Google Drive vs iCloud:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Google Drive had more branded searches than iCloud among cloud storage services in New Zealand. Google Drive had about 166,000 branded searches, while iCloud had 40,400. Google Drive made up 52.1% of all cloud storage service searches we track, and iCloud accounted for 12.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about cloud storage services, Google Drive appeared in all five answers and iCloud in four. Google Drive was mentioned before iCloud in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Google Drive, about 4 searches for every 1 for iCloud
Who does AI mention more?
Google Drive, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Google Drive, named ahead of iCloud in every answer
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Top cloud storage services in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Google Drive appeared in all five answers. iCloud was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Google Drive was listed before iCloud in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Google Drive1st
OneDrive2nd
iCloud3rd
MEGA4th
Dropbox5th
Sync.com6th
WeTransfer–
Box–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Google Drive5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- OneDrive5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- iCloud4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Dropbox4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- MEGA3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Sync.com2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- WeTransfer0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Box0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about cloud storage services
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which cloud storage service should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best cloud storage services in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best cloud storage service in New Zealand for file storage and sharing?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“cloud storage nz”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“online file storage”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.
Is Google Drive or iCloud more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Google Drive and iCloud by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight cloud storage services we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Google Drive, iCloud. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Google Drive | OneDrive | iCloud | Dropbox | WeTransfer | MEGA | Box | Sync.com |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 51.9% | 19.3% | 12.9% | 8.8% | 7% | 0.15% | 0.03% | <0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 48.9% | 18.1% | 14.7% | 10% | 8% | 0.17% | 0.05% | <0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 44.1% | 16.3% | 19.4% | 11% | 8.8% | 0.23% | 0.06% | 0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 46.1% | 17.2% | 17.3% | 11.5% | 7.6% | 0.2% | 0.05% | 0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 50% | 18.6% | 12.8% | 10.2% | 8.2% | 0.14% | 0.04% | <0.01% |
| Mar 2026 | 53.7% | 20% | 11.1% | 9% | 6% | 0.13% | 0.04% | <0.01% |
| Apr 2026 | 48.9% | 18.2% | 14.6% | 10% | 8% | 0.21% | 0.04% | <0.01% |
| May 2026 | 49.9% | 22.6% | 12.3% | 8.4% | 6.7% | 0.18% | 0.04% | <0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 53.9% | 16.4% | 13.2% | 9% | 7.3% | 0.16% | 0.04% | <0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 51% | 18.9% | 13% | 8.6% | 8.4% | 0.15% | 0.06% | <0.01% |
| Aug 2026 | 57% | 17.3% | 11.5% | 7.8% | 6.3% | 0.11% | 0.04% | <0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | 52.1% | 19.3% | 12.7% | 8.7% | 7% | 0.15% | 0.06% | <0.01% |
How has the Google Drive and iCloud comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Google Drive was ahead of iCloud in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Google Drive’s share of searches among cloud storage services in New Zealand moved from 51.9% to 52.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 166K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, iCloud’s share of searches among cloud storage services in New Zealand moved from 12.9% to 12.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 41.4K to 40.4K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand cloud storage services in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, iCloud gained share of searches among cloud storage services in New Zealand, from 11.5% to 12.7%.
In September 2026, Google Drive lost share of searches among cloud storage services in New Zealand, from 57% to 52.1%.
How are branded searches counted?
22 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Google Drive’s and iCloud’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Google Drive
8 branded search terms
- google drive
- google drive app
- google drive backup
- google drive photos
- google drive storage
- googledrive
- googledrive storage
- my google drive
iCloud
14 branded search terms
- apple icloud
- find my icloud
- icloud
- icloud backup
- icloud cloud storage
- icloud contacts
- icloud drive
- icloud e mail
- icloud find
- icloud mail
- icloud microsoft
- icloud notes
- icloud storage
- sign into icloud
Other head-to-heads among cloud storage services
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