Dew and Dropbox Transfer compared
Dropbox is cloud storage with a Transfer feature for sending. Dew is a file sharing server you run yourself, built only for sending and receiving.
What you get with Dew
Free for a team of 5
Five people at work use Dew Free, with no time limit and no storage plan.
File requests to 50 people
Each person gets their own link, so every upload arrives under their name.
Protection on every link
Password, email or SMS code, IP allow list, or a single download, all on Free.
Your own address
Links and file requests live on your own domain, such as files.yourcompany.com.
Your server, your country
Files stay on infrastructure you choose and never pass through Trinode.
Single sign-on on Pro
SAML single sign-on for your team, €4 per user per month.
Side by side
| Dew | Dropbox Transfer | |
|---|---|---|
| For a team of 5 | Free | Standard: $75 per month billed yearly, or $90 monthly |
| Transfer size | No quotas; 200 GB per upload by default, adjustable | Up to 100 GB per transfer |
| Receiving files | File requests to up to 50 people, each with their own link; no account | File requests into a Dropbox folder, up to 250 GB per file; no account |
| Link protection | Password, email or SMS code, IP allow list, one-time links | Password, expiry, and download notifications |
| Address and branding | Your own domain; your logo and colors on Pro | No own domain listed; your logo and background on transfers |
| Where files are stored | Your server, in the country you choose | US by default; other regions for eligible teams of 10 or more |
| Single sign-on | SAML on Pro, €4 per user per month | Advanced: $24 per user per month billed yearly, 3 users minimum |
Compared for a team of 5: Dew Free and Dropbox Standard. Prices exclude VAT and other taxes. Email codes use your email service, SMS codes your own SMS provider. Checked on 24 October 2026; see Sources.
When Dropbox is the better fit
- Your team wants cloud storage and sync, with 3 TB plus 1 TB for each user.
- You'd rather not run a server: Dropbox is hosted for you.
Common questions
- Is there a self-hosted alternative to Dropbox Transfer?
- Yes. Dew is a self-hosted server for sending and receiving files, on your own server and domain. Free covers 5 users, with no time limit.
- What is a free alternative to Dropbox Transfer for teams?
- Dew Free covers 5 users with no time limit: send files with protected links and collect files with file requests, on your own server.
- Can I send large files without a Dropbox subscription?
- Yes. With Dew, uploads go up to 200 GB by default, your admin can raise the limit, and recipients need no account.
Sending and receiving, without a storage plan
Install Dew with one command. Free covers 5 users, with no time limit.
Sources
- Dropbox Transfer help
- Dropbox: create a transfer
- Dropbox file requests
- Dropbox plans
- Dropbox Transfer
- Dropbox: verify your email
- Dropbox SSO
- Dropbox: team activity logs
- Dropbox: where data is stored
- Dropbox Standard plan
- Dew plans
This comparison is published by Trinode, the company that makes Dew. Product names are trademarks of their owners, and Trinode is not affiliated with these companies.
Details were checked against the linked pages on 24 October 2026. Plans and prices change. Where a provider's own pages disagree, the more cautious reading is used. To report an error, email support@getdew.io.