Avariety of cloud storage services offer a different set of features to Google Drive.
One of them is pCloud. While Google Drive is hugely popular—and for good reasons—you might be missing out on some of the benefits that pCloud can offer over it. Before you decide to trust your data with any cloud storage provider, a comparison of features could come in handy to ensure that you get the best value from whichever you pick.
Considering it is vital to keep your files secure and private, which service provides better privacy? Google Drive or pCloud? Here, we highlight the significant differences to help you decide.
Encryption Options
pCloud and Google Drive offer the same level of encryption by default. In other words, your data is encrypted at rest, and no one should be able to access your valuable data from the cloud provider.
However, pCloud takes the lead by providing an optional client-side encryption feature (pCloud Crypto) for a premium.
If you opt for it, the encryption keys will be locally stored on your device, and the cloud provider will have zero knowledge about your files and their content. pCloud Crypto should be an essential feature for users dealing with sensitive data where you do not want the cloud provider to access the file content. Metadata is also associated with your data, which is exchanged without this type of encryption.
Virus and Malware Scanning
pCloud does not scan any of your files for viruses and malware. Whether you are downloading something from a pCloud link or uploading it to your cloud storage, you will have to rely on antivirus solutions in your computer to check for its safety.
While it means that you have to put additional effort into ensuring that your files are virus-free, it also helps enhance privacy. No automated systems will be scanning your files. So, you should not be worried about any of your important files and folders getting accidentally removed.
Google Drive scans files as big as 25 megabytes in size. So, if you want an automated system in your cloud storage service to check your files, Google Drive can be a good option for documents.
Anti-Ransomware Protection
Google Drive mentions the presence of anti-ransomware protection in their service. This holds for the files shared by other users, and shared files are scanned for malware, spam, ransomware, and phishing.
However, pCloud does not mention anything similar. So, it is safe to assume that pCloud offers basic security options, and most of their security measures would be aimed at their servers.
Of course, every cloud storage provider takes care of the basics to secure your files. In this respect, you don't have to worry too much about the bare minimum.
Sharing and Collaboration Options
Both pCloud and Google Drive offer plenty of sharing options.
pCloud offers the ability to share files and protect them using a password or set an expiration date. If you want this type of control for sharing files, pCloud is an easy pick.
In addition to this, pCloud also lets you use a public folder which you can use to distribute files and direct download links to the public. You can also use it to host a static HTML website with images embedded.
With Google Drive, you do not get such extra features. However, the ease of collaboration in Google Drive should make it a good choice if you do not need any extra features.
Availability of Apps
pCloud offers support for Linux, Windows, and macOS for desktop systems. You should also find it available for Android and iOS devices.
While Google Drive provides mobile support (Android and iOS), it limits the desktop support to Windows and macOS, excluding Linux.
So, it depends on what platform you use. In either case, you should be able to use the cloud storage on your browser, so you can evaluate your requirements if a sync client is not available for your preferred platform.
File Versioning
Google Drive stores the file versions for up to 30 days or 100 versions. However, pCloud offers only up to 15 days of file versioning for free.
If you want more file version history, you will have to opt for a paid subscription, which can be inconvenient for some. So, Google Drive takes the lead with more file versions when it comes to the free version.
However, for users who pay for a premium, pCloud offers an extended file history feature where you can record all file changes up to 365 days and restore them quickly. Note it is a separate premium feature.
Privacy Policy
pCloud is a Swiss-based cloud storage provider with a simple privacy policy and informs you about various rights under data protection law. They also offer the ability to choose a different data storage region (EU or US) to take control of your privacy.
Unfortunately, Google Drive does not give you an option to choose a data region to enhance your data privacy.
While Google does not collect your data for advertisements, they do collect some form of data about your usage more than just your account details.
Pricing Plans
pCloud provides a competitive pricing plan for flexible options for storage space. However, it can prove to be expensive than Google Drive.
Fortunately, pCloud also offers a one-time payment option for all its storage plans and features, which can be a steal deal for many. A one-time fee can eventually prove a cheaper option than paying for a subscription over the years.
Google Drive does not offer any one-time fee, but it provides regional pricing, unlike pCloud. Google Drive can be a great starting point if you do not plan to invest a lot in cloud storage from the get-go.
Google Drive vs. pDrive: Which One Should You Choose to Store Files?
Google Drive is an easy recommendation if you want the essentials of security and privacy for all your files and documents. For privacy-conscious users, pCloud offers a wide range of features, which can be expensive depending on your requirements.
It depends on your priority of features offered. If you want better privacy, extended file version support, and the ability to purchase a one-time storage plan, pCloud should be the pick. If you can manage with basic industry-standard privacy options and want pricing flexibility, Google Drive should be your choice.