Dropbox vs Google Drive: Free Storage, Price and Linux Support

Pick Google Drive if you want the most free storage (15 GB) and already use Gmail or Google Photos, or you want a small, cheap paid plan. Pick Dropbox if you need a Linux desktop app, large file transfers up to 50 GB, or 2 TB for one person on a single storage-focused plan.

Both sync files across your devices and let you share links. The differences are free storage, device limits, how storage is shared with other services and which computers the desktop app runs on.

Dropbox vs Google Drive at a glance

Which gives you more free storage, Dropbox or Google Drive?

Google Drive, by a wide margin. Every Google Account comes with 15 GB of free storage, against 2 GB on Dropbox Basic.

There is a catch with Google's 15 GB. It is shared between Google Drive, Gmail and Google Photos, so a busy inbox or a phone full of photo backups eats into it.

On 6 November 2026, we checked Google One's overview page, and it spelled out where the 15 GB comes from: 5 GB for every account, plus an additional 10 GB for adding a valid phone number. If you have not added a phone number to your Google Account, you may have less free space than you expect.

Dropbox Basic has another limit: you can be logged into up to three devices at a time. Dropbox says Plus, Family, Professional and Essentials customers can log into as many devices as they need.

Which is cheaper, Dropbox or Google Drive?

For small amounts of storage, Google Drive. Google sells extra space through Google One, and its smallest plans are far cheaper than Dropbox Plus. Dropbox's cheapest personal plan is Plus at $9.99 a month, billed yearly, which gives one person 2 TB.

Google sets Google One prices by country, so we can only report what we saw. When we checked from Pakistan, the plans page listed Lite (30 GB) at PKR 250 a month, Basic (100 GB) at PKR 550 a month and Google AI Pro (5 TB) at PKR 5,600 a month, with up to 16% off for paying yearly. Check the page in your own country before you buy.

Dropbox also sells a Standard plan for teams at $15 per user per month, billed yearly. It starts at 3 TB for the team and lets you restore deleted files for 180 days, against 30 days on Plus. That is aimed at small businesses rather than one person.

If you need around 2 TB for one person and nothing else, Dropbox Plus is a simple option. If 100 GB is enough, Google One costs much less.

Which works better on Windows, Mac and Linux?

Dropbox, if you use Linux. Dropbox has a desktop app for Linux as well as Windows and macOS. Google's install guide for Drive for desktop covers only Windows and macOS.

Both have mobile apps for iPhone and Android and a web version. On phones, Google Drive suits Android users well because it uses the same Google Account as the phone itself.

Which is better for sharing and large files?

Dropbox focuses on file transfer. Its Plus plan lets you send files up to 50 GB and restore deleted files for 30 days. Google's paid storage is easier to share with your household: Google One plans can be shared with up to 5 other people, so a family can split one storage plan.

Google's strength is that Drive sits next to Gmail, Photos and Google's document tools under one account. Dropbox's strength is that it is built around files and folders and works the same way on Windows, Mac and Linux.

If you are still looking at other cloud storage services, our list of Dropbox alternatives covers more options.

Which should you choose?

• You want the most free storage: Google Drive, with 15 GB.
• You use Linux: Dropbox.
• You need about 100 GB and want to pay little: Google One.
• You want 2 TB for one person and big file transfers: Dropbox Plus.
• You want to share one storage plan with your family: Google One, shared with up to 5 others.
• You use more than three devices on a free account: Google Drive, because Dropbox Basic stops at three.

FAQ

How much free storage does Dropbox give you?

Dropbox Basic is free with 2 GB of storage, and you can be logged into up to three devices at a time.

Is Google Drive's 15 GB really free?

Yes, but it is shared with Gmail and Google Photos. Google says it is made up of 5 GB per account plus 10 GB for adding a valid phone number.

Does Google Drive have a Linux app?

Google's Drive for desktop install guide covers Windows and macOS only. You can still use Drive in a web browser on Linux.

How much does Dropbox Plus cost?

Dropbox Plus is $9.99 a month when billed yearly, for 2 TB of storage for one person.