---
title: "Google Drive and Dropbox alternatives from Europe: six services compared"
description: "Filen, Koofr, Jottacloud, kDrive, Proton Drive and pCloud side by side: who owns them, where your files sit, who can read them, what 200 GB and 2 TB cost."
canonical: https://eualts.com/google-drive-dropbox-alternatives-from-europe
published: 2026-11-14
checked: 2026-11-08
language: en
---

# Google Drive and Dropbox alternatives from Europe: six services compared

Filen, Koofr, Jottacloud, kDrive, Proton Drive and pCloud side by side: who owns them, where your files sit, who can read them, what 200 GB and 2 TB cost.

Only two of these six European services encrypt your files by default so that the company can't read them: Filen, from Germany, and Proton Drive, from Switzerland. Filen is much the cheaper of the two. If you are happy for the provider to hold the keys, Infomaniak sells 1 TB for €19 a year, less than Google charges for 100 GB.

Below, each one gets the three answers from [Is it really European?](https://eualts.com/is-it-really-european), plus what it costs, who can read your files and how the apps compare. Google Drive and Dropbox are in the last columns for reference.

## At a glance

| | Filen | Koofr | Jottacloud | kDrive (Infomaniak) | Proton Drive | pCloud | Google Drive | Dropbox |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owned | Germany | Slovenia | Norway (Europe, not EU) | Switzerland (Europe, not EU) | Switzerland (Europe, not EU) | Unknown | United States | United States |
| Headquartered | Germany | Slovenia | Norway (Europe, not EU) | Switzerland (Europe, not EU) | Switzerland (Europe, not EU) | Switzerland (Europe, not EU) | United States | United States |
| Hosted | Germany | Germany, at Hetzner | Norway, its own servers | Switzerland, its own data centres | Switzerland, Germany and Norway, its own servers | Luxembourg or the US, your choice | Worldwide | United States; EU only for some business plans |
| End-to-end encrypted | Yes, always | Optional folder, free | No | No | Yes, always | Paid add-on | No | Advanced plan only |
| Free storage | 10 GiB | 10 GB | 5 GB | 15 GB | 5 GB | Up to 10 GB | 15 GB | 2 GB |

## What it costs per year

| | About 200 GB | About 2 TB |
|---|---|---|
| **Filen** | €19.99 (200 GiB) | €89.99 (2 TiB) |
| **Koofr** | €48 (250 GB) | €240 (2.5 TB) |
| **Jottacloud** | None; 1 TB for NOK 790 (about €75) | Unlimited for NOK 1,290 (about €123) |
| **Infomaniak** | None; my kSuite+, 1 TB, for €19 | kDrive Solo, 3 TB, for €59.88 before VAT |
| **Proton** | €47.88 (200 GB) | Duo, €179.88 (2 TB for two people) |
| **pCloud** | None; €49.99 (500 GB) | €99.99 (2 TB) |
| **Google One** | None; €19.99 (100 GB) | €99.99 (2 TB, with Gemini) |
| **Dropbox** | None | €119.88 (2 TB) |

Each figure is the cheapest way to pay for twelve months, as published on 8 November 2026 and shown to a visitor in the Netherlands. Koofr and my kSuite+ include VAT, and kDrive Solo doesn't; the others don't state it clearly. Jottacloud lists Norwegian kroner only, so its euro figures are converted at the European Central Bank's rate of 6 November. Sources: [Filen](https://filen.io/pricing), [Koofr](https://koofr.eu/pricing/), [Jottacloud](https://jottacloud.com/en/pricing/), [my kSuite](https://www.infomaniak.com/en/ksuite/myksuite/prices), [kDrive](https://www.infomaniak.com/en/ksuite/kdrive/prices), [Proton](https://proton.me/drive/pricing), [pCloud](https://www.pcloud.com/cloud-storage-pricing-plans.html), [Google One](https://one.google.com/about/plans), [Dropbox](https://www.dropbox.com/plans).

Filen sells storage in binary units, so its 200 GiB is about 215 GB and its 2 TiB about 2.2 TB. Jottacloud's Unlimited is for one user and [slows uploads gradually after 5 TB](https://jottacloud.com/en/pricing/). pCloud also sells lifetime plans, once only: €219 for 500 GB and €499 for 2 TB.

## Owned: who controls them

**Filen: Germany.** Filen Cloud Dienste UG is based in Recklinghausen ([imprint](https://filen.io/imprint)). Its co-founder and chief executive Jan Lenczyk holds 60%, according to the latest shareholder list in the German commercial register (HRB 8896, filed in February 2023).

**Koofr: Slovenia.** Four founders hold 80% between them, and the company holds the other 20% as its own shares ([Slovenian business register](https://www.ajpes.si/prs/podjetje.asp?s=1&e=544625)).

**Jottacloud: Norway (Europe, not EU).** Since 2025, Jotta Group has been a joint venture of Hawk Infinity and Telenor, both Norwegian, each with half of the control ([Telenor](https://www.telenor.com/media/newsroom/press-releases/jottacloud-and-telenor-software-lab-merge/), [Norwegian Competition Authority](https://konkurransetilsynet.no/fusjoner/hawk-infinity-as-telenor-communication-ii-as-jt-bidco-as-etablering-av-nytt-fullfunksjons-fellesforetak/)).

**kDrive: Switzerland (Europe, not EU).** Infomaniak [listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange](https://news.infomaniak.com/en/infomaniak-listed-swiss-stock-exchange-six/) on 1 October 2026, and the Infomaniak Foundation keeps the majority of the votes through unlisted shares.

**Proton Drive: Switzerland (Europe, not EU).** Proton AG's [main shareholder is the Proton Foundation](https://proton.me/support/who-owns-protonmail), a Swiss non-profit.

**pCloud: Unknown.** pCloud International AG is based in Baar, Switzerland ([terms](https://www.pcloud.com/terms_and_conditions.html)). Its sister company pCloud AG tells the [LEI register](https://search.gleif.org/#/record/5067009L9X08LA832565) that it is controlled by natural persons, without naming them, and Swiss companies don't have to publish their shareholders. So we can't say who controls it.

**Google Drive: United States.** Larry Page and Sergey Brin together held 52.7% of the votes in Alphabet in April 2026 ([proxy statement](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001652044/000130817926000342/goog-20260424.htm)).

**Dropbox: United States.** Co-founder Drew Houston held 82.4% of the votes in March 2026 ([proxy statement](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1467623/000146762326000020/dbx-20260407.htm)).

## Where your files sit

**Filen** keeps files on servers in Germany and calls them self-hosted ([privacy](https://filen.io/privacy), [status update](https://filen.io/hub/status-update-august-september-2026/)). A DNS lookup on 8 November showed its upload servers in a network registered to the German hosting company myLoc.

**Koofr** stores files in Germany, in ISO 27001 data centres, on servers its own team manages ([privacy](https://koofr.eu/privacy/)). They are at Hetzner, a German company.

**Jottacloud** runs its own storage in Green Mountain's data centre near Stavanger, Norway ([Jottacloud](https://docs.jottacloud.com/en/articles/1937299-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr-at-jottacloud)).

**kDrive** keeps each file on three devices in two of Infomaniak's own data centres in Switzerland ([kDrive](https://www.infomaniak.com/en/ksuite/kdrive)).

**Proton Drive** uses servers Proton owns and runs in Switzerland, Germany and Norway ([Proton](https://proton.me/drive/file-storage)). We found no way to choose among them.

**pCloud** asks you to choose at sign-up: Luxembourg or Dallas. Moving later costs a one-time fee of $19.99 ([pCloud](https://www.pcloud.com/data-regions.html)). It doesn't name the company that runs the Luxembourg data centre.

**Google Drive** files can sit anywhere in Google's global network, and [choosing a region](https://support.google.com/a/answer/7630496) is limited to certain Workspace plans.

**Dropbox** stores files in the [United States](https://help.dropbox.com/security/physical-location-data-storage). EU storage needs a team plan with at least ten licences.

## Who can read your files

**Filen** encrypts everything on your device before upload, on every plan ([Filen](https://filen.io/products/desktop)). It says an independent audit is [still to come](https://filen.io/hub/status-update-august-september-2026/).

**Proton Drive** does the same, file names included ([Proton](https://proton.me/drive/security)). Its last public audit we could find covered the mobile apps, [in 2023](https://proton.me/blog/drive-mobile-apps-open-source). The reporting on Proton's internal AI push in October is covered in our [ChatGPT comparison](https://eualts.com/chatgpt-alternatives-from-europe).

**Koofr** holds the keys to ordinary files on separate servers ([privacy](https://koofr.eu/privacy/)). Its open-source [Vault](https://koofr.eu/help/privacy-and-safety-on-koofr/can-i-use-client-side-encryption-with-koofr/) folder, free on every plan, encrypts on your device, but Koofr's own sync app [can't sync it](https://koofr.eu/help/koofr-vault/can-i-sync-files-with-koofr-vault/).

**pCloud** encrypts on your device only inside its Crypto folder, an add-on at €49.99 a year ([pCloud](https://www.pcloud.com/encrypted-cloud-storage.html)). In 2024, researchers reported [severe flaws in the encryption](https://brokencloudstorage.info/) of pCloud and three other services. In early 2026, some users reported seeing other customers' file and folder names; [Gizmodo](https://gizmodo.com/best-cloud-storage/pcloud) reports that pCloud told those affected it hit a limited number of accounts, and says it found no public statement.

**Jottacloud** doesn't support [keys you hold yourself](https://docs.jottacloud.com/en/articles/1292923-does-jottacloud-support-private-encryption-keys), and staff may view files in [special support cases](https://docs.jottacloud.com/en/articles/1292935-can-anyone-see-my-files), after telling you.

**kDrive** encrypts files at rest with keys Infomaniak holds ([trust centre](https://www.infomaniak.com/en/trust-center)). A safe with your own key is [listed as coming soon](https://www.infomaniak.com/en/ksuite/kdrive/help).

## Sharing with family

| | Family option | People | Storage | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Proton** | Family | 6 | 3 TB shared | €287.88 |
| **Jottacloud** | Home | 5, at the same address | 1 TB or 5 TB shared | NOK 790 or NOK 1,590 |
| **Infomaniak** | kDrive Team | 6 | From 3 TB shared | €120 before VAT |
| **pCloud** | Family | 5 | 2 TB, split by the owner | Lifetime only, €749 once |
| **Google One** | Any paid plan | 6 | The plan's storage, shared | Same as the plan |
| **Dropbox** | Family | 6 | 2 TB shared | Not on its website |

Filen and Koofr have no family plan. Jottacloud's limit is [its own rule](https://docs.jottacloud.com/en/articles/1553031-what-is-considered-a-family-member-in-jottacloud): members must live at your address. Sources: [Proton](https://proton.me/family), [Jottacloud](https://docs.jottacloud.com/en/articles/1553077-how-is-storage-shared-between-the-members-of-a-home-subscription), [kDrive](https://www.infomaniak.com/en/ksuite/kdrive/prices), [pCloud](https://www.pcloud.com/family.html), [Google](https://one.google.com/about/plans), [Dropbox](https://help.dropbox.com/plans/dropbox-family-plan).

## The desktop apps

| | Linux | Files that stay online until opened |
|---|---|---|
| **Filen** | Yes | Yes, as a network drive |
| **Koofr** | Yes | Network drive only |
| **Jottacloud** | Command line only | No |
| **kDrive** | Officially Ubuntu only | Windows and Mac only |
| **Proton Drive** | Command line only | On Windows |
| **pCloud** | Yes | Yes |
| **Google Drive** | No | Yes |
| **Dropbox** | Yes | Yes |

All six European services have apps for Windows and Mac, and for iPhone and Android with automatic photo upload. Sources: [Filen](https://filen.io/products/desktop), [Koofr](https://koofr.eu/features/), [Jottacloud](https://jottacloud.com/en/features/), [kDrive](https://www.infomaniak.com/en/ksuite/kdrive/help), [Proton](https://proton.me/drive/roadmap), [pCloud](https://www.pcloud.com/help/drive-help-center/whats-the-difference-between-pcloud-drive-and-pcloud-sync), [Google](https://support.google.com/drive/answer/2375082?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop), [Dropbox](https://help.dropbox.com/installs/linux-commands). Proton says a Linux app is [planned](https://proton.me/blog/2026-autumn-winter-roadmaps).

Proton's Windows app calls the feature in the last column [Optimize storage](https://proton.me/support/proton-drive-windows-app). Jottacloud's [Backup](https://docs.jottacloud.com/en/articles/1394144-the-difference-between-the-backup-and-sync-folders) only mirrors your computer to the cloud; two-way sync happens in its Sync folder.

## Moving your files

Three of them can fetch your files from Google Drive or Dropbox for you:

- **Koofr** connects to both on any paid plan, and you copy across inside Koofr ([how](https://koofr.eu/help/connect-other-cloud-services/can-i-transfer-all-my-files-folders-from-other-cloud-services-to-koofr-because-i-dont-want-to-have-other-cloud-services-anymore/)). There is a [daily limit](https://koofr.eu/help/connect-other-cloud-services/external-clouds-transfer-limits/) by plan.
- **pCloud** makes a one-time copy from both, at most once every 28 days ([how](https://help.pcloud.com/article/back-up-files-from-third-party-services-to-pcloud)).
- **kDrive** has a one-time [import wizard](https://www.infomaniak.com/en/support/faq/2406/import-external-data-into-kdrive) for Dropbox and others, on paid kDrive plans. Google Drive goes through a [guide using rclone](https://www.infomaniak.com/en/support/faq/2408/kdrive-manually-recovering-data-from-another-cloud), which doesn't cover my kSuite.

For the rest you export and upload. [Google Takeout](https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/3024190) gives you ZIP files of up to 50 GB each, and the links last about a week. Dropbox's website [caps a folder download](https://help.dropbox.com/sync/download-entire-folders) at 250 GB and fewer than 10,000 files, so use its desktop app for more. Proton says a direct import from Google Drive is [on its roadmap](https://proton.me/blog/2026-autumn-winter-roadmaps). The free tool [rclone](https://rclone.org/overview/) works with most of these services and can copy directly from one to another.

## Also European, but not in the table

- **Tresorit** is end-to-end encrypted and has been [majority-owned by Swiss Post](https://tresorit.com/blog/tresorits-majority-of-stakes-acquired-by-swiss-post) since 2021.
- **Internxt** is in Valencia. It lists [outside investors](https://internxt.com/about) and doesn't say who controls it.
- **IONOS HiDrive** and **STRATO HiDrive** are German and part of the [United Internet](https://www.strato.de/impressum/) group.
- **Hetzner Storage Share** is a managed [Nextcloud](https://www.hetzner.com/storage/storage-share/), from €4.29 a month before VAT for 1 TB. Other companies [host Nextcloud](https://nextcloud.com/providers/) too, so the answers depend on the host.

MEGA gives a [Hungarian head office](https://mega.io/about), but we couldn't establish who owns it. Sync.com, which comes up in the same lists, is [Canadian](https://www.sync.com/about/).

## Which one fits

Different needs point to different services.

- **Encrypted so that nobody else can read it, for the least money:** Filen, knowing that it has no independent audit yet.
- **The most storage for the money, if the provider may hold the keys:** Infomaniak's my kSuite+ or kDrive Solo. Swiss, so "Europe, not EU".
- **A family:** Proton Family, or Jottacloud Home if everyone lives under one roof.
- **Owner and servers both inside the EU:** Filen or Koofr.
- **The easiest move from Google Drive or Dropbox:** Koofr.