Happy Valley

IDrive vs pCloud

IDrive and pCloud are both file storage & sharing tools. IDrive is aimed at small businesses and freelancers, while pCloud is aimed at freelancers and small businesses. IDrive costs less, from $0.25/mo versus $4.99/mo for pCloud. Both have a free plan.

IDrive

Cloud backup for multiple PCs, Macs, phones and servers in one account

pCloud

Swiss cloud storage with lifetime plans

PricingFreemium · $0Freemium · $5
Starting price$0.25/mo$4.99/mo
Free planYesYes
Free trial——
Built forSmall businesses, Freelancers, EnterpriseFreelancers, Small businesses
Platformsweb, windows, macos, linux, ios, androidweb, macos, windows, ios, android
CountryUSCH · 2013
Rating——

Choose IDrive if

Households and small businesses that want to back up many computers and phones into one affordable, encrypted account.

  • One account covers many devices instead of per-computer pricing
  • Large storage tiers at low cost per terabyte
  • Versioning and snapshots help recover from ransomware

Look elsewhere if: Users who want unlimited backup for one computer or mainly need file sync and sharing (Backblaze, Sync.com, pCloud).

Choose pCloud if

Individuals preferring one-time payment.

  • Lifetime pricing
  • Swiss privacy
  • Virtual drive

Look elsewhere if: Team collaboration.

IDrive vs pCloud pricing

IDrive

  • Basic$010 GB, no credit card required
  • Mini$0.25/mo100 GB, one user, billed yearly; 500 GB is $0.83/mo
  • Personal$11.99/mo5 TB; $9.99/mo billed yearly, $6.99 first-year promo
  • Team$11.99/mo5 users, 5 computers, 5 TB; $6.99/mo first-year promo
  • Business$59.99/mo1.25 TB, servers and NAS; yearly from $19.99 for 500 GB

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

IDrive · Key features

  • Back up unlimited PCs, Macs, phones and tablets to one account
  • Up to 30 file versions plus snapshots for point-in-time recovery
  • Optional private-key 256-bit AES encryption
  • Entire-machine backup for full system restores
  • Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace cloud-to-cloud backup
  • IDrive Express physical drive shipping for large backups and restores

Cons

  • Desktop app is busy and less intuitive than Backblaze
  • First-year promo prices rise noticeably on renewal
  • Storage is capped per plan, unlike Backblaze's unlimited personal backup

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

IDrive vs pCloud: FAQ

Which is cheaper, IDrive or pCloud?

IDrive starts at $0.25/mo and pCloud at $4.99/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.

Do IDrive and pCloud have a free plan?

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

Not sure yet?