Cluster vs Dropbox

An honest, side-by-side look at Cluster and Dropbox for collecting photos and videos at your event. Every figure below comes from each app's own pricing and our verified feature checks, so you can compare cost, features and real reviews without the marketing spin.

OOur Event Album

Skip the comparison. Our Event Album beats both.

Give guests one simple QR code, unlimited uploads, and a polished live album without subscriptions or app downloads.

  • Unique QR code for your event
  • Printable sign templates (PDF)
  • Unlimited photo & video uploads
  • Custom welcome page
One-time price
$39
USD, one-time
Get your album

Pricing at a glance

Published plans are shown separately from add-ons. Verified competitor prices use your selected currency, otherwise their listed currency.

Free

Free app with in-app purchases; exact current paid package pricing and limits were not published in the visible App Store source.

Freemonthly
  • ·Private groups for invited people
  • ·Photo and video sharing
  • ·Comments/discussion around shared photos
  • ·Free app with in-app purchases
  • ·Exact paid limits not publicly enumerated in visible sources
Source ↗
DDropboxNo sourced rating

Basic

Free Basic plan with 2 GB starting storage.

Freemonthly
  • ·2 GB free storage
  • ·File requests can collect files from people without Dropbox accounts
  • ·File request uploads count against account storage
  • ·No wedding gallery, slideshow, or event album workflow
Source ↗

Plus

$9.99monthly
  • ·2 TB storage for one person
  • ·File requests and folder sharing
  • ·Transfer files up to 50 GB
Source ↗

Standard

$15monthly
  • ·Team storage and sharing controls
  • ·Transfer files up to 100 GB
  • ·Brand file sharing and password-protect files
Source ↗

Advanced

$24monthly
  • ·Starts at 15 TB for the team
  • ·Transfer files up to 100 GB
  • ·Brand file sharing and password-protect files
Source ↗

Our Event Album is $39 USD, one-time

No subscription, no per-guest fee, and no add-on sorting needed for the core album experience.

Get your album

Feature comparison

Rows come from the verified feature catalog, not the stored page copy.

Feature
Capture
QR code upload

Guests scan a QR code to upload photos and videos to the event gallery — no app, no account.

No app required

Guests contribute via a web browser; there is nothing to download or install.

No Sign-Up Required

Guests contribute without creating an account or signing in.

Not verified
Customization
Custom branding

Personalise the gallery with your names, colours, logo or theme.

Not verified
Guest experience
Live slideshow

A real-time slideshow of guest photos you can cast to a screen at the reception.

Guest messaging / well-wishes

Guests leave written well-wishes or messages alongside their photos.

~Cluster supports private group discussion around shared photos, but not wedding guestbook well-wishes as a dedicated event feature.
Not verified
Comments & likes

Guests can like and comment on photos in the gallery.

Not verified
Management
Download all

Download all photos and videos from the event at once (e.g. a single ZIP).

Moderation / approval

Hosts can review, approve or hide uploads before they appear publicly.

~Hosts control the destination folder and can review files after upload, but there is no wedding-gallery approval queue.
Media
Video support

Guests can upload videos, not just photos.

Metrics
Uploads limit

Maximum photos/videos guests can upload to the gallery. Blank = unlimited.

Not verified
Not verified
Storage / active duration

How long the gallery stays live and uploads are kept. Blank = unlimited / forever.

Not verified
Not verified
Privacy
Password protection

Protect the gallery with a password or access code.

Not verified
Private gallery

The gallery is private — only invited guests can view or upload.

~Dropbox can collect files into private folders/requests, but it is not a polished guest-facing gallery.

supportedx not supported~ partial? unconfirmed

The matrix is easier when the essentials are included

  • Unique QR code for your event
  • Printable sign templates (PDF)
  • Unlimited photo & video uploads
  • Custom welcome page

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Strong App Store rating and a long-running private sharing product
  • Private groups are the core use case, not an afterthought
  • Supports photo and video sharing for families and friend groups
  • Comments/discussion around shared photos are part of the product positioning
  • Useful when a small group already wants an app-based private album
Cons
  • xNot a wedding QR gallery and not built around event-day guest upload signage
  • xFree app includes in-app purchases, but exact current paid limits are not clearly published
  • xNo live wedding slideshow, event moderation queue, or bulk export workflow was verified
  • xGuests may need to install or use the Cluster app experience
  • xPoor fit for large, mixed-tech wedding guest lists
DDropboxNo sourced rating
Pros
  • Dropbox file requests can collect files from people without Dropbox accounts
  • Useful for full-resolution files and organized folder storage
  • Paid plans support larger transfer/file request limits than the free tier
  • Password-protected transfers and branded file sharing exist on supported paid plans
  • Works well for photographers, planners, or organized contributors sending files after the event
Cons
  • xNot a wedding gallery and not designed for guest browsing, comments, or live slideshow
  • xFree Basic storage is only 2 GB, which is small for wedding photos/videos
  • xMonthly-looking paid prices become meaningful annual costs
  • xFile requests collect files but do not create a polished event album experience
  • xHosts still need to organize, moderate, and share files manually

What people say

Real reviews, each linked to its source.

CCluster2 reviews
Apple App Store
Aggregate listing context
No rating

Apple App Store currently lists Cluster at 4.8 out of 5 from about 22K ratings.

Apple App StoreView source ↗
catsm30w
Visible App Store review, Mar 8 2021
No rating

A visible App Store reviewer said Cluster was a decent private family sharing experience, while noting mobile photo book ordering and crash frustrations.

Apple App Store reviewView source ↗
DDropbox2 reviews
Dropbox Help
Official storage context
No rating

Dropbox help confirms Dropbox Basic starts with 2 GB of free storage and paid upgrades add storage capacity.

Dropbox HelpView source ↗
Dropbox Plans
Official pricing context
No rating

Dropbox’s plans page lists current personal and team storage plans, including Plus, Standard, Advanced, and Enterprise/contact options.

Dropbox PlansView source ↗

Our Event Album beats both

If you are choosing betweenCClusterandDDropboxcompare them with the simpler option: one QR code, no guest app, unlimited uploads, and one flat price.

  • Unique QR code for your event
  • Printable sign templates (PDF)
  • Unlimited photo & video uploads
  • Custom welcome page
  • 6 months of secure hosting
  • Download all photos anytime

Frequently asked questions

Which costs more, Cluster or Dropbox?

Cluster has a free tier. Dropbox starts at $9.99 monthly, with a limited free tier as well.

How much does Cluster cost?

Cluster has a free tier.

How much does Dropbox cost?

Dropbox starts at $9.99 monthly, with a limited free tier as well.

Do Cluster or Dropbox make guests download an app?

Cluster asks guests to install an app, while Dropbox runs in a web browser, so guests just scan a QR code. Our Event Album is web-only: guests scan a QR code and upload, no app required.

Is there a better alternative to Cluster and Dropbox?

Our Event Album is the alternative most couples choose over both: QR-code photo and video uploads with no guest app, a live slideshow, unlimited uploads, and a one-time $39 with no subscription.

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Our Event Album beats both. Start your album in 5 minutes.

One QR code. No guest apps. One flat price, no subscriptions.

Get Your Album

How to evaluate Our Event Album vs Cluster vs Dropbox

Searches for Our Event Album vs Cluster vs Dropbox, Cluster vs Dropbox alternative, and Cluster vs Dropbox alternatives usually come from people who already know the category but are unsure which tool fits their event. The useful comparison is not a feature count. It is whether guests can contribute without friction and whether the host can keep, download, and share the final album easily.

A strong alternative should reduce guest steps, avoid surprise limits, and leave the host with one complete photo collection after the event.

What to compare before switching

  • Check whether the tool you choose for apps like Cluster vs Dropbox lets guests upload from a browser instead of requiring a mobile app.
  • Compare what is included at the base price: QR code, hosting time, downloads, video support, and printable signage.
  • Look for privacy controls when evaluating wedding photo app comparison, especially for weddings, schools, memorials, and workplace events.
  • Read the setup flow, not just the marketing page. The best alternative is the one a host can launch without support.