Dropbox vs. Google Drive: Lightning-fast collaboration for creative teams
While both Dropbox and Google Drive offer cloud storage solutions, only one platform promises an unparalleled experience for teams that need to get work done across platforms and devices, systems and software, internally and externally.
71% faster
to upload a folder of 10K files than Google Drive, based on a 2023 Principled Technologies study*
4x faster
than Google Drive when uploading a 25 MB file on a Windows, based on a 2023 Principled Technologies study*
73% faster
to upload a 250 MB file than Google Drive on a MacBook Pro, based on a 2023 Principled Technologies study*
Faster and easier to sync large files
Downloading large files is quick and easy, making it easier to collaborate without any holdup.
Smoother collaboration workflow
Seamless collaboration on Microsoft 365 files eliminates conflicted copies or workflow interruptions.
Quicker file recovery
One-click file recovery and automatic backup safeguards files of any type—for up to 10 years.
When uploading large files in large quantities is essential to your work getting done, you can’t afford to hit upload limits. That’s why Dropbox allows uploads of up to 2 TB at a time, with no daily upload limit—compared to Google Drive's limit of 750 GB per day.
Don’t get stuck waiting for one task to finish before starting the next. Dropbox allows you to upload and download files simultaneously, without any disruption to your workflow. With Google Drive, on the other hand, you’ll have no choice but to sit and wait.
If your day-to-day involves advanced file types, like RAW images or MKV videos, previewing files in your cloud storage becomes essential for your time and sanity. Google Drive only supports file preview for fewer than 50 common file types, whereas Dropbox allows you to preview hundreds of formats—from documents to audio, video, and even application-specific file types.
First impressions start the moment a download link arrives in your client’s inbox. With fully customizable branding on file transfer download pages, you can add a little flair to your delivery, and give your clients confidence from the first second.
Seamless integrations with Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Premiere Rush make Dropbox a dream for efficiency on creative projects. What’s more—collaborators can preview and annotate common Adobe file formats, like PSD and EPS, without a license for Adobe apps.
“I work with a nonprofit... Since we do not have institution emails, other platforms like Google Drive are difficult to coordinate with security settings for the sharing of files amongst our members and registrants. Dropbox provides a convenient and accessible way to upload PDF readings and other course materials… regardless of what their email domain is.”
Kayla S.Training and Education Program ManagerUltra-fast, ultra-simple syncing for large files
Dropbox is tailored to the needs of large-content creators—offering more TB of storage—so you can sync file uploads as big as 2 TB (even massive CAD files and 4K video) without disrupting your workflow. Google Drive, on the other hand, stops you from uploading additional files after hitting 750 GB in a single 24-hour period. And when that happens, you’re done for the day.
Plus, small changes are quick and seamless, as our incremental backup function uploads only the updated portions of large files, so you don’t have to wait for the entire file to upload every time.
Simplify and supercharge collaboration
It’s time to stop switching between emails, apps, and exported versions.
Previewing video and audio files entirely through Dropbox and Replay saves both time and bandwidth—no more clogging up your downloads folder. By streaming the latest versions of your content directly from your cloud storage—on any connected device or account—everything becomes easier for you, your team, and your clients.
When it comes to working across multiple ecosystems, Dropbox has you covered. Work collaboratively and securely in real-time on Microsoft 365 files stored within Dropbox, seamlessly across all your devices—eliminating conflicted copies or workflow interruptions. In contrast, Google Drive requires you to switch between apps to edit Microsoft 365 files, resulting in a less efficient workflow.
Simultaneously collaborate on terabytes of audio and video files with the robust preview engine in Dropbox, supporting 288 different file types—three times more than Google Drive previews.
Add advanced file sharing controls, file preview, and faster syncing than Google Drive to the mix and—it’s clear—Dropbox is the ultimate collaboration tool for creative teams.**
File recovery and version control you can depend on
Google Drive only offers comprehensive version history for their handful of proprietary file types—Docs, Sheets, and Slides. For everything else, users need to enable version history tracking for each file, one by one. Every. Single. Time.
With Dropbox, teams can see a full history of changes made to any file, regardless of the file format. And with Extended Version History, you can maintain brand consistency across projects, because you have easy access to historical content. With one-click file recovery and backup, you can save, access, and update file versions—even recover a lost folder or project—for up to 10 years.
And if protecting your local files is important, Dropbox Backup has you covered. With automatic backups and one-click file restoration to any device, you’ll be able to pickup where you left off within moments—no matter what life throws at you.
Data notice
*Based on a 2023 Principled Technologies study, commissioned by Dropbox
**Based on a 2017 Principled Technologies study, commissioned by Dropbox