OneDrive suits people who live in Windows, Outlook and Office, with 5 GB of free cloud storage on Microsoft 365 Free and 100 GB on Microsoft 365 Basic. Dropbox suits people who share files with clients and want simple syncing across Windows, Mac and mobile, but Dropbox Basic gives 2 GB and connects up to 3 devices. Check your device count and your file sizes first.
Both services keep your files in the cloud and sync them to your computer and phone. The free plans are smaller than most people expect, and the limits differ. I read Dropbox's Basic page and plans page, plus Microsoft's OneDrive free storage page and plan comparison.
Dropbox and OneDrive free and entry plans
| Dropbox | OneDrive | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, Dropbox Basic | Yes, Microsoft 365 Free |
| Storage on the free plan | 2 GB | 5 GB cloud storage, plus 15 GB of mailbox storage |
| Device limit on free | Up to 3 devices | Not stated on the free plan card |
| Next step up | Plans with 2 TB or more | Microsoft 365 Basic: 100 GB |
| Office apps | Not part of Dropbox | Microsoft 365 desktop apps on Personal |
| Not part of Dropbox | Outlook.com email and calendar | |
| Computer backup | Automatic computer file backup | PC folder backup |
| Extra protection | Online-only files to save space | Personal Vault, ransomware protection on Basic |
Dropbox: built for syncing and sharing
Dropbox Basic is the free account: 2 GB for one person, automatic backup of your computer files and up to 3 connected devices. You get apps for Windows, Mac, the web and mobile, automatic photo and video uploads from your phone, and the option to keep files online-only so they don't fill your laptop.
The plans above Basic start at 2 TB and add things like PDF editing, file requests, live review of video and design files, and business support. Dropbox offers a 30-day free trial on its plans page.
OneDrive: part of the Microsoft world
Microsoft 365 Free gives one person 5 GB of cloud storage and 15 GB of mailbox storage, with OneDrive photo and file backup across Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, plus Outlook.com email and calendar and the web and mobile apps.
Microsoft 365 Basic moves you to 100 GB of cloud storage, 100 GB of mailbox storage, ransomware protection for files and ad-free Outlook. Microsoft 365 Personal adds the desktop Office apps with Copilot features, for one person on up to 5 devices at once. OneDrive also lists Personal Vault, document scanning and PC folder backup.
The device rule on Dropbox's free plan
Here's the limit people find after they've set everything up. Dropbox Basic connects up to 3 devices. A laptop, a phone and a tablet fill that straight away, and a work computer makes four. Microsoft's free plan card doesn't state a device limit, and its free tier starts at more than double Dropbox's free storage.
Where Dropbox pulls ahead is the jump after free: its plans start at 2 TB, while Microsoft's first step up is 100 GB.
Who each service suits
OneDrive suits Windows users, Outlook users and anyone who'll use Word, Excel and PowerPoint anyway. Dropbox suits creatives, consultants and teams who swap large files with clients on any system and want simple sharing links. For storage habits that keep you organised, see cloud storage for a more productive way to work, and if Google Drive is also in the mix, here's how to free up space on Google Drive.
My advice on where to keep your files
Add up what you store today, photos and videos included. Under 5 GB and mostly on Windows with Outlook, OneDrive's free plan will cover you. If you're sharing big files with clients, or you'll need far more space soon, Dropbox's plans make more sense from the first step. Either way, keep a second copy of anything you can't replace.
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Frequently asked questions
How much free storage does Dropbox give?
Dropbox Basic gives 2 GB of storage for one person and connects up to 3 devices.
How much free storage does OneDrive give?
Microsoft 365 Free includes 5 GB of cloud storage and 15 GB of mailbox storage for one person.
What's the next OneDrive plan?
Microsoft 365 Basic gives 100 GB of cloud storage and 100 GB of mailbox storage, with ransomware protection for files.
Does Dropbox limit devices on the free plan?
Yes. Dropbox Basic lets you connect up to 3 devices.
Does OneDrive include the Office apps?
The desktop Microsoft 365 apps come with Microsoft 365 Personal, for one person on up to 5 devices at once. The free plan includes the web and mobile apps.
Can I keep Dropbox files off my laptop?
Yes. Dropbox lets you mark files as online-only, so they stay in the cloud and don't take up space on your computer.
