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Software · head to head

Dropbox vs Asana

Dropbox logo

Dropbox

Software

Cloud storage and file synchronization service

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Asana logo

Asana

Software

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

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

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Dropbox and Asana actually diverge.

Attributes where Dropbox and Asana differ
AttributeDropboxAsana
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20072008

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 Dropbox

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

Only in Asana

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

Both cover

  • Slack

What people use each for

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

Dropbox

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

Asana

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Dropbox

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

Asana

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Asana review.

Which should you pick?

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

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

Questions people ask

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

More on Dropbox

More on Asana

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