Dropbox vs OneDrive 2026: Storage, Pricing, Collaboration
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
Cloud storage platform with advanced file collaboration and sharing capabilities.
Creative teams, agencies, and businesses that prioritize file collaboration, version control, and need to work with large files or non-Microsoft applications.
Microsoft OneDrive
Microsoft's cloud storage service tightly integrated with Microsoft 365 and Windows.
Organizations already invested in Microsoft 365, Windows-centric environments, and users who prioritize Office document co-authoring over cross-platform collaboration.
Quick Answer
AI SummaryOneDrive 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.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose 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.
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Choose Dropbox if
Best pickCreative teams, agencies, and businesses that prioritize file collaboration, version control, and need to work with large files or non-Microsoft applications.
Choose Microsoft OneDrive if
Organizations already invested in Microsoft 365, Windows-centric environments, and users who prioritize Office document co-authoring over cross-platform collaboration.
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Free Storage Allocation:✓ Microsoft OneDrive wins(5GB (or 1TB with Microsoft 365) vs 2GB)
- File Version History Retention:✓ Dropbox wins(180 days vs 93 days)
- Real-time Collaboration Features:✓ Dropbox wins(Advanced (Paper docs, @ mentions, commenting) vs Basic (Office document co-authoring only))
Key Facts & Figures
54 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | Dropbox | Microsoft OneDrive | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest Individual Plan Price(USD/month) | $11.99/month | — | — |
| Business Plan Storage (Starting)(TB) | 9 TB | — | — |
| Maximum File Delivery Size(GB) | 250 GB (Business Plus) | — | — |
| File Recovery Window(days) | 30-365 days (plan dependent) | — | — |
| Business Plan Cost (Per User/Month)(USD) | $24/user/month | — | — |
| 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/month | — | — |
| Third-Party Integrations(integrations) | 2,500+ | — | — |
| File Version History Retention(days) | 180 days | — | — |
| Free Storage(GB) | 2 GB (base) | — | — |
| Pro Plan Cost (Annual, 2TB)(USD) | $120/year | — | — |
| Mobile App Rating (iOS)(stars out of 5) | 4.5/5 (2.2M reviews) | — | — |
| Version History Retention(months) | 180 days | 93 days | |
| Active Users(millions) | 700M+ | — | — |
| Free Storage Capacity(GB) | 2 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(%) | 99.99% | — | — |
| Global Data Center Regions(regions) | 4 regions | — | — |
| 2TB Annual Plan Cost(USD) | $199.99 | — | — |
| Free Storage Included(GB) | 2 GB | — | — |
| 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) | 1,400+ integrations | — | — |
| 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(count) | 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 | 5GB (or 1TB with Microsoft 365) | |
| File Version History Duration(days) | 180 days | 93 days | |
| Maximum Single File Upload Size(GB) | 2000GB (2TB) | 250GB | |
| Permission Control Granularity(levels) | 22 levels | 4 levels | |
| Annual Cost (2TB Plan)(USD) | $179.88/year | $99.99/year (Microsoft 365 1TB bundle) | |
| Base Free Storage(GB) | 1,000 GB | 1,000 GB | |
| Maximum File Size(frames) | 250 GB | 250 GB | |
| Simultaneous Device Sync(devices) | 5 devices | 5 devices | |
| Permission Levels (Custom Roles)(count) | 3 (View, Edit, Owner) | 3 (View, Edit, Owner) | |
| Enterprise Subscription Cost(USD/user/month) | 0 (personal) or $6 (100GB add-on) | 0 (personal) or $6 (100GB add-on) |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- 2GBFree Storage Allocation5GB (or 1TB with Microsoft 365)(winner)
- 180 days(winner)File Version History Retention93 days
- Advanced (Paper docs, @ mentions, commenting)(winner)Real-time Collaboration FeaturesBasic (Office document co-authoring only)
- 2TB(winner)Maximum Individual File Size250GB
- Limited (basic sharing)Microsoft 365 IntegrationDeep (Word, Excel, PowerPoint co-authoring)(winner)
- Granular (22 permission levels)(winner)Shared Folder Permissions ControlStandard (4 permission levels)
- $179.88/yearAnnual Paid Plan Cost (2TB)$99.99/year (with Microsoft 365 bundle)(winner)
- Free Storage Allocation
Dropbox
2GB
Microsoft OneDrive
5GB (or 1TB with Microsoft 365)(winner)
- File Version History Retention
Dropbox
180 days(winner)
Microsoft OneDrive
93 days
- Real-time Collaboration Features
Dropbox
Advanced (Paper docs, @ mentions, commenting)(winner)
Microsoft OneDrive
Basic (Office document co-authoring only)
- Maximum Individual File Size
Dropbox
2TB(winner)
Microsoft OneDrive
250GB
- Microsoft 365 Integration
Dropbox
Limited (basic sharing)
Microsoft OneDrive
Deep (Word, Excel, PowerPoint co-authoring)(winner)
- Shared Folder Permissions Control
Dropbox
Granular (22 permission levels)(winner)
Microsoft OneDrive
Standard (4 permission levels)
- Annual Paid Plan Cost (2TB)
Dropbox
$179.88/year
Microsoft OneDrive
$99.99/year (with Microsoft 365 bundle)(winner)
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Dropbox | Microsoft OneDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest Individual Plan Price(USD/month) | $11.99/month | — |
| Business Plan Cost (Per User/Month)(USD) | $24/user/month | — |
| Starting Monthly Price(USD) | $11.99 | — |
| Pro Plan Cost (Annual, 2TB)(USD) | $120/year | — |
| 2TB Monthly Subscription Cost(USD/month) | $11.99 | — |
Show 7 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) — Enterprise Subscription Cost(USD/user/month) 0 (personal) or $6 (100GB add-on) — | ||
| Business Plan Storage (Starting)(TB) | 9 TB | — |
| Free Storage Tier(GB) | 2 GB | — |
| Maximum Storage per User(TB) | 3 TB | — |
| Free Storage Capacity(GB) | 2 GB | — |
| Free Storage Included(GB) | 2 GB | — |
Show 3 more attributesCheapest Paid Plan Storage(GB) 2000 GB — Plus Plan Storage(TB) 2 TB ($11.99/month) — Base Free Storage(GB) 1,000 GB — | ||
| Maximum File Delivery Size(GB) | 250 GB (Business Plus) | — |
| File Recovery Window(days) | 30-365 days (plan dependent) | — |
| Password-Protected Sharing | Yes, with expiry dates | — |
| 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 3 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) — Permission Levels (Custom Roles)(count) 3 (View, Edit, Owner) — | ||
| Real-Time Document Collaboration | Basic (file-level comments) | — |
| Maximum Concurrent Real-Time Users(users) | Unlimited | — |
| Advanced Collaboration Features | Dropbox Sign, Paper docs, access logs, permission roles | — |
| Maximum Team Size (Free/Trial Plan)(users) | 1 user (free plan, 30-day trial for paid) | — |
| Maximum Simultaneous Editors(users) | Not applicable | — |
Show 2 more attributesMax Simultaneous Real-Time Editors(users) Not optimized — Comment Threading & Suggestions(null) Yes, in Dropbox Spaces — | ||
| Third-party Integrations(integrations) | 600+ | — |
| Third-Party App Integrations(integrations) | 1,400+ integrations | — |
| User Adoption Rate in SMBs(Percentage) | 42% | — |
| File Version History(Days) | 180 | — |
| Third-Party Integrations(integrations) | 2,500+ | — |
| Photo Auto-Backup Integration | Optional via third-party or manual import | — |
| Automatic Photo Backup Limit(GB) | No automatic photo backup | — |
| Native Document Editing(capability) | No (storage-focused) | — |
Show 2 more attributesOffline Editing Support(null) All file types via sync — Native Workflow Automation(null) No (Power Automate required) — | ||
| User Satisfaction Score(Out of 10) | 8.7 | — |
| Mobile App Rating (iOS)(stars out of 5) | 4.5/5 (2.2M reviews) | — |
| Monthly Cost (2TB Plan)(USD) | $11.99/month | — |
| Lifetime Plan Cost (2TB)(USD) | Not available | — |
| Free Storage Tier(GB) | 2GB | 5GB (or 1TB with Microsoft 365)(winner) |
| Annual Cost (2TB Plan)(USD) | $179.88/year | $99.99/year (Microsoft 365 1TB bundle)(winner) |
| File Version History Retention(days) | 180 days | — |
| Default Encryption Type | Zero-knowledge optional (paid add-on) | — |
| Maximum File Upload Size(GB) | Unlimited | — |
| Team Collaboration Workspaces | Yes (Dropbox Spaces, Team Spaces) | — |
| Free Storage(GB) | 2 GB (base) | — |
| Storage (Entry Plan)(GB) | 2 GB (free) | — |
| Version History Retention(months) | 180 days(winner) | 93 days |
| Version History Retention (Free)(days) | 30 days | — |
| Real-time Collaboration Features | Advanced (@mentions, comments, Paper documents, 300+ integrations) | Basic (Office co-authoring only, limited integrations) |
| Permission Control Granularity(levels) | 22 levels(winner) | 4 levels |
| Microsoft Office Co-authoring Integration | Limited (basic sharing, no native co-editing) | Deep (native Word/Excel/PowerPoint real-time co-authoring) |
| Active Users(millions) | 700M+ | — |
| Mobile App Downloads(millions) | 500+ million | — |
| Data Center Location(null) | United States | — |
| Daily Files Stored (Peak)(billions) | 2.5 billion | — |
| Microsoft 365 Personal Bundle Storage(GB) | No inclusion | — |
| Uptime Service Level Agreement(%) | 99.99% | — |
| Global Data Center Regions(regions) | 4 regions | — |
| Team/Business Plans Available | Dropbox Business (3TB+ per user, admin console) | — |
| 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(platforms) | 6 platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web) | — |
| File Type Support(formats) | All file types (universal) | — |
| Supported File Formats(count) | 1000+ | — |
| Supported Platforms | Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android (full feature parity) | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android (limited Linux support) |
| 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(billion) | 700 million (2024) | — |
| API Rate Limits (calls/hour)(calls) | 2,000 | — |
| File Version History Duration(days) | 180 days(winner) | 93 days |
| Maximum Single File Upload Size(GB) | 2000GB (2TB)(winner) | 250GB |
| Maximum File Size(frames) | 250 GB | — |
| Simultaneous Device Sync(devices) | 5 devices | — |
| Setup Time(minutes) | 5 minutes | — |
Microsoft OneDriveShow 7 more attributes
Show 3 more attributes
Show 3 more attributes
Show 2 more attributes
Show 2 more attributes
Pros & Cons
10 pros·6 cons across both
Dropbox
Pros
- Extended 180-day file version history vs competitors' 30-93 days
- Advanced real-time collaboration with @mentions, comments, and Dropbox Paper documents
- Supports 2TB individual file uploads (vs 250GB industry standard)
- Granular sharing with 22 distinct permission levels and expiring link passwords
- Seamless desktop sync across Windows, Mac, and Linux with selective sync
Cons
- Premium plan ($179.88/year for 2TB) costs 80% more than OneDrive equivalent
- Minimal Microsoft Office co-authoring integration compared to OneDrive
- No email inbox integration like OneDrive
Microsoft OneDrive
Pros
- Up to 1TB free storage with Microsoft 365 subscription (vs Dropbox's 2GB free)
- Native Word, Excel, and PowerPoint co-authoring with real-time presence indicators
- Integrated into Windows 10/11 File Explorer for seamless local synchronization
- More affordable premium tier ($99.99/year for 1TB as part of Microsoft 365)
- Built-in ransomware detection and recovery features
Cons
- Only 93-day file version history (vs Dropbox's 180 days)
- Limited collaboration features outside Microsoft Office applications
- Sharing permission controls less granular than Dropbox (4 vs 22 levels)
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
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.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Where to Buy
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Wikipedia
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