--- title: pCloud canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/pcloud/ category: Cloud Storage Services points: 69 rank: 2 of 10 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # pCloud Cloud storage with a virtual drive, lifetime plans and a paid encryption add-on. 69 points out of 100. #2 of 10 cloud storage services. Vendor: pCloud. Website: https://www.pcloud.com/ - Premium gives 500 GB for €49.99 a year; Premium Plus gives 2 TB for €99.99 a year [1]. - Lifetime plans are sold as a one-time payment, and the Family plan (up to 5 members) is available as lifetime only [2][11]. - Zero-knowledge encryption is a paid add-on that protects a separate Crypto folder, not all files [4]. - Paid plans keep deleted and earlier file versions for 30 days; the paid Extended File History add-on raises that to 365 days [3]. - A 14-day money-back guarantee is in the terms [11]. Verdict: pCloud suits people who prefer to pay once for a lifetime plan or want a virtual drive that keeps files in the cloud [2][9]. Paid yearly plans start at €49.99 for 500 GB [1]. The catch: end-to-end encryption costs extra and covers only the Crypto folder, and researchers reported attacks on that encryption in 2024 [4][13]. Best for: People who want a one-time lifetime plan or a virtual drive instead of a monthly subscription. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Security and audits | End-to-end encryption | option | 5/10 | pCloud Encryption is a paid add-on that encrypts a Crypto folder on your device; other files are not covered [4][5]. | | Security and audits | Independent security test since 2024 | Not published | 0/6 | Not found on the vendor's pages [5]. | | Security and audits | SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001 | Yes | 5/5 | The security page lists ISO 27001:2013 ISMS and QMS under Certifications; it names no certification body or date [5]. | | Security and audits | Open-source apps | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on the vendor's GitHub page, which shows no licence for its client repositories [12]. | | Security and audits | Security key for two-factor sign-in | Not published | 0/4 | Not found on the vendor's pages [5]. | | Security and audits | Public bug bounty | Not published | 0/3 | Not found on the vendor's pages [5]. | | Apps and sync | Apps | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | 10/10 | The download page lists official apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android [6]. | | Apps and sync | Files on demand in Windows | Yes | 6/6 | pCloud Drive creates a virtual drive; files stay in the cloud and are available on demand unless kept offline [9]. | | Apps and sync | Choose which folders sync | Yes | 4/4 | The Sync feature creates a local copy of selected cloud folders on Windows [10]. | | Recovery and sharing | File version and deleted-file history | 365 | 6/6 | Paid plans keep trash and revisions 30 days; the Extended File History add-on, open to any plan, extends this to one year [3]. | | Recovery and sharing | Restore the whole account | Yes | 4/4 | Rewind shows your account at a chosen date and time and restores entire folders or single files [3]. | | Recovery and sharing | Password-protected share links | Yes | 4/4 | Password protection for share links is available to Premium users [7]. | | Recovery and sharing | Edit documents in the browser | Yes | 4/4 | The web app has built-in document editing; the help article does not list file types [8]. | | Recovery and sharing | Plan for five or more people | Yes | 4/4 | The Family plan covers up to 5 members, each with a private account, and is sold as lifetime only [2]. | | Price and plans | Free plan with 5 GB or more | Yes | 5/5 | The free plan starts at 2 GB and reaches up to 10 GB after the beginner tutorial or inviting friends [2]. | | Price and plans | Cheapest paid plan with 100 GB or more | $4.66/mo | 4/8 | Premium 500 GB at €49.99 a year, divided by 12; euro price only [1]. Converted at €1 = $1.1186 [15]. | | Price and plans | Cheapest paid plan with 1 TB or more | $9.32/mo | 2/8 | Premium Plus 2 TB at €99.99 a year, divided by 12; euro price only. Lifetime plans are not counted [1]. Converted at €1 = $1.1186 [15]. | | Price and plans | One-time lifetime plan | Yes | 3/3 | The plans page has a Lifetime option; the help centre lists lifetime plans and the terms define them [1][2][11]. | | Price and plans | Refund period of 14 days or more | Yes | 3/3 | The terms give a 14 calendar day money-back guarantee on a written request; promotional purchases may be declined [11]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Basic (free) | Free [2] | $0 | | Premium | €49.99/year [1] | - | | Premium Plus | €99.99/year [1] | - | | Ultra | €299.99/year [1] | - | | Family | €749 one-time (2 TB) [2][14] | - | The plans page shows euro prices only. Each yearly card shows two figures, such as €59.88 and €49.99; we score the lower one [1]. ## Strengths - Lifetime plans are sold, and the Family plan covers up to 5 members, each with a private account [2]. - pCloud Drive creates a virtual drive, and chosen cloud folders can be kept as a synced local copy [9][10]. - Rewind restores whole folders or single files as they were at a chosen date and time [3]. - Password-protected share links and built-in document editing are available [7][8]. - A 14-day money-back guarantee is written into the terms [11]. ## Limits - End-to-end encryption is a paid add-on for a Crypto folder; other files are not covered [4]. - Only euro prices are shown, and password-protected links are limited to Premium users [1][7]. - Paid plans keep earlier versions for 30 days; 365 days needs the Extended File History add-on [3]. - ETH Zurich researchers reported attacks on pCloud's encryption in 2024 [13]. ## Concerns - ETH Zurich researchers published six attacks on pCloud's encryption in 2024; their site says that, as of 10 October 2024, pCloud had not replied to contact attempts made from 23 April 2024 [13]. ## Sources 1. [pCloud plans and pricing](https://www.pcloud.com/cloud-storage-pricing-plans.html?country=us), pCloud, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Plan Details](https://help.pcloud.com/article/plan-details), pCloud Help Center, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [File Recovery and History: Trash, Revisions, Rewind, Extended File History](https://help.pcloud.com/article/file-recovery-and-history), pCloud Help Center, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [pCloud Encryption](https://www.pcloud.com/encrypted-cloud-storage), pCloud, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [pCloud security](https://www.pcloud.com/features/security), pCloud, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Download pCloud apps](https://www.pcloud.com/download-free-online-cloud-file-storage.html), pCloud, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [Shared Links](https://help.pcloud.com/article/shared-links), pCloud Help Center, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [File Editing](https://help.pcloud.com/article/file-editing), pCloud Help Center, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [pCloud Drive vs (pCloud) Sync](https://help.pcloud.com/article/pcloud-drive-vs-pcloud-sync), pCloud Help Center, accessed 2026-10-08 10. [Offline Access](https://help.pcloud.com/article/offline-access), pCloud Help Center, accessed 2026-10-08 11. [pCloud terms and conditions](https://www.pcloud.com/terms_and_conditions.html), pCloud, accessed 2026-10-08 12. [pcloudcom](https://github.com/pcloudcom), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-08 13. [Research findings on end-to-end encrypted cloud storage](https://brokencloudstorage.info/), ETH Zurich researchers, accessed 2026-10-08 14. [pCloud Family Plan](https://www.pcloud.com/family), pCloud, accessed 2026-10-08 15. [Euro foreign exchange reference rates: US dollar](https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/euro_reference_exchange_rates/html/eurofxref-graph-usd.en.html), European Central Bank, accessed 2026-10-08