Dropbox is a file hosting service provided by the American company Dropbox Incorporation. It offers cloud storage, file synchronization, personal cloud and client software. It was founded in 2007. Dropbox was developed by two MIT students Drew Houston and Arash Ferdowsi. It offers only 2 GB free storage space. It is one of the earliest cloud storage services.
Advantages of Dropbox:
- Cross-platform availability: Dropbox is available on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, making it easy to access your files from anywhere.
- Automatic syncing: Dropbox automatically syncs your files across all of your devices, ensuring that you always have the latest version of your files.
- Easy collaboration: Dropbox allows you to share files with others, making it easy to collaborate on projects with colleagues, friends, or family.
- File versioning: Dropbox keeps track of multiple versions of your files, so you can easily revert to a previous version if necessary.
Disadvantages of Dropbox:
- Limited free storage: Dropbox only offers 2GB of free storage, which may not be enough for some users.
- Security concerns: Dropbox has experienced some security breaches in the past, which has raised concerns about the safety of user data.
- Cost: While Dropbox offers a range of pricing plans, the cost can add up if you need a lot of storage.
iCloud is a cloud storage and cloud computing service provided by Apple Incorporation. It allows users to store data such as documents, photos and music on remote servers for download to iOS, macOS, or Windows devices. It also enables to share and send data to other users. It is also helpful to manage Apple devices if it is lost or stolen. It was launched in 2011.
Advantages of iCloud:
- Seamless integration with Apple devices: iCloud is seamlessly integrated into Apple’s ecosystem, making it easy to access your files on all of your Apple devices.
- Automatic backups: iCloud automatically backs up your device data, including photos, contacts, and messages, which can be helpful if you lose your device.
- Easy sharing: iCloud allows you to share files with others, just like Dropbox.
- Cost-effective: iCloud offers more free storage than Dropbox (5GB) and offers paid plans at a lower cost.
Disadvantages of iCloud:
- Limited cross-platform availability: iCloud is only available on Apple devices, so if you have a Windows or Android device, you won’t be able to access your files.
- Limited file versioning: iCloud only keeps the most recent version of your files, so if you need to revert to an older version, you may be out of luck.
- Limited collaboration: While iCloud allows you to share files with others, its collaboration tools are not as robust as Dropbox’s.
Similarities:
- Cloud storage: Both Dropbox and iCloud offer cloud storage services, allowing you to store your files online and access them from anywhere.
- File sharing: Both services allow you to share files with others, making it easy to collaborate on projects or share files with friends and family.
- Automatic syncing: Both services automatically sync your files across all of your devices, so you always have access to the latest version of your files.
- Mobile app support: Both services offer mobile apps for iOS and Android devices, making it easy to access your files on the go.
- Security measures: Both services implement security measures to protect your data, such as encryption and two-factor authentication.
Features:
You don’t buy cloud storage just for storage. After all, it’s important that the storage plan you subscribe to has the features you need, whether it’s for work or play. That’s why we’re taking a look at the features both iCloud and Dropbox offer to users, other than syncing and sharing, which we’ll cover in its own section later in this comparison.
Difference between Dropbox and iCloud are as follows:
| DROPBOX | iCLOUD |
|---|---|
| It is owned by Dropbox Incorporation. | It is owned by Apple Incorporation. |
| It was launched in 2007. | It was launched in 2011. |
| It was developed by Drew Houston and Arash Ferdowsi. | It was developed by Apple. |
| It offers 2 GB free storage space. | It offers 5 GB free storage space. |
| It charges comparatively more for additional storage that means it is more costly. | It charges less for additional storage that means it is less costly. |
| The number of users using Dropbox is less. | The number of users using iCloud is more. |
| It shares files through web applications. | While it shares files through links. |
| Maximum file size can be 10 GB. | While here maximum file size can be only 50 GB. |
| It limits 20 GB per day free and 200 GB per day paid. | While her is traffic or band-width limit of 200, 400 or 600 per month. |
| It uses block-syncing to update changes quickly. | While it does not use block-syncing. |
| It has the referral program for gaining additional storage. | While it does not have any referral program. |
Conclusion: Both Dropbox and iCloud offer cloud storage services with their own strengths and weaknesses. If you need cross-platform availability and robust collaboration tools, Dropbox may be the better choice. If you primarily use Apple devices and need automatic backups, iCloud may be a better fit. Ultimately, it’s important to assess your needs and choose the service that works best for you.