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Comparison

Vault Studio Pro vs Google Docs: cloud or on-device?

Google Docs, Sheets and Slides are free, run in the browser and are built for working together in the cloud. Vault Studio Pro also runs in the browser, but keeps the file on your device, with no account. The right choice depends on whether you need to collaborate or to keep a file to yourself.

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Who each is for

Google Docs, Sheets and Slides are for people who write and plan together: live co-editing, comments, version history and sharing by link, with files stored in Google Drive. Anyone with a Google Account can use them, and the account includes 15 GB of storage shared across Drive, Gmail and Photos.

Vault Studio Pro is for working alone on files you would rather not upload: a contract, a client spreadsheet, a PDF that needs redacting. It runs in the browser but processes the file on your device, with no account.

Side by side

Vault Studio Pro compared with Google Docs, Sheets and Slides
WhatGoogle Docs, Sheets, SlidesVault Studio Pro
Where files are processedStored and edited in Google Drive (cloud)In your browser tab, on your device; no conversion server
AccountGoogle AccountNone
OfflineChrome or Edge with the Google Docs Offline extension, turned on while onlineYes, after "Make available offline" (set up once while online)
Office filesEdit in Office compatibility mode (Chrome extension) or convert; macros are not kept and embedded charts become images.docx, .xlsx, .xls, .csv, .pptx, PDF, images
RedactionNo built-in redaction found in Google's documentationFree; redacted pages rebuilt as images. No metadata removal or search-and-redact
CollaborationReal-time editing, comments, version historyNone; you share files
Price (US)Free for personal use; Workspace Business Starter $7 and Standard $14 per user per month (annual plan)Editors free; Pro $15/mo, $99/yr or $299 once

Choose Google Docs if…

  • You write, edit or plan with other people at the same time.
  • You want your files available on every device through Google Drive.
  • You need Sheets features such as XLOOKUP, FILTER and Apps Script automation, or Gemini, which Google includes in Docs on Workspace Business Standard and above.
  • Your organization needs a Business Associate Agreement. Google Workspace customers subject to HIPAA can enter one for the services on Google's HIPAA list, and some Enterprise and Education editions add client-side encryption.
  • Your school or employer already runs on Google Workspace.

Choose Vault Studio Pro if…

  • You don't want a copy of the file in anyone's cloud. Vault Studio Pro reads the file from your disk and saves it back, and the page refuses connections to other sites. See security.
  • You want .docx, .xlsx and .pptx files in and out without converting them to Google formats.
  • You need to redact a PDF properly, OCR a scan or encrypt a file with a password.
  • You don't want to sign in, or you're on a shared computer where you'd rather not.

Limits of Vault Studio Pro to know first

  • No real-time collaboration, sharing links or cloud sync; files stay on one device unless you move them.
  • Projects are saved in the browser's storage, not encrypted at rest, and lost if you clear site data. Save important files to disk.
  • Sheets has more than 70 functions, but not XLOOKUP, FILTER or scripting.
  • Docs' PDF export is image-only; OCR recognises English only.
  • No AI writing features.

Pro costs $9 for a one-off Week Pass, $15 a month, $99 a year or $299 once, and every Pro feature is unlocked for the first 7 days with no card. During the launch, a Founders plan costs $59 a year for as long as you renew (until 2026-12-01). See pricing. Students and teachers: the education guide covers shared school computers.

Common questions

Can I use Vault Studio Pro with files from Google Docs?

Yes. Download the file from Google Docs, Sheets or Slides as .docx, .xlsx or .pptx, open it in Vault Studio Pro, and upload the edited file back to Drive if you want it there.

Does Google Docs have PDF redaction?

We could not find a built-in redaction feature in Google's documentation. Marketplace add-ons exist. Colouring text black in a document does not remove it. Vault Studio Pro includes free PDF redaction that removes the text under each box.

Which is better for group projects?

Google Docs. It has real-time editing, comments and version history shared by everyone with access. Vault Studio Pro has no real-time collaboration; you send files to each other.

More questions? See the full FAQ or contact us.

Sources (checked September 2026)

Google, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, Google Drive, Google Workspace and Gemini are trademarks of their respective owners. Vault Studio Pro is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any of them; the names are used only to identify the products compared. Competitor details come from each vendor's own pages, checked in September 2026, and can change. If something here is out of date, email support@vaultstudiopro.com and we will correct it.