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.
Side-by-side comparison
How Dropbox and Swyvl compare for survey and spatial data delivery.
| Feature | Dropbox | Swyvl |
|---|---|---|
| File viewing | Download only for spatial files. No preview for LAS, E57, GeoTIFF, DXF, or 3D models. | 14 browser-based viewers — point clouds, orthomosaics, 3D models, 360 panoramas, video, PDF, DXF, IFC, and more. |
| Branding | Dropbox branding on all shared links. No customisation on free or Plus plans. | Your logo, your colours, your company name on every delivery link. |
| Audit trail | Basic view counts on Business plans. No per-file access logs on free or Plus. | Full access logs — who viewed, what they viewed, when, with IP and location tracking. |
| Client feedback | None. Clients must email or call to give feedback. | Built-in approve/request changes workflow. Clients respond directly through the link. |
| File classification | Files shown by filename. No spatial awareness. | AI classifies every file by type — point cloud, orthomosaic, 3D model, report — and assigns the correct viewer. |
| Organisation | Folder-based. No concept of sites, sessions, or capture dates. | Files organised by physical site and capture session. Map view shows all your sites. |
| Data regions | US-based storage. Regional storage available on enterprise plans only. | 8 storage regions — Australia, US East, US West, UK, Europe, Canada, Japan, Singapore. |
| Max file size | 50 GB (desktop app), 2 GB (web upload). | Up to 50 GB per file via multipart upload. No desktop app needed. |
| Pricing | Plus: $11.99/mo for 2 TB. Business: $22/user/mo. | Free tier with 5 GB. Pro from $29/mo with 100 GB. See pricing. |
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, 3D models, GeoTIFFs — Dropbox treats these as opaque binary files. 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
With Dropbox, your client sees the Dropbox logo and interface. With Swyvl, they see your company's logo, colours, 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.