Dropbox and Google Drive both store your files in the cloud, sync them to every device and share them with a link. The difference is what each is built around: Dropbox around fast, dependable file sync and clean sharing with anyone; Google Drive around Google's free storage and working together in Google Docs, Sheets and Slides. Here's the general comparison first, then what matters for photos — and CloudTether can upload to either, or both at once, straight from your camera.
Choose Google Drive if you want the most free storage (15 GB, shared with Gmail and Google Photos) or already work in Google Workspace and Docs. Choose Dropbox if you want the simplest syncing across Mac, Windows and Linux and the cleanest links for sending files to people outside your team. For photographers delivering to clients, Dropbox is usually the smoother hand-off; Google Drive is better value for archives and teams on Google.
| Dropbox | Google Drive | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Fast file sync and simple sharing with anyone | Free storage and teams working in Google Workspace |
| Free storage | 2 GB on Dropbox Basic | 15 GB, shared with Gmail and Google Photos |
| Desktop apps | Mac, Windows and Linux | Mac and Windows (Drive for desktop) |
| Working on documents | Opens and previews files from any app | Google Docs, Sheets and Slides built in |
| Sharing | Clean links; recipients don't need an account to view or download | Link sharing, smoothest for people already on Google |
| Team folders | Shared folders and team spaces | Shared drives on Google Workspace |
| Photos and RAW | Any file stored at original quality, RAW included | Any file stored at original quality, RAW included |
Google Drive starts with more: every Google account includes 15 GB of free storage, although Gmail and Google Photos draw on the same pool. Dropbox Basic gives 2 GB free, so most people who rely on Dropbox pay for a plan. Both sell larger plans, and Google's paid storage comes through Google One or Workspace. If you already pay for one of them, that is usually the cheaper home for your files.
Dropbox built its name on desktop sync and still has the widest desktop support, including a Linux app; Google's Drive for desktop runs on Mac and Windows. Both have apps for iPhone, iPad and Android and a web app. Google Drive's advantage is everything around it: Docs, Sheets and Slides open and edit in the browser, and Gmail attachments save straight to Drive.
Both share files and folders by link with view or edit rights. Dropbox links are the easiest for people outside your organisation: they open a clean preview and download without signing in. Google Drive shines inside a team on Google Workspace, where shared drives keep files owned by the organisation rather than one person and everyone already has an account.
For photos, both keep originals untouched — CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF and JPEG — so the choice is about the hand-off. Dropbox suits client delivery and retouchers: a shared folder syncs straight to their computer and the link works for anyone. Google Drive suits studios and agencies already on Google, and its free storage makes it a sensible archive. With CloudTether you don't have to pick: each shot uploads from your phone once and lands in a Dropbox folder, a Drive folder or both, as you shoot.
Pick Google Drive for more free storage and for teams that live in Google Docs and Workspace. Pick Dropbox for the smoothest sync and the cleanest client-delivery links. Photographers often use both — Dropbox for the client hand-off, Drive as the archive — and with CloudTether every shot can land in each, live, from the same shoot.
How live delivery works, camera by camera: camera to cloud.
It depends on the job. Google Drive gives more free storage (15 GB, shared with Gmail and Photos) and is best for teams using Google Docs and Workspace. Dropbox has the simplest sync, including a Linux app, and the cleanest share links for people outside your team.
Google Drive: 15 GB free with every Google account, shared with Gmail and Google Photos. Dropbox Basic includes 2 GB.
Dropbox is usually simplest — share links work without the client needing an account. Google Drive is great when everyone's already on Google. CloudTether can deliver to both at once, so you can hand clients a Dropbox link while archiving to Drive.
Yes. Both store any file exactly as uploaded, including CR3, NEF, ARW and RAF RAW files, so either works as a home for originals.
Yes. Many photographers deliver to clients through Dropbox and archive in Google Drive. With CloudTether one shoot can send every photo to both; the phone uploads each file once.
Yes — tether your camera to your phone with CloudTether and every shot uploads to Dropbox and/or Google Drive live as you shoot, the instant you fire the shutter — no card import.