OneDrive offers 1TB free storage and deeper Microsoft 365 integration, while Dropbox provides superior file collaboration tools and 2GB free storage with more flexible sharing options. OneDrive is better for Microsoft ecosystem users, whereas Dropbox excels for teams prioritizing real-time collaboration.
Dropbox vs OneDrive — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Cloud storage platform with advanced file collaboration and sharing capabilities.
Microsoft's cloud storage service tightly integrated with Microsoft 365 and Windows.
Free Storage Allocation. File Version History Retention. Real-time Collaboration Features. Maximum Individual File Size. Microsoft 365 Integration. Shared Folder Permissions Control. Annual Paid Plan Cost (2TB)
Choose OneDrive if you rely heavily on Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or need maximum free storage bundled with productivity software. Choose Dropbox if your team prioritizes intuitive file collaboration, extended version history, or works with large files and needs flexible permission granularity without Microsoft ecosystem lock-in.
Dropbox: $11.99/month | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 250 GB (Business Plus) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 30-365 days (plan dependent) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: Yes, with expiry dates | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: Basic (file-level comments) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: $24/user/month | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: $11.99 | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: Not available | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 2,500+ | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 180 days | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: Zero-knowledge optional (paid add-on) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: Unlimited | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: Yes (Dropbox Spaces, Team Spaces) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 2 GB (base) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: $120/year | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 4.5/5 (2.2M reviews) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: In-transit AES-256 + optional client-side encryption | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 180 days | Microsoft OneDrive: 93 days
Dropbox: Advanced (@mentions, comments, Paper documents, 300+ integrations) | Microsoft OneDrive: Basic (Office co-authoring only, limited integrations)
Dropbox: 700M+ | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: Server-side (TLS 1.2+) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 500+ million | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: United States | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 2.5 billion | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: $119.88 | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: No inclusion | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 99.99% | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 4 regions | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: $199.99 | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 2000 GB | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: Dropbox Sign, Paper docs, access logs, permission roles | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: Dropbox Business (3TB+ per user, admin console) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: Optional via third-party or manual import | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 2 GB (free) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Monthly Cost per User (Annual Commitment)
Dropbox: $11.99/month (Plus plan with 2 TB) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 1 user (free plan, 30-day trial for paid) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: Third-party integration only (Microsoft Office, Google Docs) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: No (integrate Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 180 days (on Plus plan) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 1,400+ integrations | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: Robust (SSO, DLP, HIPAA, SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 6 platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: Advanced (view-only, download blocks, expiring links, password protection) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: No automatic photo backup | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: Dropbox Sign, Spaces, Paper, task management | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: Not applicable | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 30 days | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 700 million (2024) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 2 TB ($11.99/month) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: No (storage-focused) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: All file types (universal) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: Not optimized | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 1000+ | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: $17.99 + seat fees (~$120 estimated) | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: All file types via sync | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: Yes, in Dropbox Spaces | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 2,000 | Microsoft OneDrive: N/A
Dropbox: 2GB | Microsoft OneDrive: 5GB (or 1TB with Microsoft 365)
Dropbox: 2000GB (2TB) | Microsoft OneDrive: 250GB
Dropbox: 22 levels | Microsoft OneDrive: 4 levels
Dropbox: $179.88/year | Microsoft OneDrive: $99.99/year (Microsoft 365 1TB bundle)
Microsoft Office Co-authoring Integration
Dropbox: Limited (basic sharing, no native co-editing) | Microsoft OneDrive: Deep (native Word/Excel/PowerPoint real-time co-authoring)
Dropbox: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android (full feature parity) | Microsoft OneDrive: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android (limited Linux support)
Dropbox: N/A | Microsoft OneDrive: 1,000 GB
Dropbox: N/A | Microsoft OneDrive: 250 GB
Dropbox: N/A | Microsoft OneDrive: 5 devices
Dropbox: N/A | Microsoft OneDrive: 3 (View, Edit, Owner)
Dropbox: N/A | Microsoft OneDrive: 0 (personal) or $6 (100GB add-on)
Dropbox: N/A | Microsoft OneDrive: 5 minutes
Dropbox: N/A | Microsoft OneDrive: No (Power Automate required)
How to choose between Dropbox and Microsoft OneDrive
Dropbox vs OneDrive — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Dropbox vs OneDrive. Contains 88 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Dropbox vs OneDrive — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Dropbox vs OneDrive.
OneDrive is significantly cheaper if you subscribe to Microsoft 365 ($99.99/year for 1TB). However, if you don't need Microsoft Office, Dropbox's paid plans offer better value per gigabyte and more features for power users who work with large files.
Can I recover deleted files after a long time?
Dropbox allows recovery up to 180 days after deletion, while OneDrive allows recovery for 93 days. For accidental deletions beyond these windows, neither service guarantees recovery, so both require careful file management practices.
Dropbox excels for non-Microsoft teams with advanced commenting, @mentions, and Dropbox Paper documents. OneDrive is superior if your team primarily uses Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for real-time co-authoring, offering native integration that Dropbox cannot match.
How do their sharing and permission controls compare?
Dropbox offers 22 granular permission levels with advanced controls like password-protected links and expiring shares. OneDrive provides 4 basic permission levels (Owner, Editor, Viewer, Viewer (read-only)) that are simpler but less flexible for complex organizational needs.
What happens to my files if I stop paying?
With both services, if you exceed free storage limits and stop paying, your account becomes read-only after 90 days (Dropbox) or 60 days (OneDrive). You retain access to your files, but cannot sync new changes until you resubscribe or delete files to free space.
How to Choose Between Dropbox and Microsoft OneDrive
Free Storage Allocation: Dropbox has 2GB, while Microsoft OneDrive has 5GB (or 1TB with Microsoft 365).
Consider: File Version History Retention
File Version History Retention: Dropbox has 180 days, while Microsoft OneDrive has 93 days.
Consider: Real-time Collaboration Features
Real-time Collaboration Features: Dropbox has Advanced (Paper docs, @ mentions, commenting), while Microsoft OneDrive has Basic (Office document co-authoring only).
Maximum Individual File Size: Dropbox has 2TB, while Microsoft OneDrive has 250GB.
Microsoft 365 Integration: Dropbox has Limited (basic sharing), while Microsoft OneDrive has Deep (Word, Excel, PowerPoint co-authoring).
Consider: Shared Folder Permissions Control
Shared Folder Permissions Control: Dropbox has Granular (22 permission levels), while Microsoft OneDrive has Standard (4 permission levels).
Annual Paid Plan Cost (2TB): Dropbox has $179.88/year, while Microsoft OneDrive has $99.99/year (with Microsoft 365 bundle).