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Technology · head to head

Dropbox vs Mimecast

Dropbox logo

Dropbox

Technology

Cloud storage and file synchronization service

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mimecast logo

Mimecast

Cybersecurity

Email and collaboration security

From
$4/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Dropbox has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Dropbox the free Basic plan gives 2 GB of storage; Mimecast no pricing is published for any product or plan, and every route ends at a quote or demo request
  • They diverge on capability: Dropbox covers File synchronization, Mimecast covers Advanced threat detection.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Dropbox and Mimecast actually diverge.

Attributes where Dropbox and Mimecast differ
AttributeDropboxMimecast
Starting priceFree$4/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebEmail, Cloud, Collaboration
CategoryTechnologyCybersecurity
Founded20072003

Identical on both: 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
  • Zoom
  • Two-factor authentication

Only in Mimecast

  • Advanced threat detection
  • Secure sharing
  • Email encryption
  • Message tracking
  • Email archiving
  • Legal hold
  • eDiscovery
  • Backup and recovery

Both cover

  • Google Workspace
  • Slack

What people use each for

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

Dropbox

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

Mimecast

  • Email security filtering against phishing and targeted attacksnot Dropbox
  • Email archiving, continuity and compliance for organisationsnot 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

Mimecast

  • No pricing is published for any product or plan, and every route ends at a quote or demo request
  • The platform is split into separately sold products for email security, awareness training, data protection and governance
  • Collaboration threat protection, DMARC analysis, incident response and email archiving are all further add ons on top of those

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

Mimecast

$4/month
  • Defender$4/month
    • Per user
    • Threat protection
    • Impersonation prevention
  • Archive$3/month
    • Email archiving
    • Legal hold
    • Search & recall
  • Unified$6/month
    • All Defender features
    • All Archive features
    • Backup

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 Mimecast if

  • You need advanced threat detection.
  • You work on Email, Cloud, Collaboration.
  • You also want secure sharing.
Mimecast review

Questions people ask

Is Dropbox or Mimecast better?
Neither clearly leads. Dropbox starts at Free and Mimecast at $4/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Dropbox or Mimecast?
Dropbox has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Dropbox and $4/month for Mimecast.
Does Dropbox or Mimecast run on more platforms?
Dropbox runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. Mimecast runs on Email, Cloud, Collaboration.
Can I use Dropbox for free?
Yes. Dropbox has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Mimecast starts at $4/month.
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 Mimecast is typically brought in for.
What can Dropbox do that Mimecast cannot?
Dropbox covers File synchronization, Cloud storage, File sharing, Version history. Mimecast covers Advanced threat detection, Secure sharing, Email encryption, Message tracking. Both handle Google Workspace, Slack.

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
Mimecast: How much does Mimecast cost?

Mimecast does not publish pricing on its website. Customers must request a custom quote by contacting the sales team at +1 617 393 7000 or using the Get a Quote button.

Source
Dropbox: Is Dropbox free?

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

Source
Mimecast: Is there a free trial of Mimecast?

Mimecast's trial and pricing options are not specified on the public website. Contact sales at +1 617 393 7000 or through their support portal at mimecastsupport.zendesk.com for trial availability.

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
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