Dropbox Transfer is Dropbox's sending feature: you send a copy of a file and the recipient needs no account. Sounds like codocs, but the differences sit exactly on the points that matter for business. Everything side by side below.
The comparison at a glance
| Functie | codocs | Dropbox Transfer |
|---|---|---|
| Max size (free) | ✓ 1 GB per file | ✗ ±100 MB |
| Max size (paid) | ✓ 2 to 5 GB (Pro/Business) | ✓ 2 to 100 GB (pricey plans) |
| Password on link | ✓ Free included | ✗ Paid only |
| Adjustable expiry | ✓ Free included | ✗ Paid only |
| Revoke a link | ✓ Instantly | ✗ Limited |
| Who downloaded what | ✓ Notice + audit log | ✗ Limited insight |
| Hosting | ✓ EU | ✗ US company |
| Data processing agreement | ✓ For business clients | ✗ No |
| File stays managed | ✓ Library | ✗ One-off copy |
Choose Dropbox Transfer if
- your organisation already lives in Dropbox and you want to send from that storage
- you mostly share non-critical files where after-the-fact control does not matter
- you are on a pricier Dropbox plan and occasionally ship tens of gigabytes
Choose codocs if
- your files contain client data, contracts or personal data
- you want passwords and expiry dates without upgrading to a pricier plan
- you must be able to revoke a sent link and account for access
- EU hosting and a processing agreement are requirements (GDPR)
Conclusion
For teams already deep inside Dropbox sending non-critical files, Transfer is a fine built-in feature. Once files get sensitive, codocs wins on every point that then matters: control after sending, EU hosting, a processing agreement and an audit log, at a lower price (free up to 1 GB per file, Pro at 4.95 euros per month). More context in sending business files: how to do it securely.