With more than 16 million users worldwide, pCloud is doing well. The online storage platform offers a turnkey solution for easily archiving your files in the cloud. To stand out, the provider offers a lifetime plan, large storage capacities and cutting-edge features.
So, are the promises kept or is it too good to be true? Is the lifetime offer put forward by the supplier worth it? I wanted to verify it by testing its service in 2024 and I take stock in this review on pCloud, the online storage platform.
Storage space of up to 10 TB
When looking for a cloud, the first important criterion to take into account is the size of the storage space. Some will need a larger storage size than others. It all depends on your usage. With pCloud, there is a choice between three plans:
- 10 TB (only for lifetime plans)
- 2 To
- 500 Go
With such performance, this gives it enough to meet the different needs of users, particularly those who regularly share large files or occasional users. For your information, the 10 TB of storage only concerns the Lifetime plan, valid for life. This is a positive point in this review on pCloud because before, the maximum space was set at 2 TB which could be quite limited considering lifetime use.
Note that pCloud also adapts to businesses by offering tailor-made and extensible packages.
Great accessibility
To provide an optimal and practical service for daily use, pCloud has focused on accessibility by integrating its tool on numerous media and offering very easy-to-use platforms. Online storage is done via computer, mobile or tablet.
pCloud on the web
With pCloud, you can connect to your cloud at any time over the internet from the URLmy.pCloud.comthen logging into your account. You will then access your space and all the features of the tool. It is also via the web interface that you can generate download and sharing links, create folders and personalize your private space.
pCloud Drive
For foolproof efficiency, the service is also available directly on your computer from the pCloud Drive desktop application which is available on macOS, Windows and Linux.
© pCloud
This virtual drive is a great way to store all your files without using up your computer's hard drive space. In addition, access to files is done in just a few clicks and synchronization is almost instantaneous. Dropping files is simply done using the drag and drop system.
pCloud from mobile
pCloud is also available on mobile and tablet since the application is compatible on Android and iOS. You will therefore be able to find all your data anytime and wherever you are. The offline mode was very useful for me on tablet and smartphone to access files and videos even when I did not have access to the Internet.
My opinion on pCloud is that it is essential for a cloud to offer quality integration on all types of devices and pCloud does very well at this level.
Advanced features offered by pCloud
Let's continue this review on pCloud with what made the online storage service famous. These are its advanced features, a point on which it does not skimp and thanks to which it manages to differentiate itself from others.
The first very practical thing concerns the sharing links. They allow you to share photos and videos with family and friends, even if they do not have a pCloud account. Depending on the permissions granted by the owner, each recipient will be able to access the folder in question on their browser from the download link, add documents, edit them or delete them. This is a great way to share vacation photos that will be saved and accessible at any time between you and your loved ones.
The pCloud tool also offers instant synchronization between all your devices so that you always have your files on hand. No need to take all your devices when you travel, pCloud makes your life easier in this regard. I was delighted to be able to count on this automatic synchronization. Thanks to it, my cloud is constantly updated with all my new files without manual action on my part. This is a considerable time saver.
Application pCloud sur iOS © iPhon.fr
Backups of your Facebook, Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox accounts are also possible if you enable this option. Given the multitude of information that we share, this functionality is, in my opinion, not too much because it allows you to centralize all your data in one place.
If like me you don't like cluttering up your computer, the integrated video player will be very useful to you. It allows you to play all media directly from your cloud without having to download the files in question. This is very convenient for videos, movies and music that you can stream from your private space without needing to download anything.
Finally, you will have a 30-day trash history to avoid possible deletion errors and restore previous versions if necessary. It increases to 15 days for members of the free version.
File security at the forefront
For the moment, there is no downside and it is not this section on security that will tarnish it. Indeed, at pCloud security is a real priority and the company does not do things by halves to protect its users' data.
© pCloud
It uses TLS/SSL channels during every file transfer on its servers. These protocols encrypt information on the client side and secure all information before it reaches data centers. Then, AES-256 encryption is active for data at rest. And for an extra layer of protection, it's possible to get pCloud Encryption for a few dollars more. This device allows client-side encryption. You can activate this private key to all of your documents or only sensitive files. This assures you that even pCloud teams will never have access to your data because it will be encrypted before even reaching its servers.
That's not all. pCloud also ensures that your files are replicated across five servers to reduce the risk of data loss. For even greater security, these copies are stored in different data centers.
My opinion on pCloud would certainly not have been so good without this security aspect because, in my opinion, the online cloud must respect our privacy.
Speed of transfers
pCloud shines with the quality of its infrastructure which allows it to offer very good speeds. In my opinion, this is a crucial point because no one wants to wait hours for their photos to upload. The same goes for downloading.
Whether from the web browser, pCloud Drive or its mobile applications, transfer and download speeds are excellent. And this is all the more true since the supplier acquired data centers in Europe. Remember that this obviously depends on the speed provided by your Internet service provider, but overall the service is ultra efficient at this level.
Browser extensions
The pCloud online storage platform continues to surprise us. With its pCloud Save extension available on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Opera, you can save browser content directly to your cloud.
I did the test with an image on the internet and just click on “Save to pCloud” so that the photo is then found in my space in a few seconds from the automatically created “pCloud Save” folder. Another positive point in my pCloud review.
Extension pCloud Save © iPhon.fr
This free pCloud Save extension saves a lot of time and it will, in my opinion, be very appreciated by all Internet users.
How much does pCloud cost?
Let's continue this pCloud review with the price of the service. I studied its offer and it is difficult to find such attractive prices among the competition, at least not for such a complete service. For individuals, pCloud therefore offers paid and free plans.
It is also available for professionals with a cloud adapted for businesses (pCloud Business) and for families with 2 TB of space to share between 5 members.
The lifetime offer for the best value for money
pCloud is one of the few providers to offer a lifetime deal – it actually lasts 99 years, but that's it. Not surprisingly, the Lifetime subscription offers optimal value for money and I highly recommend it. In 2024, two packages are available to you:
- the Lifetime 10 TB subscription at €1190
- the Lifetime 2 TB subscription at €399
- the Lifetime 500 GB subscription at €199
It's up to you to see which package best suits your needs and usage. Note that if you share very large files frequently and are considering a long-term option, the 10TB lifetime plan seems most suitable.
© pCloud
Payment is made in one go and then gives you the right to enjoy all the benefits of the cloud on all your devices. To pay, you have the choice between credit card, PayPal and Bitcoin.
Your purchase is guaranteed for 10 days with the supplier’s “satisfied or refunded” guarantee.
Another tip: When registering, you can select the data region you want - that is, where your data will be stored. You will have the choice between the two data centers of the providers, either the United States (in Dallas, Texas) or in the European Union in Luxembourg.
The annual offer for a one-off need
If you don't feel the need to make a lifetime commitment, pCloud also offers annual plans that should suit you. Subscriptions vary by storage size. In 2024, the price offers are as follows:
- 500 GB Premium Plan at €49.99/year
- Premium Plus plan of 2 TB at €99.99 / year
As with the Lifetime subscription, these offers are guaranteed within 10 days following your subscription. After submitting your request to customer support, you will obtain your refund within 30 days maximum.
The free offer to discover the service without risk
For people who want to discover the service and explore its features, it may be interesting to start with the free tier. This way, you will not take any risks and you will be able to test the tool in its entirety.
The storage size is not insignificant because you have2 GB when opening your free accountand this can go up to 10 GB by carrying out a few simple steps (upload a file, download the mobile application, etc.). If you like the application, you can then subscribe to one of the paid plans above.
Effective customer support
To conclude this pCloud review, I wanted to highlight the efforts made by the company's customer support to assist its customers. When you have a cloud account, it is important to know if you can easily communicate with the technical teams.
Although no online chat is available, the pCloud teams can be easily reached from the contact form on their website.
You can also opt to send an e-mail from the following address:[email protected]. Note that it is possible to communicate in English, French, German and Turkish.
I tested it and the answer to my question arrived in just a few hours. Thanks to the very clear explanations and instructions, my problem was resolved within minutes. It is therefore almost faultless for pCloud customer support which is fast and available in French.
Review and opinion: pCloud offers an excellent service
In a short time, pCloud should become the referencein the online storage market. I was able to see its very good performance myself and in my opinion, pCloud is an excellent solution for storing files online. This provider stands out from the crowd with its ultra-competitive lifetime offers and a service that is both comprehensive and easy to use. It also convinced me thanks to its accessibility and its very practical features such as link sharing and pCloud Save on browser.
If my opinion on pCloud is so positive and if I continue to use it every day, it is also thanks to the speed of the transfers it offers. Its servers are powerful and perfectly optimized to support the load of large files. Block synchronization ensures that you always have your documents at hand on all your devices.
Furthermore, its advanced security settings are a real plus, especially compared to the American giants Google Drive and Dropbox. pCloud really cares about the privacy of its users and it guarantees it by respecting European GDPR standards and encrypting all data via a powerful algorithm.
