pCloud
pCloud is a cloud storage service that stores files, photos and documents in Swiss or EU data centres, with sync, sharing and optional encrypted folders. It is mainly used for device backups, large-file sharing and long-term storage bought as a lifetime plan.
#22 in Document & File ToolsCloud Storage & File SharingFree plan
Who it's for
Best for
Long-term savers who want one lifetime storage payment instead of monthly fees
Privacy-focused people who want files kept in EU or Swiss data centres
Not for
Teams that need reliable desktop sync and fast support for daily backups
Photographers who rely on capture dates and locations in downloaded files
Features
Data region choice
Files can be stored in certified data centres in Europe or the USA, letting an account choose where its data lives.
File sharing
Files and folders can be shared instantly through fast, secure links for sending documents and media.
Auto-backup and sync
Auto-backup and sync keep files updated across devices automatically, so a local change appears in the cloud without manual uploads.
Large files and speed
Files of any size can be stored in the account, with uploads and downloads running without speed caps.
Swiss privacy and encryption
The service follows Swiss data privacy standards and encrypts stored files, with no tracking and no third-party access.
What users say
Pros
- A one-time lifetime payment breaks even after several years and keeps storage costs fixed.
- A dedicated Linux desktop client integrates smoothly across distributions that lack official apps from major competitors.
- Switching account data residency to Europe isolates stored backups from American search warrants and intelligence surveillance.
- Public folders can host HTML pages and ebooks with relative links, acting as simple web hosting.
- Automatic photo backup kept pictures from an Android phone that later died, so the library survived.
Cons
- The desktop client skips files or stops syncing, leaving recent work missing from the cloud.
- Accounts are suspended without warning over copyright checks, with files gone before a download can happen.
- Uploads crawl or throttle after heavy use, even on fast fibre connections.
- The Crypto folder needs unlocking each time and shows no thumbnails or previews, making encrypted files hard to browse.
- Downloaded photos arrive without their original capture dates or locations, stripping metadata used to sort a library.
- Help requests go unanswered for days or weeks, leaving sync failures and billing mistakes unresolved.
A selection of the review sources we used:
Summarized from public user reviews and community discussions. View details
Global Traffic Rank
Top 500k
Alternatives
Rank#22 in category#1 in category#2 in category#3 in category
Free planYesYesYesYes
ProLifetime value, cross-platform apps, EU regions, photo backupLink sharing, offsite backups, AI document access, app syncLocal copies while editing, sync on close, recoverable after loginReliable sync, native Linux client, version history, working links
Better forPreserving photo capture dates and location metadata when storing and sharing albumsSyncing files reliably across desktop operating systems without stalled transfers
Weaker atSyncing files through an official desktop client on LinuxLong-term storage value, requiring recurring subscriptions with no lifetime purchase plan