CryptPad vs pCloud
Both are alternatives to Google Drive. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Also searched as pCloud vs CryptPad — same comparison, one verdict.
CryptPad is open source (AGPL-3.0) and pCloud is not (Proprietary) — so the real question is whether you want to own the cloud storage & sync stack or rent it.
CryptPad
End-to-end-encrypted collaborative documents where the server never sees your content.
CryptPad is a privacy-first collaboration suite built around end-to-end encryption: documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more are encrypted in your browser, so a self-hosted or public server stores only ciphertext and cannot read your content. It supports real-time co-editing, shared folders, and a range of app types, and it is AGPL-3.0 licensed and self-hostable via Docker or a Debian install. Developed by XWiki SAS with public-interest funding, it also runs a free public instance at cryptpad.fr. It is the strongest choice when confidentiality is the priority; the trade-off is that it is a distinct web workspace rather than a drop-in Microsoft-format editor.
pCloud
Swiss hosted storage with true lifetime plans — the commercial pick.
pCloud is a polished, proprietary cloud storage service from Switzerland, best known for genuine one-time lifetime plans — pay once, keep the storage for good. It's the honest “I just want reliable storage and hate subscriptions” pick. It's closed-source, and zero-knowledge encryption is a paid Crypto add-on rather than the default (files outside the Crypto folder use standard server-side encryption). If lifetime pricing and a slick app matter more to you than open-source, it's a strong commercial option below the open picks.
Side by side
10 points of comparison, every one read from a verified field. Green marks the side that wins a row outright. A dash means we do not hold that fact — never that it is zero.
| CryptPad | pCloud | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty ScoreOur transparent 0–100 composite for data ownership and exit cost. | 92 | 38 |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Self-hostable | Yes | No |
| Local-first data | Yes | No |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Proprietary |
| Pricing | Free / self-host; free public instance at cryptpad.fr | Lifetime (one-time) list prices: 500 GB $279 · 2 TB $709 · 10 TB $2,799 — often discounted ($219 / $499 / $1,499 on 2026-09-17). Monthly and annual subscriptions also sold; zero-knowledge pCloud Encryption is a separate paid add-on |
| RAM to run it wellThe figure that actually matters, not the vendor's minimum. | 2 GB for a small instance | — |
| Realistic running costWhat the box costs each month if you run it yourself. | $12–20/mo on a small VPS | — |
| Setup timeHonest first-install estimate, not the marketing quickstart. | 2 hours, and the two-domain requirement is the hard part | — |
| Ongoing maintenanceThe part nobody budgets for. | Moderate. Version pruning is a job you have to schedule. | — |
CryptPad edges it on the Sovereignty Score, but the right pick depends on the trade-offs below.
Weighing both against staying on Google Drive? Is Google Drive free? What it actually costs →
CryptPad
Strengths
- +AGPL-3.0 licensed and self-hostable via Docker or Debian, so you can own the whole stack
- +End-to-end encryption means the server stores only encrypted data and cannot read your documents
- +Real-time collaborative documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and shared drives in the browser
- +A free public instance (cryptpad.fr) lets you try it with no setup
- +Actively maintained by XWiki SAS with sustained public-interest funding
Trade-offs
- −It is a browser-based encrypted workspace, not a full desktop suite or a drop-in Microsoft-format editor
- −Compatibility with complex Microsoft documents is more limited than ONLYOFFICE or LibreOffice
- −The encryption model means account recovery and some integrations work differently from conventional suites
- −Self-hosting requires running a server, and encrypted real-time editing is heavier than plain document storage
pCloud
Strengths
- +True one-time lifetime plans (pay once)
- +Swiss jurisdiction; polished apps on every platform
- +Built-in media playback and easy file sharing
Trade-offs
- −Closed-source (proprietary)
- −Zero-knowledge encryption is a paid add-on, not the default
- −Best value locked behind a large upfront lifetime payment
Which one fits you
The trade-offs above, turned into a decision. Find the line that describes your team.
Choose CryptPad
if you want the source and the option to fork it, and you would rather run it on your own hardware, and your data should stay on machines you control.
Choose pCloud
if true one-time lifetime plans (pay once).
Neither, yet
if both carry a real cost you should weigh first — it is a browser-based encrypted workspace, not a full desktop suite or a drop-in Microsoft-format editor, and closed-source (proprietary). If either of those is a dealbreaker for your team, the shortlist is wrong rather than the choice.
What it takes to run these yourself
Real requirements and honest running costs, not the vendor quickstart.
CryptPad vs pCloud — common questions
Is CryptPad a better fit than pCloud for cloud storage & sync?
It depends on what you are optimising for, and the honest split is this: CryptPad scores 92 to pCloud's 38 on data ownership and exit cost, so it is the safer choice if you care about being able to leave. pCloud earns its place on a different axis — true one-time lifetime plans (pay once). Neither is a wrong answer for every team; the table above is the actual comparison.
What happens if we want to switch later?
CryptPad keeps its data local or in open formats, so leaving is an export rather than a negotiation. pCloud keeps your data on its own infrastructure, which is the part to plan for: confirm the export path before you commit, not when you are already trying to leave.
Is CryptPad free?
CryptPad: Free / self-host; free public instance at cryptpad.fr. The other side of this comparison, pCloud, is priced as Lifetime (one-time) list prices: 500 GB $279 · 2 TB $709 · 10 TB $2,799 — often discounted ($219 / $499 / $1,499 on 2026-09-17). Monthly and annual subscriptions also sold; zero-knowledge pCloud Encryption is a separate paid add-on. "Free" here means no licence fee — if you self-host it you still pay for the server, and the running cost row above is our honest estimate of that.
Can I self-host CryptPad?
CryptPad can be self-hosted; pCloud cannot, so it stays on the vendor's infrastructure whatever you do.
Are CryptPad and pCloud both alternatives to Google Drive?
Yes — both appear in our Google Drive comparison, which is why they are worth putting side by side. People usually arrive here already having decided to move off Google Drive and now choosing between the two replacements, which is a narrower and much easier question.
More Google Drive head-to-heads
More cloud storage & sync comparisons
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Facts verified 2026-09-17. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.