Dropbox

What is Dropbox?

Dropbox puts a special folder on a person’s computer whose contents are copied to Dropbox’s servers and kept identical on every other device signed in to the same account. Files can also be opened through the website and the iOS and Android apps, which can upload photos automatically and scan paper documents. An online-only option keeps files visible in the folder without storing them locally until they are opened, which saves disk space on laptops.

Sharing is the other half of the product. Users send links to files or folders, including very large videos, to people who do not have Dropbox accounts, or set up shared folders that stay synchronized for a whole team. Paid plans add password-protected links, expiration dates, longer version history and the ability to roll a folder back to an earlier state, while team plans add admin consoles, single sign-on, remote device wipe and, on higher tiers, end-to-end encryption.

In recent years Dropbox has focused on AI. Dash, its AI-powered universal search tool, finds and organizes content across Dropbox and connected third-party apps for business teams, and in 2026 the company said it was building Dash’s intelligence directly into the core Dropbox product. Dropbox also offers related tools for computer backups, video review and large file transfers, and it sells Dropbox Sign for electronic signatures and DocSend for tracked document sharing.

Key features of Dropbox

1. 01

   File sync

   The desktop app keeps a local Dropbox folder synchronized across Windows, macOS and Linux computers, and online-only files save disk space by downloading only when they are opened.

2. 02

   Sharing links and shared folders

   Files and folders can be shared by link or invitation, with passwords, expiration dates and download restrictions on paid plans, and teams collaborate in shared or team folders.

3. 03

   Version history and recovery

   Earlier versions of files and deleted items can be restored for a period that depends on the plan, and a rewind feature rolls an entire folder back to an earlier point in time.

4. 04

   Mobile apps

   Apps for iOS and Android upload photos from the camera roll automatically, scan paper documents into PDFs and make selected files available offline.

5. 05

   Backup and transfer

   Dropbox Backup copies computers and external drives to the cloud, and Dropbox Transfer sends very large files to recipients, with delivery analytics on paid plans.

6. 06

   Admin and security controls

   Team plans provide admin consoles, single sign-on, tiered admin roles, remote wipe of lost devices and compliance tracking, and higher tiers add end-to-end encryption and advanced key management.

7. 07

   Dash AI search

   Dash searches across Dropbox and connected apps from one place, uses AI to surface relevant results while respecting existing permissions, and helps teams organize and share what it finds.

Who uses Dropbox?

• Freelancers and creative professionals share large design, photo and video files with clients without running into email attachment limits.
• Small businesses keep shared documents in team folders that stay synchronized for employees working in different locations.
• Individuals back up photos, documents and entire computers to the cloud and reach their files from any device.
• Construction, media and professional services firms move project files between offices and job sites while controlling who can access them.

History of Dropbox

Drew Houston started building Dropbox in 2007 as an MIT student, tired of carrying files on a USB drive, and recruited Arash Ferdowsi as co-founder. After Y Combinator, the service opened to the public in September 2008 and grew largely through word of mouth, in-product referrals and shared folders, passing 100 million users in 2012.

As its user base grew, Dropbox moved the vast majority of its users’ data from third-party cloud services onto its own custom-built infrastructure and expanded its business plans. It went public in 2018, added e-signatures through the purchase of HelloSign in 2019 and document analytics with DocSend in 2021, and began selling Dash for Business in 2024. In 2026, after its core business returned to modest growth, the company said it would integrate Dash’s AI capabilities into Dropbox itself.

1. 2008

   Dropbox opens to the public in September.

2. 2012

   The service passes 100 million users.

3. 2018

   Dropbox, Inc. lists on the Nasdaq under the ticker DBX.

4. 2024

   Dropbox begins selling Dash for Business, an AI-powered universal search tool.

5. 2026

   Dropbox announces plans to build Dash’s AI capabilities directly into its core product.

Dropbox pricing

Dropbox alternatives

Well-known alternativesGoogle Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Box, iCloud Drive, Egnyte and pCloud

Dropbox: frequently asked questions

Sources

1. Dropbox plans dropbox.com
2. Dropbox, Inc. annual report on Form 10-K for 2025 sec.gov
3. Dropbox, Inc. prospectus, March 2018 sec.gov
4. Dropbox, Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org

Last reviewed September 17, 2026. Spotted an error? Send a correction.