"Do you have a pen drive, CD, or Hard Disk– I have to copy these essential files to my device?"

There was a time when shifting data from one device to another was a dispute. People used to spend a hefty amount on buying, managing, and exchanging these external memory spaces to share data.

But then cloud storage platforms have taken over the market.

These platforms allowed a convenient way to collect a heap of data at the corresponding place, substituting external memory spaces. They made it simpler to access and share data anytime and affordable. 

The result of this is that the cloud storage market expects to increase from $21.17B in 2015 to $97.41B by the year 2022. 

Soon, if you are thinking of funding in cloud storage app development, this blog will be useful information for you. 

Here, we will discuss Dropbox – one of the famous names in the cloud storage market, take account of its features and tech stack, and, ultimately, discover the Dropbox-like app development cost. Something which will clarify your path to climb into the market and make higher profits.

But, before we center entirely on Dropbox, it is good to know regarding other top players in the market. Let's have a look at which all brands are successful in the Cloud storage market.

With this included, let's have a short introduction to Dropbox. And then, look on how to build a Dropbox-like app from a technical aspect.

An Essential Information about Dropbox

Founded in 2007 by Arash Ferdowsi and Drew Houston, Dropbox is a file hosting service that provides ample options to the audience, including cloud storage, personal cloud, file synchronization, and client software.

The company got the Crunchie Award for the Biggest Internet Application in 2010, Editor's Choice Award for Software by MacWorld in 2009. It has made the name of being one of the Y Combinator’s most successful investments to age, with a valuation of throughout USD 12B and the addition of 25 firms, including HelloSign, Predictive Edge, CloudOn, and Droptalk.

Dropbox is accessible both in the form of a website interface and iOS and Android mobile applications and gives users a free space of 2GB on the cloud. However, it has also got up with a new feature called Dropbox Plus, which extends this cloud storage to 2TB besides functionalities like an automatic backup of camera records and offline access for only $9.99/month.  

What's more, the application works in a more natural, simplified, and effective manner.

What Challenges Does Dropbox Solve in the Market?

1. Disorganization and Inconvenience

The foremost issues that Dropbox resolved are disorganization and inconvenience.

The platform provides users with a choice to simply drag and drop files, share with others, add labels,  alongside getting them organized in a particular order automatically. It gave users an escape from buying hundreds of external memory disks, adding/saving data onto them, managing them, etc. 

2. Security and Recovery Issues

Unlike earlier means, Dropbox provides a cloud storage service where data is distributed on multiple servers and safeguarded from renowned malware. Also, the application offered the assistance of automated snapshots and backups, and that supported users with a safe experience.  

3. Hassle of Collaboration

before, collaborating a complete organization onto the same file was a trifle less than an incredible task. 

Dropbox resolved this issue by offering the option to edit and access the same document on various platforms at the equivalent time while sitting in different corners of the earth, which counted under the prime benefits of the Dropbox app. 

4. Higher Cost

Above each, the platform allowed users to enjoy the most excellent of cloud services for free (premium model for enhanced services). They were no further needs to spend on managing and buying and external storage devices like Hard disks and Pen drives. 

It's time to turn for the technical aspect of what it takes to develop a dropbox like an app – beginning with app features. 

Best Features of Dropbox App

1. Create a Folder/Document 

One of the chief features of the Dropbox app is that it lets users create a document or folder that would contain all the data to be stored on the cloud. 

2. Take a Photo 

This feature allows users to click an image and upload it in the cloud in real-time. 

3. Upload Videos/Photos/Files 

With this feature, users can upload any document, photo,  or video stored on their local device to the cloud. 

4. Scan a Document 

Dropbox also allows the option to scan any single document and get it stored on the cloud.

5. Add File from a Computer 

When the user goes to the webpage dropbox.com/connect, a QR code shows on the screen. While you scan it from your dropbox application, the dropbox setup captures downloaded on your device. On installing it, you can quickly upload files saved on your computer to the cloud and access on both laptop and mobile. 

6. Offline Access 

A different feature of Dropbox is that it is open for use even when there's limited or no internet. 

7. Notifications 

The notification functionality of the Dropbox application holds users notified about the state of every action performed on the platform. 

8. Search 

This feature makes it easy for users to search for any particular file/document. 

9. Dropbox Paper 

Dropbox Paper is a collaborative workspace that assists coworkers in building and sharing ideas while serving on the different /same project. 

10.Download and Preview 

By this feature, Dropbox also gives the functionality of downloading and viewing any file /document uploaded by you or shared by someone else on the platform.

11. Share a File

Utilizing this feature, users can simply share a file with any other dropbox account owner.

12. Copy Link

This functionality also provides an alternative to copying the link of your uploaded file.

13. Manage Access

The Dropbox’s feature eases the process of safeguarding sensitive information by giving users the power to determine who should have access to edit /view to their documents.

14. Export

Last but not least, the export function of Dropbox – as described from the name – lets users export the file on the local device memory or other apps.

These features are undeniable, enticing, and exciting. But, what makes users attracted to this application is the user experience it provides. A bit about which we will talk in the next section of the

blog.

UX/UI Analysis of Dropbox-like Application

1. Animated Onboarding Screens

Dropbox has correctly used the power of Motion design in its application. They have combined moving yet cartoonish parts into their onboarding screens and yet others to give a comfortable experience.

2. Minimalism Design

The cloud service allowing application has also efficiently used the idea of minimalism app design. They have gone on introducing only the core part, use primary colors, and add a lot much whitespace to the screens.

3. Ease of Login

Dropbox has more made the sign-up process more accessible and swift by adding the option of signing up with Gmail. It has prevented various users from getting anxious about filling the lengthy sign-up forms and, ultimately, exiting the platform. And this way, it grew its user retention

flow.

So, considering the same, let's take a glimpse look of what to think in terms of dropbox clone app tech stack.

Tech Stack of Dropbox-like App Development

The understanding of the dropbox clone app tech stack and features might have been triggering you to combine with the most reliable mobile app development company and get your application live in the business at the most immediate.

But ere you take a move, it is smart to be familiar with what difficulties they might be dealing with while building an app like Google Drive or Dropbox. It will aid you to make realistic expectations and effectively collaborate with the hired developers.

So, here we go.

Development Challenges Your Team may Face While Creating a Dropbox-like App

1. Creating for Various Platforms

One of the leading difficulties in developing an app like dropbox that developers dispense with is making an application for various platforms. Now, while they would have an alternative to introducing the best cross-platform development frameworks to their versatility solutions, but this might bring an effect on the essence. It is because every platform has its particular design and development guidelines.

At the same time, going will bring a lift in the mobile app development timeline and affect the consistent design across the whole platforms.

2. Introducing Machine Learning Mechanism

In the instance of Dropbox, the monitoring and warning process offers around 200,000 inquiries across 1,000 machines with 1000x of pace, which was a possible beginning. It aids the team in gaining insights about what the server is doing, what are the potential threats, and more. They apply this data to debug all the errors and deliver a secure yet practical experience to the users.

So, when creating such a Dropbox-clone application, your development group may find a challenge in creating such an extensive and faster monitoring and alerting process to give a safer experience.

With this note, let's move to the center part of the blog, i.e., discovering the Dropbox-like app development price.

How Much Does it need to Build App like Dropbox?

The price to make a mobile app, as we have shared before in our portable app development guide, is varied. It depends on multiple factors, such as coding hours, no. of platforms, no. of app screens, app size, types of design elements, location and size of the technologies and tools used, hired mobile app development agency, etc.

So, the only way to get an evaluation of the Dropbox-like app development cost is to connect with top app experts and review your app idea.

Now when we've talked about the Dropbox clone app development cost that you need to invest, let's extend this blog to find out how to earn money back with the app. look into the business and revenue model of Dropbox mobile app.

Dropbox’s Revenue and Business Model

This revenue and business model will allow you to build your market appearance and get ROI – just the way Dropbox wins. There's no doubting that. But, to take better opportunities and get powerful results, you are expected to put your more efforts here. 

I am wondering what type of effort to invest in the process? What is the method to get better revenue and business opportunities and get the Dropbox-like app development cost back fast? Let's end this blop while discussing the same.

Tactics and Tips to Get Bigger Profits from Investing in Dropbox-like Mobile Application

1. Use Voice Technology for Searching

Consider the growing trend of voice search; it is again useful to integrate the power of Voice technology into your application and enable users to perform specific actions efficiently.

2. Embrace Blockchain and IoT

The concentration of Blockchain and IoT, i.e., Blockchain of Things, is also catching the attention of business supporters and developers in terms of speed, security, transparency,  and convenience. So, considering them when planning to create such an app and think the Dropbox-like app development cost is a yet different tip to elevate the ROI.

usually Asked Questions about Dropbox and Its App Development Cost

1. What app is an alternative to Dropbox?

There are several alternative apps of Dropbox, such as cloud, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Box.

1. What programming language does Dropbox use?

Though Python is used for developing a Dropbox cloud storage platform, various other languages that have contributed to the process are Objective-C, C++, Swift, CoffeeScript, JavaScript, and Java.

1. Is Dropbox free of cost?

Yes, the standard version of Dropbox that comes with 2GB of memory storage is free. Yet, you would have to pay to upgrade your account version and get more extra Cloud storage.