pCloud Pass is a feature-rich cross-platform password manager and secure digital vault created by the company pCloud AG. It allows you to securely store passwords, documents, credit card details, photos, and other sensitive information behind one master password. Beyond just password management, pCloud Pass functions as a secure encrypted digital locker accessible across all your devices
Some standout features that differentiate pCloud Pass include its security architecture, large available storage, support for rotating virtual credit cards to shop online, offline accessibility options, and budget-friendly pricing. This pCloud Pass review will dive deep into everything it provides to evaluate if it could be the right password manager for your personal or business needs.
pCloud Pass – Key Features & Utilities
Here is an overview of the major features and utilities offered by the pCloud Pass password manager and digital vault:
Secure Password Storage & AutoFill
The core utility pCloud Pass provides is securely storing passwords protected behind one master password. It has browser extensions for Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Opera that allow convenient auto-fill of your saved passwords into webpages and apps.
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The browser extensions can also automatically capture and save new passwords as you sign up for online accounts. In addition, it allows storing secure notes, payment card details, identity information, and other sensitive data that you may need auto-filled into forms.
Password Generator & Security Audits
To aid with password creation, pCloud Pass has a built-in password generator that helps you create random complex passwords that would be difficult for hackers to crack. You can configure password length and which types of characters to include.
It also runs password strength reports on all your stored passwords to identify weak or reused ones in need of updating to more secure randomly generated passwords for better account security.
Document & Media Storage
Beyond just password management, pCloud Pass allows securely storing files and media in an encrypted digital vault protected by your master password and zero-knowledge architecture. This can be useful for storing personal documents, photos, videos and any other media you want accessible across devices but kept private from prying eyes.
Financial Info Storage & Virtual Cards
For securely storing credit card information, pCloud Pass provides virtual credit card support. These disposable card numbers – powered by Privacy.com – allow online purchases without exposing your real card details. You can set monthly limits and pause or cancel virtual cards anytime.
In addition, you can safely store bank account details, web logins, passports scans, insurance information and anything else financially-related in your encrypted vault. Sensitive financial documents remain securely accessible on all linked devices.
Biometric & Master Password Access
To access your pCloud Pass vault, you can use your master password as well as touch or face biometric login supported on mobile devices. The use of a strong master password that only you know is crucial for properly securing access.
You can set an automated logout period after inactivity. Also available is an option to enable email verification anytime the vault is accessed on a new unrecognized device for enhanced account security.
File Sharing & Family Plans
For securely sharing stored files or financial information with other people, pCloud Pass facilitates read-only or read/write file sharing. This allows providing selective access rather than full account access.
It also offers family plans for managing shared passwords and files across households with customizable permission levels for each family member. Family administrators can grant access, monitor activity, or revoke access anytime.
Offline Accessibility
A major advantage pCloud Pass has over some competing online-only password managers is providing offline accessibility options for when internet connectivity is unavailable.
The browser extensions allow local password access without needing an internet connection. There is also a desktop application for Windows and Mac enabling vault access offline. This makes it a more reliable solution when traveling or in situations with no reliable internet.
Platforms & Device Syncing
pCloud Pass is available across just about any device and platform you may need to access passwords and secure documents from:
- Browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera
- Android and iOS mobile apps
- Windows and Mac desktop applications
- Web app vault access from any browser
Whichever device you store new credentials or files from gets seamlessly synced to all your other connected devices. This makes pCloud Pass easy to integrate across both mobile and desktop environments.
Pricing Plans
pCloud operates a freemium model for pCloud Pass featuring both free and paid premium plans.
The free plan covers core password management with unlimited password storage, auto-fill capabilities, password generator, security auditing, and basic note/card storage. File storage capacity is limited to 10MB though.
Premium paid plans unlock additional utilities and enhanced capacities:
- Premium – $4.99/month or $47.88 per year
Includes 500GB encrypted storage for documents/media and priority support. - Premium Plus – $9.99/month or $95.88 per year
Boosts encrypted vault capacity to 2TB with addition of offline accessibility, shared vaults, virtual credit card support, and identity protection tools.
Considering most competing advanced password managers cost over $30 per year at minimum, pCloud Pass provides good value especially at their higher tier plan. Although more basic free password managers are available too.
Security Architecture
As with any password manager dealing with extremely sensitive data, the security design utilized by pCloud Pass is important to evaluate in depth:
- AES 256 bit encryption – Files and vault data are secured using top industry standard encryption before syncing across devices.
- Zero-knowledge architecture – pCloud Pass employs end-to-end encryption meaning the service itself cannot access or view your vault contents since they don’t hold the keys.
- Data centers featuring armed personell and multi-factor access protections are used to house servers.
Overall pCloud appears to follow modern security best practices for online encrypted data storage and credential management. Your password vault and files remain entirely inaccessible to their company itself due to zero-knowledge encryption. Just be certain to create a very long and complex master password that only you know.
Independent Audits
While pCloud handles security well in their own infrastructure and architecture, third-party independent audits provide further validation:
- SAS 70 / SSAE Certification – pCloud is compliant with the SOC2 accounting standard for data security, availability, and confidentiality.
- ISO 27001 Certified – Certified under the internationally recognized information security standard.
- GDPR Compliant – In accordance with EU’s General Data Protection Regulation for personal data privacy.
The array of security and data privacy certifications pCloud upholds check the box for an externally validated trustworthy online service. No known data breaches have occurred to date.
Available Apps
Given pCloud Pass is designed as a cloud-synchronized solution accessible across endless device types, apps are available on just about any major platform:
Mobile Apps:
- iOS App Store app
- Google Play Store Android app
Desktop Apps:
- Windows 10/11 application
- MacOS X application
Browser Extensions:
- Google Chrome extension
- Mozilla Firefox extension
- Safari browser extension
- Microsoft Edge extension
- Opera browser extension
Web Access:
- Web app suite accessible from any modern browser at www.pcloud.com
Pcloud has you covered across mobile, desktop, browser, and web access vectors. This cross-platform versatility beats less sophisticated competitors tied to specific environments.
Customer Support Options
pCloud offers a few customer support channels to resolve issues encountered with pCloud Pass:
- Email support form to initiate contact
- Direct messaging their Twitter account @pCloud_support
- Live chat interfacing for expedited responses
One advantage of the paid Premium plans is unlocking priority email support and live chat availability 24/7. Otherwise free users access email ticketing and Twitter messaging primarily.
Their support knowledge base of setup guides and troubleshooting steps can answer common use case questions as well via self-help. Support response times generally fall under 6 hour turnaround.
Compared closely against other options in the increasingly crowded password management space, how does pCloud Pass stack up? Here is a look at pros and cons compared to market leaders like LastPass or 1Password:
Pros
- Inexpensive yearly pricing tiers
- Abundant encrypted storage capacity even on low-tier plans
- Strong security foundations and architecture
- Top-notch bonus features like virtual credit cards and local vault access offline give it uniqueness
Cons
- Mobile app experience lags slightly behind the polish of LastPass and others
- Lacks support for physical Yubikey integration to date
- Team/business plans not as advanced for companies as Dashlane alternatives
For individual personal use the advantages clearly tilt in favor for pCloud Pass thanks to unbeatable pricing and storage capacity size. Business team functionality is not yet on par with the depth offered by logmeonce and Keeper though.
Verdict
pCloud Pass brings together essentially every major utility an individual or family would desire from a modern cross-platform password manager and encrypted cloud locker. From unlimited password management to terabytes of file storage space secured by insanely strong encryption protocols protecting data even from pCloud itself, it proves itself as a top choice solution.
The free forever base plan surprisingly does not feel limiting – a rarity in freemium apps. Even the paid upgrades remain very affordable relative to competitive solutions too. Both plans let you seamlessly sync passwords, documents, and access credentials between all major environments encompassing iOS, Android, Mac, Windows and every major web browser.
For those needing offline accessibility, best-in-class encryption protocols, support for virtual payment cards to shop online, and abundant storage space in a tightly integrated package – pCloud Pass satisfies these needs at a consumer friendly price even picky users will find difficulty arguing against.
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