File sharing and data storage are two essential functions of your daily life. Using emails for sharing data with your team members is very difficult. Both Dropbox and SharePoint are different in terms of usage and working mechanism. Using Dropbox is understandable, even if you are a beginner. Sharepoint requires technical knowledge and expertise for its operation.
The terms and conditions for using Dropbox and SharePoint are different. Dropbox is independent, and SharePoint is controlled entirely by Microsoft.
Dropbox vs Sharepoint
The main difference between Dropbox and SharePoint is that Dropbox doesn’t require additional efforts as the users need to create an account for using Dropbox. On the other hand, SharePoint installation includes several steps and a difficult understanding process. Running Dropbox requires a few minutes, whereas SharePoint needs several hours for installation.
Dropbox is a completely independent product without any connection with Microsoft. This is one of the reasons why people prefer SharePoint over Dropbox. Dropbox is a good choice for people who have no IT knowledge.
SharePoint is the product of Microsoft. The integration of SharePoint and Microsoft makes it more popular than Dropbox. The operation of SharePoint is tough, as it is controlled and owned by Microsoft. Without IT support, the usage and installation of SharePoint are not possible in many cases.
Comparison Table Between Dropbox and Sharepoint
| Parameters of Comparison | Dropbox | SharePoint |
| Characteristics | Independent characteristics | Dependent characteristics |
| Usage | Easy to use | Difficult to use |
| Assent progress | Present | Absent |
| Subscription required | No subscription is required for data space less than 2GB | No subscription is required. To recover the data, office 365 is essential. |
| Used by | Individual and Employees (workers) | Large organizations |
What is Dropbox?
If you want a simple feature set for file documentation, then Dropbox is a file storage and transferring ministration with an easy usage process. Dropbox offers limited services, and this makes it less popular than SharePoint. The maintenance of Dropbox is not high, and people can use it without professional experience.
People who are not from an IT background can use Dropbox for data synchronization, cloud storage, and file security. Customer software is a vital service provided by Dropbox. There is no stress for using Dropbox if you are a freelancer. The drawback of Dropbox is the 2GB data limitation. If you are using the free version of Dropbox, then the storage limitation is 2GB.
The features of Dropbox could be available by people without any restrictions. Dropbox has simple features which are easy to understand and don’t require any expert help. Dropbox can get used on many devices, and any type of file transfer is allowed. Sensitive documents can get stored in a separate location in the Dropbox application.
Accessing Dropbox is possible without giving any security tests. One single file in Dropbox can get accessed by different people. Dropbox has no location constraints for people. This means anybody can access the file from any location with many devices. Common people with no expertise or IT experience can find Dropbox helpful.
What is Sharepoint?
SharePoint comes with a complex installation process. You can’t operate SharePoint without an expert with an IT background. In short, you can say SharePoint is for experts or professional use. SharePoint provides more services as compared to Dropbox. The accuracy and security of SharePoint are unbeatable.
This is why large originations use SharePoint for data transfer and protection. The working mechanism of SharePoint is complex as it offers high security to users. SharePoint is linked with Microsoft, and the linkage is an advantage for big platforms. The users without an office 365 subscription would get fewer SharePoint benefits.
The concept of recording libraries in SharePoint has increased its popularity. Recording libraries are the best places for storing files without any security issues. SharePoint has a password protection tool for all its users, even if users don’t have Office 365 subscriptions. In today’s world, modern techniques require Microsoft products such as SharePoint.
SharePoint is the best thing for all the requirements of enterprises or organizations. SharePoint is beneficial for a large organization, but they work equally well for a small organization. If you want well-structured features, then SharePoint is the best.
Main Differences Between Dropbox and Sharepoint
- Dropbox is not controlled by any other software and has independence for its working mechanism. On the other hand, SharePoint has no independent working mechanism and is controlled by Microsoft.
- Dropbox is easy to access and use. On the other hand, SharePoint is not easy to access and requires expert help for its installation.
- Dropbox is for individual use for small file transfer, whereas SharePoint is for large file transfer by the organization.
- Dropbox is best for freelancers, whereas SharePoint is better for professional work.
- Dropbox doesn’t require the individual to have IT knowledge. On the other hand, SharePoint requires IT knowledge for its usage and installation.
Conclusion
SharePoint and Dropbox are two great products for data transfer and security. The main difference between Dropbox and SharePoint is that both have different owners. Different owners mean different terms and conditions for usage. Dropbox is not beneficial for transferring large files. The security of SharePoint is stronger than Dropbox.
This is a reason why big organizations are fond of SharePoint. In Dropbox, the user can start after creating an account, whereas using SharePoint requires experience and knowledge. Installation of SharePoint is a stressful process if you are doing it for the first time. Dropbox would provide extra features with the help of third parties.
The extra features of SharePoint don’t require any third-party interference. The password security features in SharePoint are available to its users, whereas Dropbox gives password security features to the clients who have a subscription. Both Dropbox and SharePoint have their distinctive features.
If you want a product to transfer and store data without any special features, then Dropbox is the best for you. People looking for strong security for file protection and transfer can try SharePoint.
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359644609002268
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=0nJo1Cs9EfQC&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=sharepoint&ots=3kLIFBSBUb&sig=P2V2_xU8ZUTfLmRxuKR5vPZgmWo