Side-by-side comparison
Google Drive is a general-purpose cloud storage service. Peony is a secure virtual data room built for document sharing, tracking, and deal management.
PeonyWhy teams switch from Google Drive to Peony
Google Drive works for everyday file storage. But when you share confidential documents with investors, partners, or buyers, you need analytics, security, and control that Google Drive was never built for.
Document analytics
Google Drive shows if someone opened a file. Peony shows which pages they read, how long they spent on each page, and exactly when they visited — page by page.
Advanced security
Screenshot protection, dynamic watermarks, NDA gating, 2FA, and link expiry are all built into Peony. Google Drive relies on basic link permissions with no document-level security.
Purpose-built data rooms
Peony provides structured data rooms for fundraising, M&A, and due diligence. Google Drive is a flat file system — no deal structure, no granular access controls.
All-in-one platform
Peony replaces Google Drive, your data room, your document tracking tool, and your e-signature add-on — all in one platform starting free.
Pricing comparison
Peony gives you data rooms, analytics, e-signatures, and AI document chat. Google Drive gives you file storage. Both start free.
Peony
Free
$0
2 GB storage
Pro
$20/admin/mo
200 GB storage
Business
$40/admin/mo
1 TB storage
Data rooms, analytics, e-signatures, AI chat, watermarks, and screenshot protection included on all plans.
Google Drive
Personal
$0
15 GB storage
Business Starter
$7/user/mo
30 GB per user
Business Standard
$14/user/mo
2 TB per user
File storage and collaboration only. No data rooms, no page analytics, no screenshot protection, no watermarks.
When to use each platform
Google Drive is a great everyday storage tool. Peony is the better choice when you need to share confidential documents with tracking, security, and control.
Choose Google Drive when you need
General-purpose cloud storage for everyday files
Real-time collaboration on Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
Integration with Gmail and the Google Workspace ecosystem
Internal team file sharing where tracking is not required
Choose Peony when you need
A secure data room for fundraising, M&A, or due diligence
Page-by-page analytics to see what investors and partners actually read
Document security: screenshot protection, watermarks, NDA gating, link expiry
AI document chat so recipients get answers instantly
Built-in e-signatures without third-party add-ons
A free tier to get started without a credit card
What Peony gives you that Google Drive does not
Organize confidential documents in secure data rooms
Google Drive uses folders with basic sharing permissions. Peony gives you branded virtual data rooms with granular access controls, NDA gating, and audit trails — purpose-built for fundraising, M&A, and due diligence.
Know exactly what your recipients read
Google Drive has no document analytics beyond basic view counts. Peony tracks every page view, time spent, scroll depth, and visitor detail. See which sections of your pitch deck investors care about most.
Let recipients chat with your documents
Google Drive files sit idle until someone reads them. Peony lets recipients ask questions and get instant, AI-powered answers from your documents 24/7 — reducing back-and-forth and accelerating deal timelines.
Protect documents beyond link sharing
Google Drive shares files via links with view, comment, or edit permissions — and nothing else. Peony secures the entire document lifecycle with screenshot protection, watermarks, password protection, 2FA, NDA gating, and link expiry.
Screenshot protection
Block screen captures of sensitive documents. Google Drive has no equivalent — anyone with access can screenshot freely.
Dynamic watermarks
Every page stamped with the viewer's identity and timestamp. If a document leaks, you know exactly who shared it.
NDA-gated access
Require viewers to sign an NDA before accessing documents. Built-in e-signatures make it seamless — no third-party add-ons needed.
"Peony is a great example of a customer-obsessed company with a fantastic sense of design and UX. We moved on from Docsend in the first week — what we are really excited about is what all Peony does next."
Anish Bharadwaj
Founder & CEO, KiwiQ
Frequently asked questions
Is Peony a good alternative to Google Drive for sharing confidential documents?
Yes. Peony is purpose-built for confidential document sharing. Unlike Google Drive, Peony includes page-by-page analytics, screenshot protection, dynamic watermarks, and NDA gating — all features designed to keep sensitive files secure during fundraising, M&A, and due diligence.
Can I track who views my documents with Google Drive?
Google Drive shows basic view counts but cannot tell you which pages were read or how long someone spent on each page. Peony provides page-by-page analytics with time-on-page, scroll depth, and visitor details — so you always know exactly how recipients engage with your documents.
How does Peony pricing compare to Google Workspace?
Peony offers a free plan ($0, 2 GB storage). The Pro plan is $20 per admin per month (200 GB) and Business is $40 per admin per month (1 TB). Google Workspace Business Starter is $7 per user per month. While Google Drive is cheaper for basic storage, Peony replaces your data room, document tracking, and e-signature tools in a single platform.
Does Google Drive have data room features?
No. Google Drive is a general-purpose cloud storage service with no data room functionality. Peony offers full-featured virtual data rooms with folder structures, granular permissions, NDA gating, watermarks, and audit trails — everything you need for fundraising and deal management.
Can I prevent screenshots of shared documents?
Google Drive has no screenshot protection. Anyone who opens a Google Drive file can take a screenshot without restriction. Peony includes built-in screenshot protection that blocks screen captures on shared documents, adding a critical security layer for confidential materials. Peony's infrastructure is SOC 2-ready, GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA compliant.
Does Peony support e-signatures like Google Drive add-ons?
Yes, and more seamlessly. Google Drive requires third-party add-ons for e-signatures, which means extra cost and fragmented workflows. Peony has built-in e-signatures on all plans, integrated directly into the data room so you can share, track, and sign documents in one place.
How long does it take to set up Peony compared to Google Drive?
Peony can be set up in under 5 minutes — upload your documents, configure permissions, and share a link. Google Drive is also quick for basic storage but requires extensive manual configuration for any security or access controls, and still lacks analytics, watermarks, and NDA gating.
Is Peony better than Google Drive for investor data rooms?
Yes. Google Drive was not designed for investor data rooms. Peony provides purpose-built data room features including organized folder structures, page-by-page analytics, NDA gating, dynamic watermarks, screenshot protection, and AI document chat — all of which help founders share materials securely and track investor engagement.