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Technology · head to head

Dropbox vs Hive

Dropbox logo

Dropbox

Technology

Cloud storage and file synchronization service

From
Free
Rated
-
Hive logo

Hive

Project Management

Project management built for speed

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Dropbox the free Basic plan gives 2 GB of storage; Hive the free plan is capped at 200 MB of storage
  • They diverge on capability: Dropbox covers File synchronization, Hive covers Tasks.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Dropbox and Hive actually diverge.

Attributes where Dropbox and Hive differ
AttributeDropboxHive
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWeb, Ios, Android, Desktop
CategoryTechnologyProject Management
Founded20072015

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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
  • Two-factor authentication

Only in Hive

  • Tasks
  • Gantt view
  • Kanban
  • Time tracking
  • Forms
  • Google Drive
  • Dropbox
  • SOC 2

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Zoom
  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Dropbox

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

Hive

  • Project and task management with multiple project viewsnot Dropbox
  • Coordinating work, proofing and resourcing for teamsnot 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

Hive

  • The free plan is capped at 200 MB of storage
  • The Starter plan at $5 per user per month is limited to 10 projects
  • Eight capabilities are sold as $5 per user add ons on the Teams plan, including CRM, timesheets, proofing, resourcing, advanced dashboards, external users and SSO
  • Buying SSO plus a few of those add ons therefore costs more than the $12 base seat itself
  • AI credits are metered monthly at 1,000, 3,000 and 5,000 by plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Dropbox

Free
  • BasicFree
    • 2GB storage
    • File sharing and storage
  • Plus$9.99/month
    • 2TB storage
    • File transfer up to 50GB
    • PDF editing
  • Standard$15/month
    • 3TB for team
    • 180-day file recovery
    • 100GB transfers
  • Advanced$24/month
    • 15TB for team
    • 1-year file recovery
    • End-to-end encryption

Hive

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1,000 AI credits per month
    • 200MB storage
    • Up to 10 workspace members
  • Starter$5/month
    • 3,000 AI credits per month
    • Unlimited storage
    • Up to 10 projects
  • Teams$12/month
    • 5,000 AI credits per month
    • Unlimited workspace members
    • Custom fields

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 Hive if

  • You need tasks.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
  • You also want gantt view.

Questions people ask

Is Dropbox or Hive better?
Neither clearly leads. Dropbox starts at Free and Hive at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Dropbox or Hive?
Dropbox starts at Free and Hive at Free.
Does Dropbox or Hive run on more platforms?
Dropbox runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. Hive runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
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 Hive is typically brought in for.
What can Dropbox do that Hive cannot?
Dropbox covers File synchronization, Cloud storage, File sharing, Version history. Hive covers Tasks, Gantt view, Kanban, Time tracking. Both handle Slack, Zoom, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Dropbox: How much does Dropbox cost?

Dropbox offers a free 2GB plan. Plus is $9.99/month (2TB), Standard is $15/user/month (3TB team), and Advanced is $24/user/month (15TB team).

Source
Hive: Is Hive free?

Hive offers a free plan with 1,000 AI credits per month, 200MB storage, and support for up to 10 workspace members. Paid plans start at $5 per user per month.

Source
Dropbox: Is Dropbox free?

Yes, Dropbox Basic is free with 2GB of storage for personal use and file sharing.

Source
Hive: Does Hive offer annual billing discounts?

Hive offers 33% savings when choosing annual billing instead of monthly. Annual commitment discounts are available across all plan tiers.

Source
Dropbox: What is the difference between Dropbox Plus, Standard, and Advanced?

Plus at $9.99/month offers 2TB personal storage. Standard at $15/user/month offers 3TB for teams with 180-day recovery. Advanced at $24/user/month offers 15TB with 1-year recovery and single sign-on.

Source
Hive: What are Hive's add-on pricing options?

Optional add-ons are available at $5 per month each, including CRM, Finance, Proofing & Approvals, Timesheets, and Team Resourcing features.

Source
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