# pCloud vs Clean Master

The clearest difference is rating: pCloud at 4.7 against Clean Master's 3.8. pCloud also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ads (none vs shown). Clean Master's advantage is review sentiment (77% vs 62%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases 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 and Clean Master sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

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 48, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 62% of pCloud's written reviews are positive against 77% of Clean Master's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and June 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | pCloud | Clean Master |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (8.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pcloud-cloud-storage/id692002098/reviews)** | [3.8 (48 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clean-master-clean-storage/id1626429216/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8.1K** | 48 |
| Positive reviews | 62.4% of reviews | **76.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#152** | — |
| Size | 112 MB | 82 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PCLOUD LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/692002101) | [LI XIN](https://appshunter.io/developer/1497649460) |

## What reviewers say

### pCloud

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

**Currently charting:** #152 Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)

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


### Clean Master

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clean-master-clean-storage/id1626429216)

Organize your phone by finding and deleting useless files, duplicate photos, and videos. Clean up contacts and calendar entries to keep everything tidy. Offers tools for battery care, privacy, compression, and speed testing.

**Highlights:** Photo cleaner for duplicates and similar images, Video cleaner for duplicate files, Contacts organizer and merger, Calendar cleaner for overdue events, Privacy protection with PhotoMapper, Charging animations and battery care, Storage compression and speed test

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly - Super Fast Cleaner | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly - Cleaner for iPhone | $5.99 | per month |
| Annual- Smart Clean for iPhone | $19.99 | per year |
| Annual- Free Storage for Phone | $19.99 | per year |
| Clean Master Lifetime Purchase | $35.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is pCloud free?

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

### Is Clean Master free?

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

### Which has better reviews, pCloud or Clean Master?

pCloud is rated higher. pCloud averages 4.7 out of 5 from 8.1K ratings, while Clean Master averages 3.8 from 48 ratings.

### Do pCloud or Clean Master have ads?

Clean Master shows ads; pCloud does not.

### Which is updated more often, pCloud or Clean Master?

pCloud ships an update every 3 weeks, and Clean Master every 3 weeks. Most recently, pCloud was updated on September 26, 2026 and Clean Master on June 8, 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.*