storage.to vs Dropbox
Dropbox is a cloud storage platform. storage.to is for quick file transfers. Here's how they compare.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | storage.to | Dropbox Basic | Dropbox Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | File sharing | Cloud storage | Cloud storage |
| Account required | No | Yes | Yes |
| Max file size (sharing) | 25 GB | 2 GB | 2 GB (50 GB via Transfer) |
| Free storage | N/A (temporary) | 2 GB | 2 TB |
| Password protection | Free | No | Yes |
| Auto-expiring links | Yes (1-7 days) | No | Yes |
| Download without account | Yes | Sometimes | Sometimes |
| Price | Free | Free | $12/month |
The Dropbox Sharing Experience
Sharing via Dropbox links
When you share a file from Dropbox, recipients often encounter friction:
- • Prompts to create a Dropbox account
- • Previews that push toward saving to their Dropbox
- • Download buttons that aren't obvious
- • Large files may require recipients to have their own Dropbox account
Dropbox Transfer (Plus/Professional)
Dropbox has a "Transfer" feature specifically for file sharing, but:
- • Only available on paid plans ($12+/month)
- • Limited to 2GB on Plus, 100GB on Professional
- • Password protection and expiry require the paid plan
storage.to approach
Upload file → Get link → Share. Recipients click the link and download. No account prompts, no upsells, no friction. Password protection and expiry are free.
Key Differences
Purpose
Dropbox: A cloud storage platform for syncing files across devices and collaborating with teams. File sharing is a secondary feature.
storage.to: Built specifically for file sharing. No sync clients, no storage management. Just send files.
File Size for Sharing
Dropbox: Regular shared links have a 2GB limit. Dropbox Transfer (paid) allows up to 100GB.
storage.to: 25GB per file, free. No special "transfer" feature needed.
Recipient Experience
Dropbox: Recipients see Dropbox branding, account creation prompts, and preview interfaces that encourage saving to Dropbox.
storage.to: Clean download page. Click download, get file. No prompts, no accounts, no friction.
File Lifecycle
Dropbox: Files persist in your Dropbox until deleted, counting against your storage quota.
storage.to: Files auto-delete after 1-7 days. No storage management. Share and forget.
When to Use Each
Use storage.to when...
- You need to share a file with someone outside your organization
- You want a friction-free download experience for recipients
- You want files to automatically disappear after delivery
- You need password protection without a paid plan
Use Dropbox when...
- You need to sync files across multiple devices
- You're collaborating on files over time with a team
- You need permanent cloud backup for important files
- You need version history and file recovery
The Bottom Line
Dropbox is a solid cloud storage platform with powerful sync and collaboration features. But its file sharing experience is designed to grow its user base, which means friction for recipients.
storage.to is built purely for file sharing. No accounts, no sync clients, no storage quotas. When you need to send someone a file, storage.to gets it done without the overhead.
Use Dropbox for storage and sync. Use storage.to for sharing.