Skip to main content
OneDrive logo
vs
pCloud logo
Try pCloud

OneDrive vs pCloud: Is European Encryption Your Safeguard?

Discover how Swiss-based pCloud's encryption compares to OneDrive in protecting your files. Choose the best for your privacy needs now.

Last updated: February 19, 2026Reviewed by Built in EU Team

Should You Switch to pCloud?

What You Gain

Gain EU-hosted data, client-side encryption, and lifetime plans

Privacy advantage
Trade-offs

Loss of deep Microsoft 365 integration and real-time collaboration

OneDrive has more features
Bottom Line

Switch if privacy is priority; stay if you need Microsoft 365 integration

At a Glance

Data Location
🇺🇸US

US data laws

🇨🇭CH

GDPR protected

Pricing

OneDrive

Contact

pCloud

freemium

Migration
Medium difficulty~Several hours to a day, depending on data size and internet speed

Privacy & Compliance Comparison

Critical data sovereignty factors at a glance

CriteriaOneDrivepCloud
Server Location
US, EU (optional)EU, CH
GDPR Compliance
Partial (SCCs)Full
Open Source
E2E Encryption
Enterprise onlyOptional
Data Portability
Full exportFull export

CLOUD Act Notice

OneDrive is a US company and must comply with CLOUD Act data requests, even for data stored in EU data centers. pCloud is not subject to US jurisdiction.

Switching from
OneDrive logo

OneDrive

🇺🇸

Microsoft

VS
Switching to
pCloud logo

pCloud

🇨🇭

US Data Storage

Data subject to US CLOUD Act and may be accessed by US authorities

EU Data Protection

Data protected under GDPR with EU-only data residency

Certifications & Compliance

No certifications listed

EU-hosted
EU-Based
GDPR Compliant
Swiss hosted

Reasons to Switch

  • EU-hosted data centers ensure GDPR compliance
  • Client-side encryption enhances data security
  • Lifetime storage plans reduce long-term costs
  • Backup social media accounts for data safety

Things to Consider

  • !Migration from OneDrive may require manual effort
  • !No integration with Microsoft 365 apps
  • !Learning curve for new interface and features
Migration difficulty:
Medium
~Several hours to a day, depending on data size and internet speed

Migration Overview

Full guide
Difficulty
Medium
Time Estimate
~Several hours to a day, depending on data size and internet speed

Depends on data size and complexity

Quick Steps

1

Create pCloud account and configure settings

2

Export and prepare data from OneDrive

3

Import data, test integrations, and migrate users

Other alternatives to OneDrive

Ready to make the switch?

Start using pCloud today and take control of your data privacy.