The per-folder E2E pick shipping server-side default plus opt-in Crypto for sensitive folders.
Plan
Monthly
What you get
Free
Free
10GB with file sharing and no daily transfer cap; the largest mainstream free tier without encryption requirements
Premium 500GB
$4.99/mo
500GB with file versioning and remote upload; the realistic-buyer tier and the lifetime-plan target
Premium Plus 2TB
$9.99/mo
2TB with file versioning and remote upload; competitive on dollars per gigabyte against the field
pCloud is the right zero-knowledge cloud storage pick when most files do not need E2E but sensitive folders do plus Switzerland jurisdiction matters. The wedge against MEGA and Sync.com is structural flexibility: pCloud Crypto add-on encrypts only the folders you mark, while server-side handles everything else (including the in-browser preview, search, and recovery features that pure E2E disables). Switzerland HQ sits outside the fourteen Eyes alliance. Founded 2013.
The base account covers ten gigabytes free. Premium five hundred gigabytes at four dollars ninety-nine monthly is the realistic entry. Premium Plus two terabytes at nine dollars ninety-nine covers serious storage. The pCloud Crypto add-on at three dollars ninety-nine monthly (or ports to lifetime) adds zero-knowledge encryption per folder on top of any tier. The Crypto folder produces ciphertext that pCloud servers cannot read.
The trade-off is Crypto is per-folder add-on rather than default (server-side encryption on the rest of the drive), and the in-browser preview and search work only on non-Crypto folders. For per-folder opt-in E2E with Swiss jurisdiction: pCloud wins. For E2E by default biggest free: MEGA. For affordable paid E2E: Sync.com. For regulated-industry premium: Tresorit.
Pros
Crypto add-on adds zero-knowledge per sensitive folder
Switzerland jurisdiction outside the 14 Eyes alliance
Server-side default keeps preview + search on non-Crypto folders
Lifetime plan converts recurring bill into one-time payment
Native Linux desktop client with selective sync
Cons
Crypto is per-folder add-on rather than default for whole drive
In-browser preview and search work only on non-Crypto folders
The E2E-by-default pick shipping zero-knowledge encryption on every file with twenty gigabytes free.
Plan
Monthly
What you get
Free
Free
20GB end-to-end encrypted; the largest mainstream free tier with zero-knowledge by default
Pro I
$10.62/mo
2TB with 24TB monthly transfer and zero-knowledge encryption; the realistic-buyer tier for E2E paid storage
Pro II
$21.24/mo
8TB with 96TB monthly transfer and zero-knowledge encryption for power users with deep archives
MEGA is the right zero-knowledge cloud storage pick when end-to-end encryption by default plus a serious free tier drive the choice. The wedge against Sync.com is generosity: MEGA Free at twenty gigabytes is four times Sync.com Free at five gigabytes, and both ship zero-knowledge encryption on by default. The wedge against pCloud Crypto is structural: pCloud encrypts a Crypto folder only, while MEGA encrypts every file. Founded 2013 by Kim Dotcom in Auckland, New Zealand.
The Free tier covers twenty gigabytes end-to-end encrypted with no daily transfer cap. Pro I at ten dollars sixty-two monthly covers two terabytes with twenty-four terabytes monthly transfer. Pro II at twenty-one dollars twenty-four lifts to eight terabytes with ninety-six terabytes transfer. The web client is open source with reproducible builds and the cryptography has been independently audited.
The trade-off is the New Zealand jurisdiction (part of Five Eyes alliance) and no native office integration. The defense is the keys: even compelled disclosure produces ciphertext that no party in the chain can decrypt. For E2E by default with biggest free tier: MEGA wins. For affordable paid E2E: Sync.com. For E2E per folder: pCloud. For regulated-industry premium E2E: Tresorit.
Pros
Free 20GB with end-to-end encryption by default
Largest mainstream free tier in zero-knowledge lane
Open-source web client with reproducible builds
Independent cryptography audit published
Native Linux desktop client included
Cons
New Zealand jurisdiction part of Five Eyes alliance
No native office integration (no in-browser Word/Sheets)
Free 20GB E2EPro I $10.62/mo 2TBOpen-source web clientFree forever 20GB E2E; no time limit
Best for: Privacy-first users wanting the largest free E2E tier with apps on every major platform and an open-source web client.
5GB end-to-end encrypted with 365-day version history; entry tier for testing zero-knowledge sync
Solo Basic
$11.00/mo
2TB end-to-end encrypted with file sharing; the realistic-buyer tier and the affordable Tresorit alternative
Solo Professional
$20.00/mo
6TB end-to-end encrypted with advanced sharing controls for power users on a budget
Sync.com is the right zero-knowledge cloud storage pick when affordable paid E2E plus product maturity drive the choice. The wedge against MEGA is paid economics: Sync.com Solo Basic at eight dollars monthly covers two terabytes E2E where MEGA Pro I at ten dollars sixty-two covers two terabytes E2E (twenty-five percent saving on a similar plan). The wedge against pCloud Crypto is structural: Sync.com encrypts everything by default, while pCloud Crypto is per-folder opt-in. Founded 2011 in Toronto.
The Free tier covers five gigabytes end-to-end encrypted. Solo Basic at eight dollars monthly is the realistic-buyer tier covering two terabytes with full encryption plus password-protected expiring share links. Solo Professional at twenty dollars lifts to six terabytes with advanced sharing. Three hundred sixty-five days of file version history is the longest in our seven cloud-storage picks.
The trade-off is Canada is part of the Five Eyes alliance (intelligence-sharing region similar to US) and no native Linux desktop client published by Sync.com. The keys still live with the user so compelled disclosure produces ciphertext rather than readable files. For affordable paid E2E: Sync.com wins. For largest free E2E: MEGA. For per-folder opt-in: pCloud. For regulated-industry premium: Tresorit.
Pros
Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption on by default since 2011
Solo Basic $8/mo cheapest paid E2E in cloud storage
365 days of file version history (longest in category)
Password-protected and expiring share links every plan
Independently audited and SOC 2 compliant
Cons
Canada part of Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance
No native Linux desktop client published by Sync.com
1TB zero-knowledge encryption from Switzerland for regulated-industry workflows
Professional
$23.99/mo
4TB zero-knowledge with admin controls for compliance-bound teams and consultants
Tresorit is the right zero-knowledge cloud storage pick when regulated-industry compliance plus enterprise audit drive the choice. The wedge against MEGA and Sync.com is compliance depth: Tresorit ships HIPAA Business Associate Agreement, GDPR compliance, plus ISO 27001 certification at the premium tier, where MEGA and Sync.com cover GDPR but not HIPAA BAA. Founded 2011 in Hungary; acquired by Swiss Post in 2021 (Swiss jurisdiction inside Switzerland's data protection regime).
Personal at eleven dollars ninety-nine monthly is the realistic entry covering one terabyte E2E. Personal Plus at twenty-four dollars ninety-nine covers four terabytes with priority support. Business at fifteen dollars per user monthly covers three terabytes per user with HIPAA BAA plus team admin. Enterprise is custom-quoted with SSO plus dedicated CSM plus audit logging.
The trade-off is the highest entry price in the zero-knowledge lane (Personal at eleven dollars ninety-nine versus Sync.com at eight versus MEGA Pro I at ten dollars sixty-two), no free tier (only fourteen-day trial), and the Hungarian-Swiss jurisdiction is unusual. For regulated-industry premium E2E: Tresorit wins. For E2E by default biggest free: MEGA. For affordable paid E2E: Sync.com. For per-folder opt-in: pCloud Crypto.
Pros
HIPAA Business Associate Agreement on Business tier
GDPR + ISO 27001 + SOC 2 enterprise compliance
Swiss Post acquisition brings Switzerland jurisdiction
Hungarian E2E engineering since 2011
Enterprise SSO + audit logging on Enterprise tier
Cons
Highest entry price in zero-knowledge lane at $11.99
No free tier (14-day trial only)
Personal $11.99/mo 1TBBusiness $15/user 3TBHIPAA BAA on Business14-day free trial; 30-day money-back paid
Best for: Healthcare, legal, financial, and regulated-industry buyers needing zero-knowledge plus HIPAA/GDPR compliance at premium tier.
Each pick gets a transparent composite score from price, features, free-tier availability, and editor fit. Pricing flows from our live database, so when a vendor changes prices the score updates here too.
Composite weights: price 40%, features 30%, free tier 15%, fit 15%. Four picks subset to cloud storage with credible zero-knowledge encryption (default or opt-in). Server-side mainstream picks (Dropbox, Google One, OneDrive, iCloud) excluded. iCloud ADP excluded (wedge is iCloud ecosystem). See parent /best/cloud-storage.
40%
Price
Cheaper relative to category average ranks higher.
30%
Features
How many of the category-specific features the pick claims.
15%
Free tier
A free tier earns full points; no free tier earns zero.
15%
Editor fit
Editor's 0-10 judgment of how well the pick fits the category headline.
We don't claim "30,000 hours of testing." Our methodology is the formula above plus the editor's published verdict for each pick. Verifiable, auditable, and updated when the underlying data changes.
Why trust Subrupt
We're a subscription tracker first, a buying guide second. Every claim on this page is something you can check.
✓Live pricing.Prices come from our own database, refreshed as vendors update them. When a price moves, the composite score moves with it.
✓Public methodology.The score is a published formula, not a vibe. The weights are listed right above this block, and you can recompute them yourself.
✓Honest savings math.Savings are computed against a category baseline, not against the vendor's own list price. We don't inflate the headline.
✓Affiliate disclosure on every page.When we earn a commission we say so. The editor's pick order is decided by the score, not by who pays the most.
What zero-knowledge actually means at the implementation level
Zero-knowledge encryption means the keys live on your device and the provider stores ciphertext. The server cannot read your files even under court order or compelled disclosure. The implementation requires two design choices: client-side key generation (the key never leaves the device unencrypted), and server-side ciphertext-only operations (the server cannot decrypt). MEGA, Sync.com, and Tresorit ship both by default. pCloud Crypto ships both per folder when the Crypto add-on is enabled. Mainstream server-side providers (Dropbox, Google, OneDrive, iCloud default) hold the keys and can decrypt your files. For full coverage including server-side mainstream picks, see [our /best/cloud-storage guide](/best/cloud-storage).
Trade-offs of zero-knowledge encryption
Zero-knowledge has real trade-offs versus server-side encryption. Recovery: if you lose the password and the recovery key, the data is gone for good (no support reset). Search: in-browser search works on filenames but not on file contents because the server cannot read the contents. Preview: PDF and image preview in the browser requires extra decrypt steps that server-side preview skips. Sharing: share links require the recipient to receive the decrypt key separately, which adds a step. Office integration: in-browser Word or Sheets edit requires the server to read the file, which zero-knowledge prevents. The pCloud per-folder model is one workaround: encrypt sensitive folders with Crypto, leave everything else server-side for the convenience features.
Jurisdiction and intelligence-sharing alliances
Zero-knowledge encryption defends against compelled disclosure regardless of jurisdiction (the server cannot read your files even when ordered to). But jurisdiction still matters for metadata: the provider knows your account, your file sizes, your sync timing, your IP addresses, and your share-link recipients. MEGA is New Zealand (Five Eyes member). Sync.com is Canada (Five Eyes member). pCloud is Switzerland (outside fourteen Eyes). Tresorit is Hungary plus Swiss Post (outside fourteen Eyes). For metadata-protection-as-additional-layer, pCloud and Tresorit win on jurisdiction. For pure E2E posture, all four are equivalent on the encrypted-content layer.
When server-side encryption is enough
Server-side encryption (Dropbox, Google, OneDrive, iCloud default) is fine for buyers storing family photos, tax returns, and personal documents that no specific adversary actively wants to read. The threat model for most household cloud storage is data breach (handled by SOC 2 audits + encryption at rest + transit) rather than government compelled disclosure. For household use, server-side providers offer better office integration, better search, better preview, better sharing, and better recovery, all of which zero-knowledge providers deliberately limit. Pick zero-knowledge when the threat model includes compelled disclosure (journalists, activists, regulated-industry buyers) or when you simply want maximum cryptographic posture; pick server-side when convenience dominates.
Frequently asked questions
Why is MEGA ranked above Tresorit if Tresorit has HIPAA compliance?
Different audiences. MEGA wins on free tier (20GB E2E) plus open-source web client, ideal for privacy-conscious individuals. Tresorit wins on regulated-industry compliance (HIPAA BAA), ideal for healthcare and legal buyers. For most privacy-first individuals, MEGA is the cleaner cost-anchored choice. For HIPAA-covered work specifically, Tresorit is the only pick here that signs a BAA.
Can I use Sync.com Free 5GB as my primary E2E backup?
For light personal documents (no photo backup), yes. Sync.com Free at 5GB end-to-end encrypted covers documents, contracts, and small photo selections. For full iPhone photo backup, the 5GB cap fills within months. Plan to upgrade to Solo Basic at $8/mo for 2TB if photo backup is part of the workflow. Sync.com Free is genuine permanent E2E for light users; for serious backup, the upgrade is mandatory.
How does pCloud Crypto compare to MEGA E2E by default?
Different design philosophies. pCloud Crypto encrypts only the folders you mark with the Crypto flag, leaving everything else server-side for in-browser preview + search + office integration. MEGA encrypts everything by default, disabling those convenience features for the encrypted content. For buyers who want both server-side convenience and per-folder zero-knowledge, pCloud Crypto is the right model. For buyers who want zero-knowledge as the default, MEGA wins.
Will I lose access if I forget my zero-knowledge password?
Yes, completely. Zero-knowledge means the provider has no way to reset your password or recover your data. MEGA, Sync.com, Tresorit, and pCloud Crypto all ship recovery keys at signup; if you lose both the password and the recovery key, the data is gone for good. Save the recovery key in a password manager (1Password, Bitwarden) or print it and store offline. For server-side providers (Dropbox, Google, iCloud default), password reset works because the provider holds the keys.
What about Proton Drive, Internxt, and NordLocker as alternatives?
Proton Drive (E2E from the Proton Mail company), Internxt (post-quantum E2E), and NordLocker (Nord Security E2E) all rank consistently in zero-knowledge SERP lists. We exclude these from catalog because catalog focuses on credible mainstream picks; all three are credible alternatives for privacy-first buyers. Proton Drive in particular is strong for buyers already on Proton Mail. We re-evaluate the lane every quarter.
Does Apple iCloud Advanced Data Protection count as zero-knowledge?
Yes when enabled. Apple ADP turns on end-to-end encryption for iCloud Drive, Photos, Notes, and most iCloud data. The catch: opt-in (off by default), requires iOS 16.2+ or macOS 13.1+, requires recovery contact or key, and applies to specific data classes (Mail, Contacts, Calendar not covered). For Apple-household buyers wanting E2E with iCloud, ADP is genuine; see /best/cloud-storage parent.
How does file sharing work with zero-knowledge encryption?
Share links require the recipient to receive the decrypt key separately. MEGA includes the decrypt key in the URL fragment (after #) which servers do not log. Sync.com generates password-protected links. Tresorit ships Tresor share with E2E key delivery. pCloud Crypto requires the Crypto folder password. For ad-hoc external sharing, server-side providers are simpler; for internal team sharing, zero-knowledge workflow matches mainstream.
Can I sync zero-knowledge files across multiple devices?
Yes. Each device gets the encryption key when you log in (the key is derived from your password or stored in keychain after first auth). Sync runs the same way as mainstream sync but transfers ciphertext between device and server. MEGA, Sync.com, Tresorit, and pCloud all ship multi-device sync. The OAuth-style trust model works because the password (or device-specific key derived from it) decrypts the master key locally on each device.
Will zero-knowledge encryption protect against ransomware?
Partially. Zero-knowledge protects against compelled disclosure and provider-side breaches but does not prevent ransomware from encrypting your local files (which then sync as encrypted-by-ransomware ciphertext). All four picks ship version history (MEGA 30 days, Sync.com 365 days, Tresorit 30 days, pCloud 30 days) for rollback to pre-ransomware versions. For ransomware, version history is the load-bearing protection.
Does Subrupt earn a commission on these zero-knowledge cloud storage picks?
On the paid-tier links across MEGA Pro, Sync.com Solo, pCloud Premium plus Crypto add-on, and Tresorit Personal where the affiliate programs route through. Composite scoring weights price 40%, features 30%, free tier 15%, fit 15%, none tuned by affiliate rate. The rationales lead with E2E posture plus audience-fit math rather than affiliate-friendly framing. The composite math is on the page so you can recompute the order yourself.
Subrupt Editorial
The team behind subrupt.com. We track subscriptions, surface cheaper alternatives, and publish buying guides where the score formula is on the page so you can recompute it yourself. We do not claim 30,000 hours of testing. What we claim is live pricing from our database, a transparent composite score, and honest savings math against a category baseline.
Affiliate disclosure: Subrupt earns a commission when you switch to a service through our recommendation links. This never changes the price you pay. We only recommend services where there's a real cost or feature advantage for you, and our picks are based on the data on this page, not on which programs pay the most.
