Dropbox is a service for file syncing and sharing, or for cloud storage.
$11.99
per month
Frame.io
Score 8.9 out of 10
N/A
Frame.io in New York offers a video collaboration platform, supporting the video editing process by providing creative teams with time stamped comments, annotations and hashtags, and an accelerated sharing and approval process, as well as integrations with popularly used editing tools (e.g. Final Cut Pro) to enhance the editing and collaboration process.
We used to use Dropbox as our main point of uploading and holding videos, but it was such a hassle because our edits came separately. It was almost just used as storage, and we had to have a separate email(s) with all of the edits coming from different departments. With …
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.
By far Frame is the best video review service out there mainly due to how easy it is to introduce to new users, including on the client side. There is not much instruction required in order to share and edit with a client and ask them to start providing feedback - the system is designed to invite users to give notes and that alone is worth the money.
Frame.io provides an intuitive interface for clients to leave detailed feedback on videos they've hired us to produce. Users can leave public or private comments and start and stop on whichever video frames they choose. Users can draw on a frame using a non-destructive marker to make specific feedback (e.g. I don't like that this window is overexposed and is distracting me from looking at the interview). This allows for making nuanced critiques that are otherwise difficult to convey without using screengrabs or long email threads.
Frame.io is easy to learn. If a user is new to the application, the software determines this and a short tutorial video pops up and teaches the new user how to interact with the application. It does this without taking the user to a new page and risk confusing a client. The software is simple to use and I never have issues with uninformed or flustered clients because of it.
Frame.io makes sharing simple. Producers can send review links within the application or copy and paste the link into an email, whichever their preference. Users can also create live presentations to walk clients through a video as well. I've not used this feature extensively, so I'm unsure of how well it works, but the option is available.
Frame.io interacts with video editing software (i.e. After Effects, Premiere Pro) using a plug-in. Before applications like Frame.io, we had to reference emails with timecodes and then decipher what the client is asking to have changed. It was cryptic, and feels archaic in hindsight. Now, the integration between the application and our software is seamless. I can revisit feedback by clicking on a comment in the review window, and it takes me to the exact point of criticism in the timeline. It's so easy to use and saves so much time.
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.
Frame.io's permissions aren't great. Each individual project has its own permissions and there is no way to set a general admin permissions to team members thus allowing them to be added to every project.
Frame.io sometimes has issues for our clients where they cannot add edits or where their film does not load.
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.
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.
I've used other video review systems, Frame was the only one I didn't question how they allowed you to review - I just started reviewing. It's that simple. It's easy to set up projects, invite collaborators, and then provide a final cut for download. It's naturally built for the kind of work that TV/Film & video production companies do.
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.
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.
I've only reached out to Frame.io a few times but they responded quickly and offered achievable solutions. The fact that I haven't had to reach out to them more is proof that the platform is easy to use, reliable, and can run on its own. The only issues we have had were related to uploading issues on our end.
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.
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.
Frame.io is better when being compared to the Google Drive as a platform just because of the usability. Frame.io has a more simple design format, that makes organizing projects and file structures much more readily available when doing a quick search. The ability to review and comment on the different projects is also better in Frame.io as it shows who said what and at what timecode they are referring to.
