pCloud review: Swiss cloud storage for small teams
⏱ In about 7 minutes
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In this article
The short answer
Short answer
pCloud is cloud file storage from a Swiss-based company. For teams, pCloud Business gives each user 1 TB, with shared folders, access levels, activity logs and client-side encryption. There's a 30-day free trial.
For a solo owner, pCloud also sells personal plans, including one-off "lifetime" payments instead of a subscription.
- Good fit: a small team that wants one shared home for files, with encryption and a long file history.
- Check first: the 3-user minimum on Business, and whether you'd rather keep files in the storage your email or office suite already includes. Our secure cloud storage guide covers what to look for.
pCloud Business: plans and prices
Prices below are what pCloud's Business page showed us on 20 October 2026, in US dollars. Both plans start at 3 users. (pCloud Business)
| Plan | Storage | Billed monthly | Billed annually | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business | 1 TB per user | US$9.99 per user/month | US$7.99 per user/month | 3 users shown at US$29.97/month (monthly billing) |
| Business Pro | 2 TB per user | US$14.98 per user/month | US$11.98 per user/month | Shown as 25% off for new Business Pro accounts (normally US$19.98 monthly or US$15.98 annually). No end date shown |
- 30-day free trial. pCloud's help centre describes it as one month free for 5 users, with full features, and says you're not charged during the trial. (pCloud help: plan details)
- 14-day money-back guarantee and no setup fees, per the Business page.
- Annual billing saves about 20% compared with monthly, per pCloud's help centre.
What pCloud Business includes
From pCloud's Business page and help centre, checked 20 October 2026:
- Client-side encryption, which pCloud says locks files before they leave your device, with zero-knowledge privacy
- Access levels and teams, so each person sees only what they need
- Shared folders and comments on files and folders
- Activity logs per user and team
- File history going back up to 180 days
- Unlimited file size uploads
- Branded share links with your logo
- pCloud Drive, which lets you work on files without using space on your computer's hard drive
- An EU data centre option, GDPR compliance, and ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certification, per the Business page
Personal plans and lifetime options
For sole traders who only need their own storage, pCloud's pricing page listed these in US dollars on 20 October 2026: (pCloud pricing)
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Lifetime (one-off) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium 500 GB | US$4.99 | US$49.99 | US$219 (shown down from US$279) |
| Premium Plus 2 TB | US$9.99 | US$99.99 | US$499 (shown down from US$709) |
| Ultra 10 TB | US$29.99 | US$299.99 | US$1,499 (shown down from US$2,799) |
pCloud's free Basic plan starts with 2 GB, and you can unlock up to 10 GB by completing its beginner steps and inviting friends. (pCloud help: plan details)
Fix it: step by step
The time guides are rough, for a team of about 3–10 people.
Step 1: Check what you already pay for (15 minutes)
Your email or office plan may include cloud storage. If it does and it suits you, you may not need another service.
Step 2: Start the Business trial with a few real folders (1 hour)
Set up two or three top-level folders and invite a couple of staff, so you can see how sharing and access levels work.
Step 3: Turn on two-step login for everyone (30 minutes)
Our two-step login guide walks you through it.
Step 4: Keep a separate backup (1 hour)
Cloud storage and backup do different jobs. The secure cloud storage guide explains why it's worth having both.
Step 5: Add storage to your leaver steps (ongoing)
Remove access on someone's last day. See removing access when someone leaves.
Quick pick
Quick pick: pCloud (product details from pCloud's official pages, checked 20 Oct 2026. Not hands-on tested. No ratings. Prices in US$ as shown to us; confirm on the vendor's site.)
- For small teams: pCloud Business. 1 TB per user, client-side encryption, access levels and 180 days of file history. US$7.99 per user/month billed annually, or US$9.99 monthly, from 3 users. 30-day free trial. → See pCloud Business
- For a solo owner who'd rather pay once: pCloud Premium lifetime. 500 GB for a one-off US$219 when we checked. → See pCloud plans
Want end-to-end encrypted storage alongside email and a password manager? Compare Proton Drive in our secure cloud storage guide, or see all our quick picks.
Honest limits
Free: the Small Business Password & Access Checklist
A 1–2 page checklist that turns this article into a to-do list: which accounts to protect first, how to set up shared access, and what to do when someone joins or leaves.
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Frequently asked questions
Does pCloud have a free plan?
Yes. pCloud's free Basic plan starts with 2 GB and can be unlocked to up to 10 GB. (pCloud help)
Is pCloud Business encrypted?
pCloud says Business includes client-side encryption, which encrypts files on your device before they're uploaded. (pCloud Business)
Where is pCloud based?
pCloud describes itself as a Swiss-based cloud service. Its Business page lists an EU data centre option and two data centre choices.
Can I try pCloud Business before paying?
Yes. pCloud offers a 30-day free trial for Business, and a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Related guides
- Cybersecurity tools
- How to store business files securely
- 10-step basic cybersecurity checklist
- Removing access when an employee leaves
Sources
All links checked and loading on 20 Oct 2026.
- Vendor pages (checked 20 Oct 2026): pCloud Business · pCloud pricing · pCloud help: plan details
- Third-party report (not confirmed by pCloud): Datackathon: pCloud investigation following reports of anomalies (February 2026)
About our review process
We pick products from official information and say clearly when we haven't tested something hands-on. Commissions may influence which products we choose to cover, but not our assessment of them. See how we work.