OneDrive offers 1TB free storage with Microsoft 365 integration and lower pricing ($6-20/month), while Dropbox provides superior file syncing, advanced sharing controls, and better cross-platform support with plans starting at $11.99/month. OneDrive wins for Microsoft ecosystem users; Dropbox excels for creative professionals and collaborative teams.
OneDrive vs Dropbox — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Cloud storage integrated with Microsoft 365 and Windows ecosystem
Cross-platform cloud storage with advanced sharing and collaboration features
Free Storage Allocation. Monthly Cost (200GB plan). File Versioning History. Advanced Sharing Controls. Microsoft Office Integration. Client Platforms Supported. Sync Speed Performance
Choose OneDrive if you're invested in the Microsoft ecosystem (Windows, Office 365, Outlook) and want the lowest total cost of ownership, particularly for basic file storage and collaboration. Choose Dropbox if you need advanced sharing controls, faster sync performance, Linux support, extended file history for professional work, and a platform-agnostic solution that works seamlessly across all operating systems.
Microsoft OneDrive: 1,000 GB | Dropbox: N/A
Microsoft OneDrive: 250 GB | Dropbox: N/A
Microsoft OneDrive: 93 days | Dropbox: 180 days
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) | Dropbox: N/A
Microsoft OneDrive: 5GB (or 1TB with Microsoft 365) | Dropbox: 2GB
Microsoft OneDrive: 250GB | Dropbox: 2000GB (2TB)
Microsoft OneDrive: 4 levels | Dropbox: 22 levels
Microsoft OneDrive: $99.99/year (Microsoft 365 1TB bundle) | Dropbox: $179.88/year
Microsoft OneDrive: Basic (Office co-authoring only, limited integrations) | Dropbox: Advanced (@mentions, comments, Paper documents, 300+ integrations)
Microsoft Office Co-authoring Integration
Microsoft OneDrive: Deep (native Word/Excel/PowerPoint real-time co-authoring) | Dropbox: Limited (basic sharing, no native co-editing)
Microsoft OneDrive: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web (4 platforms) | Dropbox: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Web (6 platforms)
Microsoft OneDrive: 5GB (1000GB with Microsoft 365) | Dropbox: 2GB
Microsoft OneDrive: $6.99 (with Microsoft 365 Family) | Dropbox: $11.99 (Dropbox Plus)
Microsoft OneDrive: 93 days | Dropbox: 180 days (Plus), 1800 days (Professional)
Microsoft OneDrive: 1-3 MB/s average | Dropbox: 2-5 MB/s average
Microsoft OneDrive: Basic link sharing, limited role management | Dropbox: Role-based access, expiring links, password protection, IP restrictions
Microsoft OneDrive: Native Office 365 co-authoring and deep integration | Dropbox: Third-party add-ons and basic integration
Microsoft OneDrive: 1000GB (1TB) with Microsoft 365 | Dropbox: 3000GB (3TB) Dropbox Professional
Microsoft OneDrive: N/A | 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: $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: 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)
Monthly Cost per User (Annual Commitment)
Microsoft OneDrive: N/A | 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
How to choose between Microsoft OneDrive and Dropbox
OneDrive vs Dropbox — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for OneDrive vs Dropbox. Contains 93 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
OneDrive vs Dropbox — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for OneDrive vs Dropbox.
Is OneDrive or Dropbox better for Microsoft Office users?
OneDrive is significantly better for Microsoft Office users. It offers native co-authoring in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint with real-time collaboration, automatic saving to the cloud, and seamless integration with Outlook and Microsoft Teams. Dropbox requires third-party add-ons for comparable functionality. Additionally, OneDrive costs $6.99/month with Microsoft 365 Family (1TB storage) versus Dropbox at $11.99/month for 2TB standalone.
Which cloud storage has better file recovery and version history?
Dropbox significantly outperforms OneDrive in version history. Dropbox Plus retains 180 days of deleted file versions, while Dropbox Professional extends this to 1,800 days (nearly 5 years). OneDrive only provides 93 days of version history. For professionals and enterprises that require extended file recovery windows, Dropbox is the clear winner.
Only Dropbox has an official native Linux client. OneDrive does not provide native Linux support, though users can access it through the web interface or unofficial third-party tools. If you're a developer or system administrator requiring Linux compatibility, Dropbox is the only practical choice.
Which is faster for uploading and syncing large files?
Dropbox is faster, with average sync speeds of 2-5MB/s in local network testing compared to OneDrive's 1-3MB/s. For users frequently working with large files (video editing, photography, design projects), Dropbox's 50-100% speed advantage can save significant time. However, both services' actual performance varies based on internet connection quality.
What are the total costs when comparing both services annually?
OneDrive costs $6.99/month ($83.88/year) for 1TB with Microsoft 365 Family, which also includes Office applications. Dropbox Plus costs $11.99/month ($143.88/year) for 2TB without Office applications. If you need Office software, OneDrive is 42% cheaper; if you don't need Office, the cost difference is 71% in OneDrive's favor for equivalent storage.
How to Choose Between Microsoft OneDrive and Dropbox
Free Storage Allocation: Microsoft OneDrive has 5GB base, up to 1TB with Microsoft 365, while Dropbox has 2GB base, 3GB with referral.
Monthly Cost (200GB plan): Microsoft OneDrive has $6.99 (with Microsoft 365 Family), while Dropbox has $11.99 (Dropbox Plus 2TB).
File Versioning History: Microsoft OneDrive has 93 days for deleted files, while Dropbox has 180 days for Plus, 1,800 days for Professional.
Advanced Sharing Controls: Microsoft OneDrive has Basic link sharing, limited granular permissions, while Dropbox has Comprehensive role-based access, expiring links, password protection.
Microsoft Office Integration: Microsoft OneDrive has Native Office 365 integration, co-authoring in browser, while Dropbox has Basic third-party integration via add-ons.
Client Platforms Supported: Microsoft OneDrive has Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, web (4 major platforms), while Dropbox has Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, web (5 major platforms).
Sync Speed Performance: Microsoft OneDrive has 1-3MB/s average (LAN testing), while Dropbox has 2-5MB/s average (LAN testing).