pCloud

pCloud is a cloud storage service with apps for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux, plus access through my.pCloud.com. Its free plan provides up to 10 GB of storage, and no credit card is required to start. Storage capacity can extend up to 2 TB. The service can automatically back up phone photos and videos, and important files can be kept available offline. Users can share files and folders with passwords and expiration dates. File versioning is available, while files in the Crypto folder use client-side encryption and zero-knowledge privacy. Users can choose storage in the United States or the European Union. Business plans add access levels, teams, shared folders, comments, and activity logs; they can restore previous versions from up to 180 days ago and create branded links with a logo, cover, and message. Business storage is described as GDPR-compliant and ISO-27001 certified. Business includes a 30-day free trial and a 14-day money-back period; business plans have no setup fees and can be canceled anytime. The listed Business 3 Users / 3 TB plan costs $29.97 a month.

pCloud offers a free starting tier alongside file sharing, backup, and offline access. Business plans add team controls and version restoration, with a listed 3 TB option at $29.97 a month.

It suits individuals seeking cloud storage with mobile backup, offline access, and controlled file sharing. Its business plans are for teams needing administrative controls and longer file-history restoration.

pCloud is a freemium cloud-storage service for keeping files synchronized across phones and computers, with backup, sharing, and privacy controls. It suits individuals who need generous starter storage and teams that need managed folders and recovery history. Its broad platform coverage and optional zero-knowledge encryption are compelling, but capacity and business pricing require careful plan selection.

Overview

Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Baar, Switzerland, pCloud supports Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and my.pCloud.com. Storage can be placed in either the United States or European Union, a useful choice for organizations with location requirements. The free tier provides up to 10 GB without requiring a credit card, making it practical for trying the service or holding a modest document collection.

Personal use centers on automatic phone backup, offline access, and controlled sharing. Business editions add administration, team workspaces, and long file-history windows. pCloud reports more than 24 million users on its business page.

Key features

• Mobile backup: Photos and videos can back up automatically from a phone, reducing the need for manual transfers. It is especially useful for preserving camera content, though the free tier's 10 GB ceiling can fill quickly.
• Offline files: Important files can be kept available without an internet connection, which benefits travel and unreliable connectivity.
• Secure sharing: Files and folders support passwords and expiration dates. Those controls are well suited to sending time-limited material, but teams needing broader governance should use the business controls.
• Privacy encryption: The Crypto folder applies client-side encryption and zero-knowledge privacy. That gives sensitive selected files stronger protection; it is not presented as an automatic setting for every stored item.
• Versioning: File versioning preserves older copies. Business plans can restore versions from as far back as 180 days, a substantial safeguard against accidental edits or deletions.
• Business administration: Business includes access levels, teams, shared folders, comments, and activity logs. Personalized links can carry a logo, cover, and message, useful when sharing branded materials externally.
• Business security: Business storage is GDPR-compliant and ISO-27001 certified, giving regulated teams a clearer compliance baseline.

Pricing

pCloud uses a freemium model. The Free plan costs nothing and includes 10 GB of storage with no credit card required. It is a sensible starting point for light personal storage, but the fixed allowance is the main limitation.

Premium 500 GB and Premium Plus 2 TB provide their stated capacities, while Ultra 10 TB extends storage substantially; prices for these plans are custom pricing. Paid service is advertised from $59.88/yr, and a 30-day trial is available. Capacity can extend up to 2 TB in the paid range described for the service, so readers should confirm which capacity and term they are buying before committing.

Business plans are aimed at teams. Business covers 3 users with 1 TB per user and 180 days of version history; Business Pro covers 3 users with 2 TB per user and the same history window. Both use custom pricing. The Business 3 Users / 3 TB plan costs $29.97 a month and includes a 30-day free trial; there are no setup fees and cancellation is allowed anytime. The Business 3 Users / 6 TB plan costs $44.94 a month and carries a 25% discount for new pCloud Business Pro accounts. Business plans include a 14-day money-back period. The advertised paid starting point is 9.99 /user/mo, but the cheaper business configurations trade away capacity compared with larger team quotas.

Platforms

Dedicated apps cover Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux, with browser access through my.pCloud.com. This range makes pCloud a practical choice for households or organizations mixing desktop operating systems and mobile devices.

Who it's for

Choose pCloud for personal backup when automatic phone media protection, offline files, passworded sharing, and optional zero-knowledge storage matter more than a very simple transfer-only tool. The free tier works for small collections and evaluation; users with growing libraries should move to a paid capacity rather than rely on 10 GB indefinitely.

Small teams should consider Business when they need role-based access, shared folders, activity records, branded links, and recoverable history. Organizations needing a specific seat count or larger quota should compare the custom-priced Business and Business Pro options with the fixed 3-user packages.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Up to 10 GB free storage with no credit card requirement lowers the barrier to entry.
• Apps for five major operating systems plus web access support mixed-device households and teams.
• Automatic phone backup, offline access, and expiring password-protected links cover common storage and sharing needs.
• Crypto folder client-side encryption and zero-knowledge privacy offer stronger protection for selected files.
• Business adds 180-day restoration, activity logs, access levels, and team collaboration features.

Cons

• The free 10 GB allowance is restrictive for extensive photo and video collections.
• Prices for several personal and business plans are custom pricing, making direct cost comparison difficult.
• Zero-knowledge protection is tied to the Crypto folder, so users must choose which content receives it.
• Fixed business packages begin with three users, which may not suit a solo professional or a larger organization without plan adjustments.

Alternatives

For transfer-focused workflows, SendSafely offers a free plan and a Basic tier at $10 a month with 250 MB per month and expiration control. WeTransfer is another freemium option, with its Free plan allowing up to 10 transfers or 3 GB in a rolling 30-day window.

Choose rclone instead if you want a free, open-source project spanning desktop, web, API, and self-hosted use. Progress MOVEit Transfer is a paid transfer product with a free trial. Files.com targets paid teams; its Starter plan is $199 a month for 10 Full Users, 50 System Users, two outbound connections, and 1 TB monthly storage. Resilio Connect prices around devices or endpoints rather than data volume or transfer usage. Wing FTP Server has a free edition with one domain, 10 user accounts per domain, 10 connections per domain, and FTP/HTTP transfer. Transloadit provides freemium file-processing plans, including a Community tier with 5 GB per month.

For broader category browsing, see File transfer services, File Sharing Software, Cloud Storage Services, and Password Managers.

Verdict

pCloud is a strong choice for individuals and small teams that want cross-platform storage, automatic mobile backup, controlled sharing, and optional zero-knowledge privacy in one service. Its business recovery and administration tools are the main reason to upgrade. Look elsewhere if you need fully transparent pricing across every capacity, a much larger free allowance, or a service designed primarily for one-off file transfers rather than ongoing storage.