Dropbox is an online file hosting service created by Dropbox Inc., a company founded by entrepreneurs Drew Houston and Arash Ferdowsi in 2007. Registration for the service is free, and it allows its users to securely back up and share files across several computers.
To use Dropbox, you download the Dropbox app from Dropbox.com. The app is cross-platform, meaning there is a version for each of the major operating systems (Windows, Mac and Linux). Dropbox’s pricing is based mainly on how much storage space you need. The free Basic plan includes 2 GB of storage, and paid plans offer much more space and extra features.
Installing the Dropbox app creates a “Dropbox” folder on your computer. Any files saved in this folder are automatically backed up to Dropbox’s servers and synced with every other computer and device linked to your Dropbox account. If you change files in the Dropbox folder while your computer is offline, Dropbox automatically syncs them when the computer reconnects to the internet. This makes Dropbox ideal for sharing files and collaborating with others on the same files.
With the Dropbox apps for iPhone and Android, you can view, download and add files from your phone or tablet. You can also access your files from any web browser at Dropbox.com.
Dropbox also keeps a version history of your files, so you can view past versions of a file and restore an earlier one if something goes wrong. Free accounts keep 30 days of version history, and paid plans keep it for longer.
Perhaps Dropbox’s strongest point is how easy its website and apps are to use. For example, on Windows, the Dropbox folder appears in File Explorer, so you can back up a file by simply saving it there. A Dropbox icon also appears in the system tray on the taskbar, giving quick access to recently changed files, the Dropbox website and folder, and how much storage space you have left.
Dropbox takes the security of its users’ files seriously. Files are encrypted with SSL/TLS while they travel between your devices and Dropbox’s servers, and files stored on Dropbox’s servers are encrypted using AES-256, one of the strongest encryption standards.
Dropbox is one of the most user-friendly and efficient online backup and file-sharing services available. Try it out by signing up for the free Basic plan at Dropbox.com.