Dropbox is a popular file hosting service allowing users to store documents in the cloud and access them from any internet-enabled device. It has a forever-free plan and four paid subscription packages, providing up to 5TB of cloud storage. Aside from storage, it offers other valuable tools, such as large file transfer and content collaboration. In this Dropbox review, we evaluated its pricing and features, among other software program considerations.
We highly recommend the platform to organizations needing a feature-filled file hosting service with robust third-party integrations. Some of its key integrations include Google Workspace, Slack, and Zoom.
Dropbox Review: At a Glance
Overall Score: 4.41 / 5
What We Liked
- Forever-free plan for solopreneurs
- Maximum storage is 5TB
- Wide range of features, including content collaboration, electronic signatures, and file analytics
- Integrates with over 300,000 third-party business tools
What’s Missing
- Inaccurate, limited file search functionality
- File synchronization issues
- Mobile app can be confusing at first
- Companies needing secure file storage: Dropbox encrypts data at-rest and in-transit to secure business communications. Moreover, it conducts regular testing for security vulnerabilities.
- Healthcare companies protecting confidential medical information: The provider offers comprehensive documentation on how to change sharing permissions, manage account access, disable permanent deletions, and perform other configurations to keep health data confidential and achieve compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
- Remote teams simultaneously collaborating on documents: The provider features Dropbox Paper, which allows you to create, share, and work on a document with team members in real time. It displays version history, helping you track work progress easily.
- Businesses wanting to streamline the contract signing process with partners and clients: Dropbox Sign enables you to add electronic signatures to different kinds of documents, such as Microsoft Word and PDFs. These are legally binding, as the provider complies with the United States and the European Union’s laws on electronic signatures.
- Small businesses wanting a cost-effective file hosting service: Explore alternatives if you need a more affordable cloud storage solution. Microsoft OneDrive’s entry-level plan costs $5 per user, significantly cheaper than Dropbox’s $11.99 monthly subscription.
- Solopreneurs needing a bigger cloud storage capacity: Dropbox’s free plan storage for one user is limited to 2GB. Microsoft OneDrive offers 5GB in its free plan, while Google Drive has a maximum of 15GB of cloud storage.
- Remote teams needing to share file transfer updates via chat: Dropbox doesn’t have a team chat platform that allows users to seamlessly transfer files and discuss ideas. In contrast, Google Drive runs side by side with Google Chat in the Google Workspace ecosystem, enabling users to message one another instantly without switching to and from different applications.
Deciding Factors
Dropbox is a robust file hosting service that offers up to 5TB of storage and the option to add more. It’s compatible with various operating systems, namely Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android, allowing users to access the platform on various devices. Its security features include multi-factor authentication, remote device wipe, device approvals, and at-rest and in-transit encryption. Refer to the table below for a quick breakdown of our Dropbox review highlights:
Best For | Companies needing a feature-rich file hosting app that offers a large storage capacity and integrates with a wide array of third-party business tools |
Standout Features |
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Pricing Plans |
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Annual or Volume Discounts Available |
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Key Integrations | Google Workspace, Slack, HubSpot, Zoho CRM, Canva, Asana, and monday.com |
Customer Service |
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Dropbox Alternatives
While Dropbox is an excellent cloud storage solution, it only provides a maximum of 5TB on paid plans. You must contact the provider for customized storage if you need more. In contrast, its competitor Box readily offers unlimited file storage, starting with its second-tier subscription package. This makes for a better alternative for those with bigger cloud storage needs.
Dropbox may have content collaboration tools, but it doesn’t have team messaging and video conferencing, which Google Drive has, thanks to its seamless integration with Google Chat and Meet.
Another disadvantage of Dropbox is its expensive pricing. Microsoft OneDrive has more affordable plans, with its entry-level package at $5 per user. It’s also the most sensible choice for Windows and Microsoft Office users.
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Best For | Businesses preferring a cheaper solution | Organizations wanting a more robust collaboration platform | Companies needing unlimited file storage |
Monthly Starting Price (per User) | $5 | $7.20 | $20 |
Learn More |
Dropbox Pricing
3.13 /5
Dropbox lost a few points in plans and pricing because while it has a free version and annual discounts, it doesn’t have volume discounts. Its entry-level package is slightly above the prevailing fee in the market.
Its free plan offers 2GB of cloud storage for one user. It has five business packages, with costs ranging from $11.99 a month to $30 a month, per user.
When you choose to pay annually, the entry-level plan’s monthly Dropbox pricing is reduced from $11.99 to $9.99. Its free trial lasts 30 days, offering the maximum storage capacity and the option to add more.
Dropbox Plans | Plus | Professional | Standard | Advanced | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best For | Solopreneurs wanting a secure cloud storage solution | Solopreneurs needing a bigger cloud storage and file transfer capacity | Team members sharing a cloud storage solution | Organizations needing a longer file recovery window and a larger file transfer capacity | Companies storing and sending large files, such as high-resolution videos, 3D models, and databases |
Monthly Pricing | $11.99 | $19.99 | $18 per user | $30 per user | Custom pricing |
Annual Pricing | $9.99 | $16.58 | $15 per user | $24 per user | Custom pricing |
Storage | 2TB | 3TB | 5TB | Custom | Custom |
Users | 1 user | 1 user | 3+ users | 3+ users | 3+ users |
256-bit AES & SSL/TLS Encryption | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
File Recovery & Version History | 30 days | 180 days | 180 days | 1 year | 1 year |
Large File Transfer | 2GB | 100GB, including customization options | 2GB | 100GB, including customization options | 100GB, including customization options |
HIPAA Compliance | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
The Dropbox Basic account, which is free of charge, offers 2GB of cloud storage for one user. It allows a 30-day file recovery period and provides access to the content collaboration tool, Dropbox Paper.
Dropbox General Features
In this Dropbox review, we gave the provider a high score on general features as it ticks off almost all the capabilities we look for in a file hosting solution. It offers a maximum of 2TB of cloud storage, a decent capacity for an entry-level paid plan. Dropbox’s maximum file recovery and version history duration is one year. Most providers limit the time window to 30 days. Below are the notable file hosting features Dropbox offers:
- File backup: Have copies of computer files on the cloud. If ever the data on your hardware gets corrupted, you’ll still be able to access the documents you need from your online storage.
- Digital watermarking: Include a watermark on the files you share with stakeholders. Aside from preventing theft, it’s an effective way to channel your brand identity and provide legitimacy to the content.
- Dropbox Vault: Add an extra layer of security on documents by using PIN-protected folders. Third-party apps cannot access this folder.
- Shared document locking: Keep a file from being edited to avoid conflicted copies. Conflicted copies happen when multiple team members work on the same file simultaneously.
- Password sync: Store your passwords to quickly log into different websites and apps. Dropbox doesn’t have visibility on these passwords.
Back up your files using Dropbox to prevent data loss. (Source: Dropbox)
Niche Features
5.00 /5
Dropbox features a wide array of advanced capabilities, including security and collaboration tools. It uses 256-bit AES to protect data at-rest and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)/Transport Layer Security (TLS) for data in-transit between the Dropbox servers and apps. It sends redundant copies of files to separate data centers in different geographic regions, ensuring access to documents despite disasters.
As a unified communications solution, Dropbox has tools that go beyond cloud storage. Click the tabs below to learn more about the provider’s collaboration features:
- Dropbox Paper
- Dropbox Sign
- Dropbox DocSend
- Dropbox Capture
Dropbox Paper is an online word processor that enables users to collaborate on documents simultaneously in real time. It has templates for different business tasks and project needs, including meeting notes, creative briefs, brand guidelines, and a knowledge base. Maximize the different media types Dropbox Paper supports to create engaging content: static and animated images, audio, and video.
More than a text processor, Dropbox Paper works as a task management tool, where you can assign to-do’s to team members, include deadlines on tasks, and mention them for follow-up. As you upload documents to Dropbox for backup, use its online word processor to work on documents with team members.
Create meeting notes on Dropbox Paper (Source: Dropbox)
Add signature fields and electronic signatures in documents. Dropbox supports digital signatures on Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and PDF files. It automatically saves all the signed documents in predesignated folders to keep them safe and easily accessible.
All business subscription plans offer unlimited signing, which means you can include signatures in as many documents as you need. They also come with three signature requests a month, allowing you to secure internal and external stakeholders’ signatures easily.
Add signatures to Dropbox documents (Source: Dropbox)
Dropbox integrates with DocSend, a document-sharing platform. Instead of email attachments, users are able to create trackable links when sending files. It has a built-in analytics system that notifies you when someone views your shared links and lets you monitor how these viewers engage with the document in real time. Use DocSend to track fundraising efforts and distribute pitch decks to potential business partners.
Create trackable links on Dropbox when sending documents (Source: Dropbox)
Create screenshots and recordings and share them with team members to demonstrate what you’ve been working on. This is also beneficial when training individuals to use new software programs. Instead of writing down the steps for using features, simply record your screen.
Dropbox Capture also allows audio recordings, letting team members give verbal feedback on outputs while recording the screen. The provider’s basic-level plan includes 120 minutes of recording time, while the higher-tier packages offer unlimited recording time and advanced video editing.
Create easy-to-follow how-to guides with Dropbox Capture’s screen recordings (Source: Dropbox)
Customer Service
4.38 /5
Because of Dropbox’s various communication channels and active hours of operation, we gave it a high score on customer support. It has self-service customer support channels available 24/7: the help center, community forum, and chatbot.
The help center is easily navigable, as the articles are arranged into three categories: Using Dropbox, Account, and Apps and Integrations. Meanwhile, the community page allows subscribers to share an idea, ask fellow Dropbox users for any concerns, and learn more tips and tricks from the virtual discussions.
Join the Dropbox community to get tips and advice from fellow users. (Source: Dropbox)
Additionally, Dropbox offers direct communication channels, such as email, live chat, and phone. The priority email support for the paid business subscription plans is available from Monday to Friday, with a guaranteed response within one business day. Meanwhile, live chat and phone support are operational during local business hours, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Ease of Use
5.00 /5
Dropbox earned a perfect score on ease of use because its interface is clean and intuitive, requiring no technical expertise to navigate. On the left-hand corner of the interface, you’ll see the main menu, displaying different file categories: All Files, Recent, Starred, Shared, File Requests, and Deleted Files.
Dropbox has a simple, neat user interface. (Source: Dropbox)
On the Homepage, the “Upload and Create” buttons are prominent in the center panel, allowing you to easily put documents on the cloud. To access collaboration tools like Paper and Sign, click the nine-dotted icon located at the top-left corner of the platform near the Dropbox logo.
Expert Score
5.00 /5
Based on Dropbox reviews on third-party websites, users like the provider’s capabilities, especially the ease of accessing files on different devices, ample storage space and the option to increase, and integrations with third-party apps. Some liked that the platform complies with HIPAA standards, providing better data security, while others commended the convenience of sharing files via links. However, some noted that Dropbox plans and pricing were expensive.
At the time of publication, Dropbox has earned the following scores on popular user review sites:
- G2: 4.4 out of 5 based on 20,544 reviews
- Software Advice: 4.5 out of 5 based on 21,394 reviews
- TrustRadius: 8.1 out of 10 based on 2,011 reviews
How We Evaluated Dropbox
To assess Dropbox, we considered its subscription costs, file hosting features, usability, and customer assistance options. Our evaluation includes our expert opinion on its value for money and popularity.
Learn how we evaluated Dropbox by clicking on the tabs below:
- Breakdown
- Pricing
- General Features
- Niche Features
- Customer Service
- Ease of Use
- Expert Score
20%
Pricing
25%
General Features
20%
Niche Features
10%
Customer Service
10%
Ease of Use
15%
Expert Score
20% of Overall Score
To determine affordability, we considered the cost of the base-level subscription plan and compared it to the prevailing fee in the market. We checked if it comes with discounts for annual billing and bulk purchases and gave it more points for offering a free plan.
25% of Overall Score
We considered storage capacity and security tools, assigning more points to a solution with more than 2TB of storage on the entry-level paid plan and 256-bit AES and SSL/TLS encryption. We considered the file recovery and version history duration and the availability of a mobile app.
20% of Overall Score
The specialized features we considered were remote device wipe and geo-redundancy. We gave the provider more points for having encryption at-rest and in-transit and supporting HIPAA compliance.
10% of Overall Score
The variety of customer communication channels was part of our evaluation. We gave more points to the provider, as it has email, phone, and live chat support. We considered the hours these channels are active and operational.
10% of Overall Score
We evaluated ease of use by determining the expertise required to set up and operate the platform. We also assessed if it has an intuitive interface.
15% of Overall Score
This includes our evaluation of the platform’s standout features, value for money, and ease of use. We checked user ratings in third-party review sites to gauge its popularity.
*Percentages of overall score
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, Dropbox is an excellent cloud storage solution for camera uploads, screenshots, document scans, and high-definition photos. It allows previews of over 35 image file types, including JPEG, PNG, TIFF, GIF, PSD, AI, CR2, DCR, DNG, and iOS HEIC. It uses Years, Months, and Days filters and supports image tagging, helping users locate specific images easily.
No. Although Dropbox saves deleted and previous versions of files, it only does so for a particular time window. The duration depends on your subscription plan: 30 days for the Plus plan, 180 days for the Professional and Standard plans, and one year for the Advanced plan.
Yes, shared folders won’t be accessible to anyone anymore if you set an expiration date. Those subscribed to Dropbox Professional, Standard, and Advanced plans have the option to create, edit, and remove expiration dates. This expiration feature is in the “Link for editing” or “Link for viewing” settings.
Bottom Line
Dropbox is an excellent file hosting solution for businesses requiring a large cloud storage capacity and planning to connect third-party platforms for a more seamless, convenient workflow. It allows up to 5TB of storage and the option to customize for those needing more. It integrates with over 300,000 business tools, extending the app’s functionality. To determine if the platform suits your company’s needs, sign up for Dropbox’s 30-day free trial.
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