pCloud review (2026): features, pros and cons, and what to check before you buy
Swiss-registered cloud drive with EU or US storage choice, selling business seats from 3 users and encryption as a plan feature.
Our take for buyers
pCloud is a cloud drive for small teams and SMBs, with a virtual drive, shared folders, branded share links and real-time editing in pDocs. Business plans start at three users. Shortlist it if you want to choose between EU storage in Luxembourg and US storage in Texas, and you do not need enterprise identity features. Prices are listed in EUR only.
G2 reviewers rate it 4.3 out of 5 across 164 reviews. The notable concern is encryption: researchers reported attacks on the optional client-side encryption in October 2024, and the vendor reportedly did not respond. Treat that as a point to raise directly in any evaluation. Ask for the response in writing.
Pros
- Low per-user price with EU data center option.
Cons
- Optional encryption broken by academic attack, vendor reportedly did not respond (Oct 2024)
- Best for
- Small teams wanting a virtual drive and client-side encryption.
- Starting price
- 9.99 EUR per user per month (Business, 3 users minimum)
- G2 rating
- 4.3 (164 reviews)
What is pCloud?
Swiss-registered cloud drive with EU or US storage choice, selling business seats from 3 users and encryption as a plan feature. Small teams that want to choose between EU and US data location should check this Swiss-registered service, with business seats sold from three users. A virtual drive keeps files off local disks. Do not rely on optional encryption alone given the 2024 ETH Zurich findings, and note SSO is undocumented. pCloud was founded in 2013 and is based in Baar, Switzerland (operations in Sofia, Bulgaria).
Category: Cloud Storage and File Sharing
pCloud key features
| Criterion | What we found |
|---|---|
| Storage per user and limits | Pooled: 3 TB for 3 users on Business (about 1 TB per user), 6 TB on Business Pro. |
| Desktop sync quality | Virtual drive (P:) saves local disk space; unlimited file size uploads. |
| Sharing and permission controls | Access levels, teams, shared folders, branded share links, password and expiry on links. |
| Real-time collaboration and editing | PDocs real-time editing and file comments. |
| Security and encryption | Client-side encryption described on Business page; Wikipedia says zero-knowledge encryption is a paid add-on for individuals. |
| Compliance certifications | GDPR, ISO 27001, ISO 9001 stated on business page. |
| Version history and recovery | File version restore up to 180 days. |
| Pricing model and transparency | Per user, 3 user minimum, monthly price pooled storage. |
| Target company size | Small teams and SMB. |
pCloud plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business | 29.97 EUR per month for 3 users (9.99 EUR per user) | per user per month | 3 TB for 3 users |
| Business Pro | 44.94 EUR per month for 3 users after 25% discount (14.98 EUR per user) | per user per month | 6 TB for 3 users; discount only for new Pro accounts, not renewals or added seats |
Individual plans include free 10 GB and lifetime options (Wikipedia, April 2025: Premium 199 USD one time). Capterra listing shows 7.99 USD annual Business (third-party, not confirmed by the vendor). No USD rates for Business plans are published: pCloud's pricing page says business plans are priced in USD but lists no amounts, and the vendor business page shows EUR only; EUR prices kept, no conversion.
Who should shortlist pCloud
A strong fit for
- Small teams wanting a virtual drive and client-side encryption.
- Buyers who want to pick EU or US storage.
A weak fit for
- Companies needing SSO/SCIM (not documented)
- Buyers who rely on the optional encryption alone (2024 ETH Zurich research)
pCloud alternatives
Sync.comSmall teams that want zero-knowledge encryption at a low per-user price.
TresoritRegulated teams (HIPAA, legal, finance) that need zero-knowledge encryption.
Dropbox BusinessSmall teams (Standard is available from 1 user) wanting simple sync and sharing.
Google DriveTeams already on Google Workspace email and Docs.
BoxRegulated organizations needing FedRAMP Moderate or HIPAA (Enterprise tier)
EgnyteMid-size firms wanting governance and ransomware detection on file storage.
Security, admin and compliance
pCloud states GDPR, ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 on its business page, and it offers EU or US data storage. Activity logs are listed per user and team. SSO, SCIM and a DPA are not documented, so request them in writing if you need them. Review the 2024 ETH Zurich findings on the optional encryption before relying on it for sensitive files.
- Audit logs
- Activity logs per user and team.
- Data residency
- EU (Luxembourg) or US (Texas)
- Certifications
- ISO 27001, ISO 9001, GDPR.
Contract and buying terms
- Contract
- 30-day free trial, 14-day money-back, cancel any time.
- Implementation
- No setup fees.
- Starting price
- 9.99 EUR per user per month (Business, 3 users minimum)
- Pricing model
- Per user.
- Free plan or trial
- Free plan, Free trial.
What to test in a pCloud demo or trial
Test the virtual drive on the machines your team really uses, and try uploading large files, since file size is not capped. Check sharing: access levels, teams, and password and expiry on links. Restore a file to confirm the 180-day version history. Ask pCloud about the encryption research and which of your data is covered by client-side encryption, and whether it is included in the plan or a paid add-on. Use the 30-day trial and the 14-day money-back window.
Questions to ask pCloud before you sign
These are the points pCloud's public pages leave open. Get the answers in writing before procurement signs off.
- Which plan includes SAML SSO, and what does it cost for our seat count?
- Is SCIM provisioning included, or a paid add-on?
- Can we sign your standard DPA without changes?
- What will the price be at renewal, and is the increase capped?
Things to know before a demo
- Business pool is 1 TB per user on average (3 TB for 3 users)
- 25% Pro discount applies only to new accounts, not renewals or seat additions.
- Data centers in Texas and Luxembourg.
- ETH Zurich researchers reported attacks on the optional encryption in Oct 2024.
- Business page states ISO 27001 and ISO 9001.
pCloud FAQ
What is pCloud used for?
Small teams that want to choose between EU and US data location should check this Swiss-registered service, with business seats sold from three users. A virtual drive keeps files off local disks. Do not rely on optional encryption alone given the 2024 ETH Zurich findings, and note SSO is undocumented. It suits small teams wanting a virtual drive and client-side encryption.
Does pCloud support SSO or SCIM?
Neither is documented by pCloud. If your identity policy requires them, ask the vendor before you buy.
Where does pCloud store data?
Customers can choose EU storage in Luxembourg or US storage in Texas.
Which compliance standards does pCloud state?
Its business page states GDPR, ISO 27001 and ISO 9001. A DPA is not mentioned, so ask for one.
Vendor profile
- Founded
- 2013.
- Headquarters
- Baar, Switzerland (operations in Sofia, Bulgaria)
- Funding or owner
- No external funding named; reported profitable in 2019 (TechCrunch via Wikipedia)
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from pCloud's own pricing, product or documentation pages, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Unknown values are left out instead of estimated.