Cluster vs Permafiles
Cluster
cluster.coPermafiles
permafiles.comSide by side
| Figure | Cluster | Permafiles |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | £1.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 4 | 8 |
| Spec score · Photo Storage Services | 8.1 (#25) | 8.9 (#7) |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States | United Kingdom |
| Integrations | Subscriptions are purchased through the Apple App Store or Google Play; the maker does not list other integrations on the pages reviewed. | The Nextcloud Mail app can connect to Gmail and other email providers using IMAP and SMTP. |
| Security | The privacy policy says Cluster uses SSL to encrypt communications between its servers and client applications and does not guarantee complete security. | The service describes HTTPS/TLS, two-factor authentication, brute-force protection, antivirus protection, and optional end-to-end encryption for supported folders and use cases. |
| Support | Users can submit a support request through Cluster's help center. | The contact page promises replies within 24 hours and offers live chat during office hours. |
Plans
Cluster
- FreeFree
- FamilyPrice not published
- FriendPrice not published
- ProPrice not published
Permafiles
- Nextcloud FreeFree
- Nextcloud Tiny£1.99 a month
- Nextcloud Small£2.99 a month
- Nextcloud Medium£3.99 a month
- Nextcloud Large£4.99 a month
- Nextcloud 1TB£9.99 a month
- Nextcloud 2TB£18.99 a month
- Nextcloud 3TB£27.99 a month
In their own words
Cluster
Cluster provides private group sharing for friends and family outside social media. Members create groups for photos, videos, comments, and chat, with album access limited to invited users. Owners can share a private invitation link, and recipients can request to join. Notifications show when something new is added, while members can see who viewed or liked posts. Group photos can be turned into printed photo books. Cluster runs on Android, iOS, and the web, with no desktop app listed. Its free plan allows up to 10 groups, 1,000 photos per group, and 50 members per group; free video uploads are limited to one minute and SD quality. Cluster says photos are stored in redundant cloud locations and accessed over encrypted connections. Its policy describes SSL communications, does not guarantee complete security, and allows data downloads and deletion requests. Cluster is maintained by Fotoloce.
Permafiles
Permafiles is managed cloud storage built on the open-source Nextcloud platform, for files, photos, and folders. Users can share family photos and set permissions controlling who may access, edit, or download them. Shared links can also have passwords and expiration dates. Nextcloud Office supports online editing of documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, while Nextcloud Talk provides calls with up to 10 people. The Nextcloud Mail app can connect to Gmail and other email services through IMAP and SMTP. Sync clients are listed for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, with web access as well. Security measures described include HTTPS/TLS, two-factor authentication, brute-force and antivirus protection, and optional end-to-end encryption for supported folders and use cases. Permafiles says its server infrastructure is hosted in Germany, while customer file data is stored with third-party S3-compatible storage in the United Kingdom. It also says it makes daily offsite backups and can restore a complete server failure within a couple of hours. The free plan includes 5 GB. Paid plans range from £1.99 per month for 64 GB to £27.99 per month for 3 TB.