Proton Drive is a privacy-focused cloud storage service from the makers of ProtonMail — and it's a strong product. Like RocketShare, Proton Drive uses end-to-end encryption so the service can't read your files. The difference isn't about security ideology, it's about what each tool is built for: Proton Drive is cloud storage. RocketShare is built for secure transfers.
At a glance
| RocketShare | Proton Drive | |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | Zero-knowledge (AES-256-GCM) | End-to-end (PGP-based) |
| Who can access files | Only you and recipients | Only you and recipients |
| Primary use | Secure file transfers | Cloud storage & sync |
| Free tier | 4 GB/month transfers, 10 transfers | 5 GB storage (shared with Proton Mail) |
| Paid plans from | $3/month | $7.99/month (Drive Professional, 1 TB) |
| Auto-expiry | 3–90 days | No (persistent storage) |
| Download limits | Yes | No |
| Account required (recipient) | No | No (for shared links) |
| Data location | Amsterdam, EU | Switzerland |
Both take encryption seriously
RocketShare uses AES-256-GCM with 256-bit keys generated by the Web Crypto API directly in your browser. The encryption key is embedded in the URL fragment (the part after #), which per RFC 3986 is never sent to the server.
Proton Drive uses PGP-based client-side encryption. Both approaches keep the server from seeing file contents. This is a comparison between two privacy-respecting products — the distinction is in how you use them.
Transfers vs storage
Proton Drive is a cloud storage platform — designed for storing files long-term, syncing across devices, and integrating with Proton's mail, VPN, calendar, and password manager ecosystem.
RocketShare is purpose-built for the moment you need to send something securely:
- Automatic expiry — files delete themselves after 3–90 days
- Download limits — control how many times a file can be downloaded
- No account needed for recipients — just click a link, no Proton subscription required
- Streaming encryption — large files start uploading immediately
If you need a privacy-first alternative to Google Drive for long-term storage, Proton Drive is an excellent choice. If you need to send files securely with automatic cleanup, RocketShare is the better fit.
Pricing and value
Proton Drive Professional costs $7.99/month for 1 TB storage. The Proton Business Suite at $12.99/month bundles Drive with mail, VPN, calendar, and password manager. That's great value if you use the full ecosystem — but means you're paying for services you may not need just to share files.
RocketShare plans:
- Free — 4 GB/month, 10 transfers, up to 7-day expiry
- Mini — $3/month — 60 GB/month, 20 transfers, up to 30-day expiry
- Starter — $7/month — 350 GB/month, 40 transfers, up to 60-day expiry
- Pro — $18/month — Unlimited transfers, up to 90-day expiry
- Teams — $15/seat/month — Unlimited transfers, seat-based billing
Recipient experience
With Proton Drive, sharing files externally works via shared links, but the experience is best within the Proton ecosystem. RocketShare requires nothing from recipients — no account, no app, no extension. Click the link, enter the password if set, download. Zero-knowledge encryption is invisible to the recipient while fully protecting the transfer.
Why choose RocketShare
- Purpose-built for transfers — not a storage platform
- Zero-knowledge encryption — AES-256-GCM, keys never leave your browser
- No account needed for recipients
- Automatic file expiry — 3 to 90 days
- Download limits on all plans
- EU data residency — files stored in Amsterdam
- Starting at $3/month — no ecosystem subscription needed
Ready to share files securely?
If you need encrypted file transfers without subscribing to an entire ecosystem, try RocketShare free — no account required to get started.