Proton Drive Review 2026: Tested for 60 Days
Our verdict
Proton Drive is the best encrypted cloud storage for Proton ecosystem users. It’s the only major encrypted storage backed by a full privacy ecosystem (Mail, VPN, Pass, Calendar), with Swiss jurisdiction and open-source clients. After 60 days, we found its E2EE implementation solid, though the feature set is still catching up to Tresorit and Sync.com.
If you already use Proton Mail, the Unlimited plan at $9.99/mo bundling 500 GB storage with all Proton apps is exceptional value.
Key features
- End-to-end encryption on all files and metadata (zero-knowledge)
- 5 GB free tier with full E2EE
- Part of Proton ecosystem (Mail, VPN, Pass, Calendar)
- Open-source clients for transparency
- Cross-platform sync (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, web)
- Encrypted file sharing with password-protected links
- Encrypted photo backup with E2EE
Pros
- Zero-knowledge architecture means Proton cannot read your files
- Swiss jurisdiction with strong constitutional privacy protections
- Open-source clients auditable by anyone
- Generous 5 GB free tier with full encryption
- Proton Unlimited bundles everything for $9.99/mo
Cons
- Relatively new (2022 launch), still maturing features
- No Linux desktop sync client (CLI only)
- Storage caps lower than competitors at similar price points
- Limited collaboration features (no real-time co-editing)
- No lifetime plan option
Pricing breakdown
| Plan | Price | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 5 GB |
| Drive Plus | $3.99/mo (annual) | 200 GB |
| Proton Unlimited | $9.99/mo (annual) | 500 GB + all Proton apps |
| Proton Duo | $14.99/mo (annual) | 1 TB (2 users) |
| Proton Family | $19.99/mo (annual) | 3 TB (up to 6 users) |
Who should use Proton Drive
- Proton ecosystem users who want unified privacy tools
- Privacy-first individuals valuing Swiss jurisdiction
- Users wanting a free E2EE option to get started
- Open-source advocates wanting auditable code
Who should NOT use Proton Drive
- Business/compliance users — Tresorit has HIPAA, ISO 27001 certifications
- Users needing maximum storage per dollar — Sync.com offers 1 TB at $5/mo
- Collaboration-heavy teams needing real-time co-editing
- Linux desktop users needing a full GUI sync client
Related
- Tresorit Review — best for compliance
- Sync.com Review — best value per TB
- Proton Drive vs Tresorit — head-to-head
- Best Encrypted Email — complete your Proton stack
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Proton Drive worth it?
Yes, especially for Proton ecosystem users. Proton Drive offers zero-knowledge E2EE on all files including metadata, a 5 GB free tier, and Swiss jurisdiction. It's ideal if you already use Proton Mail or VPN.
How much does Proton Drive cost?
Proton Drive offers 5 GB free. Drive Plus is $3.99/mo for 200 GB. Proton Unlimited ($9.99/mo) includes 500 GB plus Mail, VPN, Pass, and Calendar.
What are Proton Drive's biggest downsides?
The product launched in 2022 and is still maturing, there's no Linux desktop sync client (CLI only), storage caps are lower than competitors at similar price points, and collaboration features are limited.