Comparison

pCloud vs Proton Drive

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

pCloud

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
Read full description

pCloud - Secure Cloud Storage for Your Files pCloud is the secure place for your photos, videos, and documents - all in one app. Access your files anytime, anywhere, and keep everything safely stored and organized across all your devices. Back up your memories automatically, free up space on your phone, and enjoy your content on the go. Preview and edit your photos, stream HD videos, and listen to your music without downloading. Easily share large files with anyone, even if they don’t use pCloud. Start with up to 10 GB of free storage. Optionally, you can expand up to 10 TB of storage with monthly, annual or lifetime plans. Features: • Up to 10 GB free storage upon registration • Store and access photos, videos, and files • Automatic photo and video backup • Access your files anytime, anywhere • Stream videos and music instantly • Share large files with a link • Sync across all your devices • Simple, intuitive and easy to use • Add zero-knowledge encryption Terms of service: https://www.pcloud.com/terms_and_conditions.html Privacy policy: https://www.pcloud.com/privacy_policy.html

About

Proton Drive

Securely store and back up your files and photos with end-to-end encryption. Access your content across devices, share securely with password protection, and enjoy peace of mind with Swiss privacy laws. Offers free storage with upgrade options.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted storage
  • Automatic photo and video backup
  • Secure link sharing with passwords
  • PIN/biometric protection
  • Offline file access
  • File version history
Features
Read full description

Proton Drive provides private and secure storage for your files and photos. With Proton Drive you can protect important documents, automatically back up cherished memories, and access your content across devices. All Proton Drive accounts come with 5 GB of free storage and you can upgrade to up to 1 TB of storage at any time. Trusted by over 100 million users, Proton Drive gives you an end-to-end encrypted vault where only you—and the people you choose—can access your files and photos. Proton Drive features: - Secure storage - Get 5 GB of free encrypted cloud storage with no file size limits. - Share content using secure links with password and expiration settings. - Keep your files and photos safe with PIN or biometric protection. - Access important files and photos even if your device is lost or damaged. Easy to use - Automatically back up photos and videos in their original quality. - Securely organize your cherished memories into albums. - Rename, move, and delete your personal files securely within the app. - Create, edit and collaborate on docs. - View your important files and memories – even when offline. - Restore files with version history. Advanced privacy - Stay private with end-to-end encryption – even Proton can’t view your content. - Secure your metadata, including filenames, sizes, and modification dates. - Protect your content with Swiss privacy laws, the strongest in the world. - Trust in our open-source code that is public and verified by experts. Secure up to 5 GB of free storage for your personal files, photos, and videos with Proton Drive.  Stay ahead with our releases and updates by connecting with us! - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/protonprivacy - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/protonprivacy/ - X/Twitter: https://x.com/ProtonDrive - Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ProtonDrive/ Terms of Service: https://proton.me/legal/terms Privacy Policy: https://proton.me/legal/privacy

Screenshots

pCloud4 screens
Proton Drive4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: pCloud at 4.7 against Proton Drive's 4.1. pCloud also leads on review sentiment (62% vs 37%) and ratings volume (8.1K vs 1.1K). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. pCloud sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Proton Drive sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

pCloud holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: pCloud has 8.1K ratings behind it against 1.1K, 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 37% of Proton Drive's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

pCloud ships an update every 3 weeks, Proton Drive fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
pCloud versus Proton Drive: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterpCloudProton Drive
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (8.1K ratings) — better4.1 (1.1K ratings)
Positive reviews62.4% of reviews — better36.9% of reviews
Number of ratings8.1K — better1.1K
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size112 MB235 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPCLOUD LTDProton AG

Customer experience

pCloud

All ratings8,149 ratings
Positive92.1%
Neutral2.8%
Negative5.1%
Written reviews822 reviews
Positive62.4%
Neutral11.3%
Negative26.3%

Proton Drive

All ratings1,148 ratings
Positive74.2%
Neutral9.0%
Negative16.8%
Written reviews876 reviews
Positive36.9%
Neutral21.9%
Negative41.2%

User reviews

pCloud

From 8.1K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Proton Drive

From 1.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and efficient
  • 🔒 Secure and private
  • 👍 Simple and intuitive UI
  • 💡 Integrated with iOS Files app

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 📥 Slow upload/download speeds
  • 🗂️ Lacking key features like search and sorting

Bugs and requests

pCloud

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

Proton Drive

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Frequent crashes and errors
  • Inconsistent file syncing across devices
  • Unable to access files uploaded from desktop
  • Issues with offline file access

Requested features

4 requests
  • Automatic photo/video backup
  • Ability to edit documents within the app
  • Seamless integration with other apps for file sharing
  • Linux desktop client

In-app purchases

13 purchases

pCloud

Subscriptions9
  • Premium$4.991 Month
  • pCloud Encryption$4.991 Month
  • Premium7 Days trial$4.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • Premium1 Month trial$4.991 Month
  • Premium Plus$9.991 Month
  • Ultra 10TB Monthly$29.991 Month
  • Premium$49.991 Year
  • pCloud Encryption$49.991 Year
  • Premium Plus$99.991 Year
One-time4
  • pCloud Encryption$149.99
  • Premium$199.99
  • Add Extra 2TB Lifetime Storage$279.00
Show 1 more
  • Premium Plus$399.99
9 purchases

Proton Drive

Subscriptions7
  • Drive Lite 1 month$0.991 Month
  • Drive Plus 1 month$4.991 Month
  • Drive Plus 1 TB (1 month)$9.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Proton Unlimited 1 month$14.991 Month
  • Drive Plus 1 year$47.901 Year
  • Drive Plus 1 TB (1 year)$95.991 Year
  • Proton Unlimited 1 year$119.001 Year
One-time2
  • Drive Plus$59.99
  • Proton Unlimited$149.99

Questions

Is pCloud free?
pCloud is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Proton Drive free?
Proton Drive is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, pCloud or Proton Drive?
pCloud is rated higher. pCloud averages 4.7 out of 5 from 8.1K ratings, while Proton Drive averages 4.1 from 1.1K ratings.
Do pCloud or Proton Drive have ads?
Neither pCloud nor Proton Drive shows ads.
Which is updated more often, pCloud or Proton Drive?
pCloud ships an update every 3 weeks, and Proton Drive fortnightly. Most recently, pCloud was updated on September 24, 2026 and Proton Drive on September 22, 2026.

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