It seems it was a slow news week for several news outlets last week who decided to insinuate that Google was going to make Gmail users pay for storage. This is such an overly reductionist statement that it borders on misleading and is certainly manipulative at best.
The premise of the argument is at least based in (a partial) truth. All Storage on a Google account is linked. Accounts get 15 GB for free (as of today) and that’s it, 15 GB, free. That storage is to cover all of your Google storage needs, Gmail emails and attachments (including sent items), Google Drive, Google Photos original quality images and videos and any phone backups you have using Google One’s enhanced phone backups.
So what’s the problem? 15GB free seems like a reasonable deal? According to the articles, Google is somehow being unfair having not continued to add free storage to their user’s accounts since the last increase in 2004. They do seem to have forgotten the 2 x 2GB lifetime storage upgrade bonus Google offered to any user who completed a Security Check-up in 2015 and 2016 taking some users up to 19GB of free storage, but not everyone would have that.
The authors are also displeased that Google is now only offering 100GB for 1 year with a new Chromebook, not the 2 years that they were previously offering. So, okay, you’re not getting more free stuff. We’re not sure on what grounds people feel they are entitled to all of this free storage, but take it as you will.
The articles also took a swipe at Google Pixel devices no longer supporting unlimited free photo back-ups in original quality. To be clear, Google still offers any user with a Google account free unlimited storage for photos and videos (of supported formats) in a high-quality resolution, free, forever. I have now backed up over 500,000 photos from my NAS plus all of the images I’ve ever taken since Google Photos launched, all secure online, for free.
Now, for the limited number who actually buy Pixel phones, I’m sure some of them feel upset that they’re not getting their unlimited original quality photo backups. But for our money, high-quality backups are more than sufficient, and if you want more than that why should it be free?
So what’s the real beef here? Google One subscriptions. It seems some people feel that Google is somehow not entitled to charge for its storage and is looking to drum up fear, uncertainty and doubt around their subscription plans. What’s interesting is that buying additional Google storage is not something Google has just launched.
Google has offered paid storage, typically at competitive rates to its competitors, since the Google Drive days. We’re talking years.
From what we can tell the only thing that has changed with Google One, compared to Google Drive, is the branding and the additional features included in the Google One program. Additional benefits include hardware giveaways, improved device backups (using your storage), improved Google support, hardware discounts at some levels and occasional giveaways such as Play Store credit, YouTube Premium etc.
Now the one concession we will make is this – it is an issue that once your Google Storage is all used up that your Gmail account simply ceases to work. Email is such an important form of communication that your account just up and stopping isn’t the best idea ever. Google does warn users when this is happening and does offer tips on how best to manage their storage needs, so it shouldn’t be a surprise.
A user’s choices are, delete items out of your Google Drive, Gmail (don’t forget your sent items) or Google Photos or pay for additional storage through Google One. Google does offer Google Takeout that lets you download all of the data in your account before you delete it if that’s the path you choose.
In short, Google has not reduced the free storage offered for Gmail accounts, or any Google product. Google has increased its product offerings and some of those products do use the same shared storage pool as Gmail. Google has rolled back Original Quality Photo storage options for some users. You can signup for as many Gmail/ Google accounts as you want/ need. Google does offer paid storage tiers for those who see value in the combination of Googles products/ services and want additional storage.
If you’re not happy with your 15GB of free storage and unlimited photo storage then please do let us know about a more competitive offer, because we could always do with more free backup options.
Bloomberg are a s inch of bum
Google deoesn’t need defending, they are not a little kid getting bullied in the playground. They are a tech monster with too much money and commercial influence. “I have now backed up over 500,000 photos”… I guess we need all those storage offers to accommodate the quantity over quality approach to photography. Half a million photos is too many photos. In a ten year period you’d need to take at least 130 photos every single day.
I’d agree, my wife takes altogether too many photos, I am however the one responsible for storing the untold images of our family. I’ll let her know you don’t think they’re good quality. Thanks for reading.
The point is half a million good quality photos would be unlikely, regardless of photographer. If you increase sample size, you will always end up with more chances of finding gems in the massive pile, so that’s one way to enjoy the fruits of quantity! Another thing: when we start using “millions” to describe stored binary objects, there’s probably a carbon footprint bleep on the radar? Somewhere a little fan must work a bit harder to cool the hardware that contains your million images for the rest of time. btw, I agree with this article about google drive – good… Read more »
No problems with what Google is doing. However, if people want more than 15GB, Mega still offer 50GB for free. But last time I looked, their paid offering was not as cost effective as Google’s but that might have changed.
Thanks Sujay, not a bad option if what you are looking at is a decent amount of online storage.
I wish original pixel owners would stop abusing the system… Using Dropbox to copy RAW images and then upload 60+ mb images, and 4k videos from other devices.. Any wonder Google stopped it with the pixel 4
While I’d agree that’s less than ideal, I would suggest that the incidence of such behaviours are low. That said someone will always find a way to game the system
You might want to have a look at Whirlpool… 😁
Link?
Well said! I have been shocked by this argument! I think the most funny thing about it is that the argument initiated on Bloomberg. In that article, they basicly claimed Google did a “bait and switch” move where Google got you in with Free Space only to then turn it off and make you pay. I find this extremely hypercritical from a News organisation that once gave there articles away free (ad supported) but then turned that free access off in favor of a paywall! Funily enough, no mention of that in the article on their page! Keep the barstards… Read more »
Thanks Molly, the argument is insulting for sure.