2 Best European iCloud Alternatives in 2026

Proton Drive is the end-to-end encrypted cloud storage service from Proton, the Swiss privacy company behind ProtonMail. Every file is encrypted on your device before upload — not even Proton can access your data — and shared links can be password-protected with expiry dates. It includes Proton Docs and Sheets for encrypted real-time document and spreadsheet collaboration.

Available on web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, Proton Drive syncs files automatically via a desktop folder. 5 GB of free storage is included with every Proton account, with upgrades that bundle Mail, Calendar, VPN, and Pass. An open-source codebase allows independent cryptographic verification by any researcher.

Key benefits:

• Client-side E2E encryption — files are encrypted before leaving your device
• 5 GB free storage with every Proton account, no credit card required
• Password-protected sharing with configurable expiry on shared links
• Automatic mobile photo backups with encrypted collaborative album sharing
• Proton Docs and Sheets for encrypted real-time collaborative document editing
• Desktop sync folder on Windows and macOS for automatic file synchronisation
• Open-source code for independent cryptographic audit by the community

Proton AG is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, which operates under some of the world's strictest privacy laws, outside U.S. and UK jurisdiction. The service is GDPR-compliant, holds ISO 27001 certification, and is audited by independent security researchers. Switzerland's constitutional privacy protections and absence of mandatory data retention laws provide a legal framework stronger than most EU alternatives.

Part of the Proton ecosystem trusted by over 100 million users worldwide — from journalists and activists to enterprises requiring sovereign data storage.