Proton Drive is a privacy-focused cloud storage service from Proton AG, the same Swiss company behind Proton Mail. Its main selling point is end-to-end encryption: your files are designed so that Proton itself cannot read them, and shared files can be protected with passwords and expiration dates.
That makes Proton Drive different from Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and iCloud Drive. It is not trying to be the most powerful collaboration suite first. It is trying to be a safer place for files, photos, documents, and spreadsheets that you do not want scanned, profiled, or casually exposed.
This guide explains what Proton Drive can do in 2026, what the free plan includes, how the paid plans differ, how Proton Docs and Proton Sheets fit in, and when you should choose Proton Drive instead of a more mainstream cloud drive. For a broader look at Proton's email service, see What Is Proton Mail?.
Table of Contents
- What Is Proton Drive?
- What You Get with the Free Plan
- Paid Plans and How to Choose
- How to Start Using Proton Drive
- Basic Usage: Uploading, Sharing, and Sync
- Proton Docs, Proton Sheets, and Proton Mail Integration
- Proton Drive vs Google Drive vs iCloud Drive
- Who Should Use Proton Drive?
- Summary
What Is Proton Drive?
Proton Drive is an encrypted cloud storage service for files, photos, documents, and spreadsheets. Proton describes it as end-to-end encrypted storage where only you and the people you choose can access your files.
Official site: https://proton.me/drive
How It Differs from Mainstream Cloud Storage
Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and iCloud Drive are excellent at convenience. They integrate with operating systems, office suites, search, previews, sharing, and increasingly AI features.
Proton Drive makes a different trade-off. It puts privacy first. Files, sharing, and access controls are designed around encryption. That is valuable if you store contracts, ID scans, financial PDFs, client documents, research material, or personal files you would rather keep out of advertising and profiling systems.
The trade-off is that Proton Drive may feel less powerful for search, automation, and large-team collaboration than Google Drive or Microsoft 365.
Main Features
- End-to-end encrypted cloud storage
- 5 GB free plan
- Paid plans with 200 GB, 500 GB, 2 TB, or 3 TB storage options depending on plan
- Password-protected and expiring share links
- Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android apps
- Photo backup on mobile
- Proton Docs and Proton Sheets
- Integration with the wider Proton ecosystem
In 2026, Proton Drive is no longer just a secure file locker. With Docs and Sheets, it is becoming a privacy-first workspace for everyday documents too.
What You Get with the Free Plan
Proton's current Drive pricing page presents Proton Free as a 5 GB plan. That storage can be used for files, photos, documents, and spreadsheets.
| Item | Free Plan |
|---|---|
| Storage | 5 GB |
| File storage | Yes |
| Photos | Yes |
| Proton Docs / Sheets | Yes |
| Encryption | End-to-end encryption |
| Share links | Yes, with password and expiration options |
| Desktop apps | Windows and macOS |
| Mobile apps | iOS and Android |
Five gigabytes is enough for important documents, PDFs, tax files, ID scans, password-protected archives, and a small set of photos. It is not enough for a full phone camera roll or a large video library.
The best free-plan use case is simple: treat Proton Drive as a secure vault for important files rather than a replacement for your entire cloud storage setup.
Paid Plans and How to Choose
Proton Drive can be upgraded as a standalone storage service, or as part of Proton's larger subscription bundles.
Drive Plus
Drive Plus is the basic paid Drive-focused option. Proton's current Drive page lists it as a 200 GB plan.
| Plan | Storage | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Proton Free | 5 GB | Testing Proton Drive, storing a small vault of important files |
| Drive Plus | 200 GB | Personal documents, work files, PDFs, and moderate photo storage |
If you only need encrypted storage and do not care about Proton VPN, Pass, or premium Mail features, Drive Plus is the cleanest starting point.
Unlimited, Duo, and Family
If you want more than storage, Proton's bundle plans may make more sense.
| Plan | Storage | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Proton Unlimited | 500 GB | One person using Proton Mail, Drive, VPN, Pass, and more |
| Proton Duo | 2 TB | Two people sharing Proton's premium ecosystem |
| Proton Family | 3 TB | A family that wants Proton services under one plan |
Do not compare these only by storage price. The bundle value depends on whether you also want Proton Mail, Proton VPN, Proton Pass, and other Proton services.
Check Current Pricing Before Subscribing
Subscription prices can change by country, billing cycle, currency, and promotion. Before subscribing, check Proton's official pricing page rather than relying on an old article or screenshot.
Official pricing: https://proton.me/drive/pricing
How to Start Using Proton Drive
Account Setup
- Open the Proton Drive official site.
- Create a free Proton account or sign in with an existing Proton account.
- Open the web app.
- Install the Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android app if you want sync or mobile access.
Because Proton's security model is privacy-focused, account recovery matters. After creating your account, review your recovery email and recovery options. Do not treat the password as disposable.
Web, Desktop, and Mobile Apps
| Access Method | Best Use |
|---|---|
| Web app | Occasional uploads, downloads, and browser-based access |
| Windows / macOS app | Syncing folders from your main computer |
| iOS / Android app | Viewing files on the go and backing up photos |
| Proton Docs / Sheets | Editing documents and spreadsheets in the browser |
If you are new to Proton Drive, start with the web app. Add the desktop app only after you know which folders actually belong in encrypted cloud storage.
Basic Usage: Uploading, Sharing, and Sync
Uploading Files
In the web app, you can upload files and folders from your browser. PDFs, images, office documents, ZIP files, and other ordinary file types work well.
For sensitive documents, create folders first. Simple folders such as Contracts, Taxes, ID Documents, Receipts, and Insurance make the drive easier to manage later.
Creating Secure Share Links
Proton Drive supports share links with password protection and expiration dates. This is one of the features that makes it especially useful for sensitive files.
When sharing a file, consider:
- Add a password.
- Set an expiration date.
- Revoke links you no longer need.
- Send the password through a separate channel for sensitive files.
Proton Drive sharing is best when you want controlled access for a specific person and a specific period, not a public collaboration folder that stays open forever.
Desktop Sync
The desktop apps let you sync local folders to Proton Drive. This is useful for work documents, important PDFs, and files you edit regularly.
Be selective. Do not sync an entire video archive or photo library into a 5 GB or 200 GB plan unless you have checked the storage math first.
Proton Docs, Proton Sheets, and Proton Mail Integration
Proton Docs and Sheets
Proton Drive now includes Proton Docs and Proton Sheets. That matters because older comparisons often described Proton Drive as a storage-only product with little collaboration support.
It still is not Google Workspace. Google Docs and Google Sheets have a deeper ecosystem, more integrations, and more mature collaboration workflows. But if your priority is a private online document editor, Proton Docs and Sheets make Proton Drive much more useful than it used to be.
Sending Large Files from Proton Mail
If you use Proton Mail, Proton Drive is a natural place to store large or sensitive files before sharing them. Instead of attaching a large file directly to an email, upload it to Drive, create a protected link, and send that link.
This is especially useful for contracts, invoices, photos, recordings, and documents you do not want floating around as ordinary attachments.
Saving Attachments
For important email attachments, saving them into Proton Drive can be cleaner than leaving everything buried in your inbox. Use folders by purpose so the files remain easy to find later.
For more about encrypted email concepts, see the email encryption guide.
Proton Drive vs Google Drive vs iCloud Drive
| Item | Proton Drive | Google Drive | iCloud Drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 5 GB | 15 GB | 5 GB |
| Main strength | Encryption and privacy | Search, collaboration, Google integration | Apple device integration |
| Online documents | Proton Docs / Sheets | Google Docs / Sheets | Pages / Numbers |
| Share links | Passwords and expiration dates | Strong Google account controls | Convenient for Apple users |
| Photos | Supported | Strong with Google Photos | Strong with iCloud Photos |
| Best use | Sensitive file storage | Collaboration and search | Everyday Apple sync |
My practical recommendation is not to choose only one. Use Google Drive or Microsoft 365 for heavy collaboration, iCloud Drive for Apple device continuity, and Proton Drive for files where privacy matters more than search and automation.
Who Should Use Proton Drive?
Good Fit
- You already use Proton Mail.
- You want encrypted storage for contracts, tax files, ID scans, or client documents.
- You want share links with password and expiration controls.
- You want a privacy-first alternative to Google Drive.
- You want Docs and Sheets without moving everything into Google's ecosystem.
Not the Best Fit
- You need the cheapest possible storage for a huge photo or video library.
- You rely heavily on Google Docs add-ons or Workspace integrations.
- You need powerful full-text search inside every PDF and image.
- Your school or company is already standardized on Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.
For many people, Proton Drive works best as a secure vault, not as the only cloud drive. Keep everyday collaboration where it is easiest, but move sensitive files into Proton Drive.
Summary
Proton Drive is a strong option if you want encrypted cloud storage from a company that puts privacy first. The free plan gives you 5 GB to test the service, while paid options range from Drive Plus to larger Proton bundles such as Unlimited, Duo, and Family.
The biggest update compared with older Proton Drive reviews is that Docs and Sheets are now part of the product. That makes it more useful for everyday documents, though Google Drive and Microsoft 365 remain stronger for large-team collaboration and integrations.
Start with the free plan and move a small set of important files first. If Proton Drive fits your workflow, then consider whether you need more storage only, or whether a broader Proton bundle makes sense.
