html.cloud vs Google Drive & Dropbox
Google Drive and Dropbox are general cloud storage: they encrypt your files but hold the keys, and they treat an HTML file as a download. html.cloud is zero-knowledge — encrypted in your browser so even we can't read it — and shows the page when the link is opened.
At a glance
| html.cloud | Google Drive / Dropbox | |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy model | Zero-knowledge — encrypted in your browser, key never sent | Encrypted at rest & in transit, but the provider holds the keys |
| Can the provider read it? | No — we store only ciphertext | Technically yes — they manage the keys |
| Opening an HTML file | Renders the page in the browser | Usually downloads the file instead of showing it |
| Account | None, for you or the recipient | Built around accounts in their ecosystem |
| Expiry & deletion | 7 / 30 days / never; replace or delete anytime | Manual; expiring links are a paid feature |
| Storage, sync, large files | Single HTML file, up to 10 MB | Full storage, folders, versioning, any file type |
When to use which
Use Google Drive or Dropbox for what they're built for: storing and syncing lots of files, folders and large media, version history, and collaborating inside their ecosystems. They're full-featured platforms, and their encryption protects against outside attackers.
Use html.cloud when you want one HTML file to open as a page and stay genuinely private — where “the provider could technically read it” isn't good enough. The file is encrypted on your device before upload, the link carries the only key, and you can set it to expire or delete it.
FAQ
Are Google Drive and Dropbox zero-knowledge?
No. Both encrypt files at rest and in transit but hold the keys, so the provider can technically read your files. html.cloud encrypts in your browser and the key never reaches the server — not even we can read it.
Why not just share an HTML file from Drive or Dropbox?
You can, but they treat HTML as a download rather than a page to view, and you manage permissions per file. html.cloud shows the rendered page on open and is private by design, with the key carried in the link.
Do recipients need an account?
With html.cloud, no — anyone with the link can open it, and there's no sign-up for you either. Drive and Dropbox links work too, but their full access and management assume accounts.