The main difference between SpiderOak and Dropbox is their focus areas. SpiderOak emphasizes a ‘zero knowledge’ privacy approach where all data is encrypted on your device before uploading. On the other hand, Dropbox prioritizes collaborative features, making it popular for teams.
Keep reading for a detailed comparison between SpiderOak and Dropbox.
Comparing SpiderOak and Dropbox
| Platforms Supported | Cloud Storage | Integrations | Custom Branding | Pricing |
SpiderOak | Windows Mac SaaS/Web | Yes | N/A | Yes | Starts at $6 per month |
Dropbox | Windows Mac SaaS/Web Android iOS | Yes | Google Workspace, Adobe, Microsoft Office, Slack, Salesforce, and more. | Yes | Free/Starts at $9.99 per month |
Storage Capacity
To understand the unique features of SpiderOak and Dropbox, let’s assess their individual storage capabilities first.
SpiderOak offers various subscription plans with different storage capacities ranging from 150 GB to 5 TB. While users can technically upload large files, SpiderOak suggests a practical size limit of 3GB for files placed in the Hive and recommends limiting backup files to no larger than 10 GB. The storage capacity also depends on available disk space during file backup, requiring at least 10 GB of free disk space to accommodate this process.
Dropbox offers a range of storage capacities depending on the user’s chosen plan. The Dropbox Basic plan provides 2 GB of space for free. The Dropbox Plus offers 2 TB (or 2000 GB) of encrypted cloud storage. For businesses, The Dropbox Standard plan has 5 TB of storage per team, and Advanced starts at 15 TB per team.
Security
SpiderOak has several robust security features. It makes use of end-to-end encryption, meaning your data is encrypted before being uploaded to their servers and remains encrypted at rest. This is sometimes called “No Knowledge” encryption, using 2048-bit RSA and 256-bit AES encryption protocols. SpiderOak’s design also incorporates Zero Knowledge security from the ground up, ensuring that it remains unintelligible even if data is compromised without the decryption key.
Dropbox also offers robust security features to protect your files and data. It uses 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) for encrypting files at rest. For data in transit, Dropbox uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)/Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols, which are additionally protected by 128-bit encryption. Dropbox is designed with multiple layers of protection, including secure data transfer, encryption, network configuration, and application-level controls.
Compliance Standards
SpiderOak adheres to various compliance standards. Their applications, such as CrossClave, SpiderOak One, CrossClave Groups, and Semaphor, comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Additionally, their data centers meet SAS 70 Type II compliance standards. They also adhere to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirements.
Regarding compliance, Dropbox stands as a worthy SpideOak alternative as it adheres to a variety of compliance standards. The platform complies with several recognized standards, such as ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, ISO 27701, and ISO 22301. They also have SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOC 3 reports, ensuring their security, availability, and processing integrity controls. Dropbox is committed to meeting the requirements of the GDPR and supports HIPAA compliance to cater to specific customer needs.
Reliability and Uptime
SpiderOak is generally considered to have good reliability and uptime. Based on reviews from its users, SpiderOak One Backup doesn’t re-upload an entire file every time you make a minor change. This contributes to Spideroak’s efficiency and over 90% uptime. Also, the Dropbox alternative has data centers that are SAS 70 Type II compliant and are considered a Tier 3 data center by the Uptime Institute.
Dropbox is also known for its high reliability and uptime. They have committed to a 99.9% uptime via their Service Level Agreement (SLA). They maintain this reliability by running quarterly risk assessments and developing multiple layers of redundancy to guard against data loss.
Backup and Recovery
Both SpiderOak and Dropbox do a great job of recovering lost or accidentally deleted data.
SpiderOak offers backup and recovery thanks to its SpiderOak One Backup product, which provides secure cloud backup to protect your data from loss and ransomware. The Dropbox alternative supports point-in-time recovery, which means you can restore a folder or set of files as they were at a specific time. This feature is particularly useful if you need to recover data that has been accidentally deleted or altered. SpiderOak also delivers reliable cloud backup for an unlimited number of devices.
Similarly, Dropbox offers backup and recovery services. Dropbox Backup is included in all Dropbox plans, providing cloud backup and recovery tools. Your deleted files and folders are automatically backed up for up to 30 or 180 days, depending on your plan. This feature allows you to easily recover any file edits or deletions you make within this time frame.
Cost
As we conclude our comparison of SpiderOak vs Dropbox, let’s now examine their respective pricing structures.
SpiderOak offers a range of plans for its backup and recovery services. You can get started with SpiderOak with the $6 monthly plan for 150 GB of storage. For additional storage, the Dropbox alternative has a 400GB monthly plan for $11. If you need even more space, you can upgrade to 2TB for $14 per month or 5GB for heavy-duty storage needs at $29 per month or $320 per year.
Dropbox also offers a variety of plans with different pricing. For personal use, the Dropbox Plus plan costs $9.99 per month, and the Family plan stands at $16.99 per month. The SpiderOak alternative also has plans tailored to professionals and businesses. The Essentials plan is perfect for professionals and costs $18 per month. The Advanced plan (for businesses with large teams) costs $288 per user per year or $30 per user per month, with a minimum of three users. Dropbox also offers a free Basic plan with 2GB of storage.
Fill: A Better Substitute to SpiderOak
While SpiderOak offers a solid cloud storage and file-sharing solution, Fill is a strong alternative with its robust eSignature and contract management capabilities. Although not primarily a cloud storage platform, Fill’s comprehensive set of features for document storage and sharing makes it a worthy contender.
Fill redefines document storage, signing, and sharing. It uses unlimited envelopes, which act better than folders, to allow users to group and share their documents based on contract journeys. It also allows custom branding, offering you a means to personalize and imprint your brand on all documents stored.
Fill caters to the modern, digital-first world, allowing businesses to operate seamlessly online. With Fill, you access all its features from anywhere and on any device, making it an extremely flexible and convenient tool for onsite and remote work.
Another of the key advantages of using Fill is the speed at which documents can be signed. With Fill’s signature request feature, you can expedite signing documents, enhancing efficiency and productivity. The platform also allows you to design and deploy customizable, reusable templates and online forms, making data collection and contract lifecycle management effortless.
Simplify your document processes with Fill. Book a demo today.
