Help Me Decide
Which collaboration tool is right for me?
Notre Dame faculty, staff and students can take advantage of several free collaboration tools. The best choice for you depends on your specific needs and preferences. Download the Quick Reference Tool (PDF)
Do you need to store highly sensitive information? (credit card numbers, social security numbers, driver's license numbers, bank account information, or HIPAA information)
CorpFS is the only place approved to hold highly sensitive information. Learn more about CorpFS
Do you need to manage a class or course and share information with students?
(Recommended)
Sakai is a collaboration and learning environment that facilitates teaching, learning, and assessment. Sakai offers a great place for instructors to share their files with their class, and is the same place where students can go to take tests and quizzes, submit homework, or view their grades.
Other Options
-
Box.nd.edu
Box is a collaboration and storage service accessible from any browser on any device. Collaborate on folders and files with colleagues inside and outside of Notre Dame.
-
Google.nd.edu
Google Drive is a "cloud" storage system that allows you to store and synchronize your files across devices, share folders or files, and collaborate; it combines with the other Google Apps features to provide a wide array of functionality.
| Competitive Features |
Sakai (recommended) |
Box.nd.edu | Google.nd.edu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sakai is the official Notre Dame course management system | |||
| Default storage space | 2 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Share course files with students |  |
|
|
| Auto-created dropboxes for students | |
 |
|
| Online quizzes and tests | |
|
 |
| Gradebook | |
|
|
| Mobile-friendly | |
|
|
| Other | Requires orientation and education | For fast and easy sharing | Full functionality requires using multiple Google services |
Do you need a shared folder for your project, team, or department?
(Recommended)
Box is a collaboration and storage service accessible from any browser on any device. Collaborate on folders and files with colleagues inside and outside of Notre Dame. See this link for requesting a group account. When a team member leaves the university, his/her shared folders should be changed by the team member to make someone else an owner of the folder(s) to allow for continual access to these shared folders/files.
Other Options
-
Google.nd.edu
Google Sites is a website building tool which can be used to create an intranet, team site, or even a public website; it combines with the other Google Apps features to provide a wide array of functionality. At this time, if a team member leaves the university their shared files will be deleted and no longer available for use.
| Competitive Features |
Box.nd.edu (recommended) |
Google.nd.edu |
|---|---|---|
| Default storage space | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Allows group folders (not owned by single person) | |
|
| Share files with users outside of ND | |
|
| Real-time collaboration and editing |
(BoxNotes) |
|
| Include students | |
|
| Preview documents online | |
|
| Sync with Mac and Windows | |
|
| Consistent experience on Windows, Mac, and Linux | |
|
| Share files with other users | |
|
| Access from mobile device | |
|
| Store in folders | |
|
| Limit permissions | |
|
| Comments and feedback | |
|
| File versioning | |
|
| Office productivity suite tools (documents, spreadsheets, calendars) | |
|
| Customizable templates/themes | |
|
| Wiki, blogs, calendars, document sharing | |
|
| Show more features | ||
Do you need to simultaneously collaborate on a document with another user in real-time?
(Recommended)
Google Drive is a "cloud" storage system that allows you to store and synchronize your files across devices, share folders or files, and collaborate; it combines with the other Google Apps features to provide a wide array of functionality. Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides all allow for simultaneous editing, making working with others a breeze.
(Recommended)
Google Drive is a "cloud" storage system that allows you to store and synchronize your files across devices, share folders or files, and collaborate; it combines with the other Google Apps features to provide a wide array of functionality.
Other Options
-
Box.nd.edu
Box is a collaboration and storage service accessible from any browser on any device. Collaborate on folders and files with colleagues inside and outside of Notre Dame.
| Competitive Features |
Google.nd.edu (recommended) |
Box.nd.edu |
|---|---|---|
| Default storage space | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Edit online via mobile device | |
|
| Allows group folders (not owned by single person) | |
|
| Real-time collaboration and editing | |
(BoxNotes) |
| Office productivity suite tools (documents, spreadsheets, calendars) | |
|
| Share files with other users | |
|
| Share files with users outside of ND | |
|
| Preview documents online | |
|
| Access from mobile device | |
|
| Organize in folders | |
|
| Sync with Mac, Windows, and mobile devices | |
|
| Limit permissions | |
|
| Comments and feedback | |
|
| File versioning | |
|
| Show more features | ||
|
Has feature |
Not supported |
Partially available or supported |