Proton Drive vs Dropbox
Last updated October 2026
Looking for a European alternative to Dropbox? Here's how Proton Drive compares, on EU hosting, GDPR and what it does.
Our pick for a European buyer: Proton Drive. We weight data residency, GDPR and EU jurisdiction above everything else — that is the constraint this directory exists to solve.
What it is
Swiss end-to-end encrypted cloud storage that keeps keys on the user's device.
Cloud storage and file synchronization service for teams and individuals.
Headquarters
🇨🇭 CH
🇺🇸 US · 2007
EU data residency
not established
Available on some plansEU data residency available on Enterprise plans or by request.
DSGVO / GDPR
Yes
Yes
Certifications
No
ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, ISO 27701, ISO 22301
Price from
$4.99/mo
$9.99/user/mo
Free plan
Yes
Yes
Open Source
Yes
No
Integrations
No
Slack, Zoom, Trello, Asana, Adobe Creative Cloud +6
Where each one wins
Proton Drive
Strengths
- +End-to-end encryption and zero-knowledge architecture ensure only users control access to their data
- +User-friendly, modern interface with smooth mobile apps for iOS and Android
- +Straightforward file and folder sharing with password protection and expiration dates
- +Seamless integration with other Proton apps (Mail, Calendar, VPN)
- +Strong privacy focus and transparency, including open-source components
- +Compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, and other data protection regulations
- +Swiss-based hosting with strict data sovereignty and privacy laws
Limitations
- −Free plan offers only 5 GB storage, premium plans are relatively expensive
- −Missing features compared to competitors (e.g., no spreadsheet or presentation tools, no Linux client)
- −Performance issues, including slow upload/download speeds and limited video preview (100 MB cap)
Dropbox
Strengths
- +Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- +Reliable file synchronization across devices
- +Strong collaboration features with Dropbox Paper
- +Seamless integrations with third-party apps
Limitations
- −Limited free storage (2 GB)
- −Higher-tier plans can be expensive for small teams
- −Occasional sync delays reported by users
- −Advanced features locked behind higher-priced plans
Data residency & compliance
Proton Drive
Dropbox
EU data residency
not established
Available on some plansEU data residency available on Enterprise plans or by request.
Transfer mechanism
not established
Standard Contractual Clauses
Certifications
No
ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, ISO 27701, ISO 22301
Pricing
Proton Drive
- Free Free per month1 GB storage (shared across Proton Mail, Calendar, and Drive) · 1 user · Basic features including end-to-end encryption and file sharing
- Drive Plus $4.99 per month200 GB storage (shared across Proton services) · 1 user · End-to-end encrypted file storage and sharing
- Unlimited $12.99 per month500 GB storage (shared across Proton services) · 1 user · Includes Proton VPN, encrypted password manager, and advanced account protection
- Family $29.99 per month3 TB storage (shared across Proton services) · Up to 6 users · All Unlimited features for the whole family
Pricing is for Proton's bundled plans; storage and features are shared across Proton Mail, Calendar, VPN, and Drive. Exact pricing for Drive alone is not separately published.
Dropbox
- Basic Free per user/month2 GB storage · Limited file sharing · Basic collaboration tools
- Plus $9.99 per user/month2 TB storage · Advanced sharing controls · Priority email support
- Professional $16.58 per user/month3 TB storage · Full-text search · 180-day file recovery
- Standard $15 per user/month (min 3 users)5 TB shared storage · Team management tools · Admin console for user management
- Advanced $25 per user/month (min 3 users)Unlimited storage · Advanced security controls · Audit logs
- Enterprise On request CustomUnlimited storage · Enterprise-grade security · Dedicated support
Pricing varies by region and plan. Enterprise pricing is custom and requires contacting sales.
Features
Proton Drive
- File Storage
- End-to-end encrypted cloud storage, Storage for files of any size (documents, photos, videos), File and folder names and metadata encrypted on device before upload, Protected by Swiss privacy laws
- File Sharing
- Share files, photos, documents, and spreadsheets with anyone, Secure, shareable links for file sharing, Advanced security options: password protection and link expiration dates, Control over shared files (e.g., disable sharing links)
- Photos & Albums
- Automatic mobile backups for photos and videos, Collaborative albums for sharing and reliving moments
- Sync & Access
- Desktop file syncing (Windows) for any folder with cloud storage, Access and manage files on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and web apps
- Collaboration Tools
- Proton Docs: Online document editor with end-to-end encryption, Proton Sheets: Encrypted spreadsheets with formulas and charts
Dropbox
- File Management
- Store and sync files across devices, Version history and file recovery, Large file transfers via shared links, Granular access permissions
- Security & Compliance
- Two-factor authentication (2FA), Encryption at rest and in transit, Compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, and others, Audit logs for enterprise plans
- Collaboration
- Real-time co-editing in Dropbox Paper, Commenting and task assignments, Team folders for shared access, Integration with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
- Administration
- User and group management, Device approval and remote wipe, Single sign-on (SSO) support, Custom branding for enterprise
- Integrations
- Slack, Zoom, Trello, Asana