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Dropbox vs Keycloak

Dropbox logo

Dropbox

Technology

Cloud storage and file synchronization service

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Keycloak logo

Keycloak

Developer Tools

Open-source identity and access management server.

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Dropbox the free Basic plan gives 2 GB of storage; Keycloak requires self-hosted deployment and operational expertise to install, configure and maintain
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Dropbox and Keycloak actually diverge.

Attributes where Dropbox and Keycloak differ
AttributeDropboxKeycloak
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebSelf-hosted, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Windows, API
CategoryTechnologyDeveloper Tools
Founded2007Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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
  • Slack

Only in Keycloak

Nothing recorded that Dropbox does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Dropbox

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

Keycloak

  • Organisations requiring self-hosted identity infrastructure for compliance or data residencynot Dropbox
  • Companies with existing LDAP/Active Directory systems needing federated authenticationnot Dropbox
  • Open-source projects and communities requiring free IAM without licensing costsnot Dropbox
  • Enterprises building custom identity workflows requiring fine-grained authorisationnot Dropbox
  • Teams with sufficient operational expertise to manage infrastructurenot 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

Keycloak

  • Requires self-hosted deployment and operational expertise to install, configure and maintain
  • No managed cloud option provided by Red Hat; organisations must operate infrastructure themselves or use third-party distributions
  • Clustering and high-availability configurations require additional operational knowledge
  • Community support only; commercial support requires third-party vendors or distributions

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

Keycloak

Free
  • Open-sourceFree
    • Full platform functionality
    • Self-hosted deployment
    • Community support

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 Keycloak if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Self-hosted, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Windows, API.
Keycloak review

Questions people ask

Is Dropbox or Keycloak better?
Neither clearly leads. Dropbox starts at Free and Keycloak at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Dropbox or Keycloak?
Dropbox starts at Free and Keycloak at Free.
Does Dropbox or Keycloak run on more platforms?
Dropbox runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. Keycloak runs on Self-hosted, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Windows, API.
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 Keycloak is typically brought in for.
What can Dropbox do that Keycloak cannot?
Dropbox covers File synchronization, Cloud storage, File sharing, Version history.

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
Keycloak: What protocols does Keycloak support?

Keycloak supports OpenID Connect, OAuth 2.0 and SAML 2.0 protocols for authentication and authorisation.

Source
Dropbox: Is Dropbox free?

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

Source
Keycloak: Can Keycloak integrate with existing user directories?

Yes. Keycloak supports user federation with LDAP and Active Directory systems, allowing organisations to leverage existing user directories.

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
Keycloak: Is Keycloak free?

Yes. Keycloak is fully open-source and free to deploy and use. No licensing fees are required.

Source
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