Dropbox Alternatives

Dropbox is a popular choice for small and medium-sized businesses looking for a reliable platform for file storage, synchronization, and collaboration that offers excellent integrations and an easy-to-use interface.

However, although it meets the requirements for many businesses, decision-makers might be exploring alternatives to Dropbox that better suit specific use cases and needs.

With years of experience using leading file storage services as part of my work as a book author and technology journalist, I am here to help you identify a solid alternative to Dropbox for your business, focusing on cloud storage providers that offer enhanced features, security, and integration options.

Why might someone be looking for an alternative to Dropbox?

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) may look for alternatives to Dropbox due to specific operational, financial, security, or functional needs that Dropbox may not fully satisfy. In many cases, decision-makers might be exploring alternatives to Dropbox among various cloud storage providers, which offer a variety of solutions for online file storage, sharing, and synchronization.

Here is a list of possible reasons:

• Relatively high costs: Dropbox customers pay $15 or $24 per month per user. Some competing services, such as Sync.com or Microsoft's OneDrive, charge significantly less.
• Lack of end-to-end encryption at the Standard level: Only the more expensive Advanced level supports end-to-end encryption, which protects files at rest and in transit from everyone, including Dropbox employees.
• Storage limitations: Dropbox limits the Standard plan to 5 TB of storage and the Advanced plan to 5 TB of storage per user. Other services promise larger amounts of storage for less money. Sync.com, for example, offers unlimited storage per user in its Teams+ Unlimited plan.

Better free storage options: Some cloud storage providers offer more free storage or better free storage options than Dropbox, making them attractive to users or businesses looking to minimize costs.

Google Drive

Google Drive is an established cloud storage solution and file synchronization platform integrated into Google Workspace. It allows businesses to store and manage files, use built-in collaboration tools, and easily manage and sync their Google Drive files across all devices.

Google Drive seamlessly integrates within the Google ecosystem offering AI-powered tools, real-time document editing, security features, files on demand, and more.

Features of Google Drive

• Seamless native real-time integration within Google's productivity suite: Google Drive integrates natively with Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. It allows multiple users to co-create documents in real time without the need to download files to the local system or use locally installed tools. Although Dropbox supports Google Workspaces integration and therefore productivity tools, it lacks the native integration that Google offers.
• AI-powered search and organization: Google Drive uses Google's Gemini AI to enhance search, categorize files, or tag sensitive content. Although Dropbox supports native AI-powered search functionality, its AI tools do not reach the depth of Google's solution.
• Real-time collaboration features: Multiple users can edit files simultaneously with customizable permissions and shared drives for teams.
• Offline access: Google Drive allows users to work on files without an internet connection. Offline access is available on both desktop and mobile apps, enabling editing and synchronization of files once connectivity is restored.
• File versioning: Google Drive offers file versioning, allowing users to access and restore previous versions of their documents, recover deleted items, and maintain a history of changes in files.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Google Drive

Google Drive Pricing 

Google Drive is part of Google Workspace. Therefore, you need a Google Workspace subscription.

Google Drive plans start around $7 per user per month for Starter and go up to $22 per user per month for Plus. There is also an Enterprise option for $35 per user per month that cannot be booked directly online.

These are the Google Workspace business plans and how they compare:

• Google Workspace Starter: For $7 per user per month. 30 gigabytes of shared storage, secure and custom business email, access to Gemini AI, video meetings, AI-powered video creator and editor, and security and management controls.
• Google Workspace Standard: For $14 per user per month. 2 terabytes of storage. All Standard features, plus Gemini AI assistant in Gmail, Docs, and other apps, custom email templates and merge, access to advanced AI models, appointment booking pages, e-signature, and data migration tool.
• Google Workspace Plus: For $22 per user per month. 5 terabytes of storage, all Standard features, plus vault for “retaining, archiving, and searching data”, secure LDAP, advanced endpoint management, enhanced security and management controls.

Google Workspace Enterprise: For $35 per user per month. 5 terabytes of storage (with option to expand), all Plus features, and S/MIME encryption, Data Loss Prevention (DLP), context-aware access, enterprise data regions, plus more AI tools.

Google Drive vs Google Workspace

Google Workspace is an excellent choice for small and medium-sized businesses that already use Google products and services. It offers advanced AI features but limits access to some of the most advanced models and options to higher tiers. However, advanced users who require more customization or control may find that Google Workspace lacks certain advanced features compared to other solutions. For SMEs, Standard and Plus are the two logical options, as Starter lacks the necessary storage.

Microsoft OneDrive

What Google Drive is to Google, OneDrive is to Microsoft. It is one of Microsoft's leading cloud storage services that integrates extremely well with Microsoft 365 and other Microsoft products and services, making it especially suitable for Windows users and Microsoft Office users.

Therefore, OneDrive is an excellent option for businesses that regularly use Microsoft 365 tools like Word, Excel, Teams, or PowerPoint. It offers real-time collaboration, AI enhancements through Copilot, strong security features, and robust cloud backup capabilities for device synchronization and data protection.

Microsoft OneDrive Features

• Real-time collaborative editing in Office 365 applications
• Integration with SharePoint
• Cross-platform compatibility, mobile and productivity tools
• AI integrations
• Files On-Demand feature, allowing users to access and work with cloud-stored files directly from their device without downloading everything first
• Desktop application enables backup and synchronization of local files

Pros and cons of Microsoft OneDrive

Microsoft OneDrive Pricing Plans

OneDrive starts at $5 per user per month for 1 TB of cloud storage. The service is also included in Microsoft Business Basic ($6 per user/month) and Microsoft Business Standard ($12.50 per user/month). It is worth mentioning that both Microsoft Business Basic and Standard offer a 1-month free trial, which is perfect for testing OneDrive features without committing to a paid plan.

Microsoft OneDrive vs Dropbox

Microsoft 365 is a solid option for small and medium-sized businesses that already use Windows, Microsoft Office, and other Microsoft products. It is not as expensive as Google Workspace, but it includes only 1 TB of storage per user in its plan. OneDrive's security features, such as encryption and access controls, help keep files secure within the platform. However, it lacks some advanced security features, for example, end-to-end encryption, which Dropbox offers in some of its plans.

SharePoint

Microsoft SharePoint is a web platform for collaboration and document management that is integrated into Microsoft 365. It allows companies to create team sites, store and manage content, automate workflows, and includes business tools such as document management and workflow automation.

It is ideal for companies that need enterprise content management, customized intranets, and seamless integration with Microsoft tools like Office or Teams.

Key Features of SharePoint

• Excellent content management and collaboration
• Intranet site creation
• AI enhancements
• Advanced search functionality that goes beyond files
• Robust security features
• Support for virtual drive functionality, allowing users to access and manage files in the SharePoint cloud directly from their local file explorer

Advantages and disadvantages of SharePoint

SharePoint Prices

SharePoint is included as part of the Microsoft 365 basic plan (Business Basic) and Business Standard. The basic plan serves as the entry-level option and is available for $6 per user per month, while Business Standard costs $12.50 per user per month. There is a 1-month free trial to test both platforms, which is highly recommended to explore their features before paying for a subscription.

SharePoint vs. Dropbox

Like OneDrive, SharePoint is a solid choice for businesses that already use Windows and Microsoft Office. Its stronger focus on the Intranet may appeal to companies that want to further improve internal file management and collaboration. SharePoint's compliance features help protect sensitive data for business users, although the lack of advanced security features such as end-to-end encryption can be an issue.

Box

Box is a secure cloud content platform designed for individuals and businesses to store, share, collaborate, and automate workflows.

Creating a Box account allows users to securely store, share, and access files from any device, facilitating collaboration and document management from anywhere. Box is recognized as a secure cloud storage platform, offering advanced security features such as end-to-end encryption and compliance protocols to protect user data.

Box offers strong team collaboration and artificial intelligence features for businesses, but some advanced features are only available to users on the enterprise plan.

Key Features of Box

• Excellent content management and collaboration features
• Includes AI tools to facilitate file access
• Strong security and compliance
• Password protection for shared files, enhancing security
• Ability to create secure links for sharing with permissions and expiration dates
• Ransomware detection feature to protect user data
• Extensive support for integrations
• Unlimited storage promise.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Box

Box Business Pricing

Box Business has a starting price of $15 per user per month for unlimited storage, access to some AI tools, and API calls.

The Business Plan is designed for organizations that need robust storage and collaboration features. Box also offers an Annual Plan option, which provides a discount compared to monthly payments. Business Plus costs $25 per user/month and increases the upload limit as well as allowing unlimited external collaborators.

For enhanced security, organizations can add the KeySafe add-on, which enables advanced encryption key management and supports zero-knowledge encryption for greater data privacy.

Box vs Dropbox

Box offers unlimited storage, which sets it apart from most cloud storage services. Its business plans provide some AI features but lack advanced AI options, which are reserved for enterprise plans. It integrates with a wide range of services, including Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, but lacks native collaboration tools.

Sync.com

Sync is a cloud storage and file sharing platform focused on privacy that offers robust security features, including zero-knowledge architecture and end-to-end encryption on all plans, making it a secure storage solution for privacy-conscious users.

The $15 per month per user business plan offers unlimited storage. However, Sync lacks the native tools and real-time editing apps of Dropbox and other services in the same sector.

Key Features of Sync

• Unlimited storage on the Teams+ Unlimited plan
• Real-time synchronization
• Real-time backup for continuous data protection and instant file recovery
• Support for two-factor authentication to enhance account security
• Shared folders with granular permissions
• End-to-end encryption
• Includes powerful administrative tools

Advantages and Disadvantages of Synchronization

Sync.com Pricing

Sync offers personal plans for individual users, as well as paid plans for businesses. For the latter, Sync offers two paid plans: Teams Standard, with 1 TB of storage per user for $6 per month, and Teams+ Unlimited, which offers unlimited storage, brand customization, and other advanced features for $15 per user per month.

Other possible alternatives to Dropbox for businesses

None of the cloud storage and collaboration tools we have reviewed fit your company's needs? Don't worry. There are many other options considered some of the best cloud storage solutions for businesses. Although they didn't make our shortlist, these services are still worth exploring:

MEGA

Like Sync.com, Mega focuses on file hosting, sharing, and synchronization. MEGA offers unlimited photo storage, making it ideal for users with large photo collections. It also supports storage and streaming of media files such as videos, providing flexibility for managing media-rich data. Business plans start at $17.55 for 3 TB of storage and transfers for three users per month. It lacks real-time collaboration features, but has good security with end-to-end encryption.

WeTransfer

The service focus is on file transfers. WeTransfer supports transferring large files, making it suitable for media professionals who need to send videos, images, or other high-resolution documents. It can also be used to send audio files and other multimedia content easily.

Business plans start at around $25 per month per user, offering unlimited file transfers and gigabytes per month. It does not have real-time editing and collaboration features nor supports end-to-end encryption or advanced security features like those.

Citrix ShareFile

ShareFile is a service focused on businesses. Its price starts at $16 for 1TB of storage space per user, offering extensive capacity for business users. ShareFile is designed to keep important files secure with enterprise-level security and compliance features, such as activity logs, remote lock and wipe, SSO support, and active directory. It lacks advanced collaboration options.

iCloud Drive

If your team consists of Apple users, iCloud Drive is especially suitable as it integrates perfectly with Apple devices and iOS devices. iCloud can automatically save new files and photos from the camera roll, which is convenient for users within the Apple ecosystem.

Conclusion: What is the Best Dropbox Alternative for Your Business?

Small and medium-sized businesses have many options when it comes to a Dropbox alternative. These differ significantly in price, functionality, security, or collaboration features.

Here are my suggestions, based on specific needs and priorities:

• If your business is already invested in the Google ecosystem and wants to leverage real-time collaboration tools and AI features that Google offers, then Google Drive is the logical choice.
• Similarly, if your business is already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, using Windows and Microsoft Office, then Microsoft OneDrive as part of Microsoft 365 is the excellent option for that strategy, offering similar real-time collaboration features and AI functions like Google's solution.
• If you require a cost-effective solution with top-notch privacy and security, then Sync.com might be an option, especially if you do not need real-time collaboration integrated into the platform.

If you seek enterprise-level compliance and security, and robust content management workflows, Box’s offering might be the one that best meets those requirements for you.

Some alternatives to Dropbox also enhance security with advanced encryption and authentication features. In addition, certain services allow setting expiration dates for shared links, providing greater control over file access.

Most services offer free trials that you can take advantage of to learn all the details of the service before committing long-term. Hands-on experience provides great insight into which cloud storage, synchronization, and collaboration tools best suit your team's workflows, security requirements, and overall business strategy.