Item: Dropbox
Rating: 8
Author: Megan Coxe

Overall Satisfaction

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Dropbox is a simple, elegant cloud-based file-synchronization service, ideal for working with files shared in a single folder. Its convenience and seamless integration make it a great file-sharing choice for cross-team projects in our non-profit.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Dropbox works smoothly across Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms, including mobile devices, to the point that you barely notice you’re using it. Its clean design allows for easy access to and organization of shared files.
Dropbox gives users 2 GB of free space, with the possibility of earning up to 16 GB for referrals, while larger companies may find the more spacious, paid options more useful. Dropbox’s premium service, Dropbox for Business, has the added benefit of extra administrative tools, tech support via telephone, and unlimited version history.
The service simultaneously stores your data locally and in the cloud, making it a reliable small-scale data backup service. You can also create invitation-only folders for a hassle-free way of sharing documents with a variety of colleagues or clients.
It can keep bandwidth usage low by only sharing the revised or added pieces of files. In this way, Dropbox allows for quick file upload, access to file location, and a readily available list of files which have been recently added or changed.

Cons

Dropbox is not as well streamlined as Google Drives when it comes to collaboration and change-tracking. Currently, there are no tools to deal with conflicting versions of files saved to Dropbox, and its inability to sync from more than one location also complicates file organization.
As a freemium service, those in need of larger storage space may find that Dropbox is one of the pricier options, and is not as versatile as its other competitors, like Google Drive and SugarSync
Except for the premium Dropbox for Business service, the program is lacking in tech support options, as it only offers assistance through email.
Dropbox recently improved its internal monitoring and now offers two-factor authentication, but security may still be an issue for those sharing sensitive files and information.

Return on Investment

Dropbox has significantly contributed to our efficiency. As most of the team works remotely, Dropbox has helped us to shorten project timelines and has increased feedback on project development.
Dropbox has also been a boon to our file organization. The free introductory 2 GB of space allowed us to streamline projects at no cost, and when we needed to scale up, it was simple to do.

Alternatives Considered

Google Drives

We chose Dropbox because of its ease of use and organization capabilities. The user interface is such that it takes little to no time to train employees on how to use it. We considered Google Drives, and still use it when the project involves simultaneous collaboration, but the simplicity of Dropbox has made it our go-to file sharing software.

Likelihood to Renew

Even though it has its shortcomings, Dropbox is an exceptionally useful product for simple file sharing. It’s intelligent design and user-friendly interface have continued to facilitate project completion. However, as we expand, we will probably look to other solutions for storage and sharing as we undertake larger and more intensely collaborative projects.

Likelihood to Recommend

Dropbox is a great program for individuals and small organizations that need easy access to file sharing across multiple platforms and/or locations. You can share files with anyone via email by copying and pasting a URL, even if they don’t have a Dropbox account. Its smooth integration extends to both web-based and downloadable formats. However, Dropbox’s simplicity is also its weakness. It is not a streamlined solution for collaborative file sharing, performing far worse than competitor Google Drives in this aspect. Furthermore, the program does not allow you to share files without moving or copying them to the Dropbox folder, so if you have an established file organization system that you aren't looking to change, Dropbox may not be the best product. Overall, it works superbly for syncing files but does not have the competitive edge when it comes to large storage space or simultaneous collaboration.

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Dropbox: The Simple Solution for File-Sharing