# SugarSync vs Dropbox

The clearest difference is rating: Dropbox at 4.8 against SugarSync's 3.2. Dropbox also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 months). SugarSync's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11) and review sentiment (81% vs 48%). On price, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dropbox sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. SugarSync asks for nothing beyond the download.

Dropbox holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dropbox has 907K ratings behind it against 109, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 81% of SugarSync's written reviews are positive against 48% of Dropbox's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

SugarSync ships an update every 5 months, Dropbox every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SugarSync | Dropbox |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (109 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sugarsync/id288491637/reviews) | **[4.8 (907K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dropbox-cloud-storage-backup/id327630330/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 109 | **907K** |
| Positive reviews | **80.5% of reviews** | 47.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#5** |
| Size | 33 MB | 229 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [SugarSync, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/288491640) | [Dropbox, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/327630333) |

## What reviewers say

### SugarSync

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sugarsync/id288491637)

Securely back up and sync files, photos, and music across all your devices. Protect your digital life with advanced encryption and easily share or restore files. Offers automatic syncing and remote data wiping for enhanced security and convenience.

**Highlights:** Secure file backup, Automatic cloud syncing, Cross-device synchronization, Remote data wipe, File sharing and collaboration, Easy file restoration

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Seamless syncing across devices
- 🔒 Secure cloud storage
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 💡 Ability to access files remotely
- 👍 Reliable backup solution

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Syncing issues and unreliable file access
- 🔋 High resource consumption on mobile devices
- 👎 Poor customer support and lack of response
- 👎 Expensive pricing compared to alternatives

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and account problems
- Incompatibility with newer iOS versions
- Slow upload and download speeds

**Requested features**

- Offline file access and editing
- Integration with more third-party apps
- Improved photo management and viewing
- Ability to selectively sync folders/files


### Dropbox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dropbox-cloud-storage-backup/id327630330)

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Grossing · Productivity, #25 Top Free · Productivity, #37 Top Grossing (US App Store)

Securely store, sync, and share your files and photos across all your devices. Easily upload, access, and send documents, videos, and more from anywhere, even offline. Offers robust backup and recovery features for peace of mind.

**Highlights:** Automatic photo and video upload, Offline file access, Large file sharing via links, Document scanning to PDF, Version history and file recovery, Cross-device synchronization

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dropbox Simple - Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Dropbox Plus - Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| Dropbox Plus - Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| Dropbox Plus - Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| Dropbox Professional - Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Dropbox Professional - Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Dropbox Family - Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Dropbox Plus - Annual | $119.99 | per year |
| Dropbox Plus - Annual | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Reliable cloud storage
- 🔒 Secure file sharing
- 📁 Convenient file management
- 💻 Cross-device accessibility
- 📸 Automatic photo backups

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app updates
- 🔍 Confusing file navigation
- ⚠️ Unreliable upload/sync
- 💰 Expensive paid plans
- 🔋 High battery drain

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing on login screen
- Duplicate file uploads
- Incorrect file timestamps
- Incompatibility with iOS updates
- Disappearing recent files

**Requested features**

- Select all option for uploads
- Background upload support
- Integrated media player
- Increased free storage
- Flexible paid plan options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SugarSync free?

SugarSync is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Dropbox free?

Dropbox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SugarSync or Dropbox?

Dropbox is rated higher. SugarSync averages 3.2 out of 5 from 109 ratings, while Dropbox averages 4.8 from 907K ratings.

### Do SugarSync or Dropbox have ads?

SugarSync shows ads; Dropbox does not.

### Which is updated more often, SugarSync or Dropbox?

SugarSync ships an update every 5 months, and Dropbox every 2 weeks. Most recently, SugarSync was updated on September 10, 2026 and Dropbox on September 28, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*