Although Dropbox is one of the most widely used tools for sharing and storing data, it also has a number of disadvantages, the most significant of which is the security and privacy of your files and data.
In this article, we took a deep dive into the best Dropbox alternatives to help you find a provider that will prioritize your privacy while meeting your file-sharing and storage needs.
- Sync: Best for security and privacy features
- Google Drive: End-to-end file encryption and an excellent tool for team collaboration
- pCloud: Offers lifetime plans and doesn’t store your encryption keys
- Internxt: Zero-knowledge cloud storage service provider that will keep your data safe
- NordLocker: User-friendly cloud storage service with end-to-end encryption for your files
Read our comprehensive article below to find out why you should look for Dropbox alternatives and the best ones to choose from.
Dropbox is a pioneer and market leader in the cloud storage space, having been around since 2007. Currently, over 700 million users and 600,000 teams use the service to store, share, and access their files across devices. For all its clout in the cloud storage space, there are several Dropbox alternatives that offer better features and more privacy than this service.
Why should you choose another cloud storage provider? The answer is simple. Dropbox has several shortcomings:
- It can access your data.
- It provides only 2GB of storage to users with a free account.
- Organizing files or folders can be a complex process.
- Many tools are used, which creates clutter in the platform.
- It offers overpriced subscription plans.
So, if you’re looking for the best Dropbox alternatives, we’ve done the hard work for you. We’ve researched and tested dozens of cloud storage solutions. In this article, we’ll show 20 cloud storage services that you can use instead of Dropbox.
Dropbox Alternatives
Dropbox is one of the most popular tools for file sharing, but there are privacy issues with the service provider that have come to light in the past. The amount of storage offered to free accounts is also a problematic feature. So, we recommend opting for one of the Dropbox alternatives in the table below.
| Service | Best for? | Free Storage | Price for Premium (per user/month) | End-to-End Encryption |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sync | A secure cloud storage solution with airtight security | 5GB | $8 (2TB) | ✔ |
| Google Drive | An excellent choice for team collaboration and Google Workspace users | 15GB | $12 (2TB) | ✔ |
| MEGA | Generous free cloud storage service with top-notch file versioning | 20GB | $10.86 (2TB) | ✔ |
| iDrive | A feature-rich alternative for backing up files | 10GB | $9.95 (5TB) | ✔ |
| pCloud | A cloud storage solution that offers lifetime plans | 10GB | $100* (2TB) | ✔ |
| Backblaze | A cloud backup service that offers unlimited secure storage | 10GB | $7 (unlimited storage) | ✖ |
| Microsoft OneDrive | Great service for Windows and Microsoft Office users | 5GB | $6.99 (1TB) | ✖ |
| Internxt | Encrypted cloud storage with many security and privacy features | 10GB | $10.90 (2TB) | ✔ |
| Box | Great for team collaboration with third-party integrations | Unlimited storage (14-day free trial option) | $14 (100GB) | ✖ |
| Icedrive | Cloud storage service with a modern and sleek interface | 10GB | $4.99 (1TB) | ✔ |
| Apple iCloud | Ideal for Mac and iPhone users | 5GB | $9.99 (2TB) | ✖ |
| Nextcloud | Self-hosted and on-premise cloud storage | n/a | $39.30** (per user) | ✔ |
| NordLocker | Easy-to-use cloud storage service | 3GB | $7.99 (100GB) | ✔ |
| Tresorit | Secure cloud storage service that’s great for businesses | 3GB | $13.99 (1TB) | ✔ |
| SpiderOak One | An excellent backup alternative to restore previous versions of files | 2GB (21-day free trial option) | $14 (2TB) | ✔ |
| MediaFire | Cloud storage service for storing photos and audio | 10GB | $5 (1TB) | ✖ |
| Cloudup | Great choice for media streaming | 200GB | Contact provider | ✖ |
| Jumpshare | Ideal for content creators | 2GB | $9.99 (1TB) | ✖ |
| Redbooth | Effective project management tools | 2GB | $12 (5GB, unlimited users) | ✖ |
| Amazon Photos Drive | Great for storing an unlimited number of photos | 5GB | $6.99 (1TB) or sign up with Amazon Prime for unlimited storage | ✖ |
*This is a yearly price plan.
** This service provider only offers team plans starting at 100 users.
Next, we’ll discuss these best Dropbox alternatives in more detail.
1. Sync – Great security and privacy features
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 5GB of free storage space | No live chat option |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Limited third-party integration |
| Unlimited storage | No phone support |
| User-friendly interface |
When it comes to security and privacy, Sync is a far better choice than Dropbox. Sync offers zero-knowledge encryption, which means that you’re the only one who has access to your encryption keys. Its end-to-end encryption feature ensures unauthorized persons can’t read or tamper with your data. These features make Sync a smart choice if you often send and receive sensitive files.
Furthermore, Sync offers unlimited storage, which is ideal if you need to store, transfer and receive lots of files. Even without subscribing to a paid plan, Sync gives you 5GB of free storage. Many other cloud services offer much bigger free storage, but this is more than double what Dropbox offers. Sync’s main downside is that it doesn’t have many third-party integrations.
2. Google Drive – Popular team collaboration tool
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 15GB of free storage space | History of Google Privacy violations |
| Google Workspace integration | No passwords on sharing links |
| Lots of third-party integrations | |
| Intuitive search function |
Google Drive is considered one of the best Dropbox alternatives for many reasons. First, it’s an excellent choice for team collaboration, thanks to its seamless integration with in-house Google and third-party applications. Google Drive is a no-brainer if you already use Google’s products, including Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Sites, Calendar, and Keep.
Furthermore, Google Drive offers a rather generous 15GB of monthly storage. Note that this storage is shared across all of Google’s apps, so you might burn through it quickly. If you need more space, you can purchase a Google One subscription of up to 2TB of storage.
However, there are also privacy concerns with Google Drive. Google stores a truckload of information about users, and it has suffered security breaches in the past.
3. MEGA – Useful file versioning process
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 20GB of free storage | Limited collaboration features |
| Excellent file versioning | |
| End-to-end encryption |
With 20GB of free storage, MEGA is one of the best free Dropbox alternatives. This is about ten times what Dropbox offers. You can increase your storage by completing certain actions, including installing MEGA’s apps, inviting friends, and verifying your mobile number. This offer makes MEGA a handy choice for free users.
However, that’s not the only ace up MEGA’s sleeves. It stores up to 100 versions of all files for an unlimited amount of time, which is a rare practice among cloud storage solutions. Comparatively, Dropbox keeps files for only 30 days on the Basic, Plus, and Family plans and 365 days for Advanced and Enterprise customers. Add that to the fact that MEGA offers end-to-end encryption, and you have a solid cloud storage service on your hands.
4. iDrive – Backup multiple devices through a single account
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Offsite backups | No unlimited backup |
| End-to-end encryption | |
| Database/server backups | |
| 10GB of free space |
If you’re looking for a cloud storage service with many backup features, iDrive is your best bet. With a single account, you can back up multiple PCs, Android devices, Macs, iPhones, and iPads. You can also back up your data offsite by putting it on a hard drive. If your system is compromised, iDrive will send you physical storage containing your data in less than a week.
Moreover, iDrive allows you to run sector-level and file-level backups. That way, you can restore your entire device in the event of a disaster. It is ideal for businesses that run databases and servers like MS SQL Server, SharePoint Server, Oracle Server, Microsoft 365, Linux Servers, and VMware. All these are features that Dropbox lacks.
5. pCloud – Lifetime access with a one-off payment
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lifetime plans | Extra charges for encryption |
| Built-in media player | |
| Accepts crypto payments | |
| Shared link branding |
There’s a lot to love about pCloud. It offers lifetime plans, meaning you can make a one-off payment and get access to the service forever. This is a good move if you’re convinced about pCloud’s services and want to save money. If you don’t want to spend money at all, pCloud offers 10GB of storage for free.
Furthermore, pCloud rivals Dropbox in terms of collaboration features. Both allow you to share links and invite users to shared folders. However, pCloud takes it a step further, providing detailed links for stats and allowing you to brand your shared links. pCloud is also a great choice if you’re interested in playing media since it has a built-in media and audio player.
6. Backblaze – User-friendly platform that offers unlimited storage
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 10 GB of storage for free | One computer per license |
| Streamlined user interface | No full disk image backup |
| Private encryption keys | No file syncing |
Backblaze is a no-frills cloud storage service that focuses on helping users back up their Mac or PC. Its easy-to-use interface makes it an ideal choice for individuals who want to back up a single computer. Regarding security, Backblaze doesn’t have end-to-end encryption, but it offers personal encryption keys to ward off unauthorized access.
For businesses, Backblaze offers several backup options, including server and workstation backups. Its integration with top software backup tools like MSP360 and Veeam makes it a handy backup choice. Its free version offers 10GB of storage space, which is useful for a start. You can upgrade to get unlimited storage.
7. Microsoft OneDrive – Excellent storage tool for Microsoft users
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Native integration with Microsoft apps | No unlimited storage option |
| 5GB of data storage for free | No end-to-end encryption |
| Secure Personal Vault |
If you’re using Microsoft products, chances are high that OneDrive will work better for you than Dropbox. Because OneDrive is a Microsoft product, it integrates seamlessly with Windows and Microsoft apps. For example, if you’re using Microsft Office 365, you can collaborate with other team members in real-time, and your changes will be automatically saved to OneDrive.
Microsoft OneDrive is also a great choice for storing sensitive files and documents, thanks to the Personal Vault. You can keep all kinds of files, including receipts, IDs, business cards, and notes, and not worry about them being lost or compromised. That’s because the Personal Vault has helpful security features, including virus and ransomware detection and identity verification. OneDrive is considered one of the best Dropbox alternatives.
8. Internxt – Cloud storage for your files and photos
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Limited collaboration features |
| End-to-end encryption | |
| 10 GB of free storage |
Internxt is a free Dropbox alternative for storing files and photos. It packs a suite of security and privacy features, including end-to-end encryption and zero-knowledge technology. Both ensure that no third parties can access your data. Internxt has three key services: Drive, Photos, and Send.
Internxt Drive enables you to back up, sync, and share your files securely. You can access store files from any device, as long as you have an internet connection. Photos allows you to create and sync your photo library. You can generate links for your photos and control how often users access or download them. Finally, Send enables all your files to be sent in secrecy.
You can read more about this cloud service in our Internxt review.
9. Box – Useful tool for team collaboration and workflow automation
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Integrates with many third-party apps | Expensive |
| Unlimited storage (free 14-day trial option) | No zero-knowledge encryption |
| AES-256 encryption | |
| Workflow automation |
Box is the standout choice for business collaboration. You can create, store, edit, review files and assign tasks using Box. It integrates with over 1,500 apps, which includes popular business tools like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack, Workspace by Facebook, and Salesforce. For those reasons, we recommend Box for businesses that work remotely.
In addition, Box is great for workflow automation. It has triggers and templates for many business processes, from onboarding employees and tracking work progress to reviewing and signing contracts. All these features considered, it’s no surprise that Box powers over 100,000 organizations and 67% of the Fortune 500 companies.
10. Icedrive – Cloud storage provider with Twofish encryption
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Modern and sleek interface | Lacks several collaboration features |
| Lifetime plans | |
| TwoFish encryption | |
| 10 GB of free storage |
Although Icedrive is relatively new to the cloud storage scene, it’s already making quite an impression. First of all, it’s the only cloud storage service that offers Twofish encryption, which rivals the more common AES encryption. It also offers zero-knowledge and client-side encryption, which ensure that neither Icedrive nor nosy characters have access to your data.
During our Icedrive review, we liked its modern, sleek, and intuitive apps. This makes it a good choice for people who are new to cloud services and may be overwhelmed by complicated interfaces. When you create an Icedrive account, the service gives you 10 GB of free storage. If you’re sure about Icedrive, you can purchase a lifetime plan and never have to pay again.
11. Apple iCloud – Great Mac and iPhone user storage tool
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Integrates seamlessly with the Apple ecosystem | iCloud Web doesn’t have a search function for photos |
| 5GB of free storage | Apple ID needed to view shared files |
| Automatic backups | No end-to-end encryption |
Apple usually designs apps for its ecosystem, and Apple iCloud is no different. If you own an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, Apple iCloud is your default storage. You’ll get 5GB of storage for free, but you can upgrade to iCloud+ and get up to 2TB of storage. You can share this storage space with your family.
iCloud is a good choice if you want to keep your photos and videos secure. It automatically backs up your iOS and iPadOS over Wi-Fi. That way, if you lose your phone, all you’ll have to do is to sign into your iCloud account, and you won’t miss a beat. The main challenge with iCloud is that you can’t view shared files without an Apple ID.
12. Nextcloud – Self-hosted collaboration platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| On-premise, self-hosted solution | 24/7 support is only available on paid plans |
| End-to-end and server-side encryption | |
| Backed by a $10,000 Security Bug Bounty Program | |
| Productivity apps |
In strict terms, Nextcloud is not an online cloud storage provider like Dropbox. Instead, it enables companies to host their own cloud on their premises. This removes the potential of online fraudsters and hackers compromising your data. It also gives users full control over their systems. That’s why we recommend Nextcloud for companies that want to ensure complete privacy and control of their data and systems.
Nextcloud has four key products: Files, Talk, Groupware and Office. Files enables you to create, share and collaborate on files, while Talk helps you chat, make calls, and have web meetings. Groupware is designed to manage your calendar, mail, and contacts to ensure productivity. There’s also Office, which supports all the major document, spreadsheet, and presentation file formats.
13. NordLocker – A cloud storage provider with user-friendly, secure features
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| End-to-end encryption | Clunky apps |
| Easy to use and install | Sync might be slow |
| 3GB free storage |
NordLocker was developed by Nord Security, the same company behind NordPass and NordVPN. NordVPN is one of the best VPN services, and it’s no surprise that NordLocker is also a secure Dropbox alternative. The service uses end-to-end encryption for all your files.
You can also sync your files across all devices, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Take note that it might be slow at times. The free plan gives only 3GB of storage space, just a little more than Dropbox offers. All-in-all, NordLocker is a decent Dropbox alternative if you need a cloud storage service with encryption.
14. Tresorit – One of the best storage solutions for businesses
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Limited integrations |
| Custom storage offer | Limited file size for storage |
| Linux application | |
| Advanced link-sharing controls |
Tresorit is another cloud storage service that’s a great choice for businesses. The business plans have up to 2TB of storage. If you need more, reach out to Tresorit for custom storage. Security-wise, Tresorit offers zero-knowledge encryption, which gives you control over your data. It also has advanced link-sharing controls, including branding links, setting passwords, expiry dates, and download limits.
Tresorit is also a good bet for Linux users. That’s because it’s one of the only few cloud storage services that offer a Linux application. Tresorit’s downside is that it doesn’t integrate with many apps as Dropbox, but it’s certainly a better choice when it comes to security and using Linux.
15. SpiderOak One – A backup solution that restores previous file versions
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Zero-knowledge encryption | No two-factor authentication |
| 21-day free trial | Expensive |
| Unlimited version retention | |
| Password-protected Share Rooms |
SpiderOak One is a secure alternative to Dropbox. It functions more as a backup solution, enabling you to store your files and documents with end-to-end encryption and zero-knowledge encryption. In addition, SpiderOak One allows you to restore past versions of all files at any time. Comparatively, Dropbox limits it to a maximum of 365 days.
Another feature worth mentioning is its Share Rooms. If you want to share a sensitive file, create a Share Room and share it with anyone. When you’re done, you can close the Share Room and revoke access. This is a better alternative to sharing files over email. It has a 21-day free trial if you want to test it yourself.
16. MediaFire – A service that offers one-time sharing links
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 10GB of free storage | No integrated media player |
| One-time sharing links | Lacks important security features |
| Easy to use | No end-to-end encryption |
| Upload directly from websites |
MediaFire is a handy alternative for storing photos and audio. Users get 10GB of free storage, and you can upgrade to get up to 1TB of storage space. MediaFire has one-time links, which ensures that only one computer downloads your files. This gives you control over your downloads and prevents others from sharing or accessing your files.
MediaFire is great if you need to organize files from websites. You can upload directly from a website into your MediaFire storage. You can also bulk download files in a ZIP file. However, MediaFire falls short in many respects. The free version is riddled with ads. It’s not transparent about its encryption and doesn’t have an integrated media player. Its customer support is also not responsive.
17. Cloudup – Great media-streaming tool
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 200GB of free storage | An invite-only service |
| No setup required | No end-to-end encryption |
| Password-protected one-click link |
Cloudup was set up to make sharing anything easier. Imagine you’re having a birthday party, and some of your family members are abroad. You can use Cloudup to stream the party and share it with as many family members as possible. With Cloudup, you’ll be able to share all kinds of files, videos, music, pictures, texts, and code.
You can stream using a password-protected one-click link and share your streams on social media like Facebook and Twitter. Cloudup is also a generous service, offering a mouth-watering 200GB of storage for free. The biggest challenge with Cloudup is that it doesn’t allow public signups. If you’re interested in the service, you’ll have to submit your email and wait for the company to contact you.
18. Jumpshare – Best storage provider for content creators
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Features for content creators | Lacks zero-knowledge encryption |
| Excellent file-sharing options | 2GB free storage |
| Easy-to-use PC and web apps | |
| Over 200 file formats |
Jumpshare is one of the best cloud storage providers for content creators. It has a video recording feature, which allows you to record any part of your screen as a video or GIF. You can record zoom meetings, tutorials, lectures, games, and live streams with this feature. Each recording is stored instantly in your Jumpshare cloud account, and you can share it using a link.
Jumpshare can save files in over 200 formats, so it’s great for creators who require specific formats. In addition, Jumpshare allows you to take screenshots and annotate them using its intuitive photo editor. Its file-sharing feature is instant and comes with several analytics that helps you keep track of how people are reacting to your files. All Jumpshare links work on all the major apps and services.
19. Redbooth – Project management made easy
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Project management features | Only 2 GB of free storage |
| Easy to use | No unlimited storage |
| Intuitive dashboard | No end-to-end encryption |
Although Dropbox excels at third-party integrations and collaboration, Redbooth is a much more effective alternative for managing projects. It’s designed to help teams collaborate and communicate on common tasks they are working on. It has Kanban boards that make assigning and tracking the progress of tasks a breeze. There’s also an intuitive dashboard that gives admins an overview of what’s going on with each project.
You can run HD video meetings right from Redbooth. You can also get detailed productivity reports on all tasks to help you know if the project is progressing well or if you need to make changes. Unfortunately, Redbooth’s free plan only offers 2 GB of storage, although you can upgrade to get 500 GB.
20. Amazon Photos Drive – Access stored photos from all your Amazon devices
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 5GB of free storage space | Amazon Prime subscription is required for unlimited photo storage |
| Secure file backups | No end-to-end encryption |
| Works with all Amazon devices |
Amazon Photos Drive is a storage service built by Amazon, the popular e-commerce company. This cloud storage is great for storing videos and photos in particular. It allows for secure and automated file backups and previews. You can also take advantage of Amazon’s on-demand photo-printing service known as Amazon Prints.
You can also create a virtual photo library and view it on Amazon devices like Fire TV, Echo Show, and Fire tablets. Amazon offers 5 GB of storage space for free. However, you can access unlimited storage if you sign up for an Amazon Prime subscription. You can always share photos and videos using links on popular social media apps like Facebook and Twitter.
Why You Should Explore Dropbox Alternatives
Dropbox is not the best choice for privacy-conscious users. For example, in 2016, the service suffered a data breach that exposed the login details of over 68 million users. Even though Dropbox does offer end-to-end encryption, the service provider retains the encryption key for your files. So, an employee at Dropbox can gain access to the information that is stored, or your data may be given to the government for surveillance purposes if required.
The cloud storage provider also had a very basic search function that was later improved. However, this enhanced version of the search function is only available for users that are paying for the service. Moreover, the collaboration tool called Dropbox Paper can also be challenging to navigate.
Therefore, since Dropbox may not be the ultimate cloud storage provider, it makes sense to look for services that offer a greater number of features and have solid privacy and security measures.
Final Thoughts: How to Choose the Best Dropbox Alternative
In this article, we have included many of the best Dropbox alternatives for different business needs and software requirements. Dropbox can be a great tool for file storage, but there are many other storage and backup providers in the market that can offer a wider range of services and products to suit your individual needs.
However, with so many choices out there, it can be challenging to pick the best cloud storage provider. So, how can you choose one of the best Dropbox alternatives?
The first thing to keep in mind is the privacy and security of the information you want to store. So ensure you choose a service provider that offers end-to-end encryption. Moreover, if you will require a lot of storage space, do a thorough check of the subscription packages of individual providers and see how much cloud storage they offer. Finally, if you are using the service for your company, it may be worth checking whether a service provider offers collaboration features that will suit your specific needs.
Regardless of the cloud storage service you choose, here are some useful guides to help you learn how to back up your devices:
- Step into the Time Machine and Back up Your Mac
- How to Back Up Your Android Data: A Detailed Guide
- How to Back Up iPhone: The Complete Guide
- The WhatsApp Backup Plan You Need to Keep Your Chat History Safe
- Protect Your Valuable iPad Data With a Backup Plan
If you still have some questions about the best Dropbox alternatives, you’ll find this FAQ section useful. Simply click on a question to reveal the answer.
The best Dropbox alternative depends on your needs. For instance, Sync has better security, Google Drive is a better fit for Google Workspace users, and iDrive works best for secure cloud backups. Read our 20 Best Dropbox Alternatives to learn about the best for different use cases.
The likes of Sync, Google Drive, iDrive, and MEGA are better than Dropbox in specific instances. Read our article on the 20 Best Dropbox Alternatives to find out more about which service provider offers the best features with your privacy and security as a priority.
Dropbox is one of the most popular cloud storage services, but it lacks vital security features. Other services like pCloud, Internxt, and Sync offer better all-around features and performance. Read our article on the top 5 cloud storage services to learn more.
