iCloud vs. Dropbox – Cloud Storage Showdown

Cloud storage is a safe way to save your projects. Two of the most popular options are iCloud and Dropbox. Both platforms have robust features, but which one is better?

This article will compare iCloud and Dropbox.

iCloud and Dropbox: In-Depth Breakdown

The only way to tell whether Dropbox or iCloud is better is to analyze all aspects of the platforms, including productivity tools, interface, and pricing.

Productivity Tools

iCloud is designed for business and personal use, allowing you to store photos, documents, and other files on your Apple device. It has many appealing tools, including iWork apps.

This suite provides instant access to various productivity tools. They allow you to save your files on iCloud, and you can access them on the iCloud web page.

The most impressive feature of this suite is that it facilitates presentation, spreadsheet, and text-based projects. It combines the functionality of many programs, so there’s no need to purchase additional apps. Besides iWork, you can integrate with other convenient tools, like iA Writer and GoodReader.

While iCloud dramatically enhances your workplace performance, Dropbox offers better productivity capabilities. The platform focuses on team and business collaboration, enabling you to complete projects and assign tasks without a hitch.

Dropbox stands out from the competition due to its incorporated Microsoft Office 365 package. As a result, you can store a wide range of files, from spreadsheets to presentations. You might even be able to share Microsoft Access databases with this platform and allow other users to edit them. Plus, the app lets you edit your Office documents online in Office 365.

Another great thing about Dropbox is password sharing. Before sending a link to a Word Doc, PDF, or other files, you can protect the link with a password. This way, only the recipient can access it, which drastically improves security.

Family Sharing and Versioning

If you’re looking for easy-to-use family storage, you can’t go wrong with iCloud. Members can access numerous Apple services, including Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple Fitness+, and Apple Arcade. You can also share Apple Books, App Store purchases, or your family photo albums. This makes it perfect for basic use.

Advanced users might be better off with Dropbox. It works incredibly well for file sharing, whether you and your team members need to access a Doc or PDF file.

On top of that, the platform is one of the best versioning solutions. This feature is essentially your file history. When you amend a file, it marks the newer instance and updates the records. It also allows you to return to an older copy if you make an accidental change.

Dropbox versioning minimizes the risk of ransomware, which can wreak havoc on your system. Additionally, it serves as a reset button that enables you to reverse any changes and restore older versions. You can’t use unlimited backups, but it’s still a great perk.

Lastly, Dropbox is famous for its file web preview. This feature allows you to comment on certain sections of your previewed file. It’s perfect for fast collaborations on projects that don’t require you to open large documents entirely.

Performance

You shouldn’t have issues uploading and synchronizing files on both Dropbox and iCloud. They let you upload your files using your smartphone, web browser, or computer. You can upload up to 50GB on iCloud, regardless of the platform. The limit is the same if you use Dropbox on a browser, but it jumps to 2TB if you complete the process with the mobile or desktop app.

iCloud is a well-configured service for Apple devices. It can be seamlessly incorporated into iPads, iPhones, or Macs to organize files.

For example, you can easily set up folder structures on your Finder and back it up to your iCloud account. Alternatively, you can sync images from the camera roll with any device.

The built-in integration means you’ll need to perform minimal setup. If you own an Apple gadget, you already have your iCloud account. The software necessary for storing files is also there. The more devices you connect to the storage, the more you’ll gain.

The only disadvantage is that it doesn’t work well with non-related devices, like Windows PCs. It’s often clunky on these computers and comes with a bland interface.

This brings us to the most significant benefit of Dropbox performance – smooth integration with any device. The platform works incredibly well with Windows and Mac computers. It also works nicely with Windows File Explorer and Finer.

Furthermore, the app operates with few bugs on most tablets and phones.

While you can use Dropbox on any gadget, setting it up on iOS devices can be time-consuming. There’s no native integration with these products, so you’ll need to sign up and install the program.

Support

If you struggle to use iCloud, you can always turn to Apple’s reliable support. Even if you’re running a free plan, you should be able to contact a technician quickly. The wait time is around one to two minutes.

By contrast, only Business Teams members can access phone support with Dropbox. You can’t contact technicians if you have the free version, so you’re limited to your chatbot. If you upgrade to a paid plan, you can also get in touch with their support team via email. They usually respond within 24 hours.

Interface

Dropbox has a terrific interface across platforms. Whether you run it on your desktop, mobile, or browser, the app is easy to use. Windows and Mac users can see their Dropbox in Windows File Explorer or Finder without digging deep. This lets you drop and remove files from your cloud storage within seconds.

The company has taken the interface to the next level with recent updates. They’ve made it even cleaner, so you can recognize it easily on all platforms. For example, syncing, notifying, and sharing from the settings area is effortless, even if you’re a beginner.

It’s hard to find fault with iCloud’s interface too. The learning curve is minimal, and you can utilize several features to organize your storage more efficiently.

Navigating iCloud is straightforward. The interface is easy to navigate (both on your laptop and mobile) with a colorful appearance that turns file organization into a breeze. You can also color-code and tag folders and files to retrieve them in seconds.

This is especially true if you’re used to iOS devices. If you already have an iPhone or iPad, you shouldn’t have trouble getting to grips with iCloud. Handling backups and files couldn’t be simpler.

Speed

Surprisingly, iCloud is faster than Dropbox. This may sound unexpected, considering Dropbox edges its competitor in terms of productivity and performance.

Nonetheless, iCloud lets you upload and download files more quickly, mainly because it runs on Amazon Web Services servers. They’re renowned for incredibly high speeds, outperforming European and Asian servers Dropbox relies on.

Another contributing factor is the limit. Dropbox limits upload speed, whereas iCloud uses maximum bandwidth available for each file.

Still, Dropbox might be faster when processing larger edited files. The app uses block-level synchronization to upload just the parts that have been changed and not the whole document. This can significantly expedite the process.

Pricing

As previously mentioned, Dropbox users get 2GB of free storage, whereas iCloud subscribers receive 5GB. These options can suffice for personal use, but professionals need more. To ensure more space, you’ll need to pay a fee.

The cheapest Dropbox plan is $11.99 per month. You can get this plan for $2 less per month if you buy a full year upfront. It provides 2TB of space.

Another option is their Professional plan, which comes with 3TB of storage. It costs $19.99 or just over $16 a month if it’s billed annually.

Larger teams can purchase unlimited storage. For instance, most companies go for the Advanced plan, which costs $25 per user per month. It keeps an unlimited number of files, but you can only use it if your team consists of at least three members.

Meanwhile, iCloud values its basic paid plan at $0.99 per month, offering 50GB of storage. Alternatively, you can buy the 200GB plan for around $3.00 per month or the 2TB plan, which costs $9.99 monthly. There are no annual commitments.

Although iCloud doesn’t have unlimited storage, it’s a more affordable option.

Final Verdict: Which One Should You Go For?

Whether you choose Dropbox or iCloud, you won’t be disappointed. That said, the platforms aren’t made for any user.

If you’re looking for a straightforward app geared around family and personal use, iCloud is the better choice. It has simple features, minimal setup, and integrates seamlessly with other devices and Apple devices.

In contrast, you can benefit more from Dropbox if you’re a business user. It boasts robust productivity features to make your workload more manageable. Plus, you can pay for unlimited storage, which is critical for effective team collaboration.

Which app do you prefer: Dropbox or iCloud? Would you recommend any other options to individual and professional users? Let us know in the comments section below.