Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Google vs Google Drive

Google 4.6★ · Free to download 55
Winner Google Drive
Google Drive 4.8★ · Free to download 70

Google Drive is the better choice for cloud storage and file management due to its reliability and ease of use, while the Google app struggles with recent feature changes and privacy concerns.

Full reviews: Google · Google Drive

Google Drive generally receives higher praise for its core functionality of file storage and sharing, despite some recent UI complaints. The Google app, on the other hand, faces significant criticism for buggy new features, privacy issues, and the removal or hiding of popular functions.

Head to head

Features and Functionality edge: Google DriveR1R18R19R31
Google Users of the Google app are frustrated by the disappearance of beloved features like 'Read Aloud' and translation, often replaced by an unwelcome AI mode R1R31. Many also report issues with basic search functionality, including slow loading, incorrect results, and broken tab management R18R19.
Google Drive Google Drive is praised for its utility in uploading and managing files, especially for content creators R68R74. However, recent updates have made it harder to move files, edit documents, and manage backups, with some users reporting a constant AI assistant interruption .
Ease of Use edge: Google DriveR9R15R19R23
Google While some find the Google app easy to use for basic searches R23, others report difficulties with signing in, managing multiple email accounts, and navigating the interface R9R15R24. Recent updates have introduced bugs that make tab management and accessing recent searches more difficult R19.
Google Drive Google Drive is generally considered super easy to use and user-friendly by many . However, some users find the interface laggy, hard to navigate, and wish for better guidance for new or older tech users .
Reliability and Performance edge: Google DriveR13R18R21R22
Google The Google app suffers from significant reliability issues, including slow loading times, frequent 'no internet connection' errors despite connectivity, and the app disappearing or failing to load pages R18R21. Users also report buggy new features and account access problems R13R22.
Google Drive Google Drive is often praised for its consistency and automatic saving . However, some users experience issues with synchronization, files not downloading, and a persistent 'Content Unavailable' error on iPads R102.
Privacy and Ads edge: GoogleR3R7R12R24
Google A major concern for Google app users is privacy, with many complaining about excessive tracking, data sales, and being bombarded with ads and unwanted suggestions R3R12R34. There are also complaints about spam and difficulty logging out to avoid data collection R7R24.
Google Drive Privacy concerns are less explicitly mentioned for Google Drive, but some users are frustrated by aggressive video processing and restrictions on viewing their own uploaded content . The constant AI assistant pop-ups are also seen as intrusive .
Value and Storage tieR12R24R36R39
Google The Google app is free, but users feel the value is diminished by intrusive ads, privacy concerns, and a degraded search experience R12R36R39. Some also dislike the forced integration of unwanted features R24.
Google Drive Google Drive is also free to download, but users complain about limited storage and the app consuming a significant amount of device storage . The need to download additional apps to edit documents also detracts from its value .
Pick Google if

you primarily need a search engine and are comfortable with Google's data practices, or if you heavily rely on its AI features .

Pick Google Drive if

you need reliable cloud storage and file sharing, especially for VR content or business documents, and value a generally user-friendly experience R68R74.

Evidence note: The reviews for both apps are mixed, with recent negative reviews for the Google app often highlighting issues with new AI features and the removal of older, popular functions. Google Drive's negative reviews tend to focus on recent UI changes and storage limitations.

Frequently asked

Are there issues with Google's AI features?
Yes, users of the Google app report that the AI/Gemini interface breaks basic tab management, overwrites active research, and is often buggy or unhelpful R19R30R45R56. Google Drive users also complain about constant, unwanted AI assistant pop-ups that interrupt work .
Do Google apps have privacy concerns?
Yes, many Google app users express strong privacy concerns, citing excessive tracking, sales of personal data, unwanted suggestions, and being bombarded with ads and spam R3R7R12R34.
Is Google Drive good for storing videos and photos?
Google Drive is generally considered good for uploading and storing photos and videos, especially for VR content creators R68R74R95. However, some users have reported issues with downloading videos to their phone and Google aggressively processing uploaded videos, restricting viewing R102.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] Google 2/5 · US Read Aloud disappeared: To be honest, I don’t really like the Google app, I am just super used to safari and can’t change it but I heavily, HEAVILY, used it for the “Read Aloud” function (and it’s the only reason why I use the Google App). It was working just fine but the option suddenly disappeared the day before yesterday. I have already removed the app, reinstalled, removed shut down the phon
  2. [R18] Google 3/5 · GB It’s good but one tiny problem: Google is great for trying to find the things you want to discover or search up. But there seems to be a recurring problem that it takes Google three or four attempts just to load searches. It always says that the website has even been permanently moved to a different website or you haven’t got Internet connection. I do have Internet connection and I think this is a
  3. [R19] Google 1/5 · US Broken tab management: The AI/Gemini interface inside the Google App completely breaks basic tab management. When I click the "New Tab" button while inside an active AI thread, it fails to open a separate, additional tab. Instead, it completely ignores the command and overwrites my current thread. This destroys my active research progress and pollutes the AI's context window with unrelated questio
  4. [R31] Google 1/5 · US Why are the features I used now just an AI Mode button?: I use the Google app for just two things, reverse image search and translation. I can sort of get to the reverse image search if I’m ok with Google having camera access, but the translate button is gone, presumably to make room for the very unwelcome AI Mode button. There may be a setting to change this, but it’s not clear in the settings, a
  5. [R9] Google 3/5 · US Nightstick291: Don’t like that I have to sign in all the time,and you have emails in 3 locations. Important , All mail,& regular email. I only want 1 place for my emails.
  6. [R15] Google 3/5 · GB Google issues: Always ask to sign into stuff I only want to use google , why does it always ask for my email, phone no etc
  7. [R23] Google 5/5 · US 5 stars: Easy to use
  8. [R13] Google 1/5 · US I can’t make a new Google account for some reason.: Been trying to make a new Google account for me and my friends to start a YouTube channel Together. For some reason, o can’t get through to the next page for creating the account. I’m always stuff at a loading screen that ends up not loading. So frustrating. Maybe I’ll just ask them if they want to do instagram instead.
  9. [R21] Google 3/5 · GB Why this is terrible: It is so slow and will not work well when it is raining and windy. It should be updated now! Thanks for listening to me and I hope you are considering this as important.
  10. [R22] Google 1/5 · US Worst app ever: Is some of my account no reason I had a YouTube channel with that account and then it just disappeared and wouldn’t let me get back in and I’m disappointed in this app you shouldn’t get it. It’s the worst app ever.
  11. [R3] Google 3/5 · US It’s Just Okay!: I prefer a different search engine that doesn’t change the screen if you leave it and come back to it. I also prefer one that doesn’t track your information or location. I also don’t like having suggestions based on something that I looked up because I wasn’t sure what it was.
  12. [R7] Google 2/5 · US Spam: Bombarded with spam going to Yahoo email
  13. [R12] Google 3/5 · US Too many ads, privacy cookies and sales of personal data.: Way too much! People forget there are other, safer ways to search. Anytime I google something, it ends up in ads and emails with an hour. Not everyone wants a Gmail account.
  14. [R24] Google 3/5 · GB Still too much…: Unwanted and not needed rubbish pushed in the direction of users! Default download includes much of the rubbish - delete all of it when you set up! Also immense patience will be required when / if you’re trying to find the way to log out of your Google account! It can be done, but they make it as difficult as possible to keep the subscriber numbers up for Ad revenues!
  15. [R36] Google 3/5 · GB Degraded, Hides Results, Pushes Paid Results Only: Google search is a shadow of what it was even 2 years ago. In supposed personalising it literally hides results you would want to see. It ignores profile location and country, pushing US results and sites, recipes, social accounts, everything despite my UK account. This used to work well. It pushes video and social content at all costs even if
  16. [R39] Google 3/5 · GB Too many adverts: There is some interesting stuff pop up on google for me, I have no idea how or why, but many of the links are so full of adverts it’s almost unreadable. Advertisers know this: If I see you in my face unwanted I will never buy any of your products, ever!
  17. [R30] Google 3/5 · GB Why: Sometimes can be really annoying when I go on Google AI it doesn’t work
  18. [R45] Google 1/5 · US Your AI sucks: Do you ever find yourself with a question racking your brain that you just have to talk out and do you ever find yourself while talking desperately desiring for the AI you’re talking to to just mute you and stop listening delete the whole conversation you were having and start from the ground up if that’s the case, then Google AI is for you outside of a two sentence question you’ll
  19. [R56] Google 4/5 · US Good buttttt…..: I like google and the fact that I can play snake, pac man and catch Pokémon, it’s cool! But, the ai overview is kind of a liar, on my moms tablet, I was playing Infinite Craft and I asked the ai overview thing how to make a thing in infinite craft and it LIED! Please fix it!
  20. [R34] Google 1/5 · US Wow…: If anyone thought Google was bad before, being biased and all, just wait until you learn about Reckless Ben. Evidently google doesn’t care one bit about anyone’s privacy. They will give ALL your emails and information over to any corporation that asks for it. SHAME ON YOU GOOGLE. You can put those legos somewhere dark and lonely, Google.
  21. [R68] Google Drive 5/5 · US Great app: I use this app for uploading stuff basically on VR it takes too long to download to my phone so I just use Google Drive to upload the photos onto Google Drive and download them from my phone. It’s way easier and faster. 10 out of 10 would recommend.
  22. [R74] Google Drive 5/5 · US Good for vr content: It’s really good if you wanna post VR content all you gotta do is just have the app on VR and on your mobile or whatever device that you do it you just explode it on your the Google Drive and then on your mobile you can check it and then download it to your Photos and edit it and post it
  23. [R95] Google Drive 5/5 · US Fotos de Gabita: Hermosa boda
  24. [R102] Google Drive 3/5 · GB Alr ig but..: It wont let me download videos onto my phone ive been trying for days please fiz this

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store