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.
The question most cloud storage reviews skip
Most cloud storage comparisons rank providers by price per gigabyte and interface polish. But neither determines whether your data is actually private. The question that matters: who can read your files when you're not looking?
Three factors decide this:
- Encryption architecture — Does the provider hold a key that can decrypt your files?
- Legal jurisdiction — Can a government compel the company to hand over data, or access it silently?
- Business model — What incentives shape how the company treats your data over time?
Understanding these three factors explains why the five EU providers below differ so much — and why what happened to Dropbox in 2024 matters for your decision today.
Regulatory context: Over 70% of U.S. cloud services fall under the CLOUD Act, which lets U.S. law enforcement access data stored on their servers — regardless of where those servers are physically located.
What the 2024 Dropbox Sign breach revealed about encryption
In April 2024, Dropbox disclosed that an attacker had compromised a back-end service account in the Dropbox Sign (formerly HelloSign) production environment. The attacker escalated privileges through automated system configuration tools and accessed a customer database. All Dropbox Sign users were affected.
The exposed data included emails, usernames, phone numbers, hashed passwords, MFA details, API keys, and OAuth tokens. Even users who had only received or signed a document through the service had their email addresses and names exposed. Dropbox confirmed that document contents were not accessed — but the authentication data was arguably worse: stolen API keys and OAuth tokens created immediate supply chain risk for every business integrating Dropbox Sign into their workflows.
This happened because Dropbox uses server-side encryption. The company encrypts data on their servers and holds the keys. That protects against someone physically stealing a hard drive. It does not prevent anyone who compromises the company's infrastructure — or a privileged service account — from accessing customer data.
Contrast this with zero-knowledge encryption (end-to-end encryption). Your files are encrypted on your device before they leave. The server stores only encrypted blobs. The company never holds a key that can decrypt your data. Even if an attacker breaches the entire production environment, they get encrypted noise — cryptographically useless without your key, which never left your device.
The jurisdiction dimension compounds the risk for US providers. Under the CLOUD Act, US law enforcement can compel US companies to hand over data stored anywhere in the world. With server-side encryption, the company can comply. With zero-knowledge encryption, compliance is structurally impossible — the company cannot hand over what it cannot decrypt.
The practical difference: If a server-side-encrypted provider is breached, your data — authentication tokens, metadata, potentially contents — can be exposed. If a zero-knowledge provider is breached, the attacker gets encrypted noise. This isn't a theoretical distinction. It's what separated Dropbox's 2024 outcome from what would have happened at Proton Drive or Tresorit.
For more on how Dropbox alternatives handle encryption, see our dedicated comparison.
How the five EU alternatives compare
Before diving into each provider, here's the landscape at a glance.
| Product | Encryption | Jurisdiction | Free Tier | Starting Price | Collaboration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton Drive | ✅ Zero-knowledge | Swiss | 5 GB | €4.99/mo (200 GB) | ⚠️ Sheets in beta |
| Infomaniak kDrive | ⚠️ Encrypted at rest | Swiss | 15 GB | €4.99/mo (3 TB) | ✅ Real-time editing |
| Tresorit | ✅ Zero-knowledge (RSA-4096) | Swiss | 7-day trial | €4.99/mo (50 GB) | ⚠️ File sharing only |
| pCloud | ⚠️ Optional (Crypto addon) | Swiss | 10 GB | €4.99/mo (500 GB) | ❌ None |
| Internxt | ✅ Zero-knowledge + post-quantum | Spanish (EU) | 1 GB | €20/yr (1 TB) | ⚠️ Expanding |
Key takeaways:
- Three providers offer pure zero-knowledge encryption: Proton Drive, Tresorit, and Internxt. They structurally cannot access your files.
- pCloud requires a paid addon (pCloud Crypto, €4.99/mo) for zero-knowledge. Without it, pCloud holds the keys.
- kDrive trades zero-knowledge for collaboration. Files are encrypted at rest on Swiss servers, but the server accesses them for real-time editing — the same model as Google Drive, just under Swiss jurisdiction.
- Internxt's post-quantum encryption is forward-thinking: it protects against quantum computers that don't exist yet but will eventually break today's encryption.
Browse all options in our cloud storage category.
The five providers, reviewed
Proton Drive
Proton Drive comes from the team behind Proton Mail — scientists who met at CERN. Swiss-based, employee-owned, no VC funding. This is the company that refused to decrypt user emails even under Swiss court orders, because they structurally cannot.
Encryption: True zero-knowledge E2EE on all files. Your files are encrypted on your device before upload. Proton never has the key.
Pricing: Free 5 GB tier. Drive Plus is 200 GB for €4.99/mo. The real value is Proton Unlimited at €12.99/mo: 500 GB storage + encrypted email + VPN + password manager + calendar. Proton Duo (2 TB, 2 users) is €19.99/mo.
What's new: January 2026 SDK update delivered 60% faster iOS uploads. Proton Sheets (E2EE spreadsheets) launched in 2025. Shared Drives for families/businesses coming in 2026.
Best for: Privacy-first individuals who want zero-knowledge encryption and value the ecosystem bundle. Trade-off: Collaboration features are still maturing — not Google Docs yet.
Infomaniak kDrive
Infomaniak is a Swiss family-owned company founded in 1994 — three decades profitable, no VC, no acquisition. kDrive is the closest EU equivalent to Google Drive for collaboration, with real-time document editing via Collabora Online and ONLYOFFICE.
Encryption: End-to-end encryption at rest on Swiss servers. Not zero-knowledge (collaboration requires server access to files), but Swiss jurisdiction means no CLOUD Act exposure. Strongbox (client-side encryption) coming in 2026.
Pricing: 15 GB free — the most generous free tier here. Solo is €4.99/mo for 3 TB. Team is €10/mo for 3 TB shared across 6 users (€1.67/user). Pro is €6.66/user/mo with admin controls.
What's new: December 2025 update added Drop Boxes (secure file requests from external parties), new desktop apps, and dark mode. Infomaniak also launched Euria — a free, Swiss-hosted privacy-respecting AI.
Best for: Teams under 50 people who need Google Workspace-style collaboration with Swiss privacy and 100% renewable energy hosting. Trade-off: Not zero-knowledge; fewer third-party integrations than Google Drive.
Tresorit
Founded by three Hungarian security engineers who wanted zero-knowledge Dropbox. Headquartered in Zurich, development in Budapest. Acquired by Swiss Post in 2021 — a state-owned enterprise with no incentive to monetize user data.
Encryption: Zero-knowledge RSA-4096 E2EE — stronger than the AES-256 most providers use. Tresorit staff cannot access your files, period.
Pricing: Personal Lite is 50 GB for €4.99/mo. Personal Essential (most popular) is 1 TB for €11.99/mo. Business plans start at €24/user/mo with admin controls, secure data rooms, eSign, and SSO (Azure AD, Okta).
What's new: Expanding DACH region presence and integrating with Swiss Post's digital services (ePost, encrypted email). No breaches reported since the acquisition — the zero-knowledge model has held.
Best for: Regulated industries — legal, healthcare, finance — that need ISO 27001:2022 certification, HIPAA compliance, and audit trails. Trade-off: No real-time collaboration; enterprise pricing for business plans.
pCloud
Swiss-based since 2013, now serving 20 million+ users. pCloud's defining feature: lifetime storage plans. Pay once (~€350 for 2 TB), never pay again. No other provider here offers this.
Encryption: Server-side AES-256 by default — pCloud holds the keys. For zero-knowledge, you need pCloud Crypto (€4.99/mo extra or ~€150 lifetime). With Crypto, you hold the key.
Pricing: Premium 500 GB is €4.99/mo. Premium Plus 2 TB is €9.99/mo. Ultra 10 TB is €29.99/mo. Lifetime plans: 500 GB ~€199, 2 TB ~€350, 10 TB €980. Add Crypto lifetime (€150) for a total one-time cost of ~€500 for 2 TB with E2EE.
What's new: June 2025 added LDAP support for enterprise authentication. 20M+ users as of 2025. No security breaches publicly reported in 2025–2026.
Best for: Budget-conscious users who want to pay once and be done — especially for photo/video backup and archiving. Trade-off: No collaboration features; zero-knowledge encryption costs extra; lifetime model raises sustainability questions (though 12+ years of operation is reassuring).
Internxt
The youngest and most forward-thinking provider here. Based in Spain (EU member, GDPR applies directly), Internxt is the first cloud storage company to implement post-quantum encryption — cryptography designed to resist attacks from future quantum computers.
Encryption: Zero-knowledge E2EE with post-quantum encryption based on NIST standards. Internxt cannot access your files, and the encryption is designed to stay secure even against quantum threats.
Pricing: 1 GB free. Essential is €20/yr first year (1 TB), renewing at €120/yr. Premium is €41/yr first year (3 TB), renewing at €240/yr. Watch the renewal pricing — year 2+ is significantly higher than the intro rate.
What's new: €3.3M raised July 2025 plus €1.4M government grant. ISO 27001 certified, second Securitum audit passed with no major vulnerabilities. Building Internxt Meet (video), Mail, and antivirus — a full privacy ecosystem. Added S3-compatible object storage and NAS backup support.
Best for: Security-forward users who want post-quantum encryption today, and early adopters supporting a Spanish privacy-first company. Trade-off: Youngest product, smallest team. VC funding enables innovation but introduces acquisition risk in 3–5 years. Steep renewal pricing after year 1.
Who should use what
There's no single "best" — the right choice depends on your priorities.
If privacy is your top priority: Proton Drive or Internxt. Both offer true zero-knowledge encryption. Proton is more mature with a broader ecosystem. Internxt has post-quantum encryption and a cheaper first year, but steeper renewals.
If you need team collaboration: Infomaniak kDrive. Real-time document editing, 15 GB free, €1.67/user/month for teams of 6. The closest EU equivalent to Google Workspace. Not zero-knowledge, but Swiss-hosted and encrypted at rest.
If you're in a regulated industry: Tresorit. Zero-knowledge RSA-4096, ISO 27001:2022, HIPAA compliant, secure data rooms, and eSign built in. Enterprise pricing (€24/user/month), but that's compliance pricing — you're paying for audit trails regulators accept.
If you want to pay once and be done: pCloud lifetime plans. €350 for 2 TB, add €150 for Crypto (zero-knowledge). Total: €500 one-time. Breaks even vs. subscriptions in 2–3 years. No collaboration, but unbeatable for archival storage.
Our pick for most users
Proton Drive Unlimited at €12.99/month. Zero-knowledge encryption, Swiss jurisdiction, employee-owned (no VC exit pressure), open source and audited by Cure53 — plus you get encrypted email, VPN, passwords, and calendar in one subscription. The collaboration gap is the one real trade-off: if you need Google Docs-style editing today, pair it with kDrive.
Personal take: Our team uses Proton Unlimited for sensitive documents and kDrive for collaborative projects. Both together cost €22.98/month — still less than enterprise Google Workspace (€12/user/month) with far better privacy.
Switching is easier than you think
The general process is the same regardless of which provider you choose:
- Export your files from your current provider (Google Takeout, Dropbox download, OneDrive export)
- Upload to your new EU provider — desktop apps handle large libraries best
- Verify a sample of files across folders to confirm nothing was corrupted or lost
- 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.
Related resources
Products Mentioned
Infomaniak kDrive is a cloud storage and collaboration platform from Geneva-based Infomaniak, Switzerland's largest independent cloud provider. It offers 15 GB free (up to 106 TB on team plans), with real-time document collaboration via an integrated OnlyOffice editor, file versioning up to 100 versions, and end-to-end encryption. All data is stored exclusively in Infomaniak's Swiss data centers, powered by renewable energy.
Internxt is a European cloud storage service that prioritizes privacy and security, offering a robust platform for storing and sharing files with peace of mind. Utilizing end-to-end encryption, Internxt ensures that your files remain confidential, accessible only to you, and never shared with third parties. The service is fully GDPR compliant, with data centers located within the EU, providing users with the assurance of data sovereignty and adherence to strict privacy regulations. Key features include zero-knowledge file access, meaning even Internxt cannot view your files, and cross-platform file synchronization, allowing seamless access across multiple devices. Users can securely share files through encrypted links and benefit from version history to track changes. Internxt is ideal for individuals and businesses that value privacy and need reliable, secure cloud storage. While specific pricing details are not mentioned, Internxt typically offers a range of plans to accommodate different storage needs, ensuring flexibility and affordability. With a focus on privacy and compliance, Internxt stands out as a trustworthy choice for secure cloud storage.
pCloud is a Swiss cloud storage provider founded in 2013 and headquartered in Baar, Switzerland. It offers lifetime storage plans (a rarity in cloud storage), with optional client-side encryption (pCloud Crypto) as an add-on. Free tier includes 10 GB; paid plans offer up to 10 TB with file versioning, sharing, and automatic backups. Data is stored in Luxembourg (EU) or the US, selectable by the user at signup.
Proton Drive is an end-to-end encrypted cloud storage service from Proton AG, the Swiss company behind Proton Mail. Launched in 2022, it encrypts all files and metadata client-side before upload — Proton has zero access to your data. It integrates with the Proton ecosystem (Mail, Calendar, VPN, Pass) and offers photo backup, file versioning, and secure sharing links. Free tier includes 5 GB; paid plans up to 3 TB.
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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