software
Dropbox vs Google Drive 2026: Storage, Pricing & Features
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.
D
Dropbox
Cloud storage and file synchronization platform with smart sync and cross-platform support.
Teams prioritizing file security, cross-platform sync, and advanced sharing controls; organizations handling large files and sensitive documents
Score71%
VS
Google Drive
Cloud storage and document collaboration platform by Google with 15GB free storage.
Individual users and teams using Google Workspace; organizations prioritizing document collaboration and cost efficiency
Score63%
Quick Answer
AI SummaryDropbox 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.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose 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.
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D
Dropbox
7.7/10
Google Drive
7.3/10
D
Choose Dropbox if
Best pickTeams prioritizing file security, cross-platform sync, and advanced sharing controls; organizations handling large files and sensitive documents
Choose Google Drive if
Individual users and teams using Google Workspace; organizations prioritizing document collaboration and cost efficiency
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Key Differences at a Glance
- File History & Recovery:✓ Dropbox wins(30 days (standard), up to 1 year (Business Plus) vs 30 days)
- Password-Protected Sharing:✓ Dropbox wins(Yes, with expiry dates vs No password protection available)
- File Delivery Max Size:✓ Dropbox wins(250 GB (Business Plus) vs 5 GB standard sharing limit)
Key Facts & Figures
77 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | Dropbox | Google Drive | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest Individual Plan Price(USD/month) | $11.99/month | $1.99/month | |
| Business Plan Storage (Starting)(TB) | 9 TB | 1 TB (100 GB × 10 users shared) | |
| Maximum File Delivery Size(GB) | 250 GB (Business Plus) | 5 GB | |
| File Recovery Window(days) | 30-365 days (plan dependent) | 30 days | |
| Business Plan Cost (Per User/Month)(USD) | $24/user/month | $6-12/user/month (Google Workspace) | |
| Starting Monthly Price(USD) | $11.99 | — | — |
| Free Storage Tier(GB) | 2 GB | — | — |
| Maximum Storage per User(TB) | 3 TB | — | — |
| Third-party Integrations(integrations) | 600+ | — | — |
| User Adoption Rate in SMBs(Percentage) | 42% | — | — |
| File Version History(Days) | 180 | — | — |
| User Satisfaction Score(Out of 10) | 8.7 | — | — |
| Monthly Cost (2TB Plan)(USD) | $11.99 (Dropbox Plus) | — | — |
| Third-Party Integrations(integrations) | 2,500+ | 500+ | |
| File Version History Retention(days) | 180 days (Dropbox Plus) | 30 days (free tier) | |
| Free Storage(GB) | 2GB | — | — |
| Pro Plan Cost (Annual, 2TB)(USD) | $120/year | — | — |
| Mobile App Rating (iOS)(stars) | 4.5/5 (2.2M reviews) | — | — |
| Version History Retention(months) | 180 days | — | — |
| Active Users(millions) | 700M+ | — | — |
| Free Storage Capacity(GB) | 2 GB | 15 GB | |
| 2TB Monthly Subscription Cost(USD/month) | $11.99 | — | — |
| Mobile App Downloads(millions) | 500+ million | — | — |
| Daily Files Stored (Peak)(billions) | 2.5 billion | — | — |
| 100GB Plan Annual Cost(USD) | $119.88 | — | — |
| Uptime Service Level Agreement(percent) | 99.99% | — | — |
| Global Data Center Regions(regions) | 4 regions | — | — |
| 2TB Annual Plan Cost(USD) | $199.99 | — | — |
| Free Storage Included(GB) | 2 GB | 15GB | |
| Cheapest Paid Plan Cost(USD/month) | $11.99 | — | — |
| Cheapest Paid Plan Storage(GB) | 2000 GB | — | — |
| Storage (Entry Plan)(GB) | 2 GB (free) | — | — |
| Monthly Cost per User (Annual Commitment)(USD) | $11.99/month (Plus plan with 2 TB) | — | — |
| Maximum Team Size (Free/Trial Plan)(users) | 1 user (free plan, 30-day trial for paid) | — | — |
| File Versioning History(days) | 180 days (on Plus plan) | — | — |
| Third-Party App Integrations(integrations) | 3000+ | — | — |
| 200GB Plan Annual Cost(USD) | $119.88 | — | — |
| Version History Retention (Free Plan)(days) | 30 days | — | — |
| Version History Retention (Paid Plan)(days) | 180 days | — | — |
| Plus Plan Storage(TB) | 2 TB ($11.99/month) | — | — |
| Supported File Formats(formats) | 1000+ | — | — |
| Version History Retention (Free)(days) | 30 days | — | — |
| Team Plan Cost (5 users, 1TB)(USD/month) | $17.99 + seat fees (~$120 estimated) | — | — |
| API Rate Limits (calls/hour)(calls) | 2,000 | — | — |
| Free Storage Tier(GB) | 2GB | 15 GB | |
| File Version History Duration(days) | 180 days | — | — |
| Maximum Single File Upload Size(GB) | 2000GB (2TB) | 5 TB | |
| Permission Control Granularity(levels) | 22 levels | — | — |
| Annual Cost (2TB Plan)(USD) | $179.88/year | — | — |
| File Version History(days) | 180 days (Plus), 1800 days (Professional) | — | — |
| Sync Speed (LAN Test)(MB/s) | 2-5 MB/s average | — | — |
| Maximum Storage Plan(TB) | 3000GB (3TB) Dropbox Professional | — | — |
| Paid Plan Cost (2TB/Month)(USD) | $11.99 | — | — |
| Annual Paid Plan Cost (2TB)(USD) | $119.99 | — | — |
| File Sync Speed (Average)(Mbps) | 85 Mbps | — | — |
| Business Plan Starting Price (Annual per User)(USD) | $180/year | — | — |
| Maximum File Size Upload(GB) | 20 GB (all methods) | — | — |
| Free Storage Capacity(GB) | 15GB | 15GB | |
| Collaboration Score(Rating) | 9.2/10 | 9.2/10 | |
| File Sync Speed(Rating) | 8.7/10 | 8.7/10 | |
| AI Features Count(Features) | 3 (OCR, translation, image processing) | 3 (OCR, translation, image processing) | |
| Free Trial Duration(Days) | 14 days | 14 days | |
| Platform Reliability(Rating) | 8.9/10 | 8.9/10 | |
| AI Visibility Score(/100) | 92 | 92 | |
| File Sync Performance Rating(/10) | 8.8 | 8.8 | |
| Free Plan Storage(GB) | 15 GB | 15 GB | |
| Monthly Subscription Cost (Personal)(USD) | $9.99 (100 GB plan) | $9.99 (100 GB plan) | |
| User Adoption Time (Typical)(hours) | Under 1 hour | Under 1 hour | |
| Template Library Size(templates) | 100+ | 100+ | |
| Lowest Paid Plan Cost (Monthly)(USD) | $1.99/month (100GB) | $1.99/month (100GB) | |
| Annual Cost for 2TB Storage(USD) | $99.88/year ($9.99/month 2TB) | $99.88/year ($9.99/month 2TB) | |
| Free Tier Storage(GB) | 15 GB | 15 GB | |
| Starting Monthly Cost (Business Plan)(USD) | $6 | $6 | |
| Revision History Retention(days) | 30 days permanently | 30 days permanently | |
| Monthly Cost (Pro Plan)(USD) | $9.99 (100GB) | $9.99 (100GB) | |
| Maximum File Size (Upload)(GB) | 5 GB per file | 5 GB per file | |
| Setup Time (minutes)(minutes) | 5 minutes to productive use | 5 minutes to productive use |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
D
4DropboxDropbox leads
Dropbox
Attribute
Google Drive
- 30 days (standard), up to 1 year (Business Plus)(winner)File History & Recovery30 days
- Yes, with expiry dates(winner)Password-Protected SharingNo password protection available
- 250 GB (Business Plus)(winner)File Delivery Max Size5 GB standard sharing limit
- Basic, file-level onlyReal-Time CollaborationAdvanced, document-level editing(winner)
- $11.99/month (2 TB)Cheapest Individual Plan Price$1.99/month (100 GB) or free (15 GB)(winner)
- Primary strength, optimized sync engine(winner)File Sync PrioritySecondary, cloud-first architecture
- Basic editing, third-party apps requiredMicrosoft Office IntegrationNative editing, full Office 365 support(winner)
- File History & Recovery
Dropbox
30 days (standard), up to 1 year (Business Plus)(winner)
Google Drive
30 days
- Password-Protected Sharing
Dropbox
Yes, with expiry dates(winner)
Google Drive
No password protection available
- File Delivery Max Size
Dropbox
250 GB (Business Plus)(winner)
Google Drive
5 GB standard sharing limit
- Real-Time Collaboration
Dropbox
Basic, file-level only
Google Drive
Advanced, document-level editing(winner)
- Cheapest Individual Plan Price
Dropbox
$11.99/month (2 TB)
Google Drive
$1.99/month (100 GB) or free (15 GB)(winner)
- File Sync Priority
Dropbox
Primary strength, optimized sync engine(winner)
Google Drive
Secondary, cloud-first architecture
- Microsoft Office Integration
Dropbox
Basic editing, third-party apps required
Google Drive
Native editing, full Office 365 support(winner)
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Dropbox | Google Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest Individual Plan Price(USD/month) | $11.99/month | $1.99/month(winner) |
| Business Plan Cost (Per User/Month)(USD) | $24/user/month | $6-12/user/month (Google Workspace)(winner) |
| Starting Monthly Price(USD) | $11.99 | — |
| Pro Plan Cost (Annual, 2TB)(USD) | $120/year | — |
| 2TB Monthly Subscription Cost(USD/month) | $11.99 | — |
Show 15 more attributes100GB Plan Annual Cost(USD) $119.88 — 2TB Annual Plan Cost(USD) $199.99 — Cheapest Paid Plan Cost(USD/month) $11.99 — Monthly Cost per User (Annual Commitment)(USD) $11.99/month (Plus plan with 2 TB) — 200GB Plan Annual Cost(USD) $119.88 — Team Plan Cost (5 users, 1TB)(USD/month) $17.99 + seat fees (~$120 estimated) — Paid Plan Cost (2TB/Month)(USD) $11.99 — Annual Paid Plan Cost (2TB)(USD) $119.99 — Business Plan Starting Price (Annual per User)(USD) $180/year — Monthly Subscription Cost (Personal)(USD) $9.99 (100 GB plan) — Lowest Paid Plan Cost (Monthly)(USD) $1.99/month (100GB) — Annual Cost for 2TB Storage(USD) $99.88/year ($9.99/month 2TB) — Free Tier Storage(GB) 15 GB — Starting Monthly Cost (Business Plan)(USD) $6 — Monthly Cost (Pro Plan)(USD) $9.99 (100GB) — | ||
| Business Plan Storage (Starting)(TB) | 9 TB(winner) | 1 TB (100 GB × 10 users shared) |
| Free Storage Tier(GB) | 2 GB | — |
| Maximum Storage per User(TB) | 3 TB | — |
| Free Storage Capacity(GB) | 2 GB | 15 GB(winner) |
| Free Storage Included(GB) | 2 GB | 15GB(winner) |
Show 5 more attributesCheapest Paid Plan Storage(GB) 2000 GB — Plus Plan Storage(TB) 2 TB ($11.99/month) — Free Storage Capacity(GB) 15GB — Maximum Storage (Best Plan)(TB) Unlimited (Workspace) — Maximum File Size (Upload)(GB) 5 GB per file — | ||
| Maximum File Delivery Size(GB) | 250 GB (Business Plus)(winner) | 5 GB |
| File Recovery Window(days) | 30-365 days (plan dependent)(winner) | 30 days |
| Password-Protected Sharing | Yes, with expiry dates | No |
| Enterprise Compliance Certifications | SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR | — |
| File Encryption Type | In-transit AES-256 + optional client-side encryption | — |
| Encryption Type | Server-side (TLS 1.2+) | — |
Show 5 more attributesAdmin Controls & Compliance Features(null) Robust (SSO, DLP, HIPAA, SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001) — Sharing Permission Granularity Advanced (view-only, download blocks, expiring links, password protection) — Encryption Type Server-side encryption — End-to-End Encryption Default(null) No (Workspace only) — Enterprise SSO Available in All paid plans — | ||
| Real-time Document Collaboration | Basic comments only; requires integrations | Advanced (simultaneous editing in Docs/Sheets) |
| Maximum Concurrent Real-Time Users(users) | Unlimited | — |
| Maximum Team Size (Free/Trial Plan)(users) | 1 user (free plan, 30-day trial for paid) | — |
| Maximum Simultaneous Editors(users) | Not applicable | — |
| Max Simultaneous Real-Time Editors(users) | Not optimized | — |
Show 4 more attributesComment Threading & Suggestions(null) Yes, in Dropbox Spaces — Real-Time Collaboration Users(concurrent users) Unlimited — Real-time Collaborative Editors (Simultaneous Users)(users) Unlimited — Real-Time Collaboration Limit(users) Unlimited simultaneous editors — | ||
| Third-party Integrations(integrations) | 600+ | — |
| User Adoption Rate in SMBs(Percentage) | 42% | — |
| File Version History(Days) | 180 | — |
| Third-Party Integrations(integrations) | 2,500+(winner) | 500+ |
| File Version History Retention(days) | 180 days (Dropbox Plus)(winner) | 30 days (free tier) |
| Photo Auto-Backup Integration | Optional via third-party or manual import | — |
| Third-Party App Integrations(integrations) | 3000+ | — |
Show 22 more attributesAutomatic Photo Backup Limit(GB) No automatic photo backup — Native Document Editing(capability) No (storage-focused) — Supported File Formats(formats) 1000+ — Offline Editing Support(null) All file types via sync — File Version History(days) 180 days (Plus), 1800 days (Professional) — Office Integration Third-party add-ons and basic integration — Advanced Collaboration Features Yes (comments, @mentions, file requests, Dropbox Transfer) — Included Video Conferencing No native conferencing — Email Service Included No — Maximum File Size Upload(GB) 20 GB (all methods) — Collaboration Score(Rating) 9.2/10 — Third-Party Integrations Extensive marketplace — Offline Access Capability Full offline with sync — Workspace Collaboration Tools Meet, Sheets, Docs, Forms integrated — OCR & AI Text Recognition Image & PDF to text conversion — Free Plan Storage(GB) 15 GB — Offline Document Editing Full offline editing with sync — Native Database Capabilities None (Sheets only for spreadsheets) — Real-time Collaboration Native (Docs, Sheets, Slides) — Workflow Automation Capability Basic (Zapier required) — Revision History Retention(days) 30 days permanently — Database Querying & Relations None - spreadsheets only — | ||
| User Satisfaction Score(Out of 10) | 8.7 | — |
| Mobile App Rating (iOS)(stars) | 4.5/5 (2.2M reviews) | — |
| Monthly Cost (2TB Plan)(USD) | $11.99 (Dropbox Plus) | — |
| Lifetime Plan Cost (2TB)(USD) | Not available | — |
| Free Storage(GB) | 2GB | — |
| Free Storage Tier(GB) | 2GB | 15 GB(winner) |
| Annual Cost (2TB Plan)(USD) | $179.88/year | — |
Show 1 more attributeMaximum Storage Plan(TB) 3000GB (3TB) Dropbox Professional — | ||
| Default Encryption Type | Zero-knowledge optional (paid add-on) | — |
| Maximum File Upload Size(GB) | Unlimited | — |
| Team Collaboration Workspaces | Yes (Dropbox Spaces, Team Spaces) | — |
| Version History Retention(months) | 180 days | — |
| Version History Retention (Free)(days) | 30 days | — |
| Real-time Collaboration Features | Advanced (@mentions, comments, Paper documents, 300+ integrations) | — |
| Permission Control Granularity(levels) | 22 levels | — |
| Microsoft Office Co-authoring Integration | Limited (basic sharing, no native co-editing) | — |
| Active Users(millions) | 700M+ | — |
| Daily Files Stored (Peak)(billions) | 2.5 billion | — |
| Mobile App Downloads(millions) | 500+ million | — |
| Data Center Location(null) | United States | — |
| Microsoft 365 Personal Bundle Storage(GB) | No inclusion | — |
| Microsoft 365 Integration(Level) | Limited - through export/import | — |
| Uptime Service Level Agreement(percent) | 99.99% | — |
| Platform Reliability(Rating) | 8.9/10 | — |
| Global Data Center Regions(regions) | 4 regions | — |
| Team/Business Plans Available | Dropbox Business (3TB+ per user, admin console) | — |
| Storage (Entry Plan)(GB) | 2 GB (free) | — |
| Document Editing Capability(null) | Third-party integration only (Microsoft Office, Google Docs) | — |
| Video Conferencing Built-In(null) | No (integrate Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams) | — |
| File Versioning History(days) | 180 days (on Plus plan) | — |
| Supported Operating Systems | 6 platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web) | — |
| File Type Support(formats) | All file types (universal) | — |
| Supported Platforms | 6 platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web) | — |
| Desktop Sync Clients Available(platforms) | Windows, Mac, Linux | — |
| Cross-Platform Support | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Web | — |
| Team Collaboration Tools | Dropbox Sign, Spaces, Paper, task management | — |
| Version History Retention (Free Plan)(days) | 30 days | — |
| Version History Retention (Paid Plan)(days) | 180 days | — |
| Monthly Active Users(millions) | 700 million (2024) | — |
| API Rate Limits (calls/hour)(calls) | 2,000 | — |
| File Version History Duration(days) | 180 days | — |
| Maximum Single File Upload Size(GB) | 2000GB (2TB)(winner) | 5 TB |
| Sync Speed (LAN Test)(MB/s) | 2-5 MB/s average | — |
| File Sync Speed (Average)(Mbps) | 85 Mbps | — |
| File Sync Speed(Rating) | 8.7/10 | — |
| AI Visibility Score(/100) | 92 | — |
| File Sync Performance Rating(/10) | 8.8 | — |
| Advanced Sharing Controls | Role-based access, expiring links, password protection, IP restrictions | — |
| AI Features Count(Features) | 3 (OCR, translation, image processing) | — |
| Free Trial Duration(Days) | 14 days | — |
| Android Optimization(Level) | Excellent - Android-optimized | — |
| User Adoption Time (Typical)(hours) | Under 1 hour | — |
| Template Library Size(templates) | 100+ | — |
| API Availability(text) | Full REST API with webhooks | — |
| Compliance Certifications Included | SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001 | — |
| Offline Editing Capability | Full editing offline | — |
| Setup Time (minutes)(minutes) | 5 minutes to productive use | — |
DDropbox
Google DriveLowest Individual Plan Price(USD/month)
$11.99/month
$1.99/month
Business Plan Cost (Per User/Month)(USD)
$24/user/month
$6-12/user/month (Google Workspace)
Starting Monthly Price(USD)
$11.99
—
Pro Plan Cost (Annual, 2TB)(USD)
$120/year
—
2TB Monthly Subscription Cost(USD/month)
$11.99
—
Show 15 more attributes
100GB Plan Annual Cost(USD)
$119.88
—
2TB Annual Plan Cost(USD)
$199.99
—
Cheapest Paid Plan Cost(USD/month)
$11.99
—
Monthly Cost per User (Annual Commitment)(USD)
$11.99/month (Plus plan with 2 TB)
—
200GB Plan Annual Cost(USD)
$119.88
—
Team Plan Cost (5 users, 1TB)(USD/month)
$17.99 + seat fees (~$120 estimated)
—
Paid Plan Cost (2TB/Month)(USD)
$11.99
—
Annual Paid Plan Cost (2TB)(USD)
$119.99
—
Business Plan Starting Price (Annual per User)(USD)
$180/year
—
Monthly Subscription Cost (Personal)(USD)
$9.99 (100 GB plan)
—
Lowest Paid Plan Cost (Monthly)(USD)
$1.99/month (100GB)
—
Annual Cost for 2TB Storage(USD)
$99.88/year ($9.99/month 2TB)
—
Free Tier Storage(GB)
15 GB
—
Starting Monthly Cost (Business Plan)(USD)
$6
—
Monthly Cost (Pro Plan)(USD)
$9.99 (100GB)
—
Business Plan Storage (Starting)(TB)
9 TB
1 TB (100 GB × 10 users shared)
Free Storage Tier(GB)
2 GB
—
Maximum Storage per User(TB)
3 TB
—
Free Storage Capacity(GB)
2 GB
15 GB
Free Storage Included(GB)
2 GB
15GB
Show 5 more attributes
Cheapest Paid Plan Storage(GB)
2000 GB
—
Plus Plan Storage(TB)
2 TB ($11.99/month)
—
Free Storage Capacity(GB)
15GB
—
Maximum Storage (Best Plan)(TB)
Unlimited (Workspace)
—
Maximum File Size (Upload)(GB)
5 GB per file
—
Maximum File Delivery Size(GB)
250 GB (Business Plus)
5 GB
File Recovery Window(days)
30-365 days (plan dependent)
30 days
Password-Protected Sharing
Yes, with expiry dates
No
Enterprise Compliance Certifications
SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR
—
File Encryption Type
In-transit AES-256 + optional client-side encryption
—
Encryption Type
Server-side (TLS 1.2+)
—
Show 5 more attributes
Admin Controls & Compliance Features(null)
Robust (SSO, DLP, HIPAA, SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001)
—
Sharing Permission Granularity
Advanced (view-only, download blocks, expiring links, password protection)
—
Encryption Type
Server-side encryption
—
End-to-End Encryption Default(null)
No (Workspace only)
—
Enterprise SSO Available in
All paid plans
—
Real-time Document Collaboration
Basic comments only; requires integrations
Advanced (simultaneous editing in Docs/Sheets)
Maximum Concurrent Real-Time Users(users)
Unlimited
—
Maximum Team Size (Free/Trial Plan)(users)
1 user (free plan, 30-day trial for paid)
—
Maximum Simultaneous Editors(users)
Not applicable
—
Max Simultaneous Real-Time Editors(users)
Not optimized
—
Show 4 more attributes
Comment Threading & Suggestions(null)
Yes, in Dropbox Spaces
—
Real-Time Collaboration Users(concurrent users)
Unlimited
—
Real-time Collaborative Editors (Simultaneous Users)(users)
Unlimited
—
Real-Time Collaboration Limit(users)
Unlimited simultaneous editors
—
Third-party Integrations(integrations)
600+
—
User Adoption Rate in SMBs(Percentage)
42%
—
File Version History(Days)
180
—
Third-Party Integrations(integrations)
2,500+
500+
File Version History Retention(days)
180 days (Dropbox Plus)
30 days (free tier)
Photo Auto-Backup Integration
Optional via third-party or manual import
—
Third-Party App Integrations(integrations)
3000+
—
Show 22 more attributes
Automatic Photo Backup Limit(GB)
No automatic photo backup
—
Native Document Editing(capability)
No (storage-focused)
—
Supported File Formats(formats)
1000+
—
Offline Editing Support(null)
All file types via sync
—
File Version History(days)
180 days (Plus), 1800 days (Professional)
—
Office Integration
Third-party add-ons and basic integration
—
Advanced Collaboration Features
Yes (comments, @mentions, file requests, Dropbox Transfer)
—
Included Video Conferencing
No native conferencing
—
Email Service Included
No
—
Maximum File Size Upload(GB)
20 GB (all methods)
—
Collaboration Score(Rating)
9.2/10
—
Third-Party Integrations
Extensive marketplace
—
Offline Access Capability
Full offline with sync
—
Workspace Collaboration Tools
Meet, Sheets, Docs, Forms integrated
—
OCR & AI Text Recognition
Image & PDF to text conversion
—
Free Plan Storage(GB)
15 GB
—
Offline Document Editing
Full offline editing with sync
—
Native Database Capabilities
None (Sheets only for spreadsheets)
—
Real-time Collaboration
Native (Docs, Sheets, Slides)
—
Workflow Automation Capability
Basic (Zapier required)
—
Revision History Retention(days)
30 days permanently
—
Database Querying & Relations
None - spreadsheets only
—
User Satisfaction Score(Out of 10)
8.7
—
Mobile App Rating (iOS)(stars)
4.5/5 (2.2M reviews)
—
Monthly Cost (2TB Plan)(USD)
$11.99 (Dropbox Plus)
—
Lifetime Plan Cost (2TB)(USD)
Not available
—
Free Storage(GB)
2GB
—
Free Storage Tier(GB)
2GB
15 GB
Annual Cost (2TB Plan)(USD)
$179.88/year
—
Show 1 more attribute
Maximum Storage Plan(TB)
3000GB (3TB) Dropbox Professional
—
Default Encryption Type
Zero-knowledge optional (paid add-on)
—
Maximum File Upload Size(GB)
Unlimited
—
Team Collaboration Workspaces
Yes (Dropbox Spaces, Team Spaces)
—
Version History Retention(months)
180 days
—
Version History Retention (Free)(days)
30 days
—
Real-time Collaboration Features
Advanced (@mentions, comments, Paper documents, 300+ integrations)
—
Permission Control Granularity(levels)
22 levels
—
Microsoft Office Co-authoring Integration
Limited (basic sharing, no native co-editing)
—
Active Users(millions)
700M+
—
Daily Files Stored (Peak)(billions)
2.5 billion
—
Mobile App Downloads(millions)
500+ million
—
Data Center Location(null)
United States
—
Microsoft 365 Personal Bundle Storage(GB)
No inclusion
—
Microsoft 365 Integration(Level)
Limited - through export/import
—
Uptime Service Level Agreement(percent)
99.99%
—
Platform Reliability(Rating)
8.9/10
—
Global Data Center Regions(regions)
4 regions
—
Team/Business Plans Available
Dropbox Business (3TB+ per user, admin console)
—
Storage (Entry Plan)(GB)
2 GB (free)
—
Document Editing Capability(null)
Third-party integration only (Microsoft Office, Google Docs)
—
Video Conferencing Built-In(null)
No (integrate Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams)
—
File Versioning History(days)
180 days (on Plus plan)
—
Supported Operating Systems
6 platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web)
—
File Type Support(formats)
All file types (universal)
—
Supported Platforms
6 platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web)
—
Desktop Sync Clients Available(platforms)
Windows, Mac, Linux
—
Cross-Platform Support
Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Web
—
Team Collaboration Tools
Dropbox Sign, Spaces, Paper, task management
—
Version History Retention (Free Plan)(days)
30 days
—
Version History Retention (Paid Plan)(days)
180 days
—
Monthly Active Users(millions)
700 million (2024)
—
API Rate Limits (calls/hour)(calls)
2,000
—
File Version History Duration(days)
180 days
—
Maximum Single File Upload Size(GB)
2000GB (2TB)
5 TB
Sync Speed (LAN Test)(MB/s)
2-5 MB/s average
—
File Sync Speed (Average)(Mbps)
85 Mbps
—
File Sync Speed(Rating)
8.7/10
—
AI Visibility Score(/100)
92
—
File Sync Performance Rating(/10)
8.8
—
Advanced Sharing Controls
Role-based access, expiring links, password protection, IP restrictions
—
AI Features Count(Features)
3 (OCR, translation, image processing)
—
Free Trial Duration(Days)
14 days
—
Android Optimization(Level)
Excellent - Android-optimized
—
User Adoption Time (Typical)(hours)
Under 1 hour
—
Template Library Size(templates)
100+
—
API Availability(text)
Full REST API with webhooks
—
Compliance Certifications Included
SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001
—
Offline Editing Capability
Full editing offline
—
Setup Time (minutes)(minutes)
5 minutes to productive use
—
Pros & Cons
10 pros·5 cons across both
D
D
Dropbox
+5-2
Pros
- Password-protected sharing with expiry dates for enhanced security
- File delivery up to 250 GB on Business Plus plan (vs. 5 GB standard elsewhere)
- Extended file recovery up to 1 year on Business Plus plan
- Superior file synchronization across Windows, Mac, and Linux
- Advanced admin controls with tiered roles and suspicious activity alerts
Cons
- Higher individual plan cost at $11.99/month for 2 TB storage
- Weaker document collaboration features compared to Google Docs ecosystem
Google Drive
+5-3
Pros
- Free tier with 15 GB storage (vs. Dropbox's 2 GB free)
- Lowest-cost paid option at $1.99/month for 100 GB
- Native real-time collaboration on Docs, Sheets, and Slides
- Seamless integration with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office online editing
- 30-day file recovery standard on all plans
Cons
- Lacks password protection and expiry dates on shared files
- Limited file delivery size capabilities (5 GB standard)
- Cloud-first architecture makes local file sync less intuitive
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
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.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Where to Buy
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