Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Apple iCloud
Score 8.5 out of 10
N/A
Apple iCloud is a document management software offering from Apple. It includes features such as access to music, photos, calendars, contacts, and documents, and it is built into every new iOS device.
$0.99
per month
Dropbox
Score 8.2 out of 10
N/A
Dropbox is a service for file syncing and sharing, or for cloud storage.
$11.99
per month
Pricing
Apple iCloudDropbox
Editions & Modules
50GB
$0.99
per month
200GB
$2.99
per month
2TB
$9.99
per month
Plus
$11.99
per month
Family
$19.99
per month
Basic
Free
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Apple iCloudDropbox
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details——
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Apple iCloudDropbox
Considered Both Products
Apple iCloud
Chose Apple iCloud
Apple iCloud is great for keeping me on the same page with all of my devices as far as photos, contacts, calendars, etc., are concerned. However, Box or Dropbox are easier to use for collaboration. I like the ability in Dropbox or Box to have a folder on my desktop that …
Chose Apple iCloud
We actually use both Dropbox and iCloud depending on what is needed. We like iCloud because we mostly have Apple devices and it works seamlessly with those devices. We use Dropbox when we need to share documents and collaborate with multiple users.
Chose Apple iCloud
iCloud is the most well integrated into Apple's operating systems. There is no comparison between Meldium's auth, which is browser based, and KeyChain, which is pre-installed and integrated into iOS and Mac OS. Dropbox doesn't do backup/restore of logins and auth-data yet, …
Chose Apple iCloud
We actually use all three, apple iCloud, Google Drive, and Dropbox. We use them for storing different kinds of files. With word documents and excel documents, we use Google Drive. For large saved files (designer files) we use Dropbox, and for Apple we use all of our photos, and …
Chose Apple iCloud
Dropbox is a fine product. The thing that makes iCloud shine is its deep integration with Apple and Apple's legendary support. Finally, we are confident that Apple will be fully committed to privacy and our data remains safe. But, none of this is to denigrate Dropbox in any …
Chose Apple iCloud
Apple iCloud is more user-friendly and universal than either Box or Dropbox because most people already have an Apple product and an Apple account. Other products are fine to use, but they require that all users create a unique account and login, and that isn't always ideal, …
Chose Apple iCloud
I prefer Google Drive to Apple iCloud. That being said, iCloud does have a huge and very loyal fanbase, and as I have seen in my career it is not going anywhere. If you need a cloud platform just for filesharing, I would pick Dropbox or Google Drive over iCloud. If you need a …
Chose Apple iCloud
Google Drive is great and it offers way more free storage than Apple iCloud, however, Google is known for sharing their user's data much more freely than Apple. To some people, this might not be a big deal. I prefer to pay a few dollars for added security.

Dropbox is a …
Chose Apple iCloud
iCloud integrates all my date from phone and laptop and was more affordable. I love the security and customization options. File storage and organization is great and you can't beat having all your documents in one easily accessible place. Sharing can be easier with Box or Dropb…
Chose Apple iCloud
While I have to use Dropbox on occasion, I greatly prefer to use iCloud for file sharing. I also have used Google's Apps, and because I'm a Mac/iPhone user, iCloud has more easily fit into the normal routine of what I'm already doing and using. Dropbox has some minor features …
Chose Apple iCloud
Dropbox is the king of cloud environments, and where Apple iCloud should go to. I have tried others but don't even remember their names now. We have our own personal cloud as well. I have used cloud environments since 2007 and would love to see Apple iCloud step up to a full …
Chose Apple iCloud
Already a part of the Apple ecosystem, so if it suits our needs, we will use it. We have a Department shared Dropbox account specifically for sharing large projects with vendors, so Apple iCloud is for lighter internal projects such as shared spreadsheets for project …
Chose Apple iCloud
iCloud is probably the best option for someone who uses primarily Apple devices and services. If you are multi-platform in your technology use I would make sure you test out the free version of iCloud before you make the switch, Apple likes to play nice with Apple, which means …
Chose Apple iCloud
One Drive can allow users to collaborate in realtime and rare crashes on documents. The storage is very generous, and pricing for business, especially non-profits, is fair. One Drive also allows for better photo storage for us as a school. We can keep yearbook items and also …
Chose Apple iCloud
Apple iCloud is specially made for iOS devices. Nothing and no one will ever be able to service an Apple product's needs better than Apple themselves. The Apple iCloud software is designed specifically for iOS devices, ease of use, and mindless security for automatic backups. …
Chose Apple iCloud
The security and functionality of iCloud beats out any other products I've tried. While two-factor authentication is available elsewhere, Apple seems to take security a step further with notifications across all devices. In addition, the pricing is right - the low cost of 1TB …
Chose Apple iCloud
Overall, iCloud performs quite well against some of its larger competitors. In my opinion, iCloud may be better suited for personal and social sharing compared to business cloud platforms like OneDrive and Google Drive. iCloud is incredibly strong if your organization is fully …
Chose Apple iCloud
Apple iCloud is extremely similar to Google Drive. You’re able to access files from anywhere, even a PC, without needing to be on the device where the file was originally created.
Chose Apple iCloud
While the others are superior for file sharing with other people or teams, they aren't part of the Apple ecosystem and as such don't provide the core functionally that iCloud provides of in-app integration.
Chose Apple iCloud
Unlike other solutions, iCloud automatically backs up data without the user needing to download an additional application. Additionally, iCloud is the only application to keep and manage iPhone backups. Lastly, iCloud's pricing options are much more favorable than the other …
Chose Apple iCloud
I selected Apple icloud mainly because it is the best for using with pesky apple file types, but overall it does a pretty poor job against competitors. It is more expensive, offers less storage, and is much more difficult to use. I'd stick to an alternative program if it were …
Chose Apple iCloud
iCloud is better than any competitors for single-user cross-machine file syncing on iOS and MacOS devices. It's passable for Windows machines but definitely not as well integrated into the OS.

For multi-user file sharing scenarios (putting all of a team's shared files in one …
Chose Apple iCloud
For a Mac user in a Mac-only shop, iCloud is by far the best of breed. If your company has a mix of Mac and Windows users, it will not be the right primary tool (go to Google Drive for that). iCloud is a necessary and built-in part of a Mac user's experience and so will …
Chose Apple iCloud
Apple iCloud is convenient, as most team members already have Apple ID's and devices.
Chose Apple iCloud
I don't think it is enterprise ready like Box or Dropbox, and seems to cater more to individual users, so I use it on a personal level just for redundancy.
Dropbox
Chose Dropbox
We briefly considered Mozy and Carbonite as solutions against Dropbox, but their focus is backup first. To be honest, I'm not sure if either even offers a file sync feature any longer. They didn't solve the problem that Dropbox does in an elegant way. Apple iCloud is very …
Chose Dropbox
OneDrive works well with email servers and adapts well with Microsoft Word, which everyone is well acquainted with. With Dropbox, there is more accessibility where people can use it in a more versatile way. It is available to download without being attached to a whole suite. …
Chose Dropbox
Dropbox has been [easier] for me to use as I am not very tech savvy. When I used Google Drive I had more difficulty uploading, finding files and being able to share documents with others. I did not have this issue when I used Dropbox, and others using it found it as easy as …
Chose Dropbox
Out of all of the options I've tried to use for sharing files with clients, Dropbox has by far been the easiest and most reliable. Even though the big name companies have products I regularly use, Dropbox easily beats them in syncing with my Mac and making it easy to share.
Chose Dropbox
Dropbox is by far the most user-friendly cloud-storage solution. I do wish the overhead costs were lower though so all of our teams could use it (since when only one department does, it's not as impactful anymore). If Google Drive was a paid tool, I'm sure we would be using …
Chose Dropbox
By far the easiest to set up and manage.
Chose Dropbox
Dropbox is free and is better to be used on a desktop. OneDrive is also free and it’s better for use on a smartphone. But you can use both on either desktop or smartphone
Chose Dropbox
I have been lucky that I have liked the programs that I have selected to store my music and other files. Dropbox is a comfortable program for me, because I have access to this software through my cell phone anywhere in the world, it's free and very easy. That is why I have …
Chose Dropbox
iCloud lacks the ability to share the files with other non-Apple users. Google Drive and OneDrive do have the ability of collaboration with multiple users but their user interfaces and user experience are not as good as Dropbox.
Chose Dropbox
Dropbox is the most user-friendly when compared to similar software applications. It also seems to have the most functionality built into one program with the exception of maybe ShareFile, however, ShareFile comes at a much higher cost. I am skeptical of the security provided …
Chose Dropbox
I have free cloud storage accounts for a number of services but dropbox and Google Drive are my go-to's. I use GSuite and Android mobile devices and Drive is heavily integrated, however, all my clients use dropbox. When I start working with new clients, it's the first service I …
Top Pros
Top Cons
Features
Apple iCloudDropbox
File Sharing & Management
Comparison of File Sharing & Management features of Product A and Product B
Apple iCloud
9.0
74 Ratings
8% above category average
Dropbox
7.2
114 Ratings
14% below category average
Versioning8.650 Ratings7.098 Ratings
Video files9.270 Ratings6.9106 Ratings
Audio files9.267 Ratings7.3102 Ratings
Document collaboration8.963 Ratings7.8105 Ratings
Access control8.461 Ratings7.2112 Ratings
File search9.566 Ratings7.3113 Ratings
Device sync9.273 Ratings6.8109 Ratings
Cloud Storage Security & Administration
Comparison of Cloud Storage Security & Administration features of Product A and Product B
Apple iCloud
8.6
70 Ratings
1% above category average
Dropbox
6.9
109 Ratings
21% below category average
User and role management8.554 Ratings6.7101 Ratings
File organization8.266 Ratings7.4108 Ratings
Device management9.167 Ratings6.694 Ratings
Cloud Storage Platform
Comparison of Cloud Storage Platform features of Product A and Product B
Apple iCloud
9.3
74 Ratings
10% above category average
Dropbox
6.9
113 Ratings
19% below category average
Performance9.474 Ratings6.9113 Ratings
Reliability9.574 Ratings7.3113 Ratings
Storage Reports9.158 Ratings6.387 Ratings
Best Alternatives
Apple iCloudDropbox
Small Businesses
SugarSync
SugarSync
Score 10.0 out of 10
SugarSync
SugarSync
Score 10.0 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Score 9.4 out of 10
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Score 9.4 out of 10
Enterprises
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Score 9.4 out of 10
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Score 9.4 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Apple iCloudDropbox
Likelihood to Recommend
9.0
(74 ratings)
7.0
(133 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(4 ratings)
4.8
(21 ratings)
Usability
10.0
(21 ratings)
8.6
(23 ratings)
Availability
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(2 ratings)
Performance
8.2
(24 ratings)
8.8
(10 ratings)
Support Rating
7.5
(40 ratings)
7.3
(60 ratings)
Online Training
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(4 ratings)
Product Scalability
-
(0 ratings)
8.0
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
Apple iCloudDropbox
Likelihood to Recommend
Apple
iCloud is also great to keep access to photos synced across devices. Ex: I can snap a photo at a job site and have access to that photo on my desktop when I return to my office. I can then drop the photo into a document that is stored in iCloud and have instant access to that document on my iPad at a client's office later in the day. Seamless transitions make life much easier.
Read full review
Dropbox
Well-Suited Scenarios: Large Design Files: Dropbox is well-suited for architects who work with large design files, such as blueprints, CAD files, and 3D models. Dropbox's large file sharing capabilities make it easy to share these files with team members and clients, while its version control features allow architects to track changes over time. Limited Customization: Dropbox may be less appropriate for me who require a high level of customization in my workflow or project management.
Read full review
Pros
Apple
  • Syncing files, appointments, Notes and contacts. If I'm away from home, and set an appointment using my phone, that appointment automatically updates real time to my home laptop and vice-versa.
  • It stores files (e.g photos) nicely
  • Once it's set up, it's fairly easy to use.
Read full review
Dropbox
  • We are transferring large files and multiple files with various internal and external parties due to the ease of sharing files and folders.
  • Smart sync, so you don't have to worry about device space and search large file batches quickly.
  • Synchronizing a data file across organizations without the user having to do anything other than work is a significant benefit of cloud computing.
  • Allowing only the people who need it to have access is a huge perk and works well with other enterprise software.
Read full review
Cons
Apple
  • Customization - iCloud is great at the stuff it does well. But it lacks features that some competitors (in Google Drive or Dropbox) do really well. API support for third-party apps is really great for some other people.
  • Remote use - Managing or accessing information from iCloud while not on one of your logged-in apple devices can sometimes be an issue. From a work computer for example. It doable, but the experience is much less user-friendly.
  • Ability to edit documents on the cloud similar to google docs or some other competitors
Read full review
Dropbox
  • At one point 2 gigs [were] deemed enough for the "Free" version of Dropbox and its competition. However as even the most simple picture from a phone gets larger, 2 gigs might no longer be enough. Might want to increase the free size to adjust for file size inflation.
  • Dropbox's app is very presumptive of updating itself every time you log on to a system that it's installed on. I know that's a feature you can turn off, but the assumption to turn that feature on by default is annoying.
  • Dropbox could use a phone app function that would initiate a download to a designated computer hard drive. It would eliminate having to see the file on your phone, go to your computer, turn it on and then download the file.
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
Apple
It's so seamless that I can't imagine another product doing a better job synchronizing all of my devices. I simply do not think about it at all. Everything happens behind the scenes and I'm confident that Apple keeps my data safe and secure. I'm a happy customer as far as this is concerned. I have not had a bad experience with this service.
Read full review
Dropbox
Dropbox is a user-friendly, easy tool which requires little to no skill and they offer a free version with a good amount of storage available. There are other file sharing tools available however at a cost. Dropbox free version I have used for years and it serves every purpose I need.
Read full review
Usability
Apple
While it may be great to use with other Apple products, I find it's an absolutist-style workflow to be debilitating and to lead to many problems. When you sign into the cloud, it completely takes over your device in many ways that you don't notice at first until there is a problem.
Read full review
Dropbox
Dropbox is dead simple to us since right out of the box, it creates a folder on your PC and anything added to it gets synced to the cloud and any other device signed into that account. You can then dive deeper into permissions, version history, etc. Overall though, the minimalist approach is welcome since not everyone we work with is highly technical and that itself saves us time and money. Many of our colleagues already use Dropbox for their personal cloud so no training is required when using it at work other than going over our own company guidelines and best practices.
Read full review
Performance
Apple
Occasionally, large files that haven't yet been synced require a few minutes to pull down but I've rarely noticed delays. It does a good job of keeping data cached on my local machines while updating them with changes from other machines transparently.
Read full review
Dropbox
Dropbox is really useful, you can access any file from anywhere and you can upload and even edit files online, but, sometimes it can be slow. Downloading, uploading, and syncing is a bit slow, it can take several minutes. Furthermore, the search engine for large amounts of data can be slow too and it is not powerful.
Read full review
Support Rating
Apple
Apple customer service is fantastic. iCloud is built with Apple in mind and its design is extremely intuitive and user-friendly. Additionally, whenever our team has encountered issues, the speed of Apple support has been more than timely in addressing our issues and solving our request. We have encountered relatively few issues in my time with the platform and this only improves our overall score for those who keep the platform stable.
Read full review
Dropbox
It has not been necessary to go to customer support lately, since everything works perfectly. However, I must add that at the beginning when I started using Dropbox, and I had any doubts about how it worked, customer support was always attentive and found the best solutions effectively.
Read full review
Implementation Rating
Apple
No answers on this topic
Dropbox
I needed to stay current in improving my daily operations. Dropbox
was suggested to me by a former colleague two-years ago and I've been using it just fine ever since.
Read full review
Alternatives Considered
Apple
Apple does offer an alternative to Office & the Google Docs family but trusting to use it with both internal and external parties is tough. Google is more universal and easier for 3rd parties to collaborate with. Apple works well for a closed internal group that is native to Apple's ecosystem. Google offers more storage space than Apple
Read full review
Dropbox
Compared to Google Cloud Storage, the Dropbox app has proven to be more stable and dependable. In the meantime, Google has improved and is a great alternative. But now that we've decided to stick with Dropbox, we'll keep using it. In terms of ease of use, Dropbox appears to be the better option. It has all of the features that we require and more. It's easier to use for simple tasks, making it more convenient.
Read full review
Scalability
Apple
No answers on this topic
Dropbox
I can add and add a tin files large files and Dropbox is still working great!
Read full review
Return on Investment
Apple
  • If I lose track of my credentials or my continuing education documentation, I could end up not being able to renew my certification. This would lead to a major loss in revenue.
  • Time is money and having all of my required documents easily accessible in iCloud saves me time and allows me to work more efficiently.
  • My Apple devices were certainly not cheap purchases. iCloud has allowed me to maximize my productivity through synchronizing my work no matter which device I'm working on.
Read full review
Dropbox
  • Dropbox has a very generous free option. Once surpassed, the cost is relatively inexpensive, which makes it a low cost option for file sharing.
  • It allows us to easily share files with clients without needing to pay for other services that are email based.
  • It's wide usage and wide acceptance in the business world makes it easy to work with other individuals and companies, speeding up collaboration.
Read full review
ScreenShots