File Storage · head to head
Microsoft OneDrive vs pCloud
Microsoft OneDrive
File Storage
Cloud storage that comes with Microsoft 365
- From
- $1.99/month
- Rated
- -
pCloud
File Storage
Prices are final. No setup fees or other hidden charges
- From
- $199/one-time
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Microsoft OneDrive free tier not available; minimum cost is $1.99/month for 100 GB storage; pCloud ultra plan has 10TB storage but only 2TB transfer traffic, creating asymmetry
- Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft OneDrive and pCloud actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft OneDrive | pCloud |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $1.99/month | $199/one-time |
| Pricing model | subscription | one-time |
Identical on both: free tier (No), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (File Storage).
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft OneDrive
- Personal cloud storage and file backupnot pCloud
- Family file sharing and collaborationnot pCloud
- Business document managementnot pCloud
- Enterprise ransomware protectionnot pCloud
pCloud
- Long-term cloud storage with no monthly feesnot Microsoft OneDrive
- File archival and backupnot Microsoft OneDrive
- Secure file sharing with encryptionnot Microsoft OneDrive
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Microsoft OneDrive
- Free tier not available; minimum cost is $1.99/month for 100 GB storage
- Higher-tier plans required for advanced Copilot features
- Per-user pricing increases significantly with family plans
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
Microsoft OneDrive
$1.99/month- Microsoft 365 Basic$1.99/month
- 100 GB cloud storage
- Outlook access
- OneDrive access
- Microsoft 365 Personal$9.99/month
- 1 TB cloud storage
- Desktop Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote)
- Copilot features
- Microsoft 365 Family$12.99/month
- Up to 6 TB cloud storage (1 TB per person)
- 1-6 users supported
- Same apps and features as Personal
- Microsoft 365 Premium$19.99/month
- Up to 6 TB cloud storage (1 TB per person)
- 1-6 users
- Extensive Copilot feature access
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 Microsoft OneDrive if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft OneDrive from pCloud on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Choose pCloud if
Nothing in the data separates pCloud from Microsoft OneDrive on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft OneDrive or pCloud better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft OneDrive starts at $1.99/month and pCloud at $199/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft OneDrive or pCloud?
- Microsoft OneDrive starts at $1.99/month and pCloud at $199/one-time.
- Does Microsoft OneDrive or pCloud run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- What is Microsoft OneDrive best used for?
- Microsoft OneDrive is most often used for personal cloud storage and file backup, family file sharing and collaboration, business document management, enterprise ransomware protection. Of those, personal cloud storage and file backup and family file sharing and collaboration are not what pCloud is typically brought in for.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Microsoft OneDrive: How much does Microsoft OneDrive cost?
OneDrive pricing starts at $1.99/month for Microsoft 365 Basic with 100 GB storage. Personal plan costs $9.99/month with 1 TB storage. Family plan at $12.99/month supports 1-6 people with up to 6 TB total storage. Premium tier at $19.99/month adds advanced Copilot and AI features.
SourcepCloud: Can I recover deleted files?
Yes, you can restore previous versions and recover data from up to 30 days ago.
SourceMicrosoft OneDrive: Is there a free version of Microsoft OneDrive?
Microsoft does not offer a free OneDrive plan through their paid subscription tiers. However, users with Microsoft accounts receive 5 GB of complimentary OneDrive storage at no cost when creating a Microsoft account.
SourcepCloud: 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.
SourceMicrosoft OneDrive: What security features are included in OneDrive plans?
All OneDrive plans include ransomware detection with files restore, password-protected and expiring-link file sharing settings, and anywhere editing with real-time collaboration. Premium and higher tiers offer exclusive agentic AI security features.
SourcepCloud: Is there a money-back guarantee?
Yes, pCloud offers a 14-day money-back guarantee with 256-bit SSL encryption protecting payments.
SourceRelated pages
More on Microsoft OneDrive
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