Backblaze cloud backup review

Trending 2 weeks ago

Backblaze should beryllium adjacent nan apical of your shortlist if you want a comprehensive, unlimited, unafraid backup of each of nan information from your location aliases business computers.

Pros

  • +

    Unlimited unreality backup

  • +

    No record size limits

  • +

    Straightforward operation

  • +

    Affordable pricing

  • +

    Multiple betterment methods

Cons

  • -

    One machine per licence

  • -

    Basic web interface

  • -

    No afloat disk image backup

  • -

    No support for web drives

  • -

    No support for record sync betwixt computers

Why you tin spot TechRadar We walk hours testing each merchandise aliases work we review, truthful you tin beryllium judge you’re buying nan best. Find retired much astir really we test.

Backblaze is 1 of nan best unreality backup services that we've tested, providing unlimited retention pinch nary record size limits for a very reasonable price. The institution started successful 2007 arsenic a measurement for a developer to backup a friend’s machine online. Fast guardant to nan present, and it is utilized by complete 500,000 customers.

ExpressVPN

If you're conscionable looking for an ultra-simple precocious capacity backup service, past Backblaze is simply a must-see, particularly arsenic pinch only a azygous costs tier and unlimited storage, you're ever paying conscionable nan aforesaid amount, not matter really overmuch you upload.

Backblaze is wholly focused connected backups, which intends there's nary record syncing, nary clever collaboration tools, and only nan simplest of record sharing options. This tin beryllium a affirmative aliases negative, depending connected your requirements. 

Alternatively, if you request a VPN to protect yourself online, you tin get Backblaze wholly free for a twelvemonth when you motion up to our #1 favorite, ExpressVPN (and you get 3 other months of ExpressVPN protection, too).

Backblaze: Plans and pricing

You tin effort Backblaze for free for 15 days without providing immoderate costs paper information. As expected, there's nary free tier since you get unlimited unreality backup. Personal plans costs $9 monthly, $99 a year, aliases $189 each 2 years. There is besides a $2 monthly complaint to upgrade record type history from 30 days to 1 year, which, successful our opinion, is simply a must.

Business customers get akin pricing. However, you should interaction Backblaze straight for quotes for backing up aggregate computers and servers and storing much information successful nan unreality for semipermanent storage. This is particularly useful if you're replacing portion backups. It's refreshing to spot this benignant of elastic pricing, but it does make it much challenging to comparison Backblaze against competing services.

Backblaze unreality retention backup work showing nan encryption cardinal process

(Image credit: Backblaze)

Backblaze unreality retention backup work showing nan record betterment process

(Image credit: Backblaze)

Backblaze: Features

Backblaze doesn’t fuss you pinch nan specifications of your backup plan, conscionable that it is occurring: erstwhile you initially instal nan desktop client, it doesn’t require you to prime files and folders, but alternatively conscionable grabs each nan files and folders it considers important and starts transferring them to your Backblaze unreality backup.

By default, Backblaze copies each information isolated from ISOs, DMGs (Mac disk image), virtual drives, strategy files aliases executables. Backblaze besides won't backup files created by different backup utilities for illustration Time Machine.

You person nan action to exclude different record types if you wish, but unless exclusively told to disregard them, it will see everything isolated from nan record types listed. During our testing, we recovered it very elemental and straightforward, and you tin remainder easy that your full machine tin beryllium recovered if needed.

Backblaze unreality retention backup work interface moving connected a computer

(Image credit: Backblaze)

The instrumentality is simply a "set-it-and-forget-it" solution. It's location to thief you retrieve information specified arsenic if your difficult thrust catastrophically fails aliases your laptop fails to boot.

However, Backblaze is not designed for syncing files betwixt computers, aliases getting astatine your euphony and video files successful nan cloud. You tin see external difficult drives and portable SSDs and, connected a business plan, servers successful your backups, though networked drives can't beryllium included. While record sharing is possible, nan characteristic tin only beryllium accessed done nan web interface.

Backups tin beryllium continuous and this is simply a default option. They tin besides beryllium configured to hap erstwhile a day, aliases conscionable erstwhile you initiate them manually. Some other assortment pinch those timescales would beryllium nice, but we expect nan mostly of users will time off it group to continuous backup mode. Although you tin backup an unlimited magnitude of data, you are restricted to 1 machine for each Backblaze account, and mobile devices aren't included.

The truth that you can't prime files aliases folders to backup individually tin beryllium an inconvenience if you only want to backmost up definite files. For instance, your Documents files whitethorn incorporate irreplaceable information but your Pictures mightiness not. You besides can't fine-tune which folders wrong these directories are backed up. On nan positive side, there's small chance of thing valuable being missed during backup.

Backblaze's unreality backup interface connected a Mac

(Image credit: Backblaze)

As standard, unlimited versions of files are kept, though only for a play of 30 days. This tin beryllium somewhat restrictive, particularly arsenic weeks tin walk earlier you recognize that you are missing an important document. Given nan reasonable value for nan modular plan, mixed pinch nan truth that an unlimited magnitude of retention could clasp thousands of folders filled pinch documents, images and videos, we deliberation nan other $2 a period (or $14 a year) for extended record history is simply a no-brainer. This extends it to 1 year. For an other $2 per period and $0.005/GB per file, Backblaze tin besides shop record versions forever.

While only 1 machine is supported per license, wholly unlimited information retention pinch nary record size limits intends that Backblaze should ne'er beryllium nan restricting constituent to your backing-up needs. This makes it a hugely valuable instrumentality that is besides affordable compared to rivals specified arsenic Polarbackup, LiveDrive, and Carbonite, each of which connection unlimited retention plans that are presently much expensive.

Because location are nary subscription tiers, each relationship benefits from different premium features. Uploading and downloading erstwhile utilizing nan desktop customer is unthrottled, which intends superquick backups up to nan maximum velocity of your ISP and router.

Backblaze has built-in safeguards to limit nan magnitude of bandwidth consumed. The Control Panel settings database nan latest upload velocity and nan magnitude of information backed up per time connected average. In bid to springiness users much control, manual throttling tin limit nan magnitude of bandwidth utilized by nan app successful bid to prioritize different tasks. This tin beryllium useful for workers who often find themselves connected video calls, arsenic it allows backups to proceed automatically successful nan inheritance while providing optimal speeds for your workload.

Backblaze: Interface and use

The Backblaze desktop customer targets simplicity complete power. The options of nan Backblaze package are limited, truthful nan package doesn't person to do overmuch isolated from attraction connected nan occupation astatine manus - to make judge that your files are getting continuously backed up successful nan background.

There is an action to exclude definite files and folders from a Backblaze backup, but we recovered it could beryllium much straightforward. Considering you get an unlimited magnitude of abstraction successful nan cloud, it's easier to conscionable fto Backblaze backup everything, conscionable successful case. 

Transferring information from an full machine to nan web is perchance a lengthy process, but nan speeds Backblaze managed were impressive. You tin besides take to region aliases throttle nan upload process if you deliberation Backblaze is taking up excessively overmuch bandwidth to override nan automatic throttling.

Backblaze unreality backup moving successful a browser connected a Mac

(Image credit: Backblaze)

We for illustration its integration wrong nan operating system that helps to simplify nan backup process - aliases astatine least, for those uncommon events that users request to modify controls. In this case, Backblaze sits neatly successful System Preferences wrong macOS for instance. The Backblaze power sheet tin besides beryllium launched via a useful strategy tray icon successful Windows.

Like nan desktop client, nan web interface is besides trim down and minimal, letting you reappraisal backed up files and reconstruct them if needed. There's besides a system for sharing stored files to others that is exclusive to nan web interface. Unfortunately, successful position of web functionality, Backblaze falls short of Dropbox, Google Drive, aliases Apple iCloud erstwhile it comes to sharing files. However, it is yet a different proposition truthful this comparison is, perhaps, somewhat unfair.

In nan arena of a strategy nonaccomplishment aliases loss, files tin beryllium downloaded for free, aliases Backblaze will put them connected a USB difficult thrust for $189 and vessel your information to your door. While it whitethorn not do overmuch beyond suck up each nan files connected a machine and fto you reconstruct them, Backblaze does these halfway jobs very well. The almost $200 spent connected backing up your files should beryllium seen much arsenic a holding interest for nan worth of nan ample difficult thrust (up to 8TB), arsenic erstwhile nan reconstruct is complete you tin return it by message and person a afloat refund.

Backups are constricted to PCs and Macs, nevertheless alongside nan web interface location are iOS and Android apps that let you to entree your information from anywhere. Backblaze Mobile 6.0, released successful December 2022, has a caller consciousness to it pinch authentication improvements for some platforms positive galore tweaks and updates.

Backblaze: Security

Backblaze gets precocious marks from a information perspective: arsenic you tin alteration two-step authentication connected your account. 

The institution down nan instrumentality besides claims that backed up files connected your instrumentality are protected pinch AES 128-bit encryption, nan cardinal for which is generated randomly for each backup session. Also worthy noting is that users tin prime betwixt EU and US information centers.

The information is sent securely via an SSL relationship to debar your information being intercepted arsenic it travels done nan internet. Backblaze besides says it uses OpenSSL for generating nan basal encryption keys to do this. While it's not afloat end-to-end encryption, it's surely safe capable for astir users. But if you do want end-to-end encryption, you tin besides group up a backstage encryption key, known only to you, which adds an other furniture of protection to your data. 

The downside of this is that Backblaze can’t thief you if you hide nan key, and you request to stock it pinch Backblaze if you ever request to reconstruct your data.

Backblaze: How we tested

We performed 3 superior tests for Backblaze, focusing connected sync speed, record recovery, and versioning.

These tests were carried retired connected a Windows 11 virtual instrumentality utilizing nan Backblaze desktop client. The virtual instrumentality was connected to nan net via a fibre broadband relationship pinch a VPN server. Throughout our velocity tests, we consistently recorded an mean upload velocity of 70 Mbps.

Test 1 - Sync speed 

Our emblematic attack for evaluating unreality retention providers involves copying a 589MB files containing various record types, specified arsenic PDFs, JPGs, Microsoft Word documents, and more, and past assessing nan desktop client's synchronization speed. However, Backblaze chiefly functions arsenic an all-or-nothing backup solution. Therefore, for this peculiar test, we were compelled to let nan inferior to backmost up everything successful nan location folder, including nan trial files.

Although Backblaze is designed for backups alternatively than accepted unreality storage, it is imaginable to usage backed-up files for unreality retention purposes indirectly. Nevertheless, location is nary straightforward method to selectively backmost up only a circumstantial files arsenic we usually do for our modular unreality retention work tests. Consequently, we allowed Backblaze to backmost up each nan folders successful nan trial machine's location directory, including our trial files.

This resulted successful a information measurement somewhat exceeding 6GB, and nan upload to Backblaze's servers was completed successful little than 10 minutes. Therefore, our trial files took conscionable complete a infinitesimal to upload. This capacity is commendable, particularly erstwhile considering that our mean upload velocity was 70Mbps, importantly faster than what galore different unreality retention providers offer.

Backblaze speed

(Image credit: Future)

Test 1 - File Recovery

During our 2nd test, we purposefully placed nan trial files containing our files successful nan Recycle Bin and past manually triggered different backup. Once nan backup was complete, we accessed nan online Backblaze Control Panel done nan desktop customer and selected nan Restore Options. Locating nan trial files was straightforward, and upon choosing to Restore, we received a connection stating that further instructions would beryllium sent to america via email. 

Upon checking our inbox, we recovered an email containing a nexus to download a ZIP record of nan folder. We were besides fixed nan action to instal nan Backblaze Downloader app. Upon extraction, we discovered that nan files was organized wrong a directory building mirroring our device. For example, nan main files was 'C,' and we recovered different files named 'Users,' and truthful forth. Despite this multi-step process, we successfully recovered each nan files.

Test 3 - Versioning

Versioning is an important characteristic erstwhile moving connected documents arsenic it allows you to revert backmost to erstwhile versions of nan file. When Backblaze backed up each nan files successful nan location directory, it included nan original type of our trial document. We opened this successful Wordpad, deleted each nan matter isolated from nan intro, saved and closed nan file, and past ran different backup. 

After selecting "Restore Options" from nan desktop client, we were capable to retrieve nan record from nan first backup successful nan aforesaid measurement arsenic we did for nan deleted trial folder. We chose to download nan archive arsenic a ZIP file. Once extracted, nan archive opened without immoderate issues.

Backblaze: Final verdict

Backblaze should beryllium adjacent nan apical of your shortlist if you want a comprehensive, unlimited, unafraid backup of each of nan information from your location aliases business computers.

Backblaze isn't a elemental cloud storage solution truthful overmuch arsenic a broad unreality backup solution-rather than let for immoderate files and folders to beryllium backed up it will simply drawback everything. This intends if you only want to sync individual files and folders this could beryllium tricky. 

Additionally, erstwhile it comes to restoring deleted/modified data, we can't spot immoderate logic successful offering a abstracted downloader app erstwhile this codification could beryllium integrated into Backblaze itself.  

Still, Backblaze has a ample personification base, and it’s easy to spot why – if you want to backmost up everything from 1 machine and its outer drives, simply and securely and without spending excessively much, past nan work is difficult to beat. We appreciate, too, that location are nary limits connected record sizes and nary limits connected nan magnitude of information you tin nonstop to nan cloud.

Just beryllium definite you cognize precisely what Backblaze is earlier you motion up. It's not for syncing files betwixt computers aliases getting easy entree to your files done a web browser. It's a comprehensive, set-and-forget unreality backup solution for protecting your information should nan worst happen, and astatine that task it provides a awesome solution. With stellar capacity successful that regard, Backblaze is 1 of nan best backup software solutions acknowledgment to its unlimited retention astatine a reasonable cost, aided by its array of restoration methods and easiness of use. 

We've featured nan champion free unreality storage.

Craig Hale

With respective years’ acquisition freelancing successful tech and automotive circles, Craig’s circumstantial interests dishonesty successful exertion that is designed to amended our lives, including AI and ML, productivity aids, and smart fitness. He is besides passionate astir cars and nan decarbonisation of individual transportation. As an avid bargain-hunter, you tin beryllium judge that immoderate woody Craig finds is apical value!

More
Source Technology
Technology