Mega vs Google Drive: 20 GB free vs 15 GB free, and then what?
Mega gives you more free space (20 GB against 15 GB) and encrypts your files so that only you hold the key. Google Drive is cheaper once you pay: 100 GB costs $1.99 a month or $19.99 a year, and 2 TB costs $9.99 a month, shareable with up to 5 other people. Mega’s paid plans start at $3.68 a month for 200 GB on a yearly bill, and get cheaper per terabyte as you go up. Prices checked November 13, 2026.
Key takeaways
✓ Prices checked November 13, 2026
| Mega | Google Drive (Google One) | |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 20 GB | 15 GB, shared across Drive, Gmail and Google Photos |
| Free transfer | “Limited transfer” (no fixed figure published) | No download quota published |
| Entry paid plan | 200 GB, $3.68/mo billed yearly (2.4 TB transfer) | Basic 100 GB, $1.99/mo or $19.99/yr |
| Mid plan | Pro Lite 750 GB, $5.52/mo yearly (12 TB transfer) | Google AI Plus (2 TB tier), $9.99/mo or $99.99/yr |
| Large plans | Pro I 3 TB $9.21/mo, Pro II 10 TB $18.42/mo, Pro III 20 TB $27.62/mo (yearly) | Google AI Pro 5 TB, $19.99/mo |
| Sharing storage | Check Mega’s site | Share with up to 5 others |
| Encryption | End-to-end, zero-knowledge by default | Encrypted by Google; Google holds the keys |
| Pricing page | See Mega price → | See Google One price → |
The free plans: Mega gives more, Google counts everything
Mega’s free plan is 20 GB of storage. Its pricing page lists the free plan’s transfer as “limited” and does not publish a fixed number, so if you plan to download large files often, expect to hit a wait.
Google’s free plan is 15 GB, and that space is shared by Drive, Gmail and Google Photos. If you keep years of email and phone photos on the same account, your real free Drive space is often much less than 15 GB.
Paid plans: Google is cheaper small, Mega is cheaper big
For a small upgrade, Google wins. Basic gives 100 GB for $19.99 a year, about $1.67 a month. Mega’s smallest paid plan is 200 GB for $3.68 a month billed yearly, about $44 a year. Double the space for a bit more than double the price.
At 2 to 3 TB, Mega pulls ahead on cost per terabyte. Google AI Plus is 2 TB for $99.99 a year, about $4.17 per TB each month. Mega Pro I is 3 TB for $9.21 a month billed yearly, about $3.07 per TB. Above that, Mega sells 10 TB and 20 TB plans. Google’s largest storage-led plan, AI Pro, is 5 TB for $19.99 a month; Google AI Ultra goes to 20 TB and up but costs far more.
Google’s 2 TB and 5 TB plans now carry the Google AI Plus and Google AI Pro names and bundle Gemini features. If you only want storage, you are paying for those extras too.
Privacy: the real difference
Mega encrypts files on your device before upload, and only your password unlocks them. Mega cannot read your files, and if you lose your password and recovery key, Mega cannot recover them either.
Google encrypts your files on its servers, but Google holds the keys. That is what lets Drive search inside documents, preview files and plug into Gmail and Docs. It is a convenience trade, not a flaw.
When Mega wins
You want the bigger free plan, you care that nobody but you can open the files, or you need 3 TB or more at the lowest cost per terabyte. Mega is a good fit for an encrypted archive you rarely touch.
When Google Drive wins
You live in Gmail, Docs and Sheets, you want an Android phone backed up, or you want to share one paid plan with family. Google’s 100 GB plan is also the cheapest way to get more than 20 GB.
Who should pick which
- Pick Mega if privacy comes first, you want 20 GB free, or you need large storage at the lowest price per terabyte.
- Pick Google Drive if you need up to 2 TB, want to split the bill with up to 5 others, or work in Google’s apps every day.
- Use both if you are staying free: 20 GB on Mega for private files plus 15 GB on Google for everyday documents costs nothing.
Related comparisons: Google Drive vs Dropbox, Proton Drive vs Sync.com, pCloud vs Icedrive, iCloud vs Google Drive, family cloud storage and the full cloud storage plans table.
Mega vs Google Drive FAQ
Is Mega better than Google Drive?
For free space and privacy, yes: 20 GB free and end-to-end encryption by default. For everyday use and small paid plans, Google Drive is better: 100 GB is $19.99 a year and it works inside Gmail and Docs.
How much free storage does Mega give?
20 GB, as listed on Mega’s pricing page on November 13, 2026. Google Drive gives 15 GB, shared with Gmail and Google Photos.
Is Mega free to use?
Yes. The free plan needs no payment and includes 20 GB. Paid plans start at $3.68 a month billed yearly for 200 GB.
How much is Mega’s free transfer quota?
Mega lists free transfer only as “limited” and does not publish a number. Paid plans list a fixed yearly-plan transfer amount, from 2.4 TB on the 200 GB plan to 240 TB on Pro III.
Is Mega really zero-knowledge?
Yes. Files are encrypted on your device and Mega does not hold the key. If you lose your password without a recovery key, the files cannot be recovered.
How do I move files from Mega to Google Drive?
The simple route is to download the files from Mega to your computer, then upload them to Drive, or drop them into the Google Drive desktop folder so they sync. For large libraries, move one folder at a time so a paused download does not stall the whole job.
Where is Mega based?
New Zealand. It was founded by Kim Dotcom, who no longer owns or runs it.
Get the updated storage table monthly.
One email when prices change. No spam, no daily deals, unsubscribe any time.