Dropbox Paper vs Google Docs

Dropbox Paper

• Teams that already keep their files in Dropbox
• Meeting notes, briefs and plans with assigned to-dos
• People who want shared docs without paying for another tool

Google Docs

• People and teams who draft and review documents together in a browser
• Organizations that already pay for Google Workspace
• Collecting edits and comments from collaborators outside the company

Dropbox Paper

• Paper has no plan of its own: it is free with a Dropbox account, and everyone who opens a doc has to sign in to Dropbox.
• Docs cannot be edited offline; the Dropbox desktop app stores them as web-based files that open only on dropbox.com.
• No more than 50 people can edit a doc at once, and inserted files are limited to 50 MB each.
• On the new release of Paper, the Slack integration's commands and previews do not work and docs can only be exported one at a time.

Google Docs

• There is no standalone paid Docs plan; the business version comes only as part of Google Workspace, with Gmail, Drive and Meet.
• Gemini in Docs and eSignature are not in Business Starter; both start at Business Standard, $14 per user / month on a 1-year commitment.
• Offline editing on a computer works only in Chrome or Microsoft Edge with the Google Docs Offline extension installed.
• Google lists Docs for web browsers, Android, iPhone and iPad; no Windows or Mac desktop app is listed.

Dropbox Paper

Real-time co-editing

Up to 50 people can edit a doc at the same time; anyone beyond that sees it as view-only. Collaborators can be mentioned in the text to bring them into a doc.

Comments on text and images

Comments attach to highlighted text or to a selected area of an image, can mention colleagues to notify them, and can be linked to directly.

To-dos with assignees and due dates

Checklist items are assigned by mentioning someone and can carry a due date. A Things to do sidebar gathers the to-dos assigned to a user and those they assigned to others.

Tables, timelines and embedded files

Docs can hold tables, timelines and code blocks. Files under 50 MB can be dragged in and are previewed inline when Paper supports the file type.

Templates

Dropbox supplies pre-designed templates for formats such as project plans and creative briefs, and any doc can be turned into a reusable template.

Stored as Dropbox files

Docs sit in Dropbox folders as .paper files, follow the account's sharing policies and use Dropbox version history. Each doc can be exported as .docx, Markdown or PDF.

Google Docs

Co-editing, comments and version history

Several people can edit one document at the same time, leave comments and assign action items. Earlier versions can be opened and restored, and sharing settings control who can view, comment or edit.

Smart chips and building blocks

Typing @ inserts people, files, calendar events and dropdown menus, or building blocks such as meeting notes, email drafts and review trackers.

Document tabs and pageless mode

A document can be split into tabs for each part of a project or report, and pageless mode removes page breaks for continuous writing.

Gemini in Docs

Drafts and restyles documents from prompts, drawing on a user's Drive, Gmail and Chat. Among Business editions it starts at Business Standard; Starter does not include it.

Word and PDF files

Microsoft Word documents can be edited directly without making a copy, or converted to Docs format. PDF files can be imported and worked on as well.

Offline editing

Documents can be opened, created and edited without a connection. On a computer this requires Chrome or Microsoft Edge with the Google Docs Offline extension.

Dropbox Paper

• Basic$0

  Free Dropbox account with 2 GB of storage. Paper is included at no charge, with no limit on the number of docs.

• Plus$9.99

  per month, billed yearly ($11.99 billed monthly)

  For 1 person: the same Paper editor with 2 TB of Dropbox storage and 30 days of version history and deleted-file recovery.

• Standard$15

  per user / month, billed yearly ($18 billed monthly)

  Team plan with storage from 3 TB, team folders, admin controls and 180 days of version history, which also covers Paper docs.

• Advanced$24

  per user / month, billed yearly ($30 billed monthly)

  For 3 people or more: storage from 15 TB, single sign-on, tiered admin management and 1 year of version history.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Custom pricing with integrations for third-party security tools and live support from dedicated staff.

Google Docs

• Personal Google Account$0

  Create, edit and share documents in a browser or the mobile apps, with comments, version history and offline access.

• Business Starter$7

  per user / month, 1-year commitment ($8.40 flexible)

  Google Workspace with Docs and 30 GB of pooled storage per user. Gemini in Docs and eSignature are not included.

• Business Standard$14

  per user / month, 1-year commitment ($16.80 flexible)

  2 TB of pooled storage per user. The lowest Business edition with Gemini in Docs and eSignature with Docs and PDFs.

• Business Plus$22

  per user / month, 1-year commitment ($26.40 flexible)

  Everything in Standard with 5 TB of pooled storage per user, plus Vault, eDiscovery and advanced endpoint management.

• EnterpriseCustom

  No minimum or maximum user count, with data loss prevention, context-aware access and data regions; priced through Google sales.

Dropbox Paper

• Annual discount

  About 17% to 20% lower with yearly billing

  Billed yearly, Dropbox Plus is $9.99 a month instead of $11.99, Standard is $15 per user instead of $18, and Advanced is $24 per user instead of $30. Paper itself stays free.

Google Docs

• Annual discount

  Save 16% with a 1-year commitment

  Business Starter is $7 per user per month on the Annual/Fixed-Term Plan against $8.40 on the Flexible Plan. Standard drops from $16.80 to $14 and Plus from $26.40 to $22.

• Nonprofit

  Google Workspace for Nonprofits at $0

  Eligible nonprofits get Google Workspace for Nonprofits at $0, or Business Standard at $3.50 and Business Plus at $6.16 per user per month on a 1-year commitment.

• Education

  Education Fundamentals at no charge

  Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals, which includes Docs, is available at no charge to qualifying institutions.