# DS cloud vs pCloud

The clearest difference is rating: pCloud at 4.7 against DS cloud's 2.5. pCloud also leads on review sentiment (62% vs 23%) and ratings volume (8.1K vs 72). DS cloud's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. pCloud sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. DS cloud asks for nothing beyond the download.

pCloud holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: pCloud has 8.1K ratings behind it against 72, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 23% of DS cloud's written reviews are positive against 62% of pCloud's.

DS cloud ships an update every 2 months, pCloud every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DS cloud | pCloud |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.5 (72 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ds-cloud/id590216612/reviews) | **[4.7 (8.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pcloud-cloud-storage/id692002098/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 72 | **8.1K** |
| Positive reviews | 23.4% of reviews | **62.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 77 MB | 112 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Synology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/321493109) | [PCLOUD LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/692002101) |

## What reviewers say

### DS cloud

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ds-cloud/id590216612)

Access and sync selected folders from your Synology NAS to your mobile device. Enjoy offline viewing of your files anywhere, with customizable sync settings for file size and type.

**Highlights:** Folder synchronization, Offline file viewing, Customizable sync settings, File size limits, File type filtering

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💾 Effective file synchronization between devices
- 🔒 Private cloud storage without third-party servers
- 📱 Works well with iPad and iPhone for document management
- ⚡ Fast sync speeds on local networks
- 🎯 Good integration with iWork applications

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes frequently on iOS 14+ versions
- ❌ Not compatible with DSM 7.0
- ⚠️ Version mismatch errors preventing login
- 🚫 Hasn't been updated in 3+ years
- 📉 Poor performance on newer iPhone models

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch with iOS 14.2+
- Face ID causes app to crash immediately
- Touch ID crashes app on iPhone X/XS
- Version not up-to-date error despite fresh installation
- PDF files crash app when opened (2+ pages)

**Requested features**

- Update app for iOS 14+ compatibility
- DSM 7.0 support
- Background synchronization capability
- On-demand file download (like Dropbox)
- Face ID and Touch ID support


### pCloud

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pcloud-cloud-storage/id692002098)

Securely store and access your photos, videos, and documents from any device.  Automatically back up media to free up phone space and stream content on the go. Share large files easily with others.

**Highlights:** Up to 10 GB free storage, Automatic photo and video backup, Stream HD videos and music, Send and receive large files, Offline file access, Military-grade encryption

**Features:** iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| pCloud Encryption | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Plus | $9.99 | per month |
| Ultra 10TB Monthly | $29.99 | per month |
| Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| pCloud Encryption | $49.99 | per year |
| Premium Plus | $99.99 | per year |
| pCloud Encryption | $149.99 | one-time |
| Premium | $219.00 | one-time |
| Add Extra 2TB Lifetime Storage | $279.00 | one-time |
| Premium Plus | $499.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast uploads and downloads
- 🔒 Secure and encrypted storage
- 👍 Convenient app integration across devices
- 💰 Affordable lifetime plans
- 📂 Flexible file organization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable auto-upload feature
- 🔍 Lacking advanced search and organization tools
- 🔇 Subpar media player functionality
- 🔒 Encryption features behind paywall
- 🤔 Confusing free storage limits

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Inconsistent file syncing across devices
- Issues with downloading and sharing files
- Missing metadata and HEIC file support

**Requested features**

- Improved photo/video management and viewing
- Background sync and auto-upload
- Sorting and filtering options for files
- Built-in text editor and note-taking
- Gapless audio playback


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DS cloud free?

DS cloud is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is pCloud free?

pCloud is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, DS cloud or pCloud?

pCloud is rated higher. DS cloud averages 2.5 out of 5 from 72 ratings, while pCloud averages 4.7 from 8.1K ratings.

### Do DS cloud or pCloud have ads?

Neither DS cloud nor pCloud shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DS cloud or pCloud?

DS cloud ships an update every 2 months, and pCloud every 3 weeks. Most recently, DS cloud was updated on September 16, 2026 and pCloud on September 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*