Top European Privacy-Friendly Alternatives to Google Drive

Big Tech companies have an enormous amount of visibility into our digital lives — and for many people, that’s becoming a real concern. Google Drive is convenient, sure, but it comes with a tradeoff: your files, behavior, and metadata are all fair game for a company whose core business is advertising. If you’ve been looking for a way to take back control of your data, you’re not alone.

The good news is that Europe has produced some genuinely excellent cloud storage alternatives — services built with privacy at their core and fully compliant with GDPR. Whether you’re an individual user, a small business, or a larger organization, there’s likely a European option that fits your needs. If you’re on a broader journey to reduce your dependence on Google, check out our guide on how to DeGoogle your life for a more complete roadmap.

Below, we’ve rounded up five of the best European alternatives to Google Drive worth considering right now.

Proton Drive — Privacy by Design, Based in Switzerland

Website: proton.me/drive

If privacy is your top priority and you want something that just works without any technical setup, Proton Drive is the standout choice. Built by the same team behind Proton Mail, it applies end-to-end encryption to everything you store — meaning Proton itself cannot access your files. Your data stays yours, period.

Proton Drive sits inside a growing ecosystem of privacy tools that includes Proton Mail, Proton VPN, and Proton Calendar. If you’re already using any of those, adding Drive to your workflow is seamless. The service is open-source, auditable, and governed by Swiss privacy law — which is among the strongest in the world. We’ve also written a detailed look at using Proton’s full suite on Linux if you’re curious about the broader platform.

Strengths:

• Full end-to-end encryption across all stored files
• Part of the broader Proton privacy ecosystem (Mail, VPN, Calendar)
• Open-source and independently audited
• Operates under Swiss privacy law

Limitations:

• Free tier offers only 1–5 GB of storage
• Collaboration features are still catching up to Google Drive’s maturity

Tresorit — Enterprise-Grade Security from Switzerland and Hungary

Website: tresorit.com

Tresorit has been a trusted name in secure cloud storage for years, and its reputation is well earned. What sets it apart is that end-to-end encryption applies not just to your personal files, but also to shared folders — a critical detail for teams handling sensitive documents. It’s built primarily with professionals and businesses in mind, making it one of the better European alternatives to Google Workspace if privacy is non-negotiable in your organization.

The feature set is robust, though that does come at a higher price point than some of the other options on this list. If your organization regularly shares confidential files and needs verified security, Tresorit is hard to beat.

Highlights:

• End-to-end encryption including shared folders
• Strong focus on business and professional use cases
• Higher pricing reflects a more complete feature set

Nextcloud — Maximum Control with Open-Source Flexibility

Website: nextcloud.com

For those who want total control over where their data lives and how it’s managed, Nextcloud is the gold standard. As a self-hostable, open-source platform developed in Germany, it gives you the ability to run your own cloud infrastructure — either on your own hardware or through one of many European hosting providers.

It’s fully extensible through a wide library of plugins, covering everything from file storage and calendars to video calls and collaborative document editing. The tradeoff is that getting it up and running requires a bit more technical know-how than signing up for a hosted service. That said, for tech-savvy individuals and organizations that want zero reliance on third-party cloud providers, Nextcloud is unmatched.

Key points:

• Self-hostable or available through European hosting partners
• Fully open-source with a rich ecosystem of add-ons
• Requires more technical setup than hosted alternatives

Internxt — A Modern, Privacy-First Challenger from Spain

Website: internxt.com

Internxt is a newer player in the European cloud storage space, but it’s making a strong case for itself. Based in Spain and built around end-to-end encryption, its mission is straightforward: provide a secure, ethical cloud storage service that respects your data. The interface is clean and modern, and the platform includes features like secure photo backup and private file sharing.

It’s still maturing as a product, so some advanced features are in development — but the foundation is solid and the direction is promising. If you like the idea of supporting an emerging European alternative with strong privacy principles, Internxt is worth a look.

Key points:

• End-to-end encrypted file storage and sharing
• Open-source oriented and transparent about its architecture
• Still growing, but already functional and free to try

pCloud — Swiss-Based Storage with a Unique Lifetime Plan Option

Website: pcloud.com

pCloud is a versatile cloud storage service headquartered in Switzerland, appealing to users who want flexibility in how they pay. One of its most distinctive features is a lifetime storage plan — a one-time purchase rather than a recurring subscription — which can be genuinely cost-effective over the long run.

It’s worth noting that client-side encryption is not included by default; it comes as a paid add-on called the Crypto option. For users who want strong privacy guarantees, that extra step is worth taking, but it’s something to be aware of before committing. pCloud hits a nice balance between usability, Swiss jurisdiction, and pricing flexibility.

Key points:

• Swiss jurisdiction and privacy law
• Lifetime storage plan available as a one-time purchase
• Client-side encryption available as a paid Crypto add-on

Quick Comparison

Which One Is Right for You?

The right choice really depends on what you need. Here’s a quick way to think about it:

• Proton Drive is the best all-around pick for individuals who want strong privacy without any technical overhead — especially if you’re already using Proton Mail or Proton VPN.
• Tresorit shines for businesses and teams that need reliable, encrypted collaboration tools and don’t mind paying a premium for them.
• Nextcloud is ideal for organizations or technically minded users who want full ownership of their infrastructure and data.
• Internxt is a solid pick for privacy-conscious users who want a modern, straightforward service and like supporting newer European alternatives.
• pCloud works well for anyone who wants Swiss-based storage with flexible pricing, particularly if the lifetime plan appeals to you.

Switching to a European cloud provider isn’t just about protecting your own data — it’s also a way of supporting companies that are building technology around transparency and user rights rather than ad revenue. If you’re looking to go even further, our broader guide to European alternatives to Big Tech covers many more categories beyond cloud storage.