It’s a familiar scenario—you’ve tried to upload a file, photo, or video to the cloud but received a message saying you’ve reached your storage limit. Frustrating, right?
Storage alerts from your Dropbox account or other cloud storage provider will make you wonder if it’s worth upgrading. It’s only a few bucks a month, but will it make a noticeable difference?
Our guide will explain reasons why your storage might be full, whether you truly need to get more cloud storage, and some clever ways to increase your cloud storage space. You’ll find professional tips that include free and paid options.
Why is my cloud storage full?
You get a maximum of 2 GB of free storage with Dropbox Basic. Using up your cloud storage allowance is easy to do by accident, which is commonly due to the following situations:
- A shared folder pushes you over your storage allowance
- You have multiple copies of the same file taking up space
- Dropbox is still updating after deleting files, so the free space isn’t showing
If you’re not sure why your Dropbox account is full or you think there’s an issue with your plan, something else may be wrong. It’s usually an issue with a promotion or your payment method.
Why should I increase my cloud storage space?
If you’re having issues with full storage or exceeding your quota, it’s totally natural to ask whether it’s worth upgrading. If the following issues affect you, it can be easily justifiable. Consider whether or not you need to:
- Upload, edit, or sync new files, which you can’t do if you exceed your quota
- Keep files and don’t have offline backups—your cloud storage may remove and delete excess data after a certain amount of time
- Implement a backup system like the 3-2-1 backup method
Cloud storage can be crucial, as it allows you to access data anywhere with an internet connection. Think about the other advantages you’ll get from increasing your cloud storage:
- Flexibility—not relying on expensive hardware or manual backups by using physical storage
- Convenience—if you travel for work or you work remotely, cloud storage is much more convenient
- Access—you can access, update, and manage data both on and offline by using Dropbox
So, how do you increase your cloud storage space, and what are your options?
How to increase your Dropbox cloud storage space with free and paid options
1. Earn free space with Dropbox referrals
You can earn a nice bonus of 500 MB of storage for any friend, family member, or colleague you refer. In total, you can earn up to 16 GB in extra cloud storage. That’s eight times the Dropbox Basic allowance!
You’re probably rushing through your contacts as we speak. You can invite people using the referrals page.
Log in, invite them, and you’ll both get bonus space when they do the following:
- Accept your invitation to sign up for a Dropbox account
- Download and install the Dropbox desktop app
- Log in from the desktop app
- Verify their email
Note: If you use Dropbox Plus, Family, or Professional but need more storage space, you can increase cloud storage with referrals, too. You get a huge 1 GB from each referral up to a massive 32 GB.
2. Earn free space by completing the Dropbox getting started checklist
If you’re just getting started with Dropbox, you can get more cloud storage for free right away. All you need to do is log in and complete at least five items on the checklist for an extra 250 MB of cloud storage.
You can achieve this by completing any combination of the following:
- Adding files or folders to your Dropbox folder
- Completing the Dropbox tour
- Downloading and installing the desktop app
- Installing Dropbox on a mobile device
- Installing Dropbox on any other computers you may use
- Inviting friends to join Dropbox (they don’t have to accept to complete this step)
- Sharing a folder or file with friends or colleagues
Completing the checklist is a quick win if you have a new account but want some extra space. Do it while you wait for your referrals to sign up for their new accounts!
3. Upgrade your account or switch to a different plan
The Dropbox Basic 2 GB account is fantastic, and referrals offer a wonderful way to boost your space—but if you want to get more cloud storage fast, you might need to upgrade your account.
4. Drastically boost storage space with Dropbox Plus
Two GB of storage can be perfect for some people but data allowances rise on paid plans. The allowance for Dropbox Plus goes up to 2 TB and you get extras like 30-day recovery and version history, too.
5. Increase storage and get extra functionality from Dropbox Professional
This gives you 3 TB of extra cloud storage and lets you transfer large files over 100 GB. Dropbox Professional also has several advanced features for secure sharing and other file controls.
6. Get the ultimate protection and storage for your files using Dropbox Business
Dropbox Business is the ultimate plan for more storage, with 5 TB of encrypted cloud storage space. You also get team monitoring features and many other cool advantages.
What is the best Dropbox plan for me?
Dropbox plans are as functional as the files they give you access to, so there’s something for any need. The right plan for you depends on your storage requirements and what you’re trying to do.
If you want a lot of storage because space is your main worry:
- Dropbox Plus offers 2 TB, which is enough for most personal, work, or school projects
- Dropbox Essentials offers 3 TB, which is suitable for working with large files
- Dropbox Business offers 9 TB, which is ideal for enterprise-level cloud storage
If you want data protection and recovery features:
- Dropbox Essentials includes 180-day recovery, version history restore features, and encrypted backup
- Dropbox Business includes 180-day file recovery and account protection for accidents, theft, and disasters
If you want sharing, accounts, and other file data or admin tools:
- Dropbox Family offers shared storage for up to six people and private accounts for each user
- Dropbox Essentials offers advanced file-sharing features and tools for easy management
- Dropbox Business offers an admin console, team monitoring, and many powerful recovery tools
Whatever plan you choose, disorganization makes it more likely you will fill up storage. Always aim to channel your inner Marie Kondo and clear your cloud storage to declutter your digital life!
Get more cloud storage space with Dropbox
You can enjoy the main features of Dropbox for free and even earn extra storage with referrals. If you need more storage space, you can easily upgrade your plan, with up to 9 TB of cloud storage available.
Dropbox Basic gives you 2 GB to store or share files—perfect for just a few documents or photos. Choose a plan to expand your cloud storage for the equivalent of a few cups of coffee per month.
Keep your files organized with Dropbox
Dropbox can change your perspective on cloud storage, making file management simple. You can create spaces and manage projects from a central location, so when you tidy your folders they will update in the background. Try it today, and you can always upgrade your plan if you run out of space!
