Dropbox excels at file synchronization and advanced sharing controls across operating systems, while Google Drive prioritizes real-time collaboration within the Google ecosystem at a lower price point. Dropbox's file history and sharing features are more robust, but Google Drive's integration with Google Workspace makes it superior for collaborative document editing.
Dropbox vs Google Drive — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Cloud storage and file synchronization platform with smart sync and cross-platform support.
Cloud storage and document collaboration platform by Google with 15GB free storage.
File History & Recovery. Password-Protected Sharing. File Delivery Max Size. Real-Time Collaboration. Cheapest Individual Plan Price. File Sync Priority. Microsoft Office Integration
Choose Dropbox if you need reliable cross-platform file synchronization, advanced sharing controls with password protection, and large file delivery capabilities—especially valuable for teams handling sensitive files and requiring granular security. Choose Google Drive if you prioritize affordability, seamless real-time collaboration on documents, and tight integration with Google Workspace or Google Docs/Sheets/Slides.
Dropbox: $11.99/month | Google Drive: $1.99/month
Dropbox: 9 TB | Google Drive: 1 TB (100 GB × 10 users shared)
Dropbox: 250 GB (Business Plus) | Google Drive: 5 GB
Dropbox: 30-365 days (plan dependent) | Google Drive: 30 days
Dropbox: Yes, with expiry dates | Google Drive: No
Dropbox: Basic comments only; requires integrations | Google Drive: Advanced (simultaneous editing in Docs/Sheets)
Dropbox: $24/user/month | Google Drive: $6-12/user/month (Google Workspace)
Dropbox: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: $11.99 (Dropbox Plus) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: Not available | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: 180 days (Dropbox Plus) | Google Drive: 30 days (free tier)
Dropbox: Zero-knowledge optional (paid add-on) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: Yes (Dropbox Spaces, Team Spaces) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: 4.5/5 (2.2M reviews) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: In-transit AES-256 + optional client-side encryption | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: Advanced (@mentions, comments, Paper documents, 300+ integrations) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: Server-side (TLS 1.2+) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: 500+ million | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: United States | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: 2.5 billion | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: No inclusion | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: Dropbox Business (3TB+ per user, admin console) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: Optional via third-party or manual import | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: 2 GB (free) | Google Drive: N/A
Monthly Cost per User (Annual Commitment)
Dropbox: $11.99/month (Plus plan with 2 TB) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: 1 user (free plan, 30-day trial for paid) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: Third-party integration only (Microsoft Office, Google Docs) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: No (integrate Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: 180 days (on Plus plan) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: Robust (SSO, DLP, HIPAA, SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: 6 platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: Advanced (view-only, download blocks, expiring links, password protection) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: No automatic photo backup | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: Dropbox Sign, Spaces, Paper, task management | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: Not applicable | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: 700 million (2024) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: 2 TB ($11.99/month) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: No (storage-focused) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: All file types (universal) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: Not optimized | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: $17.99 + seat fees (~$120 estimated) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: All file types via sync | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: Yes, in Dropbox Spaces | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: 2000GB (2TB) | Google Drive: 5 TB
Dropbox: $179.88/year | Google Drive: N/A
Microsoft Office Co-authoring Integration
Dropbox: Limited (basic sharing, no native co-editing) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: 180 days (Plus), 1800 days (Professional) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: 2-5 MB/s average | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: Role-based access, expiring links, password protection, IP restrictions | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: Third-party add-ons and basic integration | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: 3000GB (3TB) Dropbox Professional | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: Yes (comments, @mentions, file requests, Dropbox Transfer) | Google Drive: N/A
Business Plan Starting Price (Annual per User)
Dropbox: No native conferencing | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: Windows, Mac, Linux | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: 20 GB (all methods) | Google Drive: N/A
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: 3 (OCR, translation, image processing)
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: Limited - through export/import
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: Excellent - Android-optimized
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Web
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: Extensive marketplace
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: Full offline with sync
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: Server-side encryption
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: Meet, Sheets, Docs, Forms integrated
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: Image & PDF to text conversion
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: $9.99 (100 GB plan)
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: Full offline editing with sync
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: None (Sheets only for spreadsheets)
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: Under 1 hour
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: Full REST API with webhooks
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: $1.99/month (100GB)
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: Unlimited (Workspace)
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: No (Workspace only)
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: Native (Docs, Sheets, Slides)
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: $99.88/year ($9.99/month 2TB)
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: Basic (Zapier required)
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: All paid plans
Real-time Collaborative Editors (Simultaneous Users)
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: 30 days permanently
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: $9.99 (100GB)
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: 5 GB per file
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: Full editing offline
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: 5 minutes to productive use
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: None - spreadsheets only
Dropbox: N/A | Google Drive: Unlimited simultaneous editors
How to choose between Dropbox and Google Drive
Dropbox vs Google Drive — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Dropbox vs Google Drive. Contains 136 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Dropbox vs Google Drive — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Dropbox vs Google Drive.
Which is more secure for sharing sensitive files?
Dropbox is more secure for sensitive file sharing because it offers password protection and expiry dates on shared links, which Google Drive lacks. Dropbox's Business Plus plan also includes suspicious activity alerts and compliance tracking, making it better for regulated industries.
Can I use both Dropbox and Google Drive together?
Yes, many organizations use both services together. A typical workflow uses Google Drive for real-time collaboration on documents, Dropbox for file synchronization and advanced sharing controls, and OneDrive for Microsoft Office document integration. This hybrid approach leverages each platform's strengths.
Which is better for large file transfers?
Dropbox is significantly better for large file transfers. Dropbox Business Plus supports file delivery up to 250 GB, while Google Drive's standard sharing limit is 5 GB. For terabyte-scale transfers, specialized platforms like Fast.io bypass mainstream cloud storage restrictions entirely.
Yes, Google Drive is cheaper overall. Google Drive's free tier offers 15 GB versus Dropbox's 2 GB, and paid individual plans start at $1.99/month for 100 GB on Google Drive versus $11.99/month for 2 TB on Dropbox. However, Dropbox's business plans offer more storage per user at comparable pricing.
Google Drive is better for document collaboration because it offers native real-time editing in Docs, Sheets, and Slides with simultaneous multi-user editing. Dropbox excels at file synchronization and sharing but requires third-party apps or desktop clients for collaborative document editing. For Google Workspace teams, Google Drive is the clear choice; for cross-platform file teams, Dropbox wins.
How to Choose Between Dropbox and Google Drive
File History & Recovery: Dropbox has 30 days (standard), up to 1 year (Business Plus), while Google Drive has 30 days.
Password-Protected Sharing: Dropbox has Yes, with expiry dates, while Google Drive has No password protection available.
File Delivery Max Size: Dropbox has 250 GB (Business Plus), while Google Drive has 5 GB standard sharing limit.
Real-Time Collaboration: Dropbox has Basic, file-level only, while Google Drive has Advanced, document-level editing.
Consider: Cheapest Individual Plan Price
Cheapest Individual Plan Price: Dropbox has $11.99/month (2 TB), while Google Drive has $1.99/month (100 GB) or free (15 GB).
File Sync Priority: Dropbox has Primary strength, optimized sync engine, while Google Drive has Secondary, cloud-first architecture.
Microsoft Office Integration: Dropbox has Basic editing, third-party apps required, while Google Drive has Native editing, full Office 365 support.