Swyvl vs Dropbox
Dropbox is excellent general-purpose file storage. But it wasn't designed for spatial data delivery. When your team needs to view, share, and build a record from spatial data — not just store it — you need something purpose-built.
What your client actually opens
The same deliverable, received two ways.
Your client downloads gigabytes, then can't open the spatial files without specialist software. Files arrive — the data never gets seen.
Opens in the browser — point clouds, orthos, 360°, video, all interactive. No account, no install.
Side-by-side comparison
How Dropbox and Swyvl compare for survey and spatial data delivery.
| Feature | Dropbox | Swyvl |
|---|---|---|
| File viewing | No browser preview for point clouds (LAS, LAZ, E57), Gaussian splats, DXF or IFC. Some 3D models (OBJ, GLB, FBX) preview on Standard plans and above. | Browser-based viewers for every major file type: point clouds, orthomosaics, 3D models, Gaussian splats, 360 panoramas, video, PDF, DXF, IFC. Measurement tools built in. |
| Comments on a spot in the scan | Comments on the file, but the scan cannot be opened, so there is no spot to pin a comment to. | Pin a note to the exact spot on a point cloud or orthomosaic, with a sketch. Clients invited by email reply on the spot, free. |
| Branding | Branded shared links (logo and background) on Standard plans and above, set by an admin. Not on Basic or Plus. | Your logo, your colors, your company name on every delivery link. |
| Audit trail | Viewer history on Standard plans and above. Anyone who opens a link without signing in shows as an anonymous Guest, and downloads made without viewing are not recorded. | Full access logs: who viewed, what they viewed and when, with IP and location. |
| Client feedback | Comments on the file. No approve or request-changes step. | Built-in approve/request changes workflow. Clients respond directly through the link. |
| File classification | Files shown by filename. No spatial awareness. | Swyvl classifies every file by type (point cloud, orthomosaic, 3D model, report) and assigns the correct viewer. |
| Organization | Folder-based. No concept of sites, sessions, or capture dates. | Files organized by physical site and collection, one visit's worth of files. Map view shows all your sites. |
| Site map | None. Files have no location context. | Interactive site map with toggleable layers, GPX tracks, and custom base maps, with your own orthomosaics and site plans as the background. |
| How you start | Free plan, paid plans bought online. | Free plan, sign up yourself, no credit card. Paid plans bought online. |
| Data regions | US by default. Australia, EU, Japan and UK for eligible teams only: Standard plan or above, 10+ licenses, billed yearly, requested through support. No Canada option. | 8 storage regions on every plan: Australia, US East, US West, UK, Europe, Canada, Japan, Singapore. Chosen at signup. |
| Pricing | Plus $9.99/mo (2 TB). Standard $15/user/mo. Advanced $24/user/mo, 3 users minimum. Billed yearly. | Free tier with 5 GB. Paid plans from $49/mo (Solo). See pricing. |
Comparison as of October 2026, based on Dropbox's published plans and help center.
When Dropbox is the right choice
Dropbox is a mature, reliable platform with excellent desktop sync, collaboration features, and broad ecosystem integrations. If you primarily share documents, spreadsheets, and standard files with colleagues, Dropbox does the job well.
But if your work involves delivering spatial data to clients (point clouds, orthomosaics, GeoTIFFs, Gaussian splats), Dropbox can't open most of it in the browser. Your clients download them and then need specialist software to view them.
Swyvl is designed specifically for this use case. Upload your spatial files, and your clients can view them in the browser — no downloads, no software installs, no support calls. Many teams use both: Dropbox for internal collaboration, Swyvl for client delivery.
The differences that matter
Your client sees your brand
Dropbox team plans can put your logo on a shared link, but your client is still in Dropbox. With Swyvl, they see your company's logo, colors, and a professional delivery experience that reinforces your brand.
Files are viewable, not just downloadable
When a client opens a Dropbox link to a LAS file, they can only download it. When they open a Swyvl link, they see a 3D point cloud they can rotate, pan, and zoom — right in their browser.
Proof of delivery
Swyvl's audit trail gives you timestamped proof that your client accessed the data. Useful for contract compliance, dispute resolution, and professional indemnity insurance.
Try Swyvl free — see the difference
Upload a point cloud or orthomosaic, generate a branded link, and see what your client's experience looks like. No credit card required.