Dropbox File Request alternatives for Google Drive
Updated 2026-10-17. Every fact links to its source; prices are as published on each vendor's page on that date.
Short answer: if your files can live in Dropbox and fit your space, keep using Dropbox File Requests; they're free and uploaders don't need an account (Dropbox Help). People usually look for an alternative for one of two reasons: they want the files in Google Drive, which has no file request feature of its own, or a free Dropbox account fills up fast, since Basic includes 2 GB (Dropbox) and every requested file counts against it (Dropbox Help).
Dropbox File Requests: what you get for free
- Anyone can upload, with or without a Dropbox account, into a folder you choose (Dropbox Help).
- Files count against your Dropbox space; if you run out, uploaders see an error (Dropbox Help).
- Basic, Plus and Family accounts can request files up to 2 GB; Professional and team plans up to 250 GB (Dropbox Help).
- Deadlines are only on Professional, Essentials and team plans; any plan can add a password (Dropbox Help).
Alternatives that put files in Google Drive
| Option | Uploader needs an account? | Price | File size | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shared Drive folder (Editor access) | Yes, a Google account | Free | Drive limits | Editors can open, edit, delete or move every file in the folder (Google Drive Help) |
| DriveUploader | No (source) | Free plan; paid Plus and Pro tiers (source) | No limit of its own; your Drive storage applies (source) | On the free plan an uploader link expires after 1 day; Plus removes that (source) |
| File Request Pro | No | Starter $19/month: 3 upload pages, 100 submissions/month; 15-day or 25-file trial (source) | 1 GB per file on Starter, up to 10 GB on Business (source) | Subscription; built for ongoing client document collection with reminders |
| DIY Apps Script web app | No | Free (Google: web apps) | Whatever your code handles | You write, deploy and maintain the code yourself (sample) |
| CatchFolder | No | $12 one-time for 30 days (1 link, up to 500 uploads) or $59 one-time for 12 months (unlimited links); no auto-renewal | Up to 50 MB per file | New and in early access; not for large video files |
Prices and limits were copied from each vendor's own page on 2026-10-17. We list a fact only when we found it on the source page.
How to choose
- Files can stay in Dropbox and are small: stay with Dropbox File Requests. It's free.
- You trust everyone uploading and they all have Google accounts: share a Drive folder as Editor. Keep anything private out of that folder.
- A link for a day or two: DriveUploader's free plan.
- Regular client paperwork with reminders: File Request Pro or a similar subscription tool.
- One contest, application round, class or event, into your own Drive, without a monthly bill: CatchFolder. It runs as a small Apps Script app inside your own Google account, so files go straight into a Drive folder you choose and never pass through our servers, with a Google Sheet row for each upload. Setup takes about 5 minutes (setup guide), and you get a full refund if it doesn't work for you within 21 days.
Storage: whose space do uploads use?
With Dropbox, requested files use the requester's Dropbox space (Dropbox Help). With Drive upload pages (DriveUploader, CatchFolder, Apps Script), files are saved in your own Google Drive (DriveUploader), and a free Google Account has up to 15 GB shared across Gmail, Drive and Photos (Google One Help). Size it before you share the link with the upload limits calculator.
Related
- Google Drive file request link: how to get one
- Let someone upload to your Google Drive
- Formfacade alternatives compared
- Collect files from anyone without a Google account
FAQ
Is there a Dropbox File Request for Google Drive?
Not built in. Google Drive has no upload-only link: to add files to a shared folder a person needs the Editor role, which also lets them open, edit and delete what's there (Google Drive Help). For a Dropbox-style request into Drive you need an upload page that writes into the folder, such as DriveUploader, File Request Pro, a DIY Apps Script web app, or CatchFolder.
Do people need a Dropbox account to upload to a file request?
No. Dropbox says anyone can send files to a file request, with or without a Dropbox account (Dropbox Help).
Why do Dropbox file requests fail on a free account?
Every file collected takes up space in your Dropbox, and if there isn't enough space, uploaders get an error (Dropbox Help). Dropbox Basic includes 2 GB of storage (Dropbox), and Basic, Plus and Family accounts can request files up to 2 GB each (Dropbox Help).
What's the cheapest way to collect files into Google Drive without sign-in?
Free: build an Apps Script web app yourself (Google), or use DriveUploader's free plan, where an uploader link expires after 1 day (DriveUploader plans). For a one-off collection that runs longer, CatchFolder is $12 one-time for 30 days. Monthly tools start at $19/month for File Request Pro Starter (File Request Pro pricing).
Which alternative handles the biggest files?
DriveUploader says it imposes no file size limit of its own, only your Drive storage (DriveUploader). File Request Pro allows 1 GB per file on Starter and up to 10 GB on Business (File Request Pro). CatchFolder caps files at 50 MB, so it is not the right pick for large video files.