Backblaze (opens in a new tab) was started in 2007 to back up a friend's computer online. Fast forward to now, and that's across 175 countries, over 50 billion files backed up, spanning over an exabyte (that's a million terabytes in case you were wondering) of data stored.
In other words, it's a serious data player for cloud backup (opens in a new tab) and has managed to create an effective awareness program by posting detailed analysis of drive failure rates hard drives and SSDs that you use every quarter.
BackBlaze also operates another service called B2, which it describes as "enterprise-grade S3-compatible storage used to store and serve data while improving enterprise cloud OPEX over Amazon S3 and others."
That's reassuring when signing up for Backblaze, which offers a selection of paid plans for personal and business users. In other words, if you have data to back up, Backblaze will do it for you.
One big advantage of this service is that it offers unlimited cloud backups, so your cloud locker can expand indefinitely as the amount of data you have grows, all under one subscription because there are no tiers.
Users looking for unlimited cloud storage will be disappointed that while web and mobile access to backups is available, there isn't the option to download and store files as and when they want, such as with Google Drive, for example. .
- Backblaze Subscription Options:
- 12 month plan - €6.67 per month (€80.04 total cost) (opens in a new tab)
Back Blaze Features
Backblaze doesn't bother you with the details of your backup plan, it just happens: when you initially install the desktop client, it doesn't require you to select files and folders, but simply retrieves all the files and folders it deems important and starts transferring to your Backblaze cloud backup.
By default, Backblaze copies everything for an ISO, DMG (Mac Disk Image), virtual drive, system files, or executables. You have the option to exclude other file types if you wish, but unless you are exclusively told to ignore them, all other file types will be included. We found it very simple and straightforward, and you can be sure that your entire computer can be recovered if necessary.
We think of it as a set it and forget it solution: Backblaze is there to help you recover data, for example, if your hard drive fails catastrophically or your laptop won't boot. Please note, however, that Backblaze is not designed to sync files between computers or access your music and video files in the cloud. You can include external hard drives and (professional level) servers in your backups, but you can't include network drives.
Backups can be continuous, once a day, or manually started. A little extra variety with these time scales would be nice, but we expect most users to leave it in continuous save mode. It should be noted that while you can back up an unlimited amount of data, you are limited to one computer per Backblaze account and mobile devices are not included.
As standard, unlimited versions of files are saved, but only for a period of 30 days. This can be somewhat limiting, especially since it can take weeks before you realize you're missing an important document. Considering the reasonable price of the standard plan, combined with the fact that an unlimited amount of storage can hold thousands of folders full of documents, images, and videos, we think the extra €2 per month (or €14 per year) for extended file histories are a no-brainer. This extends it to one year.
Although only one computer is supported per license, completely unlimited data storage with no file size limit means that BackBlaze should never be the limiting element of your backup needs, making it an extremely valuable tool that's also affordable on the go. compared to many of its main rivals. like Polar Backup, LiveDrive, and Carbonite, all of which offer unlimited storage plans that are currently more expensive.
Since there are no subscription levels, each account benefits from premium features. Uploading and downloading while using the desktop client is not throttled, which means lightning-fast backups up to the maximum speed of your ISP and router. To give users more control, manual throttling can limit the amount of bandwidth BackBlaze uses to prioritize other tasks. This can be useful for workers who are often on video calls, allowing backups to continue automatically in the background while providing optimal speeds for your workload.
Backblaze interface
The Backblaze desktop client aims for simplicity rather than power or flash. The Backblaze package's options are limited, so the software doesn't have to do much more than concentrate on the job at hand, to make sure your files are continuously backed up in the background.
There is an option to exclude certain files and folders from a Backblaze backup, but that could be easier. Since you have unlimited space in the cloud, it's easier to let Backblaze back everything up, just in case. Transferring data from an entire computer to the web is potentially a slow process, but the speeds Backblaze managed were impressive. You can also choose to pause or speed up the download process if you think Backblaze is using too much bandwidth to override the automatic acceleration.
We like its integration into the operating system, which helps to simplify the backup process, or at least, for those rare events where users need to change controls. In this case, BackBlaze fits right into the macOS System Preferences.
Like the desktop client, the web interface is also stripped down and minimal, allowing you to review your backed up files and restore them if necessary. There is also a mechanism for sharing stored files with others that is unique to the web interface. Unfortunately, in terms of web functionality, Backblaze falls short of Dropbox, Google Drive, or iCloud when it comes to file sharing, but it's ultimately a different proposition, so this comparison is unfair.
In the event of system failure or loss, the files can be downloaded for free, or Backblaze will put them on a USB hard drive for €189 and send your data to your door. While it can't do much more than suck up all the files on a computer and let you restore them, Backblaze does those essential tasks very well. The nearly $200 spent backing up your files should be seen as more of a maintenance fee for the large hard drive's worth (up to 8TB), because once the restore is complete, you can mail it back and receive a full refund.
Backups are limited to PC and Mac, but along with the web interface, there are apps for iOS and Android that let you access your data from anywhere. While BackBlaze focuses on backups rather than cloud storage, backing up a file from your computer will allow you to use it for cloud storage in a more of a "backdoor" way.
Fire safety
Backblaze scores high marks from a security standpoint: not only can you enable two-factor authentication on your account, but you can also rely on 128-bit AES encryption and an SSL connection to keep your data from being compromised. . Internet. Although it is not full end-to-end encryption, it is certainly secure enough for most users.
There's also the option to set up a private encryption key, known only to you, which adds an extra layer of protection to your data, for those concerned about Backblaze staff interfering in their affairs. The downside is that Backblaze can't help you if you forget the key, and you have to share it with Backblaze if you ever need to restore your data.
It should also be noted that users can choose between European and American data centers.
Backblaze pricing
You can try Backblaze free for 15 days without giving out any credit card information, but there's no free tier (unsurprisingly, since you get unlimited cloud backup). Personal plans currently cost €7 per month, also payable annually (€70) or every two years (€130), an increase of €1 per month from last year. There's also the $2 monthly fee to upgrade your file version history from 30 days to a year, which we think is a must.
Business customers get the same price, though you can contact Backblaze directly for different quotes for backing up multiple computers and servers, and putting more of your data in the cloud for long-term storage (to replace backups). security bandaged). It's refreshing to see this kind of flexible pricing, but it makes it harder to compare Backblaze to competing services.
Backblaze verdict
Backblaze has a large user base, and even fans, and it's easy to see why: if you want to back up everything from a computer and its external drives simply and safely, without breaking the bank, then it's hard. to overcome. We appreciate that there are no limits on file sizes or limits on the amount of data you can send to the cloud.
Just make sure you know exactly what Backblaze is before parting with your money: It's not for syncing files between computers or easily accessing your files through a web browser. It's a complete set it and forget it backup solution to protect your data in case the worst happens, and for that task it provides an excellent solution.
As such, BackBlaze is our favorite backup service thanks to its unlimited storage at a reasonable cost, aided by its variety of restore methods and ease of use.
Backblaze Deals
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