There’s a lot to like about Dropbox. It’s more than enough for individual users who simply want to back up data in the cloud. For business users, the ability to share files and collaborate with others prove to be lifesavers. Dropbox is far from perfect, though. For starters, it only offers 2 GB storage for free users. While you can pay for premium plans, you’ll notice that the prices aren’t competitive. And if security and privacy are of utmost concern, then you should know that Dropbox doesn’t come with zero-knowledge encryption. Whether you’re an individual who just wants another cloud storage provider to back up your files or an advanced user who needs more powerful features, here are the best Dropbox alternatives to consider.
Apps Like Dropbox
- Sync.com
- pCloud
- Box
- Tresorit
- MEGA
- SpiderOak
- Google Drive
- Microsoft OneDrive
- iDrive
1. Sync.com
Using Sync.com makes you feel right at home because it offers the simplicity you’ve come to love with Dropbox. This Canada-based company aims to make collaborative cloud storage services more affordable and accessible. If you want to test out their service, you can do so by using their free plan which gives you 5 GB of storage along with basic collaboration features. Living up to its name, Sync.com offers apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac, which means you can sync your files across all your devices. You can also enjoy zero-knowledge privacy and client-side encryption, providing an additional layer of security to ensure that you have full control over your data. It doesn’t hurt that Sync.com is cheaper than Dropbox, giving you another reason to make the switch. At just $49 a year, you get 500 GB of storage, unlimited data transfer, and a host of security features.
2. pCloud
pCloud has been attracting more users in the past couple of years, thanks to their excellent cloud storage service that doesn’t cost a ton of money. Upon signing up, you get 10 GB of free storage. If that isn’t generous enough, you can get more free storage by doing a few things such as installing the mobile app and referring a friend. The free plan already offers plenty of storage space for individual users. But if you need more, you can ramp it up to 500 GB by subscribing to their premium plan, which starts at only $3.99 a month. If you want to save even more money, you can also avail their lifetime plan for just $175. Now, that’s real value for your money. It doesn’t come as a surprise that pCloud is regarded by many as a great alternative to Dropbox. The premium plans are much cheaper, and the security and privacy features prove to be much more robust.
3. Box
This cloud storage provider is worth putting on top of your list especially if collaboration features are your priority. Box is specifically designed for business purposes, offering dozens of tools that make collaborating with team members such an easy and enjoyable experience. The free plan comes with 10 GB of storage. Individual users can increase this to 100 GB by paying $10 per month. Meanwhile, the cheapest business plan requires 3 users at a minimum. This proves to be an affordable option for those who collaborate with a small team.
4. Tresorit
Tresorit takes pride in providing the most comprehensive security and privacy features among all cloud storage providers. It calls itself an “ultra-secure” place to back up and share your files in the cloud. While it primarily targets business users, the company has seen a significant boost in their number of individual users as well. Tresorit apps are available for iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. Their Swiss zero-knowledge privacy is topnotch, giving you peace of mind knowing that you can securely store your files online. The free plan lets you share files up to 5 GB. Their premium plan starts at $10.42 a month, which gives you access to a sizeable 200 GB of storage space.
5. MEGA
MEGA is one of the most recognizable names in the cloud storage space. It emerged in popularity when it started the trend of offering plenty of free storage. Today, their free plan comes with 15 GB of storage. While this sounds generous, it’s nowhere near what they used to offer. Still, MEGA continues to be a solid option for anyone looking to store and share files in the cloud. Their Pro I plan sets you back $11.38 a month, but it comes with 1 TB of storage space. As you can imagine, this is such a massive amount of cloud storage, which works perfectly for people with several large files. One downside to using MEGA is that its sync feature doesn’t work as well as Dropbox. Not to mention, it’s more complex to use. The good news, however, is that you can sync any folder.
6. SpiderOak
SpiderOak is a Dropbox alternative for business users. They offer a separate service called SpiderOak One for individual users. The main selling point of this provider is its privacy features. This app is made specifically to make file sharing as private and secure as possible. There are no free plans to choose from. However, SpiderOak offers a 21-day free trial. That should give you enough time to test their service and features. Once your trial is up, you can avail their starter plan which gives you 150 GB of storage space for only $6 per month.
7. Google Drive
If you have a Google account, then Google Drive is probably something you use quite often. Google has made it a point to integrate Drive into its suite of products. No wonder why so many people default to Drive because of the convenience it comes with. Aside from being owned by Google, what makes Drive so attractive to use is its free 15 GB of storage space. If you’re mostly sharing documents and spreadsheets, then you’ll have more than enough space to play around with. Of course, Google Drive is also known for its collaboration features. Its integration wtih Google Docs means you can work with team members over the cloud and ensure that all your files are backed up and stored online. Perhaps the only reason to steer clear of Google Drive is its lack of security features.
8. Microsoft OneDrive
If using another Google product isn’t your cup of tea, then you might want to consider Microsoft OneDrive. This free Dropbox alternative is easily accessible for any Microsoft user. You’ve probably seen that OneDrive notification pop up more than once in your system tray in Windows 10. Its free plan gives you 5 GB of file storage space. But many people take advantage of using OneDrive alongside Microsoft Office. This combination costs $69.99 a year, increases your OneDrive storage to 1 TB, and gives you a free subscription to MS Office. That’s quite a compelling deal, especially for power users of Microsoft’s productivity apps.
10. iDrive
iDrive is an app like Dropbox geared towards enterprises. While you can use their free plan with 5 GB of free storage, iDrive’s real power stems from its cloud storage solutions for business users. Any business that wants a cheaper alternative to Dropbox needs to take a serious look at iDrive. Its premium plan starts at a mere $59.12 a year for the first year and comes with a whopping 2 TB of storage. This costs half as much as Dropbox, which is already a good reason to make the switch. It’s worth noting that with iDrive, you also have the option of backing up and retrieving your data physically once each year without an additional charge.
Store More in the Cloud
Dropbox is still the go-to cloud storage solution for millions of people. It offers all the basic features you need and keeps things as simple as possible. Unfortunately, it isn’t the most affordable solution out there, nor is it the most secure. It’s a good idea to explore your options and take a closer look at what each provider brings to the table. You just might end up with a cloud storage solution that meets all your needs and fits your budget at the same time.
Best Dropbox Alternatives
Comments
Dale Anderson from The High Seas on September 15, 2020: Umesh Chandra Bhatt from Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India on August 04, 2020: Very informative. Thanks.
