tech from europe
vsOneDrive

pCloud vs OneDrive

Last updated June 2026

Looking for a European alternative to OneDrive? Here's how pCloud compares, on EU hosting, GDPR and what it does.

Our pick for a European buyer: pCloud. We weight data residency, GDPR and EU jurisdiction above everything else — that is the constraint this directory exists to solve.

pCloud
OneDrive
What it is
Swiss cloud storage with client-side encryption and EU data residency in Luxembourg.
not established
Headquarters
🇨🇭 CH
🇺🇸 US
EU data residency
Yes, for all customers
not established
DSGVO / GDPR
Yes
not established
Certifications
ISO 27001:2013, ISO 9001:2015
not established
Price from
€199/yr
not established
Free plan
Yes
not established
Open Source
No
not established
Ratings
G2 4.3/5 (164) · TRUSTPILOT 2.9/5 (1,638)
No
Integrations
No
not established

We have not yet completed our own research on OneDrive; rows above show only what we can evidence. Check the vendor for specifics.

Where each one wins

pCloud

Strengths

  • +Clean, intuitive interface with seamless OS integration (Windows Explorer, Mac Finder, Linux)
  • +Affordable pricing with unique lifetime plans and generous free storage (up to 15 GB)
  • +Strong security features including optional client-side zero-knowledge encryption (pCloud Crypto) and Swiss data privacy laws
  • +Fast upload/sync speeds and reliable performance for large files and multimedia streaming
  • +Comprehensive file management with versioning, rewind, and granular permissions for business users

Limitations

  • −Recurring reports of data loss, corrupted files, and unreliable sync (especially on macOS)
  • −Customer support often slow, unresponsive, or unable to resolve critical issues
  • −Limited collaboration features (no real-time document editing, weak office suite integration)
  • −Key security features like client-side encryption and 2FA require paid add-ons

OneDrive

Review sentiment not yet compiled.

Data residency & compliance

pCloud
OneDrive
EU data residency
Yes, for all customers
not established
Transfer mechanism
Not required — data stays in the EU
not established
DPA
not established
not established
Sub-processors
not established
not established
Certifications
ISO 27001:2013, ISO 9001:2015
No

Pricing

pCloud

  • Free Free 10 GB secure cloud storage · No credit card required · Basic file sharing and sync
  • Premium 500 GB (Lifetime) €299 one-time payment500 GB storage · Lifetime access with one-time payment · 14-day money-back guarantee
  • Premium 500 GB (Annual) €199 per year500 GB storage · Annual billing · 14-day money-back guarantee
  • Premium Plus 2 TB (Lifetime) €599 one-time payment2 TB storage · Lifetime access with one-time payment · 14-day money-back guarantee
  • Premium Plus 2 TB (Annual) €399 per year2 TB storage · Annual billing · 14-day money-back guarantee
  • Ultra 10 TB (Lifetime) €1890 one-time payment10 TB storage · Lifetime access with one-time payment · 14-day money-back guarantee
  • Ultra 10 TB (Annual) €1190 per year10 TB storage · Annual billing · 14-day money-back guarantee

Lifetime plans are one-time payments with no recurring fees. All plans include a 14-day money-back guarantee.

OneDrive

No published pricing we could verify.

Features

pCloud

Access & Flexibility
Access files from any device (desktop, mobile, tablet) anywhere, Offline access with automatic sync when back online, Choose data storage location: Europe or USA
Sharing & Collaboration
Share files and folders via secure links, Control access with view/download permissions, expiration dates, and passwords, Invite team members to folders with custom permissions, Request files from others without exposing folder contents
Storage & Backup
Free up device storage by moving files to the cloud, Store files of any size with unlimited upload/download speed, Automatic backup of selected folders and mobile galleries, Instant backup of file changes
Data Recovery & History
Rewind feature to restore entire account or folders to a previous state, Trash for deleted files (15 days free, 30 days paid plans), Extended File History add-on for up to 365 days recovery
Security & Compliance
Swiss-based with strict privacy laws (GDPR-compliant), TLS/SSL channel protection and 256-bit AES encryption, No tracking or third-party access to data

OneDrive

Feature breakdown not yet compiled.

See pCloud →More OneDrive alternatives