pCloud AG review
Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
pCloud AG suits small teams and solo users who want business storage the provider cannot read rather than a plain file locker. Premium monthly pricing runs €4.99 against a group median of €7.89, and the free tier starts at 10 of storage.
Key facts
- Best for
- Encrypted cloud storage with a free plan and a business focus.
- Monthly price
- €4.99 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Long-term plan price
- €4.99 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Money-back period
- 14 days (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Jurisdiction
- CH (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Streaming services
- Built-in Music and Video Player (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Platforms
- Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Longest plan (months)
- 12 months (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- pCloud International AG (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Switzerland (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2013 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Features
- Streaming
- Audience
- Business
- Pricing model
- Free
- Official website
- pcloud.com
Encrypted storage
- Free storage
- 10 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Price per TB per year
- $50 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Zero-knowledge encryption
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Jurisdiction
- CH (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Compliance certifications
- ISO 9001:2008, ISO 27001:2013, SSAE 18 SOC 2 Type II, SSAE 16 SOC 2 Type II, GDPR (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- pCloud International AG (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Switzerland (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2013 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Pricing model
- Free
Pros and cons
Pros
- A free plan with 10 of storage, so files can be kept before any payment.
- Money-back period of 14 days on paid plans.
- Apps for Windows, macOS and Linux, covering both desktop and phone.
- Longest commitment of 12 months, so the yearly rate does not need a multi-year lock-in.
Cons
- Support runs through help centre only, so a call or live chat is not part of the plan details.
- The long-term price of €4.99 is above the group median of €3.97, so committing early is not the cheapest way in.
Who it suits
- Small businesses that want vendor certifications, since pCloud is aimed at a business market and lists ISO 9001:2008, ISO 27001:2013 and SSAE 18 SOC 2 Type II.
- Readers who want a free plan of 10 before deciding on a subscription.
- People who keep media in their own storage, given the built-in music and video player.
Who should look elsewhere
- MEGA, if the monthly price matters most: MEGA lists $3.99 against pCloud's €4.99.
- Sinew Software Systems, at $1.99 a month, for a smaller outlay than pCloud's €4.99.
- Apple Inc., at $0.99 a month, if the lowest monthly figure in the set is the goal.
Core features
Storage is built around media as much as files. The plan carries a built-in music and video player, listed as Built in Music and Video Player, so a music or film library can play straight from the drive. Apps cover Windows, macOS and Linux, which means the same account works across desktop and phone.
The company behind it
The service is run by pCloud International AG, which lists its headquarters and its jurisdiction in Switzerland. It has been in operation since 2013. Support comes through help centre, so written documentation carries most of the load for questions about plans, billing and sharing.
How pCloud AG compares
8.6 vs 9.1
8.6 vs 8.8
8.6 vs 8.5
8.6 vs 9.5
8.6 vs 9.4
8.6 vs 9.1
8.6 vs 9.2
8.6 vs 9.4
8.6 vs 9.2
8.6 vs 8.8
8.6 vs 9.3
8.6 vs 9.0
8.6 vs 9.0
8.6 vs 9.4
Where pCloud AG is available
- Available
- Everywhere except Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much does pCloud cost at entry?+
The Premium plan is €4.99 per month, and the same plan is €4.99 on a longer commitment. That sits below the group median of €7.89 for monthly pricing, and the free plan offers 10 of space to anyone who starts without paying.
Is there a free plan and what comes with it?+
A free plan is part of the offering, with 10 of storage. Plenty of brands here are built around a free model, so that part is not unusual on its own. What stands out is the business focus attached to it and encryption that keeps files unreadable to the provider.
What does the storage cost per year?+
Per terabyte, the yearly rate is $50, against a group median of €82.87. Because the free plan holds 10, most readers use that figure to work out when a paid plan starts paying for itself rather than looking only at the subscription.
Is the data encrypted?+
pCloud lists encryption that keeps stored content unreadable to anyone outside the account, so the provider holds no readable copy. Alongside it, the service publishes ISO 9001:2008, ISO 27001:2013 and SSAE 18 SOC 2 Type II, which covers information security standards and GDPR. Readers who care about who can read a file weigh both together.
Which devices and apps are covered?+
Apps are listed for Windows, macOS and Linux, covering desktop and phone so the same subscription works across both. Support is handled through help centre, so questions about a given platform are usually answered from documentation rather than in a live chat.
Where is pCloud based and who runs it?+
The service runs from pCloud International AG, with its headquarters and its jurisdiction in Switzerland. The company has traded since 2013. The certifications behind it are listed as ISO 9001:2008, ISO 27001:2013 and SSAE 18 SOC 2 Type II, which covers quality and information security standards as well as GDPR.
How long is the commitment and is there a refund window?+
The longest plan runs 12 months, and paid plans carry a money-back period of 14 days. That makes a long commitment reversible, which suits readers who want the per terabyte rate of $50 without committing at the start and backing out later if the quota is wrong.
Can I stream media from my own storage?+
Yes. The plan carries a built-in music and video player, listed as Built in Music and Video Player, and streaming sits among the supported features. That turns the account into a media library as well as a file store, which is useful for anyone keeping films or music next to work documents.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCloud checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Compliance certifications, Price per TB per year
“It holds ISO 9001:2008 certification for Quality Management Systems and ISO 27001:2013 certification for Information Security Management Systems.”
- pcloud.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free storage
“Get up to 10 GB of free secure cloud storage and access your files from any device, anywhere.”
- pcloud.com/business checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience
“Keep your business data private - Encrypted cloud storage with Swiss-grade privacy”
- pcloud.com/cloud-backup.html checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Support channels
“Help center / Contact us”
- pcloud.com/cloud-storage-pricing-plans checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Features, Money-back period, Streaming services
“Freely stream and enjoy your favorite media anytime with our built-in Music and Video Player.”
- pcloud.com/cloud-storage-pricing-plans checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Long-term plan price, Longest plan (months), Monthly price
“59.88 EUR / year”
- pcloud.com/company/about checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“2013 Founded”
- pcloud.com/download-free-online-cloud-file-storage checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Platforms
“Download pCloud Apps | Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS & Android”
- pcloud.com/encryption checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Zero-knowledge encryption
“With zero-knowledge privacy, you're the only one who knows the type, contents, and size of your files.”
- pcloud.com/terms_and_conditions checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Jurisdiction, Legal entity, Pricing model
“Our registered office is at: 74 Zugerstrasse Str, 6340 Baar, Switzerland.”
Compiled from 10 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Devices, Server countries, No-logs audit.