Dropbox vs Proton 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

• 200 GB, Drive Plus for 12 months: $47.88 every 12 months
• 500 GB, Proton Unlimited for 12 months: $119.88 every 12 months
• 2 TB for up to 2 users, Proton Duo for 12 months: $179.88 every 12 months
• 3 TB for up to 6 users, Proton Family for 12 months: $287.88 every 12 months

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.

File contents, file and folder names and thumbnail previews are encrypted on your device with keys generated there (OpenPGP, Curve25519). Proton can see creation and modification times, permissions, the username that uploaded each file and the size of the encrypted file. The web app receives its encryption code from Proton's servers every time it loads.

Penetration tests of the web app (September to October 2021), the Android app with its API (July to August 2022) and the iOS app (August to September 2022); no Drive audit report for the Windows or macOS apps is published

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.

Operated by Proton AG, Route de la Galaise 32, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva. Proton says it owns its server hardware in Switzerland and Germany; the Drive security page does not say which of the two countries holds Drive files. Proton discloses data only on a binding order from Swiss authorities.

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

Proton AG's primary shareholder is the non-profit Proton Foundation, based in Geneva. Proton states it has no venture capital investors.

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.

Free plan: up to 10 versions of each file, kept for up to 7 days. Paid plans: up to 200 versions of each file, kept for up to 10 years, with adjustable settings.