Side by side
pCloud vs rclone
Both stand on file transfer services. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+2
pCloud combines multi-platform storage, sharing, backup, and offline access, with a free plan of up to 10 GB. Teams can consider its business controls and recovery options; the listed Business 3 Users / 3 TB plan costs $29.97 a month.
Visit pCloud Free plan AndroidAPILinux+4
Rclone offers broad storage support and flexible file operations, but it is a command-line program rather than a finished graphical tool. Its encryption caveats and experimental web GUI are worth noting before choosing it.
Visit rcloneThe facts
| pCloud | rclone | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Windows | Android, API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Business 3 Users / 3 TB: $29.97 a month | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 8 | 1 |
| Maker | pCloud | Not published |
| Website | pcloud.com | rclone.org |
| On file transfer services | #8 of 105 | #4 of 105 |
pCloud: what it does well
- Free plan provides up to 10 GB
- Supports password-protected sharing with expiration dates
- Crypto folder uses client-side encryption and zero-knowledge privacy
- Business plans include access controls and activity logs
What to know first
- Free storage is limited to 10 GB
- Listed paid capacities and plans have no prices stated
- Business 3 Users / 3 TB costs $29.97 a month
rclone: what it does well
- Lists more than 70 cloud storage integrations.
- Supports one-way sync and two-way bisync.
- Checks file hashes and preserves timestamps.
- Can serve files through SFTP, HTTP, WebDAV, FTP and DLNA.
- Free open-source project.
What to know first
- Web-based GUI is described as experimental.
- Android builds are not yet first-class.
- Crypt does not encrypt file length or modification time.
- Configuration only lightly obscures the crypt password by default.
Alternatives to pCloud Alternatives to rclone The whole list