Box vs Dropbox
An honest side-by-side comparison of two of our top cloud storage providers picks — pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and who each one is really for.
Box
Ranked #4 of 15 in this directory
Enterprise-grade cloud content management with advanced security and compliance
Dropbox
Ranked #2 of 15 in this directory
Pioneer of cloud file syncing with best-in-class sync reliability and speed
Our pick: Dropbox. Our editors rank Dropbox higher overall in Cloud Storage Providers — but Box can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case below. How we review
Compare the details
| Box | Dropbox | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | See website | See website |
| Category | Enterprise | Business |
| Editorial rank | #4 of 15 | #2 of 15 |
Strengths
Box
- ✓Industry-leading compliance certifications including HIPAA, FedRAMP, and GxP
- ✓Granular access controls and advanced permission management
- ✓Over 1,500 integrations with enterprise tools like Salesforce and ServiceNow
- ✓Box Relay automates repetitive business workflows around content
- ✓Robust admin console with detailed analytics and audit trails
Dropbox
- ✓Industry-leading sync engine with block-level delta sync technology
- ✓Smart Sync lets you see all files without taking up local disk space
- ✓Extensive third-party integrations with Slack, Zoom, Adobe, and more
- ✓Dropbox Paper and built-in e-signatures add collaboration value
- ✓Reliable version history and file recovery up to 180 days
Watch out for
Box
- !Individual and personal plans offer limited storage compared to competitors
- !Interface can feel dated compared to more consumer-friendly alternatives
- !Pricing scales steeply for larger teams needing advanced features
- !File sync performance is slower than Dropbox for large volumes
Dropbox
- !Free plan is limited to just 2 GB of storage
- !Plus plan pricing is higher than comparable offerings from Google or Microsoft
- !Can only sync files within the Dropbox folder unless using Smart Sync
- !Linux support has historically lagged behind Windows and macOS
Best use cases
Box
- →Enterprise needing cloud storage that meets strict regulatory compliance
- →Healthcare organization requiring HIPAA-compliant file sharing and storage
- →Large business automating content workflows across departments
Dropbox
- →Professional needing the most reliable file sync across multiple devices
- →Small business team wanting collaboration tools with robust integrations
- →Creative professional sharing large files with clients and collaborators
About each tool
Box
Box is an enterprise-focused cloud content management platform built for organizations that prioritize security, compliance, and workflow automation. It offers granular permission controls, over 1,500 third-party integrations, and compliance certifications including HIPAA, FedRAMP, and GDPR. Box also features Box Sign for e-signatures and Box Relay for automated workflows.
Dropbox
Dropbox is a veteran cloud storage platform trusted by over 700 million users worldwide. Known for its rock-solid file syncing engine, Dropbox offers smart sync, selective sync, and block-level sync technology that makes uploading and downloading faster than most competitors. The platform also includes Dropbox Paper for collaboration, built-in electronic signatures, and robust third-party app integrations.
Still deciding? Browse all 15 options with honest pros, cons, and pricing.
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