Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Dropbox VS Parse

Compare Dropbox VS Parse and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Dropbox logo Dropbox

Online Sync and File Sharing

Parse logo Parse

Build applications faster with object and file storage, user authentication, push notifications, dashboard and more out of the box.
  • Dropbox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-05
  • Parse Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17

Dropbox features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Dropbox offers a user-friendly interface that makes file sharing, syncing, and storage simple for users of any technical skill level.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Dropbox supports multiple operating systems including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, making it accessible from almost any device.
  • Collaboration Features
    The service includes features like shared folders, file comments, and real-time collaboration on documents, which are ideal for team projects.
  • File Versioning
    Dropbox maintains previous versions of files, allowing users to recover older versions if needed, which is helpful in case of accidental deletions or edits.
  • Third-Party Integrations
    The platform integrates seamlessly with various third-party apps such as Microsoft Office, Slack, and Trello, enhancing its utility in workflow management.
  • Strong Security Measures
    Dropbox offers robust encryption both at rest and in transit, along with two-factor authentication to secure user data.

Possible disadvantages of Dropbox

  • Cost
    Dropbox can be expensive, especially for businesses or advanced individual users who require more storage than what is available in the free plan.
  • Privacy Concerns
    There have been concerns around Dropbox's privacy policies and data handling practices, which might not be ideal for users particularly concerned about privacy.
  • Storage Limits
    The free version of Dropbox offers limited storage capacity (only up to 2GB), which may not be sufficient for users with extensive storage needs.
  • Sync Performance Issues
    Some users have reported issues with the speed and reliability of file syncing, which can be disruptive, especially for large files or bulk uploads.
  • File Size Restrictions
    There are file size limitations for both free and certain paid plans, which may be inconvenient for users who need to store or share particularly large files.
  • Limited Offline Access
    While Dropbox allows files to be made available offline, the process is not always straightforward and can lead to accessibility issues when internet access is not available.

Parse features and specs

  • Open Source
    Parse Platform is open-source, which means it is free to use and can be customized to fit the needs of your application without any licensing fees.
  • Rich Feature Set
    Parse provides a wide range of built-in features such as a robust database system, real-time notifications, user authentication, cloud functions, and file storage, reducing the amount of development work needed.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Parse supports multiple platforms including iOS, Android, JavaScript, .NET, and more, enabling easier development across different types of applications.
  • Community and Documentation
    There is a strong community around Parse with extensive documentation and numerous tutorials, which can help developers quickly resolve issues and learn best practices.
  • Unified Backend
    Parse allows developers to manage database, server code, and user authentication in one unified platform, simplifying backend management.

Possible disadvantages of Parse

  • Self-Hosting Complexity
    While Parse is open-source, it requires self-hosting, which involves managing and maintaining your own server infrastructure, adding operational complexity.
  • Performance
    Depending on your server setup and scaling needs, you might encounter performance issues, especially for high-traffic applications, requiring constant monitoring and fine-tuning.
  • Limited Scalability
    Parse might not be as scalable as other backend solutions like Firebase, particularly for apps that need to handle massive amounts of data and users.
  • Initial Setup Time
    The initial setup of a Parse server and its environment can be time-consuming and challenging, particularly for those without DevOps experience.
  • Feature Limitations
    While Parse offers a rich feature set, some advanced features available in other modern backend-as-a-service (BaaS) platforms may lack, necessitating custom development.

Analysis of Parse

Overall verdict

  • Parse is a good choice for developers looking for a flexible and scalable backend solution that can be deployed on their own servers or using cloud services. It is particularly beneficial due to its active community and extensive documentation.

Why this product is good

  • Parse is a popular open-source backend-as-a-service framework that simplifies app development by handling server-side components, freeing developers to focus on front-end development. It offers features like push notifications, cloud functions, social media integration, and a real-time database.

Recommended for

  • Developers who want an open-source solution with the freedom to self-host.
  • Teams building mobile or web applications that require a robust backend service.
  • Projects that need strong support for relational data and real-time functionalities.
  • Developers looking to avoid the overhead of writing custom backend code.

Dropbox videos

Dropbox Update 2019 - Is it Worth It?

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Dropbox API / JavaScript ES6 Tutorial - Expense Organizer
  • Tutorial - How To Build With Dropbox Webinar October 2020 | Dropbox API | Dropbox
  • Review - Everything You Need to Know: The NEW Dropbox ๐Ÿ“ฆ
  • Review - Dropbox Paper: Full Review (2019)
  • Review - Dropbox Review: Best Cloud Storage for File Sharing?
  • Review - Dropbox vs Google Drive vs OneDrive: The Ultimate Cloud Storage Showdown
  • Review - 2021 Best Cloud Storage | Dropbox vs OneDrive vs Google Drive vs iCloud vs Box vs Mega

Parse videos

No Parse videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Dropbox and Parse)
Cloud Storage
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
File Sharing
100 100%
0% 0
Realtime Backend / API
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Dropbox and Parse

Dropbox Reviews

  1. good cloud service

    It's much more convenient than GoogleDrive. I frequently use it to share my projects on freelance platforms. This is reliable cloud storage with many features

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Google Drive
    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Reliable|Convenient|Easy to use
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    Found none

Best Free Cloud Storage for 2024: What Cloud Storage Providers Offer the Most Free Storage?
Another big problem with Dropbox is the lack of features on the free plan. You can see the full list in the table at the end of the article, but features like the vault, smart sync, Dropbox Transfer, e-signatures, unlimited devices and offline access are all either completely missing or severely limited. You can find out more about these features in our Dropbox review.
Best Cloud Storage Services for Linux
Koofr is a cloud storage provider thatโ€™s a good option for Linux because of its Linux GUI desktop client. They have an online version, desktop and mobile versions, browser extensions, and more. The best thing about Koofr is that you can connect Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive to your Koofr account and search through all files from all accounts from Koofr.
Source: linuxstans.com
Best Top 12 MEGA Alternatives in 2024
In the world of cloud storage, there's no one-size-fits-all solution. The best MEGA alternative for you depends on your specific requirements and preferences. Whether it's Google Drive's integration, Dropbox's simplicity, or OneDrive's security, you have plenty of options to choose from. Evaluate your needs and make an informed decision to ensure your digital life is...
13 WeTransfer Alternatives (Free) in 2022
Dropbox is a file hosting service providing personal cloud, file synchronization, cloud storage, and client software. It is designed to collaborate on your projects, whether you are working alone or in a team.
Source: www.guru99.com
Best alternatives to WeTransfer of 2022
Microsoft OneDrive works like the other well-known consumer cloud storage options, the likes of Dropbox, Google Drive and iCloud: you specify the files and folders you want it to back up, and they get automatically synced with copies in the cloud, as well as all the other computers and devices where you've got OneDrive set up.

Parse Reviews

10 Top Firebase Alternatives to Ignite Your Development in 2024
If youโ€™re looking for a Firebase alternative that gives you full control and the freedom to tinker, Parse Platform is your jam. Again, itโ€™s a popular open-source framework loved by developers who want to build custom backends without being tied to a specific provider.
Source: genezio.com
Top 7 Firebase Alternatives for App Development in 2024
Back4App is a backend-as-a-service (BaaS) platform that uses Parse Server, the open-source version of the Parse backend. It simplifies backend development and management, providing developers with a robust platform for building modern applications.
Source: signoz.io
What is AWS Amplify? - AWS Amplify Alternatives
It is well-known for making the development process quick, easy, and simple. Using Parse, you may complete a day's worth of work in a few hours.
Source: mindmajix.com
2023 Firebase Alternatives: Top 10 Open-Source & Free
Community Support โ€“ If Firebase comes with the backing of Google, then Parse is also tested and trusted by Facebook. Yes, Facebook is the parent company of Parse. Therefore, it has a big community. You can find resources and solutions regarding Parse on GitHub, Stack Overflow and several other programming forums.
12 Best Open-source Database Backend Server and Google Firebase Alternatives
Parse server is an open-source database backend solution which speed up application building. It features database, user management, authentication, file upload and push notification.I used Parse for a few times, and I was satisfied with the speed and productivity it offers, especially in terms of developer tools as it comes with dozens of SDKs, libraries and sample code to...
Source: medevel.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Dropbox might be a bit more popular than Parse. We know about 28 links to it since March 2021 and only 21 links to Parse. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Dropbox mentions (28)

  • Excel What if Analysis Issue
    Even better: upload an example Excel file to a file-sharing website (box.net/files, dropbox.com, onedrive.live.com, etc), and post a download link that does not require that we log in. Source: over 2 years ago
  • How to save data on Obsidian? Worried about data loss
    Note that Dropbox automatically backs up all your files. So if you delete a file, you can recover it on dropbox.com, even 6 months later. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • How long would a USB stick last in storage?
    Upload what is on that stick to a cloud based system that is not vulnerable to degradation of hardware, you can get a lot of storage for free on sites like dropbox.com, mega.nz, or icloud. You can also always make multiple backups. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Dropbox data gone
    Did you try logging into dropbox.com and checking there? Often the files remain online even if they are removed locallY. You have to log in with the same account you deleted Locally. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Author Resources: Tools and Software
    Dropbox: You absolutely NEED backups. Ideally, both physical and cloud backups, because if you only have one backup, you're not backed up. I can't even begin to tell you how many writers have lost days, weeks, or even entire novels worth of work because they failed to back up their work, then had their computer break or had some weird software snafu. Dropbox is my preferred cloud backup solution, because you can... Source: about 3 years ago
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Parse mentions (21)

  • Supabase Alternatives ๐Ÿ”„ in 2025 ๐Ÿ˜ผ
    Parse deserves mention primarily for its historical significance as the precursor that inspired the entire backend-as-a-service space. Founded in 2011, Parse pioneered many concepts that we now take for granted in modern BaaS platforms. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • The 2024 Web Hosting Report
    Backend as a Service (BaaS) goes back to early 2010โ€™s with companies like Parse and Firebase. These products integrated everything a backend provides to a webapp in a single, integrated package that makes it easier to get started and enables you to offload some of the devops maintenance work to someone else. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • How to set up a Parse Server backend with Typescript
    Parse Server is a great way to quickly spin up a backend for your project. Parse is a Node based utility that sits on top of ExpressJS. - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago
  • Free online DB for production app
    You can try https://parseplatform.org/, it is self-hosted if you need. And also there are a number of cloud services with compatible API, like https://www.back4app.com/ It has dart-friendly generated API client, much simpler than firebase and is built on top of postgresql and mongodb. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Supabase Series B
    Not to crash the party or anything. Supabase is great and all but in terms of feature completeness and getting actual products built, it doesn't come close to Parse[0]. Same with Appwrite. Both of these are very popular but they either lack essential features or have them behind a subscription wall. For example, the OSS version of Supabase (last I checked) doesn't include the edge functions which are really... - Source: Hacker News / almost 4 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Dropbox and Parse, you can also consider the following products

Google Drive - Access and sync your files anywhere

Firebase - Firebase is a cloud service designed to power real-time, collaborative applications for mobile and web.

Box - Box offers secure content management and collaboration for individuals, teams and businesses, enabling secure file sharing and access to your files online.

AWS Amplify - JavaScript library for app development using cloud services

Mega - Secure File Storage and collaboration

Back4App - Low code backend to build apps faster and scale easily.