To access your personal content on Google Drive and Google Photos, all you need is a compatible browser and a basic web connection. The Mountain View giant offers its own native management software, but it decided to skip the new app space on Windows 8.x and Windows 10. GDrive.NET is an alternative available in the Microsoft Store, aimed at those looking for a more straightforward, direct download.
Why Google's absence matters
Google has done many criticizable things in the past, and one of them was ignoring users of its services on Windows Phone 8.x and Windows 10 Mobile. The company refused to develop native apps, or alternatively delivered simple wrappers of very low quality. Of course, no one forces a company to provide specific support, but users demand that interoperability be a priority these days, and seeing such attitudes generates a mix of sadness and frustration. Fortunately, some developers decided to apply their skills to fill the gap, and one of them is Piachu, who created the GDrive.NET client.
What GDrive.NET offers
Basically, this client enables access to your content on Google Drive and Google Photos. Upload, download, document opening, folder management, permission control for files... all that and much more is what GDrive.NET offers. It's very easy to use, and although the interface could still use some adjustments, its current state is good enough to work with. Another interesting aspect is support for multiple accounts. If you have several Google Drive and Photos profiles, switching between them is a matter of a couple of clicks.
Free, with limitations
GDrive.NET is a free application, but it presents a small advertising banner at the bottom and blocks most advanced options. The only way to enable them is by purchasing the full version in the store, which currently costs two dollars. I admit that GDrive.NET is not so relevant for the desktop versions of Windows 8.x and Windows 10 because Google offers official native clients, but the story is very different on mobile devices.
