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File Storage · head to head

Duplicati vs pCloud

Duplicati logo

Duplicati

File Storage

Free open-source backup with encryption

From
Free
Rated
-
pCloud logo

pCloud

File Storage

Prices are final. No setup fees or other hidden charges

From
$199/one-time
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Duplicati has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Duplicati no managed service or commercial support; pCloud ultra plan has 10TB storage but only 2TB transfer traffic, creating asymmetry
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Duplicati and pCloud actually diverge.

Attributes where Duplicati and pCloud differ
AttributeDuplicatipCloud
Starting priceFree$199/one-time
Pricing modelUnknownone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWeb
Founded2008Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (File Storage).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Duplicati

  • AES-256 encryption
  • Incremental backup
  • Deduplication
  • Multiple cloud backends
  • Compression
  • Web interface
  • AWS S3
  • Azure

Only in pCloud

Nothing recorded that Duplicati does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Duplicati

  • Data protectionnot pCloud
  • Disaster recoverynot pCloud
  • Business continuitynot pCloud
  • Ransomware protectionnot pCloud
  • Compliancenot pCloud

pCloud

  • Long-term cloud storage with no monthly feesnot Duplicati
  • File archival and backupnot Duplicati
  • Secure file sharing with encryptionnot Duplicati

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Duplicati

  • No managed service or commercial support
  • Relies on community support
  • No enterprise features

pCloud

  • Ultra plan has 10TB storage but only 2TB transfer traffic, creating asymmetry
  • Download traffic limited to plan tier; no unlimited transfer option

Pricing, plan by plan

Duplicati

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Duplicati review.

pCloud

$199/one-time
  • Premium 500GB$199/one-time
    • 500GB storage
    • 500GB transfer traffic
    • unlimited file uploads
  • Premium Plus 2TB$399/one-time
    • 2TB storage
    • 2TB transfer traffic
    • unlimited file uploads
  • Ultra 10TB$1190/one-time
    • 10TB storage
    • 2TB transfer traffic
    • unlimited file uploads

Which should you pick?

Choose Duplicati if

  • You need aes-256 encryption.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want incremental backup.

Choose pCloud if

Nothing in the data separates pCloud from Duplicati on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Questions people ask

Is Duplicati or pCloud better?
Neither clearly leads. Duplicati starts at Free and pCloud at $199/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Duplicati or pCloud?
Duplicati has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Duplicati and $199/one-time for pCloud.
Does Duplicati or pCloud run on more platforms?
Duplicati runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. pCloud runs on Web.
Can I use Duplicati for free?
Yes. Duplicati has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. pCloud starts at $199/one-time.
What is Duplicati best used for?
Duplicati is most often used for data protection, disaster recovery, business continuity, ransomware protection. Of those, data protection and disaster recovery are not what pCloud is typically brought in for.
What can Duplicati do that pCloud cannot?
Duplicati covers AES-256 encryption, Incremental backup, Deduplication, Multiple cloud backends.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Duplicati: Is Duplicati free?

Yes. Duplicati is completely free and open-source under the LGPL license. There are no premium tiers, trials, or limitations.

Source
pCloud: Can I recover deleted files?

Yes, you can restore previous versions and recover data from up to 30 days ago.

Source
Duplicati: What does Duplicati support?

Duplicati supports zero-trust, fully encrypted backups to local storage, network drives, and cloud services. It includes deduplication and incremental backups.

Source
pCloud: What is the difference between lifetime and monthly pricing?

Lifetime plans are one-time purchases ($199-$1,190). Monthly options are also available but exact monthly prices are not specified on the pricing page.

Source
Duplicati: What are the platforms?

Duplicati runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It can back up data to local storage, network drives, or cloud providers.

Source
pCloud: Is there a money-back guarantee?

Yes, pCloud offers a 14-day money-back guarantee with 256-bit SSL encryption protecting payments.

Source
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