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Is pCloud Worth It in 2026? Our Honest Verdict
Recommended
pCloud: pCloud lifetime plans are the best deal in cloud storage if you plan to use it for 3+ years.
Rating★ 4.3/5
Starting price$49.99/year or $199 lifetime (500GB)
Best forUsers who want to pay once for cloud sto
CategoryCloud Storage & Collaboration
Who pCloud Is Worth It For
- ✓Users who want to pay once for cloud storage and value Swiss privacy.
- ✓Lifetime plans eliminate recurring subscription costs
- ✓Swiss privacy jurisdiction with optional zero-knowledge encryption
- ✓Linux support that Google Drive lacks
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- ✕Not ideal for teams needing real-time collaboration and deep app integrations.
- ✕Limited collaboration features compared to Google and Dropbox
- ✕Encryption is a paid add-on, not included
- ✕Smaller ecosystem of integrations
Is pCloud Pricing Fair?
| Tier | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | 10GB storage |
| Starter | $49.99/year or $199 lifetime (500GB) |
| Pro | $99.99/year or $399 lifetime (2TB) |
| Enterprise | $9.99/user/mo (Business, 1TB/user) |
Pricing verified March 2026.
How pCloud Compares
| pCloud | Capacities | Excalidraw | Miro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99/year or $199 lifetime (500GB) | $8.99/mo | Free | $8/member/mo |
| Rating | ★ 4.3 | ★ 4.7 | ★ 4.7 | ★ 4.7 |
| Verdict | Recommended | Recommended | Best Free Whiteboard | Best Collaborative Whiteboard |
| Free Tier |
AICores Verdict on pCloud
pCloud lifetime plans are the best deal in cloud storage if you plan to use it for 3+ years. Swiss privacy is a genuine advantage. The collaboration features are limited compared to Google Drive, but for personal file storage and backup, the one-time payment model is unbeatable.
AICores Editorial Review
Reviewed by AICores Editorial Team
Last updated: May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pCloud worth the money?▼
pCloud lifetime plans are the best deal in cloud storage if you plan to use it for 3+ years. Swiss privacy is a genuine advantage. The collaboration features are limited compared to Google Drive, but for personal file storage and backup, the one-time payment model is unbeatable.
Is there a free version of pCloud?▼
Yes, pCloud offers a free tier. Paid plans start at $49.99/year or $199 lifetime (500GB) and include additional features and capacity.
What are the best alternatives to pCloud?▼
Capacities, Excalidraw, Miro are the top alternatives. Capacities is best for knowledge workers who want their notes naturally organized by information type and has a 4.7 star rating.
Who should NOT use pCloud?▼
pCloud is not ideal for teams needing real-time collaboration and deep app integrations.. Common drawbacks include: Limited collaboration features compared to Google and Dropbox. Encryption is a paid add-on, not included.
Compare pCloud head-to-head
See how pCloud stacks up against the top alternatives.
pCloud vs Capacities→