Dropbox vs OneDrive
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.
Dropbox
Ranked #2 of 15 in this directory
Pioneer of cloud file syncing with best-in-class sync reliability and speed
OneDrive
Ranked #3 of 15 in this directory
Microsoft's cloud storage with deep Office 365 integration and Windows syncing
Our pick: Dropbox. Our editors rank Dropbox higher overall in Cloud Storage Providers — but OneDrive can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case below. How we review
Compare the details
| Dropbox | OneDrive | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | See website | See website |
| Category | Business | Business |
| Editorial rank | #2 of 15 | #3 of 15 |
Strengths
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
OneDrive
- ✓1 TB of storage included with every Microsoft 365 subscription
- ✓Native Windows integration with built-in file explorer sync
- ✓Real-time co-authoring in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents
- ✓Personal Vault feature adds extra security for sensitive files
- ✓Excellent value when bundled with the full Microsoft 365 suite
Watch out for
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
OneDrive
- !Free tier offers only 5 GB compared to Google's 15 GB
- !Sync conflicts can occur when editing files across multiple devices
- !macOS integration is less polished than the Windows experience
- !Upload speed can be slower than Dropbox for large file batches
Best use cases
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
OneDrive
- →Windows user wanting cloud backup and sync built into the operating system
- →Microsoft 365 subscriber looking to maximize their included 1 TB storage
- →Business team collaborating heavily in Word, Excel, and Teams
About each tool
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.
OneDrive
OneDrive is Microsoft's cloud storage solution, offering 5 GB of free storage and tight integration with Microsoft 365 apps including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams. For Microsoft 365 subscribers, OneDrive provides 1 TB of storage per user. Built directly into Windows, OneDrive enables seamless file backup, sync, and sharing without installing additional software.
Still deciding? Browse all 15 options with honest pros, cons, and pricing.
See all Cloud Storage Providers →