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Thought LeadershipFebruary 24, 2026Updated September 6, 202610 min read

Best EU Cloud Storage in 2026: 5 Providers Compared

We compared Proton Drive, Tresorit, pCloud, kDrive, and Internxt on encryption, pricing, and collaboration. Here's who should use what.

Best EU Cloud Storage in 2026: 5 Providers Compared

Quick answer: Choose Proton Drive for encrypted personal storage and the Proton ecosystem, kDrive for Swiss-hosted document collaboration, Tresorit for business sharing and controls, or pCloud for media storage with a lifetime option. Internxt offers another encrypted option. Check encryption scope, selected hosting region and the full billing commitment before choosing.

Editorial corrections checked on 6 September 2026 against the linked provider documentation. This is a source review, not a new hands-on benchmark. Existing app screenshots are historical illustrations; prices below are dated observations, not guaranteed checkout offers. Some purchase links are affiliate links that support this site.

What does encryption actually protect?

Cloud storage privacy depends on who holds the decryption keys, where the provider and its infrastructure operate, and how your account is protected. Encryption at rest protects stored data but may leave the provider able to read it. End-to-end encryption encrypts content on your device, reducing the readable content held by the provider.

It does not make a service unbreachable. Account details, some metadata, shared-link settings and compromised endpoints can still expose information. A strong password, multifactor authentication, recovery methods and independent backups remain important with every provider.

The 2024 Dropbox Sign incident is a useful reminder to consider account data as well as document content. It is not evidence that every server-side-encrypted service exposes all files in a breach, or that an end-to-end-encrypted competitor would have escaped the same incident unharmed. See our Dropbox alternatives for options with different encryption models.

Does European hosting settle the jurisdiction question?

European headquarters and European storage can help meet procurement or data-location requirements, but neither proves blanket immunity from foreign legal demands. The US Department of Justice CLOUD Act explanation describes obligations in terms of jurisdiction and possession, custody or control of data, including data stored abroad.

Encryption can limit the readable content available to a provider. It does not prevent disclosure of information the provider can access. For organisational use, check the contract, subprocessors, region controls and relevant law. Swiss headquarters alone does not establish GDPR compliance for your use of a service.

How do the five providers compare?

ProductFile encryptionHeadquartersPrice or plan guidanceBest fit
Proton DriveEnd-to-end encryptionSwitzerlandCurrent plans; free optionPersonal encrypted storage and Proton bundle
Infomaniak kDriveAt rest and in transit; not E2EE by defaultSwitzerlandCurrent plansCollaborative documents
TresoritEnd-to-end encryptionSwitzerlandCurrent plans; Personal Lite 50 GB, Essential 1 TBControlled business sharing
pCloudServer-side by default; Crypto folder costs extra on personal plansSwitzerlandUS$399 promotional 2 TB lifetime snapshot, 6 Sep 2026Media libraries and upfront payment
InternxtProvider-described E2EE and post-quantum protectionSpainFree 1 GB; check first-month discount and monthly commitmentAnother encrypted storage option

Storage and editor requirements matter more than a single price-per-gigabyte score. Start with the cloud storage category, then test upload, download, sharing and recovery with non-sensitive files.

Infomaniak kDrive — Swiss cloud storage hosted in Geneva

Affiliate partnership — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Which provider fits your files and workflow?

Proton Drive

Proton Drive version-history settings with retention choices
Official Proton help illustration, not a new account test. It shows configurable retention with 365 days selected; available retention depends on the plan and settings.

Source: Proton's version-history help.

Proton Drive suits people who want encrypted file storage alongside Proton Mail and Proton Pass. Proton AG is based in Geneva, Switzerland. Its primary shareholder is the nonprofit Proton Foundation, so describing it simply as employee-owned was inaccurate.

Encryption: File content is end-to-end encrypted before upload. This limits provider access to readable files; it does not remove account-security risks or imply all operational metadata is hidden.

Plans: Compare the Drive pricing page with the broader Proton bundles. Buy the bundle if you will use the other services, rather than assuming it is always the cheapest way to obtain storage.

Best for: Individuals who value encrypted storage and the integrated Proton services. Trade-off: Before moving a collaborative workspace, test the current document tools, shared permissions and file compatibility against your actual workflow. Older predictions about upcoming features are not a substitute for checking what is available now.

Infomaniak kDrive

kDrive file browser with default folders
Historical kDrive interface illustration. File browsing alone does not demonstrate its encryption model.

Infomaniak was founded in 1994 and is based in Geneva, Switzerland. Its current company explanation describes an independent company controlled by a charitable foundation. Earlier family-owned and acquisition-history claims have been removed.

Encryption: kDrive encrypts data at rest and in transit, according to the Infomaniak trust centre. That is not end-to-end encryption. Infomaniak's servers can process files for document editing. Do not choose it on the assumption that a promised client-key safe has already shipped.

Plans: Use the current kDrive plan matrix for storage, included users and currency. The provider's help pages contain inconsistent storage figures, so the older table of exact amounts has been withdrawn.

Best for: Teams that prioritise Swiss hosting and live document collaboration. Trade-off: Server access to document content differs from the end-to-end model of Proton Drive or Tresorit. Evaluate the chosen editor and sharing controls with representative documents.

Tresorit

Tresorit file browser with example folders
Historical Tresorit interface illustration; business controls depend on the selected plan.

Tresorit is headquartered in Zurich, with an office in Budapest. Swiss Post acquired a majority stake in 2021. Ownership is relevant context, but does not prove a company's future incentives or security outcomes.

Encryption: Tresorit uses end-to-end encryption. Its security documentation describes AES-256 for file encryption and RSA-based key sharing. RSA-4096 is not categorically “stronger than AES-256”: they serve different cryptographic roles.

Plans and compliance: The official personal page lists 50 GB Personal Lite and 1 TB Personal Essential; exact local prices were not exposed in the accessible page during this review. Check the live quote. Tresorit reports ISO 27001:2022 certification and offers business controls, data rooms and e-signatures across its products. HIPAA use requires a separate business associate agreement under its terms, not just a standard storage subscription.

Best for: Organisations evaluating encrypted sharing, permissions and audit workflows. Trade-off: Confirm each required feature in the purchased plan and test document workflows. Certification does not automatically make your organisation compliant.

pCloud

pCloud file browser
Historical pCloud interface illustration. Personal-plan Crypto encryption is a separate feature.

pCloud was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland. It offers subscription and lifetime storage plans. “Lifetime” has a limit: the terms define it as the account owner's life or 99 years, whichever is shorter. Continued access also depends on the company continuing to operate.

Encryption and region: Personal plans use server-side encryption by default. Crypto adds client-side encryption for the separate Crypto folder; it does not automatically cover the rest of your account. Choose Luxembourg if you need European storage. pCloud also offers Dallas, US hosting. Its region documentation says a later move costs US$19.99 and loses existing Rewind history.

Pricing checked 6 September 2026: The official page displayed discounted lifetime prices in USD: US$199 for 500 GB, US$399 for 2 TB and US$1,190 for 10 TB. The crossed-out reference prices were US$299, US$599 and US$1,890. These are promotional observations, not euro prices or guaranteed future offers. Crypto is extra: the encryption page displayed US$49.99 for yearly billing during this check. A separate US$150 lifetime Crypto capture from 5 September is a historical snapshot; confirm that option at checkout.

Best for: Media libraries and long-term storage where upfront payment fits your budget. Trade-off: Compare the complete price including Crypto with an equivalent subscription in the same currency. Keep another backup; a lifetime purchase is not a guarantee of perpetual service. Our pCloud review explains the region, encryption and pricing trade-offs in more detail.

Internxt

Internxt is based in Valencia, Spain, and was founded in 2020. Its About page lists outside investors. That does not establish a future acquisition date; the earlier prediction has been removed.

Encryption: Internxt describes its Drive as zero-knowledge and end-to-end encrypted, with AES-256 and Kyber-512 in its security and product claims. Post-quantum techniques are designed to resist future quantum attacks; they do not guarantee future security. We have not independently established its claimed market-first status.

Pricing: The previous first-year annual prices were incorrect. Official support currently describes annual subscriptions as a one-year commitment billed monthly, with introductory discounts applying to the first month, not the whole first year. Check the ongoing monthly charge and commitment before buying. The plan matrix lists 1 GB free and 1, 3 and 5 TB paid tiers.

Security and features: Internxt reports a second Securitum audit with no severe vulnerabilities and separately states ISO 27001 certification. This is provider-reported evidence, not an assurance that vulnerabilities cannot exist. Product availability varies by plan, and features labelled “coming soon” should not drive a purchase today.

Best for: People who want another European encrypted-storage option and are willing to evaluate its apps. Trade-off: Verify ongoing billing and needed features carefully; the introductory discount is a poor guide to the full contract cost.

Which one would we choose?

For personal encrypted files, start by comparing Proton Drive with Internxt. Proton makes particular sense if you already use its other services. For collaborative documents, shortlist kDrive, accepting its different encryption model.

For controlled business sharing, evaluate Tresorit against your required permissions, audit workflow and contract. For media storage and an upfront payment, pCloud is worth considering with the selected region and any Crypto cost included.

There is no universal winner. A useful trial is a round trip: upload a representative folder, open files on your actual devices, share with a collaborator, then export and restore a sample. This reveals workflow gaps a pricing table cannot show.

Switching is easier than you think

The general process is the same regardless of which provider you choose:

  1. Export your files from your current provider (Google Takeout, Dropbox download, OneDrive export)
  2. Upload to your new EU provider, desktop apps handle large libraries best
  3. Verify a sample of files across folders to confirm nothing was corrupted or lost
  4. Reconfigure any app integrations pointing to your old storage

Keep both accounts active for 1–2 weeks. Don't delete your old provider until you've confirmed everything transferred correctly, shared links are updated, and collaborators have been re-invited.

For step-by-step migration instructions for each provider, see our cloud storage category page. If you're coming from Dropbox or Google Drive specifically, check out our dedicated guides for Dropbox alternatives and Google Drive alternatives.

Products Mentioned

Infomaniak kDrive logo
Infomaniak kDrive🇨🇭

kDrive is a secure online storage solution developed by Infomaniak, offering collaborative tools and data management in a sovereign cloud environment. It allows users to store, share, and collaborate on files with integrated Microsoft Office tools, ensuring data security and compliance with European regulations.

Internxt logo
Internxt🇪🇸

Internxt offers encrypted cloud storage solutions with a focus on privacy and security. It provides a range of services including Drive, VPN, and Antivirus, ensuring data protection through advanced encryption methods. Internxt is committed to user privacy, employing end-to-end encryption and post-quantum cryptography to keep user data secure and private.

pCloud logo
pCloud🇨🇭

pCloud is a Swiss-based cloud storage solution that prioritizes data privacy and security. Offering various plans, it allows users to store, access, and manage files with strong encryption and flexible sharing options.

Proton Drive logo
Proton Drive🇨🇭

Proton Drive is a secure cloud storage service that allows users to store, share, and collaborate on files with end-to-end encryption. It offers features like file syncing, secure file sharing, and online document editing. Proton Drive is based in Switzerland and is protected by European privacy laws.

Tresorit logo
Tresorit🇨🇭

Tresorit is a Swiss-Hungarian end-to-end encrypted cloud storage and collaboration platform founded in 2011 by Istvan Lam, Szilveszter Szebeni, and Gyorgy Szilagyi. Headquartered in Zurich and acquired by Swiss Post in 2021 (while remaining independently operated), Tresorit uses zero-knowledge RSA-4096 encryption — meaning even Tresorit staff cannot access your files. The platform serves businesses that handle sensitive data: legal firms, healthcare, finance, and government. Beyond basic cloud storage, Tresorit offers secure data rooms (Tresorit Engage), electronic signatures (eSign), and email encryption.

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