The short answer (checked 13 October 2026): Icedrive lifetime is worth it if you want native apps on every platform and are happy to keep sensitive files in one encrypted folder. 500 GB is €349 and 2 TB is €599, paid once, with its Encrypted folder included. Files outside that folder are encrypted with keys Icedrive holds, and the lifetime page does not say how long "lifetime" lasts. ShieldFive's Lifetime Vault is 2 TB for €199 once with every file encrypted on your device, and has real limits listed below.
Icedrive lifetime facts
| Icedrive lifetime | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| 500 GB | €349 once (shown down from €524) | Icedrive lifetime plans |
| 2 TB | €599 once (shown down from €899) | Icedrive lifetime plans |
| Larger sizes | None on sale; 2 TB is the largest | Icedrive lifetime plans |
| Encryption on your device | Included ("Crypto Included"), for the Encrypted folder | Icedrive lifetime plans |
| Refund | 30-day money-back guarantee | Icedrive lifetime plans |
| How long "lifetime" lasts | Not defined on the lifetime page; terms page could not be opened | — |
All figures read on 13 October 2026. Icedrive has withdrawn lifetime plans once before and brought them back, and its prices change often.
When Icedrive lifetime is worth it
- You want apps everywhere today. Icedrive has native Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps and a virtual drive.
- Encryption for a subset is enough. Lifetime plans include the Encrypted folder, which pCloud charges extra for.
- 500 GB is enough. For the smaller size, Icedrive is a known product with a refund window.
When it isn't
- You want every file private by default. Only the Encrypted folder is end-to-end; the rest of the drive is readable to Icedrive.
- You need more than 2 TB. There is no larger lifetime plan.
- You want the term in writing. We could not find what "lifetime" means or what happens if the service ends. Ask Icedrive before paying.
The alternative: every file encrypted, 2 TB for €199
ShieldFive encrypts every file and file name on your device before upload, on every plan; we store only ciphertext and never hold your keys. The Lifetime Vault is 2 TB for €199 once, 30-day full refund, for 99 years or until ShieldFive stops operating the service, non-transferable.
The limits, plainly: no desktop sync client and no iOS app yet (Android is in Google Play testing), no external security audit completed — neither has Icedrive — and the apps are closed source (the crypto core is open, Apache-2.0). We serve the web app's code, so the guarantee holds for the code you are served. Icedrive has more apps and a longer track record.
Related
- pCloud vs Icedrive lifetime, with ShieldFive
- Icedrive alternative: the full comparison
- Every provider still selling lifetime storage
Facts checked on Icedrive's own page on 13 October 2026 and updated as the plans change.