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Dropbox alternatives: 8 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Dropbox: free plan is only 2 GB, and paid plans cost more per TB than most rivals. We ranked 8 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Dropbox, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Google Drive currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1pCloud logopCloudFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +35 of 557.2
2Syncthing logoSyncthingOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +24 of 453.6
  1. pCloud logo

    1. pCloudTop pick

    Best for: People who would rather pay once than keep a storage subscription

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Dropbox

    Lifetime plans and a similar sync experience at a lower long-term cost.

    Pros

    • Lifetime plans avoid recurring fees
    • Choice of EU or US data location
    • Virtual drive with a Linux client

    Cons

    • Client-side encryption costs extra
    • Lifetime value depends on the company lasting
    • Frequent sales and upsells make pricing hard to read
    Visit pCloud Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is pCloud a good Dropbox alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Lifetime plans
    From 500 GB, one-time payment
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Lifetime 2 TB
    499 USD (sale price at check)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Company base
    Switzerland
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Data location
    Europe or USA
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    File size limit
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Syncthing logo

    2. Syncthing

    Best for: Technical users who want private sync between their own machines

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, Self-hosted

    53.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Dropbox

    Free peer-to-peer sync between your own devices with no cloud account.

    Pros

    • No cloud provider, no storage limits, no fees
    • Encrypted device-to-device connections
    • Runs on almost any OS, including servers and NAS

    Cons

    • A device must be online for others to sync
    • No public share links
    • Configuration-heavy for non-technical users
    Visit Syncthing Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.357
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Syncthing a good Dropbox alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Central server
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026syncthing.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Encryption
    TLS between devices
    Checked Oct 25, 2026syncthing.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026syncthing.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS, Windows, Linux, FreeBSD and more
    Checked Oct 25, 2026syncthing.net(opens source in a new tab)

The best Dropbox alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Google Drive logo

Best Dropbox alternative for most people

Google Drive

Far more free storage and built-in document editors.

Syncthing logo

Best Dropbox alternative for a free option

Syncthing

Free peer-to-peer sync between your own devices with no cloud account.

Microsoft OneDrive logo

Best Dropbox alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Microsoft OneDrive

Cheaper storage when bundled with Microsoft 365 apps.

Syncthing logo

Best Dropbox alternative for open source

Syncthing

Free peer-to-peer sync between your own devices with no cloud account.

Syncthing logo

Best Dropbox alternative for self-hosting

Syncthing

Free peer-to-peer sync between your own devices with no cloud account.

Box logo

Best Dropbox alternative for Mac

Box

Stronger admin, compliance and workflow controls for larger companies.

pCloud logo

Best Dropbox alternative for Windows

pCloud

Lifetime plans and a similar sync experience at a lower long-term cost.

pCloud logo

Best Dropbox alternative for Linux

pCloud

Lifetime plans and a similar sync experience at a lower long-term cost.

Sync.com logo

Best Dropbox alternative for iPhone and Android

Sync.com

End-to-end encrypted sync and sharing with a comparable feature set.

WeTransfer logo

Best Dropbox alternative for working in the browser

WeTransfer

Sends big files by link without needing recipients to have storage space or an account.

Dropbox alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Dropbox?

Google Drive ranks first right now. Far more free storage and built-in document editors. Microsoft OneDrive and Box follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Dropbox?

Yes. Google Drive (free plan + paid), Microsoft OneDrive (free plan + paid), Box (free plan + paid) and pCloud (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Dropbox?

Yes: Syncthing. Syncthing can also be self-hosted.

Which Dropbox alternatives work on Linux?

pCloud and Syncthing run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Dropbox?

The complaints we hear most: free plan is only 2 GB; paid plans cost more per TB than most rivals; not end-to-end encrypted by default.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Dropbox, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.