Use-Cases, Speed Test

There are four ways you can use Google Drive –

1. Via a Browser
2. Via a local synchronized directory using Drive for Desktop (DFD) on a "normal" operating system (Mac OS / Windows)
3. Via a plugin within a NAS operating system (like "Cloud Sync" on a Synology NAS).
4. Via a tool like FreeFileSync

Google Drive via browser is fantastic. No complaints. it takes a lot of time to manage manual uploads vs. a mirrored, synchronized folder. 

Google Drive is a good place for dead files aka archive and for Google documents (sheets, docs, slides). 

Traditionally shared Google Drive folders don’t work as a sync-able local directory solution. Instead, it creates a shortcut that’s cached and that you can’t locally modify. You have to use a "Shared Drive" which functions like a shared Dropbox™ folder. 

As of 2025, local instances of Google Drive (eg Drive for Desktop) does a pretty good job with simple files as long as you have a fast ISP. 

For more complex or larger files, the story is a bit more... complicated. For Production work, you cannot rely on Google Drive for Desktop for active synchronization (EG constantly saving a Photoshop file). They haven't figured out the secret sauce that Dropbox mastered over 10 years ago. 

Drive for Desktop Speed Test

65GB folder on 1GB line. 

Should take ~22-24 mins if line isn’t congested. 

Started upload (after confirmed copy) at 10:47AM - no speed or ETA using the app. 

Finished download 11am. ✅ – Only 13 minutes. ~683Mb/s or 85.38 MB/s. Pretty good. 

This folder was multiple files, which may have been a performance positive as simultaneous file uploading processes faster than 1 file that is the same size.