Dropbox vs Google Drive
Dropbox and Google Drive are both file storage & sharing tools. Dropbox is aimed at small businesses and freelancers, while Google Drive is aimed at small businesses and enterprise. Google Drive costs less, from $7.99/mo versus $11.99/mo for Dropbox. Both have a free plan.
Cloud storage and file sync pioneer
Storage integrated with Google Workspace
| Pricing | Freemium · $12 | Freemium · $8 |
| Starting price | $11.99/mo | $7.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | 30 days | 14 days |
| Built for | Small businesses, Freelancers | Small businesses, Enterprise, Freelancers |
| Platforms | web, macos, windows, linux, ios, android | web, macos, windows, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2007 | US · 2012 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Dropbox if
Creative professionals and teams needing reliable sync across platforms.
- Best-in-class sync reliability
- Great for large creative files
- Suite of add-on products
Look elsewhere if: Teams already paying for Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 storage.
Choose Google Drive if
Individuals and teams in the Google ecosystem.
- Generous free tier
- Best real-time collaboration
- Bundled with Workspace
Look elsewhere if: Heavy desktop sync of large creative files (Dropbox).
Dropbox vs Google Drive pricing
Dropbox
- Basic$02 GB
- Plus$11.99/mo$9.99/mo billed yearly; 2 TB, 1 person
- Standard$18/user/mo$15/mo billed yearly; from 3 TB team storage
- Advanced$30/user/mo$24/mo billed yearly; 3+ users, from 15 TB, SSO, E2E
- EnterpriseCustomEnterprise security and dedicated support
Google Drive
- Free$015 GB shared with Gmail and Photos
- Google AI Plus$7.99/mo200 GB, Gemini features, share with 5 (US)
- Workspace Business Starter$8.40/user/mo$7 annual; 30 GB per user
- Business Standard$16.80/user/mo$14 annual; 2 TB per user
- Business Plus$26.40/user/mo$22 annual; 5 TB per user
Dropbox · Key features
- Reliable cross-platform file sync
- Sharing, file requests and transfers
- Version history and file recovery
- Dropbox Dash AI search
- Replay video review and Sign e-signature
- Admin controls and security
Cons
- Small free tier (2 GB)
- Pricier than bundled alternatives
- Product sprawl
Google Drive · Key features
- 15 GB free storage
- Real-time collaboration on Docs, Sheets, Slides
- Shared drives for teams
- Search with OCR and AI
- Gemini in Drive for summaries
- Drive for desktop sync
Cons
- Desktop sync less reliable than Dropbox
- Permission sprawl over time
- Privacy concerns for some
Dropbox vs Google Drive: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Dropbox or Google Drive?
Google Drive starts at $7.99/mo and Dropbox at $11.99/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Dropbox and Google Drive have a free plan?
Yes, both Dropbox and Google Drive have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.