Fineprint

If you like this, see what else we're creating.

Terms of use

Dropbox

Terms of Service - Dropbox

C

Risk score

49of 100

Open the original (new tab)Company page

In short

  • By using Dropbox, you agree to be bound by these terms, including how your data is handled and how disputes are resolved.
  • You accept that the service may change without cancelling your account, and if you live in the U.S., you must use arbitration for most legal claims instead of going to court.
  • The company also limits its liability for damages, capping payouts at a small amount.

What you accept

If you tap Agree

Everyday words for the material promises and rights you give up. Each line includes a quote from the document.

  1. 01

    You are agreeing to be bound by these Terms, the Privacy Policy, and the Acceptable Use Policy by using the Services.

    This product

    “By using our Services, you’re agreeing to be bound by these Terms, our Privacy Policy, and Acceptable Use Policy.”
  2. 02

    You are agreeing that if you are a U.S. resident, any disputes must be resolved through binding individual arbitration rather than in public court.

    This product

    “IF YOU’RE A U.S. RESIDENT, YOU ALSO AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY ARBITRATION PROVISIONS: ... You and Dropbox agree to resolve any claims relating to or arising out of these Terms or the Services through final and binding individual arbitration”
  3. 03

    You are agreeing that you cannot join a class action lawsuit and that disputes must be handled on an individual basis only.

    This product

    “NO CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTIONS. You may only resolve disputes with us on an individual basis, and may not bring a claim as a plaintiff or a class member in a class, consolidated, or representative action.”

What it can cost you

Downsides we could quote

Quoted clauses that can affect your privacy, money, or right to go to court — including terms that follow you to other products.

Highest-cost clauses first

High cost

Forced arbitration or class-action waiver

You are agreeing to resolve all disputes through mandatory individual arbitration.

“YOU ALSO AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY ARBITRATION PROVISIONS: We Both Agree to Arbitrate. You and Dropbox agree to resolve any claims relating to or arising out of these Terms or the Services through final and binding individual arbitration”

What that means: You lose the right to sue in public court or join a group legal action if you live in the U.S.

U.S. users must arbitrate disputes individually. This restricts legal access and prevents joining collective actions.

High cost

Liability shifted onto the user

You are agreeing that Dropbox’s total liability is capped at the greater of $20 or what you paid.

“WE DON’T EXCLUDE OR LIMIT OUR LIABILITY TO YOU WHERE IT WOULD BE ILLEGAL TO DO SO... IN COUNTRIES WHERE EXCLUSIONS OR LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY ARE ALLOWED... DROPBOX... WON’T BE LIABLE FOR: ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF USE, DATA, BUSINESS, OR PROFITS... WE LIMIT OUR LIABILITY TO YOU TO THE GREATER OF $20 USD OR 100% OF ANY AMOUNT YOU'VE PAID UNDER YOUR CURRENT SERVICE PLAN”

What that means: You have limited legal recourse if data is lost or services fail, receiving little to no compensation.

The company excludes liability for many damages and caps financial responsibility to a very low amount.

Medium cost

Unilateral changes with little or no notice

You are agreeing that continued use of the services means you accept any future changes to these terms.

“We may revise these Terms... If an update affects your use of the Services or your legal rights as a user of our Services, we’ll notify you prior to the update's effective date... By continuing to use or access the Services after the updates come into effect, you agree to be bound by the revised Terms.”

What that means: Your agreement continues to change over time without needing your explicit new click.

The company can change terms and binds you to them if you keep using the service after notice.

Medium cost

Auto-renewal or hard-to-cancel paid terms

You are agreeing to automatic periodic billing for your paid account until you cancel it.

“We’ll automatically bill you from the date you convert to a Paid Account and on each periodic renewal until cancellation.”

What that means: You continue to pay for the service every period unless you remember to cancel.

Paid plans automatically renew unless the user actively cancels them.

Lower cost

Difficult or incomplete deletion

You are agreeing that you cannot export your data once Dropbox suspends or terminates your access.

“Once we suspend or terminate your access to the Services, you will not be able to access or export Your Stuff.”

What that means: If your account is terminated, you might lose access to your stored data without warning.

If Dropbox terminates your account, you lose immediate access to your files, making retrieval difficult.

If these terms already apply to you

Keep this list. Fineprint cannot undo or cancel something you already agreed to at the company.

We cannot see Agree on their site. With Premium, tap “I accepted these terms” if you already agreed to what Dropbox asks.