We live most of our lives online, and it makes storing data and files a huge concern. With the option to save our files to the cloud, storage is no longer an issue. Cloud-based storage also means you can easily access files from any device whenever you need them and share them with others as well.
We’ll be comparing Dropbox vs Google Drive features in this article to help you choose the better cloud-storage solution.
Overview Of Dropbox vs Google Drive Features
Dropbox is a file hosting device that offers cloud storage, file synchronization, and personal cloud and client software.
Google Drive is a file storage and synchronization SaaS offered by Google. Google Drive was launched in 2006 and was initially limited to text documents and spreadsheets.
The service has since expanded into a flexible cloud storage platform that is configured to store, send, and receive any file format.
READ MORE: Google Docs Vs Microsoft Word: Make the Best Choice
Pricing
Dropbox doesn’t have a free version but it offers a 30-day free trial. You can use it for personal and business needs.
Dropbox offers three plans for personal storage: Plus, Professional, and Family plans.
The Plus plan costs $9.99 per month and is limited to one user. It comes with 2GB of storage, linked unlimited devices, Dropbox transfer (up to 2GB), synced passwords, etc.
The Professional plan costs $16.58 per month and up to 3GB of storage. The plan also comes with customization, unlimited e-signatures, increased transfer limit, Dropbox Smart Sync, etc.
The Family plan is designed for households and allows up to six users. The plan comes with a centralized Family Room Folder where family members can share photos and videos. It costs $16.99 per month, subscribers also have access to individual Plus accounts.
Dropbox Business storage has three plans: Standard, Advanced, and Professional. The Standard plan costs $12.50 per month and is limited to three users. The plan offers 5GB of storage and comes with file locking, an admin console, sharing permissions, linked unlimited devices, etc.
The Advanced plan, designed for growing teams, comes with unlimited storage, SSO, tiered admin roles, audit logs, and all the features of the Standard plan. It costs $20.
The Professional plan on Dropbox Business has the same features as the Professional plan on the Dropbox Personal Storage Suite.
Google Drive Plans & Pricing
Google Drive has a free version that gives users 15GB of free file storage. This free storage also includes emails, music, videos, and documents. For expanded cloud storage, you have to upgrade from Google Drive to Google One, it has six plans.
The Basic plan costs $2 a month (or $20 annually), it gives users 100GB of storage space to use across Google Workspace. It also comes with chat and email support, plan and storage sharing with up to five family members, automatic file backup, access to free and discounted content at hotels or Google Stadia, etc.
The Standard plan is priced at $3 a month and gives subscribers 200GB of storage and a percentage of cashback (3%) on Google Store purchases, as well as the features of the Basic plan.
The Premium plan costs $10 a month and comes with a storage space of 2TB and an increased cashback percentage on Google store purchases. Subscribers to the Premium plan also get a VPN for their Android phones.
There are three other plans that are not listed on the website (10TB, 20TB, and 30TB plans). These plans are only accessible to Google One members – those who have already subscribed to the previously listed plans. The only difference between these massive storage plans and other paid plans is the amount of storage offered not features.
Dropbox vs Google Drive Features: Synchronizations
Both platforms provide file synchronization across multiple devices. However, Dropbox has an advantage over Google Drive in this aspect. Dropbox allows for block-level sync. This means Dropbox only updates sections of files in the cloud, as opposed to updating the full file. This feature allows users to enjoy faster sync speeds and use fewer cloud storage resources.
Dropbox also offers smart sync, which allows users to set preferences on which files are stored locally and on the cloud and which files are cloud-stored only.
Which Tool Is Easier to Collaborate With: Dropbox or Google Drive?
Dropbox and Google are file hosting platforms that offer automatic synchronization. However, Google Drive takes it up a notch. The platform allows users and their colleagues to see real-time updates on shared documents and files. This feature is beneficial to teams that require a lot of document sharing on projects.
On the other hand, Dropbox only notifies you when a team member opens or edits a document and offers you the option to update the latest version on your computer. However, users can only update to the latest saved version.
Dropbox vs Google Drive Features: File Sharing
Dropbox and Google both allow you to set permissions and manage who on your team can access your files. However, Dropbox has some advantages. With Dropbox, you can create a shareable link and password-protect your files. With this feature, only those who know the password can access the files.
Dropbox also allows users to transfer the ownership of files in an account to someone else, which is a useful feature for when someone leaves your team, for instance.
Storage
Dropbox provides users with 2GB of free storage space, whereas Google Drive provides users with 15GB of free storage space. Both services offer users the option to buy additional storage. However, Dropbox has a referral program where users get free storage for referring their friends to the platform.
Which Is More Secure: Dropbox or Google Drive
Both platforms offer data encryption and 2FA to protect your data when it is in transit — from the cloud storage service to your device, and vice versa. However, Dropbox uses a stronger encryption version to keep your files safe when they’re being stored. Dropbox uses Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256-bit encryption, while Google Drive only uses 128-bit encryption for stored data.
Versioning
Both storage systems allow you to recover accidentally deleted or wrongly edited files. However, Dropbox gives users 180 days to recover files, while Google Drive allows users to store old files indefinitely. Google Drive also allows for unlimited versioning for Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides, and users can highlight where changes or updates were made.
Integrations
Dropbox and Google Drive allow users to integrate with popular productivity and collaboration tools like Slack, Adobe Creative Cloud, Zoom, etc. However, Google Drive is the winner in this scenario. Google Drive is built into most Android phones and tablets and Chrome-powered devices. It is also the default way to save files in Google workspace tools like Google Docs. Google Drive also offers apps for Windows, iOS, and Android. This allows for easy uploads and downloads.
Which Platform Is Right For You: Dropbox or Google Drive?
For the most part, both platforms offer the same service and the same features, so it can be hard to decide between the two. Google Drive’s integration with other Google Suite tools and its compatibility with multiple devices is an advantage. The 15GB of storage offered on the free plan is also perfect for light users and small businesses.
On the other hand, speed is a major concern when it comes to team collaboration, and Dropbox offers more versatility in terms of file syncing. The unlimited storage available on the Business plan also makes Dropbox a better fit for teams in terms of collaboration and data storage.
If you are looking for basic file syncing, Dropbox is a tough choice to beat. However, if you need an all-in-one tool for your business, Google Drive is the better choice because it has an integration with Google Workspace tools that Dropbox can’t match.
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