In this corner , weigh in at 50 million users , and five years ’ development under its whang , the filer from Manila - er , the forest that calculate all its tree , the synchronized , syncopated master of all it shares , Droooooopbox ! And , in this corner , the Mountain Viewmaster , the original 800 - pound gorilla , the only thing that frighten away Steve Ballmer while he sleeps , a goliath among search locomotive engine , Goooooooglllleee ! When these online storage slugger make out out fighting , will there be a knockout , or just a bloody lucifer ?
Dropboxmay have years onGoogle Drive , but it ’s a relatively modest business firm , even though it stack away massive amounts of data . Google is an old - timekeeper by World Wide Web standards , but fresh to the storage world , havinglaunched Google Driveafter most six years of its rumored near - full term arriver . Google has docs ; Dropbox has moxy . Which fits your needs just ?
permit ’s put the two in the ring and see how they contend , shall we ?
Google Drive’s preferences allows selective syncing, and control over how Google Docs items are copied and editable.
The weigh-in
Google Drive and Dropbox propose the same introductory features . Both services cater background synchronization of items in a single anointed folder across multiple electronic computer using swarm storage to both copy and provide WWW - accessible copies of files . Both want the installment of a screen background app to handle keeping files up to date among computers .
Google plump for Mac OS X 10.6 ( Snow Leopard ) and 10.7 ( Lion ) ; Dropbox goes all the elbow room back to 10.4 ( Tiger ) through 10.7 . Google also offer support for Windows XP , Vista , and 7 , but , strangely , no Linux support yet . Dropbox handles the same Windows versions plus Windows 2003 , and two popular tone of Linux ( Ubuntu and Fedora Core ) .
Google include 5 GB of storage in free accounts , and outmuscles Dropbox there , which offer just 2 GB for users who do n’t pay . However , Dropbox has a dandy countermove : user who take advantage of its new image upload featureget 500 MB addedfor the first photos upload , up to 3 GB extra ( a total of 5 GB ) . Dropbox also adds 500 MB of computer memory foreach referred userwho star sign up devoid or give servicing . Combined photo and referral storage for free account maxes out at 18 GB ( initial 2 GB plus 16 GB added ) .
Google Drive’s preferences allows selective syncing, and control over how Google Docs items are copied and editable.
If you need more storage , both services permit you pay for it without require you to the mat . Google chargesfrom $ 2.49 for 25 GB of storage up to $ 799.99 per month for 16 TB of storage . ( Gmail warehousing also increases from 10 GB to 25 gilbert . ) Dropbox ’s pay up tier for individuals are 50 GB for $ 9.99 per calendar month or $ 99 per class and 100 GB for $ 19.99 per month or $ 199 per year . pay up report can add up to 32 GB through referrals . Business Robert William Service , call Dropbox for Teams , include 1 TB of storage and is $ 795 per class for five users ; extra user are $ 125 per class and add 200 GB per storage each .
Round 1: Desktop sync
Google Drive ’s taste allows selective syncing , and ascertain over how Google Docs items are copied and editable . The most important part of these store scheme is how well the background applications get you totally draw a blank about synchronism . You should n’t have to manage background sync , and both Google and Dropbox achieve this finish .
Both services set up a brochure name after the armed service which is a duplicate of your storage on their fundamental swarm - base system , and which you could also view via their Web apps ( see Round 2 : WWW Access ) . On every computer with which you have registered the same account , all files constantly update to the previous available variant in the same leaflet hierarchy . Both Google and Dropbox get you selectively sync on each estimator , too , choosing specific files to keep up to date .
Dropbox bid a contextual menu for selecting actions in the Finder for files and folders . All actions take a user to the Web site , however , to dribble out the task .
Dropbox offers a contextual menu for selecting actions in the Finder for files and folders. All actions take a user to the Web site, however, to carry out the task.
In examination , Google and Dropbox seem to care sync equally well . Both show the condition of copying to let you know both on a data file and pamphlet story ( via tiny symbols attached to icon ) and through a organisation menu taproom item whether copying is under way . Google ’s only amusing tic is that it expend its own horsey icons for native Google Docs formatting , such as .gdoc for a word - processing Indian file and .gsheet for spreadsheet . ( Those file may only be redact in the WWW app ; they can be viewed but not delete offline in the Chrome web web browser . )
Dropbox offers contextual menu documentation that seems better than it is . Control - click any file or leaflet in the Dropbox folder , and ( except in special Photos and Public folders ) three items appear : Browse on Dropbox Website , Get Link , and Share This Folder ( for folders ) or View Previous Versions ( for file cabinet ) . However , all of those links only take you to the right point on Dropbox ’s site , rather than carrying out an action on the background . Google avoids that by omitting a contextual menu altogether .
If you have the need to synchronize exceedingly large file , Google caps files to 1 Gbit , while Dropbox lets you fill your folder completely with a individual file up to your maximum store size .
The Dropbox Web app offers fluid access to the synced copies of items in the Dropbox folder.
After the bell : Evenly equate , neither Robert William Service even work up much of a sweat at core competencies .
Round 2: Web access
The Dropbox Web app pop the question fluid access to the sync copies of items in the Dropbox folder . Google should come out swinging in this daily round , because Google Drive is an organic evolution of its Google Docs entanglement apps , which set the standard for Web - establish fundamental interaction . And , in fact , once Google Drive is available for your Google account and you enable it , the Docs tab disappears and is supersede with Drive . The overture remains generally the same , with a file listing in the centre , folders at left , and options in the upper right wing .
you’re able to preview several types of file in Google Drive ’s vane app , include images , PDF files , Microsoft Office formats , spare textual matter , and HTML , and delete any Google Docs files . Dropbox does n’t preview or allow editing any file type . ( you’re able to preview in public shared file , but not yet lodge you ’re browse in your own account ; see Round 3 : Sharing . )
Google Drive has a full - have set of controls in the World Wide Web app , which is no surprise founder its organic evolution from and consolidation with Google Docs .
Google Drive has a full-featured set of controls in the Web app, which is no surprise given its evolution from and integration with Google Docs.
Both firms put the app in entanglement app , though , by letting you embroil and dismiss files mighty into the file list in a internet browser . Google ask either a Java minimal brain dysfunction - on or the Chrome web internet browser to summate files , but adding files in this manner did n’t work during my examination . Dropbox also supposedly allows dredge folders , but all the folders I tried mother error . you’re able to also drag and dangle filing cabinet and brochure in the file cabinet list to reorganize them . That ’s a lot of footwork without any action .
Because both religious service need account for collaborative sharing ( in which files and folders can be edit out , and are sync or else of downloaded ) , the Web survey is utilitarian for colleague who do n’t want to download and instal desktop sync to have memory access to take file .
After the doorbell : hitter start out out the stave inviolable , but were staggering by the end . Chugging body of water before Round 3 .
The sharing options for Google Drive offers quite a bit of granularity, including what permissions each users have, and whether a file is private, obscured-but-public (not searchable from Google’s index), or fully public (added to Google’s index).
Round 3: Sharing
The communion options for Google Drive extend quite a bit of granularity , include what permissions each users have , and whether a file is individual , veil - but - public ( not searchable from Google ’s index ) , or fully public ( added to Google ’s index ) .
No mortal is an island , and most of us belike demand to exchange files with others in a group or as a one - prison term forward . Instead of using electronic mail and outback file servers , sync providers can let you share in camera or publicly . Both of our pugilist have a variety of divvy up methods , include a late revamp from Dropbox .
Right - flick a file in Google Drive or click the free fall - down menu next to a leaflet to let on the part option . Google has three options for sharing : public ( and thus searchable ) , link only ( must have a link to access ) , and secret . For each variety of sharing , and for item-by-item user in a private item , an point or folder can be set to allow view only , input only , or redaction .
Dropbox has a stripped-down approach to collaborative sharing, with every shared participant having full read, write, add, and delete privileges.
Dropbox separates out private and public sharing . Indian file and folders may be select to share . fall into place a link image to the right of any file or leaflet , and Dropbox make a public link that can be used by any recipient or discovered that includes a persuasion - only preview for many document and spiritualist type . Click the share-out icon at the top of the filing cabinet survey to walk through an helper to pick a leaflet ( not undivided data file ) to share . Only Dropbox accountholders can get at shared folders , and the contents of folders are always modifiable by all invitees .
Dropbox has a strip - down approach to collaborative sharing , with every shared player having full read , write , add , and delete privileges .
But , hold back , Google has landed slug on Dropbox in the reposition rete . That ’s get ta hurt . Google opt toexclude the sizing of apportion files foldersfrom your total memory board quota . Dropbox , in contrast , adds the full size of all folders apportion to the rest of your storage . It ’s strange , because those files are only put in once , as Dropbox uses de - gemination on its servers , keep a single master key copy ( plus backups ) even for files that occur a million time in substance abuser folders and across non - shared accounts .
In Dropbox, select a file in the Finder, choose Dropbox -> View Previous Versions from the contextual menu, and a list of revisions is available from which to pick a version to restore in the Web app.
After the bell shape : Google landed body bobble in this circle , and Dropbox is astonishing , but still on its feet .
Round 4: Old versions and deleted files
In Dropbox , take a file in the Finder , choose Dropbox - > View Previous Versions from the contextual menu , and a inclination of revisions is available from which to pick a reading to restore in the Web app .
Another vantage of save to a folder that sync all change back to a cardinal warehouse is that such a service can keep every update as a separately retrievable adaptation . Such “ translation control ” or “ variant trailing ” can be useful when you require to scroll back through time and recuperate lost changes or even a confused file .
Right - pawl on a data file ( not a brochure ) in Dropbox , and choose Previous Versions . A leaning of versions in reverse chronological order , with the name of the person who blue-pencil a file ( utile for shared files ) as well as the ID of the computer on which that revision was made . you could click a Preview ikon ( magnifying glass ) to download an early version , or click the radio receiver button and then the Restore button to have the item in all sync folders supersede by the select version .
Google Drive only provides version history for Google Docs files, and only within the Web app.
Google Drive only provides translation chronicle for Google Docs files , and only within the World Wide Web app .
Dropbox start doing a little close work here , chopping aside at Google ’s defense , in that Google Drive stores revisions , but has two separate way to access them found on file type , and does n’t let a round-eyed restore . ascendency - flick a file and select Manage Revisions for a file that ’s not using Google Docs . A show shows revisions , but you have to click an earlier edition to download it : you ca n’t automatically replace the version in your sync booklet with a previous rewrite . For a Google Docs data file , click the file , and then from the computer menu , opt See Reversion History , which allows you to liken visually unlike revisions in the written document window .
Google stores 30 days of interpretation and up to 100 rescript per file cabinet , counting storage against your quota , while Dropbox keep unlimited revisions for up to 30 days and does n’t calculate their size . ( Revisions are only the incremental departure between two files , and may be tiny for text files and other written document . ) Dropbox also offers Pack Rat , which stack away unlimited translation perpetually , but only for compensate individual ( $ 40 per year superfluous ) and business accounts ( always on and included ) .
The iOS Dropbox app allows previewing a folder full of pictures, as well as uploading photos and video stored on the device.
Oh , and Dropbox snuck in under Google ’s sentry go , and got in two uppercuts over cancel files . First blow is that Google use a Trash leaflet to get by blue-pencil file , and counts them against your storage quota . And another to the Kuki : when the trash is emptied in Google Drive , the file is gone for safe . Dropbox does n’t count erase files , and you may restore any deleted file from the old 30 day with a free account . Pack Rat for yield accounts allows lasting retention of deleted files . ( Deleting single file forever requires a visit to the Web app , clicking to show delete files , and then pick out those you need to be sick . )
After the bell : Dropbox came back in slugging , and get by to stagger Google , which is looking like the competitiveness is nearly gone before the terminal turn .
Round 5: Mobile apps
The iOS Dropbox app allows preview a folder full of pictures , as well as uploading photo and video stored on the equipment .
Ringside learned person were look a K.O. by the final round , but Google make do to refresh itself between round — the ship’s company has a young iOS version of Google Drive alongside its exist Android one . Dropbox has long offered an Io app , and has Android and BlackBerry versions as well . Both apps can consider formats native on the iOS , like Word and PDF , and send file to other apps to catch or blue-pencil .
But Dropbox land blows against Google Drive , with its phylogenesis of the app from a hard - to - use web web browser of file to one that admit the showing of photo gallery , a unproblematic tap to store locally , a individual sieve Open In alternative , and straightforward uploading method for photos and video from an iPhone . Google allows view and modifying preferences for existing users of shared folders , but Dropbox extend a single tap way to create a public link for sharing .
Google Drive for iOS allows previewing documents and changing settings for existing users of shared folders, but lacks upload features, and requires extra screen views and taps to open in another app or store a local copy.
After the bell : Judges present the round to Dropbox on points . Google economic crisis in its corner saying , “ I could have been a container . ”
The decision
Google Drive for iOS allows preview text file and changing configurations for survive substance abuser of divided up folder , but lacks upload features , and requires extra screen views and taps to afford in another app or store a local copy .
Google Drive has only two advantages over Dropbox : a greater variety of sharing choice , and on-line editing of its own papers type and previews of many others . But for core syncing and version command features , Dropbox comes out on top as the current all - round champion .
[ Glenn Fleishman never live on the waterfront , but pursue the sweet science of writing as a senior contributor to Macworld , an editor in chief and software engineer forTidBits , and one of the writer of the Economist’sBabbageblog . ]
