Google Drive is a cloud storage and file collaboration platform optimized for document editing and sharing, while Notion is an all-in-one workspace combining notes, databases, wikis, and project management in a single interconnected platform. Google Drive excels at real-time collaboration on documents; Notion excels at organizing complex information structures.
Google Drive vs Notion — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose Google Drive if you need fast, intuitive document collaboration with bulletproof real-time sync and offline access—it's the industry standard for teams that primarily create and share documents. Choose Notion if you're building complex knowledge systems, managing interconnected projects, or need database-like functionality to organize information across multiple contexts; it's better for power users willing to invest time in setup.
Cloud storage and collaboration platform integrated with Google Workspace
All-in-one workspace combining databases, documents, wikis, and task management with flexible templates.
Google Drive vs Notion — Comparison Data
Structured comparison data for Google Drive vs Notion with 482 attributes.
Real-time Collaborative Editors (Simultaneous Users)
Free Tier Monthly Recording/Creation Limit
Monthly Subscription Cost (Personal Plan)
Maximum Database Rows (optimal performance)
Real-time Simultaneous Collaborators (unlimited tier)
Native Data Visualization (charts, pivots)
Max Database Items Before Performance Degradation
Starting Price per User/Month (Annual Billing)
Base Monthly Cost Per User (Annual Billing)
Monthly Cost Per User (Team Plan, Annual Billing)
Maximum Concurrent Users Per Board/Workspace
Total Cost of Ownership (50 Users, Annual)
Google Drive vs Notion — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Google Drive vs Notion.
Notion has limited offline support—you can view content offline, but editing is not available offline. Changes sync when you reconnect. Google Drive offers full offline editing for Docs, Sheets, and Slides with automatic sync upon reconnection, making it superior for spotty connectivity environments.
Google Drive is better for rapid document collaboration due to sub-second sync and minimal learning curve—teams can start collaborating immediately. Notion is better for teams managing complex, interconnected projects where a structured database and unified workspace add value, but it requires upfront setup and training.
Can I build a project management system with both?
Google Drive can host basic project tracking in Sheets, but lacks relational features, multiple views, and automation. Notion is purpose-built for this—you can create fully relational project databases with kanban boards, timelines, and linked tasks. For complex project management, Notion is dramatically more capable.
What's the difference in real-time collaboration performance?
Google Drive syncs changes in sub-200 milliseconds across all users, making it feel instantaneous. Notion syncs in 1-3 seconds, which can create visible delays when multiple people edit simultaneously. For fast-paced collaborative writing, Google Drive's speed advantage is noticeable.
How much storage do I actually get for free?
Google Drive provides 15 GB free shared across Drive, Gmail, and Photos. Notion offers unlimited free storage for personal use, but the free plan lacks advanced features like database relations, templates, and API access. For personal knowledge work, Notion's unlimited free storage is a major advantage.