What is Dropbox Portal
Dropbox Portal shows the files of one or more Dropbox folders on a page of your WordPress site, but only to logged-in users who are allowed to see them. Visitors browse the folders, open them and download the files without ever receiving a public Dropbox link: every file passes through your site, which checks who is asking first.
How it works
- You create a small "app" in your Dropbox account. It is only a set of keys that lets your site read your Dropbox (see Create the Dropbox app and connect your account).
- You connect that Dropbox account to WordPress with one click.
- You write rules: each rule links a WordPress user role (for example "Subscriber" or "Customer") to a Dropbox folder.
- You put the portal on a page with a shortcode, a short code in square brackets that WordPress replaces with the portal:
[nopd_dropbox_portal].
Logged-in users then see only the folders that match their role. Logged-out visitors see a message asking them to sign in.
Who it is for
- Studios and agencies that deliver files to clients (photos, videos, project documents).
- Companies with a reserved area for dealers, partners or staff (price lists, manuals, brochures).
- Anyone who already keeps documents in Dropbox and wants to share them from their own site, without sending links around.
The plugin only reads your Dropbox. It never changes, moves or deletes your files, and visitors cannot upload files through the portal.
Free version and Pro
There is one single plugin. After installation it runs as the free version. The Pro features stay visible in the admin but switched off, with a Pro label next to them. A 7-day free trial unlocks them all, and a licence key unlocks them permanently.
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Connection to one Dropbox account (read only) | Yes | Yes |
| Role to folder rules | 1 rule | Unlimited |
| Folder browsing with breadcrumb (the "you are here" path) | Yes | Yes |
| Protected download through your site | Yes | Yes |
| List view | Yes | Yes |
| Grid view | No | Yes |
| File search | No | Yes |
| Image and PDF preview, thumbnails | No | Yes |
| View only: downloads switched off per rule | No | Yes |
| Light theme | Yes | Yes |
| Dark and auto theme, custom portal colour | No | Yes |
| Configurable cache duration | No (fixed at 5 minutes) | Yes |
If a licence or the trial ends, nothing is deleted: the portal keeps working in the free version and your Pro settings stay stored, ready to switch back on.
Requirements
- WordPress 6.2 or later.
- PHP 7.4 or later (your hosting provider can tell you which version you have).
- A Dropbox account (a free Dropbox account works).
- Your site on HTTPS (an address starting with
https://). Dropbox refuses to connect to a site on plainhttp://, except for local test sites.
Ready? Start with Install the free version. You can also read more on the product page.
Write to us and tell us which plugin, what you tried and what you see. We answer from Italy, usually within one working day.