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It’s hard to choose between Google Drive and Dropbox in a head-to-head matchup. Both are great cloud storage services with lots of space and free options for people who don’t need enterprise-level cloud storage. They have a lot in common, like the ability to back up files to the cloud, sync files between devices, and share files with other people.
At first glance, it looks like they both offer the same service, but they are from different companies. But Google Drive and Dropbox are not the same in every way. If you want to know which one is best, you should look into how they sync, back up, and share your files, as well as how their security measures differ. Here’s a look at how they compare in five very important ways.
Dropbox Vs Google Drive Comparison Table
| Specification | Dropbox | Google Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | 2 TB (paid plan) | 15 GB (free plan) to unlimited (paid plan) |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS |
| Syncing | Automatic syncing across devices | Automatic syncing across devices |
| File Sharing | Collaborative file sharing and editing | Collaborative file sharing and editing |
| Security | Two-factor authentication and SSL/TLS encryption | Two-factor authentication and SSL/TLS encryption |
| Price | Starting at $11.99/month for individual plans | Starting at $1.99/month for 100 GB plan, up to $299.99/month for 30 TB plan |
Dropbox Vs Google Drive: Security
Both Google Drive and Dropbox offer two-factor authentication and encrypt your data as it moves from the cloud storage service to your device and back again. But Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256-bit encryption is used by Dropbox to keep your files safe while they are being stored. This encryption standard has been approved by the U.S. National Security Agency to protect information that has been marked as top secret. You can download this app from its official website.
Dropbox Vs Google Drive: Integration
Google also wins when it comes to how well it works with other platforms. The Google Drive system is built into most Android phones and tablets and all Chrome OS devices. Google Docs and other Google Workspace tools save files to Google Drive by default. On top of that, there are Google Drive/One apps for iOS and Windows that make it easy to upload and download files.
Dropbox is also available pretty much everywhere, but its integration isn’t as smooth on mobile and Chrome OS. You can upload and download to Dropbox on almost any platform (via the browser if you don’t have a dedicated app), but it may take a few more steps. The fact that a free Dropbox account can only be used on three devices is also a big problem.
Dropbox Vs Google Drive: Performance
Even though Google Drive isn’t slow by any means, Dropbox is better in terms of speed. Dropbox always gave me faster upload speeds when we tried to upload a lot of both big and small files. That’s an important thing to think about if you plan to use your storage space a lot. LAN sync is another feature of Dropbox that makes it easier to send files around your local network.
With this tool, you can start copying files to your local Ethernet or Wi-Fi network as soon as you add them to your Dropbox account, before they’re fully uploaded to the cloud. This means that if you add a file to Dropbox on your phone, it will almost immediately show up in the Dropbox folder on your Windows or MacOS computer, as long as both devices are connected to the same local network.
Which is better?
When it comes to cloud-based collaboration, both services are great. Google Drive is the best because it gives you free storage space, works well with all of Google’s services, and has strong security. Google Drive’s interface is also easier to use. On the other hand, Dropbox is better because it syncs files faster, works with a wider range of popular apps and services, and works with Zoom, which is the most popular online video conferencing service right now.
Google Drive comes out on top because Google users can’t live without the way Drive works with other Google services. Considering that there are almost 2 billion Google users around the world, this is a big deal. On the other hand, if you don’t use many Google apps or services, Dropbox might be a better choice if you’d like to use your cloud storage with a wide range of apps and services from other companies.
Dropbox: THE GOODS AND THE BADS
THE GOODS
- Plenty of additional features
- Integrations with thousands of applications
THE BADS
- Expensive
Google Drive: THE GOODS AND THE BADS
THE GOODS
- Generous free storage space
- Excellent productivity-suite collaboration
THE BADS
- No password-protection for shared files
FAQS
Which is more secure Dropbox or Google Drive?
Both Dropbox and Google Drive are very safe. Both use encryption, but each has its own advantages and disadvantages. If you care about privacy, you should probably choose Google Drive because it doesn’t share user data with third parties.
Can Google work like Dropbox?
The Google Drive system is built into most Android phones and tablets and all Chrome OS devices. Google Docs and other Google Workspace tools save files to Google Drive by default. On top of that, there are Google Drive/One apps for iOS and Windows that make it easy to upload and download files.
Is Dropbox safe for confidential files?
Dropbox is where you can store your most important files. Dropbox is made with multiple layers of security that are spread out over a scalable, secure infrastructure to keep your files safe. 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard is used to encrypt Dropbox files when they are not being used (AES)