pCloud review
Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
pCloud suits people who want stored files kept out of the provider's reach while spend stays small. The free plan holds 10, long-term storage runs at $50 per terabyte per year, and the operator is pCloud International AG under CH.
Key facts
- Best for
- Encrypted cloud storage with a usable free plan and a low entry price.
- 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, Budget
- Official website
- pcloud.com
Privacy tools
- Price from
- €4.99 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free plan
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Platforms
- Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Add-on (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Logging policy
- Collects IP address, browser type and version, operating system, referral source, device information, visit length, page views and navigation paths; cookies deleted after 1 year (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Jurisdiction
- CH (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, Budget
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- App Store
Pros and cons
Pros
- Client-side encryption means the provider does not hold the keys to stored files.
- Certifications on record include ISO 9001:2008, ISO 27001:2013 and SSAE 18 SOC 2 Type II.
- Coverage spans Windows, macOS and Linux, so the same storage carries across desktop and mobile.
Cons
- The free plan holds 10, below MEGA and Degoo at 20 each.
- Support runs on help centre only, so phone and chat are not among the listed routes.
- The logging policy records network and device details along with referral data, visit length, page views and navigation paths, so browsing activity is kept on file.
Who it suits
- People who want cloud storage encrypted on their own side and a free plan they can keep using.
- Users moving between desktop and mobile, since coverage spans Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Anyone who puts audited credentials first, with ISO 9001:2008, ISO 27001:2013 and SSAE 18 SOC 2 Type II on record.
Who should look elsewhere
- People chasing the largest free allowance: MEGA and Degoo each list 20.
- Apple Inc. customers, who already hold 5 of free storage with the account they own.
- Buyers who want another jurisdiction or a live support line, since pCloud lists CH and handles help through help centre only, so MEGA or Degoo is worth a look.
How it compares on our data
On free storage, pCloud sits at 8 of 36 brands tracked, an upper-middle placing rather than a standout. On price per terabyte per year it does better, at 8 of 31, which puts its paid storage closer to the cheaper end of the encrypted storage field.
How pCloud compares
9.1 vs 9.1
9.1 vs 8.8
9.1 vs 8.5
9.1 vs 9.5
9.1 vs 9.4
9.1 vs 9.1
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 9.4
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 8.8
9.1 vs 9.3
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 9.4
Frequently asked questions
How much space does the pCloud free plan give me?+
pCloud does offer a free plan, and it holds 10 of storage. For context, MEGA and Degoo both list 20, so the free tier is smaller here, and either of those fits better if the free allowance decides the purchase.
What does pCloud cost, and what does a terabyte come to?+
Paid plans start at €4.99 a month, and long-term storage works out at $50 per terabyte per year. The published monthly figure is the plan's list price, so check the current pricing for your own term before committing to anything longer.
Does pCloud encrypt files so the provider cannot read them?+
Yes. pCloud says it uses client-side encryption, so the provider does not hold the keys to your files. Files are encrypted on your side, which means the operator cannot read the contents even where it holds the data, and pCloud lists ISO 9001:2008, ISO 27001:2013 and SSAE 18 SOC 2 Type II under CH.
Where is pCloud based and who runs it?+
pCloud is run by pCloud International AG, is headquartered in Switzerland, and lists CH as its jurisdiction. The company was founded in 2013, so it is a long-standing operation rather than a new entrant.
Which platforms does pCloud support?+
pCloud covers Windows, macOS and Linux, which spans the main desktop and mobile operating systems and includes an add-on. In practice the same storage is reachable from a Windows or Linux desktop, a Mac, or a phone.
How do I get help from pCloud?+
Support runs on help centre only. The articles there cover setup and account questions, but phone and chat are not among the listed channels, so anyone who needs a person on a deadline should expect a slower answer or look at a rival with wider support.
What data does pCloud log when I use the service?+
The privacy policy describes gathering network and device details along with referral data, how long a visit lasts, which pages are viewed and the paths taken through the service, and it says cookies are cleared after a period. Those terms sit with pCloud International AG under CH.
How does pCloud score on this comparison?+
pCloud scores 6.6 overall on the site's scale, with the cost part at 7.1 and the offer part at 6.2. Its pricing model is listed as free and budget, so a free plan and a budget tier both sit in the range.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCloud checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded, Compliance certifications, Headquarters, Price per TB per year
“pCloud is a Swiss-based cloud storage provider founded in 2013.”
- help.pcloud.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Support channels
“Find answers, tutorials, and help articles in our knowledge base”
- pcloud.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free storage, Jurisdiction, Legal entity, Pricing model
“Get up to 10 GB of free secure cloud storage and access your files from any device, anywhere.”
- pcloud.com/cloud-storage-pricing-plans checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Price from
“Premium 500 GB Monthly 4.99EUR”
- 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/privacy_policy checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Logging policy
“We will collect information about you as you use the Site or Service, such as your IP address, browser type and version, operating system, referral source and device information.”
- pcloud.com/terms_and_conditions checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free plan
“The threshold for traffic generated from the download links of Premium and Premium Plus plans subscribers is set higher than the one of the users on a free plan.”
Compiled from 8 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.