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» What is Dropbox?
Launched way back in 2008, one of the earliest cloud storage services, Dropbox is a cloud storage service developed to host files, share documents, and sync them with your devices so that you can access them from anywhere.» Why Do We Need Dropbox Alternatives?
In spite of the provisions that a user can enjoy using DropBox, one also needs to consider the downside of using it and if there are other services available in the market that can overcome these cons and provide a better solution, you can also consider them. The limited flexibility provided by DropBox is also a reason for looking into other cloud storage options.» Here are 2024's 9 Top Rated DropBox Alternatives
1. Sync
Sync is a very secure file-sharing and cloud-storage platform. It enables sharing files amongst co-workers extremely conveniently with secure links. The user enjoys full control of the documents that he wishes to share. It’s centralized with all the documents and real-time backups make the recovery process quite hassle-free. It is widely used in legal firms, educational institutions, creative agencies, accounting firms, and the healthcare industries.
› Special features of Sync:
• HIPPA, GDPR, and PIPEDA compliant which ensures multilevel data protection
• End-to-end encryption ensures that only you can access the data on the cloud
• Two-factor authentication(2FA) and granular user permissions ensure that the user is in full control
• Activity log ensures that the user is kept up to date with the file actions
• Enables you to preview a document virtually without the need to download it
• Sync Vault-cloud storage allows you to archive a file to the cloud to free up space
• The administrator exercises the power to add or remove user accounts from his team of employees
› Used by people working in:
• TripAdvisor, Fuji Films, The New Yorker, Canadian Red Cross
› Pricing:
• Free up to 5 GB
• Solo Basic - $8/month billed annually
• Solo Professional - $20/month billed annually
2. pCloud
pCloud is a software that guarantees a safe and secure method of cloud storage with simplicity. They promise digital privacy through pCloud Encryption which in turn has a multi-level encryption algorithm. Multi-device accessibility is an attractive feature that comes in handy to its users spread across various industries.
› Special features of pCloud:
• The user can lock the document using a pass which will make it invisible to others
• Allows you to share large files using customized download links
• Full-text search improves the document searching process to a huge extent
• pCloud Crypto offers simple yet high-end encryption and is only available to the user
• pCloud Rewind helps you look into previous versions of your documents I.e.15-30 days prior
• You can easily upload a file irrespective of its size i.e. unlimited file size uploads are made possible
› Used by people working in:
• Coca Cola, Nike, Twitter, Uber, Instagram, Etihad Airways, LinkedIn
› Pricing:
• Premium (500 GB) - $49.99 annually
• Premium Plus (2 TB) - $99.99 annually
3. Google Drive
Google Drive is a file storage and synchronization service launched in 2012. It allows people to store files in the cloud, synchronize them across various devices, and share files. Its integration with Docs, Sheets, and Slides, makes the process of collaboration easy and effective. It is a flexible platform which can be used by individuals, teams, and enterprises for various purposes.
› Special features of Google Drive:
• Collaboration with people in Microsoft Office can be done without the need to convert file formats
• The explore button allows you to research a topic within the Drive
• Allows you to view Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides offline across a vast number of devices
• Data loss prevention, Vault for eDiscovery, and archiving and security center are key features to protect and secure the data of an enterprise
• Drive supports over 100 file types
› Used by people working in:
• Freedom, Whirlpool, Sanmina, Broadcom
› Pricing:
Google Drive is a part of Google Workspace. Its plan includes
• Personal - Free up to 15 GB
• Business - $12/month/user billed annually
4. Zoho WorkDrive
Zoho WorkDrive is an online file management service from India to offer users the ability to create, store documents, and collaborate. This platform enhances the collaboration and sharing of files within an organization. Its multiple file backup features let you store your document in a number of locations, thus ensuring data safety during times of hardware or system failure. Accessibility of files from any device from anywhere is an attractive feature offered by them.
› Special features of Zoho WorkDrive:
• Role-based access - The administrator can grant access to each team member based on their function I.e.co-owner, read/write, read-only, read and comment
• Version control - Has a Check-in/Checkout feature to permit only one person in a team to make changes at a time. This solves the problem of overwriting of a document by various team members
• Redundancy - Server failure recovery is ensured as it runs on a distributed grid architecture which in turn implies that server failure will have a minimal impact on the connected devices
› Used by people working in:
• Constant Contact, Ubuntu, yoxel
› Pricing:
• Starter - $2.50/user/month billed annually
• Team - $4.50/user/month billed annually
• Business - $9/user/month billed annually
5. Box
Box is a cloud technology that aims at simplifying workflow by allowing users to centralize data and promote collaboration between them. Digitalizing manual processes using a box makes sharing and accessing data extremely simple and efficient. Box can also be used as a secure alternative to the bulky and outdated FTP servers. They have clients using their service across a multitude of industries namely construction, healthcare, retail, and financial services.
› Special features of Box:
• The customers have the privilege to define their own set of security classifications (Eg: Confidential, Internal, Public) using Box Shield
• They have more than 1400 app integrations which aid the user in connecting and transferring data across a number of platforms
• Prevent data leaks by using 2FA and watermarking. Also, every file is encrypted using AES-256-bit encryption
• Box Relay’s no-code design eases the workflow process for the user to a great extent
› Used by people working in:
• Broadcom, Morgan Stanley, General Electric, Allstate, AstraZeneca
› Pricing:
• Business - $15/user/month
• Enterprise - $35/user/month
• Business Plus - $25/user/month
• Enterprise Plus - $50/user/month
6. Microsoft OneDrive
OneDrive is a service provided by Microsoft to host, share, and access files from anywhere. It caters to the needs of students, businessmen, families, schools, and enterprises too. It has advanced Sync technology so that you can view files and folders from anywhere and from any device.
› Special features of Microsoft OneDrive:
• Storage of some important and confidential documents can be done with the help of the Personal Vault feature which adds another layer of protection
• Any editing that the user does when he/she is offline will be automatically synced when the device is connected
• The OneDrive mobile app allows the user to create, view, edit, and share files by scanning documents (Eg: receipts, whiteboards, business cards, paper documents) and uploading them directly
• You can set expiration dates for your shared link so that the person viewing it gets limited-time access according to the user
› Used by people working in:
• MasterCard, Accenture, Qantas, Cliffton Coffee Rosters
› Pricing:
• OneDrive Basic (Microsoft 365, 5 GB) - Free
• OneDrive (100 GB) - $19.99/month billed annually
• OneDrive for Business - $5/user/month billed annually
7. Mediafire
› Special Features of Mediafire:
• Offers unlimited downloads
• User can share files using a one-time link so that your recipient can’t share the link with anybody else without your permission
• User can upload hundreds or even thousands of files at once
› Used by people working in:
• Gizmodo, LifeHacker, TechCrunch, Engadget
› Pricing:
• Basic - Free up to 10 GB
• Pro - $5.83/month billed annually
• Business - $50/month billed monthly
8. Idrive
Idrive is a cloud backup service aimed primarily at small and medium-sized businesses, but it can meet the archival data needs of enterprises. All data backed up to IDrive Nearline is protected with military-grade 256-bit AES encryption. It promises its customers a data accessibility speed of less than one second.
› Special Features of Idrive:
• Multiple Device Backup
• Continuous Data protection
• Provision to recover deleted files from the trash within 30 days • Sync storage does not impact your backup storage and matches your backup
• Impressive storage limit.
› Used by people working in:
• Alchemy, Discover Los Angeles, Sunset Automotive Group
› Pricing:
• Basic - Free up to 10 GB
• Mini - $2.95/user/year up to 100 GB
• Business - $69.65/year up to 250 GB
9. Team Drive
It is a cloud-based service for data storage and exchange. It makes the accessibility of data to team members at all times (also offline) relatively simple. It is suitable for data synchronization, collaboration, and data security between multiple users and devices. TeamDrive boasts a high sense of confidentiality amongst its users. They have custom-made packages to suit the needs of various clients. People involved in small businesses and independent contractors who work under restrictions involving budget, lack of infrastructure, and resources can use TeamDrive's “Professional Starter 1 Cloud Package“ with 10GB of cloud storage.
• Independent and secure
• fully compliant with European and German data protection law(GDPR)
• No VPN installation necessary
• Integrated backup solution
• Security through end to end encryption
• Easy access
› Used by people working in:
• Airbus, Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, Eppendorf
› Pricing:
• 1 client (10GB storage) - 59.50 €/Year: Professional Starter OneCloud
• 5 clients (100GB) - 299.00 €/Year: Professional Starter 5 cloud
» Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is Dropbox and how does it work?
Dropbox is an online workstation that is primarily virtual file storage but has essential tools to connect your teams and clients effectively. You can store any file, organize and convert them, and share the accessibility to others. You have to make an account in Dropbox and use it to save all your documents, presentations, Trello boards, and other files. Then you can convert it according to your needs and share it with your teammates as necessary.
2) Which is better Dropbox or Google Drive?
The best thing about Google Drive is that it lets you use 15GB of free storage for a lifetime freely, while Dropbox offers only 2GB. You can extend the storage of Google Drive up to 30TB but only up to 3TB in the case of Dropbox. But Google Drive has a slower syncing speed and only a shared storage facility. So Google Drive is better for you unless you have to deal with a limited number of files and want fast work.
3) How much does Dropbox cost?
You can use it for free for a 30-day trial period. After that, you have to pay $15 per month for the Standard plan for each of the accounts to have 5TB storage. You can also opt for the Advanced plan costs $25 a month for a user, this lets you have unlimited space and also offers sophisticated security features and control.
4) What are the best alternatives to Dropbox?
- Sync
- pCloud
- Google Drive
- Zoho Docs
- Box
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Mediafire
- Idrive
- Team Drive
5) Is there a free alternative to Dropbox?
All the online workstation requires you to have a paid subscription for added storage. In the free version, Google Drive lets you store 15GB of data, which is the largest among all its competitors.
