What is the difference between pCloud and Internxt?

pCloud is best for Users wanting lifetime cloud storage with good privacy, while Internxt is best for Privacy-focused users wanting encrypted, open-source storage. pCloud starts at $4.99/mo and Internxt starts at Free.

Is pCloud or Internxt cheaper?

pCloud starts at $4.99/mo with a free tier. Internxt starts at Free with a free tier.

Is there a free alternative to Internxt?

Both pCloud and Internxt offer free tiers.

pCloud vs Internxt

pCloud is swiss-based cloud storage with lifetime plans, client-side encryption, and cross-platform sync, while Internxt is zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage with open-source code and European data hosting. The biggest difference up front: Internxt is free, while pCloud starts at $4.99/mo. pCloud is built for users wanting lifetime cloud storage with good privacy, whereas Internxt targets privacy-focused users wanting encrypted, open-source storage.

At a glance

	pCloud	Internxt
Best for	Users wanting lifetime cloud storage with good privacy	Privacy-focused users wanting encrypted, open-source storage
Starting price	$4.99/mo	Free
Free tier	✓	✓
Open source	—	✓
Free tier available	✓	✓
Open source	—	✓
Encryption	✓	—
File Sync	✓	—
Lifetime Plans	✓	—
Media Player	✓	—
Open Source	—	✓
Photo Backup	—	✓
S3 Compatible	—	✓
Zero-Knowledge	—	✓

pCloud

Strengths

Includes Lifetime Plans as a core feature, purpose-built for file storage workflows
Zero-knowledge encryption means even the provider can't read your vault
10 GB free — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done
Established product with 13+ years on the market and a mature ecosystem

Weaknesses

Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Syncing large folders can be slow and occasionally causes file conflicts
Limited team/admin features if your organization eventually scales up

Try pCloud → Full review

Internxt

Strengths

Open source and transparent
Zero-knowledge architecture means nobody — not even the company — can access your data
Fully open-source — you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in
10 GB free — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done

Weaknesses

Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Syncing large folders can be slow and occasionally causes file conflicts
Community support can be slower than the dedicated support teams at commercial alternatives

Try Internxt → Full review

The bottom line

Pricing: Internxt is completely free (10 GB free), which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. pCloud starts at $4.99/mo, but 10 GB free. That cost buys you a more polished or feature-rich experience, so it comes down to whether the extras justify the spend.

Feature gaps: pCloud offers Encryption, File Sync and Lifetime Plans that Internxt lacks. Internxt brings Open Source, Photo Backup and S3 Compatible that pCloud does not have.

Team fit: Both tools target individuals teams, so the decision hinges on features and workflow fit rather than scale.

Open source: Internxt is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. pCloud is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.

Where each tool shines: pCloud's biggest strengths are: includes lifetime plans as a core feature, purpose-built for file storage workflows. zero-knowledge encryption means even the provider can't read your vault. Internxt's biggest strengths are: open source and transparent. zero-knowledge architecture means nobody — not even the company — can access your data.

Watch out for: With pCloud, users commonly note that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade. With Internxt, the main complaint is that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade.

Choose pCloud if...

You need a tool built for users wanting lifetime cloud storage with good privacy
You specifically need Encryption and File Sync
You care about zero-knowledge encryption means even the provider can't read your vault
The free tier works for you: 10 gb free

Choose Internxt if...

You need a tool built for privacy-focused users wanting encrypted, open-source storage
Budget is a hard constraint — Internxt is free, pCloud is not
You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
You specifically need Open Source and Photo Backup
You care about zero-knowledge architecture means nobody — not even the company — can access your data