pCloud with pCloud Encryption review

pCloud is a general cloud drive first and an encrypted one second. Its zero-knowledge protection lives in pCloud Encryption, a paid add-on that turns on a Crypto folder. Files dropped there are encrypted on the device before upload, and pCloud says only you hold the key and that no one else can see the type, contents or size of those files. To test the design, pCloud ran a 180-day hacking challenge with a $100,000 award; it reports 2,860 participants and zero successful hacks. On the US App Store, Premium is $4.99 a month and the Encryption add-on is another $4.99, and the add-on is also sold as a lifetime purchase. The model suits people who want strong media streaming and photo backup for everyday files while keeping a smaller vault for sensitive ones. It is a weaker fit for anyone who wants every file encrypted by default, and free accounts can be closed after six months without use.

Who it is for

Users who want a full-featured media cloud and only need some folders under zero-knowledge encryption.

Price

Up to 10 GB free; Premium $4.99 per month and pCloud Encryption $4.99 per month as an add-on on the US App Store.

Premium $4.99 Premium Plus $9.99 pCloud Encryption $4.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• Client-side encrypted Crypto folder
• Zero-knowledge privacy for files in the Crypto folder
• Up to 10 GB of free storage
• Plans expandable up to 10 TB
• Encryption add-on sold monthly, yearly or as a lifetime purchase

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Strong media playback and photo backup outside the Crypto folder
• Strength: Lifetime option for the encryption add-on
• Strength: pCloud ran a public hacking challenge with no successful hacks
• Weakness: Encryption is a paid add-on, not the default
• Weakness: Only files in the Crypto folder are zero-knowledge
• Weakness: Free accounts can be closed after six months of inactivity

Key facts

• Free storage: Up to 10 GB
• Encryption: Paid add-on, Crypto folder
• Hacking challenge: 2,860 participants, 0 hacks
• Max storage: Up to 10 TB

Where it ranks

pCloud with pCloud Encryption is No. 6 in our Best Encrypted Cloud Storage verdict.