There are some ways you can set up your own file encryption for free, but they come with a steep learning curve and aren’t worth it if you are a software developer. Without the password, there’s literally no way to decrypt and open a password-encrypted file. Even though your file gets uploaded to pCloud’s server, there’s no way anyone can open it without your password.Īnd even when you are logged into your pCloud account, the files are only encrypted on your device and never on pCloud’s servers.īecause your files are encrypted on the client side before they get uploaded to pCloud, they are safe even if a hacker someone obtains access to pCloud’s servers. PCloud Crypto Features Client-Side EncryptionĬlient-side encryption makes sure that your data never really leaves your device.

And yes, there’s a lifetime subscription available for the pCloud cloud storage service. If you aren’t already using pCloud as your cloud storage provider, you might want to read my in-depth review of pCloud’s cloud storage. But you’ll save $50 every year that you use pCloud after the first three years. The Lifetime plan costs 3 times the Annual plan’s price. If you are a heavy pCloud user, you’ll probably be using this service for the next 5-10 years.īy purchasing the Lifetime plan, you stand to save a lot of money. This plan only requires a one-time payment:īoth plans offer the same features, but if you use pCloud as your main cloud storage and sync platform, then I highly recommend going with the Lifetime plan. They also have a lifetime plan that is priced at $150. PCloud Crypto’s pricing starts at $49.99 per year.īut that’s not their only plan. Thus, they don’t store it on their servers. The encryption and decryption process both only happen on your device, so pCloud doesn’t need to know your Crypto password to provide you with this service. But that’s not the case! This is because pCloud doesn’t store your password on their servers. When people hear about this, they think that because your password is in pCloud’s database they can probably just decrypt your files with it. If you have pCloud Crypto enabled, then even if pCloud gets hacked, there’s no way the hackers can open your Crypto folder files unless they know your password. And you are the only person who knows your password. The files will only work when your password is used to decrypt them. This way, even though the files are stored on pCloud’s servers, there’s no way their team, or anyone, can open and see the contents of your files. Whenever you try to open this folder (on the web interface or your computer), you’ll be asked for your password.Ĭlient-side encryption means that the files that you upload to the pCloud Crypto folder are first encrypted on your device with your password before they get uploaded. Once your purchase this add-on, you’ll see a folder named Crypto in your pCloud Drive (both on your computer and the web interface). So, even if your laptop gets stolen, there’s no way the thief can access the data in your Crypto folder without knowing your password. It gets encrypted on your computer, and can’t be opened without your password. To encrypt a file or a folder, you just have to move it to your pCloud Crypto folder. It adds client-side encryption and zero-knowledge privacy to your files on pCloud. pCloud Crypto is an add-on for your pCloud account that you can purchase. The files are stored as is on their servers. This means, if their team wanted to open up and look at the files in your account, they could ( they never would but technically they could).

When you upload a file to pCloud, it is stored on their servers. In this article, I’ll explore what this offering is, its features, and whether or not you should get the pCloud Crypto add-on.

Pcloud drive encryption