Limits
The numbers that sound scary are far above a normal photo job. What can stop a photographer is the 15 GB free pool filling up, a temporary download lock on a heavily shared link, no link expiry that we could find, and no brand on the page. These figures come from Google's own pages, read on 23 October 2026.
| Limit | Google's figure | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Daily upload | 750 GB in 24 hours | Workspace help |
| One file | Up to 5 TB | Workspace help |
| Items in a folder | 500,000 | Workspace help |
| Items per account | 500 million | Workspace help |
| Folder depth | 100 folders | Workspace help |
Google's storage and upload limits page, updated 26 October 2026, says each user can upload and copy 750 GB to Drive within 24 hours, and that the limit refreshes within 24 hours. It is Google Workspace help, and the consumer Drive pages we read do not repeat the figure, so we cannot confirm the same cap for a free or Google One account.
Previews
Any file type can be stored in Drive, but Drive previews only some. Google's list of the most common file types it previews includes JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF and SVG images, and Photoshop files. No camera RAW formats and no HEIC are on the list, and Google says the preview is a scaled-down version of the complete file. So a client who opens a RAW file in Drive may need to download it to see it. We say "not on Google's list", not "Drive cannot preview RAW", because no Google page says either. See Google's list of files you can store.
Photos and Drive
Google Photos is a separate product from Drive, with its own backup setting. Google's Photos help says Original quality stores photos in the resolution you took them with, and Storage saver compresses them, resizing anything larger than 16 MP down to 16 MP. Google also says that if you are inactive in Photos for 2 years or more, your content may be deleted. Google's Drive pages say nothing about compressing uploads, so we do not claim Drive does or does not. See Google's backup quality page.
Storage
15 GB is free, shared across Drive, Gmail and Photos. Past that, the plans below are in US dollars.
| Plan | Cost | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Google account | Free | 15 GB |
| Google One Basic | $19.99 a year | 100 GB |
| Google AI Plus | $99.99 a year | 2 TB |
| Google AI Pro | $199.99 a year | 5 TB |
| Workspace Starter | $84 a year | 30 GB a user |
| Workspace Standard | $168 a year | 2 TB a user |
The Google One prices are from an archived US copy of its plans page of 19 October 2026, because the live page shows pounds. Google One's 2 TB tier is now sold inside Google AI Plus, which includes Gemini features you may not want. Workspace prices are from Google's billing help page, updated 26 October 2026, on a one-year commitment.
Sharing
- Anyone with the link works without signing in to a Google Account.
- Download can be turned off for viewers and commenters in the sharing settings, under "People who can download, copy, print, and access".
- Expiry is set for a named person. Google's expiry setting sits beside a person's name, and Google lists it for work and school accounts. We found no expiry on an "Anyone with the link" link.
- A temporary lock. A file with high view or download volume in a short time can show "Too many users have viewed or downloaded this file recently". Google says it usually resets within 24 hours, and that page gives no number. Its advice is to share with Google Groups, or use dedicated hosting for large files, not public links. See Google's guide to downloading files.
- We found no setting for a logo or watermark on a shared link.
See Google's guide to sharing files.
Options
| Tool | Best for | Cost, one person |
|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | Storing and sharing files | $99.99 a year, 2 TB |
| Dropbox | Shared folders, branded links | $180 a year |
| Pixieset | Galleries and print sales | $96 a year |
| WeTransfer | Branded transfer links | $228 a year |
| Loop | Branded finished-files link | $49 once |
These are US dollars for one person, billed yearly, before tax. Google is its 2 TB consumer plan. Dropbox Standard, Pixieset Basic and WeTransfer Ultimate are the plans that add your own branding. Pixieset's price was read on 23 October, Dropbox's is from an archived US copy of 23 October and WeTransfer's is from its US prices of 23 October. For galleries, favorites and print sales, see our guide to delivering photos to clients.
Loop
Loop is a Mac app that turns a folder of finished photos into your own branded link, with your logo, name and a Download All button. It is for the last step, not for storing your library.
- RAW shown as a picture. Loop shows HEIC, TIFF, Photoshop and camera RAW files as a picture preview, up to 6,000 pixels on the long side, when your Mac can draw them, and Download gives the original. We read this from the app's code and have not run a RAW folder through it.
- Your brand, not your email. The client sees your name and logo, and you can use your own web address.
- An optional expiry on any link: 1, 7, 30 or 90 days, or never, plus a password and a Download switch.
- A notification on your Mac when someone downloads, while Loop is running.
Loop is not storage or a gallery. It has no thumbnail grid, favorites, print store or backup, and it is Mac only on your side. Its files sit in your own Cloudflare account, free up to 10 GB. Cloudflare's pricing page, updated 30 October 2026, lists $0.015 per GB-month, so 100 GB stored for a month is about $1.35 after the free 10 GB. At 2 TB (2,000 GB) it is about $358 a year, against $99.99 for 2 TB on Google AI Plus. Loop costs $49 once, and we do not promise a maximum file size.
Your own branded link, with notes on the exact second. $49 once.
Habits
Five habits make a Drive delivery smoother.
- Share the folder, not each file.
- Set the role to Viewer.
- Check the download box matches what you want the client to do.
- Do not share one public link with hundreds of people, which risks the temporary lock.
- Test the link as a stranger, in a private window, before you send it.