Dropbox
Dropbox, Inc.
6.4
Overall Score / 10
Box
Box, Inc.
6.3
Overall Score / 10
Our Verdict
Choose Dropbox if:
- —Users who need reliable file sync across devices
- —Teams already using Dropbox who need shared workspaces
- —Freelancers wanting simple file sharing with clients
Choose Box if:
- —Enterprises in regulated industries needing compliance and governance
- —Companies needing unlimited storage with granular access controls
- —Organizations requiring Box Shield (DLP) and advanced security
The biggest difference: Dropbox excels at desktop file sync and personal/small-team use with a polished native app. Box is built for enterprise content management with advanced security, compliance, and workflow automation.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Dropbox | Box |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Paid Plan | $11.99/mo (Plus)Source: Dropbox, Inc. pricing page → | $5/mo (Business Starter)Source: Box, Inc. pricing page → |
| Free Tier | Yes 2GB storage, 3 device limit, basic sharing. | Yes 10GB storage, 250MB file upload limit, 5 e-signatures/month. |
| Value for Money | 5 | 6 |
| Ease of Use | 8 | 6 |
| Feature Power | 6 | 8 |
| Setup Ease | 9 | 6 |
| Migration Ease | 6 | 5 |
| Transparency | 6 | 6 |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| API Available | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Compliance | SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA (Business Advanced+), ISO 27001 | SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, HIPAA, FedRAMP, GDPR, GxP, ITAR |
Feature Comparison
Feature Comparison Matrix
24 features compared · 23 differences
| Feature | Dropbox | Box |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| Admin console | None | Full |
| Admin console (Business) | Full | None |
| Box Shield (DLP) | None | Full |
| Dropbox Paper (docs) | Full | None |
| Dropbox Rewind | Full | None |
| E-signatures (Box Sign) | None | Full |
| E-signatures (limited) | Full | None |
| File requests | Full | None |
| Full-text search | Full | None |
| Metadata & classification | None | Full |
| Retention policies | None | Full |
| Unlimited cloud storage (Business+) | None | Full |
| Version history | Full | None |
| Watermarking | None | Full |
| Watermarking (Professional) | Full | None |
| Advanced | ||
| Content insights (AI) | None | Full |
| Custom branding | None | Full |
| Workflow automation | None | Full |
| Integrations | ||
| 1,500+ integrations | None | Full |
| API Access | Full | Full |
| File sync & sharing | Full | None |
| Smart Sync (access files without downloading) | Full | None |
| Third-party app integrations | Full | None |
| Security | ||
| Granular access controls | None | Full |
Pricing Comparison
Dropbox Pricing
2GB storage, 3 device limit
2TB storage, unlimited devices, 30-day version history
3TB storage, smart sync, full-text search, watermarking
$20/user/mo (min 3 users). 9TB pooled storage, admin console, audit log
Box Pricing
10GB storage, 250MB file upload limit, basic sharing
$5/user/mo. 100GB storage, 2GB upload limit, basic admin
$15/user/mo. Unlimited storage, 5GB upload limit, 1,500+ integrations, custom branding
$35/user/mo. Unlimited storage, advanced security, DLP, unlimited e-signatures, metadata
Custom pricing. AI-powered insights, advanced compliance, custom metadata
Who Should Choose Which?
Who should choose Dropbox
Best for
- Users who need reliable file sync across devices
- Teams already using Dropbox who need shared workspaces
- Freelancers wanting simple file sharing with clients
Avoid if
- You're in the Google or Microsoft ecosystem (their storage is better integrated)
- You need more than 2GB for free (Google Drive offers 15GB free)
- You need integrated office tools (Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 include them)
Who should choose Box
Best for
- Enterprises in regulated industries needing compliance and governance
- Companies needing unlimited storage with granular access controls
- Organizations requiring Box Shield (DLP) and advanced security
Avoid if
- You're a small team or individual (Dropbox or Google Drive are simpler)
- You want integrated productivity tools (Box has basic editors but relies on Microsoft/Google)
- You want the cheapest cloud storage option
Switching Guidance
Switching from Dropbox
Common triggers to leave:
- •Small free tier (2GB vs 15GB on Google Drive)
- •Increasing competition from bundled solutions
- •Limited integrated productivity tools
Potential blockers:
- •Shared links across the web
- •Team folder structure
- •Third-party app integrations using Dropbox
Switching from Box
Common triggers to leave:
- •Interface less intuitive than Dropbox or Google Drive
- •Relies on third-party editors (not a full productivity suite)
- •Can be overkill for small teams
Potential blockers:
- •Enterprise compliance and governance setup
- •Workflow automation rules
- •Integration configurations across enterprise apps
- •Retention policy configurations
Try Dropbox
Start free — no credit card required
Try Box
Start free — no credit card required