Google One and Dropbox are two giants in the cloud storage space. They are very similar in what you expect from them: store your files in the cloud, edit documents, and share them with others. But both of them have their pros and cons in terms of what they offer to you.
Here you will find a comparison between the services to see what each service brings to the table and which is the better of the two.
So, let’s jump right into the article to find out.
A Little Background on Google One and Dropbox
Dropbox is among the oldest cloud storage space providers right now. First released in 2008, it allowed users to save their files to a folder on its server, which is accessible from anywhere in the world. It was revolutionary, and that sparked the cloud revolution that we are witnessing today.
Dropbox also added document scanning and a built-in collaboration application, also known as Paper, in the subsequent years.
Google Drive was released a few years later, in 2012. Its biggest strength lies in the 15 GB storage space that you get with any account. As Gmail is used widely, Google bundled Drive with all its apps. That added a massive user base to it.
Google One was introduced in 2020, with a paid subscription plan adding more storage to Google Drive. It has access to all suites of Google applications, including Docs, Sheets, and so on.
But you are not here for a cloud history session, right? So let’s take a look at how each service stacks up against each other.
Google One vs. Dropbox Compared
You may have already used both services before. Both of them have a free plan which allows anyone with an email address to sign up. Once you do so, you can upload files and start using them. But what differences exist between the free and paid plans?
Let’s take a look.
Pricing
| Google One | Dropbox |
|---|---|
| Free (15 GB) | Free (2 GB) |
| 100 GB ($1.99 Per Month/ $19.99 Yearly) | 2 TB ($11.99 Per Month/ $120 Yearly) One user |
| 200 GB ($2.99 Per Month/ $29.99 Yearly) | 2 TB ($19.99 Per Month/ $205 Yearly) Six Users |
| 2 TB ($9.99 Per Month/ $99.99 Yearly) | 3 TB ($19.99 Per Month/ $200 Yearly) 1 User |
| 5, 10, 20, and 30 TB are available as an upgrade plan for users who are already subscribed to any plan above | 5 TB ($18 Per Month/User, $180 Yearly) 3+ Users |
| Unlimited ($30 Per Month/User, $288 Yearly) 3+ Users |
Google One gives you more storage on the free plan (15 GB). Dropbox only has 2GB in the free tier.
The base plan is cheaper, too, on Google One at $1.99. Dropbox will cut your pockets deep at $12.
However, Dropbox provides more storage with higher plans. It has an all-you-can-store plan that does not have a data cap which Google One does not provide.
Verdict: You get cheaper storage with Google One than Dropbox.
File Sync
You can sync files to the latest version on both cloud solutions. There are apps for PC, Mac, and mobile devices to sync your latest files.
But Dropbox is faster when it comes to uploading the latest revision of a file.
Google Drive updates the entirety of a file when a newer version of a file is available. That is why it takes time for the file to become available to use the moment you upload it.
Dropbox, on the other hand, only uploads the fragment of the file that is being changed. This saves time, and the file is available instantly.
Verdict: Dropbox has faster file sync than Google One.
We also compared Google One with Google Drive in a separate article. Do check it out.
File Sharing
With Dropbox, you get some additional benefits when sharing files from your storage. You can set the link to expire after a certain time. Plus, you can limit the file to viewing only; the other person will not be able to download it.
With Google One, anyone with a link to your file can view and download it. The goodies you get from Dropbox are absent here.
Verdict: Dropbox gives you more control when sharing files.
Ease of Use
Both services are designed primarily to be used on a web browser. The files show up in the order of the uploaded date.
Drobox has a better interface, I guess. It tries to replicate the interface of a desktop file explorer. There are more options to customize the look and feel of your cloud drive. You can automate tasks, connect apps to open specific files (e.g. images), and rewind the contents of a folder right from the home screen. Also, the recently opened files are at the top for easy access.
You can open a file on Dropbox using just a single click. This happens if you hover over the file name and the cursor turns into a link. I don’t like this, as I am used to double-clicking on File Explorer.
Google One, on the other hand, tries to implement a consistent user interface across all its applications. The drive looks the same whether you are on a smartphone app or accessing it through a web browser. That has other implications, such as limited scope for customization. Google Drive has always felt like a web app just due to this.
Both cloud storage has a preview section to view images without opening them.
Verdict: You get a better user experience on Dropbox.
Built-in Apps
Dropbox has limited first-party apps. You have Pages, a document editing app. You can collaborate with your team using this app. It has a feel very similar to Notion. Here, your coworkers can work on the same document at a time and comment on sections.
On the contrary, Google One has a wide range of apps. These are feature-rich and support simultaneous edits and comments. For documents, you have Google Sheets, Spreadsheets you have Sheets and Slides for making presentations. In addition, there are Google Forms, App Script, Jam Board, etc.
The best thing about these apps is Version History. You can see who made changes to a document down to the individual words. There is the option to roll back a document to its earlier state if you choose to do so.
Offline Editing is available on Google’s suite of applications. These are synced to the cloud the moment you are connected to the internet. Offline editing is not available on Dropbox Pages.
Verdict: Google One has better built-in applications, and these outnumber what Dropbox has to offer.
Integration with Apps
Dropbox has great integrations with third-party applications. You can create a document using Microsoft’s 365 suite of online tools right from the Dropbox homepage. Right now, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel are supported. You can also edit a document using Google Docs.
There is a whole store full of applications that you can connect to Dropbox. Then you can edit files created using these apps. For example, you can export your invoices created on Freshbooks right into your Dropbox account.
Google One has integration with other apps on Google Drive. These work great too. But Microsoft’s suite of apps is missing from here.
Verdict: Dropbox has integrations with richer third-party apps than Google One.
File Recovery and Restore
Dropbox allows you to recover deleted files and rewind the versions of files for up to 180 days on the Professional and Standard plan. And if you have the Advanced plan, this extends up to 1 Year. For the Basic and Family plan, this is limited to 30 days.
Google One gives you file restore ability for the last 30 days across all its plans.
Verdict: Dropbox allows you to restore files from an earlier time than Google One.
If you are looking to restore backups made using Google One, our separate article for you. It’s worth taking a look when you are switching to a new device.
Dropbox does not allow sharing your storage with others unless you get the Family plan. The basic plan only allows one user account. There are plans for businesses that allow sharing, but they cost more.
This is not the case with Google One. All plans can be shared with five members. So, theoretically, you can purchase a plan with less storage and give your teams access. No need to buy a higher-tier plan.
Only the free plan on Google One is limited to a single user.
Verdict: Google One wins hands down here with its ability to share across all its plans.
Security
Both Platforms give you top-of-the-line security for your data. Your data remains encrypted, even in transit. A 256-bit AES encryption is used in both platforms to keep the data safe.
Google One has some additional features, such as VPN and Dark web monitoring. The latter is a recent addition, where you can ask for a report from Google on if your personal information is being released to the dark web. Then you can take support from a security expert to secure that data.
Verdict: This section is a tie. Both platforms are highly secured and protect your data from theft.
Which is Better, Google One or Dropbox?
Google One is better for individuals who do not require a ton of storage. Even for smaller Teams, it is perfect. The ability to share an account is something that Dropbox cannot compete with. Overall, storage is cheaper than Dropbox, even at the most expensive plan. Plus, you get an excellent suite of Google apps (Docs, Sheets, Slides) that you can use for free.
Dropbox, while costing more than Google One, performs faster than Google One. Your files are available instantly, have more integrations with third-party applications, and have the ability to create and edit documents using Microsoft’s 365 platforms.
The choice of going for one platform over another comes down to your use cases. If you are heavily invested in the Google ecosystem, go for Google One. But if you use a third-party app that is better integrated with Dropbox, it makes sense to choose it.
We have a comprehensive guide on how to use Google One. If you are new to this ecosystem, do check it out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Google One unlimited?
No, there is not an unlimited storage plan on Google One. For new users, you get maximum storage of 2 TB, which you can extend up to 30 TB once you subscribe to a plan.
Why use Google Drive over Dropbox?
Google Drive provides more space (15 GB) on its free account, while Dropbox provides you with only 2 GB of space. You can fill this very easily; that’s why Google Drive is a good option.
Is Google One free to use?
There is a free plan that comes with 15 GB storage, which is similar to what Google Drive used to provide before. But if you want to upgrade to higher storage, you must buy it.
Final Words
Both Google One and Dropbox are old dogs in the cloud storage scene. And with time, they have added features that make them a solid product to use right now.
In our testing, we have seen both services do well across a range of criteria laid out for them. So, both services are good enough to use. It just depends on what your workflow demands from your cloud storage solution.
That’s it. I won’t stretch this article anymore.
I hope you had a great time reading this piece.
Goodbye for now.
