We have published several articles that provide an overview and tips for using Google's increasingly popular cloud storage service and cross-platform application, Google Drive. Chris Hoffman has reviewed Google Drive for Android, and in this review I will cover the iPad version.

Google Drive is similar to the popularly used cloud storage service, Dropbox, but Drive includes built-in document creation features that are missing in Dropbox. And though Dropbox integrates with dozens of third-party applications, Google Drive contains convenient document sharing and collaboration features that Google and iPad users should be taking advantage of.

For this reason, we have listed the free Google Drive app on our Best of iPad Apps page.

Basic Features

Google Drive is a cross-platform application and service which provides users with 5 GB of free storage space for any type of files, including photos and videos, and you can add up to 25 GB of storage space for $24.99 per year. Google Drive for the iPad syncs and integrates with your online Mac and PC version of Google Drive.

google documents ipad

If you already have a Google account, you can get set up with Google Drive by navigating to the online application at drive.google.com. From there you can download the Google Drive client application for your computer, though you do not need to have the computer client installed to use the Google Drive app on your iPad device. To get set up with Google Drive for the iPad, simply download the app to your device and sign into your Google account.

google documents ipad app

Managing Files

You can manage files in the Google Drive app in much the same way you manage files on your computer or other devices. The sidebar of the app provides access to all your private files and folders, followed by shared content with other Google Drive users.

google documents ipad app

The Starred section of Google Drive consists of the selected items you have starred as favorites or most often used, and the Recent section will list all recently modified files.

Google Drive does not automatically download and store all of your content on your iPad. Instead you can designate files to be downloaded and viewed offline. This is especially useful if your iPad is Wi-Fi only. To enable offline access, tap on the arrow icon of the selected file, and then enable the Available Offline option.

google documents ipad app

Notice there is also a feature for sharing and providing access to other Google account users. You can tap on the Access + button and add the names, email addresses, or Google groups for whom you want to share the file with. You are also given options for allowing others to edit the document, leave comments or simply view the document (read-only mode) online or by accessing it on their Google Drive supported device.

google documents iphone app

There are additional features for files that you can access under the Actions button on the top-right of the app. From there you can also share, rename, remove, and relocate files to another folder.

google documents iphone app

All of your offline-designated documents can be accessed from the sidebar of the app.

The sidebar also includes a section for uploading photos and videos from your iPad to your Google Drive account. Simply tap on the Upload button and then the plus "+" button at the top, and from there provide Google Drive access to your photos and videos. If your iPad uses a built-in camera, you can snap photos from within Google Drive where they will be automatically uploaded to your account.

google documents iphone app

Unfortunately it is not possible to add documents from other apps on your iPad to your Drive account. And as far as I can tell at the time of this review, there are not many popular third-party iPad apps (like Evernote, Simplenote or WriteRoom) that integrate with Google Drive. Instead there are Drive-enabled apps in the Chrome Web Store that allow you to store data in your Google Drive.

Creating Documents

One of the advantages of using Google Drive over Dropbox is that it contains built-in document creation features. Tap on the plus "+" button at the top of the app to create a new document or spreadsheet.

The document editor includes a basic menu bar with tools for formatting and stylizing text. The editor also includes a powerful collaboration feature, in which you and other parties (with whom you have shared the document) can type and edit simultaneously in real-time. The people icon on the upper-right will list any current viewers of the document.

google documents ipad

Google Drive also indicates when someone is typing or editing a document to which you have given them access. All changes are automatically saved as you type and edit. Unlike the web version of Google Drive, you cannot access the revision history for documents on the iPad app. You can also create spreadsheets on the iPad app, but you can only view presentations, forms, and drawing documents on the device.

Google Drive typically syncs and updates files that are added to your account, but you can manually activate the syncing process by tapping on the Sync button on the top right of the menu bar for the app.

Download: Google Drive (Free) at the App Store

No doubt there will be additional updates and features to the Google Drive app, and as its popularity grows, it will integrate with popular iPad apps. Let us know what you think of Google Drive. Are you starting to use it more than Dropbox?