Jottacloud vs pCloud (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, pCloud grades higher than Jottacloud: 2.6 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
pCloud grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Jottacloud
Norwegian cloud storage and backup for all your devices
pCloud
Swiss cloud storage sold by subscription or one-time payment
Which one is for you
Pick Jottacloud if
- Fits if you want one plan to back up a family of 5
- Works for people who prefer a Norwegian provider
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you're staying free: 5 GB doesn't go far
- Skip it if you run Linux, as the download page lists no Linux app
- Watch out: prices show in Norwegian kroner, with USD 11.99 for Unlimited given in the description
- Watch out: unlimited upload speed is gradually reduced after 5 TB, and Business prices exclude VAT
Pick pCloud if
- Fits if you'd rather pay once than every month, and plan to stay for years
- Works for Linux users, who get the same desktop drive as Windows and Mac
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want files only you can unlock as standard, since that's a $49.99-a-year add-on for one folder
- Tight if you're staying free, because you start with 2 GB and earn your way to 10
- Skip it if you'd park photos on a free account and forget it, as idle ones are deleted after 12 months
- Skip it if you share folders across the Atlantic, as both accounts must be in the same region, and moving costs $19.99
- Watch out: lifetime prices are shown as promotions, refunds end after 14 days, and Family plans are lifetime only
How we grade them
| 2.4GPAJottacloudFair | 2.6GPApCloudGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CHome 1 TB is NOK 79 a month, which the page's own description gives as USD 6.99 for 5 users, right at the category's $6.95 middle. | C500 GB is $4.99 a month, which is exactly this category's middle price, and 2 TB is $9.99, where its dearest tenth starts. The lifetime plans are a long bet: $499 for 2 TB is five years of the subscription up front. And the Crypto folder is another $49.99 a year. |
| Free plan and trial | C5 GB free for 1 user with device backup, and you'll pass that soon. | CUp to 10 GB with no card, but read that "up to": you start on 2 GB and earn the rest with a tutorial and invites. pCloud's terms also say a free account left idle for 12 months is deleted, files and all. |
| Features | CSync and backup with plans up to unlimited, but the download page lists no Linux app and unlimited upload slows after 5 TB. | CThe basics: a drive that uses no laptop space, phone photo backup, imports from other clouds, 30 days of old versions, a media player and pCloud Docs. Encryption only you can unlock is a separate $49.99 add-on, and it covers one folder. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating on record, but you install it and it starts backing up. | B4.67 from about 8,200 App Store ratings, a shade under the 4.7 the top of this category manages. On a computer it turns up as an extra drive, so you drag files in like any folder, and on a phone one switch backs up your photos. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android apps, but no integrations are listed. | AWeb, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android, plus a browser add-on. It pulls files in from Dropbox, Google Drive, Google Photos, OneDrive and Facebook, and there's a documented API for developers. |
| Best for | Norwegian-hosted cloud backup for the family | paying once for cloud storage, not every month |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Jottacloud and pCloud. How we grade
Where they differ
- pCloud can be bought with a one-time purchase.
At a glance
| Jottacloud | pCloud | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | NOK 79 per month for Home 1 TB (NOK 790 billed yearly) | $4.99 per month, or $49.99 billed yearly |
| Free plan | 5 GB of storage for 1 user, with device backup and email and chat support. | Free account with up to 10 GB of storage. |
| Free trial | None listed | 30-day free trial of pCloud Business; other paid plans carry a 14-day money-back guarantee |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Jotta Group AS | pCloud International AG |
| Price read from | jottacloud.com | pcloud.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Jottacloud
- Prices are displayed in Norwegian kroner; the page's own description gives USD 11.99 per month for Unlimited and USD 6.99 for Home 1 TB.
- Unlimited upload speed is gradually reduced after 5 TB; Pro plans are the ones with maximum speed.
- Business prices are shown excluding VAT.
- The download page lists no Linux app.
pCloud
- Client-side, zero-knowledge encryption is a paid add-on and is not part of the standard storage plans.
- The free account is limited to up to 10 GB.
- Family plans, for up to 5 users, are offered only as lifetime purchases, and Business pricing is shown from 3 users.
- Lifetime prices are shown as promotions against a higher list price, so the amount charged can change.
Key features
Jottacloud
- Backup of all devices
- Every plan, including the free one, lists backup of all devices and an archive for files you want to keep but do not use daily.
- File and photo sharing
- Files and photos you have uploaded can be shared with a few clicks.
- Storage in Norway
- Data is stored in Norway under European privacy laws, and the company says it runs on 100% renewable energy.
- Apps and command line
- Download links cover Windows, macOS, iOS and Android apps, plus a command-line tool.
- AI photo search
- The site lists AI photo search as a product feature alongside storage and backup.
pCloud
- pCloud Drive
- A desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux that makes cloud files available as if they were stored locally, without using hard drive space.
- Backup and file history
- The desktop app backs up folders from a computer, and backups can also be pulled from Dropbox, Google Drive, Google Photos, OneDrive and Facebook.
- Sharing and shared folders
- Files and folders are shared by link or through shared folders with access levels. Business adds branded links carrying a logo, cover and message.
- pCloud Encryption add-on
- Optional client-side, zero-knowledge encryption adds a Crypto folder to the account. It is priced separately at $49.99 billed yearly.
- Choice of data region
- Account holders choose whether their files are stored in a European or a US data center.
- Media player, Photos and Docs
- Includes an audio and video player, a photo timeline with a built-in editor, and pCloud Docs for creating and editing documents.
Plans
Jottacloud
Free$0
5 GB of storage for 1 user, backup of all devices, and email and chat support.
Home 1 TBNOK 79
per month for 5 users (NOK 790 billed yearly)
1 TB shared by 5 users, with no bandwidth limitation and phone, email and chat support.
UnlimitedNOK 129
per month for 1 user (NOK 1290 billed yearly)
Unlimited storage for 1 user; upload speed is gradually reduced after 5 TB. Phone, email and chat support.
Home 5 TBNOK 159
per month for 5 users (NOK 1590 billed yearly)
5 TB shared by 5 users, with no bandwidth limitation.
Pro 10 TBNOK 299
per month for 1 user (NOK 2990 billed yearly)
10 TB, maximum speed, priority support and a commercial license. Pro goes up to 50 TB at NOK 1499 per month.
Business SmallNOK 129
per month for 2 users, excl. VAT (NOK 1548 billed yearly)
1 TB, commercial license and priority support. Medium (10 users) is NOK 179; Large (unlimited users) is NOK 459.
pCloud
Free$0
Up to 10 GB of storage on a free account.
Premium 500 GB$4.99
per month, or $49.99 billed yearly
500 GB of storage for one person, with pCloud Photos and pCloud Docs.
Premium Plus 2 TB$9.99
per month, or $99.99 billed yearly
2 TB of storage for one person, with pCloud Photos and pCloud Docs.
Ultra 10 TB$29.99
per month, or $299.99 billed yearly
10 TB of storage for one person, with pCloud Photos and pCloud Docs.
Business$9.99
per user / month, billed monthly
Shown as 3 users with 3 TB for $29.97 a month, with teams, access levels, activity logs and a 30-day free trial.
Business Pro$19.98
per user / month, billed monthly
Shown as 3 users with 6 TB for $59.94 a month. New Business Pro accounts get 25% off, which makes it $14.98 per user.
Ways to pay less
Jottacloud
- Annual discount
Pay yearly instead of monthly
Yearly billing is offered on every paid plan; for example Unlimited is NOK 1290 per year against NOK 129 per month.
pCloud
- Lifetime license
Lifetime plans for a one-time payment
The 500 GB, 2 TB and 10 TB lifetime plans are listed at $279, $709 and $2,799. Promotional prices of $219, $499 and $1,499 were shown when checked.
- Lifetime license
Family lifetime plans for up to 5 users
Family 2 TB is listed at $999 and Family 10 TB at $3,499 as one-time payments. Promotional prices of $749 and $1,849 were shown when checked.
- Annual discount
About 17% lower with yearly billing
Yearly billing costs $49.99, $99.99 or $299.99, against $59.88, $119.88 or $359.88 for twelve monthly payments on the same plans.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Jottacloud or pCloud?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Jottacloud starts at NOK 79 per month for Home 1 TB (NOK 790 billed yearly), and pCloud starts at $4.99 per month, or $49.99 billed yearly.
Which has a free plan, Jottacloud or pCloud?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Jottacloud and pCloud have a free plan.
Which platforms do Jottacloud and pCloud run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only pCloud lists a Linux app and a browser extension. Both list a web app and macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.