In May 2018, Google announced a rebrand of Google Drive involving its paid storage plans and a new name, Google One.
As of mid-August, the transition was complete for users in the U.S. People in other countries can sign up for updates about when they can get it in their areas.
Google hasn’t disclosed exactly when the global rollout will happen but mentions it’s on the horizon.
How Do Users Upgrade?
Google automatically updates paid Google Drive users to Google One and has been doing so over the last several months.
However, a person who fits into that category but doesn’t notice the new service yet or hasn’t gotten an email confirmation of the switch can click the blue “Upgrade” button in the right upper corner of the Google One homepage.
Also, people who aren’t paying for storage from Google yet but think they might in the future will only have the option to get plans from Google One. The previous premium plans branded under the Google Drive name have been replaced by the newer options explained below.
Lots of Storage at Affordable Prices
A look at the prices for storage plans shows how this upgrade affects the high-volume Google storage users most. It’s still possible to get 15 GB without paying anything. But, the Google One features and pricing are for paid users.
The lowest-tier storage option is $1.99 per month, and it gives people 100 GB. They can also double the amount for just a dollar more.
Notably, people who formerly used Google Drive probably remember how $9.99 per month gave them 1 TB of storage. Google One offers subscribers 2 TB for the same price instead — that’s excellent news for cost-conscious users with ever-growing collections of files.
Google provides a handy, color-coded breakdown of the amount of space used for certain kinds of content, such as Gmail messages or photos.
If users want more space, switching to another plan is as straightforward as clicking the “Get More Storage” button after logging into their accounts, then following the on-screen prompts. The largest possibility is 30 TB for $300 per month.
Regardless of which plans people pick, a breakdown of Google One’s prices versus competitors reveals that in the majority of cases, the deals are as good or better than what Apple and Amazon provide.
Share Allotted Space With Family Members
Another perk of Google One is the opportunity to split the available space of a plan with up to five family members. Participating individuals can see how much space each person uses but cannot view other people’s files.
Each family member gets a default 15 GB of storage — the same amount offered on a free plan. Once they go over that amount, the usage starts dipping into the shared storage space, and there are no limits to the storage an individual family member could use.
Google Unveils 24/7 Live Tech Support
Business users with access to G Suite accounts are accustomed to being able to get help from Google experts any time of day or night. However, with Google One, the company gives that perk to consumers for the first time with their paid subscriptions.
People in the U.S. can ask for live assistance with any Google product or service by phone, as well as through email and chat.
The company reportedly seeks to improve the service over time and currently offers one-tap access to Google tech support personnel. They haven’t given details about similar offerings for people in other countries.
The Promise of Discounts and Credits
Google mentioned other perks for Google One customers too but is vague about the details. The company’s help documentation discusses how to get hotel discounts already, though.
There was also a launch-based benefit of a $5 credit for the Google Play Store. As for the reduced accommodations, they could be up to 40 percent off the rates for people who don’t have Google One.
Content from Google also gives details about the availability of two different kinds of such benefits. The specifics are most relevant to people using their Google One accounts for family-sharing purposes.
Some benefits are only available to one person using the plan. In that case, the redemption happens on a first-come, first-served basis. However, there are other instances where no limits apply, so all participating family members can use them.
No Changes to How People Use Google Drive for File Storage
It’s important to clarify that despite the new name and more appealing price tiers, people will still interact with Google Drive as usual.
When Google published a blog post in May 2018 to announce the Google One, it clarified people would continue to use Google Drive to store and access their files as they always have.
Cheaper Rates and More Advantages
People love getting more for less, and that’s what Google One offers.
Even though it only recently became available in the U.S., the prices give people more storage than what they got for the same price as Google Drive.
Also, Google seems committed to improving the service and offering even more reasons for people to subscribe.
