Are you having a hard time deciding which cloud storage solution to use, specifically between Dropbox Vs Onedrive? The emergence of cloud storage solutions has revolutionized the way we work, reducing our dependence on in-house servers as we move towards an online future.
Several companies are competing to create the best cloud drive, with each offering a distinctive setup regarding encryption, business features, and storage capacity. Dropbox Vs Onedrive is two significant players in this field, but deciding which one to use is not straightforward. While our Dropbox Vs Onedrive reviews can provide assistance, making comparisons can be challenging. Both platforms offer a diverse range of features, are regularly updated, and are supported by technology powerhouses. That is why we have created a customized comparison between Dropbox and Microsoft OneDrive.
A Brief Overview Of Both Cloud Storage:
There are various aspects to ponder upon while determining the most appropriate cloud storage solution that aligns with your requirements. Firstly, it’s crucial to identify your specific cloud requirements. Are you primarily concerned about budgeting? In such a scenario, you might want to investigate whether either platform provides the finest free cloud storage facility. Alternatively, if you’re looking for the best cloud backup or cloud document storage, you may want to evaluate each platform’s strengths in these areas.
In this comparison, we pit OneDrive, a widely used cloud storage solution, against Dropbox, one of the original offerings in this field. Our aim is to help you make an informed decision about which platform is better suited to your cloud storage needs.
Dropbox Vs Onedrive: In terms Of Features
The primary difference between these two cloud storage solutions is the company that owns them. OneDrive is owned by Microsoft, the creator of the Windows operating system, making it the default choice for many individuals and businesses. This has put pressure on Dropbox, which has responded by enhancing its existing features and introducing new ones.
OneDrive and Dropbox both have the capability to accommodate an extensive variety of file formats, such as documents, pictures, videos, PDFs, and other infrequent types. However, to open certain files such as Photoshop documents, separate apps need to be installed for both platforms. Microsoft has an advantage in this area as its Office suite is included in many of its subscriptions, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. However, if you wish to access a Word document in Dropbox, you’ll need to procure Microsoft Office or subscribe to Office 365.
Installing the desktop clients for both OneDrive and Dropbox achieves the optimal user experience. These clients conveniently integrate with the computer’s file management system, such as File Explorer for Windows or Finder for macOS. OneDrive exhibits a more consolidated presence on Windows computers, with several tabs dedicated to functionalities such as Desktop-saved files and Photos, akin to how iCloud Drive operates for macOS users. However, the core functionalities of both platforms are nearly identical.
Some Additional Features:
OneDrive and Dropbox provide exceptional mobile applications for cloud storage, comprising features like automatic photo and video backup, as well as offline file access. Additionally, Dropbox provides a separate app for its password manager, Dropbox Passwords, which enables users to easily transfer saved passwords from their computer to their smartphone or tablet.
Dropbox has expanded its offerings to include e-signatures through its HelloSign feature. You can use it within any Word or PDF document. It is worth mentioning that despite the feature being accessible on all plans. There exists a maximum constraint of three signatures per month. For business users, this may not be sufficient to replace other e-signature tools or traditional handwritten signatures.
Dropbox Vs Onedrive: In Terms Of Performance
In contrast to the Box desktop client, OneDrive’s computer software offers users control over network usage. End-users have the option to pick from limitless usage, an automated threshold, or a personalized limit. Where they can specify the highest bandwidth allowance in KB/s. The most Box offers in this regard is an alert on its mobile applications. Notifying users when they are uploading or downloading files over 20MB through mobile data. When conducting comparisons of bandwidth throttling among cloud drives, we utilized a 1GB test file across several services, including Dropbox and Onedrive.
Both platforms achieved average scores with a five-minute upload time, with Dropbox being slightly quicker. OneDrive’s download speed was slower than Dropbox’s lightning-fast sub-one-minute time, though not unbearably so. It’s worth noting that these speeds are only indicative, and different broadband connections may yield different results for users.
Dropbox Vs OneDrive: In terms Of Customer Support:
If you encounter any issues with OneDrive, particularly related to navigation and settings. Then there are numerous self-help articles available to assist you. However, if you require more personalized support, such as speaking to a customer service representative, email and phone support are also available. Nevertheless, we found it difficult to locate these options, as they were buried within several menus.
The self-help article library is also available on Dropbox, similar to OneDrive. However, accessing real-time support is more convenient here. For support, it’s best to be logged in to your account like most services. The company also offers an automated chat service called ‘dropbot,’ but it may not be as helpful as some of the self-help articles.
Dropbox Vs Onedrive: In Terms Of Pricing
The free plan from Microsoft provides users with an industry-standard storage space of 5GB, which is a decent amount. On the other hand, some may consider Dropbox’s free plan with only 2GB of storage space to be insufficient.
To start with personal plans, OneDrive offers 100GB for $1.99 (£1.99) per month. Most users, however, will likely upgrade to the 1TB plan for $6.99 (£5.99) per month. Which includes Office 365, featuring Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. At a cost of $9.99 (£7.99) per month, the Family plan encompasses the identical 1TB and Office 365 scheme. Catering to six users simultaneously.
Dropbox’s personal plans include a 2TB storage option for $11.99 (£9.99) per month, or 3TB for $19.99 (£19.99) per month. The family plan offers a shared 2TB storage for up to six users, along with three e-signatures per month. The company offers a 3TB solo plan with unlimited e-signatures priced at $31.99 (£30.99) per month.
In terms of business plans, OneDrive offers cloud storage access for $5 (£3.80) to $10 (£7.50) per month. While access to Office 365 apps costs between $6 (£4.50) and $12.50 (£9.40) per month. On the other hand, Dropbox business plans range from $15 (£12) to $50 (£40) per user per month. With the additional taxes applicable. Both services offer unlimited storage at an additional cost, but OneDrive appears to be the more affordable option for equivalent features.
Final Verdict On Both Cloud Storage Services:
The integration of OneDrive with the Windows system and commonly used apps such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. These have a notable advantage for Windows users. Nonetheless, Dropbox also holds a similar stance in the File Explorer window, providing an analogous experience for users operating on macOS. Nevertheless, some OneDrive plans include access to the Office 365 suite of apps, providing a more comprehensive package that Dropbox does not offer. Due to these additional features and generally lower pricing, we believe OneDrive to be the preferred option.