pCloud vs Smash: free transfers, Pro prices and storage for client files

pCloud vs Smash: the short answer

pCloud Transfer sends up to 5 GB free and a pCloud plan keeps files online, while Smash Free needs no sign-up and queues transfers over 2 GB behind Pro. On pCloud's US pricing page on 3 October 2026, Premium 500 GB was $4.99 a month, billed monthly. Smash Pro was $10 a month, billed monthly, as read on 6 October 2026.

Free sending: pCloud Transfer against Smash Free

pCloud Transfer sends up to 5 GB a transfer, and the recipient needs no pCloud account; a sender who is not signed in verifies an email first. Check the per-file limit shown on its page, covered on pCloud Transfer.

Its expiry menu offers 1, 3, 7 or 30 days, with 7 as the default. A password is optional: pCloud's help says the files are then encrypted in the browser with AES-256 and the recipient needs the password.

Smash Free needs no payment and no sign-up. A transfer over 2 GB joins a queue behind Pro transfers, and every Free transfer is valid for 7 days. Password-protected transfers are on every Smash plan, Free included.

Paid plans and billing bases

Smash Pro was $10 a month, billed monthly; $72 a year, billed annually, which the page shows as $6 a month; or $115.20 every 2 years. pCloud's Premium 500 GB was $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year, and $219 one-time as Lifetime, as listed on 3 October 2026. Compare monthly with monthly and yearly with yearly.

For a team, Smash Team covers 10 user accounts at $25 a month, billed monthly, or $180 a year, billed annually. pCloud's team plan is Business: on its US Business page on 19 September 2026, 3 users with 3 TB were $29.97 a month, billed monthly.

Receiving files and tracking downloads

Smash's file reception through drop-off links, view and download tracking, and branded send, receive and download pages are paid features. A drop-off link is the link a Smash user shares to receive large files.

pCloud's file requests let anyone upload into one folder with no account, and the owner can see who viewed or downloaded a shared link. pCloud Transfer emails the sender when the recipient downloads.

Storage against transfers, and who should pick which

Smash Pro keeps transfers 30 days and includes 1 TB of storage. A pCloud plan keeps files in your storage until you delete them or the plan ends, and Lifetime plans are paid once for the owner's lifetime or 99 years, whichever is shorter. Smash lists no trial or money-back promise; pCloud refunds a personal plan on a written request made within 14 calendar days of paying, which it can decline on a discounted purchase.

Pick pCloud Transfer for free sends up to 5 GB, and a pCloud plan when files must stay online. Pick Smash Pro for file reception, custom download pages and the unlimited transfer size Smash lists. Free file transfer for large files and pCloud vs WeTransfer set other free routes beside both.