Happy Valley

Dropbox vs pCloud

Dropbox and pCloud are both file storage & sharing tools. Dropbox is aimed at small businesses and freelancers, while pCloud is aimed at freelancers and small businesses. pCloud costs less, from $4.99/mo versus $11.99/mo for Dropbox. Both have a free plan.

Dropbox

Cloud storage and file sync pioneer

pCloud

Swiss cloud storage with lifetime plans

PricingFreemium · $12Freemium · $5
Starting price$11.99/mo$4.99/mo
Free planYesYes
Free trial30 days—
Built forSmall businesses, FreelancersFreelancers, Small businesses
Platformsweb, macos, windows, linux, ios, androidweb, macos, windows, ios, android
CountryUS · 2007CH · 2013
Rating——

Choose Dropbox if

Creative professionals and teams needing reliable sync across platforms.

  • Best-in-class sync reliability
  • Great for large creative files
  • Suite of add-on products

Look elsewhere if: Teams already paying for Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 storage.

Choose pCloud if

Individuals preferring one-time payment.

  • Lifetime pricing
  • Swiss privacy
  • Virtual drive

Look elsewhere if: Team collaboration.

Dropbox vs pCloud pricing

Dropbox

  • Basic$02 GB
  • Plus$11.99/mo$9.99/mo billed yearly; 2 TB, 1 person
  • Standard$18/user/mo$15/mo billed yearly; from 3 TB team storage
  • Advanced$30/user/mo$24/mo billed yearly; 3+ users, from 15 TB, SSO, E2E
  • EnterpriseCustomEnterprise security and dedicated support

pCloud

  • Free$0Up to 10 GB (per help.pcloud.com plan details)
  • Premium 500 GB$4.99/mo$49.99/yr; lifetime $219
  • Premium Plus 2 TB$9.99/mo$99.99/yr; lifetime $499
  • Ultra 10 TB$29.99/mo$299.99/yr; lifetime $1,499

Dropbox · Key features

  • Reliable cross-platform file sync
  • Sharing, file requests and transfers
  • Version history and file recovery
  • Dropbox Dash AI search
  • Replay video review and Sign e-signature
  • Admin controls and security

Cons

  • Small free tier (2 GB)
  • Pricier than bundled alternatives
  • Product sprawl

pCloud · Key features

  • Virtual drive
  • Lifetime plans
  • File versioning
  • Media streaming
  • Client-side encryption add-on
  • Sharing links

Cons

  • Encryption is extra
  • Team features limited
  • Company longevity risk for lifetime

Dropbox vs pCloud: FAQ

Which is cheaper, Dropbox or pCloud?

pCloud starts at $4.99/mo and Dropbox at $11.99/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.

Do Dropbox and pCloud have a free plan?

Yes, both Dropbox and pCloud have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.

Not sure yet?