Backing up photos to the cloud is no longer optional. Our phones hold years of memories, important documents, and videos that cannot be replaced. Phones can get lost, damaged, or stolen at any time. Automatic cloud backup makes sure your photos stay safe without you having to think about it every day.
Google Photos is the most popular option for many users. But it comes with a big limitation. Google only gives 15GB of free storage, and this space is shared across Google Photos, Gmail, and Google Drive. This fills up very quickly, especially if you take photos and videos often. Once the storage is full, you are forced to upgrade to a Google One plan and keep paying every year. This is where alternatives like pCloud become worth considering.
Also read: Best Cloud Storage Services For Photos
Understanding Google Photos pricing first
Google Photos works on a subscription model. It is included in the Google One membership.
- 2TB Google One plan costs $99.99 (or ₹19,500) per year
- 200GB plan costs $29.99 (or ₹2,100) per year
- 100GB plan costs $19.99 (or ₹1,300) per year
As long as you keep paying, your photos stay accessible. If you stop paying, uploads stop, and your account can face restrictions. Over many years, this has become expensive, especially for users who only want reliable photo backup.
pCloud follows a very different approach.
pCloud offers both yearly plans and lifetime plans. The lifetime option is what makes it stand out. You pay once and own the storage for the lifetime of your account.
For example, pCloud’s lifetime plans are priced roughly like this:
- 500GB for a one-time payment of about $199 (~ ₹17,999)
- 2TB for a one-time payment of about $399 (~ ₹35,999)
- 10TB for a one-time payment of about $1,190 (~ ₹1,09,999)
If you plan to back up photos for many years, pCloud becomes cheaper than Google Photos after three to four years. There are no monthly or yearly payments after that.
Even if you look at yearly pricing, it looks cheaper.
- 500GB annual plan: $49.99 per year (~ ₹4,199)
- 2TB annual plan: about $99.99 per year (~ ₹8,399)
- 10TB annual plan: about $199.99 per year (~ ₹16,799)
Another important thing to note than 2TB seems too much while 200GB is not enough. But Google Photos doesn’t have a 500GB storage plan, while you get the same in pCloud.
Why pCloud can be better for photo backup
pCloud offers automatic photo backup on both Android and iOS. Once enabled, it works quietly in the background, just like Google Photos. You can also choose to automatically remove photos from your phone after they are uploaded, which helps free up local storage.
You also do not need to care about privacy when you use pCloud. pCloud is based in Switzerland, a country known for strict data privacy laws. It also offers an optional Crypto folder with zero-knowledge encryption. This means only you have the key to your photos. Even pCloud cannot see them. Google Photos does not offer this level of privacy, as Google controls the encryption keys.
pCloud also allows you to choose where your data is stored, either in Europe or the United States. This gives users more control over their data location.
Performance is another advantage. pCloud uses block-level sync, which means only changes are uploaded instead of the entire file. This results in faster syncing, especially when you edit photos or videos.
There is also a built-in media player. You can stream photos and videos directly from the cloud without downloading them first. pCloud also offers a simple tool to import your existing Google Photos library, which makes switching much easier.
Pros of using pCloud for photos
- pCloud offers a true lifetime storage option with a one-time payment.
- It provides stronger privacy and optional zero-knowledge encryption.
- Automatic photo backup works smoothly on mobile devices.
- Swiss privacy laws offer better data protection.
- It is more affordable in the long run compared to yearly subscriptions.
Cons of pCloud you should know
- pCloud does not match Google Photos when it comes to AI features like face recognition and object search.
- The Crypto folder requires an extra payment.
- Photo organization tools are more basic compared to Google Photos.
Wrap Up
Google Photos is still excellent if you rely heavily on smart search, face recognition, and automatic album creation. It feels magical and very polished. However, it comes with ongoing costs and limited free storage.
pCloud is a better choice for users who care about long term photo backup, privacy, and ownership. If you want to pay once, avoid subscriptions, and keep your personal photos truly private, pCloud is a strong and affordable alternative to Google Photos in 2025.
