I’ve been using Google Drive for storing my files ever since, but I have many clients who started out using Dropbox.
Today I want to compare some of the features and functions of Google Drive and Dropbox so you can have an easier time deciding which you might prefer to use for storing your files.
But before we dive into that, I wanted to share with you why you should NOT use an external hard drive or your desktop to store your files:
- No backup if your hard drive crashes
- Difficult to share large files which can’t be sent as an email attachment
- Can’t access your files from other devices
- Hard to collaborate, comment & edit when working with other people on the same document
- Difficult to find files if they have been stored on multiple devices
STORAGE
The free account of Dropbox gives you 2 GB of storage space. Google Drive gives you 15 GB, but it is shared with Gmail and Google Calendar. However, 15 GB is still a lot of space, even when shared. On average, this is enough space to save over 200,000 files.
PRICE
Both file storing platforms offer a free account but once you hit the storage limit you will have to pay. If you exceed the free storage limit of 2GB with Dropbox, you’re forced to go straight to 1TB whereas Google also has other plans, including mid-level ones with storage space between the 15 GB and 2TB marks.
SYNCING
Dropbox syncs changes made to files faster than Google Drive. While Dropbox uses a unique block-syncing method, Google odownloads and re-uploads the file and its changes causing a longer delay when using multiple devices.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Both Google Drive and Dropbox are more than just a cloud-based storage platform. Here are some of our favorite features:
Google Drive:
- Access to the word processor Google Docs
- Built-in spell & grammar checker
- Task bar with pinned shortcuts for any of these commonly used text formatting functions
- Access to Sheets, Slides, Forms, and Drawings
- Syncs with other Google Products like Gmail, YouTube & Maps
- Tag others by email address so they’ll receive notifications of comments and tasks aimed at them
- Search for third-party apps directly through Google Drive and integrate them with a couple of mouse clicks
Dropbox:
- Dropbox’s basic document creation tool, called Paper lets you create word documents with embedded images, calendars, media files, merge other Dropbox files or create a table
- Templates which help walk you through the steps of creating a document
- With a Dropbox Professional subscription, you can add link passwords, expiry dates and download limits to ensure secure file sharing
- See what files you’ve shared with others & delete links no longer needed by clicking on the “sharing” tab in the web GUI
CONCLUSION
Which works best for you will depend on your precise needs, as both Dropbox and Google Drive do different things very well. However, Google Drive is still a clear winner to me because of it’s 15GB free plan as well as the integration of other Google apps.
