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The All About Cookies editorial team strives to provide accurate, in-depth information and reviews to help you, our reader, make online privacy decisions with confidence. Here's what you can expect from us:
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Lifetime plans let you pay once and keep your storage for good, so there's no subscription renewing year after year
Optional pCloud Crypto folder adds zero-knowledge, client-side encryption, so only you can open your most sensitive files
Lets you choose U.S. or EU data regions, so you decide which country's privacy laws govern your files
All About Cookies is an independent, advertising-supported website. Some of the offers that appear on this site are from third-party advertisers from which All About Cookies receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear).
All About Cookies does not include all financial or credit offers that might be available to consumers nor do we include all companies or all available products. Information is accurate as of the publishing date and has not been provided or endorsed by the advertiser.
The All About Cookies editorial team strives to provide accurate, in-depth information and reviews to help you, our reader, make online privacy decisions with confidence. Here's what you can expect from us:
pCloud is a solid cloud storage service that does a lot of things well. It’s affordable, reasonably secure, and the lifetime plan will appeal to anyone suffering from subscription fatigue. However, other services often beat it in key areas, making it hard to recommend to anyone who isn't interested in the one-time purchase option.
My pCloud review covers setup, pricing, features, security, and more, plus how it compares to other secure cloud storage services.
| Starts at | $4.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes, up to 10 GB |
| Storage space | 2 GB–10 TB |
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| Local storage | Yes |
| Details | Get pCloud |
Our team has conducted hands-on testing on cloud storage services by signing up for and installing each one on our own computers and home networks, just as you would. We evaluate real-world usability from setup through day-to-day use.
We evaluate each product across six areas:
To learn more about how we test, read our full testing methodology here.
pCloud earned a solid overall score of 4.7, thanks to its lifetime subscription plan, storage capacity, and usability.
We dinged pCloud for lacking secure file deletion, its bare-bones search tool, and putting end-to-end encryption behind a paid add-on.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 30% | 4.75 |
| Prices and value | 5% | 5.0 |
| Features | 15% | 4.0 |
| Storage | 30% | 5.0 |
| Security | 15% | 4.75 |
| Compatibility | 5% | 5.0 |
We last tested pCloud on August 17, 2026.
Cloud storage with 10 TB included on its single plan, more than most competitors offer at that price
Zero-knowledge encryption means Total can't access or read your files, even on their own servers
Anti-ransomware protection keeps a secure cloud copy of your files so you can recover them if attacked
The everyday pCloud experience can be summed up in three words: solid but unremarkable. The service works fine, and I didn’t run into any hiccups or major issues that would turn me away.
pCloud’s free plan gives you 2 GB to start, and you can earn extra storage by completing tasks (like uploading a file or inviting friends), capping out at 10 GB. Paid plans offer a lot of storage, up to 10 TB, and are priced competitively. Compared to Google Drive (a very popular option), pCloud’s 2 TB plan is the same price ($9.99/mo), while the 10 TB plan is quite a bit cheaper.
Using pCloud is straightforward, and the service offers a decent feature set, although it doesn’t really excel in any one area the way other providers do. For example, Google is excellent for collaboration, while Proton Drive is the gold standard for privacy. pCloud’s main claim to fame is the lifetime purchase option, which can save money in the long run but requires a lot of faith in the company’s longevity.
Ultimately, pCloud is a good value, but I think most people would be better off with a different service that caters to their specific needs. The exception is users willing to pay upfront for the lifetime plan. If that’s you, pCloud could make a lot of sense.
Getting started with pCloud is exceptionally easy. Sign up takes just a few seconds, and you can then download apps for your devices or upload files directly on the web. On first login, you’re greeted with some popups explaining how to add files. A banner at the top of the page links to key pCloud features, which is handy (though it does take up a lot of space).
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Overall, the interface is easy to navigate, and key features are all relatively easy to find.
There are a few ways to add files to pCloud. On the web, you can use the + Add button in the top right, or simply drag and drop files onto the page to upload. If you have the desktop app installed, you can also drop files into that folder in your file manager. You can also add files using the mobile app.
As far as organization, pCloud offers the basics: you can create folders to organize your items and sort them in various ways. There’s a basic search function that lacks the deep filtering of, say, Google Drive, but it works well enough. pCloud also has dedicated pages for photos, audio files, and shared files that make these types easier to browse.
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The audio file organization lets you sort tracks based on metadata like artist and album, and you can even create playlists. This feature isn't found in any other mainstream cloud storage service, as most will play the files but don’t offer this kind of library organization. It’s quite nice for anyone who still prefers keeping their own music library.
pCloud syncing was very reliable in testing. In fact, pCloud was one of the faster sync experiences I’ve had. Files showed up almost instantly on other devices.
Sharing is also easy. To get started, right-click a file and select Share link. pCloud will automatically copy the link to your clipboard for sharing via email, text, or another method of your choice.
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You can click Settings in the pop-up to configure sharing options, such as setting a password or expiration date. You can adjust these at any time by heading to the Shared tab in the sidebar, right-clicking the file, and choosing Settings. You can revoke shared links at any time from this page, as well.
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pCloud offers four basic plans for individuals: Free, Premium, Premium Plus, and Ultra. The Free plan offers 2 GB to 10 GB of storage, increasing as you complete tasks like uploading files or inviting friends.
Monthly subscriptions for paid plans range from $4.99/mo to $29.99/mo, depending on the tier. The only differences between plans are storage amount and the shared link traffic cap. This cap is essentially a monthly bandwidth limit on your public links: anyone viewing, downloading, or streaming your shared files uses this pool of data, which resets every 30 days.
| Plan | Free | Premium 500 GB | Premium Plus 2 TB | Ultra 10 TB |
| Monthly price | N/A | $4.99/mo | $9.99/mo | $29.99/mo |
| Annual price | N/A | $49.99/yr | $99.99/yr | $299.99/yr |
| Lifetime price | N/A | $199 one-time | $399 one-time | $1,190 one-time |
| Storage space | 2 GB–10 GB | 500 GB | 2 TB | 10 TB |
| Local storage | ||||
| Secure sharing | ||||
| Shared link traffic cap | 50 GB | 500 GB | 2 TB | 2 TB |
| Secure file deletion | ||||
| Device syncing | ||||
| File organization | ||||
| Details | View Plan | View Plan | View Plan | View Plan |
pCloud’s prices match or beat many competitors, making it a strong value proposition. The 10 TB plan is an especially good value if you need a lot of storage (though Total Drive offers 10 TB for $8.25/mo).
The lifetime option is fairly unique. It’s a one-time payment, rather than a subscription. Our cloud storage survey found the average person pays $5.92 per month, about $70 a year, for cloud storage, across an average of 2.67 different services.
So you could save with pCloud, though the break-even point on the lifetime plans is about three and a half years if you would otherwise pay monthly, or about four years if you pay annually. This is a solid value if you have the cash available and know you’ll keep pCloud for longer than that. It looks even better against our survey average: at about $70 a year, pCloud’s cheapest lifetime plan would pay for itself in under three years.
The viability of the lifetime plan does depend on the company actually still operating for the next four years, though. pCloud has been around since 2013, so the track record is there, but each person will have to assess that risk themselves.
There is also a Family plan. It is only available as a lifetime subscription, in 2 TB and 10 TB options. The storage is shared among up to five users. Prices are $595 and $1,499, respectively.
All pCloud plans come with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
pCloud offers a solid feature set across the board, with secure file-sharing options and optional add-ons like pCloud Encryption.
Like most cloud storage services, pCloud lets you mark specific files for offline access, so you don’t need to worry about losing access to your files if your internet connection drops. This is especially useful if you’re working on the road or traveling somewhere remote where internet access isn’t a guarantee.
If your subscription ends, you get a five-day grace period, and then your account automatically drops to the free tier. At that point, one of two things happens to your files. If your data fits within the free storage cap (up to 10 GB), nothing happens. You retain access and can use the account like normal.
If your data exceeds this, you won’t be able to upload any new files. After 30 days, pCloud moves excess files to the Trash at random until your storage is under the free quota. If you renew your subscription, you can restore those files. However, if you don’t, the Trash will be emptied after 15 days, and those files will be lost.
pCloud’s file sharing is easy to access and offers several security features. To share, simply right-click a file or folder and click Share link. You can then share that link with anyone, whether they have a pCloud account or not. You can also share specific folders with other pCloud users.
You can assign passwords to shared links and set expiration dates, after which sharing ends automatically. You can revoke permissions at any time.
Secure file deletion refers to a type of deletion where files are scrubbed from the server and made unretrievable, sort of like a digital shredder. pCloud does not offer this type of secure file deletion. Instead, deleted files go to the Trash and are automatically removed after a set period: 15 days for the free plan, 30 days for premium plans, and up to 365 days with the paid Extended File History add-on ($79 per year).
pCloud Encryption is a paid add-on that adds a secure, end-to-end encrypted Crypto folder to your pCloud account. End-to-end encryption means your files are scrambled before leaving your device, keeping them private from anyone without the encryption keys to unlock them, including pCloud.
This folder is also “zero-knowledge,” meaning pCloud doesn't have the keys. Only you can unlock it with a password you set. The rest of the pCloud drive continues to use the standard encryption.
This is a good way to keep particularly sensitive files secure from prying eyes, though you must make sure those files are actually in the Crypto folder. pCloud Encryption costs $4.99 per month, $49.99 per year, or $150 for a lifetime purchase.
Yes, pCloud is safe. It uses industry-standard AES-256 encryption, and it has had no known data breaches. You can secure accounts with two-factor authentication. Shared links can also be password-protected or set to expire, which helps with security, and the pCloud Encryption add-on (discussed above) adds another layer of security for sensitive files.
That said, because end-to-end encryption is limited to the Crypto folder rather than the whole account, I wouldn't recommend pCloud for anyone who regularly handles many highly sensitive files. If private cloud storage is the top priority, something like Proton Drive (where the whole drive is encrypted end-to-end) would be preferable, as it eliminates the risk of accidentally saving sensitive files outside the encrypted folder.
pCloud has a good web app, aside from the giant banner at the top of the page, and native apps are available for desktop and mobile. Browser extensions are also available for most popular web browsers. Here’s the full breakdown:
pCloud offers online guides and a chatbot as front-line support. You can also reach out via email or by filling out a support request form. Unfortunately, there are no phone or live chat options. This won’t be an issue most of the time, but in the rare instances where you need quick help, it could be a problem, so it’s worth keeping in mind.
During testing, I reached out to customer service with a question about one of pCloud’s features. I received a response within 24 hours, and it was brief but helpful. However, there was no indication that my support request had been received. I wasn’t sure the process had worked until I got a response. A simple confirmation email would go a long way towards easing this concern.
Customer reviews for pCloud are generally very good, with customers praising the price, customer service, and security features. Most of the negative reviews I saw focused on poor customer service or lost data, but these were relatively rare, and the company responded to many of them. Trustpilot is an outlier (as it usually is).
If pCloud doesn’t meet your needs, you’ve got plenty of options. Many top cloud storage services excel in a particular area, so your choice can come down to your needs. Three strong options are Proton Drive, Total Drive, and Google Drive. Proton excels at privacy, Total Drive offers 10 TB of storage at a much lower price, and Google Drive is good for agile collaboration.
Learn more:
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Cloud storage with zero-knowledge, end-to-end encryption, so not even Proton can see your files
Includes Proton Docs and Sheets, encrypted alternatives to Google's document tools
Share files via a secure link with no account required on the recipient's end
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Cloud storage with 10 TB included on its single plan, more than most competitors offer at that price
Zero-knowledge encryption means Total can't access or read your files, even on their own servers
Anti-ransomware protection keeps a secure cloud copy of your files so you can recover them if attacked
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Fast, reliable syncing and excellent collaboration tools via Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
Offers a lot of competitively priced plans plus a free tier of 15 GB storage
Higher-tier plans include Gemini AI features for Gmail, Docs, and more
pCloud is a solid cloud storage service. It’s easy to use, syncs quickly, and works on all major platforms. It also has some unique features, like music organization tools, and it’s priced affordably. There’s nothing major to dislike about the service.
That said, it also doesn’t really excel anywhere, and other cloud storage services will almost always beat it in specific areas. If you need to collaborate, Google is a better pick. If you need privacy, Proton Drive is the way to go. If you want a lot of storage and don’t care about bells and whistles, we recommend Total Drive. When it comes to pCloud, I think most people will ultimately be better served by another service that caters to their particular needs.
The two exceptions are users who need a lot of storage and those interested in the lifetime plan. pCloud’s 10 TB plan costs almost half as much per month as Google’s equivalent plan. And the lifetime plans could save you money in the long run, provided you stick with pCloud for about four years or more. If you fall into one of these two specific camps, pCloud could be a great option.
Yes, pCloud is safe. It uses industry-standard AES-256 encryption, includes security features like two-factor authentication, and has no known history of data breaches. For enhanced security, you can add a pCloud Encryption subscription, which gives you a Crypto folder. All files within that folder are end-to-end encrypted, and you hold the key, making it great for privacy.
If you intend to keep pCloud for more than four years, then yes, the plans are likely worth it. Break-even lands at about three and a half years against a monthly subscription, or about four years against an annual one. That said, you’ll have to just trust that the company will still be there in four years. If it shuts down, you’ve essentially wasted that money.
Yes, pCloud is generally more secure than Google Drive. It’s based in Switzerland, whereas Google is based in the U.S., which has much weaker privacy protections. pCloud also offers a paid add-on that gives you an end-to-end-encrypted folder. Google’s personal plans don't offer this kind of privacy feature.
Lifetime plans let you pay once and keep your storage for good, so there's no subscription renewing year after year
Optional pCloud Crypto folder adds zero-knowledge, client-side encryption, so only you can open your most sensitive files
Lets you choose U.S. or EU data regions, so you decide which country's privacy laws govern your files
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