Technology · head to head
Dropbox vs GitHub Desktop
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Dropbox the free Basic plan gives 2 GB of storage; GitHub Desktop available for Windows and macOS only, with no Linux build
- They diverge on capability: Dropbox covers File synchronization, GitHub Desktop covers Visual Git interface.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Dropbox and GitHub Desktop actually diverge.
| Attribute | Dropbox | GitHub Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | free |
| Platforms | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web | Windows, Macos |
| Founded | 2007 | 2008 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Technology).
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
- Slack
Only in GitHub Desktop
- Visual Git interface
- GitHub integration
- Branch management
- Pull request workflow
- Commit history
- Merge conflict resolution
- Repository cloning
- Collaboration tools
Both cover
- Windows support
- Macos support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Dropbox
- File backupnot GitHub Desktop
- Team collaborationnot GitHub Desktop
- Content sharingnot GitHub Desktop
- Remote worknot GitHub Desktop
GitHub Desktop
- Git repository managementnot Dropbox
- Open source contributionsnot Dropbox
- Code collaborationnot Dropbox
- Version controlnot Dropbox
- Team developmentnot 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
GitHub Desktop
- Available for Windows and macOS only, with no Linux build
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
GitHub Desktop
Free- FreeFree
- Git repository management
- GitHub integration
- Visual diff tools
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.
Choose GitHub Desktop if
- You need visual git interface.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos.
- You also want github integration.
Questions people ask
- Is Dropbox or GitHub Desktop better?
- Neither clearly leads. Dropbox starts at Free and GitHub Desktop at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Dropbox or GitHub Desktop?
- Dropbox starts at Free and GitHub Desktop at Free.
- Does Dropbox or GitHub Desktop run on more platforms?
- Dropbox runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. GitHub Desktop runs on Windows, Macos.
- 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 GitHub Desktop is typically brought in for.
- What can Dropbox do that GitHub Desktop cannot?
- Dropbox covers File synchronization, Cloud storage, File sharing, Version history. GitHub Desktop covers Visual Git interface, GitHub integration, Branch management, Pull request workflow. Both handle Windows support, Macos support.