Dropbox vs Proton Drive
Dropbox and Proton Drive are both file storage & sharing tools. Dropbox is aimed at small businesses and freelancers, while Proton Drive is aimed at freelancers and small businesses. Proton Drive costs less, from $4.99/mo versus $11.99/mo for Dropbox. Both have a free plan.
Cloud storage and file sync pioneer
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage from Swiss privacy company Proton
| Pricing | Freemium · $12 | Freemium · $5 |
| Starting price | $11.99/mo | $4.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | 30 days | — |
| Built for | Small businesses, Freelancers | Freelancers, Small businesses, Enterprise |
| Platforms | web, macos, windows, linux, ios, android | web, windows, macos, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2007 | CH |
| 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 Proton Drive if
Privacy-focused individuals, families and small teams who want encrypted storage that is still easy to use.
- Zero-access encryption by default, not as an add-on
- Swiss company with strong privacy track record
- Bundles with Mail, VPN and Pass give good value
Look elsewhere if: Teams that depend on deep app integrations and live office editing (Google Drive, Dropbox) or need encrypted enterprise controls (Tresorit).
Dropbox vs Proton 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
Proton Drive
- Free$0Up to 5 GB after completing Drive setup steps
- Drive Plus$4.99/mo$47.88/yr billed annually; 200 GB, 10-year version history
- Proton Unlimited$12.99/mo$9.99/mo billed yearly; 500 GB plus Mail, VPN and Pass
- Proton Duo$19.99/mo2 TB shared by 2 users, all Proton apps
- Proton Family$29.99/mo3 TB shared by up to 6 users
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
Proton Drive · Key features
- End-to-end encryption of files, names, folders and photos
- Desktop sync apps for Windows and macOS
- Automatic photo and video backup on iOS and Android
- Share links with passwords, expiry dates and access control
- Encrypted Proton Docs and Sheets inside Drive
- Version history of up to 10 years on paid plans
Cons
- No native Linux sync client yet
- Few third-party integrations compared with Google Drive
- Collaborative editing far behind Google Workspace
Dropbox vs Proton Drive: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Dropbox or Proton Drive?
Proton Drive starts at $4.99/mo and Dropbox at $11.99/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Dropbox and Proton Drive have a free plan?
Yes, both Dropbox and Proton Drive have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.