Apple iCloud vs. Dropbox

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Apple iCloud
Score 8.2 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 8.1 out of 10
N/A
Dropbox is a cloud storage solution, equipped with features that help users to save time, improve productivity, and collaborate with others. Users can edit PDFs, share videos, sign documents, and collaborate with stakeholders without leaving Dropbox.
$9.99
per month
Pricing
Apple iCloudDropbox
Editions & Modules
50GB
$0.99
per month
200GB
$2.99
per month
2TB
$9.99
per month
Plus
$9.99
per month
Essentials
$18
per month
Business
$20
per month per user
Business Plus
$26
per month per user
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
Most people are only familiar with Apple iCloud if they are Apple/Mac users. iCloud is also a little harder to set up access security on specific documents.
Chose Dropbox
As stated earlier, Dropbox, as an agnostic platform, just plays well with a wide variety of devices. This broad compatibility is the primary reason why I decided to switch over to the platform. Close integration within a suite of apps is hardly worthwhile when it hinders your …
Chose Dropbox
I've not considered others, but I find that Dropbox is so versatile that I have not considered another platform. Dropbox makes it so easy for what I need to do. It allows me to store lots of related information tougher and to easily search for it. It allows me to share it too.
Chose Dropbox
iCloud I have used, but I prefer Dropbox as I believe it can be used on multiple platforms, whereas iCloud seems to require all users to have Apple hardware. OneDrive I have used as well, and it seems to work fine, but again iCloud seems to be used more universally and is …
Chose Dropbox
Dropbox is easier to use and friendly with all devices even if it's not Apple.
Chose Dropbox
I think Dropbox is just the simplest and focuses on a few things rather than trying to do too much. It also doesn't rely on having a web browser open which I really appreciate.
Chose Dropbox
Google is better when it comes to simultaneous collaborative work on documents. The version history in Google is also really helpful. I'd love to be able to upload directly to dropbox from our working documents in Google.
Chose Dropbox
I prefer iCloud for personal stuff, WeTransfer is convenient to receive files but I've never used it so send some. SharePoint and Google Drive are great if you're in one of the ecosystems but Dropbox is great if you're in several ecosystems because of the way it interacts with …
Chose Dropbox
Google Drive is good, but I feel Dropbox is more reliable even though the price has gone up.
Chose Dropbox
I don't know this for a fact, but it would seem that security may be greater, (different for sure) than a zipped file due to the multiple abilities to limit access compared to WinZip
Chose Dropbox
Dropbox used to be my go-to solution. I recommended it to everyone. It provided more storage options for professionals, which is why I stopped using Google Drive. However, in my opinion, that is no longer the case. I will now be moving to a NAS storage service, as I know for a …
Chose Dropbox
Dropbox is the easiest to use. Its add-ons allows for seamless integration into several programs we as a company use regularly.
Dropbox is also a quick learn for those who have never used it. New employees in our company have mentioned they have an easier time understanding our …
Chose Dropbox
It's easier to use and more cross platform than most of the other services I've used except maybe Google Drive. It has the benefit of being a long enduring service and has a good reputation and is trusted. Where Google has a stigma for not being secure, Dropbox isn't …
Chose Dropbox
I appreciate Dropbox's seamless organization, mirroring the familiar folder structure on my Mac. Its visibility on the desktop enhances searchability, making it a user-friendly experience. Despite my loyalty to Apple products for over two decades, I find iCloud less appealing …
Chose Dropbox
I prefer Dropbox because it was the first cloud service I used and got most familiar with. I find it most universal in ease and efficiency.
Chose Dropbox
They are pretty similar and would also fit our needs. Especially Google Drive.
Chose Dropbox
Ease of use among multiple users working on various platforms, is a major department that Dropbox performs exceedingly well in. Not only you can track collaborative work among multiple users, but you can also track changes to the documents and seamlessly transition from one …
Chose Dropbox
We prefer Dropbox to iCloud or Google Drive because it's more user-friendly and more versatile.
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 …
Top Pros
Top Cons
Features
Apple iCloudDropbox
File Sharing & Management
Comparison of File Sharing & Management features of Product A and Product B
Apple iCloud
9.1
74 Ratings
8% above category average
Dropbox
7.6
584 Ratings
10% below category average
Versioning8.750 Ratings7.2446 Ratings
Video files9.270 Ratings7.9453 Ratings
Audio files9.267 Ratings8.4402 Ratings
Document collaboration8.963 Ratings7.6508 Ratings
Access control8.461 Ratings7.5545 Ratings
File search9.766 Ratings7.0566 Ratings
Device sync9.473 Ratings7.5536 Ratings
Cloud Storage Security & Administration
Comparison of Cloud Storage Security & Administration features of Product A and Product B
Apple iCloud
8.7
70 Ratings
1% above category average
Dropbox
7.3
561 Ratings
17% below category average
User and role management8.654 Ratings7.1507 Ratings
File organization8.266 Ratings7.8552 Ratings
Device management9.467 Ratings7.1471 Ratings
Cloud Storage Platform
Comparison of Cloud Storage Platform features of Product A and Product B
Apple iCloud
9.4
74 Ratings
10% above category average
Dropbox
7.6
557 Ratings
11% below category average
Performance9.674 Ratings7.6554 Ratings
Reliability9.674 Ratings8.0556 Ratings
Storage Reports9.158 Ratings7.1422 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 9.6 out of 10
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Score 9.6 out of 10
Enterprises
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Score 9.6 out of 10
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Score 9.6 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Apple iCloudDropbox
Likelihood to Recommend
9.2
(74 ratings)
7.3
(606 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(4 ratings)
6.0
(27 ratings)
Usability
10.0
(21 ratings)
8.5
(26 ratings)
Availability
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(2 ratings)
Performance
8.2
(12 ratings)
7.3
(6 ratings)
Support Rating
7.5
(20 ratings)
5.1
(33 ratings)
Online Training
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(3 ratings)
Product Scalability
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(2 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
Ultimately, Dropbox just works better when working crossplatform between Windows, Mac, Andoid, ios. It's snappier compared to Google Drive and is overall a more pleasant experience. The lack of integration with the rest of Google's suite is a small sacrifice. Image preview is also snappier and more pleasant to use compared to drive. Though any large batches that need review should be relegated to a better image gallery hosting platform like pic-time.
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
  • Dropbox's real-time collaboration features, including simultaneous editing and commenting, have revolutionized the way our teams work together.
  • On multiple occasions, we've accidentally overwritten important documents or needed to retrieve deleted files. With Dropbox, we can easily revert to previous versions or recover deleted files, preventing data loss and minimizing disruptions.
  • Dropbox excels in making file sharing a breeze. With just a few clicks, we can generate shareable links or invite colleagues to shared folders.
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
  • Change the name of the root folder, the "()" can cause problems sometimes with some tools trying to find paths inside of the root folder.
  • The upload queue becomes slow trying to upload files that have more than ~500mb of file size, even if I have 1 Gbit of speed, Dropbox gets stuck uploading single files with that rule.
  • Sometimes we can't move a shared folder from root location.
  • LAN sync seems not to be working in my experience.
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
[Its] functionality and usability are very good, however[,] on every computer that I have ever installed the app on, Dropbox assumes I want it to update the files every time I start the system up. That's not always true, but the app assumes it is. I can switch that function off, but I would rather that function default to "Off" and then I can decide to turn it on as needed.
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
Our experience with support has been limited which is a good thing. We haven't experienced any major issues with the service and most of our service interactions have been useability questions which we were able to find answers for within their knowledge base. For the few times we have reached out to support, the responses were on point, quick, and our issue was resolved in one interaction. I appreciate not being routed to a chatbot or offshored support.
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
Dropbox gives more visual control over the success of uploading. WeTransfer uploads and then sends a link to the recipient. If something goes wrong during the upload, there doesn't appear to be a way to begin again from the dropping point. With Dropbox, I can watch as it uploads. If I lose a connection, it will continue uploading where it left off when I get a new connection. This is vital in transferring large files. If WeTransfer offers that, I was never able to figure it out.
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
  • Helped us to streamline boxes of papers into electronic folders.
  • Enables a more solid backup of necessary files, not dependent on one specific computer or one specific box of papers.
  • Enabled a quicker search to locate specific files than the previously used operations.
Read full review
ScreenShots

Dropbox Screenshots

Screenshot of the action bar, that sits across the browser page can be used to record the screen, edit PDFs, upload files, create folders, get signatures, or send and track documents.Screenshot of Dropbox Replay, that lets collaborators leave frame-accurate feedback and markups directly on project files.Screenshot of Dropbox Capture, which can be used to take screen recordings, screenshots, and GIFs with one click and share them with a link.Screenshot of the interface where Dropbox lets users upload, edit, send, and sign PDFs in one place.