# pCloud vs Semaphor

The clearest difference is review sentiment: pCloud at 62% against Semaphor's 15%. pCloud also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.5) and ratings volume (8.1K vs 15). Semaphor's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. pCloud sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Semaphor sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $8.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

pCloud holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: pCloud has 8.1K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of pCloud's written reviews are positive against 15% of Semaphor's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | pCloud | Semaphor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (8.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pcloud-cloud-storage/id692002098/reviews)** | [3.5 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/semaphor/id1093566063/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8.1K** | 15 |
| Positive reviews | **62.4% of reviews** | 15.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 112 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PCLOUD LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/692002101) | [SpiderOak, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/360584374) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Semaphor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/semaphor/id1093566063)

This app offers secure team communication and collaboration with end-to-end encryption and private blockchain technology. It provides features like direct messaging, file sharing, and project-specific channels for real-time teamwork.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encryption, Secure file sharing, Private direct messaging, Unlimited project channels, Real-time collaboration, Native offline mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Personal Plan Monthly | $8.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is pCloud free?

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

### Is Semaphor free?

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

### Which has better reviews, pCloud or Semaphor?

pCloud is rated higher. pCloud averages 4.7 out of 5 from 8.1K ratings, while Semaphor averages 3.5 from 15 ratings.

### Do pCloud or Semaphor have ads?

Neither pCloud nor Semaphor shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, pCloud or Semaphor?

pCloud ships an update every 3 weeks, and Semaphor every 3 weeks. Most recently, pCloud was updated on October 1, 2026 and Semaphor on June 1, 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.*