Updated October 12, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
IDrive Inc. vs Proton Drive
Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Where IDrive Inc. and Proton Drive differ
| Compare |  IDrive Inc. |  Proton Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 10Higher | 5 |
| Price per TB per year | $12 to $23.98Lower | $95.88 |
| Jurisdiction | US | CH |
| Compliance certifications | SOC 2 Type 2, SSAE 18, ISO 27001, PCI DSS | ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II |
Same on both: Zero-knowledge encryption (Yes).
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Key differences
- Free storage is higher at IDrive Inc.: 10 vs 5.
- Price per TB per year is lower at IDrive Inc.: $12 to $23.98 vs $95.88.
- Support channels: only IDrive Inc. offers Email, Chat, Phone.
- Support channels: only Proton Drive offers Community.
- Compliance certifications: only IDrive Inc. offers SOC 2 Type 2, SSAE 18, PCI DSS.
- Compliance certifications: only Proton Drive offers SOC 2 Type II.
- Pricing model: only Proton Drive offers Budget.
Our verdict on each
IDrive Inc.
IDrive Inc. cloud backup trades instant folder mirroring for dated history, snapshots and archiving across many devices in one account. It is an online backup service for individuals, teams and businesses that want point in time recovery when drives fail or ransomware strikes.
Proton Drive
Proton Drive suits people who want encrypted storage with a bundled password manager and open source code. It ranks 18 of 31 on yearly cost per TB, so value sits in the bundle rather than in raw storage price.
Score breakdown
| Area | IDrive Inc. | Proton Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Higher | 8.9Entry at $4.99, storage at $95.88 a year, free tier at 5. |
| Offer | 9.3Higher | 8.7Encryption Proton says it cannot break, open source and ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II, set against thin free storage at 5. |
| Privacy | Not confirmed | 8.7 |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | IDrive Inc. | Proton Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 10 | 5 |
| Price per TB per year | $12 to $23.98 | $95.88 |
The bill, worked out
2 TB for a year
IDrive Inc.
$24 to $47.96
2 × $12 to $23.98
Proton Drive
$191.76
2 × $95.88
IDrive Inc. costs $167.76 less.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | IDrive Inc. | Proton Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Switzerland |
Where these facts come from
IDrive Inc.
- idrive.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Proton Drive
- proton.me: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- capterra.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | IDrive Inc. | Proton Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 235 of 280 | 13 of 280 |
| Secure cloud storage and backup | 13 of 70 | 3 of 70 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | IDrive Inc. | Proton Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Free, BudgetCovers more |
| Legal entity | IDrive Inc. | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | United States | Switzerland |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2014 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Help centre, Community |
Privacy tools
| Fact | IDrive Inc. | Proton Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | $4.99 |
| Free plan | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Free plan limits | Not confirmed | Unlimited logins, notes, credit cards and devices; 10 hide-my-email aliases; passkeys and password health alerts; no 2FA authenticator, secure sharing, file attachments or dark web monitoring |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web app, Command line interface, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, BraveCovers more |
| Logging policy | Not confirmed | No permanent IP logs by default; temporary IP logs kept to combat abuse and fraud; authentication logging off by default; Proton states it has no technical means to access encrypted passwords or notes |
| Open source | Not confirmed | Yes |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | IDrive Inc. | Proton Drive | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 10above the median | 5at the median | 5 |
| Price per TB per year | $12 to $23.98lowest quarter | $95.88above the median | $89.25 |
Median across 36 listed providers.
Pros and cons
IDrive Inc.
Pros
- Covers computers, phones, tablets, servers and attached units together
- Keeps file history plus dated views for restores after incidents
- Supports archiving where deleted computer files stay until removed by user
Cons
- Focused on scheduled backup rather than instant folder sync across devices
- Recovery depends on an off site copy held over the internet
- Single login structure means all devices share the same management view
Proton Drive
Pros
- Encryption Proton says it has no technical means to access
- Open source, audited under ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II
- Bundled password manager alongside the drive
Cons
- Free tier holds only 5 of storage
- Support runs on help centre and community only
- The free password plan caps hide-my-email aliases and leaves out secure sharing, file attachments and dark web monitoring
Who each suits
IDrive Inc.
Who it suits
- Families with several computers and phones to protect
- Small businesses covering computers, servers and network storage
- Teams that need version history and dated restores
Who should look elsewhere
- People who only want folder mirroring across phones and laptops
- People who want local only copies without internet transfer
Proton Drive
Who it suits
- People who want encrypted files and passwords under the same account
- Readers who put open source code and outside audits ahead of the cheapest storage rate
Who should look elsewhere
- Storage buyers chasing the largest free allowance, where MEGA offers 20 and Degoo 20
- Apple iCloud users already inside their ecosystem, where storage runs $119.88 a year
Current offers
IDrive Inc.
Current offer
First period offer
Switch Today 95% OFF: $4.98 for the first year (was $99.50/year)
struck regular price $99.50/year; new signups only
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Save 30% off your first year, or 50% off the first year on a 2 year plan: 30% first year, up to 50% on a 2 year plan
Mini, Personal, Team and Business plans; new signups only; limited time; not available on IDrive mobile apps; all prices in USD
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Cloud Applications Backup 7-day free trial: 7 days free
Add-on service; unlimited storage for Microsoft Office 365/Entra ID/Google Workspace/Salesforce/Dropbox/Box backup at $20 per seat per year
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | IDrive Inc. | Proton Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Yes | No |
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
IDrive Inc.
What does IDrive sell?+
IDrive sells online backup that copies data from computers, phones, tablets, servers and attached storage to secure off site centers. A single login can cover many devices, which helps households, teams and businesses keep a second copy apart from local hardware.
How is cloud backup different from file sync?+
Sync mirrors the current state of a folder, so deletions or encrypted files spread quickly. Backup keeps file history and dated views, so you can return to an earlier point after damage or attack. IDrive follows the backup model with archiving and version history.
Proton Drive
How much does Proton Drive cost?+
Plans start at $4.99. Priced by storage, that works out to $95.88 a year, close to the €82.87 typical across this group. Paid tiers are the way most people reach more space, while the free tier covers 5.
Is there a free plan, and how much space?+
There is a free plan, and it includes 5 of storage, which matches the 5 median for this group. Alongside it sits a free password manager that covers as many logins, notes, payment cards and connected devices as needed, with a cap on hide-my-email aliases.