Backing up data is crucial these days due to the increased risk of loosing the sensitive data. You can backup data using Offline method or Online method. For offline methods you can read more in this article Best Free Data Backup Software. To store online there are two types of service provider to backup your data with two methods. Cloud Storage and Cloud backup. Read the Difference between Cloud Backup and Cloud Storage.
Best Cloud Backup Service Providers Comparison
| Name | Space | Free Space | No. of Devices | File Sharing | Version Retention |
| idrive | 1 TB | 5 GB | unlimited | Yes | unlimited |
| CrashPlan | Unlimited | 0 | 1 | No | unlimited |
| SOS Online backup | Unlimited | 0 | 1 | Yes | unlimited |
| Sugar Sync | 100 GB | 0 | unlimited | Yes | 30 |
| Carbonite | Unlimited | 0 | 1 | Yes | 90 |
| SpiderOak One | 1 TB | 2GB | unlimited | Yes | unlimited |
| Acronis True Image | Unlimited | 0 | 1 | Yes | 6 months |
| BackBlaze | Unlimited | 0 | 1 | No | 30 |
| Mozy home | 50 GB | 2GB | 3 | No | 30 |
| pCloud | 2 TB | 20 GB | Yes | ||
| OpenDrive | 500 GB | 50 Gb | 1 | Yes | unlimited |
| livedrive | Unlimited | ||||
| Dropbox | 1 TB | 2GB | unlimited |
Best Online Automatic Backup Service Providers Reviews
1. iDrive
iDrive is one of the top backup service providers that offer special discounts with coupons. It is also a one-stop platform that lets you back up all your files in one account {even those online}. You can backup files on your Mac, PC, as well as Facebook images. What’s more, iDrive allows business persons to back up their computers, SQL, Exchange, NAS, servers, as well as mobile devices. It is an option for backing up almost everything online and offline.
You can enjoy free backup services with unlimited devices, which comes with a limited storage of 5GB. If you wish to upgrade, you will only pay a monthly fee of $4.95 for 150GB. Unfortunately, iDrive doesn’t offer a trial period, though there is a special 50% off discount if you use their coupon.
The backup providers offer multiple device back-ups, and you’ll also backup your images on the social media. The privacy options offered by iDrive are also worth pointing out. For instance, there is a 256-bit AES encryption, along with a private key that only the admin {you} knows.
Another thing that makes iDrive a top choice is that it can save ten previous versions of the backed-up files. This lets you restore the files as you wish. When you purchase a specific package, iDrive will send you a physical hard drive to copy your files and send it back to them.
One major drawback of iDrive is that it doesn’t have a trial period, though their services are still reliable. They also offer small storage spaces at relatively high prices, compared to other providers.
2. CrashPlan
This is another provider that offers a reliable cloud backup service, which also runs in the background. With this, you can be sure of securing your files in a safe date center at all times. However, the providers offer three backup options.
You can either choose to backup your files on an external drive, on trusted computers in your network, or on the cloud. Obviously, the cloud backup option is the safest, which comes at prices starting from $5.99 a month. They also offer a free trial period of 30 days. CrashPlan is one of the few providers that offer their services to Windows, Mac, as well as Linux systems. You can also download it on your mobile device.
They apply military grade encryption as well as enterprise quality hardware. This assures clients of a secure system that stores vital files on the cloud.
3. SOS Online Backup
As the name suggest, SOS is a reliable cloud service provider that will rescue you from limited storage and high monthly or yearly prices. SOS users will enjoy the Infinite Backup Forever feature, which lets you store your files in the cloud forever. It also offers an ever-on end-to-end encryption to keep your files encrypted even before you transfer them from your computer to the cloud.
SOS offers a dedicated Android app, which lets you back up literally everything on your phone. If you lose a file by accidentally deleting it, the app lets you restore it at any time. The app has an UltraSafe feature, which works with user-created keys. This is a feature that lets you create security keys {like a passcode} that are not stored in the cloud. The backup servers are monitored at all times, and your data will be backed up to a different hardware each night. This way, no one can know the exact location of the backed up data.
The providers offer their cloud storage services from as low as $5 a month or $60 a year for unlimited storage. You also enjoy a free trial period of 14 days.
The negative side of the advanced user-created keys is that you cannot recover your data if you lose your keys.
4. SugarSync
SugarSync offers file sharing and synchronization, along with backup services. Using SugarSync is easy and enjoyable. For instance, you can easily select any folder on the computer and synchronize it with the cloud. As you share and sync your folders, they will be backed up in the background.
SugarSync offers its services in different packages, starting from as low as $7.49 a month for 100GB (Individual). The business package supports up to 3 users, and it costs $55 a month for 1TB.
It comes with a dedicated application for Windows and Mac computers. You can also download it to your Android or iOS devices. Since backups are carried out automatically, SugarSync proves to be one of the reliable cloud backup service providers. You can also enjoy free 5GB storage for a limited time of 90 days.
On the contrary, the premium packages are pricier than other providers. You might also experience some lags when synchronizing your folders (this depends on the size of the folder).
5. Carbonite
Carbonite stands among the most reliable cloud backup service providers. One unique thing about them is that they offer reliable services at super-friendly prices. Their individual and business backup services come with a similar approach. However, they mostly target the small and home business clients with the business packages.
Their services start from as little as $4.92 a month, or you can choose to pay $59.99 a year. The business Pro package offers backup services to unlimited users, and it goes for a yearly fee of $269.99. They have the Disaster Recovery Package that is an all-in-one solution offering cloud backup and on-site data recovery. This package comes with a storage space of 500GB and 1TB local drive. It costs about $1,200 a year.
Carbonite offers an impeccable customer support that is available from 8:30 am to 9 pm from Monday to Sunday. With the low-cost packages, you only enjoy a trial period of 15 days. However, the hybrid backup service has a trial period of 30 days, with a money back guarantee.
6. SpiderOak
This service provider is known for its top-notch privacy policy. It lets you have control of your data and be sure of secure storage. They don’t store any unencrypted data, which assures you of total security. SpiderOak can be used on different machines, including Linux, Mac, and Windows computers.
The cloud backup providers offer their services to both the enterprise and group customers. You can enjoy their storage services from as low as $7 a month or $84 a year for 30GB. There is also the business package of $12 a month for 1TB.
SpiderOak offers reliable storage options, though the price is slightly compared to what other providers offer with similar prices.
7. Acronis True Image
Acronis True Image – Acronis is an old name in the dat recovery and management. Now Acronis released new generation features in its online backup solution. In its latest release now it includes some extra features like ransomware protection, digitial signing and blockchain verification.
It offers three level of backup 1. local backup software wihtout online storage 2. Online backup storage and 3. Premium with new generation features with 1TB storage which covers 1 computer and unlimited mobile devices.
8. Backblaze
Backblaze is one of the best cloud backup service providers that offer their services at affordable prices. With the BackBlaze, all you have to do is download and install the software on your device. After that, the software will start backing up your files automatically. You don’t even have to select the files and folders that you intend to back up. Backblaze backs up every file on your computer. Mostly, the software will run and identify documents, music, photos, and other vital files on your computer and start backing up.
Other than just backing up files, BackBlaze also copies, compresses, and encrypt the selected files before sending them to a secure data center in the cloud. All this happens without the need to launch the program. The compression also helps to utilize the available backup space in the cloud and store as many files as possible.
Backblaze doesn’t place any limits on the bandwidth or the file size you should send to the data center. It also runs in the background to let you carry on with other programs on your computer as it runs. You can also download the mobile app to access the files when you need them
You can enjoy the Backblaze cloud services from $5 a month or $50 a year with unlimited storage. The major drawback, however, is that it doesn’t have the file explorer option. For that, you might be needed to go from folder to folder when you want to locate a specific file.
9. Mozy
This is yet another cloud service provider that is trusted by millions of individual users and about 100,000 business users. It is another provider that offers a set-it-and-forget-it feature. This means that all you have to do is download and install the software and it will do the rest for you.
You can also choose to set your most favorable backup times and what you want to back up. The security level of the software is also commendable, thanks to a 448-bit managed Blowfish or a 256-bit AES key. Also, the files are transferred to the secure data center via an SLL-encrypted connection.
All the data centers are monitored throughout. The data centers feature a temperature control, seismic bracing, and backup power. This way, you can be sure of a reliable cloud backup provider that lets you access your data whenever you need them.The storage service at Mozy start from 2GB for free, and you can upgrade it to 50GB at around $6 a month or $66 a year.
10. pCloud
pCloud stands as one of the newest providers of cloud services on the market. They offer reliable services at affordable prices. To begin with, you enjoy free 20GB cloud storage. pCloud also lets users choose to set it as a cloud drive, which then backs up files. If you set the pCloud application/drive as a cloud drive, all the files will be stored in the cloud automatically.
Their premium packages start from around $4 a month for 500GB and $8 a month for 2TB. Even though they offer cheap storage cloud space compared to other providers, you will need to add more money for extra security. The pCloud Crypto is the security add-on the security feature that comes at an extra fee of $3.99 a month. The Business package comes at around $50 for 5TB. The minimum number of users is 5, and every additional user will pay $10 a month.
pCloud is also available for iOS and Android devices, and it is easy to set up and use. The major drawback is the extra fee you need to pay for the security add-on.
11. Dropbox
Dropbox is a popular cloud storage option, especially for personal purposes. What makes Dropbox popular is their friendly interface and their reasonable price for the storage space. Dropbox will sync your files automatically when you drag them to the Dropbox folder on your computer/mobile device. You can also share the files with your friends (whether they have a Dropbox account or not).
The app lets you access your files from any device. This is a perfect choice for casual users and individuals. Business users might not find Dropbox as reliable as such, mostly due to its limited functionality. They also have a decent privacy policy that keeps your files safe at all times.
The providers offer a free 2GB storage space, though you can upgrade to 1TB for only about $10 a month or $100 per year. It is available for Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android users.
Conclusion
When choosing a cloud backup service provider, always ensure that you choose one that offers what you need or prefer. Don’t only look at the monthly or yearly cost of the backup services. Rather, consider the storage space, security level, customer support, and the ease of use of the system. You might also want to go for a backup provider that has a user-friendly interface, and that has a software/application that supports different devices. Choosing a provider that offers free trial and money back guarantee can also assure you of reliability.
