Dropbox pioneered consumer cloud storage. But its US-based hosting and rising prices are driving users to seek alternatives. Is Infomaniak\'s kDrive a credible replacement?
Plan Comparison
| Criteria | Dropbox | kDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 2 GB | 15 GB |
| 2 TB plan | €11.99/month | €5.54/month |
| Desktop sync | Windows, Mac | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| Mobile apps | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
| Online editing | Yes (Paper, Office integration) | Yes (OnlyOffice) |
| Versioning | 30 days (Plus) to 180 days | 90 days |
| Hosting | USA | Switzerland |
| GDPR compliance | Partial | Full |
kDrive\'s Price Advantage
The price difference is significant:
- Dropbox Plus (2 TB): €11.99/month = €143.88/year
- kDrive Solo (2 TB): €5.54/month = €66.48/year
- Savings: €77.40/year, or 54% cheaper
Over 3 years, you save more than €230 by choosing kDrive.
Feature Comparison
Synchronization
Both solutions offer reliable synchronization. Notable difference: kDrive provides a native Linux client, which Dropbox has discontinued.
File Sharing
Similar features:
- Sharing links with or without password
- Link expiration dates
- Read or write permissions
- Sharing with external users
Collaborative Editing
Dropbox relies on integrations (Google Docs, Microsoft Office Online). kDrive uses natively integrated OnlyOffice.
Transfer (Sending Large Files)
Dropbox Transfer lets you send up to 2 GB (free) or 100 GB (paid) without sharing access to your storage space.
kDrive offers a similar feature with download links.
The Privacy Question
Dropbox
- Headquarters and data centers in the USA
- Subject to the Cloud Act and US surveillance
- History of security breaches (2012: 68M accounts compromised)
- Encryption: Dropbox holds the keys
kDrive
- Data centers exclusively in Switzerland
- Protected by Swiss legislation (FADP)
- Outside Cloud Act jurisdiction
- Independent company with no planned acquisition
For Professionals
If you store client or sensitive data, kDrive\'s Swiss hosting offers superior legal protection and unambiguous GDPR compliance.
Migrating from Dropbox to kDrive
Infomaniak offers a direct import tool from Dropbox:
- Log in to kDrive
- Settings → Import from an external service
- Select Dropbox and authorize access
- Choose the folders to migrate
- The transfer happens directly cloud-to-cloud
kDrive\'s Limitations Compared to Dropbox
In fairness, here\'s what kDrive doesn\'t do (yet):
- Advanced Smart Sync – Dropbox is more mature with selective synchronization
- Third-party integrations – Dropbox integrates with more applications
- Dropbox Paper – A collaborative documentation tool with no direct equivalent
- Replay – Media review for creatives
Verdict
Dropbox remains an excellent product with advanced features for creative teams and international businesses. But its US-based hosting and high prices are drawbacks.
kDrive delivers the essentials of cloud storage at an unbeatable price, with the crucial advantage of data sovereignty. For the majority of professional and personal use cases, it\'s the better choice.
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