How to Move Files from Dropbox to Backblaze B2
Why People Leave Dropbox for Backblaze B2
Section titled “Why People Leave Dropbox for Backblaze B2”Dropbox works well as a file sync tool. You drop files in a folder and they show up on all your devices. But as your data grows, Dropbox gets expensive. The Plus plan costs $120/year for 2 TB. If you have 5 TB or more, you need Dropbox Business at $180/year per user.
Backblaze B2 charges $6.95 per TB per month for storage. For 2 TB, that is about $14/month or $167/year. But here is where it gets interesting: most of the data sitting in Dropbox is not being actively synced. It is old projects, archives, backups, photos from three years ago. That data does not need instant sync to every device. It needs to be stored cheaply and retrieved when needed.
For archival and backup storage, Backblaze B2 is significantly cheaper. And unlike Dropbox, you only pay for what you use. No fixed plans, no storage ceilings.
The Problem with Moving Data Out of Dropbox
Section titled “The Problem with Moving Data Out of Dropbox”The obvious approach is to download everything from Dropbox to your computer, then upload it to Backblaze B2. This works for small amounts of data. For 500 GB or more, it becomes painful:
- You need enough free space on your local disk to hold the download
- Downloading takes hours or days depending on your connection
- Uploading to B2 takes equally long
- If anything fails midway, you start over
Some people try rclone for this. rclone works, but you need to configure both remotes in a text file, understand the command syntax, and handle errors yourself. If you are comfortable with the terminal, rclone is a solid choice. If you are not, it is a wall.
How to Transfer with Blober
Section titled “How to Transfer with Blober”Blober connects to both Dropbox and Backblaze B2. You set up both providers, select the files you want to move, and Blober handles the transfer. Files stream from Dropbox through your computer to Backblaze B2 without needing to store them locally.
Step 1: Connect Dropbox
Section titled “Step 1: Connect Dropbox”Add Dropbox as a provider in Blober. Click the OAuth login button and authorize Blober with your Dropbox account. Blober stores your credentials locally on your machine, not on any server.
Step 2: Connect Backblaze B2
Section titled “Step 2: Connect Backblaze B2”Add Backblaze B2 as a provider. You will need your Application Key ID and Application Key from the Backblaze dashboard. Blober verifies the connection and lists your buckets.
Step 3: Create a Workflow
Section titled “Step 3: Create a Workflow”Create a new workflow with Dropbox as the source and Backblaze B2 as the destination. Browse your Dropbox files, select what you want to transfer, and choose which B2 bucket to send it to.
Step 4: Run
Section titled “Step 4: Run”Click run. Blober transfers files with parallel uploads, progress tracking, and automatic resume if your connection drops.
What About Folder Structure?
Section titled “What About Folder Structure?”Blober preserves your folder structure. If you have Projects/2024/Client-A/ in Dropbox, it creates the same path in your B2 bucket. You do not end up with a flat pile of files.
Cost Comparison
Section titled “Cost Comparison”| Dropbox Plus | Backblaze B2 (2 TB) | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $10/month | ~$14/month |
| 5 TB | Need Business plan ($15/user/mo) | ~$35/month |
| 10 TB | Need Business plan | ~$70/month |
| Egress | Free (sync) | Free to Cloudflare partners, $0.01/GB otherwise |
| API access | OAuth | S3-compatible |
For pure storage (not sync), B2 wins at every tier above 2 TB. And if you pair B2 with Cloudflare CDN through the Bandwidth Alliance, egress is free.
When to Keep Dropbox
Section titled “When to Keep Dropbox”This is not about abandoning Dropbox entirely. Dropbox is great for active files you need on every device. The move that makes sense for most people is:
- Keep Dropbox for current projects and actively used files
- Move archives, old projects, and large media to Backblaze B2
- Use Blober to transfer the archival data once, then cancel the upgraded Dropbox plan
Get Blober
Section titled “Get Blober”Blober is a one-time purchase. No subscription, no per-GB transfer fees.