Dropbox or Google Drive – Which One Is Better?

When it comes to choosing a virtual server to safely store your content, you need to look at all the features and functions and then select the one that best meets your needs and budget. Dropbox and Google Drive both offer plans for personal use as well as businesses.

Take a look at what each company has to offer to help guide you. Important questions to ask yourself include how you will use the service and which features are most important to you. Take into consideration added security and privacy, file recovery, plus compatibility for browser support and operating systems.

Feature Highlights and Perks

Highlights of Dropbox include the ability to upload any type of document to their online cloud storage. File types that are supported include photos, songs, spreadsheets, videos, movies, and much more. Once you add your content to Dropbox, you can easily sync your files between your desktop computer and mobile devices. Dropbox is compatible with multiple platforms including iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. File recovery is a great feature in case you mistakenly delete a document, folder, or file.

Google Drive offers the perk of being able to easily see and access all your content in one convenient place from the comfort of any device, whether it is your desktop computer, tablet, or smartphone. You have total control over which files you want to share with others plus you can give access to others when you want to edit and revise content together. Google Drive lets you work offline so you can still view your content plus it allows you to revisit older versions of files for a period of up to 30 days.

Ability to Share and Collaborate

Dropbox lets you share your content so that you can collaborate with others while working on projects. It is as simple as designating a folder that is to be shared and then adding others to that folder. Those people that you share your documents with will be able to see the files in their own Dropbox. As a file is updated, those that you share the folder with will automatically get the revised version of the most current file.

When you open your Google Drive account, you will be able to quickly see files and folders that you have been given access to under the link “Shared with Me”. Google Drive provides detailed information such as the date when a folder was shared, the owner of the folder, type of documents contained in the folder, and specific titles assigned to the folder. You can collaborate with others, share files, and edit documents with Google Drive.

Storage Plan Options

Dropbox offers three storage plans for users. The Dropbox Basic option is free and provides 2 GB of storage space for easy secure backup of you content. You can quickly access your documents from any location while sharing and collaborating with others. The next step up is Dropbox Basic Pro that includes 1 TB of storage space along with extra sharing controls and the remote wipe feature. Dropbox Business offers unlimited storage and file recovery plus added sharing controls.

Google Drive has several storage plans with varying amounts of space for your content. The free plan gives you 15 GB of cloud storage. If you need additional space you can choose the next level, which offers 100 GB. Moving up the ladder, the next plan offers 1 TB of space, then onward to 10 TB, 20 TB, and 30 TB of storage. Users interested in additional storage can purchase extra space or upgrade to Google Apps Unlimited, Google Apps for Education, or purchase Google Drive storage licenses.

Supported Web Browsers

Dropbox is compatible to use with most web browsers, noting on their website that the application is most efficient when being used with the latest two recently released versions. Users that rely on browsers other than Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari may find that certain functions of Dropbox are not supported. Older versions of supported browsers may also inhibit some features.

Google Drive requires users to have cookies and JavaScript enabled on their computers or devices. Supported web browsers include the latest two versions of Chrome, Firefox, and Windows-based Internet Explorer, plus Safari when used in conjunction with a Mac device. Outdated versions of web browsers will not function with Google Drive. Users that regularly use other browsers may not be able to take advantage of all the features offered by Google Drive.

Mobile Device Apps

Dropbox offers several apps for mobile devices so you can easily access your stored content. For Apple products, compatible devices include iPhone or iPad, iOS 8 and later. A Dropbox app for Android is available for devices running 4.0.3 and higher. Windows users can download the app for their tablet or smartphone, which is compatible with 8.0 and above systems. Dropbox is also compatible with Linux-based systems.

Google Drive’s desktop app is compatible with Windows XP and later. Their Mac app works on Lion 10.7 and above. Linux is currently not supported on Google Drive, but perhaps at some point in the future it will be made available. Android users must have a mobile device that is running on version 4.0 and later to be compatible. The iPhone and iPad app will run on iOS 7.0 and above.

Encryption and Authentication

Dropbox uses 128-bit AES encryption along with a SSL/TLS secure tunnel to safely transmit documents from your computer or mobile device to their online cloud storage. Content that is stored within Dropbox is securely fragmented in file blocks using 256-bit AES encryption for an added layer of protection. Two-step authentication provides users with extra security as it requires users to verify their identity beyond just the use of a password.

Google Drive uses standard AES-256 SSL encryption in their servers to protect user content and data. Authentication utilizes the two-step process of identity verification in conjunction with providing the standard password. When files are transmitted to Google Drive, the connection is secured by the use of SSL/TLS tunnels. Users can make their files and documents more secure by taking additional steps to protect their content and data. Using strong passwords helps provide protection from system breaches.

Dropbox and Google Drive Both Offer Great Features

Dropbox and Google Drive both offer a comparable plate of features for personal use as well as business applications. You can choose from several available plans and upgrade as necessary when you need more space to store documents, files, photos, and other types of content.