Dropbox vs a client portal for ongoing client work
Dropbox file requests let anyone upload to a folder without an account, which is handy for a one-off delivery. For ongoing client work they fall short: no checklist per item, no automatic reminders, no messages or approvals beside the files. A client portal keeps all of that on one page per client.
Denby and Dropbox side by side
| Aspect | Denby | Dropbox |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat per firm: $19, $49, $99 or $249 a month. Unlimited team members on every plan. | Individual and team plans; team plans priced per user. |
| Setup time | About 20 minutes to send your first request. | Minutes to create a file request. |
| Client login | Clients enter their email and click a one-time link. No password. | No account needed to upload to a file request; shared folders need a Dropbox account. |
| Asking for documents | An item per document, each with its own upload, status and reminders. | One upload box per request; you check the folder to see what arrived. |
| White label | Your logo, colours and domain. | Some plans allow branding on shared links. |
| Large files and sync | Up to 2 GB per file on Firm and Agency (250 MB on Solo, 1 GB on Studio); no desktop sync. | Desktop sync, very large files and file transfer. |
When to choose Dropbox
- You need desktop sync and very large file transfers between your own machines and a client.
- It's a single delivery or collection with no follow-up.
- Your team already runs its internal files on Dropbox and clients rarely send anything back.
When to choose Denby
- You need specific documents from each client and want to see which are still missing.
- You want reminders to go out without anyone on your team remembering to send them.
- Messages, approvals and invoices should sit next to the files they relate to.
Moving from Dropbox to Denby
Keep Dropbox for your internal files. Replace file-request links in your onboarding emails with a Denby request.
Upload the documents clients have already sent to their Denby page so their record starts complete.
The trial is 14 days with no card, so you can run one real client through Denby before deciding.