Selecting the right cloud storage company is an overwhelming task. With so many solutions to choose from, it isn't easy to analyze, compare, and select the one that's right for your needs. If you are struggling to find the right and the best cloud storage solution in Europe, this article compares three of the leading European cloud storage companies: pCloud vs Livedrive vs Tresorit.

Cloud storage is now an important part of our daily lives. Not only businesses but individuals have lots of data and files that they need to store online securely. The primary benefit of having your files stored in the cloud is accessibility. You can access your files from any device irrespective of your location. Security, ease-of-use. sharing and collaboration, and backup are some of the other benefits.

But what's the best cloud storage solution in Europe that will not disappoint you? Let's dig in...

Data Security and Privacy

Security and privacy are the major features that you need to consider when selecting a cloud storage solution. Your data must be encrypted when it is in transit and at rest at the server. The TLS/SSL is used for data protection during transit. The Transport Layer Security (TLS) is the advanced and upgraded version of SSL so any storage solution that uses TLS protocol for data security must be your top priority.

Data encryption, on the other hand, ensures that your data is secured at-rest. Storage companies use Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 128-bit or 256-bit encryption. AES 256-bit encryption is stronger and better than 128-bit so your preferences must be a company that offers AES 256-bit encryption.

Livedrive

Livedrive uses TLS protocol to protect your files in transit and you can encrypt your stored files using AES 256-bit encryption. Your data is stored on its server in an encrypted format but the decryption key stays with the Livedrive making it less secure. It masks customer file information when the data is on its servers. Also, the data is split and stored in different systems to ensure protection at-rest. It uses 2-factor authentication as an added layer of account security.

Livedrive states that it can share your personal data with legal authorities, its external advisors, and even third parties. Section H of its privacy policy clearly states when and how your data can be shared:

Tresorit

Tresorit uses the TLS protocol with end-to-end encryption on the client-side using AES 256-bit. The encryption and decryption of the data is done on the client-side making it a secure cloud storage company. The data on the server is stored in the encrypted format and the encrypted keys aren't sent to the server. It uses two-step account verification making your account and data more secure.

Tresorit has a strong privacy policy. Your data is encrypted at your device meaning the decryption key is always with you and Tresorit doesn't have access to it. However, it does collect and process personal data to provide you the necessary services.

pCloud

pCloud uses both SSL and TLS protocols for your data security in transit. The data at rest is encrypted with AES 256-bit encryption. The encryption is done on the client-side and the decryption key stays on your device and isn't sent to its server. This makes your encrypted data fully secured. The encrypted files are replicated and stored on multiple servers ensuring additional security and backup. It is called pCloud crypto that is one of the most secure and unbreakable encryption technologies. The two-factor authentication is a cherry on the top.

pCloud has a powerful zero-knowledge privacy policy. The company doesn't have access to your stored files. Your data is fully secured as a crypto pass (the decryption key) is stored at your device and isn't stored on the server. Your data in transit and at rest is encrypted and is of no use for anyone without the crypto pass.

Verdict

Both pCloud and Tresorit have similar security protocols and privacy policies ensuring full data security and privacy. Livedrive, however, lacks in terms of privacy as well as security.

Ease of Use

Ease-of-use, user interface, learning curve, and user experience are important aspects of a cloud storage company. It must have a straightforward interface and you must be able to access your files across multiple devices (e.g. smartphone, web, and desktop).

Let's see how these three European cloud storage companies cater to user experience and ease-of-use.

Livedrive

Livedrive has a simple, easy-to-use dashboard. You can choose what folders you want to back up to get started. You can access your account on the web, desktop, Mac, and mobile devices. The user interface for all the platforms is simple and clean. It has a minimal learning curve and you'll be able to get started right away without any help.

However, Livedrive has several in-depth tutorials and guides for its users.

Tresorit

Tresorit has a much better user interface that's more detailed. It comes with a drag-and-drop feature that simplifies adding files and folders. It has a web version, desktop software, and mobile apps for Android and iOS.

Getting used to the interface and understanding terms like 'tresor' will need time. Everything you have to upload in your account must go inside a tresor (that's equivalent to the folder). You'll have to create at least one tresor or convert an existing folder before you can upload your data.

Overall, the design, layout, and speed of the software and app are impressive.

pCloud

pCloud has a clean, quick, and easy-to-use dashboard that doesn't have any learning curve. It offers software for Windows, Mac, and Linux making it one of the few European cloud storage companies that offer desktop software for Linux. The mobile app is available for Android and iOS. The web interface has more features and has a user-friendly design.

The best part: It has a browser extension that lets you save files from the internet (e.g. images and videos) directly to your pCloud account. The browser extension is available for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.

Unlike other cloud storage solutions, pCloud doesn't use your computer space rather it creates a virtual hard disk on your computer.

Overall, the design, layout, structure, user-experience, and app speed are up to the mark making it an exceptionally easy-to-use and user-friendly option.

Verdict

All the three cloud storage companies are exceptionally easy-to-use but pCloud stands out from the crowd with its interface, browser extension, and Linux software.

Features

What features your cloud storage company offers you makes a lot of difference in user experience and satisfaction. Keeping everything else aside, a feature-rich solution must be your first choice. Let's see how these three companies compare in terms of features.

Livedrive

Livedrive isn't a feature-rich cloud storage company, unfortunately. It comes with the basic features that are rather disappointing. The best thing, however, is that you get unlimited online storage, but you can't access your storage from multiple devices.

It comes with a briefcase feature that acts as an additional drive on your hard disk that's fully synced across devices. This isn't available with the basic backup plan though.

Here is an overview of the major features:

• Mobile photo and video backup

• Ability to view photos

• File sharing and FTP

• Restore deleted files

• Play stored audio files.

Tresorit

Tresorit offers you a lot of features ranging from productivity to file sharing to syncing and more. The major features include:

• Access account from 10 different devices

• File sharing

• Zero-knowledge encryption

• Unlimited version recovery

• Device and link management

• Support for 10GB file size

• Priority email support

pCloud

When it comes to features, pCloud stands out from the crowd and offers you a wide range of features that help you do a lot with your account. It offers you file management, file and folder sharing, backup, and several other essential features including:

• Collaboration feature

• Ability to brand your share links

• Automatic sync

• Automatic upload of phone photos

• Unlimited file size

• Built-in audio and video player

• Instantly backup data from other cloud storage companies including Google Drive, Dropbox, and others

• Rewind account feature

• Data recovery and historical file access

• Document preview

• Third-party integration.

Verdict

Livedrive comes with basic features while Tresorit offers several basic and advanced features to its users. pCloud does an exceptional job in terms of the features it offers.

Price

Pricing is an important factor that breaks or makes the deal. No matter how cool the features are, if you can't afford a cloud storage solution, nothing will work. Let's see three solutions compare in terms of pricing.

Livedrive

Livedrive offers three premium plans. All plans come with a 14 days free trial. The starting price is £6.99 per month for the backup plan that comes with restrictions and doesn't have a briefcase feature. If you want to get a briefcase plan, it will cost you £10 per month with 2TB of briefcase storage. The Pro Suite comes with both backup and briefcase with 5TB briefcase storage, unlimited backup storage, and 5 user accounts.

The business plans start at £30 per month for 3 users with 2TB cloud storage and £100 per month for 10 users with 10TB storage.

Tresorit

Tresorit offers three plans for personal use including a free plan that offers up to 5GB storage. The premium plans come with a 14-days free trial. The Premium plan is priced at $12.50 per month that comes with 500GB storage space. The Solo is priced at $30 per month with 2.5TB storage.

The business plans start at $18 per month with 1TB storage. You can opt for scalable storage with the enterprise plan that costs $30 per month.

pCloud

pCloud has a very flexible pricing model. You can choose to pay monthly, yearly, or lifetime. It offers two premium plans with a starting price of $4.99 per month, $59.88 per year, or $175 one-time payment, and you get 500GB storage. You can switch to an upgraded premium plan with 2TB storage for $9.99 per month or $350 one-time payment. 

You can try pCloud free that comes with up to 10GB storage. The business plan has a starting price of $29.97 per month with 1TB storage and for a minimum of 3 users. You can try the business plan free for 30 days. pCloud also offers a family plan with 2TB storage for up to 5 users. It costs $500 once for the lifetime family plan.

Verdict

pCloud isn't just the most affordable cloud storage company but it offers flexible payment terms to its users. Livedrive is competitively priced and Tresorit is the most expensive among the three.

What's the Right Choice for You?

All three European cloud storage solutions provide quality data storage and backup services but what's the best among the three?

Overall, pCloud offers security, has a strict privacy policy, is easy-to-use, feature-rich, and affordable. Tresorit charges a lot more for offering similar kinds of services and features. Livedrive has affordable business plans but it offers the basic services and features.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to your specific requirements. What exactly do you want to achieve from your cloud company? Are you interested in a cross-device solution? Do you prefer features? Are you looking for a cheap cloud storage company?

See what cloud company meets your needs and go for it.