually at $129.99/year. |
| Microsoft 365 Premium | $19.99/mo | Same storage as Family; billed annually at $199.99/year. Adds extended Copilot usage and AI agent features for the subscription owner. |
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