Box vs Dropbox

by Gralio Feb 03, 2025

Box and Dropbox are both cloud storage and file-sharing platforms, but they cater to different needs. Box prioritizes security and control, making it suitable for businesses handling sensitive data. Dropbox emphasizes ease of use and collaboration, making it ideal for teams needing quick and simple file sharing.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 7411 reviews and 60 websites, saving 1 day, 17 hours, 40 minutes of reading.

Logo of Box
Logo of Dropbox

About

Frontline Education offers a suite of school administration software for K-12 districts in the USA. The platform aims to help manage human resources, business operations, and special education programs. This includes tools for recruiting, payroll, absence management, student health, and data analytics. Frontline emphasizes its understanding of the K-12 sector and aims to simplify administrative tasks for schools.
Dropbox is a cloud-based file storage and collaboration platform designed for businesses of all sizes. It allows you to store files securely in the cloud, access them from anywhere, and easily share them with colleagues and external partners. Dropbox offers tools to streamline teamwork, such as file syncing, version control, and feedback collection. Security is a priority, with features like encryption and data recovery to protect sensitive information.

Summary

Main difference
Box is a robust, secure platform best suited for businesses prioritizing compliance and control over their data, especially those in regulated industries. Dropbox, with its user-friendly interface and focus on seamless syncing and sharing, excels for teams prioritizing easy collaboration and accessibility.

Relative strengths of Box (compared to Dropbox)

  • Stronger security and compliance features.

  • Granular control over access permissions and sharing.

  • Better integration with enterprise software like Microsoft Office and Salesforce.

Relative weaknesses of Box (compared to Dropbox)

  • Less intuitive user interface compared to Dropbox.

  • Slower syncing speeds can be a drawback.

  • More expensive than Dropbox, especially for smaller teams.

Who should use Box VS. Dropbox

Frontline Education offers a suite of school administration software for K-12 districts. Tools include recruiting, payroll, absence management, student health, and data analytics. Users praise its ease of use and security features but note slow upload speeds and limited free storage as drawbacks. Average rating is 4.3/5.

Dropbox is a user-friendly cloud storage and file-sharing platform simplifying team collaboration. Users praise its easy setup, reliable syncing, and seamless Windows integration. However, some find the limited free storage and pricing of paid plans a drawback. Best for businesses of all sizes in various sectors like finance, retail, and education.

  • Best fit for small, medium, and large companies.

  • Ideal for K-12 school districts in the USA.

  • Best for small, medium, and large businesses.

  • Ideal for Finance, E-commerce, Retail, Manufacturing, Education, Real Estate, Hospitality, Media & Entertainment, IT, Government, Marketing, and Professional Services.

Box and Dropbox features

Supported
Partially supported
Not supported
Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

  • File Storage and Sharing
    Partially supported

    Box supports file sharing and storage. PDF editing and e-signatures are available via integrations.

    Partially supported

    Dropbox supports file storage and sharing, but PDF editing and e-signatures require third-party apps.

  • File Recovery
    Supported

    Files can be restored within 30 days, or longer depending on the plan.

    Supported

    Deleted files can be restored within 30 to 365 days, depending on the plan.

  • Device Synchronization
    Supported

    Box supports device synchronization through cloud sync and mobile apps.

    Supported

    Dropbox keeps your files up to date across all connected devices.

  • File syncing
    Supported

    Box supports file syncing across multiple devices through its Box Sync app.

    Supported

    Dropbox supports keeping files updated across multiple devices through its automatic file syncing feature. Users can access and manage files from various devices, including computers, mobile phones, tablets, and web browsers, ensuring files are up-to-date across all platforms.

  • Secure file sharing
    Supported

    Box supports secure file sharing with encryption in transit and at rest.

    Supported

    Dropbox supports sharing files securely with encryption in transit and at rest.

  • External file sharing
    Supported

    Box allows sharing files externally via shared links and collaboration features, with permission controls.

    Supported

    Dropbox allows users to share files and folders with individuals outside the organization, allowing them to view or edit the content.

Qualities

  • Value and Pricing Transparency
    +0.13
    Neutral sentiment
    -0.68
    Rather negative sentiment
  • Customer Service
    +0.5
    Rather positive sentiment
    +0.33
    Rather positive sentiment
  • Ease of Use
    +0.81
    Strongly positive sentiment
    +0.89
    Strongly positive sentiment
  • Reliability and Performance
    +0.33
    Rather positive sentiment
    +0.6
    Rather positive sentiment
  • Ease of Implementation
    +0.5
    Rather positive sentiment
    +0.58
    Rather positive sentiment
  • Scalability
    +1
    Strongly positive sentiment
    -0.22
    Neutral sentiment

Box and Dropbox Pricing

All plans include secure file sharing, shared folders and links, 2-factor authentication, anytime, anywhere access, built-in integrations with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, unlimited Box Canvas and standard features, Box Mobile App Collaboration, integrated desktop experience, online/self-paced training, note-taking and project management, and Box Community access.
Plans

User sentiment

Neutral
+0.14

See full Pricing page

Dropbox offers different plans for personal, professional, and business use cases. The pricing varies based on storage capacity, features, and the number of users. A 30-day free trial is available.
Plans

User sentiment

Rather negative
-0.68

See full Pricing page

Box and Dropbox review insights

7411 reviews analysed from and

Users love

  • Box is praised for its security and robust encryption.
  • The platform is easy to use and intuitive, even for non-technical users.
  • Sharing with colleagues and collaborators is seamless and efficient.
  • Box integrates well with other tools and services, such as Microsoft Office and Google Drive.
  • Easy to use and set up.
  • Reliable file syncing across devices.
  • Seamless integration with Windows file system.
  • Convenient file sharing with others.

Users dislike

  • Slow file upload and syncing speeds are a common complaint.
  • The Box Drive desktop app has caused issues for some users, especially on Macs.
  • Sharing files with non-Box users can be difficult and clunky.
  • The free storage limit is considered insufficient by many.
  • Limited free storage space, only 2GB.
  • Paid plans can be expensive.
  • Confusing interface for sharing.
  • Mobile app can be slow and buggy.

Box and Dropbox Ratings

  • G2
    4.2/5
    (2525)
  • Capterra
    4.4/5
    (2375)
  • Glassdoor
    4.3/5
    (1169)
  • G2
    4.4/5
    (2537)
  • Glassdoor
    4.4/5
    (1585)

Company health

Employee growth

No data
2% decrease in the last year

Web traffic

No data
6% decrease in the last quarter

Financing

No data
December 2016 - $2B

How do Box's K-12 specific features compare to Dropbox's general business tools?

Box, through its integration with Frontline Education, offers features specifically designed for K-12 school districts, including tools for HR, business operations, and special education management. Dropbox, on the other hand, provides general business tools for file storage and collaboration, lacking the specialized functionalities for K-12 education offered by Box. While both platforms offer secure file sharing and collaboration features, Box's integration with Frontline Education caters specifically to the needs of schools, while Dropbox focuses on broader business applications.

Which product offers better integration with existing school administration systems?

Frontline (Product A) offers better integration with existing school administration systems. It is specifically designed for K-12 districts in the USA and offers tools for HR, business operations, and special education programs, indicating a focus on integrating with the various systems used within a school district. Dropbox (Product B), while a good file storage and collaboration platform, is designed for general business use and does not have the same specialized focus on K-12 integration.

What are the advantages of Box?

Box excels in secure file sharing with robust, configurable access permissions, allowing granular control over shared files. Users praise its security features and ease of use, even for non-technical individuals. Seamless integration with other tools and services like Microsoft Office and Google Drive further enhances its collaborative capabilities.

What are the disadvantages of Box?

Box users report slow file upload and syncing speeds, problems with the Box Drive desktop app (especially on Macs), difficulties sharing files with non-Box users, and insufficient free storage limits.

Alternatives to Box and Dropbox

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box vs Microsoft 365
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Perceptive Content
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BluSync
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Page co-authored by
MK
Michal Kaczor
CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

TT
Tymon Terlikiewicz
CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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