pCloud
GDPR & Data Protection
pCloud AG is a Swiss company. Switzerland is recognized by the EU as providing adequate data protection (adequacy decision). Data stored in the Luxembourg datacenter is subject to EU jurisdiction. pCloud offers a DPA and is GDPR compliant. However, end-to-end encryption requires the paid pCloud Crypto add-on — without it, pCloud can technically access your files.
Key Facts
What We Think
pCloud is the go-to choice if you want to pay once and store forever. Their lifetime plans are genuinely unique in the cloud storage market — no other major provider offers this. The Swiss company has been around since 2013 and serves 18 million users, which gives them credibility. Data is stored in Luxembourg (EU) by default if you choose the EU datacenter during signup. The built-in media player is a nice touch for music and video files. That said, pCloud is not zero-knowledge by default — you need the paid Crypto add-on for client-side encryption. And while Switzerland has strong privacy laws, it's technically not in the EU.
Pros
- Lifetime plans — pay once, no recurring fees
- EU datacenter in Luxembourg
- 18M+ users, established since 2013
- Built-in media player for music & video
- 10 GB free tier
- All platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android
Cons
- E2E encryption costs extra (pCloud Crypto add-on)
- Not open source
- Swiss, not EU (but adequacy decision exists)
- No E2E encryption for shared files
- Crypto add-on is per-device
Pricing & Plans
Free
- 10 GB storage
- Up to 5 GB upload per file
- All platforms
Premium 500 GB
- 500 GB storage
- Up to 50 GB upload per file
- pCloud Transfer up to 5 GB
Premium Plus 2 TB
- 2 TB storage
- Up to 50 GB upload per file
- pCloud Transfer up to 5 GB
Crypto Add-on
- Client-side encryption
- Zero-knowledge privacy
- Per-device license
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is pCloud GDPR compliant?
Yes. pCloud AG is a Swiss company recognized under the EU adequacy decision. If you choose the Luxembourg datacenter, your data is stored in the EU. pCloud offers a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) and complies with GDPR requirements. However, end-to-end encryption requires the paid Crypto add-on.
Where is pCloud data stored?
pCloud lets you choose between two datacenters during signup: Luxembourg (EU) or Dallas, Texas (US). This choice is permanent for your account. For GDPR compliance, choose the Luxembourg datacenter. All files are stored with 256-bit AES encryption on the server side.
Is the pCloud lifetime plan worth it?
The 2 TB lifetime plan costs €399 — equivalent to about 4 years of annual billing (€100/year). If you plan to use pCloud for 5+ years, the lifetime plan pays for itself. pCloud has been operating since 2013, which gives some confidence in their longevity. It's the only major cloud provider offering genuine lifetime plans.
pCloud vs Proton Drive: which is better?
Different strengths. Proton Drive offers E2E encryption by default and is part of the Proton privacy ecosystem — ideal if privacy is your top priority. pCloud offers more storage, lifetime plans, and a built-in media player — better for users who want a full Dropbox replacement. Both are Swiss, both offer EU datacenters. Choose Proton for maximum privacy, pCloud for value and features.
Is pCloud end-to-end encrypted?
Not by default. pCloud encrypts files with 256-bit AES on the server side, but the company holds the encryption keys. For true zero-knowledge E2E encryption, you need the pCloud Crypto add-on (€50/year or €150 lifetime). With Crypto enabled, pCloud cannot access the encrypted files — only you hold the key. Note: Crypto does not work for shared files.
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