Google Drive and Dropbox are the two most popular cloud storage sources, and with good reason as the set of features, free trial options and pricing are making them the best cloud storage options all across the world. The users can save several files on the web along with getting the syncing the data in the cloud after organizing them in the folders. But, how the users will get to know which one is better as both offered several significant features. The answer is simple, and users can compare the features of both cloud storage services. Here is the comparison between both cloud storage services:-
Compatibility of Both Platforms
The users can find Google Drive more compatible with Windows 8, 7, 8.1,10 in S model, and Windows 10 along with supporting iOS, Mac, and Android. But, the users can’t use the application of Google Drive on Linux; however, Google is trying hard to fix the issue and make it compatible with Linux also. On the contrary, the compatibility of Dropbox could not only be witnessed with Windows 8, 8.1, 7, Mac, Android, iOS, and Windows 10 but also with Linux. Dropbox is also supporting the systems like the Xbox One.
1. Account Value of Both Google Drive and Dropbox
If we talk about the account subscriptions of Google Drive and Dropbox, then it is clear that Google Drive is providing free storage of 15GB for personal use in comparison to 2 GB free storage provided by Dropbox. It seems that Google Drive is providing better free storage capacity, but the users can get more storage by availing the gains from the options provided by Dropbox to them. The users can sign up for the referrals provided by Dropbox can avail of an additional 500MB with each reference. The storage expanded to 3GB when the users will upload the photos. The users can get the free version up to 16GB by going to 28 referrals. However, the annual subscriptions offered by both the storage cloud services are almost the same in which the lowest cloud storage option provided by Dropbox is 2TB. The most economical storage provided by Google Drive is 100 GB comes from spending $1.99 per month leading you to save 16% while paying early.
2. Mobile and Desktop Client Apps
Both the cloud storage services, Google Drive and Dropbox, provides desktop and mobile applications which can be used by the users for sharing and syncing their files across the devices. However, the applications of desktop clients are quite similar in both the services, but Dropbox is more compatible with more number of mobile and desktop platforms. Also, the client applications of Dropbox are enabling syncing compatibility across the devices. Among some other advantages provided by Dropbox is more flexible file management, and also, the storage cloud services do not limit the size of the files for uploads.
On the contrary, Google Drive has some limitations, such as the users can only open the documents in Google Docs while exporting them for editing in some other software. Also, it has a limit of 5TB for maximum uploads. Meanwhile, the partnership of Dropbox with Microsoft has provided it with better integration with the client applications. For instance, since the native Windows 10 application of Dropbox has been built upon the universal platform off Windows allowing the users to drag and drop the files from File Explorer. After that, the users can save the data to the cloud after dragged and dropped into the app.
3. The Web Clients of Dropbox and Google Drive
The web client of Google Drive has its office suite helpful for the users to edit the files, but Dropbox helps the users to edit documents, texts, spreadsheets, and presentations by using the online office suite of Microsoft. The users can also edit the files of MS office with Dropbox mobile applications of iOS and Android along with using it to edit the file formats of .xlsx, .ocx, and .pptx with MS excel, online tools of PowerPoint, MS Word and other versions of mobile applications. However, if we talk about the office suite of Google Drive, which includes Forms, Google Docs, Sheets, Drawings, and Slides, it is clear that it looks better for editing the documents in comparison to Dropbox.
4. File Type Support
The users can view up to 30 files in their browser in various file types supported by Google Drive along with browsing videos, images, audios, texts, documents, archives, markup, and files of MS Office, Adobe, and Apple. Also, it supports the various third-party applications for managing even more number of files in different file formats. But, the number of files supported by Dropbox to view in different file formats are quite limited. The users can view videos, audios, links, primary texts, presentations, spreadsheets, and documents in various file formats. Still, when it comes to editing, the users can edit only MS Office files.
5. Encryption
Both the cloud storage services provide two-factor verification, but none of these two have the option of a personal encryption key. Google Drive provides 128-bit of AES encryption, which is quite weak in comparison to the 256-bit AES encryption level of Dropbox. However, Google Drive also offers SSL encryption level of 256 bit for transferring files.
6. Customer Support
The customer assistance provided by Google Drive is quite better in comparison to Dropbox, which includes providing technical support to the users through phone, email chat, and live chat. The users can get their queries resolved through Google Forum and the Website tutorials, too, and that also, the service is available all 24/7. But, the customer support of Dropbox is not as strong as it lacks providing the phone services and live chat for handling the grievances of the customers. However, Dropbox provides support to its customers through email, websites, and its forum.
In the end, it is quite clear that there is not much difference between both cloud storage services as Google Drive with a flexible package of subscription, better account value, and higher capacities of storage are far ahead. Also, the better tools for searching and great support for file formats along with some other features making it a more suitable choice. But, the various elements of Dropbox, including extensive support for third-party applications and mobile clients, are making it standard for sharing the files all across the devices.
Source url:-https://williamsblogpoint.wordpress.com/2020/04/06/google-drive-vs-dropbox-which-one-is-better/
Ava Williams is a Norton product expert and has been working in the technology industry since 2002. As a technical expert, Ava has written technical blogs, manuals, white papers, and reviews for many websites such as norton.com/setup
