Which is Better for Working Online?
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Many of the best cloud storage services offer productivity tools. Google has long been the online hero with Docs; however, Dropbox Paper offers some pretty solid competition. To find out which is best, we’ve put together this Dropbox Paper vs Google Docs comparison guide. Read on to find out which one we crown the productivity king.
If you’re familiar with Microsoft Word, you’ll find that Google Docs provides a very similar experience. Dropbox Paper offers a more modern approach to note taking, with a more minimal and intuitive interface. We talk about their capabilities in our Google Drive review and in our Dropbox review. However, we’ll unpack them in more detail throughout this guide.
Which Is Better: Dropbox Paper vs Google Docs?
Though Docs is the winner for us, it may not be the best fit for everyone. It might offer too much for basic users. Dropbox Paper’s minimalist design will be perfect for those who just need to jot down some thoughts. This is all the more true if you’re already a Dropbox user for other file types. However, if you need full power, we recommend sticking with Docs.
Who Is Dropbox Paper For?
- Basic users: Dropbox Paper is very user-friendly and will suit those who need to create only basic documents.
- Fans of modern design: Paper has a very clean design. We’re confident it will inspire your creativity while working on documents.
- Dropbox users: If you already use Dropbox to store files, we see little reason to switch to Docs.
Who Is Google Docs For?
- Large teams: Google Docs exists within Google Workspace, making it suitable for large teams working on multiple productivity tasks. It also syncs with other Google apps.
- Collaborators: Docs has advanced editing features that make it perfect for remote teams collaborating on documents either asynchronously or synchronously.
- Free users: Google Docs offers 15GB of free storage, making it a top option for free users.
Our Detailed Comparison Methodology
While researching for this comparison, we conducted compressive testing of both Dropbox Paper and Google Docs to see what they had to offer. When considering which one has the best document creator, we looked at usability, design, advanced functionality and pricing. We then compared them side by side to determine which one offers the best overall product.
Google Docs vs Dropbox Paper: Comparison at a Glance
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|---|---|---|
| 30GB – 5TB$6 / month(All Plans) | 2TB – 5TB$9.99 / month(All Plans) | |
| Review | Review | |
| Sync | ||
| Sync Folder | ||
| Block-Level Sync | ||
| Selective Sync | ||
| Bandwidth management | ||
| Sync Any Folder | ||
| File Sharing | ||
| File Link Sharing | ||
| Link Passwords | ||
| Link Expiry Dates | ||
| Folder Sharing | ||
| Folder Permissions | ||
| Link Download Limits | ||
| Upload Links | ||
| Productivity | ||
| File Previews | ||
| Edit Files | ||
| In-App Collaboration | ||
| Office Online | ||
| Google Docs | ||
| Notes App | ||
| Media Playback | ||
| Mobile Apps | ||
| Deleted File Retention | ||
| Versioning | ||
| WebDAV | ||
| Security | ||
| At-Rest Encryption | ||
| In-Transit Encryption | ||
| Encryption Protocol | AES 256-bit | AES 256-bit |
| Zero Knowledge | ||
| Two-Factor Authentication | ||
| Server Location | US | US |
| Support | ||
| 24/7 Support | ||
| Live Chat Support | ||
| Telephone Support | ||
| Email Support | ||
| User Forum | ||
| Knowledgebase | ||
| Misc | ||
| Free Plan |
Dropbox Paper Key Features:
- Online collaboration: You can add other users to your account and work together remotely on a single document.
- Easy navigation: The no-frills design makes it easy to find Paper’s features and implement them in your document.
- Password protection: You canpassword protect documents you share with others, which adds another layer of security.
Google Docs Key Features:
- Strong editing tools: Docs offers more advanced editing features, allowing you to make edits directly in the document or leave edit suggestions for more balanced collaboration.
- Embed extensions: You can add Chrome extensions to Google Docs, many of which are designed to help improve your writing.
- Diverse integration: As part of Google Workspace, Docs can be used in a range of other apps, including Google Calendar and Gmail.
Dropbox Paper vs Google Docs Pricing
You can get a free account on both platforms, but Dropbox Paper’s free plan isn’t great. In terms of pricing, Dropbox Paper is slightly more expensive than Google Docs, even when paying annually. In fact, Dropbox in general doesn’t make our selection of the best cheap cloud storage services; however, Google does. We break down the pricing in further detail below.
Dropbox Paper
Standard 200GB
- *The plan is “hidden.” To find the 200GB plan, you need to be subscribed to one of the other plans, upgrade or downgrade to the 200GB through your account’s settings.
- 200GB
More plans
Dropbox Paper vs Google Docs: Similarities
Overall, Google Docs and Dropbox Paper share a lot of the same features, including to-do lists, word count, calendar integration, document history, file export, printing and much more. Google lets you export to eight file types, while Paper only has three. Below, we compare the similarities between Dropbox Paper and Google Docs.
Dropbox Paper & Google Docs Are Online Collaboration Tools
Both services let you share work with others, work on the
same document and leave comments in documents.
The biggest selling point of both services is that in addition to creating professional-looking documents, you can also collaborate in real time online. This is useful for remote teams. A writer can draft an article in the morning, and the editor can edit it in the afternoon. Alternatively, they can work on the document at the same time, even from different sides of the world.
Both Productivity Tools Are Attached to Cloud Storage
Your documents automatically save to either your
Google or your Dropbox cloud storage.
Dropbox Paper and Google Docs are by-products of Dropbox and Google Workspace, respectively. This means any document you make will automatically sync to either your Dropbox account or your Google Drive account. Each service automatically backs up your documents, so you don’t need to worry about uploading them to the cloud.
Google Docs vs Dropbox Paper: Differences
Docs’ and Paper’s many differences are where you’ll really see what sets them apart. We explore these differences below.
Google Docs Offers More Powerful Collaborative Document Editing
Google goes a little further with its collaboration features than Dropbox.
Each service allows other users to edit documents you create. However, Google Docs goes a little further with its capabilities. In addition to editing, you can add suggested edits,giving the original creator the option to accept the edits or keep the copy in its original state. Dropbox has yet to offer this feature, which you should take into consideration before committing to a service.
Dropbox Paper Lets You Embed Almost Any Kind of Link
You can view files directly within Dropbox Paper documents.
Dropbox Paper has the upper edge when it comes to embedding links in your document. Take a YouTube video, for example. If you drop the link into Paper, you can view the video directly within the document. With Google Docs, it will just show up as a hyperlink. Check out our article on how to use Dropbox for more details.
Google Docs Offers Much More Storage for Free
Google is one of the best free options, while Dropbox is one of the worst.
If you’re looking for a free cloud storage solution with productivity tools, Docs wins the battle. You get 15GB of storage when you sign up for an account, which is a healthy amount, especially if you use it only to create documents. You get only 2GB with Dropbox Paper, which is disappointing. For more options, look at the best free cloud storage services.
Dropbox Paper Offers a Simpler & Cleaner User Interface
The simplistic look of Dropbox Paper is sure to grab minimalists’ attention.
Dropbox Paper champions a minimalist design. It offers a distraction-free environment that leaves the copy front and center on your screen. The formatting options are not crammed above the document like with Docs. Instead, they’re in a simple menu at the bottom. Google Docs’ interface is utilitarian, but it’s cluttered and often distracting.
Google Docs Pairs With Google Sheets & Google Slides
We really like the streamlined design of Dropbox Paper.
Aside from Paper, Dropbox doesn’t offer other native apps for productivity. However, Google Docs is just one element of Google’s productivity kit — you can also use apps like Sheets and Slides (for spreadsheets and presentations) with the same account. There’s also Drawings, Maps and Forms, all of which allow for collaboration.
In addition, if you use Google Calendar, you can embed your documents in calendar events. This is not possible with Paper, which doesn’t have a native Calendar app.
Dropbox Paper isn’t a total dead end, though. Native tools will always be better, but you do have the option to integrate your Google or Microsoft accounts and embed Paper documents into each calendar. On that note, it’s a good idea to check out our Dropbox vs Google Drive vs OneDrive comparison to see how these services stack up against each other.
Dropbox Paper Has More Sharing Options
Dropbox Paper provides more protection for your documents.
Docs and Paper enable you to share your documents with internal and external users. When sharing a document, Paper goes a little further than Docs, as it gives you the option of password protecting documents. You can also add enhanced access permissions, such as an expiry date for access and restrictions on who can download documents.
The Verdict: Why We Think Google Docs Wins Overall
We’ve reached the end of this Dropbox Paper vs Google Docs head-to-head comparison. As a standalone app to create new documents, Docs remains our favorite. It also plays well with other Google services. Don’t overlook Dropbox Paper, though. It certainly has enough substance to appeal to a range of users, including those who go beyond basic use.
If you’re in the market for other services that can boost teamwork, check out our selection of the best cloud storage services for collaboration. Dropbox and Google make the cut, but there are some options we believe are better. Don’t miss out.
Did you find this head-to-head useful? What is your favorite web-based app to create new documents? Which other services would you like us to compare? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading.
If You Want to Consider Other Services, Check Out…
If neither service piques your interest, there are other options. OneDrive users can turn to Microsoft Office tools, the OG of digital productivity. Check out our OneDrive review for more details. Alternatively, Apple Pages has made vast improvements and may suit those with an iCloud account.
We also recommend looking at Sync.com. It doesn’t have a native document creator, but it does integrate with Microsoft Office tools. The best part is that zero-knowledge encryption protects all your files, so no one can snoop on the documents you create. Learn more in our Sync.com review.
FAQ: Google Docs vs Dropbox Paper
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Dropbox is a cloud storage service that enables you to upload files, while Dropbox Paper is a productivity tool within Dropbox’s cloud storage app. The two are linked, and any document you create automatically saves to your Dropbox account.
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You can use Dropbox Paper to create professional-looking documents thanks to its range of formatting options. You can also use it as a space to jot down notes or brainstorm ideas.
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For simple documents, some may prefer Dropbox Paper’s minimalist user interface. However, for more powerful editing options and all-around workspace options, Google Docs is a better option.