Proton Drive
GDPR & Data Protection
Proton AG is a Swiss company headquartered in Geneva. Switzerland has an EU adequacy decision and its own Federal Data Protection Act (nDSG), considered equivalent or stricter than the GDPR. All data is stored in underground Swiss datacenters in a former military facility. Zero-knowledge encryption means even Proton cannot access your files — this is the strongest form of data protection technically possible. Proton has never complied with foreign data requests that conflict with Swiss law.
Key Facts
What We Think
Proton Drive is the cloud storage arm of Proton AG — the company founded by CERN scientists in 2014 that also brings you Proton Mail, Proton VPN, and Proton Pass. The killer feature: zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption is on by default. Every file is encrypted before it leaves your device, and even Proton staff cannot access your data. That's a crucial difference from pCloud, where E2E encryption is a paid add-on. Being part of the Proton ecosystem means one subscription covers Mail, VPN, Calendar, Pass, and Drive — excellent value if you're already in that world. Swiss jurisdiction and underground datacenters in a former military facility add genuine privacy credentials. On the flip side, Proton Drive launched in 2022 and is still catching up on features. There's no real-time collaboration, no document editing, and no Linux desktop app yet. If you need a full Dropbox replacement with collaboration tools, look elsewhere. But if privacy is your top priority, Proton Drive is hard to beat.
Pros
- Zero-knowledge E2E encryption by default — no paid add-on needed
- Part of Proton ecosystem (Mail, VPN, Calendar, Pass, Drive in one subscription)
- Swiss jurisdiction — strongest privacy laws, not subject to EU/US pressure
- Free tier with 5 GB storage
- Photo backup from mobile devices
- Open source web client, regularly audited
Cons
- No real-time collaboration or document editing
- Smaller storage limits compared to pCloud or Nextcloud
- Swiss, not EU (but strong adequacy decision exists)
- No Linux desktop app yet
- Newer service (launched 2022) — less mature than established providers
Pricing & Plans
Free
- 5 GB storage
- Basic file sharing
- 1 GB upload limit
Plus
- 200 GB storage
- Advanced sharing with password & expiry
- Priority support
- Includes Mail, VPN, Calendar, Pass
Unlimited
- 500 GB storage
- All features
- Proton Sentinel advanced security
- Includes Mail, VPN, Calendar, Pass
Family
- 3 TB shared across 6 users
- All features for the whole family
- Includes Mail, VPN, Calendar, Pass
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Proton Drive end-to-end encrypted?
Yes, by default. All files are encrypted on your device before being uploaded — even Proton staff cannot access them. This is a key differentiator from pCloud, where end-to-end encryption requires a paid Crypto add-on. Proton uses zero-knowledge encryption, meaning only you hold the keys to your data.
Proton Drive vs pCloud: which should I choose?
Different strengths. Proton Drive offers maximum privacy with E2E encryption by default and Swiss jurisdiction. pCloud offers more storage, lifetime plans, and a built-in media player. Choose Proton Drive if privacy is your top priority. Choose pCloud if you want better value on storage or prefer a one-time payment. Both are Swiss companies with strong privacy credentials.
Is Proton Drive GDPR compliant?
Yes. Switzerland has an EU adequacy decision, and Swiss privacy laws (nDSG) are considered equivalent or stricter than the GDPR. All data is stored in underground Swiss datacenters. Additionally, zero-knowledge encryption means Proton technically cannot access your files even if compelled — the strongest possible data protection.
Can I share files with non-Proton users?
Yes. Proton Drive lets you create password-protected sharing links with expiry dates. Recipients don't need a Proton account to access shared files. This makes it practical for sharing with colleagues, clients, or friends who aren't in the Proton ecosystem.
Is Proton Drive free?
Yes, there's a free tier with 5 GB of storage. Paid plans start at €4/month for 200 GB as part of Proton Plus, which also includes Proton Mail, Proton VPN, Proton Calendar, and Proton Pass. The Unlimited plan at €10/month offers 500 GB, and the Family plan at €30/month provides 3 TB shared across 6 users.
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