pCloud

Yes. pCloud protects your files with TLS/SSL in transit and AES-256 encryption at rest, and its optional pCloud Crypto add-on layers on client-side, zero-knowledge encryption so that not even pCloud can read those files. It has also stood up to public scrutiny: its $100,000 Crypto Challenge, which invited hackers to break the encryption, went unclaimed. The one caveat is that account-wide zero-knowledge isn't the default — it applies only to the Crypto folder — so switch Crypto on for anything you consider truly sensitive.

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A few things count against it. Zero-knowledge encryption isn't built in — you pay extra for the pCloud Crypto add-on rather than getting end-to-end privacy by default, unlike Proton Drive or Sync.com. The cheapest tiers are storage-limited, and the headline lifetime plan, while good value over the years, is a large one-time payment that not everyone wants to make upfront. There's also no true real-time collaborative editing like Google or OneDrive offer. Day to day, though, pCloud is fast, reliable and genuinely easy to use, which is why it still tops our list for most people.

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pCloud is operated by pCloud International AG, a privately held company founded in 2013 with Swiss roots and offices across Europe. It isn't owned by any of the big tech platforms, which is part of its privacy appeal.

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Your files wouldn't disappear overnight. Established providers give notice and an export window, letting you download everything before any shutdown. The sensible safeguard, with any cloud service, is the 3-2-1 rule: keep at least one local copy and a second backup elsewhere, so you're never wholly dependent on a single provider. pCloud is a stable, decade-old company, but treating the cloud as one copy rather than your only copy is always the safe habit.

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Yes. pCloud's free plan gives you up to 10 GB with no time limit — you start with a few gigabytes and unlock the rest through simple bonus steps like verifying your account and inviting friends. It's genuine free storage, not a trial. If you outgrow it, paid plans start at US$8.33/mo, and the pCloud Crypto add-on unlocks client-side, zero-knowledge encryption. There's also a pay-once lifetime option if you'd rather not subscribe.

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It depends on what you want. For privacy and flexibility, pCloud wins: it offers optional zero-knowledge encryption (via Crypto), a pay-once lifetime plan, and it doesn't lock you into a single ecosystem. OneDrive is the better pick if you live in Microsoft 365 and want tight Office integration, real-time co-authoring and built-in Windows sync. On pure cost, pCloud's lifetime option can work out cheaper over the years than an ongoing OneDrive subscription; pCloud's own plans start at US$8.33/mo if you'd rather pay yearly. For private, standalone storage, pCloud; for the Microsoft ecosystem, OneDrive.

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