pCloud Overview

pCloud

Introduction

pCloud is recognized as one of the most widely used cloud storage solutions by diverse users across the world, including private individuals and businesses. pCloud is a cloud storage developed by a tech-based company in Switzerland. After its launch in the year 2013, cloud storage has over the years accumulated as high as 16 million users across the globe. The solution is built with several features and allows numerous plugins that users can leverage to get the most out of a storage solution. Users are able to get up to 10 GB of free storage space after opening a pCloud which they can easily access by just completing a couple of simple tasks such as email verification, and installing, amongst other things. However, in this piece, you will be shown a more detailed, and comprehensive as well as extensive review of this software solution called, pCloud Storage. The kickoff will begin with the application’s statistics and it will flow to all aspects, including its history,  evolution background, its key features, its plans, and pricing lists, as well as its pros and cons. All of these will be concisely covered to enable you to understand the significant and major elements of one of the world’s largest cloud storage solutions, pCloud Storage as quickly as possible.   

Statistics  

Release Date: pCloud Storage’s earliest history began in the year 2013, typically, which is approximately 9 years ago.  

Ranking and Reliability: pCloud has been ranked and featured in Forbes, Lifewires, Entrepreneur, CIO, Entrepreneur, HuffPost, c/net, Inc. Tech Advisor, TechRepublic, as well as TNW. Additionally, the country where pCloud is based, Switzerland, is known to have strict rules guiding every digital startup company, as a result, the startup is built with utmost reliance and high-end security and intelligence.  

Application Type: File Sharing, Cloud and Digital Storage, Digital File Backup Services, Secured Cloud      

Market Reach:  pCloud Storage is a digital product, as a result, it is available to use by all interested users globally. It operates in several industries and economic sectors, including finance, e-commerce, education, professional services, life sciences, non-profit organizations, as well as government corporations. 

Server Location: pCloud has two locations that are accessible by users and they get the option to choose between these locations, which are the United States and Europe. 

Application Compatibility: pCloud Storage is available on all devices, and it’s compatible with several operating systems including, Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, Linux, and Window Smartphones, as well as Browser extensions.  

Key Features

pCloud Save Chrome Extension: 

pCloud Come Extension lets you access all the features  

Activity Monitoring:  

pCloud lets you monitor your files and data, giving you absolute and total control of everything in an all-in-one platform. 

Syncing 

pCloud syncing option lets you choose multiple folders from your preferred device(s) and have them synced on the cloud.  

pCloud Drive: 

pCloud Drive lets you leverage its Virtual Cloud Drive for storage purposes in case your disk storage gets full  

pCloud Rewind: the pCloud Rewind feature lets you revisit and restore your files and data in case you accidentally delete them  

Trash: Data and files deleted are moved to the trash can and users can still access them until after 30 days. 

Collaborations: pCloud Storage provides you with an all-in-one playing field where you can collaborate with your colleagues and business partners while sharing and exchanging content.  

Allows Versioning and File Revision 

Fast and Speedy: pCloud runs a network speed of 100 MB per second. Uploads on pCloud typically take as fast as up to 2 minutes even for large files up to 1 GB, while its download typically takes 3 minutes for files up to 1 GB.    

Data Centres 

Users can leverage two data centers, including USA as well as Europe, depending on their choice and preference. 

Plans and Pricing  

In its entirety, pCloud runs two categories of pricing, these are Annual as well as Lifetime. 

For Annual category, plans and pricing include: 

Individual Plan 

Premium 500 GB 

$49.99 USD per year 

Premium Plus 2 TB 

$99.99 USD per year 

For Lifetime category, however, pricing include: 

Premium 500 GB  

Prcing: $199 USD 

Premium Plus TB  

Pricing: $399 USD 

Custom Plan 10 TB 

Pricing: $ 1190 USD 

Features of these two categories include: 

Collaboration 

Security 

Access and Sychronization 

Media and Usability 

File Management 

Backups from

Other pCloud Plans include 

pCloud Family Cloud 

2TB – 595 USD – Lifetime 

10 TB 1499 USD – Lifetime 

Features include 

You get to save a couple of bucks 

You can share and manage space amongst your family members 

Lets you keep your account private 

 pCloud Business Pro 

Pricing: $15.98 USD monthly, $19.98 USD per year 

Features include: 

Unlimited storage 

3+ users 

pCloud Encryption 

Teams & Access control 

Secure file sharing 

180 days of file versioning 

Priority support 

Payment Methods 

Visa 

Mastercard 

Paypal 

Discover 

American Express 

How pCloud Protects Data and Personal Privacy 

pCloud data protection is bounded by several principles and laws including: 

The Swiss Law: 

One of the countries that roll out strict rules to digital startup companies in Switzerland, as a result, pCloud has been bound to align with these rules to make its privacy and data security a top-notch. 

No Data Transfer: When you select a region, all your files reside there, that implies your data and files cannot not be transferred in any means without your permission.   

User Privacy Encryption:  

Users’ files are encrypted using a client-side encryption which means users’ files and data cannot be accessible to any third party other than the user, including pCloud administrators. All files and documents are saved on users’ Crypto-pass and not servers. 

GDPR 

pCloud completely complied with GDPR, and they are dedicated to ensuring all its users understand their rights and obligations as enshrined in the data privacy regulation.  

Other Security Measures: 

pCloud uses other security measures to protect clients’ data such as TLS/SSL channel protection 

ISO 27001:2013 

2nd-factor Authentication 

Extended File History 

pCloud Compliance 

pCloud Service providers comply with the following technical security applications, including 

Multi-tier: Tier II, Tier III, a well as Tier IV 

Dark fiber connectivity 

Intrusion detection 

Water Leakage detection 

24/7 onsite security with access control 

Electromagnetic protection concept  

Pros and Cons 

Based on a critical study of the startup, as well as a customer-based review of the solution, this section will enumerate the pros and cons attached to using pCloud. Although, when looked at critically, the list might be relatively vast, however, for the sake of brevity, this section would enlist more part of it. 

Pros 

Secure Access on any device:  

Unbreakable Encryption: it confidently posted on its website an Encryption Challenge, challenging all hackers across the world to track break into its system to prove its acclaimed encryption security and if they succeed, they get access to a total sum of 100, 000 USD. However, over 600 participants and organizations contested, including hacker participants from Ivy League universities such as Berkeley, MIT Boston, et cetera, but none of that participant succeeded.       

Password manager encryption: pCloud uses a strong military-like encryption algorithm password manager that lets you save your password in a more secure way.   

Suitable for all Devices: it is suitable for all devices which means users can simply leverage this benefit to access pCloud services using their preferred device(s). 

Amazing User Interface: Another amazing advantage of pCloud is that it is built with a clean and high-definition interface that interests users.  

Offers Free Trial: pCloud is one of the few cloud storage solutions that offers free trials where users can have access to its services in the interim before deciding whether or not they want to pay for a subscription or not. 

Automatic Backup: With pCloud you can have access to your lost files through auto-back from other cloud storage solutions as well as social media accounts such as Dropbox Facebook, OneDrive Google Drive, as well as Google Photos.   

10 days Money Back Guarantee: it allows its dissatisfied users to request for refund up to 10 first days after their enrollment. 

Cons 

No Editing 

Relatively Slow paced support 

Extra Charges for Add-ons 

Conclusion 

No doubt pCloud has a lot of variety of features to avail its customers. And since its inception in the year 2013, it has contributed significantly to the cloud management and computing industry based on its array of advanced features, as well as benefits, which can be seen in all the highlighted sections above. That said, this piece has comprehensively reviewed the cloud software and by extension, all major aspects of the company have been equally addressed. I hope this piece has been able to address extensively what the company is all about, beginning with a quick overview of the company’s key statistics, its key features, professional compliance, its different plans and pricings, its data and privacy protection, as well as its pros and cons. Thus, with all of these sections comprehensively addressed for you to have adequate insight into the company, I hope you are able to grasp all there is to know, and that this piece will by extension help you make a rational decision.  

22/11/’22