How to Cancel Dropbox in 2026 (Download Files + Cheaper Alternatives)
Updated 2026-02-21 · 7 min read
⚠️ The 2GB trap: Dropbox's free tier is just 2GB — absurdly small in 2026. Apple gives you 5GB free, Google gives 15GB, and OneDrive gives 5GB. Dropbox makes the free tier so unusable that you're forced into the $11.99/month Plus plan. But there's no middle ground — it's 2GB or 2TB, nothing in between.
What Dropbox Costs in 2026
Basic (free): 2GB storage — unusable for anything beyond a few documents
Dropbox won't delete your files immediately when you downgrade, but if you exceed the 2GB free limit, you won't be able to add or sync files:
Desktop app: Open Dropbox folder on your computer → copy everything to another location
Web: Go to dropbox.com → select all files → Download → ZIP file (up to 20GB per download)
Large accounts: For 100GB+ of files, use the desktop app's selective sync to download in batches
Shared folders: Download anything in shared folders that you need — you may lose access when others update permissions
Step 2: Migrate to Your New Cloud Storage
Google Drive (15GB free / 100GB for $1.99/mo): Best value. 15GB free includes Gmail, Photos, and Drive. Google One 100GB is just $1.99/mo vs Dropbox Plus at $11.99/mo
iCloud+ ($0.99/mo for 50GB): Best for Apple users. Deep integration with iPhone, iPad, and Mac. 50GB for $0.99, 200GB for $2.99, 2TB for $9.99
OneDrive ($1.99/mo for 100GB): Included free with Microsoft 365 ($6.99/mo includes 1TB + Office apps). If you need Word/Excel, OneDrive is essentially free
Proton Drive (free 1GB / $3.99/mo for 200GB): End-to-end encrypted. Best for privacy. Swiss servers
Dropbox will try to retain you with discounts and "what you'll lose" warnings
Select a cancellation reason → click Continue to cancel
Confirm downgrade to Basic (free)
Your Plus/Professional features work until end of billing cycle
💡 What happens to your files: After downgrading, Dropbox does NOT delete your files — even if you're over the 2GB limit. But you can't upload, sync, or edit until you're under 2GB. Your files stay on Dropbox servers but become read-only until you either delete enough to fit in 2GB or re-subscribe.
Dropbox Refund Policy
Monthly plan: No refund — access continues until end of billing month
Annual plan: No prorated refund by default. However, contact support within 30 days of purchase for a possible refund
Auto-renewal: Contact support within 30 days of the charge: dropbox.com/support
Business plans: 30-day money-back guarantee on first purchase
Why People Leave Dropbox
Price vs. value: $143.88/year for 2TB when Google One offers 2TB for $99.99/year with more features (VPN, Google Photos, shared family plan)
Feature creep: Dropbox has added Paper, Capture, Sign, Replay, Shop — none of which most users asked for. The core file sync experience hasn't meaningfully improved in years
Desktop app bloat: The Dropbox desktop app now uses 300-500MB of RAM and runs constant background processes. In 2012 it was a lightweight sync tool. In 2026 it's a resource hog
3-device limit on free: Free tier limited to 3 devices — forces paid upgrade for basic multi-device sync
Better ecosystem integration elsewhere: iCloud is built into Apple. OneDrive is built into Windows and Office. Google Drive is built into Android and Gmail. Dropbox is built into... nothing
Privacy concerns: Dropbox can access your files (not end-to-end encrypted). For privacy, Proton Drive or Tresorit are better
💰 The math: Dropbox Plus ($143.88/year) vs Google One 2TB ($99.99/year) — save $43.89/year and get Google Photos, VPN, and family sharing included. Or vs iCloud+ 2TB ($119.88/year) with seamless Apple integration. Dropbox is the most expensive option with the fewest bundled features.
Step 4: Uninstall the Desktop App
Mac: Click Dropbox icon in menu bar → Preferences → Account → Unlink → then drag Dropbox from Applications to Trash