# pCloud vs Filen

The clearest difference is rating: pCloud at 4.7 against Filen's 3.8. pCloud also leads on ratings volume (8.1K vs 123) and review sentiment (62% vs 48%). Filen's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

pCloud holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: pCloud has 8.1K ratings behind it against 123, 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 48% of Filen's.

pCloud ships an update every 3 weeks, Filen fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | pCloud | Filen |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (8.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pcloud-cloud-storage/id692002098/reviews)** | [3.8 (123 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/filen-cloud-storage/id1549224518/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8.1K** | 123 |
| Positive reviews | **62.4% of reviews** | 47.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 112 MB | 103 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [PCLOUD LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/692002101) | [Filen Cloud Dienste UG (haftungsbeschraenkt)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1549224520) |

## 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


### Filen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/filen-cloud-storage/id1549224518)

Securely store photos, videos, and documents with military-grade encryption. Access files on any device, share them easily, and enjoy features like offline access and encrypted notes. Offers a free tier with 10 GB storage.

**Highlights:** 10 GB free storage, Unlimited pro storage, Secure client-side encryption, Offline file access, Cross-device file access, Encrypted notes and chats, Automatic camera upload

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 End-to-end encryption and privacy-focused design
- 💰 Affordable pricing with generous storage tiers
- 🌍 Open-source and transparent service
- 🚀 Fast upload/download speeds
- 👍 Clean and intuitive UI design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes during uploads
- 📸 Photo/video upload failures and inconsistencies
- 🔄 Auto-upload feature unreliable and incomplete
- ⚠️ Data loss issues in Notes feature
- 🔐 Thumbnail cache exposed in Files app (security concern)

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when uploading photos/videos
- Music pauses when app is minimized
- Photo upload stuck at specific file counts (e.g., 42 photos)
- Notes lose data during sync
- Note type conversion deletes text content

**Requested features**

- Video streaming/playback within app
- Read-only file mode option
- Back-sync feature (delete from phone, delete from cloud)
- Multi-select file upload capability
- iPad split-screen view support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is pCloud free?

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

### Is Filen free?

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

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

pCloud is rated higher. pCloud averages 4.7 out of 5 from 8.1K ratings, while Filen averages 3.8 from 123 ratings.

### Do pCloud or Filen have ads?

Neither pCloud nor Filen shows ads.

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

pCloud ships an update every 3 weeks, and Filen fortnightly. Most recently, pCloud was updated on September 25, 2026 and Filen on September 3, 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.*