The hardest part of cancelling Dropbox isn't the cancellation itself. It's dealing with the storage cliff. Paid plans give you 2-3TB. The free tier gives you 2GB. If you've been using Dropbox for years, you likely have far more than 2GB stored. Download everything before you cancel.
Step 1: Download your files
Before cancelling, get your files off Dropbox:
- Install the Dropbox desktop app if you haven't already
- Make sure all files are synced to your computer (not "online only")
- Alternatively, go to dropbox.com, select all folders, and click Download (ZIP files, max 20GB per download)
- Wait for everything to download completely before proceeding
If you have more than 20GB, you'll need to download in batches or use the desktop app sync.
Step 2: Cancel the subscription
- Go to dropbox.com/account/plan and sign in
- Click Cancel plan (at the bottom of the page)
- Dropbox will show what you're losing. Click through the retention screens
- Select a reason for leaving
- Confirm the cancellation
You cannot cancel from the mobile app. Desktop or web browser only.
Dropbox's cancellation flow includes multiple retention screens: a feature comparison ("Here's what you'll lose"), a discount offer (commonly 20-30% off), and a "pause" suggestion. Each screen makes the "Keep my plan" button more prominent than the continue-cancelling option. Count on 4-5 clicks minimum.
Your account downgrades to the free tier (2GB) at the end of your billing period. Your files are not deleted immediately. However, if you're over 2GB, you won't be able to sync or upload new files. Dropbox will keep your files on their servers but eventually warn you that they'll be removed if you don't either upgrade or reduce your storage. The exact timeline isn't publicly documented, but users report getting 90 days of warnings before deletion.
Current pricing (AUD)
| Plan | Storage | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic (Free) | 2GB | $0 | $0 |
| Plus | 2TB | $17.99/mo | $149.99/yr (~$12.50/mo) |
| Essentials | 3TB | $30.00/mo | $264.00/yr (~$22/mo) |
| Professional | 3TB + extras | $32.99/mo | $319.00/yr (~$26.58/mo) |
Refund policy
Dropbox offers prorated refunds for annual plans if you cancel within 30 days of being charged. After 30 days, no refund. Contact Dropbox support to request one. Monthly plans simply stop at the end of the billing cycle.
Cheaper alternatives for cloud storage
If you're cancelling Dropbox because of the price but still need cloud storage:
- Google Drive: 15GB free, 100GB for $2.49 AUD/mo, 2TB for $13.99 AUD/mo
- iCloud+: 50GB for $1.49 AUD/mo, 200GB for $4.49 AUD/mo, 2TB for $14.99 AUD/mo
- OneDrive: 5GB free, 100GB for $2.99 AUD/mo, 1TB included with Microsoft 365 ($12/mo)
Google Drive and iCloud are both cheaper than Dropbox for the same storage. If you already pay for Microsoft 365, you already have 1TB on OneDrive.
Worth knowing
- Dropbox Replay, DocSend, and Sign are separate paid add-ons. Cancelling your Dropbox plan doesn't automatically cancel these. Check your billing page for other active subscriptions.
- Shared folders. If you share folders with other people, those folders will still exist for them after you cancel. Your files in shared folders will remain accessible to collaborators.
- The 2GB free tier is tiny. Dropbox hasn't increased the free tier in over a decade. By comparison, Google gives 15GB free. If 2GB isn't enough, you're better off switching to a different free tier than downgrading Dropbox.
Dropbox cancelled. Cloud storage is just one category of subscription. What else is recurring on your statement?
Most people find 3-5 subscriptions they forgot about when they actually look. Upload a bank statement to Subtracker and see every recurring charge in 2 minutes. No bank login. No manual entry. $12.99 once.
See what you're paying forChris Raad
Chris is the founder of Subtracker. He built this tool after experiencing the pain of discovering thousands of dollars in unused SaaS sprawl just before tax time.