pCloud Review

pCloud Review

Features - 95%
Usability - 93%
Security - 92%
Support - 93%
Pricing - 96%

94%

Very Good

Overall, pCloud have implemented a great set of cloud features alongside a solid approach to providing a secure and reliable cloud storage service at a great pricing point

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pCloud

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    Since its beginnings back in 2013, pCloud has continued to grow and develop into what is now a leading cloud storage service as of 2023! One of the main drivers of pCloud’s growth is no doubt thanks to its clear focus on providing the highest levels of data security and user privacy which are backed-up by a great set of complimentary features (up to and including a fully functional backup utility now built directly into the service).

    In a crowded and competitive cloud storage market as of late, it is pCloud which really stands out as one of the leading players. Not only do they offer generous cloud storage quotas and amazing value for money via their lifetime plans, but many advanced features are also included such as desktop synchronisation software, full end-to-end encrypted storage, secure link sharing, 30+ days of version history and WebDAV access to the service plus much more on top.

    I have been a big fan of pCloud for several years now and in this latest version of my review (which has been fully updated for 2023) I will be looking at both the core pCloud offering in addition to some of the many enhancements and new features added over the last few years – Vamos!

    Looking for Cloud Storage?

    Are you looking for practical help and advice in choosing cloud storage? If so, then be sure to check out our various guides including our Top 10 Free Cloud Storage guide, our guide to the Best Free Cloud Storage Services plus our guide to the Best Cloud Storage for Photographers amongst several others!

    Key Features

    • 10GB Free Account available for new users!
    • Secure, resilient & privacy focused cloud storage service
    • iOS and Android apps available
    • Secure AES 256-bit (end-to-end) encryption
    • Secure file sharing & public folder service
    • Desktop synchronisation software (Windows, MacOS & Linux)
    • Built-in backup software (with block level support)
    • 30 Days of historic file versioning (15 days on free plan)
    • Multi-factor authentication (2FA) supported
    • Integrates with Dropbox, Google, Facebook etc.
    • EU and USA based data centres available
    • Based in Switzerland (adhering to strict privacy laws)
    • Premium plans priced from just $49.99 / year (500GB)
    • Lifetime plans available with up to 10TB storage!
    • Lifetime plans Starting @ $199 / Lifetime (for 500GB)

    pCloud Usability

    In this section of my review, I will be looking at the usability aspects of the pCloud service in more detail. This involves signing-up to pCloud and downloading the desktop software for myself, as well as trying out many of the most popular features which are on offer including desktop synchronisation, cloud backup, secure file sharing and the encrypted “Crypto” vault service.

    NB – Remember, pCloud offer a very generous 10GB free account for anyone wanting to try the service out for themselves! Not only does this free account contain a very generous allocation of cloud storage, but also provides access to many of the highly rated pCloud features including desktop synchronisation, iOS and Android apps and device backup amongst many others!

    Signing-up to pCloud

    Signing up to pCloud beings at the official pCloud website, it is from here that the 10GB free account is available to all new users as are the upgraded premium annual and premium lifetime plans.

    pcloud review - sign-up and choose data centre

    As can be seen above, signing up to the pCloud 10GB free account requires only a valid email and password be initially entered and the preferred datacentre location chosen (pCloud gives all users the choice between USA and EU datacentres, including for free account holders). After confirming all necessary details, the account creation process lasted only a few seconds in my case before the main pCloud dashboard became available just a few moments later.

    pcloud review - initial dashboard view

    NB – As can be seen above, pCloud initially only release 2GB of cloud storage for free account holders, the full allocation being released when certain tasks have been completed including verifying the email address in use and uploading files to the service!

    Looking at the pCloud web dashboard in more detail and we can see that we have a nicely organised menu available towards the left of the screen from which most of the main parts of the service can be accessed. The main app menu found towards the top right of the page is where all other account related settings can be found including some of the many security related settings (which will be looked in more depth a little later on).

    And with this, the pCloud sign-up process is complete, a relatively quick and simple process overall which helps to make this free cloud storage offering as accessible as is possible. In the next section of this review, I will be looking at the pCloud desktop software in more detail before then going on to look at some of the many security and privacy related features found within pCloud a little later on.

    Downloading the Desktop Software

    Whilst the pCloud web-based dashboard is undoubtedly very useful for quickly adding and downloading files on request, it is the desktop software which provides much of the really useful functionality from pCloud including device folder synchronisation, device backup and secure end-to-end encryption between devices amongst many other useful features. The pCloud Drive application is available to download from the official downloads page (a link for which can be found in the top menu bar once logged-in) and is available for Windows, MacOS and Linux users alike.

    pcloud review - sign-in to desktop application

    At just under 25MB in my case, downloading the desktop software for windows was a very quick and easy experience, as was the installation which took only a few seconds and required virtually zero input up until the point at which the software was already installed and the pCloud login box became available.

    Once logged-into the desktop application for the first time, we will initially be greeted by a quick set of “how to” pages before the main desktop app becomes available and the service can be set to work!

    pcloud review - desktop software homepage

    NB – It is import to note that the pCloud desktop software will, upon the initial login, also create a virtual drive within Windows which links back to the pCloud service (this was set to the “P” drive letter in my case and, unfortunately, as of right now, this letter can’t be changed).

    As can be seen above, the desktop application amalgamates the configuration of multiple pCloud services and settings into a single user interface with the tabs found at the top of the application allowing for easy access to each section (including Sync, Backup, Shares, Crypto and Settings amongst others). Additionally, the main dashboard section shows other useful information about the pCloud account including the storage allocation used, remaining and provides quick access links to places such as the virtual drive and the trash folder.

    This concludes installing and looking at the pCloud desktop software for now, in the upcoming section I will be revisiting the app whilst checking out some of the other great functionality which is on including the backup application and the pCloud Crypto secure file storage service!

    Working with Files & Synchronisation

    Uploading and downloading files and folders is, of course, one of the core features requested of any cloud storage service and the ease at which this can be done helps in determining how usable a service is overall. Thankfully, pCloud not only make uploading and downloading very easy, but also provide several routes to doing so via the web-based file manager, smartphone apps, desktop applications and also via specialist services such as WebDAV which is fully supported as well!

    pcloud review - web file manager uploading files

    Starting off by looking at the main web interface and the uploading of files to pCloud is as simple as dragging and dropping said files over the correct folder within the web browser (as can be seen above). Once dropped, all selected file and folders will start automatically uploading and the pCloud upload manager box will appear to show the progress of the upload!

    NB – The web interface also features an upload button for selecting files and folders should this be preferred to the drag and drop method!

    Downloading files and folders form the web interface is as simple as selecting the file or folder (or multiples thereof) and then clicking the button labelled “Download Selected” found just above the file manager. Whilst downloading of these files will at this point work in much the same way as the downloading of any other files via a web browser, it should be noted that there is (at time of writing) a download limit of 200MB per each individual file being downloaded through the pCloud web interface (meaning the pCloud desktop application or smartphone apps must be used for downloading large files in such circumstances).

    Moving on to the pCloud desktop software and we can easily upload or download files of any size to or from our device via the specially created pCloud virtual drive (which, as was mentioned earlier on, will usually be mounted as the “P” drive within Windows). As can be seen below, when opening this virtual “P” drive, we will see a reflection of the pCloud service with the same folder structure in-use and the ability to copy files to or from the cloud using standard Windows methods (e.g., dragging and dropping via Windows Explorer).

    pcloud review - pcloud virtual drive in-use

    NB – We can also open up files stored on the pCloud drive directly using locally installed applications including Word, Excel and many others should this be preferred!

    Looking at the pCloud desktop application a little further and we can see under the Settings tab (in the Disk Usage tab) we also have control over the disk caching settings used by the pCloud drive application.

    pcloud review - desktop software cache settings tab

    These above cache settings are necessary as any files seen and used within the pCloud drive on the device itself (i.e., all files in pCloud storage), are actually still stored on the cloud (not the device itself) and are streamed to the local device only when required. The size of the cache simply determines how much data is stored locally on a temporary basis so as to help speed up the access times to certain files by temporarily keeping a local copy of the file as well.

    NB – This cache-based approach helps pCloud deliver the best of both worlds in relation to using the minimum of device disk space whilst still providing relatively fast file access times!

    Finally, as well as the pCloud drive access to all files within the account, there is also the option to set-up a specified synchronisation folder which will keep any locally stored files in synchronisation with a specified folder upon the cloud drive itself (i.e., it will keep all relevant files in sync with each other across 2 or more devices).

    pcloud review - setting up device sync

    As can be seen above, setting up the synchronisation between 2 or more devices is as simple as specifying the local sync folder on one device and then specifying the folder on the cloud drive to pair it with. After this point any changes made to files at either end of the sync will be updated at all other connected endpoints (this includes adding new files or deleting existing files, a process which will delete said files form all connected synchronisation folders together).

    NB – If required, synchronisation can easily be stopped by visiting the “Sync” tab within the pCloud application, identifying the correct sync setup (there can be multiple synchronisation fodders in use at once) and then pressing the Stop button!

    And with this the process of uploading, downloading and synchronising files to and from pCloud has been covered. Smartphone apps for both iOS and Android do also exist but these will be covered in more detail a little later on.

    Encrypted File Storage (Crypto Vault)

    Before moving on to look at the built-in backup functionality from pCloud in the next section, it is important to first give mention to the pCloud Crypto service. This is the service which, once activated, allows any files and folders to be securely encrypted on the client’s own device before been transferred and stored in a special area of the pCloud account (an area of the account which can’t be accessed in any way without first entering the special secure encryption password first).

    pcloud review - crypto vault page in desktop app

    As can be seen above, entering the crypto vault password is done in the main pCloud desktop application software and, once unlocked, the Crypto folder and its contents will be available in the virtual “P” drive and can be used like any other folder within Windows (and any data added to this special folder will be encrypted on the device before being transferred to pCloud).

    pcloud review - p drive with crypto folder unlocked

    NB – Any files and folders entered into the pCloud Crypto folder within Windows (as can be seen above) will automatically be encrypted using strong AES 256-bit encryption and transferred to pCloud’s servers using SSL/TLS secure connections!

    The pCloud desktop software also features options for configuring the Crypto vault even further, this includes setting the vault to automatically lock upon the device restarting or sleeping as well as the ability to have the vault auto-unlock on the device in question after boot-up (something ideally suited only to trusted devices).

    pcloud review - desktop app crypto vault settings

    Finally, whilst using the Crypto vault via the pCloud desktop software provides some of the highest levels of encryption related usability, it should be noted this service can also be accessed via both the smartphone apps and the pCloud web-based file manager when required.

    pcloud review - access crypto folder on web browser

    As can be seen above, when using the Crypto vault service via a web browser, we still see a service which is separated from the main cloud storage area (via the special “Crypto Folder” link on the left menu) and one that still requires the special Crypto vault password be entered before access can be gained. Once activated, files can be uploaded to the vault via the web browser interface and will (as before) still be encrypted on the local device before being transferred to pCloud storage).

    Backup Functionality

    One of the most notable and useful additions to the pCloud service as of late is the fully functional backup software which is built directly into the desktop application itself!

    pcloud review - initial backup configuration

    As can be seen above, the pCloud backup software is built into the desktop application and can be switched on and initially configured form this same application. The default areas of a device which are to be included within a backup (e.g., Photos, Documents etc.) can easily be added by simply checking the relevant boxes (again, above) and additional areas can also be added manually using the “Choose other folders” option found just below these main checkboxes.

    pcloud review - backup set exclusions

    As can be seen above, exclusions can also be configured on this main backup set so as to make it easy to exclude any selected files based upon their name, location or file type / extension. These exclusions can be found in the pCloud application settings area and configured using a special interface to help ensure correct details are entered.

    With all backup settings configured, the backup can be started, it will then continue to monitor any changes on the system in question will and automatically keep any selected files within the backup set safe. There is only option for this one and only backup set to be configured within the application as of time of writing, however, the addition of 30 days of historic versioning to this automatic backup scheduling still help to make this a very usable and reliable backup solution overall.

    pcloud review - backup status page

    NB – pCloud backup provides 30 days of file version history for premium account holders by default, this can be extended to 365 days via a separate subscription activated within the pCloud account. Version history is limited to 15 days for holders of the 10GB free account!

    Finally, should a file need to be recovered at any point, this can easily be done via the “Backup” section found within the main pCloud web interface as is seen below.

    pcloud review - backup recovery from web interface

    As can be seen above, the Backup section of the web interface allows for selecting files and folders to be recovered as well as specifying the correct version of said items to be retrieved via the versioning box (found at the top right of the page).

    And with this, the backup functionality found within the pCloud service has been covered! Whilst this service will not rival some of the mainstream cloud backup providers by itself, it is still highly useful and a great addition to the pCloud service, especially so given it is included at no additional cost!

    NB – Remember, if you would like to try out the pCloud cloud backup service for yourself, then this can be accessed alongside many other great features within the pCloud 10GB free account!

    Secure File Sharing

    File sharing is undoubtedly one of the most useful functions of any cloud storage account, especially so when numerous advanced sharing features are included such as automatic link expiry dates, password protection and folder upload abilities (allowing link holders to upload files) are included as is the case with pCloud!

    Creating a shared link within pCloud begins by finding the file or folder to be shared within the web interface and then selecting the “share link” button found towards the top of the page. In doing so, this will open up the special link building box as can be seen below.

    pcloud review - create sharing link

    As can be seen above, when clicking to create a new sharing link, the link itself is created straight away and can easily be copied to the clipboard or sent to a social media site via the relevant links. Other options including setting password protection for the link, the setting of expiry dates and, if applicable, the ability to specify permissions for a shared link based upon a user’s pCloud account also exist.

    Another useful addition to the pCloud link sharing set-up is that of brandable download pages. This means if you are a business or professional user and in possession of a premium account, pCloud allow for the optional adding of branding images and text customisation options for any link sharing pages (as can be seen below):

    pcloud review - custom branding on link sharing page

    Finally, another really useful sharing related feature found within pCloud is the ability to configure a permeant public folder. This public folder will be given its own web address meaning anyone knowing this address will be able to see and download any files within the public folder.

    pcloud review - configure public folder

    As can be seen above, setting up a public folder is as simple as navigating to the “Public” link on the main pCloud web menu and then clicking on “Enable” to turn the public folder on. Should you wish to do something a little more adventurous with this public folder then it can also be used for hosting a static HTML website as well as just storing individual files and folders for public download!

    NB – As of time of writing, pCloud does not allow for the direct sharing of any files kept in the Crypto encrypted vault (they would need to be first moved to the regular, non-encrypted pCloud storage before being shared)!

    Multimedia Support

    Integrated support for audio and video playback is another one of the great features included within all pCloud accounts by default! This means pCloud will be able to play video files directly in the web browser or either of the smartphone apps and also automatically detect any audio tracks stored upon the service and index them in the Audio section of the app for easy listening.

    pcloud review - web media player

    As can be seen above, once any audio file shave been added to pCloud, they can be listened to using the web-based audio player (which is also available within the smartphone apps which allow for offline listening as well). Also supported is under the pCloud multimedia offering a playlist function which allows for easily creating custom sets of audio files and then listening to them as a collection later on.

    pCloud Free vs Premium

    One of the biggest features of pCloud is the 10GB free account it offers to all users alongside the many premium cloud features which are available for both free and premium users alike. This begs the question as to the benefits of signing up for the premium pCloud account and the additional functionality which can be gained by doing so.

    Firstly, whilst the free account offers all users a very generous 10GB of storage, this amount is also capped at 10GB and the only way to get more storage is to buy a premium plan. pCloud premium plans currently start off at 500GB and go all the way up to 10TB in size. It is important to note that pCloud lifetime accounts can be extended indefinitely as each account upgrade is simply added on to the existing account quota, this means there is no limit to how much storage pCloud users can actually have!

    pcloud review - individual plan pricing tables

    NB – pCloud premium plans are also available with lifetime licences meaning no ongoing subscription changes need to be paid on such plans!

    Another useful upgrade for premium account holders is the extending of the file version history period from 15 days on the free account up to a new total of 30 days. This is applicable for the pCloud backup tool (seen earlier on) as well as general file usage and will also apply to the trash can meaning premium account holder can recover deleted files for an additional two weeks versus those on the free account.

    NB – pCloud version history can also be extended even further to a maximum of 365 days, details on this upgrade can be found in the pCloud account settings menu once logged into the service.

    When it comes to file sharing functionality, it is great to see that the pCloud free account is still able to take advantage of this feature and do so in a very useful way (up to and including the setting-up of branded link sharing pages). Where the premium account does start to distance itself from the free offering is in the additional link sharing features it has on offer, these include the ability to configure password protected links, set expiry dates for links and make use of the public folders feature amongst other things.

    pcloud review - password protected link sharing for premium accounts only

    Finally, one other notable addition only available on pCloud premium accounts is the Crypto Vault service as was covered in some detail earlier on in this review (although do note that an additional fee is payable for the Crypto add-on and a lifetime licence for this add-on is also available). 

    pCloud Datacentres

    pCloud currently operate two geographically separate datacentres for the storing of cloud data, these are in the USA (Dallas, Texas) and in the EU (Luxembourg) and both adhere to strict ISO27001 operating standards. The datacentre used will be determined when an account is first created and at this point onwards, all data will be stored in the region of your choice!

    pcloud review - data centre locations map

    NB – The datacentre location assigned to an account can be changed at a later stage and all data moved across automatically by pCloud themselves – the cost of this service is currently set at $19.99 per datacentre move.

    Whilst strict security and privacy standards are applied throughout the pCloud organisation regardless of datacentre location, the ability to choose to have data stored within the privacy friendly EU region will additionally appeal to many individuals and organisations also based within or near to Europe. Choosing a datacentre location geographically as close as possible the physical location of the device in-use will help to maximise the speed in which pCloud operates (being closer to the storage servers will, generally speaking, mean faster upload and download performance).

    pCloud Security

    Data security and user privacy are two key things which pCloud clearly takes very seriously! To start off with, pCloud themselves as a company are based in privacy friendly Switzerland and operate in full compliance of all GDPR regulations and strict Swiss privacy laws, thus making for a very safe and secure data handling environment.

    Moving on and one of the biggest security features employed by pCloud is the zero-knowledge, end-to-end encryption feature which is available to all premium customers via the Crypto vault service. This Crypto vault service makes use of secure AES 256-bit encryption to ensure that all data is securely encrypted on the device being used before it is sent to the pCloud storage service where it is then stored in this encrypted state until retrieved by the account holder at a later date.

    NB – End-to-end encryption, such as this implementation which is offered by the pCloud Crypto service, remains one of the most secure and reliable methods of ensuring all files send to the cloud are kept private, secure and can only be accessed by the original owner of the file!

    pcloud review - web details of pcloud encryption

    Additional security features include the ability to enable multi-factor authentication (2FA) on the pCloud account itself plus the use of TLS/SSL secure data transfer channels to help ensure the maximum privacy and security of the account itself as well as any data been transferred to or from it.

    Finally, one other important (but often unappreciated) security feature employed by pCloud is the ability to make use of historic versioning for all files stored upon the cloud service. This is important as, in the case of any potential malware or ransomware attacks which might otherwise affect or damage files, version history can assist in undoing such damage by allowing previous version of said files to be recovered in place of the compromised versions.

    NB – For more information on how file version history can help secure a device against potential malware and ransomware attacks, be sure to check out our guide to how backup software can help protect against ransomware!

    pCloud Support

    pCloud operate a very useful help and support centre which can be accessed once logged-in to any pCloud service (via the main menu found at the top right of the page). Backing this help centre up is a FAQ section as well as multiple methods for contacting the support team should further help be required (this includes by phone, email or via an online ticket system / contact form).

    pCloud Pricing

    pCloud is available across several different pricing plans, all of which featuring varying levels of cloud storage and offering both annual or lifetime pricing options. A 10GB free account is also available providing both a very usable service in its own right as well as a great way of testing out the full pCloud offering prior to purchase!

    Pricing plans (at time of writing) are as follows:

    • 10GB Free Account – 100% free to use!
    • 500GB Premium (Annual) – $49.99 / Year
    • 500GB Premium (Lifetime) – $199 / Lifetime
    • 2TB Premium (Annual) – $99.99 / Year
    • 2TB Premium (Lifetime) – $399 / Lifetime
    • 10TB Premium (Lifetime) – $1190 / Lifetime
    • 2TB Family Plan (5x Users) – $595 / Lifetime
    • 10TB Family Plan (5x Users) – $1499 / Lifetime
    • Crypto Add-on – $49.99 Annual / $150 Lifetime

    Storage quotas on lifetime plans CAN be increased, as required, by simply purchasing another lifetime plan when the time suits (e.g., buying 2x 500GB lifetime plans will deliver 1TB for the account in total). More information on both annual and lifetime pricing options plus the details of each plan can be found at the official pCloud pricing page.

    NB – pCloud can be used across an unlimited number of devices regardless of plan chosen!

    pCloud Business Pricing

    In addition to the regular pricing options mentioned just above, pCloud additionally offers business focused plans providing 1TB of cloud storage which are aimed at more professional and demanding users. These business-focused plans are a little more expensive than the regular plans however, they do include more features by default including end-to-end encryption, teams and access control features plus extended file version history support which is extended up to 180-days (from 30-days in the regular plans).

    The Business Pro plan takes things even further by offering unlimited cloud storage and priority customer support on top for just $19.98 / month (or the equivalent of $15.98 / month when paid for annually).

    Full pCloud Business pricing is as follows:

    • pCloud Business (1TB) – $9.99 / month ($7.99 / month when paid annually)
    • pCloud Business Pro (Unlimited) – $19.98 / month ($15.98 / month when paid annually)
    • NB – End-to-End encryption (Crypto vault) is already included on all business plans!

    More information on pCloud’s range of business focused plans can be found at the official pCloud business website.

    pCloud FAQs

    Yes, pCloud offer a 10GB account to everyone which is 100% free to use! Additional storage up to 10TB is available on one of many premium plans and additional services including access to the encrypted vault (Crypto) and up to 365 days of extended version history are also available to add-on at an additional cost.

    Holders of a premium pCloud account can optionally make use of the Crypto vault service, this makes use of full AES 256-bit end-to-end encryption with all data also being transferred over secure TSL/SSL connections between client devices and pCloud servers.

    Yes, in my opinion pCloud is a safe and reliable operation which takes the privacy and security of its user’s data very seriously. Based in privacy friendly Switzerland and offering users strong encryption options, TLS/SSL file transfers and the option to store data either in the USA or EU data centres shows just some of the commitments pCloud are making to help prove their trustworthiness as a leading cloud provider.

    Whilst Google Drive is a big name in the cloud storage world and offers some great features (including Google Docs), it is my opinion that pCloud offers much better value thanks to their lifetime pricing plans alongside better security features such as the pCloud Crypto vault feature. pCloud also go over and above Google Drive in offering their users a choice of which data centre their data is stored in (a choice between the EU or the USA at present).

    Whilst value will always be somewhat subjective, pCloud have clearly been working hard over the past few years to keep adding plenty of great features to their service including secure link sharing, backup functionality plus the Crypto encrypted cloud storage service amongst others. With pricing plans form just $49.99 / year for their 500GB plan and options to purchase lifetime plans from just $199, pCloud is clearly committed to providing good value to all of their users!

    Yes, pCloud do offer an unlimited cloud storage service via their business orientated Business Pro account! This account is priced at $19.98 / month (or the equivalent of $15.98 / month when paying annually) and also includes many additions such as end-to-end encryption and an extended 180-days of version history by default.

    pCloud Alternatives

    In this section of my review, I will be looking at some alternatives to pCloud. This will be focused on cloud storage solutions which are not only very easy to use and keenly priced, but those featuring many comparable features to those found in pCloud including the encrypted vault, backup utilities, desktop synchronisation software and secure link sharing tools amongst many others.

    Remember, any ratings and opinions given below reflect my own opinions from making such reviews and should be treated only as a guide! When purchasing any kind of cloud storage solution, it is always important to check the details of the offering carefully and to always try and to make use of any free trials (whenever possible) to help ensure the solution is right for your own needs before committing to a purchase.

    1) Google Drive

    With one of the most generous allocations of free cloud storage on the market (currently set at 15GB) alongside many other great cloud related features and collaboration tools, Google Drive is undoubtedly one of the leading cloud storage services!

    pcloud review - google drive alternative

    Adding to this core 15GB of free storage are several other useful tools including the (excellent) Google Docs service, desktop synchronisation software (with a built-in backup client), secure link sharing services, an excellent web-based file manager plus smartphone apps for both iOS and Android.

    Google Drive is available with 15GB of free cloud storage alongside premium plans which start at $19.99 / year for 100GB and go up to 2TB for just $99.99 / year. More information on Google Drive (Google One) and further pricing options can be found at the official Google Drive website.

    2) MEGA.IO

    MEGA is now well known as one of the leading privacy-first cloud storage operators and, better still, their free account now comes with a massive 20GB of free cloud storage by default!

    pcloud review - mega alternative

    Whilst 20GB of free cloud storage is undeniably very generous, it is MEGA’s commitment to data security and user privacy which really helps them stand out as a great cloud storage operator in a very crowded market. This approach to data security sees use of full end-to-end encryption on all accounts (including the free account) by default, meaning that all data is automatically encrypted on the client’s device, transferred using TLS/SSL connections and then stored in its encrypted state until recalled again.

    Other useful features at MEGA include smartphone apps for both iOS and Android (with automatic photo uploads), desktop synchronisation software, secure link sharing services, secure instant chat services plus multi-factor authentication options amongst many others.

    MEGA provide all users with a very generous 20GB free account alongside the ability to upgrade the storage with various different plans ranging from 400GB (at $52.44 / year) up to a massive 16TB (at $314.69 / year). More information can be found at the official MEGA pricing page.

    3) Internxt

    Featuring a generous 10GB of free cloud storage and a clear commitment to providing some of the most secure cloud storage available as of today, Internxt is a very promising solution and one which should be taken very seriously by anyone seeking a highly secure and private solution!

    pcloud review - internxt alternative

    This commitment to providing some of the highest levels of data security sees Internxt applying very secure AES 256-bit end-to-end encryption throughout the service as a whole (including on free accounts) meaning that all data stored on the service is secure by default with no further precautions required of the account holder.

    Other useful features include a very useful desktop synchronisation client which also features a basic backup solution built-in, secure file sharing and file sending tools plus smartphone apps for both iOS and Android smartphones amongst many other useful features.

    Internxt offer all users a free and fully functional 10GB account with options to upgrade to premium plans featuring up to 2TB of storage in total (2TB being priced at €8.99 / month on an annual plan). More information on Internxt and the various pricing plans they have available can be found at the official Internxt website.

    pCloud Review Summary

    pCloud has continued to grow over recent years into what is undeniably now a leading cloud storage competitor, one which puts users’ privacy and data security needs first and foremost thanks to well implemented features such as the end-to-end encrypted Crypto vault service amongst many others!

    Other useful features available including the secure link sharing and public access provisions, iOS and Android apps, desktop synchronisation software plus the built-in multi-media support (to name just a few) all combine to make this a highly usable cloud storage service which is sure to exceed the needs of most users.

    When it comes to pricing, pCloud are clearly taking aim at more established cloud storage provides thanks to their very generous premium account offerings. These premium plans see very competitive annual pricing options plus the ability to subscribe to plans on a lifetime licence, a great option for anyone not wanting to keep making reoccurring payments as might be the case at most other cloud storage providers.

    Overall, pCloud have implemented a great set of cloud related features, features which are backed-up by what is very clearly a solid approach to providing a secure and reliable cloud storage service at a great pricing point. Great work pCloud!

    Looking for Cloud Storage?

    Are you looking for practical help and advice in choosing cloud storage? If so, then be sure to check out our various guides including our Top 10 Free Cloud Storage guide, our guide to the Best Free Cloud Storage Services plus our guide to the Best Cloud Storage for Photographers amongst several others!

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