# Dropbox vs IDrive Photo Backup

The clearest difference is rating: Dropbox at 4.8 against IDrive Photo Backup's 4.3. Dropbox also leads on ratings volume (925K vs 699) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). IDrive Photo Backup's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dropbox sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and IDrive Photo Backup sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Dropbox holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dropbox has 925K ratings behind it against 699, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of Dropbox's written reviews are positive against 39% of IDrive Photo Backup's.

Dropbox ships an update every 2 weeks, IDrive Photo Backup monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dropbox | IDrive Photo Backup |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (925K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dropbox-cloud-storage-backup/id327630330/reviews)** | [4.3 (699 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idrive-photo-backup/id1561176163/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **925K** | 699 |
| Positive reviews | **47.8% of reviews** | 38.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#5** | — |
| Size | 229 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | +12 | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dropbox, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/327630333) | [IDrive Incorporated](https://appshunter.io/developer/295113649) |

## What reviewers say

### Dropbox

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

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Grossing · Productivity, #24 Top Free · Productivity, #35 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


### IDrive Photo Backup

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idrive-photo-backup/id1561176163)

Securely back up all your mobile photos and videos in their original resolution. This app also supports backups for Macs and offers convenient restore options. Share your memories easily and view them by timeline.

**Highlights:** Mobile photo and video backup, Mac backup, Original resolution backup, Supercharged backup and restore, Share backed up photos, Timeline view

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Auto Renewal for IDrive Photos | $2.99 | per year |
| Auto Renewal for IDrive Photos | $4.99 | per year |
| Auto Renewal for IDrive Photos | $9.99 | per year |
| IDrive Photos 100GB plan | $2.99 | one-time |
| IDrive Photos 500GB plan | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💰 Affordable pricing
- 🚀 Fast upload speeds
- 🔒 Secure data storage
- 📤 Reliable photo/video backup
- 🤝 Sharing capabilities

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Limited search and organization features
- 🔌 Unreliable background sync
- 🤔 Confusing interface and functionality
- 🔴 Deleted photos/videos removed from device

**Reported bugs**

- App won't open or launch
- Incomplete/failed backups
- Sync issues and delays
- Compatibility problems with newer devices
- Unexpected data loss or deletion

**Requested features**

- Location data for photos
- Hidden folder with passcode protection
- Recycle bin for deleted items
- Improved photo/video organization tools
- Better integration with other platforms


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dropbox free?

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

### Is IDrive Photo Backup free?

IDrive Photo Backup is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Dropbox or IDrive Photo Backup?

Dropbox is rated higher. Dropbox averages 4.8 out of 5 from 925K ratings, while IDrive Photo Backup averages 4.3 from 699 ratings.

### Do Dropbox or IDrive Photo Backup have ads?

Neither Dropbox nor IDrive Photo Backup shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Dropbox or IDrive Photo Backup?

Dropbox ships an update every 2 weeks, and IDrive Photo Backup monthly. Most recently, Dropbox was updated on October 27, 2026 and IDrive Photo Backup on October 24, 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.*