Among the many cloud storage services available, Google Drive and Dropbox are two of the most widely used platforms. When you need to back up files, collaborate with others, or optimize your storage space, you may consider transferring files from Google Drive to Dropbox.This article introduces several efficient and free methods for migration, including Google Takeout, Rclone, the Windows desktop client, and various third-party tools. Some of these methods support direct cloud-to-cloud transfer, meaning you can move files without downloading them to your local device.Whether you're transferring just a few files or migrating large volumes of data, these solutions offer convenient and reliable options.
Why Transfer Files from Google Drive to Dropbox?
In daily use, there are many situations that may prompt you to move files from Google Drive to Dropbox, including:
Team Collaboration: Your team may prefer using Dropbox for file sharing and collaboration.
Storage Management: Google Drive’s free storage is limited, so transferring files to Dropbox can free up space.
Data Backup: Creating copies of files in Dropbox enhances data security.
Platform Integration: Centralizing files in Dropbox allows seamless integration with existing workflows.
No matter what your needs are, the following methods will help you transfer files from Google Drive to Dropbox for free.
Method 1: Transfer Files Using Google Takeout
Google Takeout is an official data export tool provided by Google that allows users to directly export files from Google Drive and transfer them to Dropbox without the need for manual downloading and uploading. The process is simple and user-friendly, making it suitable for small-scale file transfers or full account backups. For users seeking a quick and convenient way to back up or migrate their data, it is a very practical and free solution.
Steps:
Open your browser and go to Google Takeout, then sign in with your Google account.
On the “Create export” page, select Google Drive as the service to export (you can uncheck other services such as Gmail).
Click “Next step” and choose “Add to Dropbox” as the export method.
Choose the export format (such as .zip or .tgz) and the file size.
Click the "Link accounts and create export" button to log in and authorize Dropbox.
After successful authorization, Google will package and compress files from Drive and upload them to your Dropbox.
Pros:
Official tool: Google Takeout is secure, reliable, and easy to use.
Free of charge: Completely free and accessible to all users.
Cons:
Files are packaged into one or more .zip archives, which cannot be used directly in Dropbox and must be manually extracted.
Not suitable for frequent operations or large-scale data transfers due to low efficiency.
Supports only one-time exports; it does not allow daily sync or scheduled automatic backups.
Google processes the export and uploads files to Dropbox in the background, which can take hours or even days. Users cannot track real-time progress or status during the process.
Method 2: Use Rclone for Direct Cloud-to-Cloud Transfer
Rclone is an open-source command-line tool that enables direct file transfers between cloud storage services without downloading to your local device (i.e., “Transfer files from Google Drive to Dropbox without downloading”). This makes it highly efficient for large files or bulk data migration.
Steps:
Download Rclone
Visit the official Rclone website and download the Windows version(https://rclone.org/downloads/). Then, extract the contents of the downloaded ZIP file.
Download Rclone Browser
Rclone Browser is an open-source GUI (Graphical User Interface) tool built on top of Rclone. It allows you to easily manage and sync data across multiple cloud storage services.Download it here: https://github.com/kapitainsky/RcloneBrowser/releases
Configure Rclone Browser
Run the installed Rclone Browser and open its settings menu (File → Preferences). In the Rclone location input box, click the button with three dots on the right, then browse to and select the extracted rclone.exe file. Finally, click OK to save the settings.
Configure Google Drive and Dropbox
Open Rclone Browser and click the Config button at the bottom of the window. This will launch the Rclone command-line interface.
In the command prompt, type n and press Enter to create a new configuration. Then, enter a name for the configuration—here, it is named Dropbox—and press Enter to confirm.
Next, choose the type of storage to configure. Here, select Dropbox, which is number 13 in the list. Type 13 and press Enter.
Then, for client_id, client_secret, and the prompt asking whether to Edit advanced config, simply press Enter to skip each.
When prompted with "Use web browser to automatically authenticate rclone with remote?", press Enter. The program will open a Dropbox authorization webpage—click the Allow button to grant access.
After the webpage shows a success message, return to the Rclone Browser interface and click the Refresh button. You should now see that Dropbox has been successfully added.
Repeat the above steps to create a remote for Google Drive. The configuration process is basically the same as for Dropbox, but please pay attention to the following points:
Cloud storage type: Make sure to select the correct Google Drive option to avoid choosing the wrong service.
Access permissions: It’s recommended to select Full access (access all files) to ensure Rclone has complete read and write permissions.
Create a Transfer Task
In the Remotes interface, double-click Google Drive to open it. Once inside Google Drive, right-click the folder you want to transfer and click the Download button.
In the "Target Path" input box, enter the destination folder path in Dropbox using the format: Dropbox:FolderName. For example, I entered Dropbox:Backup, which refers to the Backup folder in the Dropbox cloud drive (note: the cloud drive name must match the name you set during Rclone configuration).Next, enter a task description and click the Save Task button to easily reuse this task for incremental transfers in the future.
Go to the Tasks tab and click the Run button to start the task.
In the Jobs tab, the task will begin running. Simply wait for the task to complete successfully.
Advantages:
Free and open-source: Completely free to use, supporting multiple cloud storage services, including free transfers from Google Drive to Dropbox.
Cloud-to-cloud transfer: Transfers data directly between clouds without using local storage, ideal for large files.
Batch processing: Suitable for large-scale data migration.
Cross-platform support: Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, and more.
Disadvantages:
Complex command-line operation: Rclone is primarily command-line based and lacks a graphical interface, making it difficult for users unfamiliar with command-line tools.
Local bandwidth usage: By default, data transfers are routed through the local device, consuming local network bandwidth and resources, especially noticeable with large files.
Complicated setup: Requires manual configuration of multiple cloud accounts and permissions, which can be complex and prone to errors.
Method 3: Use Windows Desktop Applications to Transfer Files
On Windows, you can install the desktop apps for both Google Drive and Dropbox. By syncing your Google Drive files to your local computer first, you can then upload them to Dropbox. Although this method requires local storage space, it offers an intuitive process and is ideal for users who are not familiar with command-line tools.
Steps:
1. Install Google Drive and Dropbox Applications
Download and install the Google Drive desktop app and the Dropbox desktop app.
Log in to your Google Drive and Dropbox accounts and complete the initial setup.
2. Sync Google Drive Files to Local Device
In the Google Drive app, right-click the target file or folder and select Offline access → Available offline from the menu. The system will automatically sync the files to your local device.
Next, wait for the files to finish downloading before transferring them to Dropbox.
3. Copy Files to Dropbox Folder
Open Windows File Explorer and navigate to your Google Drive folder.
Copy the files or folders you want to transfer and paste them into your Dropbox local sync folder. Alternatively, you can right-click the target file or folder directly within Google Drive, select Dropbox → Transfer a copy from the context menu to transfer it to Dropbox.
The Dropbox app will automatically upload the files to the cloud.
4. Verify the Transfer
Log in to the Dropbox web version or app to check if the files have been uploaded correctly.
Optionally, delete the files from your local Google Drive folder to free up space.
Advantages:
Intuitive operation: Transfer files using the familiar File Explorer without needing extra tools.
Free: Both Google Drive and Dropbox desktop apps are free to use.
Suitable for small transfers: Simple and effective for managing a limited number of files or folders.
Disadvantages:
Requires local storage space: Best suited for scenarios with smaller files due to storage limitations.
Upload speed depends on network and disk performance: Transfer speed can be limited by your internet connection and local disk read/write speeds.
Method 4: Use Third-Party Cloud Management Tool (RiceDrive)
Third-party tools like RiceDrive offer a user-friendly graphical interface that supports free file transfers between Dropbox and Google Drive (including Transfer Dropbox to Google Drive free) without complicated setups or command-line operations. Users simply log in and authorize access to their accounts, enabling easy batch migration across multiple cloud services. For those unfamiliar with command-line tools, sync software, or anyone looking to simplify the transfer process, RiceDrive provides a highly efficient and accessible solution.
Steps:
Log in to RiceDrive
Visit the RiceDrive official website. No account registration is required—simply enter your email to receive a verification code for quick login.Add Cloud Services
On the RiceDrive dashboard, click the “Link Storage” button.
Select Dropbox cloud storage, click the Connect button, and authorize RiceDrive to access your Dropbox account (one-time authorization only, secure and reliable).
Similarly, connect your Google Drive account and authorize RiceDrive to access your Google account.
Note: During the authorization process, be sure to check all permission boxes and click the “Continue” button to grant RiceDrive the necessary access rights.
Set Up the Transfer Task
Select Google Drive as the source and Dropbox as the destination.
Choose the files or folders you want to transfer, then click “Start Up” to start the process.
Monitor and Verify
Track the transfer progress, and once completed, check the files in your Dropbox to ensure everything transferred correctly.
Tip: During the transfer process, you don’t need to keep the webpage open. RiceDrive will automatically run the task in the background, so even if you close the page or disconnect the browser, the file transfer will continue uninterrupted.
Advantages:
Provides an intuitive web interface without requiring command-line skills or complex setup, suitable for all users, especially non-technical ones.
Supports scheduled tasks, incremental migration, and skipping duplicate files, making it ideal for long-term syncing or regular backups.
Tasks run on cloud servers in the background, so transfers continue uninterrupted even if you close the browser or lose internet connection, offering peace of mind and reliability.
Utilizes RiceDrive’s own high-speed nodes for fast and stable transfers, perfect for large files and bulk migrations.
Supports direct cloud-to-cloud transfers between services like Google Drive and Dropbox without routing through your local device, saving bandwidth and time.
Uses OAuth authorization for login, eliminating the need to share passwords; all data is transmitted securely with encryption to protect your privacy and security.
Disadvantages:
Free accounts have limitations on transfer speed and a 10GB transfer quota.
Users need to trust the security of a third-party platform.
Method 5: Using RiceDrive for Mobile Transfers
Even on your phone, RiceDrive makes cloud file migration effortless. Simply access RiceDrive via your mobile browser—no app installation needed. After logging in, you can directly transfer files between cloud services like Google Drive and Dropbox without downloading them locally. The process is simple, efficient, and perfect for managing your cloud data anytime, anywhere.
Steps:
On your mobile device, open the RiceDrive mobile site (https://mobile.ricedrive.com/), enter your email address, and quickly log in by verifying the code sent to you, or use third-party options for fast login.
Once logged in, go to the My Drives page and tap the “Link Drive” button to access the cloud storage addition interface.
Tap the Dropbox icon and follow the prompts to authorize RiceDrive to access your cloud storage account. You will usually need to log in to Dropbox and confirm the authorization to allow RiceDrive access to your files.
Once authorized successfully, return to the My Drives page, where you’ll see Dropbox has been added to your cloud storage list.
Repeat the same steps to add Google Drive to RiceDrive. During authorization, make sure to check the permissions for viewing, editing, and creating files.
After completing this, confirm that both cloud storage accounts—Dropbox and Google Drive—have been successfully added to RiceDrive.
Go to the “Tasks” page and click the “New Task” button to start creating a transfer task.
In the Source area, select the files or folders you want to transfer from Google Drive; in the Target area, choose the destination folder in Dropbox. You can also click the gear icon in the top right corner to access advanced settings such as file filters and scheduling. Once all configurations are confirmed, click the start button in the top right to begin the transfer task.
During the task execution, you can safely close the RiceDrive page and attend to other matters. Once the task is completed, return to check the log records and verify that the files have been successfully transferred to the target location.
FAQ
What is RiceDrive?
RiceDrive is an online tool that supports file transfer between multiple cloud storage platforms. It offers a simple graphical interface, allowing users to easily migrate, back up, and sync files across cloud drives like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and more—without the need to install any software.
How long does it take to transfer files using Google Takeout?
The export time depends on the size of your files. Small files typically take a few minutes, while large files may take several hours. The upload speed to Dropbox depends on your network conditions.
Can I transfer files from Google Drive to Dropbox for free?
Yes. Google Takeout, Rclone, and Windows desktop applications are all free methods. RiceDrive’s free plan also supports small-scale transfers, enabling free Google Drive to Dropbox file transfers.
Do I need to download files locally?
Using tools like Rclone or RiceDrive, you can transfer files from Google Drive to Dropbox without downloading, completing the transfer directly in the cloud, saving time and local storage. However, note that by default, Rclone routes data through your local device, meaning files are first downloaded from the source cloud to your device and then uploaded to the target cloud, which uses local bandwidth.
Summary
There are multiple options for transferring files from Google Drive to Dropbox: Google Takeout is suitable for simple backups and offers reliable operation; Rclone provides efficient cloud-to-cloud transfers, ideal for large files (supporting “Rclone Dropbox to Google Drive” or vice versa); Windows desktop applications are intuitive and easy to use, perfect for small-scale transfers; and RiceDrive offers a graphical interface, making it ideal for beginners and large data migrations. Choose the method that best fits your needs to quickly complete file transfers and optimize your cloud storage management!
