Being able to store and share files with a cloud drive that can be accessed anywhere and everywhere is a key tool for marketers. According to Beebom, Dropbox has over 300 million users with close to a $10 Billion valuation, and with 2GB of free storage, it is no wonder that it is the default device for cloud storage. However, there are a lot of different alternatives that marketers are using that offer even more benefits.

First, lets look at some of the ways these tools can be used for content marketing, and then examine some of the alternatives marketers are working with to improve their file sharing.

The Benefits of File Sharing for Marketing

File storage, communicating with a team, and staying organized are incredibly important for marketers. Having a way to complete tasks and integrate tools effectively is key for optimizing workflow and getting the most out your work online. Here are a few ways that marketers use these platforms in their daily work:

Collaboration. Cloud storage systems allow for easy sharing, collaboration on documents, and allow for accessing information in a secure fashion from any computer. Marketing usually requires effort on behalf of multiple individuals, so to be most effective you want your files and information to be shared with ease.

Productivity. A lot of the work that goes into marketing falls outside of the typical 8-5 workday. In fact, having a cloud storage system not only makes it easier to access your files anywhere, it makes it incredibly easy to increase your productivity. Work on the go, while you are traveling, or in the comfort of your own home without having to worry that you left important information on your office computer.

Sharing. Storage platforms make it incredibly easy to share content with prospective clients, other business/industry specialists you are working with, and others that extend beyond your immediate team. Most of the platforms we will dive into next have the ability to send a secure link to the people you choose, making it not only easy share on the go in a secure fashion, but also only with the people that you choose.

5 Alternatives to Dropbox

Now that we have an understanding of how marketers can use these cloud-based storage platforms, let’s look at 5 alternatives to Dropbox and examine the large array of options that is available for marketers.

#1 box.com

Once you place your files on box, you team can easily access them from anywhere. box.com prides itself on being a platform which caters to digital marketers (among other industries) but also makes security and compliance a top priority. The platform works with a variety of apps (see the screenshot below), and integrates well with any technology you are currently using.

Pricing

Their pricing is a “pay as you grow” platform, meaning that you can start with a cost-effective storage plan (the first 10GB are free!) and pay as you need to increase the capacity.

#2 Google Drive

Like Box, Google too has security as a top consideration for file storage. Starting with 15GB of free space it is difficult to compete with—especially since it integrates well with Gmail or any other Google app that you might already be using for work. Google Drive also functions well on mobile, making it incredibly easy to check on the go.

Pricing

It is important to note that Google Drive also has a business platform “For Work” which has unlimited storage capabilities for $10/person per month!

#3 Amazon Drive

Anyone could have predicted that Amazon would get in the cloud storage game too. Marketers can get up to 5GB of storage for free with this platform (its no Google Drive, but still nice to start off with a free version), or for $59.99 per year, get unlimited storage. Unlimited storage is really the way to go with Amazon Drive, as it is one of the cheapest rates ($5 per month) for an unlimited paid version. Again, security is a top priority with Amazon Drive, although “sharing” and “collaborative” capabilities are not promoted nearly as much as many of the other options.

Pricing

5GB free or $59.99 per year for unlimited storage

#4 Microsoft One Drive

One Drive by Microsoft makes the list because it is free to start, comes pre-installed on Windows 10, and emphasizes use for both collaboration and business. One of the coolest features of One Drive is actually the ability to markup and sign PDF documents—an especially awesome feature for business and marketing. The real time notifications are also a nice feature when you are sharing files with your team or waiting for someone to sign a PDF document as soon as possible.

Pricing

The platform includes 20GB of free storage and is priced very reasonably after that: $1.99/mo for 100 GB, $3.99 for 200 GB and $6.99/mo for 1 TB.

#5 iCloud Drive

If you use Apple products day-to-day, look no further than iCloud Drive! They promise the same security and storage capabilities (with competitive prices as the others on this list have), but promising a device-centered experience that caters specifically to Apple users. This is not to say that you cannot use Drive on Windows, but it is certainly intended to cater to syncing with Apple products (which hey, many marketers use anyway).

Pricing

You start with 1GB of free storage (or 5GB once you download the app) and then if you need to increase storage the pricing is as follows: 50 GB ($0.99), 200 GB ($2.99), or 1 TB ($9.99).

The Takeaway

Digital marketers live online, so while Dropbox is a great platform for file sharing (and probably the most well-known), there are many other platforms for strong important documents. A word of caution: do not go with a storage site that is not highly credible and well known. The five on this list are likely to be around for a while and all have solid reputations for storing!

What file sharing system do you use? Have you considered moving away from Dropbox? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.