So why are good Dropbox alternatives even necessary? This US-based online storage provider remains one of the most popular platforms available today, but for all its advantages, there are some downsides to this market leader.
Dropbox has various versions available for use. In the free version, the user receives 2 GB of storage space, but this can be extended through certain activities, like recommending Dropbox to friends. But for users who are certain they’ll require a lot more storage capacity, there’s various payment models on offer. There are also models designed for businesses, some of which offer unlimited storage space as part of a subscription package.
Dropbox is in many aspects the best file hosting provider on the market today. The app is technically very advanced. But, despite all its advantages, Dropbox has weak points as well. We’ve summarized its pros and cons in the following overview below:
Advantages
- Tidy and intuitive user interface: using Dropbox is easy, plain and simple. The clear folder structure and drag-and-drop function for moving files and folders make it easy for anyone to use.
- Supports many operating systems: there’s barely another cloud storage facility available that offers such a wide range of apps for different operating systems. Whether it’s Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, or iOS, Dropbox is a solution for almost every device imaginable.
- Broad range of functions and extensions: the popularity of the program has led to the development of a wide range of functions, including the creation of work groups, the option to drop office documents directly into Dropbox, and the sharing of files with users who don’t have a Dropbox account themselves. There’s also an extensive list of Dropbox tools available.
- Powerful encryption technology: the files are protection with an AES 256-bit encryption (the strongest of all AES encryptions) before being saved. The transmission of files is also coded with a TLS/SSL.
Disadvantages
- Problems continue to occur with data protection: Dropbox is continuously criticized for the security of its stored files and user data – partly because of its cooperation with the NSA, and partly because hackers have managed to steal email addresses and passwords of users.
- Limited free storage space: the free version of Dropbox only offers users 2 GB of storage space. While you can earn more free cloud space by inviting your friends to join and other similar actions, other cloud file hosting service offer a lot more free storage space as standard.
- No in-browser editing feature: documents like text files or presentations have to be opened with a suitable program already installed on the corresponding computer or mobile device. But in some cases, users may not have the right program installed on their device to allow them to edit. Some other cloud storage providers (including Microsoft OneDrive with Microsoft Office Online) have solved this problem by enabling users to edit documents directly in the browser. Dropbox is yet to provide a function like this