pCloud Backup vs Sync: What's the Difference & How to Choose

Hello, I'd like to understand the difference between the two features offered by pCloud: pCloud Backup and pCloud Sync. Additionally, which of these functions allows me to upload only one folder to the cloud, where it's merely duplicated in the cloud without affecting the local copy? I've heard that, whether it's backup or sync, if I delete a folder on my computer, the corresponding folder in the cloud will also be deleted.

is the best method for cloud storage. pCloud is a service that provides a platform for securely synchronizing and distributing files across different operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux. The two main features offered by pCloud are Cloud Sync and Cloud Backup. The backup function resembles syncing, where a local folder mirrors a pCloud folder. However, there are some differences, as syncing is more intricate and requires manual setup from the "Sync" tab. Backup is user-friendly, with a seamless setup process.

Overview

is an online storage and file synchronization service designed to provide users with a secure and user-friendly cloud storage solution. The platform enables users to access, store, and share their files across any device, offering various synchronization options to cater to different needs. Here are some key features and functionalities of :

1. **Cloud Storage Space**: Users can sign up for a free account with a certain amount of free storage. Additionally, offers paid subscription plans with more storage capacity and advanced features. 2. **Multi-platform Support**: provides applications compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android, allowing seamless file access across devices. 3. **File Synchronization**: By installing the client on their local computer, users can choose specific folders to sync, ensuring files stay up-to-date on all devices. 4. **Security Protection**: Data is transmitted securely using SSL/TLS encryption and stored encrypted on the server, safeguarding users' information. Two-factor authentication is also available for added account security. 5. **Sharing and Collaboration**: Files can be easily shared via links with others for downloading or viewing shared folders. also supports collaborative document editing for team collaboration. 6. **Version History**: Users can view and restore previous file versions, protecting against accidental deletion or modification. 7. **Offline Access**: The "Offline Files" feature allows users to download files to their local devices for access without an internet connection. 8. **Media Player**: An integrated media player lets users stream audio and video files directly from the cloud without prior downloading. 9. **Backup Tool**: Users can set up automatic backups of specific folders on their computers to ensure important data is protected. 10. **Integration with Other Apps**: integrates with applications like Microsoft Office and Adobe Reader, enabling direct editing and viewing of files in the cloud. In summary, is a comprehensive cloud storage platform offering a variety of features to meet personal and business file management requirements. With its robust security measures and cross-platform compatibility, users can confidently store their important files in the cloud and access them anytime, anywhere.

pCloud was established as a cloud storage and file-sharing service. It offers users a secure and convenient way to store files, photos, videos, and documents. By hosting servers across multiple data centers globally, pCloud ensures data redundancy and accessibility. A notable feature of pCloud is its client-side encryption, which means files are encrypted on the user's device before being uploaded to the cloud.

It contributes to enhanced privacy and security of data. Users also have the option to create a Crypto Folder that employs zero-knowledge encryption, ensuring accessibility of decryption keys. pCloud offers a user-friendly interface, facilitating seamless file synchronization across multiple devices such as PCs, Macs, smartphones, and tablets.

Moreover, it offers collaboration tools that enable users to share files with others via links, even if they do not have a pCloud account. The service comes in both free and paid plans, which offer increased storage capacity and advanced features. Popular in the cloud storage sphere, pCloud is known for its robust performance, user-friendly interface, and strong data security.

1. **Purpose**: - **pCloud Backup**: Primarily designed for regularly backing up your files and data. It creates copies of your files and automatically saves them to your pCloud account at intervals you set. This helps protect your data from accidental loss or damage. - **pCloud Sync**: Its purpose is to synchronize your folders, ensuring that they stay up-to-date across all your devices. Any changes made to files on one device are immediately reflected on other synced devices. 2. **Method of Operation**: - **pCloud Backup**: Typically involves setting backup rules for specific file types or folders. You choose what to back up, how often, and when. The backup process runs in the background, not affecting your daily usage. - **pCloud Sync**: Creates a "sync folder" where the contents of this folder and its subfolders are kept in sync. Any additions, deletions, or modifications to files are automatically updated across all associated devices. 3. **Use Cases**: - **pCloud Backup**: Ideal for situations where you need to regularly back up important files, photos, videos, etc., as a precaution. For instance, backing up work documents, personal archives, or creative projects on a schedule. - **pCloud Sync**: Suited for users who need access to and edit the same files across multiple devices, like computers, smartphones, or tablets, ensuring files are always current. 4. **Level of Control**: - **pCloud Backup**: Offers more control over when, how, and what to back up. - **pCloud Sync**: Focuses more on real-time consistency rather than custom backup schedules, but it allows you to manage which folders to sync. In summary, pCloud Backup leans towards protecting your data, while pCloud Sync is for file synchronization and collaboration across devices. Depending on your needs, you can choose one or use both to cater to your cloud storage requirements.

pCloud Sync is the core feature of pCloud Drive, which facilitates the synchronization of files between your computer and pCloud Drive. With pCloud's block-level sync, any changes are automatically applied to both pCloud Drive and your computer. It's important to note that if you delete a file from a synced folder, it will be permanently removed from both your pCloud backup and your computer. These files cannot be recovered under any circumstances. Here are the main differences:

• File Storage: pCloud Backup can store multiple file versions, allowing you to restore files from any of these. In contrast, pCloud Sync updates files and keeps only one copy of each. Unfortunately, synced files cannot be used to revert to earlier states.
• File Recovery: With pCloud Backup, you can recover files from the past 30 days or up to a year. On the other hand, pCloud Sync automatically saves the latest version of your files and allows you to restore deleted items from the trash for up to 15 days.
• Method: If you need a one-way operation solution, pCloud Backup is the ideal choice. However, if you require a two-way synchronization solution, you should opt for pCloud Sync.
• Accessibility: pCloud Backup ensures data safety by implementing measures to protect and restore data, guarding against potential loss. pCloud Sync provides convenient access to your files, keeping them synced and up-to-date across your pCloud Drive and other devices linked to your pCloud account.
• Data Security: By using pCloud Backup, your data security is reinforced as you follow necessary steps to protect and recover data, preventing data loss. With pCloud Sync, you can easily retrieve and update files across all devices connected to your pCloud account, including pCloud Drive.

How to Backup Your Files to pCloud 1. **Create a pCloud Account:** If you don't have a pCloud account, visit the [pCloud website](https://www.pcloud.com/) first and sign up for a new account. Fill in the required information and confirm your email address. 2. **Download and Install pCloud App:** Go to pCloud's download page and choose the appropriate app for your device's operating system (Windows, MacOS, Android, or iOS). After installation, open the app and log in with your account credentials. 3. **Set Up Backup:** Once logged in, tap on the "Backup" option in the app. This will lead you to the backup setup interface. Here, you can select the files and folders you want to back up. 4. **Choose Files and Folders to Backup:** In the "Add Folder" or "Add File" section, browse through your device to find the content you wish to back up. You can select multiple files and folders at once. 5. **Configure Backup Settings:** In the same interface, configure your backup plan, such as choosing manual or scheduled automatic backups. Additionally, you can set speed limits and priorities for the backup process. 6. **Start the Backup Process:** After completing these steps, click the "Start Backup" button. pCloud will begin uploading your selected files to cloud storage. 7. **Monitor Backup Progress:** During the backup, the pCloud app will display a progress bar and related information. Once completed, you can access these files from any device anytime. 8. **Stay Synchronized and Updated:** Once your backup is set up, pCloud will automatically monitor the chosen folders and synchronize changes. This ensures that your files stay up to date. 9. **Backup Management:** Within the pCloud app, you can view your backed-up files, manage backup versions, and even restore older file versions if needed. 10. **Security and Privacy:** Make sure to enable pCloud's encryption features, like "Encrypted Folders," to ensure the safety of your data during transfer and storage. Remember to regularly review and update your backup strategy to ensure your important files are always protected.

With a single tap, pCloud easily backs up all your precious photos and videos from your device. Enable Auto-Upload, and your files seamlessly transfer to your pCloud account.

pCloud offers an automatic backup feature to store files on its platform, but users might encounter issues where the backup function doesn't work properly or pCloud fails to back up all files. To avoid such problems, you can consider using alternative methods to save and back up your files to pCloud, such as using a tool like Todo Backup. It provides an option to back up your files to pCloud with just a few simple clicks.

Todo Backup simplifies the process of creating a system image for backing up your entire system or critical files, ensuring your data is consistently protected. Additionally, this software allows you to create an exact clone of a disk or partition, which can be used for backup, computer upgrades, or disk duplication. In case of a system failure, the cloned drive can easily replace the failed one, allowing for a swift recovery.

Here's how to back up your files to pCloud with Todo Backup in just a few clicks:

Step 1: To start the backup, tap “Choose Backup.”

Step 2: There are four backup types to choose from: Files, Disk, System, and Mail. Click on Files.

Step 3. On the left, you'll see all local and network files. Expand the directories to locate your backup files.

Step 4: Choose a location to save your backup, following the on-screen instructions.

Click "Options" to set up password encryption for your backups under "Backup Options," and then click "Backup Schedule" to specify when the backup should occur, either on a set schedule or upon certain events. You can also choose additional options to customize the backup process as needed.

Step 5: The backup can be stored on a local disk, the tool's online service, or a NAS.

Step 6: Todo Backup also lets users back up their data to third-party cloud storage services as well as its own.

If you want to back up to a cloud service provided by a third party, choose “Local Disk,” then scroll down and add a cloud device, and sign in to your account.

You can also choose to back up to cloud storage. Sign up for an AOMEI account and click "AOMEI Cloud" and log in.

Step 7. Click Backup Now to start the backup process. When complete, the backup job appears as a card on the left pane. Right-click the backup job for more options.

To sync your files to pCloud, first ensure that you have the pCloud Sync client installed. If not, visit the pCloud official website and download the version compatible with your operating system. Here are the steps to sync your files to pCloud:

1. Install pCloud Sync Client: Download and follow the installer's instructions to install the pCloud application. During the process, you may need to create a pCloud account if you don't have one already.
2. Log in to your account: Once installed, open the pCloud app and sign in using your username and password.
3. Select the sync folder: Now, choose the local folder you want to sync to pCloud. Click on "Settings" or "Sync" and navigate to find the desired folder. You can also create a new folder specifically for pCloud syncing.
4. Enable synchronization: Check the checkbox next to the folder you wish to sync and then click "Start Sync" or "Apply" to initiate the process. pCloud will now monitor this folder and upload any changes to the cloud in real-time.
5. Wait for synchronization to complete: Depending on the size of your files and your internet speed, this may take some time. You can check the application's status bar for progress updates.
6. Synchronize across devices: Install the pCloud client on other devices and log in with the same account, and your files will automatically sync to those devices as well.

Please note that pCloud sync is limited to the specific folder you've chosen and its subfolders. To add more folders for syncing, simply repeat steps 3-5. Now, your files should be securely stored in the pCloud cloud storage and kept synchronized across all connected devices.

The pCloud desktop application allows you to back up only one folder at a time. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to backup your files to pCloud, let's go through the process:

Step 1: To sync a folder to pCloud, select the folder you want to sync. Right-click on it and choose the "Sync to pCloud" option.

Step 2: Click on “Confirm new Syncs” in the pop-up to start syncing all your files to the pCloud Drive folder and the pCloud servers.

Summary

Here are some key differences between pCloud Backup and Sync. Understanding these distinctions will help you choose between pCloud Backup and pCloud Sync to protect your data within pCloud. If you use tools like Todo Backup to migrate pCloud to other cloud services, you'll gain powerful cloud service features and additional free storage space. Todo Backup offers efficient and secure backup and recovery options to comprehensively safeguard all your data.

Todo Backup is a highly recommended, renowned, and widely used backup and recovery software. It offers various features such as system backup, file backup, disk/partition backup, and disk cloning. Users appreciate its user-friendly interface and find it easy to use. It is strongly recommended for an all-encompassing backup solution.

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Frequently Asked Questions About pCloud Backup and Sync

1. Are auto-sync and backup the same thing?

No, they are quite different. The main difference between backup and sync is that backup involves copying files from one source to another device, which can be done either automatically or manually. Sync, on the other hand, ensures that files exist in multiple locations simultaneously, and when you delete data in one place, it is also removed from others.

2. Is pCloud Backup free?

First, you can easily create a pCloud account and download our mobile and desktop apps for free. With a basic pCloud account, you get 10 GB of storage for free. If you need more space, you can upgrade to the pCloud Premium plan, which offers 500 GB of storage with a monthly or annual subscription, or go for the pCloud Premium Plus plan, which provides 2 TB of storage.

3. Does pCloud look at my files?

No, with client-side encryption, pCloud does not have access to the encrypted files. Only the user has the decryption key, not the service provider. That's why it's crucial to keep the Crypto Pass safe, as pCloud cannot recover it.

What are the disadvantages of pCloud?

One of the main drawbacks of pCloud is that the free version only includes one feature. Also, some useful features, like pCloud Crypto (which lets you encrypt and password-protect important files on the client-side), need to be subscribed to separately from the regular pCloud subscription.