Updated September 2026: in 2021 I used both Google Photos and OneDrive, and listed photo features OneDrive lacked compared with Google: automatic animations, effects and memory videos. I have rewritten it with how the two compare now and which to use for what.
I kept my phone photos in both services. OneDrive offered a generous 1 TB with a Microsoft 365 plan and Office apps; Google Photos offered no bundle, but had smarter photo features. My wish list for OneDrive was the things Google did automatically: animations from similar photos, special effects on selected shots, and memory videos built from photos taken at the same place.
How do Google Photos and OneDrive differ for photos?
Google Photos is built around photos first: fast search by people, places and things, automatically created memories and collages, and editing tools that include AI features. OneDrive is built around files first, with photo features added on top. It backs up photos reliably and has gained more photo features over the years, including memories and a redesigned photos view, but it remains less feature-rich than Google Photos for browsing and creating.
Which is better for backup?
Both are reliable for automatic camera backup on Android and iPhone. The difference is storage value. A Microsoft 365 family plan gives each person 1 TB, while Google One plans share a single pool across the family. For large families with many photos, OneDrive's per-person storage is hard to match.
Which is better for enjoying and finding photos?
Google Photos. Its search, automatic albums and memories are more polished, and its editing features are stronger. If the pleasure of rediscovering photos matters to you, as it did to me, Google Photos does more with less effort.
Can you use both?
Yes, and many people do. Back up everything to OneDrive for the storage, and use Google Photos with a smaller plan or selected albums for browsing and sharing. Be aware that running two backup apps uses more battery and data, so set them to back up on Wi-Fi and while charging.
What should you check before choosing one?
- How much storage your family uses today, and how fast it grows.
- Whether you need Office apps anyway.
- How much you use search, memories and editing.
- Whether you keep a separate offline copy of irreplaceable photos, whichever service you choose.
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