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2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44
When a service starts asking for money for a feature that has always been free, something is clearly wrong with it.
Dropbox recently "delighted" users with the news that now free accounts can only sync with three devices at the same time. If you want to connect a fourth device, you will either have to purchase a subscription or disconnect one of the existing clients. Dropbox has obviously decided to take the greedy Evernote route. And this focus is not its only drawback.
What's wrong with Dropbox
Limited number of devices
The indisputable advantage of Dropbox was its versatility. Clients for Windows, macOS, and, what is especially nice, Linux, as well as mobile applications for Android and iOS. Plus, Dropbox is compatible with a ton of online services and mobile apps.
The Dropbox update has nullified this advantage. What is the use of clients for all platforms if you have to pay to use them?
Fortunately, other popular cloud storage solutions have not yet reached the "enlightenment" of Dropbox. Therefore, they do not limit the number of connected devices.
Small amount of free space
A free Dropbox account provides only 2GB of cloud storage. This is little, very little. Yes, with the help of a number of tricky manipulations (sending referral links, inviting friends, connecting mobile applications), you can increase the amount of free space - I have, for example, Dropbox 9, 4 GB of space. But all this requires unnecessary actions.
Google Drive will give the user 15 GB for free - feel the difference. OneDrive and iCloud are pretty stingy, but their 5GB is still better than Dropbox's 2GB. And MEGA is even generous with 50 GB.
Unprofitable tariff plan
Dropbox is not the best deal, even if you decide to pay. For $ 99 a year, you get 1 TB of cloud space (and remove the limit on three connected devices). It's a little expensive, and it's not a fact that you need a whole terabyte. But the options are more modest.
For comparison, Google Drive offers 2 TB of space for the same 99.99 dollars. But it has others too - like $ 1.99 a month for 100GB. So you don't have to pay for a place that you just won't use. And Microsoft for 69, 99 dollars a year gives not only 1 TB of disk space, but also a license for Microsoft Office.
Lack of sync for arbitrary folders
You can sync to your Dropbox cloud only those files and folders that are placed in the Dropbox directory. Want to back up your Documents? Will not work. You can, of course, use a special one, but it's still a crutch.
But, for example, the Google Startup and Synchronization client can place any arbitrary folders that you choose. Nextcloud can do that too. What prevented you from adding this feature to Dropbox?
Lack of control over your data
This applies, in general, not only to Dropbox. All existing cloud storage has the same problem. By using them, you trust your data to third parties. Even without going into empty discourse about evil hackers and government agents, the following can be noted - the data does not belong to you.
Today you pay to some service, tomorrow it decides to close. Nothing bodes well, and here again - Dropbox decides to limit you. The data is lying to itself, lying - and suddenly it is lost, as in the case with. The only way out that allows you to somehow control your files is to create your own file server.
How to replace Dropbox
Google drive
- Price: 15 GB for free, 100 GB for 139 rubles per month.
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, unofficial Linux clients.
Almost perfect - especially for fans of the Google ecosystem. Google Drive for free gives you 15GB of storage, and it has a few good ones.
The service is integrated with services such as Gmail, Google Photo and Google Docs. In addition, Google Drive is supported by a huge number of third-party applications, not inferior in this to Dropbox. For example, the handy notes JotterPad for Android, Write for Mac, or the MiXplorer file manager work well in conjunction with Google Drive.
OneDrive
- Price: 5 GB for free, 50 GB for 140 rubles per month, 1 TB for 269 or 339 rubles for a personal or family subscription to Office 365, respectively.
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Xbox, unofficial console clients for Linux.
Microsoft will only provide 5GB for free, which is, of course, less than 15GB from Google, but more than two from Dropbox. OneDrive is the best solution for those who prefer Microsoft software. If you have an account in Windows 10, then you do not need to register.
iCloud
- Price: 5 GB for free, 50 GB for 59 rubles per month.
- Platforms: macOS, iOS, Windows.
iCloud is a solution for Apple technology owners. It is not very friendly with other platforms, although there is a client for Windows. Free iCloud will only be generous with 5 GB. But there is no limit on the number of devices that you can connect to one account.
MEGA
- Price: 50 GB for free, 200 GB for 4.99 € per month.
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Windows Phone.
MEGA stands out nicely for its large amount of free storage and has convenient clients for all platforms. In addition, MEGA applications are open source and data is encrypted on the client side.
Nextcloud
- Price: free, except for the cost of your equipment and light bills.
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
If you don't want to depend on anyone else, consider creating your own cloud storage. To do this, you need a single board computer like the Raspberry Pi (an old netbook or something like that will do as well). Connect several external drives to it, install Linux and Nextcloud - this will allow you to create your own storage with encryption, synchronization and other goodies.
In addition to the dimensionless cloud (the volume depends only on how many disks you have connected), you can set up your own calendar, address book, and even make video calls, and more. All this is free. You can be sure that the server creaking in the attic will never ask for money.
If you are looking for another cloud storage, you can check out our top. And share in the comments what you replaced Dropbox with.
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