Storing your files safely in the cloud is always a good idea. However, picking the right one can be perplexing. If you’re stuck on the pCloud vs Sync seesaw and unsure which is better, we’re here to help. We’ll admit that we liked pCloud more than Sync; however, the latter isn’t without its merits.
After examining both and using them for months, we found them highly reliable. They offer extensive storage options, great-value plans, top-tier security, and feature-rich apps. Generally speaking, both options are great, but we found a few differences worth addressing that will impact your decision.
Because of this, we advise reading our pCloud vs Sync comparison until the end, as we review their features, plans, prices, security, ease of use, and more. Let’s get down to business.
pCloud vs Sync: A Quick Comparison
| 🏆 pCloud | Sync | |
| 🖥️ Supported Systems | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| ⚙️ WebDAV Support | Yes | No |
| 💾 Storage Sizes | 500 GB, 2 TB, 10 TB | 200 GB, 2 TB, 6 TB, Unlimited |
| 💸 Starting Price | $199 (Lifetime 500 GB) | $60 annually for 200 GB |
| ♾️ Unlimited Storage | No | Yes |
| 📁 File Versioning | 15, 30, or 365 days | 180, 365 days |
| 🌐 Block-Level Sync | Yes | No |
| 🔐 Zero-Knowledge Encryption | Yes, paid additionally | Yes, end-to-end encryption in all plans |
| 🌟 Standout Characteristics | Client-side encryption, Music Player, fast transfer speeds, and Lifetime plans | Third-party integrations, unlimited storage for teams, and collaboration tools |
| 🆓 Free Plan Storage | 10 GB | 5 GB |
| ✅ Money-Back Guarantee | 14 days | 30 days |
Applications and User Interface
We’ll begin this Sync vs pCloud comparison with their applications and ease of use. Regarding applications, Sync.com is compatible with all major devices and systems. By ‘major’, we refer to Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. pCloud is identical, offering excellent apps for these systems.
You’ve noticed we haven’t mentioned Linux, so does Sync support it? Unfortunately, no.
Meanwhile, pCloud offers apps for major Linux distributions. Moreover, you can enjoy full-on webDAV support, which Sync doesn’t support. If you need a solid alternative with webDAV, consider checking out Internxt.
pCloud
pCloud excels in ease of use, making it one of the top options for beginners and seasoned veterans. Its web app is the best, offering an incredibly simplistic interface, where you can drag and drop files to upload or download them, rename folders, listen to music, reproduce videos, etc.
The desktop app allows additional settings, deploying syncing, and/or drive backups. pCloud’s desktop app also functions as a virtual drive. This means it appears in your file explorer as a new drive, allowing you to copy and paste files to it or from it to upload or download them.
pCloud offers the so-called Crypto folder for encrypting your files, but we’ll address this later in the pCloud vs. Sync comparison. For now, we should mention its outstanding mobile implementation, allowing you to store and back up your files from Android or iOS phones and tablets.
pCloud’s added mobile functions include camera auto-uploads and a helpful document scanner, which business-oriented users often use. Overall, the user experience is at the highest level, and you’ll enjoy pCloud on all systems, including Linux, where you get a splendid GUI for more convenience.
Sync
Sync’s ease of use is undeniable. The web app follows in pCloud’s footsteps with its whistle-clean design, making file management a breeze. Its drag-and-drop interface ensures quick transfers, while shortcuts to file requests and trash provide a smoother workflow. You can install Sync on Windows and macOS.
In that case, the desktop app will complement a virtual Sync Drive, similar to pCloud.
Sync’s desktop app allows some customisation, but not much. You can set up syncing and schedule backups. To upload or download files, drag and drop them, and you’re all set. Sync doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. That’s the definition of online storage: functionality and simplicity.
But what’s Sync like on iOS and Android? To be honest, pretty good.
It’s eerily similar to pCloud, offering nearly identical features and a well-known interface. You can also auto-upload camera photos and videos. Simultaneously, you can sync or download files to your phone for offline use. File previews are available, allowing you to sift through photos and videos when you’re bored.
Sadly, Sync’s web app doesn’t support video reproduction, which is kinda odd.
Winner: pCloud
pCloud and Sync are some of the most straightforward options. While they’re equally simple to use, we have to opt for pCloud because of its Linux and webDAV support, which Sync lacks but shouldn’t, especially for its price.
Features Comparison
As we navigate the rabbit hole, we’ll also analyse their features and see which provider offers more. During our Sync vs pCloud testing, we noticed multiple similarities and a few crucial differences you should know about.
File Versioning: Sync
We’ll start with file versioning, which lets you recover and use older file versions, provided the files have been modified. We usually want this to be as long as possible. pCloud offers three file versioning lengths:
- 15 days in the free version
- 30 days in the paid version
- 365 days in the paid business plan
If you buy an Individual plan, you’re looking at 30 days of file versioning, without restriction regarding the number of file versions. This means you can have 1,000+ file versions if they’re not older than 30 days.
Sync offers two levels of file versioning:
- 180 days
- 365 days
The cheapest Solo Basic plan preserves file versions for up to 180 days, which is six times better than pCloud. The same applies to trash history, meaning you can pull your files from the trash folder if you want them back. Both providers offer an account Rewind tool.
It’s tied to file versioning length-wise. The Rewind tool lets you take a snapshot of your account and rewind it to that point. In Sync, each snapshot is kept for 180 days; in pCloud, that’s 30 days. Given Sync’s lengthier file versioning in all paid plans, we must say we prefer that provider in this sub-round.
File Sharing: Tie
pCloud and Sync offer comprehensive file-sharing options in their paid plans.
From password-protected links with expiration dates to sharing files via invites or using custom branding on your links. Both providers allow you to manage permissions and decide which recipient can download or edit the file, and which can only preview it, if it’s a document, for example.
pCloud and Sync also allow you to request files from other people, and see your file requests in a dedicated folder. Their free versions offer limited file-sharing options, so, for instance, you can’t use password-protected links or custom branding. On the brighter side, you can share files and folders.
This makes it easy to share a large number of files at once without sending separate links or creating a RAR archive and re-uploading it to the cloud.
File Syncing: pCloud
In our pCloud vs Internxt duel, we mentioned that pCloud offers block-level syncing. Internxt lacks it, and Sync as well. Block-level syncing uploads only modified parts of the file, making syncing faster and more efficient. Besides, uploading an entire file from the start is time-consuming and not economical.
Luckily for pCloud users, syncing is nearly instant, so if you edit a document on your computer, changes will be reflected on other devices almost immediately. Both providers allow you to assign special syncing folders and use selective sync, which allows you to sync specific folders only.
With pCloud and Sync, you can keep some files exclusively on the cloud and others exclusively on your computer or phone, without syncing. This provides ample freedom to manage your files as you want.
Cloud Backups: pCloud
Both providers offer real-time cloud backups. They’re great for backing up entire drives, computers, laptops, phones, or tablets, which is essential for preventing file loss. Backups are also helpful when you sell your device and want to restore your files on another device.
Sync lets you back up all devices, so you shouldn’t have any issues. However, pCloud enables you to back up files from third-party cloud storage options, such as Dropbox, OneDrive, and Google Drive. If you switch from Dropbox to pCloud, for instance, you can back up your Dropbox files and keep going.
File Previews: Sync
This is where things get interesting.
pCloud lets you preview all files, including photos, videos, documents, and music. There’s even the Music Player function, which enables you to make a playlist and listen to your favorite music on the fly. Sadly, pCloud doesn’t support document editing, which hinders collaboration and business capabilities.
As a result, you have to download the document, edit it on your device, and reupload it to the cloud. Sync rectifies this with its Office 365 support, allowing you to open, preview, and edit documents and save them directly on Sync. Best of all, you can do it on Office 365 mobile, desktop, or web versions.
Sync also seamlessly integrates with many third-party apps, such as Illustrator, Photoshop, and more. This means you can modify, share, and save business-related files hassle-free on Sync. It’s a shame that its web app is “castrated” in video reproduction because it’s unsupported.
In this aspect, pCloud is much better with its gallery environment for easier photo and video previews. This makes pCloud a superior cloud storage for photos and videos.
Overall Winner: Tie
Sync and pCloud perform admirably and offer extensive file-sharing, syncing, cloud backup, and convenience features. While Sync is more collaboration-oriented, pCloud is superior for file syncing and highly customizable cloud backups.
How Fast Are pCloud and Sync?
Let’s discuss their transfer speeds and see which is faster, Sync or pCloud.
To do this, we must explain our testing procedure. We tested Sync and pCloud by measuring their file upload and download times using their web browser apps on a Windows 11 PC. The Review file was a 3 GB RAR archive with photos, videos, music, and documents. Our internet speeds are displayed below:
According to the speed test, upload time should be around 40 minutes. Meanwhile, download time should be roughly 8 minutes. Here’s how pCloud and Sync performed in our tests:
| pCloud | Sync | |
| Upload Time | 42 minutes | 76 minutes |
| Download Time | 9 minutes | 19 minutes |
Interesting results, aren’t they?
pCloud knocked out Sync by displaying much shorter download and upload times, translating to faster downloads and uploads. We’ve been using Sync for years, and for some reason, this provider was never as fast as pCloud, Dropbox, and Internxt, the fastest online storage picks in our tests.
Winner: pCloud
Speed test results speak for themselves, and pCloud massacred Sync this time. With considerably faster transfers, pCloud is a superior option for syncing, cloud backups, and large file uploads.
Security, Encryption, and Privacy
We move on to another vital aspect, or multiple aspects: security and privacy.
Security Features
Our pCloud vs Sync analysis revealed many similarities.
For instance, both providers use TLS encryption to protect your files in transit and 256-bit encryption to safeguard your files in the cloud. Both are essential for preventing unauthorized access and ensuring maximum security. The same goes for 2FA or Two-Factor Authentication.
We haven’t mentioned zero-knowledge encryption, but now is the right time.
pCloud offers client-side zero-knowledge encryption. It facilitates it through the Crypto folder, where you can additionally put the files you want to encrypt. Client-side encryption means only you can access your files; pCloud can’t. This works phenomenally, and we use it for important files and folders.
Sadly, this is a paid extra, and pCloud will charge you $50 annually or $150 (lifetime) on top of your active subscription. This isn’t the case with NordLocker, which offers end-to-end zero-knowledge encryption even in the free plan. Read our NordLocker review if you’re interested.
Sync.com uses zero-knowledge encryption out of the box; you don’t have to pay for it. Better yet, it’s end-to-end encryption, which means files are encrypted on your device, in transit, and on the cloud, making unforeseen situations nearly impossible. With a user-generated key, even Sync can’t see your files.
Privacy
Privacy-wise, pCloud and Sync are generally safe and store only minimal logs to function. pCloud is based in Switzerland, while Sync is a Canadian provider. We prefer pCloud’s jurisdiction because it’s more privacy-friendly. However, pCloud offers servers in the USA and Luxembourg.
Certain US and EU laws can coerce pCloud into handing out some data, but a no-log policy should do its job. If it’s genuine, and we have no reason to believe otherwise, pCloud’s minimal data retention should never compromise your privacy.
Sync’s servers are Canada-based, which isn’t ideal for privacy. Canadian laws aren’t the most privacy-friendly, and the provider may be legally inclined to hand out some data. Luckily, it stores very little, so we can’t throw random, unproven accusations. After all, they’re some of the most secure online storage services.
Winner: Tie
pCloud and Sync exchanged equal punches, and in the end, we decided to call it a tie. Sync’s zero-knowledge encryption is free, but its jurisdiction may not be ideal for privacy. pCloud’s jurisdiction is better for privacy, but its client-side encryption is paid extra, which tips the scales to neither side.
Plans and Price Comparison: Sync vs pCloud
Which cloud storage is cheaper, pCloud or Sync? Let’s answer this question before we wrap up. pCloud offers excellent value for money with its lifetime plans. If that seems too much, you can pay annually, but you’ll save the most with pCloud’s lifetime offers. We’ll examine them first:
pCloud offers 2 TB of storage for $399, 10 TB for $1,190, and 500 GB for $199. If we switch to the annual model, pCloud won’t blow a hole in your wallet, but it’ll cost more in the long run.
At $99.99 annually for 2 TB of storage, pCloud will cost considerably more for two, three, or more years. The Ultra 10 TB plan at $199.99 sounds exciting, but because it’s paid annually, you’re looking at roughly $1,000 for five years; you’ll spend that much on the annual plan.
Sync.com’s individual plans start at $60 annually for 200 GB of storage. For 500 GB in pCloud, you’ll pay $49.99. 2 TB of storage costs $96 annually, eerily close to pCloud’s equivalent. Sync also offers 6 TB of storage at $240 annually. For 10 TB in pCloud, you’ll spend only $199.99.
Sync offers unlimited cloud storage for teams at $180 annually per user. Sadly, it is not available for “solo” users. While pCloud offers a 14-day, Sync has a 30-day money-back guarantee. Conversely, Sync offers 5 GB of storage for free, while pCloud has up to 10 GB, making it much better.
Winner: pCloud
If you need affordable online storage, look no further than pCloud. Our side-by-side comparison revealed that pCloud offers more storage space for less money. Even on the same-sized storage, it costs the same or less than Sync. Moreover, its free plan is also more storage- and feature-rich.
Closing Remarks
The overall winner is pCloud, while Sync, despite losing its footing, isn’t too far behind.
pCloud offers superior compatibility, block-level syncing, backups from third-party cloud storage services, and superior transfer speeds at budget prices. Sync.com’s built-in encryption, longer file versioning, and collaboration features are fantastic and way ahead of pCloud.
However, the provider is ultimately let down by higher prices and below-average transfer speeds. Choose pCloud for its affordability, speed, storage size, security, and privacy. Sync is better for you if you need unlimited storage and third-party integrations. You know their ins and outs, so we’ll leave the final choice to you.
FAQs
Is Sync better than pCloud?
No, pCloud is better than Sync overall. Sync offers more collaboration and business features, while pCloud offers cheaper storage per gigabyte. Neither choice is wrong, but it’s smart to know the differences to pick the one that suits your needs the most. Our pCloud vs Sync comparison helps with that.
Are pCloud and Sync legit?
Yes, they’re some of the most impressive online storage providers with no-logs policies and excellent security. They operate legitimately and provide cloud storage subscriptions for people worldwide.
Which provider has more free storage?
Both offer 5 GB initially, but pCloud lets you go up to 10 GB by completing simple tasks. Meanwhile, Sync is limited to 5 GB. If you need free cloud storage for photos, pCloud is better. If you store only documents and smaller files, Sync’s 5 GB may also suffice.