# SugarSync vs Google Drive

The clearest difference is rating: Google Drive at 4.8 against SugarSync's 3.2. Google Drive also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 5 months). SugarSync's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and review sentiment (81% vs 65%). On price, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Google Drive sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. SugarSync asks for nothing beyond the download.

Google Drive holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Google Drive has 7.8M ratings behind it against 109, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 81% of SugarSync's written reviews are positive against 65% of Google Drive's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

SugarSync ships an update every 5 months, Google Drive weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SugarSync | Google Drive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (109 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sugarsync/id288491637/reviews) | **[4.8 (7.8M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-drive/id507874739/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 109 | **7.8M** |
| Positive reviews | **80.5% of reviews** | 65.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#9** |
| Size | 33 MB | 443 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SugarSync, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/288491640) | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) |

## What reviewers say

### SugarSync

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sugarsync/id288491637)

Securely back up and sync files, photos, and music across all your devices. Protect your digital life with advanced encryption and easily share or restore files. Offers automatic syncing and remote data wiping for enhanced security and convenience.

**Highlights:** Secure file backup, Automatic cloud syncing, Cross-device synchronization, Remote data wipe, File sharing and collaboration, Easy file restoration

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Seamless syncing across devices
- 🔒 Secure cloud storage
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 💡 Ability to access files remotely
- 👍 Reliable backup solution

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Syncing issues and unreliable file access
- 🔋 High resource consumption on mobile devices
- 👎 Poor customer support and lack of response
- 👎 Expensive pricing compared to alternatives

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and account problems
- Incompatibility with newer iOS versions
- Slow upload and download speeds

**Requested features**

- Offline file access and editing
- Integration with more third-party apps
- Improved photo management and viewing
- Ability to selectively sync folders/files


### Google Drive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-drive/id507874739)

**Currently charting:** #9 Top Free · Productivity, #14 Top Grossing · Productivity, #83 Top Free (US App Store)

Securely store, organize, and access your files from any device. Collaborate with others, scan documents, and search for content with ease. Offers advanced features for businesses and individuals.

**Highlights:** Secure cloud storage, File organization, Cross-device access, Document scanning, File sharing and permissions, Offline access, AI-powered insights (Workspace)

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 GB | $1.99 | per month |
| 100 GB | $1.99 | per month |
| 200 GB | $2.99 | per month |
| 200 GB | $2.99 | per month |
| Google AI Plus (2 TB) | $9.99 | per month |
| Google AI Plus (2 TB) | $9.99 | per month |
| 100 GB | $19.99 | per year |
| 100 GB | $19.99 | per year |
| 200 GB | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient cloud storage
- 🔒 Secure file backup
- 👍 Easy file sharing and collaboration
- 👍 Accessible from any device
- 🚀 Seamless integration with other Google apps

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable uploads and syncing
- 🔍 Difficult file organization and navigation
- 🔍 Limited editing capabilities within the app
- 🔋 High battery drain on mobile devices

**Reported bugs**

- Compatibility issues with older iOS versions
- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Inconsistent file upload and download performance

**Requested features**

- Allow bulk file/folder management
- Improve offline file access and editing
- Integrate more advanced productivity tools
- Enhance search and file organization features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SugarSync free?

SugarSync is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Google Drive free?

Google Drive is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SugarSync or Google Drive?

Google Drive is rated higher. SugarSync averages 3.2 out of 5 from 109 ratings, while Google Drive averages 4.8 from 7.8M ratings.

### Do SugarSync or Google Drive have ads?

SugarSync shows ads; Google Drive does not.

### Which is updated more often, SugarSync or Google Drive?

SugarSync ships an update every 5 months, and Google Drive weekly. Most recently, SugarSync was updated on September 10, 2026 and Google Drive on September 28, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*