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Google Drive vs Dropbox

Google Drive gives 15 GB free against Dropbox's 2 GB, while Dropbox has a Linux desktop app.

Pick Google Drive if…

You use Gmail and Google Docs and want the most free space; the free 15 GB is shared with Gmail and Google Photos.

Pick Dropbox if…

You want Dropbox's desktop apps for Windows, Mac and Linux, or longer deleted-file restore on higher plans (30 days, 180 days or 1 year).

Price

  • Freemium
  • Freemium

Starting price

—
$9.99/month (Plus, 1 person, 2 TB)

Free plan

Yes
Yes

Open source

No
No

Works on

Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Try Google Drive (opens the Google Drive website in a new tab)Try Dropbox (opens the Dropbox website in a new tab)

Free space is the clearest difference. Every Google account gets up to 15 GB at no charge, shared across Drive, Gmail and Google Photos. Dropbox Basic is free with 2 GB for one user.

Dropbox lists plans from Plus at $9.99 per month for one person with 2 TB, to Standard at $15 per user per month (team storage starts at 3 TB) and Advanced at $24 per user per month for 3 or more people. Google sells extra storage through Google One (Basic 100 GB, Google AI Plus 2 TB, Google AI Pro 5 TB) and Google Workspace; we could not confirm US dollar prices for Google.

On devices, Dropbox has desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux and mobile apps for iOS and Android. Google's Drive page names Drive for desktop for Windows and macOS, plus iOS and Android apps. Neither is open source.

Google Drive lets several people edit Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Office files in real time, and its shared drives need a paid Workspace plan. Dropbox adds team folders, admin controls and, on Advanced, end-to-end encryption and single sign-on.

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Last updated 16 October 2026. How we make money