Proton Drive compared: pricing model, features, assessment

At Proton Drive, end-to-end encryption is standard, even in the free plan. According to the privacy policy, all stored files are protected this way, and Proton cannot decrypt the data. Metadata such as file names, folder names and thumbnails are encrypted too. In addition, Proton cryptographically signs all content so you can check whether a file has been altered.

For you, this means: even someone with access to the servers would see neither the contents nor the file names of your projects. You can additionally protect your account with two-factor authentication, which Proton offers in all plans, including with a security key.

Proton Drive comes from Proton AG, based near Geneva in Switzerland. According to the privacy policy, data is stored exclusively on servers in Switzerland, Germany or Norway, always encrypted. The servers are owned and operated by Proton or its subsidiaries. Whether you can choose one of these locations specifically is not clear from the sources reviewed.

You don't need to request the data processing agreement separately: it is part of the contract under Proton's terms and applies to any business or organisation using the services, regardless of legal form. That includes you as a freelancer. The agreement is available in English.

In the free plan, Proton Drive keeps up to 10 versions of each file for up to 7 days; this cannot be changed. In the paid plans, such as Drive Plus, Unlimited and Duo, you keep up to 200 versions per file and set how long they stay yourself – up to 10 years. If you restore an older version, the newer ones are kept.

Deleted files go to the trash and are only permanently deleted once you remove them there. Proton does not mention an automatic deletion period. Keep in mind, though: everything in the trash still counts towards your storage. If you restore a file from your computer's recycle bin, Proton uploads it as a new file; restoring via the trash in Proton Drive is the better option.

Proton Drive is available as an app for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, as well as in the browser. With the Windows app, you select folders on your computer that are synced with the cloud; according to the help pages, this works for up to 10 Windows devices. This is synchronisation, not a one-way backup.

Proton does not offer a desktop app for Linux, but there is a command-line tool (CLI) for Linux, macOS and Windows that you can use to automate workflows. Proton does not mention a NAS app or access via WebDAV or SFTP. If you want to back up your NAS, you have to handle it yourself via the command line or add another service.

You get 5 GB for free. The pure storage plan is called Drive Plus and offers 200 GB. More space is only available in bundles: Proton Unlimited with 500 GB additionally includes Proton Mail, VPN, Calendar and Pass, Proton Duo offers 2 TB for up to 2 users, Proton Family 3 TB for up to 6 users. For teams there is Drive Professional with storage per user.

You pay monthly or yearly; yearly payment is discounted and, according to the pricing page, billed every 12 months. Paid plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Whether the euro prices include VAT is not stated on the pricing page. Current prices are on Proton's pricing page.

In our view, Proton Drive suits you if you want to store project files, contracts or unpublished photos so that nobody except you and the people you share with can read them. You protect shares with a password and expiry date and can revoke them at any time. The long version history helps when you need to go back to an older state after weeks.

For large RAW or video archives you need a bundle with more storage. Proton Drive is not designed as an automatic backup of a NAS or a Linux computer without your own scripts; here it is better to add a service with WebDAV or NAS support.