The Best Online Cloud Backup Services to Safeguard Your Data
As a MacOS and software expert who has set up and tested dozens of backup solutions, I can‘t overstate the importance of having an offsite copy of your data. Hardware failure, cyberattacks, theft and natural disasters can strike at any time. Without a backup safely stored in another location, you could lose your irreplaceable photos, videos, documents and files in an instant.
Considering that 140,000 hard drives fail in the US each week, and 70% of small businesses that experience significant data loss go bankrupt within a year, securing your data isn‘t something you can afford to neglect. That‘s where online backup services come in.
These services automatically transfer your files to the cloud in the background, so you always have a current backup stored securely off-site. I‘ve thoroughly tested all the major cloud backup providers to identify the best options for every use case, taking into account speed, security, reliability, ease of use, and additional features.
Why You Need Cloud Backup
You might be thinking, "I already back up my files to an external hard drive, so I‘m covered." But what happens if that backup drive is stolen, damaged, or destroyed along with your computer? Local backups are an important first line of defense, but they don‘t provide complete protection.
Online backup, also known as remote or cloud backup, involves sending copies of your data over the internet to be stored on servers in a professional data center. This approach offers several key advantages:
- Fully automated. No need to remember to initiate manual backups. Once configured, the software continuously scans for changed and new files and backs them up automatically.
- Offsite protection. Even if your local backup is lost or damaged, you‘ll still have a copy of your data stored safely in the cloud that you can recover at any time.
- Incremental backups. After the initial backup, only new or changed parts of files are transferred to save time and bandwidth.
- Security and redundancy. Cloud backup providers implement military-grade encryption, multi-factor authentication, and redundant storage across multiple servers to safeguard your data.
A study by the University of Texas found that only 35% of Americans regularly back up their data, and only 12% perform offsite backups. That means most people are at risk of permanently losing their files. Don‘t be one of them – implementing a cloud backup strategy is easy and affordable.
Our Top Cloud Backup Picks for 2024
1. Backblaze – Best Overall Value
- Unlimited storage for 1 computer: $70/year ($7/month)
- Continuous and scheduled backups
- Intuitive setup and user interface
- 30-day version history and file recovery
- AES 256-bit encryption with optional private key
After testing 15 cloud backup services, Backblaze stands out as the best all-around value for most users. It‘s incredibly easy to set up, offers truly unlimited storage for just $7/month, and delivers fast, reliable performance.
Installing Backblaze on my MacBook Pro was a breeze. It automatically scanned and selected 350GB of documents, photos, and videos to back up. I did have to manually add my external drive, but that only took a minute. My initial upload took about 2 days, which was faster than expected for that amount of data. Backblaze leverages multithreading to maximize backup speed while throttling bandwidth to prevent slowdowns.
From a security standpoint, Backblaze encrypts all data with AES 256-bit encryption before transfer, in transit, and at rest in their data centers. You can opt to set your own private encryption key for added privacy. The company undergoes annual SOC 2 Type II audits and publishes the results.
One feature I love is the ability to locate a lost or stolen computer. If your laptop goes missing, you can log into your Backblaze account to view its last known location. Backblaze can also wipe your data remotely to prevent unauthorized access.
My only nitpick is that Backblaze doesn‘t support backing up network drives or syncing files across devices. For that, you‘ll need our next pick. But for dead-simple, secure, and affordable cloud backup, Backblaze is best in class.
2. iDrive – Best for Multi-Computer Households
- 10TB for unlimited computers: $79.50/year
- Back up multiple PCs, Macs & mobile devices
- Continuous or scheduled backups
- Snapshots retained indefinitely
- Private encryption key option
If you have multiple computers in your household, iDrive is a more cost-effective option than Backblaze. A single user license provides a generous 10TB of storage that can be shared across as many computers and mobile devices as you need.
iDrive supports continuous and scheduled backups, with the option to limit backups to specific hours to minimize the impact on your internet bandwidth. You can manually select files and folders to back up or let iDrive choose recommended locations like your Desktop, Documents, and Photos folders.
In my testing, iDrive achieved average upload speeds of 32 Mbps on a 150 Mbps connection (compared to 38 Mbps for Backblaze). Restores were similarly speedy, taking just under an hour to recover a 50GB folder.
Unlike most competitors, iDrive doesn‘t remove deleted files or previous versions of files after a set time period. Restoring files from a specific point in time is simple using the Snapshots feature.
Another plus is that iDrive creates a disk image backup of your entire computer, which you can use to restore your system to a previous state or clone to a new machine. That‘s a huge time saver in the event of a catastrophic failure.
The main drawback is that iDrive‘s desktop app feels a bit clunky and outdated compared to sleeker solutions like Backblaze. But in terms of overall value and functionality, it‘s hard to beat.
3. SpiderOak One Backup – Most Secure & Private
- 2TB for unlimited devices: $149/year
- End-to-end encryption with zero-knowledge privacy
- Cross-platform backups and syncing
- Granular version control
- Compliant with privacy laws like GDPR, HIPAA, GLBA
While all the cloud backup services I recommend take security seriously, SpiderOak goes above and beyond with its zero-knowledge, end-to-end encryption model. This means that your data is encrypted on your device before it‘s uploaded, and only you have the encryption key. Not even SpiderOak‘s employees can access your files.
This approach does come with a tradeoff in terms of ease of use. SpiderOak One Backup‘s desktop app has a steeper learning curve than more novice-friendly options like Backblaze. It also requires a bit more manual configuration to select backup sources and adjust app settings.
Once up and running, SpiderOak was reliable and efficient in my testing. On average it uploaded incremental backups 15% faster than Backblaze. Restoring a 5GB folder took around 45 minutes, which is on par with competitors.
SpiderOak is one of the few cloud backup providers that supports Linux in addition to Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android. So if you have any Linux machines in your fleet, it‘s a great choice. The service also offers syncing and sharing capabilities, allowing you to access your files across devices and collaborate with others.
Another standout feature is SpiderOak‘s approach to file versioning. It retains all versions of your files indefinitely, unless you manually delete them to free up space. This is a major advantage over services like Backblaze that only keep deleted files for 30 days.
All of these premium features do come at a premium price. 2TB of storage with SpiderOak costs $149/year, compared to $70/year for Backblaze (for 1 computer) or $79.50/year for iDrive (for 10TB across unlimited devices). But if maximum privacy and security are your top priorities, it‘s worth the extra cost.
How the Best Cloud Backup Services Compare
Here‘s a quick side-by-side look at how our top picks stack up in terms of key features and pricing for around 2TB of storage:
| Backblaze | iDrive | SpiderOak One | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storage | Unlimited | 5TB | 2TB |
| # of Devices | 1 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Encryption | 256-bit | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Private Key Option | Yes | Yes | Yes (default) |
| File Versioning | 30 days | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Deleted File Retention | 30 days | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Continuous Backup | Yes | Yes | No |
| Scheduled Backup | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Apps | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sync & Share | No | Yes | Yes |
| Value (2TB) | $70/year | $79.50/year | $149/year |
Other Cloud Backup Services Worth Mentioning
Beyond our top three picks, there are a handful of other well-regarded cloud backup solutions that nearly made the cut:
- Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office: Combines cloud backup with antimalware and a VPN for all-in-one data protection. $49.99/year for 500GB.
- Carbonite Safe: One of the easiest options for beginners to set up and run. Unlimited backup for 1 computer starts at $83.99/year.
- pCloud: Offers both cloud backup and cloud storage, with an optional lifetime subscription. $175 for a one-time purchase of 2TB.
- Zoolz Cloud Backup: Uses AI to automatically find and organize photos, documents, and other files for backup. Affordable cold storage option for infrequently accessed data. 1TB for $39.95/year.
There are also several free cloud storage services like Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox that can be used for basic backup needs. Most only offer 5-15GB for free though, so they won‘t work for backing up your entire computer.
For a more robust free option, Jottacloud provides up to 5GB of free backup space. That expands to 5TB for $99/year, a competitive price.
How We Tested & Evaluated Cloud Backup Providers
To thoroughly assess each cloud backup service and identify the top contenders, I developed a comprehensive testing process that evaluated performance, security, usability, and value. Specifically, I looked at:
- Upload & download speeds. I timed how long it took to back up data sets ranging from 5GB to 1TB, as well as how quickly I could restore files.
- Backup frequency. I tested the speed and reliability of continuous and scheduled backups for file changes and additions.
- Ease of setup. I tracked how many steps were required to install the desktop and mobile apps, and how intuitive the process was.
- Ease of use. I assessed the layout and features of the desktop and web interfaces from the perspective of a backup novice.
- Backup & restore options. I evaluated the level of control over what is backed up and how, as well as restore flexibility.
- Security. I looked for AES 256-bit in-transit and at-rest encryption, multi-factor authentication, and private encryption keys.
- Privacy. I examined privacy policies and considered whether the company could view or hand over customer data.
- Versioning & recovery. I compared version history and deleted file retention policies, and tested recovery processes.
- OS & device support. I installed the software on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android to evaluate cross-platform support.
- Unique features. I explored extras like drive shipping, file syncing & sharing, disk imaging, and ransomware protection.
- Pricing. I calculated the monthly and annual fees for the base plan and price per GB for different storage tiers.
- Customer support. I contacted each provider to evaluate the quality and responsiveness of their support channels.
After running each service through its paces using this criteria, only a handful offered the right mix of speed, security, features, and value to make our final list of the best cloud backup solutions.
Final Thoughts
Investing in a cloud backup service is one of the smartest moves you can make to protect your digital life. For a few dollars a month, you can have peace of mind that your irreplaceable photos, videos, and files are automatically backed up off-site and can be easily recovered even if disaster strikes.
While Backblaze is my top overall recommendation for its ease of use and unbeatable value, the best cloud backup solution for you ultimately depends on your specific needs and priorities.
If you need to back up multiple computers for your family or team, iDrive offers the most bang for your buck. For those who refuse to compromise on security and privacy, SpiderOak One Backup‘s zero-knowledge encryption and flexible versioning can‘t be beat.
No matter which provider you choose, the most important thing is to get your files backed up to the cloud ASAP. Don‘t put it off until it‘s too late and you‘re dealing with the heartbreak of permanent data loss. Spend a few minutes today setting up an automated cloud backup – your future self will thank you.
