Sync.com vs pCloud
The two most-recommended independents. Default encryption against lifetime pricing. You can only pick one default.
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Sync.com
Zero-knowledge privacy that behaves like a normal cloud drive.
pCloud
Pay once, store forever. The lifetime plan that started it all.
| Feature | Sync.com | pCloud |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.5 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Price | From $9/mo | From $4.17/mo |
| Renews at | $144/yr | n/a |
| Free plan | No | |
| Best for | Private storage without friction | Long-term storage, pay once |
| Category | Encrypted & private | Cloud storage & sync |
| Provider | Sync.com Inc. | pCloud AG |
| Visit Sync.com | Visit pCloud |
Our verdict
Sync.com wins on privacy out of the box. Zero-knowledge encryption covers everything automatically, where pCloud charges extra for its Crypto folder and leaves the rest server-side. pCloud wins on flexibility and lifetime economics. Better media handling, a slicker virtual drive, and the pay-once plans Sync.com does not offer.
On subscriptions pCloud is also the cheaper of the two per terabyte. Privacy-first users take Sync.com and never think about it again. Cost-over-decades optimizers take a pCloud lifetime and add encryption where needed.
“The encrypted all-rounder. Zero-knowledge by default, generous versioning, fair prices, and none of the usual privacy tax on usability. For most people who want their files private without thinking about it, this is the one.”Editorial team, on Sync.com
“The lifetime-deal king, and a genuinely good cloud drive with fast sync, built-in media players, and Swiss-based infrastructure. The famous pay-once plans transform the economics if you keep them for years. Zero-knowledge encryption costs extra, which we wish were standard.”Editorial team, on pCloud
Frequently asked questions
Is Sync.com better than pCloud?
For privacy, yes. Sync.com applies zero-knowledge encryption to everything by default, where pCloud charges extra for its Crypto folder and leaves the rest server-side. pCloud wins on flexibility and long-run cost. Better media handling, a slicker virtual drive and pay-once plans Sync.com does not offer. Privacy first? Sync.com. Cost over decades? A pCloud lifetime.
Which is cheaper per terabyte, Sync.com or pCloud?
pCloud. Premium Plus gives 2 TB at $8.33 a month, $99.99 a year. Sync.com Personal 1 TB costs $9 a month, $108 for the first year, and renews at $144 a year, for half the space. pCloud also sells a lifetime version of that 2 TB plan at around $499 once. US dollars, annual billing.
How far back can I recover an older version of a file?
Up to 180 days on Sync.com's larger plans, 30 days on pCloud unless you extend it. That gap matters more than it sounds. A ransomware infection or a bad edit you only notice months later is recoverable in one case and gone in the other, which makes it the clearest practical difference between the two.
Do I have to pay extra for encryption on pCloud?
Yes. pCloud Crypto is a paid add-on, and it protects only the files you place in the Crypto folder, and everything outside it stays server-side encrypted. Sync.com includes zero-knowledge encryption on every file and every plan at no surcharge. If you want encryption you never have to think about again, that is the entire argument for Sync.com.