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Software · head to head

Asana vs Dropbox

Asana logo

Asana

Software

Manage your team's work, projects, & tasks online

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Dropbox logo

Dropbox

Software

Cloud storage and file synchronization service

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Asana the free Personal tier is capped at 2 users, so it does not cover a small team; Dropbox the free Basic plan gives 2 GB of storage
  • They diverge on capability: Asana covers Multiple project views, Dropbox covers File synchronization.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Asana and Dropbox actually diverge.

Attributes where Asana and Dropbox differ
AttributeAsanaDropbox
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web
Founded20082007

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Asana

  • Multiple project views
  • Task dependencies
  • Milestones
  • Portfolios
  • Goals & OKRs
  • Workflow automation
  • Resource management
  • Reporting dashboards

Only in Dropbox

  • File synchronization
  • Cloud storage
  • File sharing
  • Version history
  • Offline access
  • Microsoft Office
  • Google Workspace
  • Zoom

Both cover

  • Slack

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Asana

  • Project planning & trackingnot Dropbox
  • Campaign managementnot Dropbox
  • Product launchesnot Dropbox
  • Event planningnot Dropbox
  • Agile & Scrum managementnot Dropbox

Dropbox

  • File backupnot Asana
  • Team collaborationnot Asana
  • Content sharingnot Asana
  • Remote worknot Asana

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Asana

  • The free Personal tier is capped at 2 users, so it does not cover a small team
  • Timeline and Gantt views, reporting dashboards and time tracking all require Starter at $10.99 per user per month
  • Portfolios, goals, workload management and approvals need Advanced at $24.99 per user per month
  • Salesforce, Tableau and Power BI integrations are Advanced or above
  • Monthly billing costs more, at $13.49 and $30.49 against the annual rates

Dropbox

  • The free Basic plan gives 2 GB of storage
  • Version history is 30 days on Plus, 180 days on Standard and 1 year on Advanced
  • File transfers are capped at 50 GB on Plus and 100 GB on the team plans
  • The Advanced team plan requires a minimum of 3 users at $24 per user per month
  • eSignature requests are limited to 3 per month on Plus and Standard

Pricing, plan by plan

Asana

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Asana review.

Dropbox

Free
  • BasicFree
    • 2 GB storage
    • File sync
    • Mobile apps
  • Plus$9.99/month
    • 2 TB storage
    • Offline access
    • Remote device wipe

Which should you pick?

Choose Asana if

  • You need multiple project views.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want task dependencies.
Asana review

Choose Dropbox if

  • You need file synchronization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want cloud storage.
Dropbox review

Questions people ask

Is Asana or Dropbox better?
Neither clearly leads. Asana starts at Free and Dropbox at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Asana or Dropbox?
Asana starts at Free and Dropbox at Free.
Does Asana or Dropbox run on more platforms?
Asana runs on Web, iOS, Android. Dropbox runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
Can I use Asana for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Asana best used for?
Asana is most often used for project planning & tracking, campaign management, product launches, event planning. Of those, project planning & tracking and campaign management are not what Dropbox is typically brought in for.
What can Asana do that Dropbox cannot?
Asana covers Multiple project views, Task dependencies, Milestones, Portfolios. Dropbox covers File synchronization, Cloud storage, File sharing, Version history. Both handle Slack.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Asana: Does Asana have a free tier?

Yes. Asana offers a free Personal plan for up to 2 users, plus free trial access to paid plans.

Source
Asana: What is the starting price for Asana paid plans?

Asana Starter plan begins at $10.99 per user per month when billed annually, or $13.49 per user when billed monthly.

Source
Asana: Does Asana integrate with other work tools?

Yes. Asana offers 200+ integrations including Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Jira, and Zoom.

Source
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Related pages

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