Comparison · Cloud storage
Sync.com vs Proton Drive
The two best truly-private clouds — and they're well matched. Both are zero-knowledge, so your files are unreadable to the company either way. The decision comes down to free storage and sharing versus open-source and ecosystem.
Last updated: July 10, 2026 · Researched by the Privacy Intact team (research-based, not a hands-on test); see how we review.
The honest split
What doesn't separate them: privacy. Both use zero-knowledge encryption on every plan, so the provider genuinely can't read your files. The differences are around the edges:
- Sync.com gives you a bigger free plan, polished secure-sharing tools, and a Canadian base with HIPAA/GDPR compliance.
- Proton Drive gives you open-source apps, a Swiss base, and seamless integration if you're in the Proton ecosystem (Mail, VPN, Pass).
Free storage & verifiability
On the free tier, the two are evenly matched — both give you 5 GB, fully zero-knowledge. On verifiability, Proton edges ahead: its apps are open-source and externally audited, so its encryption can be inspected rather than just trusted. Sync counters with compliance certifications (HIPAA, GDPR) that businesses lean on, though its code is closed and self-attested. Two routes to the same destination: storage you don't have to take on faith.
The ecosystem factor
This is often the tiebreaker. If you already use — or want — Proton VPN, Proton Mail or Proton Pass, then Proton Drive slots in for one login and one bill, and its top plan bundles them all. If you just want the best standalone private cloud, Sync.com's bigger free tier and sharing make it the cleaner pick.
So which should you pick?
Pick Sync.com for the most generous free plan, secure sharing, and a standalone private cloud that just works. Pick Proton Drive for open-source verifiability and tight integration with the wider Proton privacy suite. You can't go wrong on privacy with either.
| Sync.com | Proton Drive | |
|---|---|---|
| Zero-knowledge | Yes — all plans | Yes — all plans |
| Free storage | 5 GB | 5 GB |
| Open-source | No | Yes |
| Based in | Canada | Switzerland |
| Best for | Standalone private cloud | Proton-ecosystem users |
FAQ
Sync.com vs Proton Drive, answered
Sync.com or Proton Drive — which is better?
Both are genuinely zero-knowledge, so neither is more 'private' in the way that counts — your files are unreadable to the company either way. Choose Sync.com for the most generous free plan, secure file sharing and a Canadian base; choose Proton Drive for open-source apps, a Swiss base, and tight integration if you already use Proton Mail, VPN or Pass.
Which has the better free plan?
They're evenly matched: both offer 5 GB free, with full zero-knowledge encryption on the free tier, so both are genuinely private. Pick on the other factors — Sync's secure sharing and Canadian base, or Proton's open-source apps and Swiss ecosystem.
Is Proton Drive more trustworthy because it's open-source?
Open-source is a real plus — it means Proton Drive's apps can be independently inspected rather than taken on trust. Sync.com isn't open-source but uses well-understood encryption and is widely audited in practice through its compliance certifications. Both are credible; Proton just leans further into 'verify, don't trust.'