pCloud vs Dropbox
pCloud rates 4.6/5 and starts at $5/mo. Dropbox rates 4.4/5 and starts at $12/mo. pCloud is the cheaper entry point. pCloud is the higher rated.
pCloud wins on value and privacy with rare lifetime plans and optional zero-knowledge encryption; Dropbox wins on reliability and its huge integration ecosystem. Choose pCloud to escape subscriptions, Dropbox for team collaboration.
pCloud vs Dropbox at a glance
| Measure | pCloud | Dropbox |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Reviews | 8,900 | 42,000 |
| Starting price | $5/mo | $12/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Public API | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations listed here | 5 | 5 |
Feature & pricing comparison
| Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.4 |
| Starting price | $5/mo | $12/mo |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| API available | ||
| Best for | Privacy-minded individuals | Individuals & teams |
| File sync | ||
| Client-side encryption (add-on) | ||
| Lifetime plans | ||
| File versioning | ||
| Media playback | ||
| Reliable file sync | ||
| Smart Sync | ||
| Shared folders | ||
| File requests | ||
| Paper docs | ||
| Visit | Visit |
Pricing side by side
pCloud
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | — |
| Premium 500GB | $5/mo | $60 |
| Premium Plus 2TB | $10/mo | $120 |
Dropbox
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Free | — |
| Plus | $12/mo | $144 |
| Essentials | $20/mo | $240 |
| Business | $18/mo | $216 |
Which should you choose?
Choose pCloud if…
- Lifetime one-time plans matters to you.
- Fast and reliable matters to you.
- Optional zero-knowledge encryption matters to you.
- Pricier per TB would be a problem.
Choose Dropbox if…
- Rock-solid sync matters to you.
- Huge integration ecosystem matters to you.
- Great sharing matters to you.
- Encryption costs extra would be a problem.
pCloud
Pros
- Lifetime one-time plans
- Fast and reliable
- Optional zero-knowledge encryption
Cons
- Encryption costs extra
- No built-in office suite
Dropbox
Pros
- Rock-solid sync
- Huge integration ecosystem
- Great sharing
Cons
- Pricier per TB
- No zero-knowledge encryption
Frequently asked questions
Is pCloud better than Dropbox?+
pCloud wins on value and privacy with rare lifetime plans and optional zero-knowledge encryption; Dropbox wins on reliability and its huge integration ecosystem. Choose pCloud to escape subscriptions, Dropbox for team collaboration.
Which is cheaper, pCloud or Dropbox?+
pCloud — it starts at $5/mo, versus $12/mo for Dropbox.
Do pCloud or Dropbox have a free plan?+
Both offer a free tier, so you can trial either without paying.
Which is better rated, pCloud or Dropbox?+
pCloud, at 4.6/5 across 8,900 reviews, versus 4.4/5 for Dropbox.
What is pCloud best for, and what is Dropbox best for?+
pCloud is aimed at Privacy-minded individuals (personal backup, media libraries). Dropbox is aimed at Individuals & teams (team file sharing, cross-app workflows).