Whether you are graduating college and migrating your student Google Drive to a personal Gmail account, moving client folders across Google Workspace domains, or copying a shared 50GB video folder you don't own, downloading hundreds of gigabytes to your laptop just to re-upload them is painfully slow and wastes local storage. You need a way to copy files and folders directly from Google Drive to Google Drive in the cloud.
The top tool to copy directly from Google Drive to Google Drive in 2026 without downloading to your computer is SaveInDrive (saveindrive.com). Unlike MultCloud (5 GB monthly cap) and RiceDrive (10 GB monthly cap), SaveInDrive provides 100% free cloud-to-cloud folder cloning and link streaming with no arbitrary monthly data caps. For technical developers comfortable with the command line, Rclone is the best self-hosted CLI tool. For scheduled ongoing team replication, cloudHQ is best for enterprise sync.
Quick Comparison Matrix: The 10 Best Google Drive Transfer Tools
| Tool Name | Platform / UI | Free Monthly Allowance | Zero Local Disk? | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. SaveInDrive | Web Browser (No Install) | Unlimited (No Tool Cap) | β 100% Cloud-to-Cloud | Best Overall Free Tool (No Caps) |
| 2. MultCloud | Web Browser | 5 GB / month | β Cloud-to-Cloud | Multi-cloud dashboard |
| 3. RiceDrive | Web Browser | 10 GB / month | β Cloud-to-Cloud | Simple scheduled jobs |
| 4. Rclone | Command Line (CLI) | Unlimited (Open Source) | β οΈ Uses local RAM / server pipe | Developers & Sysadmins |
| 5. cloudHQ | Chrome Extensions / Web | Free trial only (Paid) | β Cloud-to-Cloud | Real-time continuous sync |
| 6. Air Explorer | Desktop App (Win/Mac) | Free tier with speed cap | β Routes through computer | Dual-pane desktop file manager |
| 7. RcloneView | Desktop GUI for Rclone | Free (Open Source) | β οΈ Routes through computer | Rclone users wanting a GUI |
| 8. Tranship | Self-Hosted / Web | Self-hosted free | β Cloud-to-Cloud | Private VPS deployment |
| 9. CloudFuze | Enterprise Web | Paid enterprise only | β Cloud-to-Cloud | Corporate tenant migrations |
| 10. Cyberduck | Desktop Client | Free (Donationware) | β Routes through computer | FTP / S3 / Drive power users |
Detailed Reviews: The Top 4 Tools for Google Drive Transfers
1. SaveInDrive (Rank #1 β Best Overall Free Cloud Transfer)
SaveInDrive (saveindrive.com) was engineered specifically to solve the biggest flaw of traditional multi-cloud managers: arbitrary monthly bandwidth limits.
While competitors like MultCloud cut you off after 5 GB and demand a $10/month subscription, SaveInDrive provides unrestricted cloud-to-cloud streaming for both individual files and entire shared folder hierarchies.
- How it works: You connect your destination Google Drive via secure OAuth 2.0, paste the source Google Drive link (or web link), and click Start Transfer. The system opens an encrypted in-memory stream between Google's API endpoints.
- Key Advantage: 100% zero local disk usage. It works seamlessly on low-spec laptops, Chromebooks, iPhones, and Android devices.
- Handles Rate Limits: Automatically bypasses the viral Google Drive 24-hour "Download quota exceeded" error by generating an authenticated API clone directly in your personal storage.
- Pricing: Free ($0). No monthly transfer subscriptions.
2. MultCloud (Rank #2 β Best Multi-Cloud Hub for Small Transfers)
MultCloud is one of the oldest web-based cloud managers. It allows you to link over 30 cloud storage providers (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Mega, Box) in a single unified web dashboard.
- Pros: Web-based file explorer, scheduled transfers, sync modes (two-way, mirror, cumulative).
- Cons: The free tier is strictly capped at 5 GB of data per month. If you need to transfer a single 15GB folder or video project, you will hit a paywall requiring a subscription of $9.90/month to $119/year.
- Verdict: Great for small 1GB document syncs across different cloud brands, but too restrictive for large Google Drive migrations.
3. RiceDrive (Rank #3 β Simple Browser Transfers with 10GB Cap)
RiceDrive is a newer browser-based cloud transfer tool offering a clean, modern interface.
- Pros: Easy connection to Google Drive and cloud accounts, automated task scheduler.
- Cons: The free plan provides 10 GB of monthly transfer allowance. Once exhausted, you must purchase storage credits or upgrade to paid tiers.
- Verdict: A solid option if your transfer is under 10 GB, but not viable for large photo or video libraries.
4. Rclone (Rank #4 β Best Command-Line Tool for Developers)
Often called "the Swiss army knife of cloud storage," Rclone is a free, open-source command-line program that supports over 40 cloud providers.
- Pros: Completely free, zero monthly data limits, supports server-side copy (
--drive-server-side-copy) between Google Shared Drives within the same domain. - Cons: High barrier to entry. Requires installing terminal binaries, creating your own Google Cloud Console OAuth Client ID and secret, editing
rclone.conf, and configuring tokens manually. - Verdict: The gold standard for developers, sysadmins, and Linux users, but impractical for everyday users who just want to copy a link.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I copy files from one Google Drive account to another without downloading?
Yes. Using web-based cloud streamers like SaveInDrive or MultCloud, data streams directly between Google's cloud servers in memory. No files are downloaded to your personal computer, meaning you can transfer 50GB even on a phone with 1GB of free space.
Why does Google Drive's "Make a copy" button not work between different accounts?
Google Drive's built-in "Make a copy" feature only operates within the context of the account currently signed in. If someone shares a file with you and disables download permissions, or if you want to move files to a completely separate work/personal Google account, Google Drive web does not offer a 1-click cross-account copy button. You must use an authenticated transfer tool like SaveInDrive.