pCloud is feature-rich, has a very good reputation, offers quality tools, is secure, and has competitive pricing compared to its rivals… Our opinion on pCloud is that it is overall the best online storage for the majority of users.
But why choose pCloud over its competitors? How to make the most of it? The answers are below.
ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
Online File Management
pCloud includes all the classic file synchronization features expected from a cloud storage service.
Unlike other services, pCloud has no limits on the size of stored files. It is therefore quite possible to synchronise your collection of media files (HD movies for example).
Other very useful features such as a trash bin and a version history of your files are included with all accounts.
The adoption of the WebDAV standard is a significant advantage. It ensures compatibility with all external tools that also support WebDAV. WebDAV is part of the useful features for online storage.
Storage Server Location
With pCloud, you have the choice of the location of the data servers to which you entrust your data.
You can choose to store your files in the European Union (Luxembourg) or in the United States. This choice is made at the time of creating your pCloud account.
It is a huge advantage, especially for European businesses or individuals who would not want to see their data leave European soil.
Basket
pCloud plans to introduce a trash feature to restore your deleted files.
The availability duration of your files varies depending on the type of pCloud plan used. For a free account, the availability duration is 15 days. It increases to 30 days for any paid account.
File versions and history
pCloud backs up successive versions of your files for a fixed period. This feature is essential when you store work documents. It allows you to list a history of your files and restore old versions in case of issues or data corruption.
Similarly to the trash, versions are kept for 15 days for free accounts, and 30 days for paid plans.
pCloud Drive: a virtual drive that doesn’t take up space on your hard drive
pCloud offers a feature called pCloud Drive. It is a virtual folder on your computer.
With such a virtual folder your files are accessible without being stored on your computer. Data is downloaded on the fly from the cloud when needed.
The huge advantage of this type of virtual folder is that it takes no space on your hard drive! This is interesting, especially when you have a large amount of online storage. It is indeed a huge hard drive saving.
Warning, an Internet connection is required to make it work. Access to the files is also slower than if the files were stored locally on your hard drive.
General interface and ease of use
The pCloud interfaces also offer some features for searching by file or folder name, and filtering by file format.
Platforms and applications
pCloud for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS
pCloud offers applications for the main platforms which are Windows, MacOS and Linux for computers, and Android and iOS for mobile devices. The effort made to develop a specific application for Linux will undoubtedly be appreciated by the users concerned.
The web application accessible via a browser is sleek and comprehensive. All the applications are user-friendly and intuitive. Specifically, anyone who has used online synchronisation storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, or iCloud will feel at home with pCloud as well.
Cloud Service Security and Privacy
In terms of security, pCloud is a serious and comprehensive service. A 256-bit AES encryption applies for the transfer and storage of data.
To avoid data loss due to hardware issues, data is always kept in 5 copies, in at least three different centres. The aim is to ensure data preservation even in the event of the destruction of a data centre.
As explained in our article on the security of online storage services, these measures are essential, but they do not guarantee that no one else but you can access your most sensitive data. pCloud offers this in the form of the paid option pCloud Crypto.
pCloud Crypto: encrypt your data in the cloud
To ensure that no one (neither among pCloud employees nor authorities, for example) other than you can read your data, the principle of private encryption is essential. This involves encrypting your data on your device before sending it to the storage servers. The decryption key remains solely in your possession. The data thus encrypted is unreadable once stored, including for the storage provider. In summary, this is a true digital vault of which only you have the keys.
For more details, read our article dedicated to online storage security.
This principle is not offered by most of pCloud’s most frequent competitors (notably Dropbox, Google, Apple, etc.). However, it is incredibly important for anyone who wants to keep data completely private (confidential documents, access codes).
pCloud offers a paid option Crypto that allows you to choose the files to encrypt.
Client-side encryption principle of pCloud
The principle of this encryption is simple but extraordinarily effective. All sensitive files are encrypted on your computer. This is called private encryption or client-side encryption. The version sent and stored on pCloud’s servers is an encrypted and unreadable version. You are the only holder of your decryption key (called Crypto Pass). It is never known to pCloud at any time. Thus, even pCloud has no possibility of accessing your data in a readable form.
On the other hand, you are responsible for keeping the Crypto Pass, as in case of loss your data would be lost. Even pCloud could do nothing for you.
It is a pity that the pCloud Crypto option is paid, but it offers a great freedom to the user that is rather rare. In particular, it allows choosing which files should be encrypted via the option or not.
Thus, the less sensitive files that you did not want to include in pCloud Crypto retain all the advantages of a less “private” service that requires data to be readable on the server: files can be previewed online, archived, etc.
pCloud Crypto Price
The rates for pCloud Crypto are as follows:
Our opinion on pCloud Crypto
The pCloud Crypto option is interesting because it allows you to enjoy the benefits of private encryption without suffering from its drawbacks.
Indeed, private encryption, at pCloud as well as at other services, limits certain very useful features (such as file preview or search).
pCloud with its Crypto option allows you to easily select the files that will be encrypted (by placing them in the dedicated folder). Thus, the rest of the files benefit from all the convenience of using a service without private encryption, while your most sensitive files remain confidential.
If you need this option, feel free to test the service for free for 14 days, and then purchase the lifetime option if you can.
Learn more about pCloud Crypto
Online file sharing and collaboration
Document sharing on pCloud
pCloud offers a wide range of possibilities when it comes to sharing your files online with others (not necessarily pCloud customers).
Note that pCloud also offers a storage plan for families (with 2 TB of space to be shared among a maximum of 5 people). The offer is described in more detail in the Pricing and offers section.
pCloud for collaborative work in the cloud
The collaboration features are not pCloud’s strong point. If collaborative aspects are your main motivation for using a cloud storage system, pCloud will not be ideal.
In this case, we recommend that you take a free Google Drive account in addition to your pCloud space. Indeed, Google Drive, although problematic due to its privacy issues, is hard to beat in terms of collaborative work.
Multimedia content in pCloud
The features related to multimedia content are appreciated. Whether it’s photos, videos, or audio files, pCloud applications include a media player that allows you to preview and play these documents. This is also true for the online storage site, accessible from a web browser.
pCloud Storage Offers and Prices
As for its prices, pCloud is very well positioned among the competition. The service offers reasonable rates compared to its rivals, especially compared to more well-known competitors such as Dropbox and Google Drive.
This is also the only cloud storage to offer lifetime plans. With these packages, you make a one-time payment to use pCloud’s services for life. The current prices of these plans are advantageous, as they are quickly recouped (between 3 and 4 years depending on the packages, for a lifetime use).
If you have tested pCloud’s services and know that they meet your needs, it’s a welcome opportunity for long-term savings.
In addition, a refund period of 10 days is offered in case of dissatisfaction. It is therefore easy to test pCloud’s storage space to compare it with your actual needs.
It is regrettable that the zero-knowledge encryption offered by pCloud is a paid option. However, it gives a lot of control to the user. Indeed, you choose which files will be encrypted by placing them in a dedicated folder.
Free cloud – a generous and minimally restricted offer
The free offer provides a generous 10 GB of space and allows you to get an idea of the service offered before committing to an annual or lifetime plan.
The free plan does not have any specific limitations, apart from the accessibility durations of files in the recycle bin or previous versions of files. These range from 30 days for paid plans to 15 days for the free plan.
Password and expiration date features on shared links are exclusive to paid plans.
Premium – an affordable cloud storage space
The Premium offer provides 500 GB of data, with a choice of monthly, annual, or lifetime billing.
Monthly billing : at €4.99 per month, this amounts to about 100 GB per euro invested. That’s more than 30% more than the closest offers from Google Drive and Mega (200 GB at €2.99 / month).
Annual billing : at €49.99 per year, this is a saving of 17% compared to monthly billing over a year.
Lifetime billing. For a €200 one-time payment that grants lifetime access to pCloud features, this is clearly the most interesting plan in the long run. A quick calculation shows that this plan is recouped in 4 years compared to an annual subscription.
Premium Plus – cheap 2 TB online plan
The Premium Plus offer provides 2TB of data (that is 2000GB) with a choice of monthly, annual, or lifetime billing.
Monthly billing : at €9.99 per month, it amounts to about 200 GB per euro invested (which is twice as much as the Premium offer). It’s twice as cheap as Dropbox or Mega for the same space, for example.
Annual billing : at €99.99 per year, this represents a saving of 17% compared to monthly billing over a year.
Lifetime billing. For €400 for a purchase that grants lifetime access to pCloud services. As with the Premium offer, this purchase pays for itself in 4 years compared to an annual subscription.
Custom Plan – 10 TB Lifetime Plan
Another offer, called Custom Plan, of 10 TB (that is 10,000 GB) is also available with pCloud. Unlike the previous offers of 500 GB and 2 TB, this one is only available through a lifetime offer, no monthly or annual subscription. Therefore, a significant amount of money will need to be spent to access it, but with the promise of exceptional profitability in the long term.
Lifetime billing. €1200 for a purchase that grants access to pCloud services for life with 10 TB of space. Note that the price of €1200 is an 80% discount from the actual displayed price of €6000.
pCloud Lifetime: what to think about lifetime online storage?
We mentioned it earlier: pCloud has the originality of offering lifetime cloud storage plans of 500 GB, 2 TB or 10 TB to choose from.
These are worth studying as they change the way online storage and its payment are approached.
We tend to think of online storage space as a temporary service, rented for a limited time. Thus, a subscription (monthly or annual) seems to be the most natural form of payment.
pCloud reverses this by allowing you to purchase online storage space. It is no longer a rental, but rather a one-time purchase that makes the storage space usable for life.
Is it profitable?
The question of profitability arises: How long does it take to amortise the purchase of a pCloud Lifetime online storage space?
As a reminder, thanks to the current -65% promotion, the lifetime offer from pCloud currently costs €200 for 500 GB, or €400 for 2 TB. As for the 10 TB space, it is on an 80% promotion for a current price of €1200.
We have done the depreciation calculations in our article dedicated to pCloud Lifetime. Here are the results.
pCloud’s lifetime offers pay for themselves in 4 years (compared to someone who would take an annual subscription).
For example, after 4 years of using the lifetime storage space, you will have paid as much as for the same online storage at the annual rate. After 6 years, the storage space will have cost half as much as with a monthly subscription.
The amortisation period is therefore very short, given that cloud storage is a service that will certainly still be relevant in 5 or 10 years. The offered spaces (500 GB, but more particularly 2 TB and 10 TB) are large enough not to become useless before the purchase is amortised.
In short, it is clear that the price paid for one of these offers turns into a very significant saving after a few years.
And for the 10 TB plan?
The profitability of the 10 TB plan is more difficult to calculate since it is not available with a monthly or annual subscription. However, it is possible to see that it is very inexpensive in terms of price invested per TB. Indeed, this offer amounts to €120 per TB, whereas the 2 TB plan for €400 amounts to €200 per TB. The cost per terabyte is therefore 40% cheaper for the 10 TB plan.
For a more detailed study of these offers, consult our article dedicated to pCloud lifetime storage.
pCloud for the family – sharing storage space within the family
pCloud offers another original plan: a cloud space dedicated to families. This corresponds to a storage space of 2 TB or 10 TB of your choice, accessible only as a lifetime offer for a value of €600 for 2 TB or €1500 for 10 TB (lifetime use for a one-time payment).
With this offer, up to 5 users can share the storage space, with the following features:
We regret that this offer is only accessible through a lifetime purchase, and not through a standard monthly or annual billing. This could deter potential customers. The possibility of a refund within 10 days in case of dissatisfaction is therefore beneficial.
Note that there is no way to convert an existing lifetime plan (Premium, Premium Plus or Custom) into a family plan.
For more information, you can check our complete review of pCloud Family.
For the Christmas period 2021, pCloud is offering a huge promotion for its family shared storage.
pCloud Family at -70% for Christmas
Opinions on pCloud pricing
The sizes of the storage spaces offered by pCloud are varied (10 GB for a free account, 500 GB, 2 TB or 10 TB for paid accounts). They are also representative of users’ needs.
pCloud stands out for several very positive points:
The only downside to pCloud’s pricing policy is that the Crypto option is paid. Fortunately, the rest of the pricing is very low to balance the bill.
If you need this option, feel free to test the service for free for 14 days, and then purchase the lifetime option if you can.
pCloud and its competitors
pCloud vs Dropbox
Dropbox is another serious competitor to pCloud for online storage. It is still one of the most popular options today, as it was the one that managed to popularise cloud storage in its time. Both services have a good reputation with the general public, although Dropbox is more well-known.
Today however, pCloud seems to us well ahead of pCloud whether in terms of features or price.
The advantages of pCloud
The advantages of Dropbox
pCloud or Dropbox: the conclusion
In our opinion, for the majority, it is indeed pCloud that comes out on top in this duel. With more comprehensive features, particularly the private encryption offered by pCloud Crypto, which will allow you to keep certain files completely protected (even pCloud will not be able to read these files).
The lifetime offers from pCloud also make it a choice that even Dropbox cannot match: a one-time payment for access to 500 GB, 2 TB, or 10 TB of storage for life is hard to beat.
pCloud vs Google Drive
How does pCloud stack up against Google Drive, this web giant that has taken on cloud storage?
The comparison is similar to that of pCloud vs Dropbox, as Google Drive has the same issues as Dropbox. Indeed, we will note the lack of data privacy on Google Drive (all your files can be read or scanned by Google), while pCloud offers the Crypto option for this specific need. Similarly, we will regret that only pCloud offers a lifetime cloud storage plan that is extremely easy to monetise and avoids having an additional subscription to pay every month or every year.
Google Drive, on the other hand, benefits from its integration into Google’s vast ecosystem (Google Docs, Google Photos, etc.). In terms of free online storage, both services are equal with free space of up to 15 GB.
The advantages of pCloud
The advantages of Google Drive
pCloud or Google Drive: the conclusion
pCloud is overall a better cloud storage space than pCloud. Notably, the lack of data privacy (private encryption) on Google Drive eliminates it for anyone looking to store sensitive files.
However, Google Drive also has strengths that pCloud cannot compete with, thanks to its integration into the entire Google ecosystem. Fortunately, these features can easily be utilized through Google’s free 15 GB space, and supplemented by a lifetime paid space from pCloud to store most of your personal data.
pCloud vs Sync.com
pCloud and Sync.com have both become major players in online storage, but they will suit different uses.
Advantages of pCloud
Benefits of Sync.com
pCloud or Sync.com: our opinion
If you are primarily looking for ease of use or if you want a long-term offer, then pCloud is the top choice, especially with its lifetime offer that will save you a lot in the long run (check out our full review of pCloud Lifetime for a detailed breakdown of the savings made).
You will prefer Sync.com if you want an annual subscription rather than a lifetime one, and especially if you need total privacy for your data. Indeed, Sync.com offers private encryption by default on all your files, to ensure that only you can read the content. pCloud offers a paid option (pCloud Crypto) for a selection of your files.
Our opinion on pCloud
Despite the presence of giants like Google or Dropbox in the online storage market, pCloud has managed to position itself at the forefront.
Who is the pCloud storage service for?
pCloud is an ideal solution for most users. Excelling in all evaluation criteria, the Swiss company’s online storage offers an unmatched compromise, along with some good original ideas (lifetime offers, space for the family or even selective private encryption).
The seriousness with which data security is regarded is one of the most commendable aspects.
We also appreciate low prices and the original possibility of making a payment for lifetime use of the service.
The only weakness in terms of features is the lack of collaboration tools. The difficulty for multiple users to work simultaneously on the same document will not always be suitable for group work, especially in a business setting.
Fortunately, online file and folder sharing tools are very comprehensive.
As for the price, pCloud is certainly one of the cheapest cloud services. For those looking to save, the lifetime plan offer is the most interesting on the market as it can pay for itself in just 4 years.
In conclusion, our opinion on pCloud is that it is a safe and viable long-term choice for both experts and novices.
ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
