Dropbox vs iCloud Drive Comparison

• 2 TB, Plus monthly: $11.99 a month
• 2 TB, Plus for 1 year: $9.99 a month, billed yearly
• 3 TB, Standard monthly, per user: $18 per user a month
• 3 TB, Standard for 1 year, per user: $15 per user a month, billed yearly

• 50 GB, iCloud+ 50 GB monthly: $0.99 a month
• 200 GB, iCloud+ 200 GB monthly: $2.99 a month
• 2 TB, iCloud+ 2 TB monthly: $9.99 a month
• 6 TB, iCloud+ 6 TB monthly: $29.99 a month
• 12 TB, iCloud+ 12 TB monthly: $59.99 a month

Dropbox encrypts stored files with 256-bit AES and manages the keys itself, so its servers decrypt files to show previews and thumbnails, run search and text recognition, and check content against its rules. File names, types and sizes sit in a separate metadata database. End-to-end encrypted team folders exist only on the Advanced, Business Plus and Enterprise team plans; personal plans have no setting that keeps the keys away from Dropbox.

By default Apple keeps the keys to iCloud Drive in its data centers and can decrypt your files, for example to restore them after a forgotten password. Advanced Data Protection, a setting turned on from an iPhone, iPad or Mac, deletes Apple's copy of the keys and leaves them on your trusted devices; Apple no longer offers it to new users in the UK. Even with it on, the file type, size, creation and modification dates and checksums of the file content and file name stay under keys Apple holds. With the setting on, iCloud.com cannot open your files until you allow web access, and then each session gets temporary keys from one of your devices.

Users in the United States, Canada and Mexico contract with Dropbox, Inc. in San Francisco; everyone else with Dropbox International Unlimited Company in Ireland, which is the controller of their personal data. The terms are governed by California law unless local law requires otherwise. Dropbox runs its production systems in data centers in the United States and says it may store and process data in other countries as well.

Users in the US contract with Apple Inc. in Cupertino, California; users elsewhere contract with a regional Apple company, such as Apple Distribution International in Ireland. The terms are governed by California law, except for residents of the EU, the UK, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland, whose local law applies. Apple keeps the keys it can use in its US data centers and may store data with third-party data centers. In mainland China, iCloud is operated by GCBD (AIPO Cloud (Guizhou) Technology Co. Ltd) under its own terms.

Listed on Nasdaq under DBX. Drew Houston co-founded Dropbox in 2007 and is now co-CEO.

Earlier versions and deleted files can be restored for 30 days on Basic and Plus, 180 days on Standard and 365 days on Advanced. Google Docs, Paper docs and Office Online files are not covered.

Deleted files stay in Recently Deleted for 30 days and can be restored. Pages, Numbers and Keynote documents keep a version history; Apple documents no version history for other files.