DropboxvsiCloud
Score Comparison
Signals Comparison
Dropbox
- Dropbox free plan is only 2GB(7/10)
- Why is Dropbox so expensive? Plus is $11.99/month unless you prepay a year(7/10)
- Dropbox team plans went back up to $15 and $24 per user in January 2026(6/10)
- Shared folders count against your Dropbox storage(7/10)
iCloud
- Only 5GB free storage is inadequate(8/10)
- Large price jump between storage tiers(6/10)
Dropbox
- Dropbox Basic limited to 3 devices(6/10)
- Dropbox moved to ~/Library/CloudStorage on Mac (File Provider)(7/10)
iCloud
- iCloud is sync, not backup - deleting locally deletes everywhere(9/10)
- No selective file deletion - must delete all or buy more storage(7/10)
Dropbox
- Dropbox cancellation and refund problems(8/10)
- Dropbox customer support is hard to reach(8/10)
iCloud
- Poor customer support for data recovery(8/10)
Dropbox
- Dropbox stuck on syncing or indexing(7/10)
- Dropbox using high CPU and RAM with many files(6/10)
iCloud
No signals
Dropbox
- Dropbox creates conflicted copies and duplicate folders(6/10)
- Dropbox lost my files - reports of missing or corrupted files(9/10)
iCloud
- Sync failures and inconsistent syncing across devices(9/10)
- Photos and data disappear without warning(10/10)
- Service outages affect photos, mail, and web apps(7/10)
- Backup restoration brings back deleted content(6/10)
- Limited offline access to files(6/10)
Dropbox
- Dropbox shut down Dropbox Passwords and the Paper mobile apps(6/10)
- Problems with Dropbox for Business: admins can't see device sync status(6/10)
iCloud
- Poor cross-platform compatibility with Windows and Android(8/10)
Dropbox
- No zero-knowledge encryption on personal plans(6/10)
iCloud
No signals
Pricing Comparison
Dropbox
Users: 1 user
Storage: 2GB
Limits: Max 3 linked devices; no live chat support; tiny storage compared with Google Drive (15GB) or OneDrive (5GB)
Users: 1 user
Storage: 2TB
Limits: Single user; only 30 days of version history; no live chat
Users: 1 user
Storage: 2TB
Limits: Single user
Users: 1+ users (per user)
Storage: Starts at 3TB for the team
Limits: No SSO, no tiered admin roles, no phone support
Users: 3+ users (per user)
Storage: Starts at 15TB for the team
Limits: 3-user minimum
Users: Custom
Storage: Custom
Limits: Sales process required
iCloud
Users: 1 user
Storage: 5GB
Limits: No Private Relay, No Hide My Email, No custom email domain, No HomeKit Secure Video
Users: Up to 6 family members
Storage: 50GB
Limits: Only 1 HomeKit Secure Video camera supported
Users: Up to 6 family members
Storage: 200GB
Limits: Limited to 5 HomeKit Secure Video cameras
Users: Up to 6 family members
Storage: 2TB
Limits: None significant at this tier
Users: Up to 6 family members
Storage: 6TB
Limits: None
Users: Up to 6 family members
Storage: 12TB
Limits: None
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Dropbox | iCloud |
|---|---|---|
| Sync | ||
| Cross-platform sync Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android | ||
| Storage | ||
| Photo sync Syncs, not backs up - deletes propagate everywhere | ||
| File storage (iCloud Drive) Good iOS/Mac integration, poor Windows | ||
| Smart Sync Online-only files to save local space | ||
| Performance | ||
| Block-level sync Faster uploads for changed files | ||
| Sharing | ||
| File sharing links Password protection, expiration dates | ||
| Family sharing Up to 6 members, shared storage pool | ||
| Backup | ||
| Device backup Automatic iPhone/iPad backup, not comprehensive | ||
| Version history 30 days (Plus), 180 days (Standard), 1 year (Advanced) | ||
| File recovery Restore deleted files | ||
| Security | ||
| End-to-end encryption Requires enabling Advanced Data Protection | ||
| Zero-knowledge encryption Not on personal plans; end-to-end encryption listed only on Advanced | ||
| Password manager (Keychain) Good iOS/Mac, limited cross-platform | ||
| Password manager Dropbox Passwords discontinued October 28, 2025 | ||
| Productivity | ||
| Paper (notes/docs) Paper mobile apps lost support in October 2025 | ||
| Built-in office suite Relies on integrations | ||
| Collaboration tools Basic, not comparable to Google Workspace | ||
| Privacy | ||
| Private Relay (VPN-like) iCloud+ only, not available in all regions | ||
| Hide My Email iCloud+ only, generate random email aliases | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Third-party integrations Slack, Zoom, Adobe, etc. | ||
| Platform | ||
| Mobile apps iOS and Android | ||
| Linux desktop app Available for Linux | ||
| Unlimited devices Paid plans only; Basic is limited to 3 devices | ||
| Custom email domain iCloud+ only | ||
| Usability | ||
| Offline access Mark files for offline use | ||
| Smart Home | ||
| HomeKit Secure Video iCloud+ only, camera limits on lower tiers | ||
| Collaboration | ||
| Real-time collaboration Via Microsoft 365/Google co-editing integrations; otherwise conflicted copies | ||
| Admin | ||
| Admin console (Business) Business plans only | ||