zcrypt vs Proton Drive
Both are private.
Only one is yours to run
Proton Drive is excellent. We mean it. The difference: zcrypt is open source, self-hostable, and has no artificial caps.
No card. No trial. There's nothing to upgrade to.
Credit where it's due. Proton Drive is end-to-end encrypted, independently audited, backed by an established privacy company, and has mature mobile apps. If you're weighing it against zcrypt, you're already making a privacy-respecting choice. This page is about which trade-offs suit you, not about claiming Proton gets anything wrong.
The differences
Where zcrypt goes its own way
The encryption story is similar. These four things are where zcrypt takes a different path.
Open source, top to bottom
Like Proton, our apps are open source, and so is the server. You can audit, fork, or run the whole thing. There's no closed component you have to trust on faith.
Bring your own storage
This is the big one. Instead of a Proton-hosted quota, point zcrypt at a GitHub, GitLab, Hugging Face, or Telegram account you already own. No gigabyte caps from us, no separate storage bill.
Self-host the entire stack
Run your own zcrypt server and keep both the keys and the infrastructure under your control. Proton Drive is hosted only. You can't operate your own instance.
Side by side
zcrypt and Proton Drive, row by row
Both check the privacy boxes. The differences cluster around hosting, storage ownership, and tooling.
| zcrypt | Proton Drive | |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption model & who holds the keys | zcryptAES-256-GCM, keys derived on your device (PBKDF2, 600k iterations). Only you hold them. | Proton DriveEnd-to-end encrypted with keys derived from your password. Proton can't read your files either. |
| Zero-knowledge | zcryptYes, by default. File contents are zero-knowledge, and folder and file names are encrypted client-side. Proton is a mature zero-knowledge product that also encrypts file metadata. | Proton DriveYes. Proton Drive is genuinely zero-knowledge and encrypts file metadata as well. |
| Storage model | zcryptBring your own: GitHub, GitLab, Hugging Face, or Telegram accounts you already control. | Proton DriveProton-hosted in Swiss/EU data centers. Reputable and managed, but Proton runs the storage. |
| Free tier & pricing | zcryptFree. You supply the storage, so capacity isn't metered or sold by the gigabyte. | Proton DriveGenerous free tier; larger storage and bundles require a paid Proton plan. |
| Open source | zcryptClient and server are fully open source. | Proton DriveProton open-sources its apps and publishes independent security audits. |
| Self-hostable | zcryptRun the entire stack yourself, client, server, and storage. | Proton DriveHosted Proton service only; you can't run your own Proton Drive server. |
| File organization & folders | zcryptReal nestable folders with encrypted names, plus optional per-folder passwords. | Proton DriveSolid encrypted folders and a clean drive experience. |
| In-browser previews | zcryptImages, video, audio, PDFs, docs, and code: decrypted locally in the browser. | Proton DriveIn-browser previews with client-side decryption, similar approach. |
| File sharing | zcryptEncrypted share links with expiry. Shared vaults are in beta. | Proton DriveMature encrypted sharing with password-protected and expiring links. |
| Vendor lock-in | zcryptMinimal. Data lives in storage you already own and the format is open. | Proton DriveModerate. Your encrypted data lives within Proton's hosted ecosystem. |
Comparison reflects each product's standard offering as of 2026. Proton Drive is a trademark of Proton AG; we're not affiliated with or endorsed by them.
The honest part
When Proton Drive is the better choice
Proton Drive is a serious, well-built product, and for many people it's the smarter pick. We'd rather you choose the right tool than the one with our name on it.
If you want polished native mobile apps today, Proton has them and zcrypt does not: our mobile apps are still on the roadmap. For people who manage files primarily from a phone, that difference alone may settle it.
If you value a single, fully managed privacy suite (Drive, Mail, Calendar, and VPN under one audited provider in Swiss/EU jurisdiction), Proton delivers that as a cohesive package. zcrypt is focused on being an encrypted drive, not an ecosystem.
If you'd rather not manage your own storage or infrastructure at all, Proton handles everything for you. zcrypt's bring-your-own-storage model is powerful, but it does ask you to connect an account and take responsibility for your passphrase. And some of our more advanced collaboration features, like shared vaults, are still in beta.
zcrypt is the better fit when you want an encrypted drive you can fully self-host, store in accounts you already own, and scale without artificial caps, all open source and free.
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The drive you actually own.
Connect your own account. Encrypted on your device. No artificial limits, no vendor lock-in.