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File Storage · head to head

pCloud vs Storj

pCloud logo

pCloud

File Storage

Prices are final. No setup fees or other hidden charges

From
$199/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Storj logo

Storj

File Storage

S3-compatible object storage distributed in encrypted pieces across independently operated nodes

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Storj has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: pCloud ultra plan has 10TB storage but only 2TB transfer traffic, creating asymmetry; Storj billing includes a per segment charge and every object consumes at least one segment, so a bucket holding millions of small files can cost several times what the four dollar per terabyte headline implies.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which pCloud and Storj actually diverge.

Attributes where pCloud and Storj differ
AttributepCloudStorj
Starting price$199/one-timeFree
Pricing modelone-timePer terabyte per month
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, API, Linux, macOS, Windows

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 pCloud

Nothing recorded that Storj does not also cover.

Only in Storj

  • Erasure coded distribution
  • Client side encryption
  • S3-compatible gateway
  • Native uplink access
  • Object Lock and versioning
  • Storj Select

What people use each for

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

pCloud

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

Storj

  • An offsite backup or archive target where the data is large, written once and occasionally restorednot pCloud
  • Serving large media files internationally without paying hyperscaler egress ratesnot pCloud
  • Storing data where the objection to AWS, Azure or Google is jurisdiction and concentration rather than costnot pCloud
  • A second, independent copy of a dataset that already lives in a hyperscaler bucketnot pCloud

Where each one falls short

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

pCloud

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

Storj

  • Billing includes a per segment charge and every object consumes at least one segment, so a bucket holding millions of small files can cost several times what the four dollar per terabyte headline implies.
  • Reconstructing an object requires responses from dozens of independent nodes, so time to first byte is noticeably higher than a centralised bucket and it is a poor fit behind a latency sensitive read path.
  • Performance depends on the mix of node operators serving you at that moment rather than on a datacentre you can raise a ticket against, so slow reads are diagnosed statistically rather than fixed.
  • The hosted S3 gateway terminates encryption on Storj infrastructure, so using the convenient access path gives up the end to end encryption that is the main architectural argument for the service.
  • The S3 gateway is compatible rather than identical, so tools that lean on less common API calls, multipart edge cases or unusual header behaviour need testing before you commit a workload to it.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Storj

Free
  • Free trialFree
    • 25 GB stored
    • 25 GB egress per month
    • No card required to start
  • Storj$4/month
    • 4 USD per terabyte stored per month
    • 7 USD per terabyte of egress
    • Per segment fee on top of stored volume

Which should you pick?

Choose pCloud if

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

pCloud review

Choose Storj if

  • You need erasure coded distribution.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, API, Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want client side encryption.
Storj review

Questions people ask

Is pCloud or Storj better?
Neither clearly leads. pCloud starts at $199/one-time and Storj at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, pCloud or Storj?
Storj has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $199/one-time for pCloud and Free for Storj.
Does pCloud or Storj run on more platforms?
pCloud runs on Web. Storj runs on Web, API, Linux, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Storj for free?
Yes. Storj has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. pCloud starts at $199/one-time.
What is pCloud best used for?
pCloud is most often used for long-term cloud storage with no monthly fees, file archival and backup, secure file sharing with encryption. Of those, long-term cloud storage with no monthly fees and file archival and backup are not what Storj is typically brought in for.
What can pCloud do that Storj cannot?
Storj covers Erasure coded distribution, Client side encryption, S3-compatible gateway, Native uplink access.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

pCloud: Can I recover deleted files?

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

Source
Storj: Why is my bill higher than four dollars per terabyte?

Almost always the per segment fee. Objects are split into segments and small files each consume one, so a few million tiny objects generate a segment charge that dwarfs the storage line.

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
Storj: Can node operators read my data?

No. Files are encrypted client side and each operator holds only an erasure coded fragment, which is not a readable portion of the file.

pCloud: Is there a money-back guarantee?

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

Source
Storj: Is there a minimum retention period?

No. You are billed for what you store while you store it, unlike several competitors that bill a ninety day minimum whatever you delete.

Storj: Is it fast enough to serve a website from?

For large files with parallel reads, yes. For many small objects where time to first byte matters, put a CDN in front of it or use something centralised.

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