Businesses looking for cloud backup, storage, and synchronization solutions may end up with the popular choices IDrive Business and Dropbox Business on their shortlists.
Both offer online storage for files and share a set of features. However, while both may look similar on paper, there are huge differences between the two services that make each service better suited for certain tasks, and less suited for other tasks.
For this IDrive vs. Dropbox comparison, I tested the business plans of each service firsthand. I compared feature sets, read third-party reviews and what users are saying, and talked to business owners who have used the services to get the full picture.
What option to chose?
IDrive Business: Online Backup and File Sharing With Ease
IDrive Business is a secure cloud backup solution designed for organizations of all sizes. It offers centralized management, unlimited users and devices, server backups, and strong encryption, continuously encrypting files to protect your precious data.
Thanks to its strong file and data storage options and compliance support, IDrive is known to help businesses share and protect critical data efficiently. All your files are saved and stored securely in the cloud, ensuring these are accessible from any device, whether it’s your home or work computer, laptop or mobile devices.
IDrive offers two main plans for small and medium-sized businesses: IDrive Team and IDrive Business. The two plans share most features, including all backup options, support for user groups, Single Sign-On (SSO), and business compliance features. Both the free plan and basic plan provide essential backup capabilities, and you can easily upgrade as your backup needs grow.
A core differentiating factor is the amount of storage space, and the number of supported users and computers.
- IDrive Business supports unlimited users and computers but comes with 250 GB to 5 TB cloud storage space.
- IDrive Teams supports between 5 and 35 users and computers but comes with 5 TB to 35 TB of storage.
The second, and only other difference, is that IDrive Business supports server backups. If you pick the Teams plan, you may add server cloud backups for $5 per month and cloud server to the plan. Support for backup servers is limited to the Business plan though, which means that you need it if you want to run backup software directly on Windows server devices.
If your business is looking for an off site backup solution, IDrive offers an advanced service called IDrive Express. Business use it to send up to three physical storage devices to IDrive for backup purposes or retrieving bulk data. Subsequent requests cost about $60. It is ideal for moving large amounts of data to the IDrive cloud or retrieving the data from the cloud. All your files can be restored to their original location, ensuring seamless recovery.
Speaking of add-ons, cloud backups of Microsoft Office 365, Google Workspace, Dropbox, and Box are also supported. Each is available for $20 per year and seat. The Microsoft, Dropbox, and Box add-ons come with unlimited storage while Google Workspace backups are limited to 10 TB storage. IDrive’s integration options also include Google Drive, making it easy to manage data across platforms.
IDrive’s desktop client and sync folder make file management and synchronization straightforward, while its user-friendly interface ensures ease of use. Upload speeds are optimized for efficient bandwidth utilization, and IDrive offers more features compared to some competitors.
Lastly, there is also Endpoint Cloud Backup for MSPs and IT teams. The service starts at $14.95 per month for up to 5 devices. It backs up computers across an
IDrive Business Core Features
The two core features of iDrive are cloud backup, which lets you securely backup data from devices to the cloud, and cloud syncing, which syncs files in real-time across linked devices. Unlike competing service Backblaze, iDrive supports backups of the entire machine next to regular file and folder backup operations.
Another noteworthy feature is IDrive e2, which is the company’s cloud storage offer that works similarly to Amazon S3 and offers integrations with popular tools from Adobe and other companies.
All IDrive plans share the same backup features. You install the IDrive app on the client or server. IDrive supports native PC and Mac applications, programs for Linux and Unix servers, and apps for Android and Apple devices.
The backup service supports continuous backups, external hard drives and NAS devices, and disk cloning to create an exact copy of a hard drive. Administrators may manage computers remotely using a centralized web console.
The IDrive Cloud drive adds Dropbox-like synchronization to the service. It allows you to sync files and folders across all devices, but it lacks the collaboration features of Dropbox.
IDrive Pros and Cons
| Free version with 10 GB of online storage | No unlimited storage |
|---|---|
| Affordable pricing | Limited collaboration features |
| Comprehensive backup | Restricted sharing if Private Keys are used |
| Cloud-to-cloud backups (add-ons) | No advanced threat detection |
| Strong security | |
| Versatile syncing and sharing | |
| Chat, email and phone support |
IDrive Business Pricing
Here is how much IDrive Business costs. Note that the service is subscription-based, which means annual recurring payments.
| First Year (from) | $69.65 | $69.65 |
|---|---|---|
| Consecutive Years (from) | $99.50 | $99.50 |
| Cloud Application backup | $20 (Seat/Year) | $20 (Seat/Year) |
If you want to try its basic features, IDrive offers a free plan with limited storage (10GB). This includes essential backup capabilities and customer support. Users can easily upgrade to higher-tier plans as their backup needs grow.
Dropbox Business: Secure File Sharing and Collaboration for Teams
Dropbox Business is a file hosting, synchronization and collaboration platform in the cloud. It is designed specifically for the needs of teams and organizations. Dropbox takes user-friendliness seriously, making it easy for anyone to manage and access all your files.
The business plans build on the core foundation of Dropbox’s personal plans, which enables file synchronization between devices using a dedicated sync folder, shared folder access, online editing and viewing functionality, and more.
The desktop client offers a seamless interface for managing important files, such as documents and photos, ensuring they are securely saved and stored in the cloud. Files can be easily uploaded and downloaded at fast speeds, with efficient use of bandwidth, and remain accessible from multiple computers.
Specific features like central administrative controls, team-oriented features, and seamless integration with popular third-party services and tools tailor the product for small to medium-sized businesses.
How Does Dropbox Business Work?
Dropbox Business offers a secure, centralized workspace for individual users and teams to store, sync, share, and collaborate on files from any device the Dropbox app is installed on. Web access grants a centralized remote option to access files and shared content even on systems without Dropbox’s applications installed.
Centralized administrative controls, deep integration with popular online services such as Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, and built-in features like e-signing or automation are designed to optimize business workflows.
Main Advantages of Dropbox for Business
Here is a concise overview of the main business features that Dropbox offers:
- Fast and seamless file synchronization: Sync your own and shared files between devices. Make use of Smart Sync to store files online only and LAN sync, for speedier transfers in local networks.
- File Sharing: Share files and folders with secure links. Dropbox supports password protection, expiration dates, and download restrictions.
- Extensive collaboration tools: Dropbox Paper enables real-time document editing. Dropbox supports integrations of popular apps, including Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack, Zoom, or Salesforce).
- AI-powered productivity features: Dropbox Dash, an AI-drive search tool enables search across all Dropbox files and integrations. Other AI features include summary and Q&A, and the video editing tool Dropbox Studio.
- Excellent cross-platform support and user-friendly interfaces.
- Strong security features and compliance.
- 24/7 email and chat support.
- Centralized administration of users, licenses, permissions, and files with activity reports, audit logs and more.
Dropbox Business Pros and Cons
Thinking to use Dropbox? Before making the choice, we’d advise you to check the main advantages and disadvantages of this cloud storage service.
| Dropbox Business Pros | Dropbox Business Cons |
|---|---|
| Fast File Synchronization (Smart Sync, Lan Sync) | Limited Backup functionality (no full backups, focus on files) |
| Good sharing functionality | Lack of zero-knowledge encryption |
| Excellent built-in and integrated collaboration features | Higher costs |
| AI-powered productivity features, but dependency on third-party AI) | No advanced threat detection. |
| Advanced administrative controls | Basic automation. |
Dropbox Business Pricing
Dropbox offers two main plans for businesses: Standard and Advanced. There is also a professional plan, but this one is for individual users only, e.g., a freelancer.
Dropbox offers a free trial option for businesses to test both plans. Dropbox Free is also available. It grants 2 gigabytes of online storage space and comes with limited functionality.
- Dropbox Standard: $15 per user and month.
- Dropbox Advanced: $24 per user and month
Dropbox vs IDrive: Quick Comparison
Below is a comparison of Dropbox Business and IDrive Business that focuses on features for small and medium-sized businesses.
| Backup | Sync files, up to 365-days versioning, restore via web or apps, no full backups | Comprehensive file, disk and server backups, (up to 30 previous versions), Continuous Data Protection (CDP), bare-metal recovery, restore via web, locally, or IDrive Express. |
|---|---|---|
| Syncing and Sharing | Smart Sync and Lan Sync, secure links, Dropbox Transfer, external sharing with non-Dropbox users. | Cloud Drive enables real-time syncing, file sharing via email/links, and is less feature rich. |
| Collaboration | Dropbox Paper for real-time document editing, excellent third-party apps integrations, Dropbox Sign for e-signatures. | Limited collaboration and integrations. |
| Server support | No native server backups. | Backs up servers, supports cloud-to-cloud backups at extra costs. |
| Security | 128.bit AES encryption, good compliance (GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001, Soc 2..). Dropbox Vault, Dropbox Passwords, 2FA, remote wipe. | 256-bit AES, optional private key for zero-knowledge, good compliance (GDPR, HIPAA (with BAA), Soc 1/2/3.). 2FA, third-party audits, IDRive Express for secure physical restores. |
| Support | 24/7 email and chat support, Dropbox Learn, free learning resource. | 24/7 email, phone and live chat support, help center resources, limited community forums. |
| Pricing | Standard for $15 user/month, Advanced for $25 user/month | Team for $69.95 for 5TB/5 users/ 5 computers, Business for $69.95 for 250 GB / unlimited users / computers. Second year $99.50. Cloud-to-cloud backups $20 extra per year and seat. |
| Best For | SMBs needing real-time collaboration, file sharing, and integrations. | SMBs needing comprehensive client/server/cloud-to-cloud backups. |
What option to chose?
Conclusion: Which Cloud Storage Service Is Best for Your Business?
So, who is the winner? As you may have guessed already, there is no clear winner-takes-it-all type of scenario between Dropbox and IDrive. It boils down to your organization’s requirements and needs.
Do you need to share files between different team members, keep them in sync between all devices, enable remote access and real-time collaboration? Then it is Dropbox Business that you may want to check out first.
The service offers all that, plus AI features and excellent integration with tools like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace that you may already use.
If you need a reliable backup service, one that backs up files, folders and entire drives to the cloud preventing data loss, then it is IDrive Business that you might want to check out first.
My recommendation is that you may need both services. Backups are essential in today’s connected world. Ransomware attacks happen and hard drives may fail. You’d end up losing access to data and maybe business opportunities when you do not have a recovery plan.
Online collaboration is becoming the norm. With work-from-home programs, remote work locations, and teams that may need to connect with each other from different cities, states, or even countries, you may find that Dropbox ticks all those boxes well.
It is a good idea to make use of free trial options to get a feel for a service before making a full commitment or looking for other services that better tick the right requirement boxes.