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Dropbox is one of the earliest and most popular cloud storage platforms, launched in 2008. ensure to check outhow I testedthe platforms on their speed and performance during uploads.
Ill discuss the following 9 best Dropbox alternatives out of the 13 that Ive shortlisted.
Note:it’s possible for you to increase Dropbox storage to 16GB by referring to friends.
For each referral, you get 500 MB.
Not everyone will do it, so it is not considered when comparing Dropboxs free storage with its alternatives.
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Best Dropbox Alternatives Comparison
First, lets take a look at the chart below.
This gives you a glance at their performance capabilities.
Below, Ive reviewed various Dropbox alternatives in detail, including my testing experience and their pricing.
It is free (5 GB storage limit) and supports 220+ file formats with an easy preview option.
The platform provides comprehensive storage compared to Dropbox through excellent collaborative features and focuses on streamlining team workflows.
Teams already utilizing Zoho can benefit from seamless Zoho app integrations.
As an Admin, it’s possible for you to create a new team or work with existing VirtualOffice.
However, the team plans are paid from the get-go.
To help try their service, Zoho offers a 15-day free trial for WorkDrive.
I found Zoho WorkDrive to provide an intuitive and accessible dashboard.
Zoho also ensures ahigh level of securityby using encryption to transmit customers data.
Zoho WorkDrive comes with a desktop app and mobile app for Android and iOS (iPhone/iPad).
Zoho WorkDrive Limitations
Zoho WorkDrive Pricing
Zoho WorkDrive follows a freemium price model.
The paid plans start from $2.50/user/month (way cheaper compared to the Dropbox starter plan).
Sync
Sync is a minimalist cloud storage platform that excels at link sharing and collaborative features.
The most significant advantage of Sync is its encryption method, which offers zero-knowledge encryption.
This means Sync always encrypts data even before leaving the origin rig (end-to-end encryption).
Another aspect that Sync does well is sharing.
It offers advanced sharing features that let you directly share the file/folder with the recipients email address.
This hides the URL and hence stops any leaks (as Sync encrypts the link address).
However, the recipient must have a Sync account to access it.
Dropbox is also strong in the sharing department, but it lacks advanced or additional controls like Sync.
Both Sync and Dropbox offer selective syncing, ensuring that they only sync files you select.
As for apps, Sync offers Desktop and macOS desktop integration.
It supports mobile apps for iPhone, iPad, and Android.
Sync Limitations
Sync Pricing
Sync offers a forever free plan with 5 GB storage limitations.
The free plan has limited features, especially regarding link sharing.
It also offers a desktop app that improves file uploads and makes them more manageable.
Regarding note-taking, both Dropbox and Box have something to offer.
Box offers Box Notes, a collaborative real-time environment, whereas Dropbox has Dropbox Paper.
I recommend Box for unlimited storage space and private encryption on their business plans.
Individuals can also find Box more preferable with its 10 GB storage space.
Google Drive
Google Drive is one of my favorite Dropbox alternatives.
Google Drives interface is well-designed, with access to Calendar, Keep, Tasks, and Contacts.
Security-wise, Google Drive is similar to Dropbox.
I recommend Google Drive to users who use collaborative tools such as Docs and Slides.
Google Drive offers apps for desktop and mobile (Android and iOS).
you’re free to save up to 16% if you go for an annual subscription.
Internxt
Internxt is an open-source cloud storage provider.
Security-wise, Internxt is robust (again, due to it being open-source).
Developers and security experts can scrutinize the code.
The platform scatters file shards across servers, adding another security layer.
This is a considerable step up compared to Dropbox.
However, from a regular user perspective, both provide the same level of security.
I found the Internxt user interface intuitive and easy to use.
you’re free to upload files easily from your local PC to the cloud.
However, it is very secure and hence recommended for businesses that work with sensitive data.
Internxt Limitations
Internxt Pricing
Internxt free plan offers 1 GB storage.
Its paid plan starts at $15/month with 200 GB of storage space.
It is also one of the few cloud storage providers that offers a lifetime subscription starting at $149.85.
Jottacloud
Jottacloud offers a plan with unlimited storage.
However, it does throttle speeds after you cross 5 TB.
It focuses on providing photo storage to ensure complete protection with backup and proper sync capabilities.
To make searching easy, Jottacloud offers AI photo search.
For business, Jottacloud is a good option, considering its unlimited storage, which Dropbox lacks.
As for ease of use, JottaCloud is beginner-friendly and has a clean interface.
It does impose limitations on sharing folders and files.
Folders can only be shared among other Jottacloud account holders.
However, there is no such limitation for files, which can be shared publicly.
Jottacloud cannot securely share files, folders, or photos.
In comparison, Dropbox offers sharing via password-protected links with the option to set expiry dates as well.
Like Dropbox, Jottacloud also supports Microsoft Office.
However, it lacks other major integration options, denting your productivity levels.
For command line users, it offers a CLI, which lets you automate backup folders.
The CLI works with Mac, Windows, Linux, NAS devices, and Raspberry Pi.
NordLocker
NordLocker is my favorite cloud storage provider for storing sensitive data online.
Setting up NordLocker is not similar to Dropbox or its alternatives.
As NordLocker uses zero knowledge, it generates a cloud recovery key during account creation.
So, if you lose your password, youll need to use the key to recover it.
However, if you lose the key, youll permanently lose access to your account.
I found NordLocker to offer a modern user interface with a focus on accessibility and sharing.
It also adds link expiration.
They offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
NordLocker is also available as NordVPNs Complete bundle, which consists of NordVPN, NordPass, and NordLocker.
8. pCloud
pCloud stands as a great alternative to Dropbox, with many similarities between them.
Out of the box, you get a modern interface with a focus on usability.
The key difference between pCloud and Dropbox is the use case.
pCloud offers a private encryption folder called pCloud Crypto (paid add-on).
Dropbox, on the other hand, focuses on productivity and collaboration via integration with third-party apps.
you might also invite users to the folder via email only.
Another significant difference between pCloud and Dropbox is in their native apps.
Dropbox gives access to multiple in-house apps, including Dropbox Paper, Relay, and Capture.
pCloud offers pCloud Transfer and pCloud Pass.
pCloud Limitations
pCloud Pricing
pClouds free forever plan offers 10 GB of space.
Its paid plan starts at $49.99 yearly, offering 500 GB of space.
Theres also a lifetime plan starting at $199 (100 GB storage).
Tresorit
Tresorit is an excellent paid-only alternative to Dropbox that focuses on security.
On the other hand, Dropbox is more focused on productivity and collaboration.
With Tresorit, you get a basic free plan with 3 GB of encrypted cloud storage.
It limits maximum file size to 500 MB and supports just 2 devices.
Tresorit Send is also a free service that lets you send files up to 5 GB for free.
Tresorit uses AES-256 encryption, TLS/SSL, and a zero-knowledge privacy model.
Its headquartered in Switzerland, which is known for its excellent digital privacy laws.
In comparison, Dropbox lacks zero knowledge and also collects users data.
Both Tresorit and Dropbox support versioning.
However, the Tresorit free plan has no versioning support, whereas the Personal plan only supports 10 versions.
In comparison, Dropbox does a better job, with every plan supporting unlimited versioning.
Dropbox also beats Tresorit in third-party integrations, especially in productivity and collaboration.
This is due to Tresorits strong security and encryption, which severely limits the number of allowed integrations.
Id only recommend Tresorit to individuals and businesses looking for strong private encryption and secure file sharing.
Their paid plans start at $4.75/month (billed annually).
Here are the other 4 Dropbox alternatives that you might check out.
Testing Methodology
Each cloud storage provider has different means to store your data.
This includes shared storage, zero-knowledge encryption, and different server locations.
Im currently using an internet with 90 Mbps upload and download speeds.
For reference, uploading the 211 MB MP4 file took 20.542 seconds to Azure West India region.
