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OneDrive service description

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OneDrive for work and school accounts is online storage space in the cloud that's provided for individual licensed users in an organization. Use it to help protect work files and access them across multiple devices. OneDrive lets you share files and collaborate on documents, and sync files to your computer. Learn more about OneDrive features, functionality, and pricing .

OneDrive is included in Microsoft 365 and Office 365 plans, in SharePoint plans, and can also be purchased as a standalone plan.

Available plans

For detailed plan information on subscriptions that enable users for OneDrive, see the Microsoft 365 business plan comparison and Microsoft 365 Enterprise plan comparison .

For detailed plan information on subscriptions that enable users for OneDrive and are currently available in European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland see the Microsoft 365 business plan comparison for EEA and Microsoft 365 Enterprise plan comparison for EEA .

Feature availability

The following table lists the major OneDrive features available across plans. Certain caveats apply. See the footnotes for further information. This table may change without notice. For a full list of feature availability across OneDrive plans, go to Microsoft OneDrive . More in-depth descriptions for some of these features will follow.

1 For information on OneDrive storage per user, you can check OneDrive in the Modern Work Plan Comparison or the Microsoft 365 User Subscription Suites for Small and Medium-sized Businesses . 2 Storage allocations in Education tenants may be limited. Please see Office 365 Education service description for details.

For technical information about OneDrive , check out the following resources:

• Microsoft OneDrive Blog
• For most subscription plans, the default storage space for each user's OneDrive is 1 TB. Depending on your plan and the number of licensed users, you can increase this storage up to 5 TB. For more information, see the Core features in Compare OneDrive cloud storage pricing and plans .

Supported uses

With OneDrive for Business, every person can easily store, access, and share their work files in their personal online storage space in the cloud. OneDrive for Business storage is provisioned on a per user basis and is designed to serve the needs of individual users.

Storage of data other than an individual's personal work files, including system back-ups and departmental and organizational level data, is not supported, nor is the assignment of a per user license to a bot, department, or other non-human entity. SharePoint is the best solution for more advanced content management and collaboration, including storing and managing files, communications, and intranet sites across a team or organization.

Licensing terms

For licensing terms and conditions for products and services purchased through Microsoft Commercial Volume Licensing Programs, see the Product Terms site .

To keep track of upcoming changes, including new and changed features, planned maintenance, or other important announcements, visit the Message Center. For more information, see Message center .

Accessibility

Microsoft remains committed to the security of your data and the accessibility of our services. For more information, see the Microsoft Trust Center and the Office Accessibility Center .

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Comparison of OneDrive for Business Plans

Plans   Features   FAQs Submit Your Requirements Talk to Our Experts

What is OneDrive for Business?

OneDrive for Business is used for file sharing and storage. You can store your files in OneDrive for Business, and access it from anywhere from any device. The files can be shared with other people on a permission basis.

OneDrive for Business is a suitable replacement for ‘My Documents’ folder of your local computer. Since each user can get unlimited storage at mere $10/month (see the plans below), why pay thousands of dollars in physical SAN storage? With your data files stored in the cloud, you avoid the possibility of data corruption due to hardware failure.

* Unlimited OneDrive storage for subscriptions of five or more users. Microsoft will provide initial 5 TB of OneDrive storage per user.

• ✓ Free consultation call
• ✓ 24/7 expert support
• ✓ Talk to Microsoft-certified experts

Why use OneDrive for Business?

OneDrive for Business is a better substitute for your physical storage devices. Here’s why:

Save massive storage costs

Integrate with other microsoft products, avail onedrive for business with.

OneDrive for Business (Plan 1) is available with following plans:

• Office 365 Business
• Office 365 Business Premium
• Office 365 ProPlus
• All Office 365 Enterprise plans: E1, E3, E5
• Plan 1 – With 1 TB storage
• Plan 2 – Unlimited storage (see the storage limits in plan above)

Use massive storage space

• 1000 hours of high-definition video
• 15,000 hours of online gaming
• 20,000 hours of HD audio
• Over 60,000 high resolution images
• Over a million e-books in your digital library
• Over a million Microsoft Office files including documents, spreadsheets, slides

Store 360 o panoramic images

Can you replace your company’s file server with onedrive for business.

You can move your user home folders, roaming profile folders, existing My Sites to OneDrive for Business. However, if you want to completely move your company’s file server, we suggest you to combine OneDrive for Business with SharePoint sites for better granular control of access rights and server settings. In case of individual user files, OneDrive for Business is perfect storage for you. It is similar to a personal library which can be shared only after permissions granted by you.

Now you may think, that’s all fine but is there anyone who is actually using OneDrive for Business? Well, here’s a little fact for you:

A Microsoft study reveals that more than 85% of Fortune 500 companies including Accenture, DBS, Textron, Shire use OneDrive for Business as their primary storage.

Businesses are rapidly transitioning towards cloud for every facet of technology including file sharing and storage. If you do not catch up now, you will be lost behind in this ever-changing technology scene.

So, what are you waiting for? Get OneDrive for Business now!

Need help? Call our experts who will help you find the right OneDrive for Business plan for you.

ALL OUR ONEDRIVE FOR BUSINESS PLANS INCLUDE

Free end-user support, 24/7 support via phone, chat, email, online knowledge base, savings on it costs, annual commitment, fully automatic updates, regular data backups, minimum 1 tb of online storage, security and reliability, tier-1 partner expertise, onedrive for business – frequently asked questions (faqs).

OneDrive for Business is a web service that offers resources for collaboration, communication and storage. It can be a one-stop storage solution for every file be it photos, videos, and documents. Store the files securely in one place and access them from anywhere. Using OneDrive for official purpose is known as OneDrive for Business.

What is the advantage of using OneDrive for Business?

The most basic advantages of OneDrive for business are – save a backup copy of your files, access your files from anywhere, easy switching between different devices, sharing files and collaborate with your colleagues from anywhere, and free access to Office Online.

Can I share my files or subfolders via OneDrive for Business?

Yes. It is possible to share your files and subfolders through OneDrive with a simple drag and drop. If you want to share an existing file stored in OneDrive to other people, you can simply click the ‘Share’ button, choose ‘Invite People’ and type the email addresses of the people you want to share files within the organization. You can also control access permissions in the drop-down menus.

What are the security features in OneDrive for Business?

Like all other Office 365 products, OneDrive for Business comes with a security guaranteed by Microsoft. It also has a specific security feature called OneDrive Personal Vault, which allows you to protect files with 2-step authentication. The steps can be biometrics with face or fingerprint recognition, PIN or OTP sent on your registered device. With Personal Vault, the security for OneDrive goes a notch higher.

What OneDrive for Business plan is suitable for my organization – Plan 1 or Plan 2?

Selecting the right OneDrive for Business plans depends on your business requirements. Large enterprises who have strict compliance requirements tend to go for Plan 2 as it offers advanced security and robust compliance features. In addition to all the features of Plan 1, Plan 2 includes unlimited storage space* (see conditions in the table), and compliance features like In-Place Hold and Data Loss Protection (DLP). If you are not very much concerned about the compliance features, you can opt for Plan 1.

How does OneDrive for Business work?

Getting started with OneDrive for Business is simple. Move files from your PC to OneDrive for Business by moving or copying them. The new files can be saved in OneDrive to Business so that it can be accessed from any device. All the business documents can be automatically saved to OneDrive for Business, so they are always backed up.

What is the difference between OneDrive vs OneDrive for Business? Are they same?

OneDrive is used for storing your personal files online which is managed by you. OneDrive for Business gives each member of your team a place to store documents, collaborate with colleagues, share files with SharePoint and is managed by your organization.

Like all other Office 365 products, OneDrive for Business comes with security guaranteed by Microsoft. It also has a specific security feature called OneDrive Personal Vault, which allows you to protect files with 2-step authentication. The steps can be biometrics with face or fingerprint recognition, PIN or OTP sent on your registered device. With Personal Vault, the security for OneDrive goes a notch higher.

Can I access OneDrive for Business from a web browser?

Yes. You can access your OneDrive for Business from a web browser, or you can download an app. It is compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS operating systems. With standalone OneDrive for Business, you also get web-based versions of MS Office.

Submit Your Requirements

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OneDrive for Business cloud storage review

Versatile, secure, responsive, and collaborative: it’s hard not to love onedrive.

Tom's Guide Verdict

OneDrive’s combination of collaborative features, advanced security protocols, cross-platform support, and Microsoft 365 integration make it our favorite cloud storage platform for business.

Highly secure

Integrates with Microsoft 365

AI capabilities

Fewer third-party integrations than competitors

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

Microsoft’s OneDrive is one of the most popular cloud storage platforms, not only for individuals and families, but also for businesses. A range of business-specific security and storage features make it ideal for organizations small and large. 

Our OneDrive for Business review looks at both the platform’s enterprise-oriented features and core offerings. We conclude that it is one of the best cloud storage platforms available, and among the best cloud storage for business for both collaboration and file sharing.

OneDrive for Business: Plans and pricing

Business pricing for OneDrive is delineated into three clear-cut plans, each catering to varying levels of professional needs. Two of these are standalone OneDrive offerings while one is a comprehensive Microsoft 365 subscription package.

For those primarily focused on file sharing and storage, OneDrive for Business (Plan 1) is the go-to choice at $5.00 per user per month , with an annual commitment. This plan grants each user 1TB of cloud storage on OneDrive, sufficient for basic storage and file-sharing necessities.

On the other hand, if a more collaborative work environment with additional Microsoft tools is desired, Microsoft 365 Business Basic at $6.00 per user per month (annual subscription) steps up the game. Besides the 1TB of cloud storage per user on OneDrive, this plan brings in web and mobile versions of fundamental Microsoft Office apps including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

For a more robust suite of applications and features, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, priced at $12.50 per user per month (annual subscription), is the prime option. It encompasses everything in Business Basic, along with desktop versions of the core Microsoft Office apps. This plan enhances user engagement with the ability to easily host webinars, attendee registration and reporting tools, and tools for creating personalized documents and professional layouts.

OneDrive for Business: Features

OneDrive’s most distinguishable feature is its integration with the Microsoft 365 suite. This makes it not only a cloud storage platform, but also a destination for cloud syncing and cloud backup. 

If your employee is working on a Microsoft Word document on one device, the changes they make will automatically appear on colleagues’ devices. This enables seamless collaboration, no matter whether you’re seated across a desk or hundreds of miles apart. This applies to all Microsoft 365 apps, including PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote. 

In fact, the platform even enables co-authoring with tracked changes and file versioning. The extent of the collaboration possibilities offered is one of OneDrive’s core strengths.

By leveraging machine learning with Microsoft Graph and Delve, OneDrive provides the most advanced and intelligent search functionalities of any cloud storage platform. Each of your employees will be shown a customized home screen based on their usage patterns and level of permissions.

Today, most businesses must comply with data management regulations of one sort or another, with the European GDPR being the most obvious example. Fortunately, Microsoft enables OneDrive customers to choose where they store their data, and even allows customers to store different files in different locations, making it easier for businesses to be compliant.

OneDrive for Business: Interface and in use

With applications available across most operating systems and devices, OneDrive is a leader in cross-platform functionality. Native applications are available on iOS, iPadOS, Windows 10, and Android. These apps are well-designed, and we’ve experienced very few performance issues in our use of each. Microsoft also offers a client for macOS that makes it easy to sync your files to OneDrive. 

Business leaders will also be pleased to know that OneDrive features one of the best web apps in the cloud storage market. It is well designed and highly responsive, and enables employees to quickly and easily access files from any computer, which is ideal for working on the go (or from home).

OneDrive for Business: Support

When you buy a Microsoft product such as OneDrive, you can expect top-notch support. Over several years, Microsoft has proved responsive to customer issues, and provides several options for accessing support. 

These include online chats, phone support, and an extensive help center featuring how-to guides, video tutorials, and community forums. Business customers are also able to access customized support options.

OneDrive for Business: Security

Microsoft is a leader when it comes to security, so choosing OneDrive for your business means your data will be stored with industry-leading encryption protocols, account securitization features, and data loss prevention capabilities. 

All files and data stored on the platform are encrypted both in-transit and at-rest, making it nigh-on impossible for unauthorized persons to decrypt and access your information, even if they manage to intercept or download the raw data. For even greater security, you can choose to store sensitive files in the Vault, a sub-folder within OneDrive that provides complete end-to-end encryption.

It’s also essential that your employee’s accounts are secure. This is because a hacker, if they access an employee’s account, can bypass encryption and access your organization’s data. Fortunately, Microsoft provides several features, such as two-factor authentication and administrator-mandated password changes, to minimize the risk of a hacking incident.

Alternatives to OneDrive for Business

•  IDrive vs Carbonite

•  Google Drive vs OneDrive

•  IDrive vs Backblaze

•  Google Drive vs Dropbox

•  IDrive vs Dropbox vs pCloud

•  OneDrive vs Dropbox vs Google Drive

The title of best cloud storage provider is hotly contested, and Microsoft OneDrive faces competition on many fronts. Speaking specifically of business-oriented platforms, competitors include platforms such as Google Workspace , pDrive , and Nextcloud . 

Google Workspace offers accessible and affordable cloud storage options that integrate with many applications and systems a business is already likely to use. Meanwhile, pDrive offers advanced end-to-end encryption for all files as well as impressive third-party integrations.

Nextcloud, an outlier in the cloud storage market, challenges OneDrive by offering software solutions for on-premises (on-prem) cloud storage infrastructure. For businesses operating in data-sensitive industries or where internet connections are unreliable, an on-prem solution may be more appealing.

OneDrive for Business: Final verdict

We think Microsoft OneDrive is the best cloud storage platform for businesses. It offers well-designed and responsive apps on almost all platforms, an impressive range of collaborative features, a best-in-class security framework, and full integration with the Microsoft 365 suite. 

If your business is considering investing in a cloud storage platform, we think OneDrive should be close to that top of your list.

Darcy is a freelance copywriter, and a candidate for the dual master's program between the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) in France and Peking University in Beijing, China. His academic and professional areas of interest include human rights and development, sustainable agriculture and agroecology, Pacific Islands diplomacy, and Sino-Australian relations.

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• Business Cloud Storage Reviews
• OneDrive for Business

Cloudwards.net may earn a small commission from some purchases made through our site. However, any earnings do not affect how we review services. Learn more about our editorial integrity and research process .

• Inexpensive
• Excellent productivity suite & user management
• Easy to use

OneDrive for Business Review

OneDrive for Business is a good, affordable EFSS option for SMBs that want full Office 365 integration yet don't want to pay too much. Check out our full OneDrive Business review for all the details.

OneDrive is one of the most popular cloud storage platforms available, and as you can see in our OneDrive review , it’s one of the best cloud storage options available. OneDrive for Business is equally impressive, earning a spot alongside some tough competition in our best business cloud storage guide. In this OneDrive for Business review, we’re going to explain why.

The short of it is that Microsoft includes a lot of functionality for very little money. Because of the native integration with Office 365, OneDrive for Business is a compelling offer for businesses willing to work in Microsoft’s ecosystem. If you want to choose the software your business uses, though, there are better options; our favorite is Egnyte (read our Egnyte Connect review ).

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Productivity suite & user management
• Full technical documentation
• Built-in automation
• Excellent security model
• Server-side encryption
• No encryption key management
• Few third-party integrations

Although other cloud storage solutions can play the role of a business hub with third-party integrations, OneDrive for Business offers everything you need through Microsoft’s suite of Office applications. That makes OneDrive a great value, and the applications within the ecosystem work well together. However, it also means that you don’t have a lot of choice in the business apps you use.

Office 365 for All

As we’ll get to in the next section, Microsoft clearly wants you to use its productivity apps. For example, the OneDrive Business Plan 1 is $5.00 per user per month, and it only includes OneDrive. Office 365 Basic is the same price with an annual commitment, except it includes OneDrive in addition to Microsoft’s other productivity apps.

Microsoft Office 365 is the center of the ecosystem, and OneDrive is just a part of it. Thankfully, Microsoft’s productivity apps are world class. Outlook is great for email — though short of a fully encrypted email application — and the suite of Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote ) have been staples of small business and enterprise outlets for decades. 

Because OneDrive is simply a part of the larger ecosystem, everything works seamlessly with your cloud storage solution. You can easily share files or folders with others in your business, sure, but also collaborate in real time with the Office 365 suite.

In addition to Office apps, Microsoft includes other services, like Microsoft SharePoint for web-based collaboration, and Teams, for keeping in contact with your coworkers. You can read SharePoint vs OneDrive comparison guide to learn more about these Microsoft products.

Frankly, the Office lineup of apps is second to none. Google Drive gets close with its range of productivity apps, but Microsoft still reigns supreme. The only thing missing from the lineup is a project management app (outside of Trello ), and unfortunately, you can’t solve that problem through third-party integrations. 

Slim Integrations

Cloud storage services that use server-side encryption usually do so to pave the way for third-party integrations (Box Business and Dropbox Business are two good examples of that). OneDrive has integrations but, as mentioned, Microsoft wants you using its own lineup of applications.

There aren’t many integrations. For example, Trello and Wrike are the only options for project management integration (we would’ve liked to see monday.com and Asana , too).

Compared to Box and similar services, Microsoft’s lineup of applications is slim. That’s because you have everything you need with the included Microsoft products. However, if you want to try out other office applications, you won’t be able to do so within OneDrive.

Although slim, OneDrive’s list of integrations isn’t barren. Vimeo integration allows you to upload video files from your drive with just a few clicks, and Autodesk support allows you to connect and share AutoCAD files through OneDrive. Microsoft includes a document signing tool in the form of DocuSign, as well as OneLogin for single sign-on, too.

The problem is that Microsoft includes only one or two integrations for each category. The lineup isn’t lacking — you have everything you need, small business or large. However, you don’t have the same choice in the apps your business uses compared to services like Box and Egnyte.

Powered by Azure

OneDrive for Business is powered by Microsoft’s Azure network. Azure is a global network on the scale of Amazon Web Services , hosting everything from OneDrive to Xbox’s Game Pass cloud streaming. We recommend reading our Microsoft Azure review if you want a full breakdown of the network.

There’s one key upside for OneDrive: because of the size of Azure, Microsoft is able to host your data in a decentralized way. That includes storing copies of your data for redundancy, but also separating your encrypted data from the encryption keys (we’ll talk more about that in the “security” section below).

OneDrive for Business Features Overview

Pricing: onedrive for business.

OneDrive for Business is one of the cheapest enterprise cloud storage solutions on the market. Compared to more expensive services like Tresorit, OneDrive is clearly a deal (read our Tresorit review for more). However, it also matches our other go-to recommendation for businesses on a budget: Sync.com (read our Sync.com for Teams review ).

• Price per user, 1TB storage, User count: 1 – 99+
• Price per user, Unlimited storage, User count: 1 – 99+

If you’re just interested in OneDrive, there are two options: Plan 1 and Plan 2 (we don’t make the names, folks). Between them, there are only two main differences. 

Plan 1 comes with 1 TB of storage per user, while Plan 2 comes with “unlimited” storage (there are limits, technically, though you’ll probably never hit them). Plan 2 also comes with features like file auditing and data retention, both of which are absent from Plan 1. 

Just so we’re clear, the limits kick in once subscribers with five or more users hit 1TB of storage per user. Microsoft will continue to increase that limit up to 25TB per user, at which point it’ll start handing out storage as 25TB SharePoint team sites to individual users.

It’s hard to justify either of those plans, though. Microsoft 365 Business Basic is the same price as OneDrive Plan 1, and Business Standard is only slightly more expensive than Plan 2. Both include some of Office 365. Microsoft clearly wants you in its ecosystem, and like Google, is willing to slash prices to get you hooked (read our Google Drive review to see this playbook in action).

The pricing shows that Microsoft wants you to purchase a 365 bundle, but Microsoft goes further. Unlike the OneDrive for Business pricing, the 365 plans allow you to sign up month-to-month, and you can try out Business Standard for free for one month (something that isn’t present on any of the other plans).

Microsoft 365 Business

Both Microsoft 365 Business plans come with more Microsoft apps. The Basic plan is restrictive, with Microsoft Teams, Exchange, and SharePoint, along with the web versions of Office apps, while the Standard plan includes everything, including desktop versions of Office apps.

If you need advanced security and deployment features, there’s Microsoft 365 Business Premium, too. At $20 per user per month, it’s pricey. However, with remote access wipe and data loss prevention measures, it’s worth it.

When it comes to price and storage, no one beats OneDrive, and only a small handful of services match it (Sync.com among them). Box Business is around the same price, though with far less storage space, and although pCloud Business is close, it’s still more expensive than OneDrive.

We do have one issue with Microsoft 365 Business Standard. Unlike OneDrive for Business Plan 2, which includes unlimited storage, Business Standard caps you at 1TB. We expected to see the unlimited storage feature on Business Standard as well, as it’s Microsoft’s flagship offering. If you need unlimited storage, give MEGA or Dropbox Business a look.

Ease of Use

As cloud management software, the OneDrive for Business desktop app is a little thin. You can manage a few settings, such as choosing a bandwidth limit when you upload and download files from the cloud. Overall, though, the OneDrive app is mainly there to allow you to quickly see your files from the taskbar.

We’ll talk more about syncing and sharing in the next section. For this section, know that Microsoft makes OneDrive very easy to use. Sharing and moving files around is as intuitive as using Windows File Explorer. Even compared to providers like Egnyte , OneDrive integrates seamlessly into your desktop experience.

However, the desktop experience is light. As we’ll get to in the next section, there are a few options for sharing and syncing. Most of your time with OneDrive on desktop, though, will be spent editing the files stored in your account, not configuring the service. If you’re an admin, you’ll need the web app for that.

If you have more than one OneDrive account, our dedicated guide will show you how to manage multiple OneDrive accounts .

You can do quite a bit more with the web application, including creating shared libraries for various users on your team. You can automate tasks in the web app, too, which we’ll get to in a moment. 

As mentioned in the “features” section above, Office 365 is the center of the ecosystem, so you have quick access to the various other services included with an Office 365 Business Premium subscription (or whatever plan you choose). Among them, the most important option is “admin.”

There’s a lot in the admin center, from settings for Azure Active Directory to SharePoint. For OneDrive, the two most important are “users” and “groups.” When you add a new user, you can manage their access to what’s stored in your account. Once you have your users set, you can organize them into groups, too.

That’s standard fare for any cloud storage service, but Microsoft goes further. Your users and groups work across your entire subscription. That means you can choose which products your users have access to, how they’re organized in Microsoft Teams and more. The level of control is, frankly, unmatched. 

Thankfully, there are a few ways to automate user management (as well as various other tasks in your Office 365 account). First, you can create user templates to make onboarding simple, and even add multiple users at once. Additionally, admins can set roles for users, reset passwords and more, all from the admin center. 

OneDrive Business really comes into its own with Power Automate, which is essentially a Visual Basic scriptor. Using a flowchart, you can connect Microsoft’s own applications with any integrations you have to automate various tasks. Microsoft includes a massive library of templates to get started, but you can create your own, too.

For example, there’s a template for automatically saving Outlook email attachments to your OneDrive account. That’s a simple example, but the possibilities are almost endless. Once you’ve set up your automated system, you can view analytics and troubleshoot them. Even better, Power Automate is never more than a few clicks away with Microsoft’s ecosystem. 

File Sharing & Syncing

OneDrive syncing works in the same way as Dropbox . Once you sign up for a OneDrive for Business Plan, you’ll be prompted to download a OneDrive application, as well as deploy the same application for all of your employees. From there, users can upload files into OneDrive using the folder the application creates. 

Everything syncs automatically, but files don’t automatically take up space on your computer. Files can either be available only when you’re online, available offline as long as you’re editing or available offline all the time. We like the middle option most, as you can download and edit files stored in OneDrive temporarily, then free up space on your hard drive when you’re done.

If for some reason your files don’t automatically sync, you can always manually sync them using the OneDrive web application. Additionally, OneDrive for Business supports block-level sync . With block-level sync, you don’t need to reupload an entire file whenever you make changes to it. Rather, OneDrive will only update the changes inside your file storage.

Sharing Is Simple

File sharing is just as simple. Once you’ve created a sync folder, simply right-click on a file in that folder and select “share.” You can share internally with other users on your account, or generate a link to share externally. Additionally, you can set a password and expiration date for the shared link. 

OneDrive for Business allows you to request external files, too. You can click on any folder in your account to generate a file upload link, then automatically email that link. Users outside of your network can use it to upload files, all without having access to your OneDrive account.

To test OneDrive’s speed, we used a 1GB test folder filled with various file types like photos, movies, text documents and more. We uploaded and downloaded the file twice, then averaged the results. Before running the tests, we measured our internet connection speed at 450 Mbps download and 19 Mbps upload on a hardwired connection.

With those speeds, we’d expect an average download time of 18 seconds and an average upload time of seven minutes and 32 seconds.

Thankfully, OneDrive doesn’t stray too far from those numbers. Our average upload clocked in at seven minutes and 43 seconds, just 11 seconds longer than our expected time. The gap is even shorter with our download time results, with OneDrive averaging nine seconds longer than our expected result. 

That’s not too surprising, though, especially compared to other cloud storage platforms that use server-side encryption (read our Icedrive review for an example). OneDrive simply doesn’t have to deal with the level of overhead of a service with client-side encryption. 

We’re giving OneDrive high marks for speed — it earned them. However, with Microsoft’s Azure network powering the service, the speeds aren’t surprising. OneDrive is fast. However, it’s no faster than Google Drive and Dropbox . 

Security & Privacy

Microsoft OneDrive for Business doesn’t have a zero-knowledge encryption model, but it has something close. Instead, Microsoft employs a “zero-standing access” policy. In short, this policy means that engineers can only access your account if it relates to a specific request. Microsoft even goes so far as to segment engineers into access levels, and all but one of them are separated from your data. 

To be clear, these clearances are only granted in response to something, so Microsoft can’t poke around in your account whenever. Still, it’s worth keeping in mind that OneDrive Business is hosted in the U.S., which has some privacy implications (we’ll get to those soon).

As for encryption, Microsoft uses industry-standard 256-bit AES for data at rest (read our description of encryption for more). In transit, Microsoft protects your data with an SSL/TLS channel using 2048-bit keys. When it comes to the encryption practices on OneDrive for Business, everything checks out. 

It’s how Microsoft stores your data that stands out. As mentioned, OneDrive Business uses Microsoft’s Azure servers for file hosting, and Microsoft has a lot of Azure servers available.

The security model takes advantage of the breadth of servers available to OneDrive Business, separating your data and encryption keys and storing them on physically separated servers. Microsoft also copies your encrypted data across multiple servers for redundancy.

OneDrive also doubles up on encryption. In addition to encrypting every file in your account individually, Microsoft also encrypts the disk your file is stored on using BitLocker. BitLocker sits among the best encryption software , and it’s a standard feature in Windows 10 . It’s nice to see the same tech at work in the data center.

The Privacy Dilemma

Privacy is a sticky situation for Microsoft, and not for the same reasons as Dropbox . Microsoft is respectful of user privacy, at least compared to Google Drive and similar services. However, as a company based in the U.S., Microsoft is part of the Five Eyes and is still required to comply with law enforcement under the CLOUD Act . 

Microsoft is doing its part, though. Like all web hosting and cloud storage services, Microsoft collects data about you and the users on your account. However, the terms of use prohibit Microsoft for using this data for user profiling, advertising and market research purposes.

Additionally, Microsoft offers a global network of servers to its OneDrive Business customers, so you can choose where your files in the cloud are hosted. In fact, Microsoft defended a user against a U.S. search warrant for data hosted outside of the U.S. Even better, Microsoft won .

Microsoft even extends GDPR to users around the world. Compared to other cloud-based services, OneDrive is certainly on the right side of the privacy problem. However, you still have to take Microsoft at its word. More so than other cloud storage solutions, Microsoft is transparent in how it collects and uses your data.

Without client-side encryption, though, there isn’t a clear separation between Microsoft and your data. The zero-standing access privacy policy helps with that problem a little bit, and given how fast and convenient OneDrive is, it’s a reasonable tradeoff. However, it’s not as safe as a proper zero-knowledge model like Tresorit offers.

Customer Service

OneDrive for Business comes stocked with a robust support system. However, Microsoft’s approach is mostly hands-off. Support starts in your OneDrive admin center. There, under “health,” you’ll find the “service health” page. In addition to checking server status, the service health page also has any advisories or alerts that might be impacting your service. 

It sounds small, but Microsoft keeps a detailed history of widespread issues on the service health page. You can also report an issue directly on the service health page, contributing to other businesses’ health reports. 

As far as solving problems, Microsoft has an impressive knowledgebase, though most of the articles are targeted at Microsoft’s personal products.

Business admins need Microsoft Docs. As a business admin, you have access to an encyclopedic library of technical documentation, not only covering Microsoft’s consumer- and business-facing products, but also the services that power those products.

That includes everything from practical deployment guides to dense technical documentation about utilizing Microsoft’s various APIs. The document center is Microsoft’s services on paper. Outside of troubleshooting, it provides everything you could ever want to know, not only about OneDrive, but about everything Microsoft does.

Admin Center

Although it’s clear Microsoft wants you to use its self-help resources — it makes them worth using — there are contact options available. In the admin center, you can find help under the “support” tab. Microsoft offers support over the phone and by email.

When you create a service request, you first have to search for your problem amid Microsoft’s documentation — or use an A.I.-driven live chat, which accomplishes the same thing.

If your problem isn’t solved, you can put in a request for someone to contact you by phone or email. Microsoft even provides estimates for how quickly you’ll get a response for each. You can also attach up to five files to your request and view a filterable log of your previous requests.

It’s hard for the support system to feel cohesive across the board, though. With so many business and personal services — and a lot of overlap between them — it’s a feat that Microsoft manages to organize its support system at all. 

The support system works well, and with its scale, it’s extremely impressive. You just have to know where to go. Trying to work through Microsoft’s support chain outside of the admin center is an exercise in patience.

The Verdict

OneDrive for Business is an objectively great deal. For less than $15 per user per month, you not only get access to a robust cloud storage platform, but also Microsoft’s entire ecosystem of business applications. There are tiered discounts, so company size may be a small issue. Overall, though, OneDrive for Business is a great value .

It’s not perfect, though. There are cheaper options if all you’re looking for is storage, and some of them even offer client-side encryption. It’s a difference in approach, so we’re not knocking OneDrive for Business here. However, that difference in approach may not align with what your business needs. 

What do you think, though? Are you going to give the free trial a shot? Let us know in the comments below and, as always, thanks for reading.

• Is OneDrive Good for Business? As long as you’re willing to use Microsoft’s suite of productivity tools, OneDrive for Business is an excellent cloud storage platform at a great price.
• What Is the Difference Between OneDrive and OneDrive for Business? OneDrive for Business is for multiple users, while standard OneDrive is for personal use. Additionally, Business subscribers have access to deeper management, integration and automation tools.
• What Is the Cost of OneDrive for Business? There are two OneDrive for Business plans: Plan 1 and Plan 2. Plan 1 costs $5 per user per month, and Plan 2 costs $10 per user per month. You can also get OneDrive as part of an Office 365 subscription, which ranges anywhere from $5 to $20 per user per month.

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Setup OneDrive for Microsoft 365 for business

OneDrive is your online cloud storage within Microsoft 365. It lets you store your individual work files that you don't want your colleagues to have access to unless you choose to share the files with them. OneDrive is part of Windows, so it's simple to make sure all of your computer files are saved to OneDrive, so you can access them from anywhere.

Sign into OneDrive

It's simple to access OneDrive from any web browser. Just sign in with your Microsoft 365 account. 

Go to microsoft365.com and sign in.

In the app launcher, select OneDrive.

Any files you've uploaded to OneDrive will already be there. 

OneDrive basics

Navigation pane

Files is your home base where you can find all of your files and folders.

Recent shows the files you worked on last.

Shared are the files others have shared with you and the files you've shared with others.

Discover shows files that are trending around you from people you work with.

Recycle bin shows your deleted files and folders.

Shared libraries show files in recently visited Teams and SharePoint sites.

Select New to create files or folders.

Select Upload to add files or folders to your OneDrive storage.

Select Sort to change how you'd like to view your files.

Select View to change the view.

Select Information to see details like who Has Access and Activity . Or, hover the cursor over a file and information will appear.

Use keywords and tags to Search for files or folders.

Upload files to OneDrive 

Sign in to Office.com and go to OneDrive.

Select My Files .

Choose where you want to upload a file or folder.

Select Upload > Files or Folders .

Find what you want to upload and select Open .  Or, you can select files or folders on your computer and drag them into the OneDrive web browser window.

Set up OneDrive on your computer

When you have OneDrive set up on your computer, it can mean that the files on your computer are backed up to OneDrive, letting you access them from anywhere. 

Select Start and search for OneDrive.

Sign in with your Microsoft 365 account.

Follow the prompts and finish the setup process.

After you finish the setup process, your OneDrive folder will show in your File Explorer. It works a lot like any other folder on your computer. Add a folder or file and it automatically syncs to your OneDrive cloud storage.

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Microsoft OneDrive cheat sheet

If you have windows 10, you have onedrive. with this quick guide, you can learn how to back up, sync, and share files in onedrive..

Microsoft’s cloud storage, OneDrive , can back up your files online. It’s built into Windows 10. With it you can sync files on your Windows 10 PC to the cloud and to your other Windows PCs, your smartphone or tablet (with the OneDrive app for Android , iOS , or iPadOS installed), and even your Mac (via the OneDrive Mac app ).

It’s handy for collaboration, too. You can share files or folders in your OneDrive with anyone by sending them a web link to it. If it’s a Microsoft Office file, then you and others can collaborate on it with the web app versions of Excel , PowerPoint and Word . Anyone with a Microsoft 365 subscription can also use the desktop versions of these Office apps to work together on the file.

Here are the essentials for using Microsoft OneDrive on a PC. While these instructions focus on using OneDrive through Windows 10’s built-in File Explorer, OneDrive integrates similarly with Finder in macOS.

Let’s get started

When you sign in to your Windows 10 PC with a Microsoft user account, OneDrive is already activated by default. (If your company uses Outlook or you have a free account on Outlook.com, then you already have a Microsoft user account. If not, you can sign up for one for free.)

But if you don’t want to sign in to Windows 10 itself with a Microsoft user account, you can sign in to OneDrive separately with a Microsoft user account. Click the OneDrive icon (it looks like clouds) on the notification area of the taskbar and click the Sign in button to get started. (If you don’t see this cloud icon, it’s probably hidden on your taskbar. Clicking the upward pointing arrow should reveal it.)

Signing in to OneDrive. (Click image to enlarge it.)

Individuals get 5GB of OneDrive storage for free. You can upgrade to 100GB storage for $2 per month or purchase a Microsoft 365 plan, which includes the desktop versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, starting at $7 per month for 1TB of OneDrive storage. OneDrive plans for business start at $5 per user per month for 1TB of storage per user, as do Microsoft 365 plans for business. (See OneDrive and Microsoft 365 plans for individuals , business , and enterprise .)

OneDrive works the same way whether you’re using it through an individual, business, or enterprise account, except as noted below.

Store and sync files and folders

The primary way you’ll use OneDrive in Windows 10 is through File Explorer. When you open File Explorer, OneDrive appears in the navigation pane on the left. You can put your files in it by dragging and dropping them from another location, or by saving your documents, images, or other files to it from a Windows application.

You can access OneDrive files and folders in File Explorer.

When you put a file or folder into OneDrive on your PC, it is synced to the cloud. If you delete a file or folder in OneDrive on your PC, it’s deleted from the cloud as well.

If you change and save a file in OneDrive on your PC, the new version will replace the older version stored in the cloud. If you’re offline when you make changes, the newer version of the file will be synced to the cloud when you connect to the internet again.

Turn off syncing for a folder

By default, all files and folders in OneDrive on your PC sync to the cloud automatically. To change this, right-click the OneDrive icon on the notification area of the taskbar. From the menu that opens, click Settings . On the next panel, click the Account tab and the Choose folders link. On the next panel, uncheck one or more folders that you want to stop from syncing to the cloud.

Choosing which folders in OneDrive to sync.

Sync or unsync the Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders

OneDrive has a setting to back up the default Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders on your Windows 10 PC to folders with the same names in OneDrive. Confusingly, this setting may or may not be on when you sign in to OneDrive. (It depends on whether you’re using OneDrive for the first time, and if you’re signed in to your Windows 10 PC with a Microsoft user account or a local account that’s used only on your Windows 10 PC.) If this backup feature is on, then when you’re using Word, for example, your document files will be saved to the Documents folder in OneDrive.

To check if your Windows 10 PC’s Desktop, Documents, or Pictures folders are synced to OneDrive (and to unsync them if you want): Right-click the OneDrive icon on the taskbar’s notification area, then choose Settings , go to the Backup tab, and click the Manage backup button. The panel that opens will show if any of these folders are set to sync. Click Stop backup below the Desktop, Documents, or Pictures folder icon to stop that folder from syncing to OneDrive.

Click Stop backup below any folder to prevent OneDrive from backing it up.

Any folder that’s not set to back up will not have the “Stop backup” link but will instead have a blue checkmark. You can click the folder icon to uncheck it. Click Start backup to start syncing for the folders that are checked.

Make files available offline

By default, OneDrive won’t automatically download your files stored in the cloud to your Windows 10 PC. Instead, a file is downloaded when you select it or access it from an app — for example, when you use Microsoft Word to open a document stored in OneDrive. Microsoft calls this feature “Files On-Demand,” and it’s aimed at freeing up space on your PC’s hard drive.

But what if you know you’ll need access to files or folders when you’re not connected to the internet? You can right-click any file or folder and select Always keep on this device from the pop-up menu. A copy of that file or folder (and any files inside the folder) is downloaded to your PC’s storage drive so it’s always available, and it stays in sync with the copy that’s stored in the cloud.

You can also disable Files On-Demand so that all files in OneDrive also reside on your PC’s storage drive. Right-click the OneDrive icon on the notification area of the taskbar, then click Settings from the menu, click the Settings tab, and then under “Files On-Demand” uncheck Save space and download files as you use them .

Uncheck this box if you want all your files to be available offline.

Keep in mind that if you have a lot of files in your OneDrive, it may take a while for them to be downloaded to your PC, especially if any file is large in size.

Know the sync status of your files and folders

In File Explorer, OneDrive denotes the sync status of your files and folders with small icons beside their names.

OneDrive’s file status icons.

Shown from left to right in the image above:

• A cloud icon means this item is not actually on your PC’s storage drive. It’s only in the cloud.
• A file or folder that is synced (on your PC’s storage drive and in the cloud) has a green checkmark on a white circle.
• A file or folder that you’ve designated as Always keep on this device (as described in the previous section) has a white checkmark on a green circle. If you have Files On-Demand turned off, all of the files and folders in your OneDrive will have this status icon.
• When a file or folder is in the process of syncing to the cloud, the icon by its name will have two blue arrows animating in a circular motion.

To remove a file or folder in OneDrive on your PC’s storage drive but keep it in the cloud: Right-click its name, and from the menu click Free up space . Its status icon then changes to the cloud icon as described above. Doing this frees up the space on your PC’s storage drive that the file or folder took up. (This option isn’t available if you have Files On-Demand turned off.)

Selecting Free up space means files stored in the cloud won’t be downloaded until you click on them.

To view a log of recent file and folder syncs, click the OneDrive icon on the notification area of the taskbar. This opens a panel listing the files and folders that have been recently added, deleted, moved, or renamed in OneDrive.

The OneDrive app shows OneDrive files and folders that have recently been changed. (Click image to enlarge it.)

Share files or folders

In File Explorer, right-click the file or folder in OneDrive that you want to share. From the menu that opens, click Share next to the blue cloud icon. The “Send link” panel opens. Here you can copy a link to the file or folder to send out in various ways (email, IM, social media post, etc.), or you can invite specific people to view the file or folder.

The “Send link” pane lets you share files and folders with others.

Share a file or folder via public link

You have multiple options for sharing the link to the file or folder and setting restrictions on it, but the defaults and specific options available differ depending on whether you have an individual OneDrive or Microsoft account or one associated with a small business, enterprise, or school.

If you have an individual account, you will likely see “Anyone with the link can edit” near the top of the “Send link” screen. This means that anyone who has the link to your file or folder can view it, download a copy of it, forward the link to others, and make changes to the file or folder. For example, if it is a Word document, then a person viewing it can edit it with the web app version of Microsoft Word — or, if they have a Microsoft 365 account, they can edit it using the Word desktop app. This also means that when someone other than you edits your file or folder, those changes get synced to the copy in your OneDrive.

If you have a work or school account, you may instead see “Anyone with the link can view” on the “Send link” panel. This means that anyone who has the link to your file or folder can view it, download a copy of it, and forward the link to others, but they can’t make changes to the file or folder in your OneDrive.

To restrict others from editing: On the “Send link” panel, click Anyone with the link can edit . Then, in the “Link settings” panel that appears, uncheck Allow editing .

The “Link settings” panel lets you adjust the permissions for the link to a shared file.

To allow others to edit: On the “Send link” panel, click Anyone with the link can view . Then in the “Link settings” panel, check Allow editing . (If the box is grayed out, your organization has disallowed this setting.)

There are a few other options on the “Link settings” panel, but you can only use them if you’ve subscribed to at least a OneDrive business plan: “Set expiration date” lets you enter a date when you want the link to no longer work. “Set password” lets you enter a password which a person will need to provide in order to access your link.

Some work and school accounts have additional options on this panel, letting you choose to allow access for anyone with the link, only people in your organization with the link, only people with existing access to the file or folder, or only specific people. You may find as you adjust this setting that other options change. For instance, “Allow editing” may be unavailable when “Anyone with the link” is selected but become available when access is restricted to people in your organization.

Other options for enterprise accounts include letting others open a Microsoft Word document in review mode only, meaning they can suggest changes and add comments but can’t change the document directly, and blocking download of the shared file or folder.

After you’ve made your restriction selections, click the Apply button to return to the “Send link” panel. Click the Copy link button at the bottom of the panel. You can then paste this web link to your file or folder into a document, direct message, email, etc. to share with other people.

Share a file or folder with specific people only

If you’re uncomfortable sending out a link that anyone can share with others, you can instead invite specific people to the file or folder. On the “Send link” panel, enter their email addresses in the To: field. (If they’re in your contacts, you can just start typing their name and select from the suggestions that pop up.) Click the pencil icon to the right to switch from Can edit to Can view or vice versa. You can also enter a brief message for the recipients to read.

In the “Send link” panel, you can invite only specific people to have access to a shared file, and control whether they can edit or only view the file.

Click the Send button. An email will be sent to these people that contains a link to your file or folder that only they will be able to open.

Stop sharing

To stop sharing a file or folder: Right-click the shared file or folder and select Share . On the “Send link” panel, click the three-dot icon at the upper-right corner and select Manage access . On the smaller panel that opens, click the X to the right of the link and click Delete link . (With a work or school account, you might need to click the three-dot icon to the right of the link, then the X , then Delete link .)

Click the X next to the link to stop sharing the file.

And that’s it. You’re now ready to back up, sync, and share your files (and folders) using OneDrive on your Windows 10 PC.

This article was originally published in February 2018 and most recently updated in September 2021.

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Howard Wen ( www.howardwen.com ) is a longtime contributor to Computerworld . He specializes in explainer guides, how-tos, and reviews of office applications and productivity tools.

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OneDrive for Business Plan 2 Storage Limit 25TB

Hi, I am working with the Microsoft Support team and I can't seem grasp on idea of "Unlimited" storage what Microsoft is referring to? 

Can someone understand this have you done beyond 25TB on OneDrive?  I was planning to upload 70TB worth video archive files to OneDrive P2, but the support told me OneDrive P2 is limited to 25TB and I need to create SharePoint TeamSite which is also limited to 25TB. So where is the "Unlimited" storage? 

Report abuse

• Microsoft Agent |

Hi Munsu71,

You may have received an email/reply to your question with a number suggesting that you call Microsoft. Do NOT call, it’s a scam. The phone number does not belong to Microsoft, the scam post has been deleted and the user’s profile is inactive now.

Further, according to support article, when you need cloud storage for individual users beyond the initial 5 TB, admins can  open a case with Microsoft technical support  to request it. Additional cloud storage will be granted as follows:

• When a user has filled their 5 TB of OneDrive storage to at least 90% capacity, Microsoft will increase your default storage space in OneDrive to up to 25 TB per user.
• For any user that reaches at least 90% capacity of their 25 TB of OneDrive storage, additional cloud storage will be provided as 25 TB SharePoint team sites to individual users.

For detailed information, see OneDrive service description

Reference: Compare OneDrive plans

When they say unlimited, I believe it means they can increase the storage to a certain limit in Plan 2 whereas for other OneDrive plans (such as Plan 1), the storage is fixed to 1 TB per user.

If you need any help, let me know. Have a nice day and stay safe 😊

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SharePoint vs. OneDrive: How Are They Different?

Quick links, different target audiences, file sharing and collaboration, security and privacy, pricing and storage, more advanced features, which one should you use.

• OneDrive is a cloud-based file-hosting service tailored for individual private data storage. SharePoint is geared towards improving collaboration within teams.
• OneDrive offers a free storage plan, but SharePoint does not. SharePoint's basic plan offers 1TB of storage at $5 per user, whereas OneDrive's basic plan offers 100GB for $1.99 per month.
• Choose OneDrive if you can get by with limited storage and collaboration. Opt for SharePoint for extra storage, team collaboration, and advanced features.

Keeping your data safe, making sure you can access it from anywhere, and sharing it with others are key to modern work. Microsoft offers two tools for this: OneDrive and SharePoint. But how do they differ, and which one is best for you? Let's look at what sets them apart.

Microsoft OneDrive is a cloud-based file-hosting service aimed at individuals or small teams. You can use it as a personal storage space for the confidential data that you share with a small group of people. Its smooth integration with Office applications makes it a great pick if you’re a student, freelancer, or self-employed.

Microsoft SharePoint is a cloud-based content management system for streamlined team collaboration. You can create SharePoint sites to store files and make them available to specific departments or an entire organization. Individuals on a SharePoint site can view and, depending on permissions, edit the work of others.

Microsoft advertises these products differently. It markets OneDrive as a cloud storage service for individuals and small businesses. In contrast, SharePoint targets enterprises and corporations, focusing on improving teamwork rather than serving solely as a storage solution.

Collaboration and file sharing are much smoother with Microsoft SharePoint. In OneDrive, only the file owner can control who sees, edits, and shares a file . SharePoint lets a central admin assign different levels of access permission to individual users or teams.

SharePoint has an intuitive interface and features like status updates, deadline alerts, and project tracking notifications. These simplify project management in ways that OneDrive does not offer. You can also integrate Yammer—a social networking service—into SharePoint. Doing so enables team members to communicate directly.

While both platforms let users create file libraries to organize content, it’s easier to manage and navigate them in SharePoint. This is a more important consideration as the volume of data scales up. So if you prioritize easy collaboration and file sharing, SharePoint is the way to go.

Both OneDrive and SharePoint let you access your data from any device, regardless of your location. They both support syncing with devices, enabling you to transfer your data for local use on any device if needed. As such, both platforms offer essentially the same features in this area.

Microsoft has taken solid measures to ensure the security of both services. With real-time data encryption, you can back up your data on SharePoint and OneDrive. Moreover, if you accidentally delete a file, you can recover it from the recycle bin on both platforms. However, in SharePoint, you can only recover files that you can edit.

Microsoft uses a virus detection engine to scan files uploaded to SharePoint and OneDrive. This helps protect your files and online storage space. If it detects an infected file, each service will notify users immediately. SharePoint administrators can block users' access to any infected files in the database.

Despite these security measures, you should be aware of potential risks when sharing files on either platform. Avoid accidental file sharing with unauthorized members and carefully manage edit permissions to prevent data loss and theft. You should also refrain from oversharing to simplify data management and security.

On its free plan, OneDrive provides a storage space of 15GB, which should be enough for individual use. If you need more storage, you have two options. You can subscribe to Microsoft 365 Basic , which offers 100GB at $1.99 per month. Or you can opt for Microsoft 365 Personal, which offers 1TB of storage at $6.99 per month.

The standalone plan of OneDrive is called Microsoft 365 Basic. Keep this in mind to avoid any confusion.

In contrast, SharePoint does not offer a free plan. Its standalone package costs $5 per user per month, providing storage space of up to 1TB for each user. Alternatively, you can buy SharePoint as part of a Microsoft 365 business plan. This offers administrators up to 25TB of site storage space.

SharePoint's pricing and storage space make it preferable for team collaboration. OneDrive, especially with its free plan, is better suited to the needs of individuals.

SharePoint offers several advanced features that OneDrive does not. Its web publishing feature lets you publish important documents directly on your company's external website using the built-in content management system. This lets employees or consumers download such documents, whenever they need.

SharePoint also lets you add apps to internal or website pages, create employee portals, review forms, and more. It also lets you automate tasks based on user actions, like emailing new files to a specific team or project leader. OneDrive doesn't offer this feature.

Check out a few more things you can do with Microsoft SharePoint that might not be possible with OneDrive.

If you're an individual without a team, or a small business owner who doesn't need extensive collaboration and large storage space, OneDrive could meet your needs. However, SharePoint will be better if you manage a large team that requires frequent collaboration and more data storage.

You can also use both services since the SharePoint plan includes OneDrive. You can use OneDrive to store confidential company documents like business plans and financial records and restrict its access to a few members. Meanwhile, you can create a SharePoint site to collaborate on less-sensitive documents such as policies, schedules, and training data.

Additionally, you can sync OneDrive with SharePoint, making it convenient to use both tools and Microsoft Teams to improve your team's collaboration .

In summary, OneDrive is best suited for personal use, while SharePoint is better for larger team collaborations.

The rise and fall of Allbirds: The sneaker company whose stock went from IPO darling to trading below $1

• Allbirds was founded in 2015 and soared to prominence with its iconic wool sneaker.
• The company went public in November 2021. Shares rose 90% on the opening day of trading.
• Sales have since slowed significantly. The company reported a 14.7% decline in revenue for 2023.

Allbirds' struggles continue to mount.

The shoemaker reported another quarter of disappointing earnings in March, wrapping up a dismal fiscal year that saw a net loss of $152.5 million.

Then, in April, the company received notice that its stock is at risk of delisting from the Nasdaq exchange for trading below $1 for 30 consecutive days.

Here's a history of Allbirds and how it went from a buzzy sustainable footwear brand worn by tech bros and VCs to a company on the brink.

Tim Brown and Joey Zwillinger cofounded Allbirds in 2015 as a sustainable-footwear company

According to its initial filing with the SEC , Allbirds' mission was to "make better things in a better way, through nature." 

Zwillinger previously worked as a vice president of industrial products at a biotechnology company

Brown's background included serving as the vice-captain of New Zealand's soccer team.

Allbirds roared to life in 2016 with a Kickstarter campaign that hit its $30,000 goal in five days.

The company ended up raising nearly $120,000 to make a wool running shoe designed to make a lighter environmental impact than traditional athletic shoes.

In 2016, Allbirds received B Corp certification, a designation given to companies that work to advance environmental and social causes, and shareholder concerns.

For Allbirds, the designation codified, "how we take into account the impact our actions have on all of our stakeholders, including the environment, our flock of employees, communities, consumers, and investors."

In only its second year in business, Allbirds gained the title of world's most comfortable shoe.

Time magazine said Allbirds' hero product, the Wool Runner, was the "World's Most Comfortable Shoes."

By 2017, Allbirds, Warby Parker, and Casper were considered among the "DTC pioneers" shaking up their respective industries — sneakers, eyeglasses, and mattresses.

By 2018, direct-to-consumer business plans proliferated. In 2018, Inc. reported that more than 400 startups were trying to "become the next Warby Parker."

Allbirds sneakers became synonymous with Silicon Valley dressing

In August 2017, Allbirds got another shot of national publicity when The New York Times described Wool Runners as part of the Silicon Valley uniform.

A month later, Allbirds opened its first store,

The 1,450-square-foot store is located in New York City's Soho neighborhood. In 2022, the company operated 58 stores.

By 2020, Allbirds' popularity had spread well beyond Silicon Valley. President Barack Obama was spotted wearing Wool Runners repeatedly.

But the shoe started to fall out of favor with the trendsetters and the press, with GQ even lamenting the sight of Obama wearing them . "Can't someone send him a pair of Jordans?" the magazine wrote.

Allbirds launched the Dasher in 2020.

With the success of Wool Runners waning, Allbirds launched its first performance-running shoe, called the Dasher, in May 2020. Gear Patrol called it "shockingly good."

Also in 2020, Allbirds partnered with Adidas to make a low-carbon shoe, another sign of the company's willingness to disrupt industry norms.

Large footwear brands are typically reluctant to partner with one another. The shoe, called the Adizero x Allbirds 2.94 kg CO2e, had the lowest carbon footprint of any Adidas or Allbirds sneaker.

In August 2021, ahead of a public offering, Allbirds disclosed growing annual sales, but also mounting losses.

Sales increased from $193.7 million in 2019 to $219.3 million in 2020, but losses also increased , growing from $14.5 million in 2019 to $25.9 million in 2020. 

Allbirds went public in 2021.

A little more than 2,100 days after it launched its Kickstarter campaign, Allbirds went public on November 3, 2021. Shares soared 90% on the opening day of trading, CNBC reported, a sign of Wall Street's bullish outlook for the company.

Allbirds dropped claims about being the first "sustainable" IPO.

After the Securities and Exchange Commission objected, Allbirds dropped claims about being the first "sustainable" IPO, the Financia l Times reported in November 2021.

Allbirds launched wholesale in 2022.

Although it was launched as a direct-to-consumer company, in May 2022, Allbirds announced its first wholesale partners , Zalando and Public Lands, then Nordstrom — a signal that DTC sales would not be enough to get the company to profitability.

As Allbirds started to add wholesale partners, the backlash started to build against DTC companies.

"It's the de-DTC era," said Simeon Siegel, the managing director for equity research at BMO Capital Markets. Analysts, such as Siegel, said the benefits of direct sales were often overstated.

As DTC companies started to fall out of favor, and investors started to pay more attention to profitability, Allbirds stock started to drop.

Allbirds shares, which hit $28.64 on the company's first day of trading, had fallen to under $5 fewer than eight months later . Stock pickers said the company needed to expand beyond Wool Runners.

In 2022, Allbirds officially lost its novelty in Silicon Valley wardrobes.

Roughly five years after The New York Times christened Wool Runners part of the Silicon Valley uniform, The Wall Street Journal in December 2022 said that "tech bros" had moved on.

In March 2023, Allbirds shares plummeted 47% after a disastrous earnings report that included a $101 million annual loss.

On a call with stock analysts, executives announced a sweeping four-part reorganization , including slowing the pace of store openings, adding more wholesale partners , and working to "reignite product and brand." Co-CEO Joey Zwillinger also said some of the company's marketing veered too far away from what Allbirds consumers want, including marketing for the Tree Flyers, above, which focused on its technical-performance attributes.

Allbirds began to rethink its big bet on DTC.

As part of the reorganization plan, Zwillinger said the company was considering adding more wholesale partners . By then, the company's wholesale partners included Nordstrom, REI, Scheels, and Dick's.

In 2022, while still based in San Francisco, Allbirds quietly opened an office in Portland, Oregon, to take advantage of the city's talented-footwear workforce. Nike is based in a Portland suburb, and Adidas has its North American headquarters in the city.

Allbirds hired several Nike and Adidas veterans to run the office, including Ashley Comeaux, who spent more than 10 years at Nike before becoming Allbirds' vice president of product design.

In early 2023, Allbirds released a string of products designed and developed by Comeaux and her team, including Risers, Pacers, and SuperLights, which lack a Strobel board, a manufacturing innovation designed to reduce carbon emissions and improve comfort.

Risers and Pacers have already gotten strong reviews from Insider.  Although the new products have been well-received, shares of the company remain well below the $15 IPO price, trading for $1.23.

In March, Allbirds announced disappointing earnings and Zwillinger told analysts that the company had lost focus on its core.

Since then, the company has focused on its best-sellers, the Wool Runner and Tree Dasher, while it discontinued underperforming products like much of its apparel, the Wall Street Journal reported. 

In June, the company released what it said was the world's first carbon-negative shoe , which it calls the M0.0NSHOT.

In May, Allbirds announced a leadership shakeup, as co-founder Tim Brown said in an analyst call he would no longer be co-CEO of the company.

Brown said he would be stepping into the role of chief innovation officer of the company, leaving fellow co-founder Joey Zwillinger as the sole CEO of the company.

The company also laid off 21 employees globally in May, it said in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

The shoe company generally had a disappointing start to 2023. The company reported a 13% decline in year-over-year revenue in the first quarter.

'As we've tried to expand and grow the brand, we created products that haven't quite met the mark,' Brown told The Wall Street Journal.

In a July article, Brown and Zwillinger told the Wall Street Journal that their attempts to appeal to customers younger than its 30- to 40-year-old base didn't go over well. The Tree Flyer was one of those attempts that missed the mark. 

The company reported second-quarter earnings were above expectations. Sales fell 10% compared to a projected 18%.  

"We laid out a road map for our strategic transformation back in March, and now two quarters into our work, we have gained traction and are solidly on track to drive toward profitability expectations," Zwillinger said in an August earnings call. 

In November, Allbirds released an updated version of its first Wool Runner.

The Wool Runner 2 has been updated with a new version of its SweetFoam midsole and improved durability, Retail Dive reported. 

Full-year earnings for 2023 were dismal indeed, with sales down 14.7% and a net loss of $152.5 million for the year.

The company also promoted COO Joe Vernachio to CEO, with Zwillinger stepping down to serve as a special advisor and remaining on the board of directors.

In April 2024, the company received notice that its stock faces possible delisting on the Nasdaq exchange. It has 180 days to improve the share price.

In a statement , Allbirds said its stock must trade above $1 for at least 10 consecutive days in the next six months in order to stay in Nasdaq's good graces.

Matthew Kish, Ben Tobin, and Jennifer Ortakales-Dawkins contributed to earlier versions of this article.

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