NordenVault vs Google Workspace
Google Workspace is a US-based service subject to American jurisdiction, including the CLOUD Act. EU data residency requires an expensive Enterprise add-on, and even then your data is managed by an American company. NordenVault is a European cloud storage platform with file sharing, automated backup, and EU/EEA-only data residency on every plan. Your data stays in Europe, under European law.
| Feature | NordenVault | Google Workspace |
|---|---|---|
| Company jurisdiction | European (Norway) | US (CLOUD Act) |
| File upload and browsing | ||
| Secure file sharing | ||
| S3-compatible API | ||
| EU/EEA-only data residency | Data regions add-on (Enterprise) | |
| GDPR compliant by default | Requires configuration | |
| Client-side encryption | CSE (Enterprise Plus only) | |
| Automated server backup | ||
| Backup monitoring | ||
| Flat storage pricing | From €19/mo (1 TB) | Per-user pricing |
| Scoped credentials per source | ||
| Works with restic / rclone | rclone only | |
| Object lock / immutability | 30 days | Vault (Enterprise) |
| Team roles | ||
| Free trial | 14 days | 14 days |
Key differences
European company, European infrastructure
Google is a US company subject to the CLOUD Act, which allows US authorities to request access to data regardless of where it is stored. Google Workspace only offers data region controls on Enterprise plans, and even then metadata, search indexes, and temporary processing can still occur outside the EU. NordenVault is a European company operating exclusively in EU/EEA data centres on every plan. Your data is subject to European law only. No Enterprise upgrade required for data residency, and no foreign jurisdiction over your data.
Pay for storage, not seats
Google Workspace charges per user per month. For teams that need storage but not the full productivity suite, costs add up quickly. NordenVault charges based on storage used. Your entire team can access, upload, and share files without per-seat fees driving up the bill.
File storage and server backup in one place
Google Drive handles file storage and collaboration, but it has no support for automated server or database backup. If you need both a place for your team to store and share files and automated backup of servers, you would need Google Workspace plus a separate backup service. NordenVault combines a browser file manager and secure sharing with an S3-compatible API for automated backup using restic, rclone, or any S3 tool.
Client-side encryption without Enterprise pricing
Google Workspace offers client-side encryption only on Enterprise Plus, which is their most expensive tier. NordenVault supports client-side encryption via restic on every plan. Your data is encrypted on your devices before it reaches the cloud, and only you hold the keys.
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