# pCloud vs Proton Drive

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | pCloud | Proton Drive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (8.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pcloud-cloud-storage/id692002098/reviews)** | [4.1 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proton-drive-cloud-storage/id1509667851/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8.1K** | 1.1K |
| Positive reviews | **62.4% of reviews** | 36.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 112 MB | 235 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PCLOUD LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/692002101) | [Proton AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/979659484) |

## 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 | $199.99 | one-time |
| Add Extra 2TB Lifetime Storage | $279.00 | one-time |
| Premium Plus | $399.99 | 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


### Proton Drive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proton-drive-cloud-storage/id1509667851)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Drive Lite 1 month | $0.99 | per month |
| Drive Plus 1 month | $4.99 | per month |
| Drive Plus 1 TB (1 month) | $9.99 | per month |
| Proton Unlimited 1 month | $14.99 | per month |
| Drive Plus 1 year | $47.90 | per year |
| Drive Plus 1 TB (1 year) | $95.99 | per year |
| Proton Unlimited 1 year | $119.00 | per year |
| Drive Plus | $59.99 | one-time |
| Proton Unlimited | $149.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked 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.

---

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