Wrangling family information is no easy task. Between IDs, medical cards, emergency preparation, and password management, staying organized can be overwhelming.

It's not uncommon for families to share important documents like estate plans online with each other — but which is the best method for you and your loved ones?

Many families have opted for cloud-based storage solutions in the past, but today, companies like Trustworthy are delivering a new generation of high-touch customer support and customizable interfaces with families in mind. 

In this post, we’ll analyze both Trustworthy and Google Drive so you can decide which is best for your specific needs. Let's dive in.

Company Overviews

Trustworthy is the Family Operating System® that helps your trusted inner circle organize, securely share, and collaborate on important family information. Customizable templates and categories make organization easy. Intelligent reminders help you save on fees, and Trustworthy’s 1-1 expert service provides support and onboarding.

Google Drive offers cloud storage to share and collaborate on files and folders from different devices. Drive integrates with other Google tools like Docs and Sheets, and is frequently used by companies for collaboration on work documents.

While both companies overlap as storage solutions, their overall purposes and services stand in stark contrast.

Google Drive: A good fit for informal document storage

Pricing: $0-$120/year

Key differentiating features: Larger amounts of storage space on higher tiers

Simple collaboration

Google Drive offers cloud storage to share and collaborate on files and folders from different devices. Drive integrates with other Google tools like Docs and Sheets, and is frequently used by companies for collaboration on work documents.

Most users opt for Drive's free option, which offers up to 15 GB of storage. This can act as a simple solution for storing family documents in a shared folder. Google also offers a paid family plan that allows up to five additional family members to join.

Open-ended

Similar to other options like Dropbox, storage is essentially where the similarities between Google Drive and Trustworthy begin and end. Google Drive was not made specifically for family information management in mind, which also means a lack of resources and professional help regarding your family's estate plans and other documents.

Drive is also not necessarily built to host highly sensitive documents in a secure environment. The app does encrypt files as they are in transit, and only offers additional security features such as a VPN with its highest-cost paid plan. In addition, the VPN functionality only works with an Android app — not iOS.

Summary

Overall, Google Drive could be a good fit for you if you are looking for no-frills shared cloud storage with family members. This is especially true for less sensitive documents like photos and videos. However, it may not be the best option if you're looking for bank-level security for sensitive documents, or professional support to plan your family's future.

Trustworthy and Google Drive together

Combining these two tools could be a great option as well. For example, you could sign up for Trustworthy for a higher level of family security, organization, and support. Then, you can use a free Google Drive account if you have an extra high volume of photo and video memories you’d like to store.   

Related article: How is Trustworthy Different from Google Drive, Dropbox, or Microsoft OneDrive?

Still having trouble deciding? Here is a point-by-point breakdown:

Trustworthy: A great fit for secure, seamless family organization

Pricing: $120-$480/year

Key differentiating features: Created specifically for family storage, advanced support, personal expert service

A Family Operating System®

Trustworthy takes information storage as a baseline for helping families plan for the future — then brings it to the next level. Instead of simple storage, users get templates for organization, hands-on customer support, and tailored guidance for families who need an information roadmap.

The platform is automatically organized into different segments, such as family IDs, estate documents, emergency instructions, and family archives. These sections make information easy to navigate, and also quickly show you which important documents your family may be missing.

Trustworthy also differentiates itself with its focus on family information planning. For example, you can opt to receive notifications when certain documents are set to expire and need to be updated. The Trustworthy personal expert gives you email, phone, and video meeting support to plan for complex decisions like life insurance or updating your estate plan.

A step up in security

Like Google Drive, Trustworthy has space to store your family's most important information, including more sentimental records like photos and videos.

Unlike Google Drive, Trustworthy has key security features such as 256-bit encryption, two-factor authentication, and system event logging. Trustworthy's additional security features, including such as data tokenization, biometric security, and multi-protocol YubiKey security add extra layers of security to protect your family's most important information.

The Trustworthy's Platinum plan also makes digital asset management easy. You can connect advisors (i.e., wealth advisors, accountants, and lawyers) to Trustworthy, allowing them to contribute information to your account to get you started.

• Try a free 2-week trial

Summary

Trustworthy may be a better fit for you if you want to:

• Go beyond basic document storage

• Have best-in-class security protecting your personal information

• Work with built-in organization tools and templates

• Get professional support for events such as replacing a birth certificate

Trustworthy and Google Drive together

Combining these two tools could be a great option as well. For example, you could use Trustworthy for a higher level of family security, organization, and support, and use a free Google Drive account if you have an extra high volume of photo and video memories you’d like to store.   

Related article: How is Trustworthy Different from Google Drive, Dropbox, or Microsoft OneDrive?

Still having trouble deciding? Here is a point-by-point breakdown:

Trustworthy versus Google Drive Comparison

• Try a free 2-week trial

We're Happy to Help

Do you have any questions about Trustworthy, or do you want to learn more about how we stack up against Dropbox? Feel free to get in touch with us on our homepage. Or, start your free trial today and find out for yourself if Trustworthy is a good fit for you and your family.