pCloud vs Proton Drive — Privacy-Focused Cloud Storage Comparison with RcloneView
Both pCloud and Proton Drive are privacy-first cloud storage providers with end-to-end encryption options. RcloneView supports both, making it easy to back up, sync, or migrate between them.
When privacy is the primary requirement for cloud storage, pCloud and Proton Drive are the two names that dominate the conversation. Both offer strong encryption, European data residency options, and zero-knowledge storage tiers. Both are supported by rclone and manageable through RcloneView. This comparison focuses on the practical differences that matter when using either service for backup and sync workflows — not theoretical privacy claims, but what actually works when you connect through RcloneView.
Manage & Sync All Clouds in One Place
RcloneView is a cross-platform GUI for rclone. Compare folders, transfer or sync files, and automate multi-cloud workflows with a clean, visual interface.
- One-click jobs: Copy · Sync · Compare
- Schedulers & history for reliable automation
- Works with Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, S3, WebDAV, SFTP and more
Free core features. Plus automations available.
Provider Overview and RcloneView Setup
pCloud is based in Luxembourg (EU) with data center options in the US and EU. It uses OAuth browser authentication in RcloneView — go to Remote tab → New Remote → pCloud and authenticate. pCloud's Crypto feature provides client-side encryption, but files encrypted with pCloud Crypto cannot be accessed through rclone (which connects to the standard pCloud API, not the Crypto layer). Files stored outside the Crypto folder are accessible normally through RcloneView.
Proton Drive is operated by Proton AG in Switzerland (with EU data centers) and requires rclone v1.69+ for access. In RcloneView, add it via New Remote → Proton Drive, entering your Proton email and password (and 2FA code if enabled). Proton Drive's end-to-end encryption is handled at the API level — RcloneView downloads and uploads files in their decrypted form on your device.
Practical Differences for Sync and Backup
API maturity: pCloud's rclone backend is well-established. Proton Drive's rclone support (added in rclone v1.69) is newer and occasionally requires updating rclone to the latest version for best reliability — RcloneView's embedded rclone reduces this concern.
Reliability: Both providers work with RcloneView's standard sync and copy workflows. Keep RcloneView updated for the latest embedded rclone, which ensures compatibility with both backends.
Sharing: pCloud supports public link sharing through RcloneView's Get Public Link context menu. Proton Drive's sharing model is more restrictive at the API level — public links aren't directly available through rclone.
Additional Encryption Layer with RcloneView
Since pCloud Crypto files aren't accessible through rclone, users who want encryption for pCloud through RcloneView can use rclone's own Crypt virtual remote. Configure a Crypt remote wrapping your pCloud remote in RcloneView — files are encrypted client-side before upload and decrypted on download, independent of pCloud's Crypto. This approach works with any cloud provider, not just pCloud.
Migrating Between pCloud and Proton Drive
If you decide to switch from one to the other, RcloneView handles the migration as a direct cloud-to-cloud transfer. Create a Sync job with pCloud as source and Proton Drive as destination (or the reverse). Enable checksum verification and run the Dry Run first to preview the migration scope.
Getting Started
- Download RcloneView from rcloneview.com.
- Add pCloud via OAuth and Proton Drive via email/password in the New Remote wizard.
- Use the split-panel Explorer to compare folder structures side by side.
- For encrypted storage through RcloneView, configure a Crypt virtual remote wrapping either provider.
Both pCloud and Proton Drive are solid choices for privacy-conscious cloud storage — RcloneView lets you manage, compare, and migrate between them from a single interface.
Related Guides:
- Encrypt pCloud Files with RcloneView Crypt
- Manage Proton Drive Cloud Sync with RcloneView
- Zero-CLI Crypt Remote Setup in RcloneView
Supported Cloud Providers
