Dropbox Paper vs Microsoft Loop

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

Microsoft Loop

• Teams that already work in Microsoft 365, Teams and Outlook
• Agendas, task lists and notes that have to stay in sync across apps
• Personal projects on a free Microsoft account

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.

Microsoft Loop

• Loop is not sold on its own: work use comes with a Microsoft 365 subscription that includes OneDrive or SharePoint storage.
• Microsoft's plans page names Loop only under Business Standard and Premium, while its Loop support page says any work account with that storage can create workspaces.
• Microsoft's support page says Loop does not currently support external sharing with guests or people outside the organization.
• Copilot in Loop needs a Microsoft 365 Copilot plan on work accounts and is not available with personal accounts, even on Microsoft 365 Personal or Family.

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.

Microsoft Loop

Workspaces

Shared spaces that group the pages, links and files for a project, so a team can see what everyone is working on and track progress toward shared goals.

Pages

Flexible canvases that bring together components, links, tasks and data. A page can be shared across Microsoft 365 apps as a link or as an embedded component.

Loop components

Lists, tables and notes that stay in sync wherever they are shared, including Teams, Outlook, OneNote and Whiteboard. They are not supported with personal Microsoft accounts.

Page templates

Templates set up a page for project context, meeting notes or a team decision, and an insert menu adds components, mentions and dates inline.

Copilot in Loop

Helps a team co-create content and catch up on changes to a page. It requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot plan and a work or school account.

Suggested files for new workspaces

When a workspace is created, Loop searches for relevant files and documents and offers to add them.

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.

Microsoft Loop

• Personal Microsoft account$0

  Loop on the web, iOS and Android with workspaces and pages. No Copilot, and components cannot be used in Teams or Outlook.

• Business Basic (no Teams)$5.40

  per user / month, paid yearly ($7.00 with Teams)

  Web and mobile Office apps with OneDrive and SharePoint, the storage license Microsoft's Loop support page says the Loop app needs.

• Business Standard with Copilot$23.50

  per user / month, paid yearly ($20.30 without Teams)

  Desktop Office apps and Copilot. The lowest business plan whose listing names Loop and the ability to create shareable Loop workspaces.

• Business Premium with Copilot$32.00

  per user / month, paid yearly ($28.80 without Teams)

  Everything in Standard plus Intune device management, Defender threat protection and Purview data protection, for up to 300 users.

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.

Microsoft Loop

• Nonprofit

  Nonprofit grant and staff pricing

  Eligible nonprofits get Microsoft 365 Business Basic as a grant, free for up to 300 users, and Business Standard, which lists Loop, at $3.50 per user / month paid yearly.