The Lifetime Storage Showdown
In a world of monthly subscriptions, pCloud and Icedrive stand out by offering lifetime cloud storage plans. Pay once, store forever. But which lifetime deal is actually better? We break down the key differences.
Lifetime Plan Pricing
pCloud offers lifetime plans at $199 (500GB), $399 (2TB), and $1,190 (10TB). Icedrive counters with $99 (150GB), $149 (1TB), and $299 (3TB). At comparable storage levels, Icedrive tends to be more affordable. However, pCloud frequently runs 50% off promotions that can make their plans competitive.
Break-Even Analysis
A pCloud 2TB lifetime plan at $399 breaks even against Google Drive 2TB ($9.99/month) in about 3.3 years. An Icedrive 1TB lifetime at $149 breaks even against comparable annual plans in about 2.5 years. Both are excellent long-term investments if the companies survive.
Company Track Record
pCloud was founded in 2013 in Switzerland and has over 20 million users. Icedrive was founded in 2019 in the UK and is still growing. pCloud has the longer track record, which matters when you are betting on a company lasting decades.
Features Comparison
pCloud offers a built-in media player for music and video, virtual drive, branded sharing, and the pCloud Crypto add-on for zero-knowledge encryption. Icedrive offers a clean modern interface, virtual drive, and Twofish-based zero-knowledge encryption on paid plans without an extra charge.
Encryption
Icedrive includes zero-knowledge encryption on all paid plans at no extra cost. pCloud requires the Crypto add-on ($49.99/year or $150 lifetime) for zero-knowledge encryption. If privacy is a priority, Icedrive wins on value here.
Platform Support
Both support Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. pCloud's apps are more mature and feature-rich. Icedrive's apps are newer but well-designed with a more modern aesthetic.
The Verdict
Choose pCloud if you want a proven provider with a longer track record, larger storage options (up to 10TB), and built-in media features. Choose Icedrive if you want the most affordable lifetime plans with included encryption and a beautiful interface. Both are solid long-term bets for subscription-free cloud storage.
