Pros & Cons
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- Unlimited storage
- Strong security options, with multi-factor authentication and private encryption key support
- Lets you back up or restore via a mailed drive
- Simple, intuitive interface
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- Only has single-computer licenses
- Convoluted backup selection method
- Lacks File Explorer and Finder integration
- Shared files lack password protection
- Can only restore files via the web app
Backblaze Specs
| File Sharing | |
| Free Storage | None |
| Number of Computers (Base Plan) | 1 |
| Private Key Encryption | |
| Storage (Base Plan) | Unlimited |
| Versions Kept | 30 |
| Versions Period | 30 days |
Backblaze proves that effective online backup software doesn't need to be overly expensive or complicated. Its simple setup process, unlimited backup storage for a single macOS or Windows computer, and back-up-everything approach make it a fine tool for people like me who don't want to do much tinkering. That said, Backblaze has a few downsides: Its folder-sync method is confusing compared with the competition, and it doesn't back up mobile devices. If you want a more full-featured backup app, check out our Editors' Choice winners IDrive (for better value) or ShadowProtect SPX Desktop (for full-disk image backups).
Price and Account Management
If you have just one computer to cover, Backblaze is cost-effective compared with other online backup services I've tested. It costs $9 per month or $99 per year and comes with unlimited cloud backup storage for one computer. Alternatively, you can pay $189 every two years for the service for a deeper discount. Backblaze lacks a free tier, unlike IDrive, which offers 10GB of no-cost storage. That said, Backblaze has a 15-day trial, so you can try before you buy.
(Credit: Blackblaze/PCMag)Backblaze's unlimited storage is generous, especially compared with SpiderOak One, which charges $6 per month per user for 150GB of space on the low end and $29 per month per user for 5TB of space on the high end. However, with Backblaze, you need a license for each computer you want to protect. So, if you need to back up five Macs or PCs, the cost increases to a hefty $500 per year. Other services, including IDrive and SpiderOak, let you add multiple computers and mobile devices to one account. IDrive starts at $99.95 per year for 5TB of storage, which you can share among as many devices as you like. Carbonite Safe charges a similar rate as Backblaze for a single computer and unlimited storage ($95.99 per year).
You can change which computer is associated with Backblaze by either transferring the license or inheriting the backup state on the new device. When you transfer the license, Backblaze deletes your backed-up files, and you start anew. If you choose to inherit the backup state, Backblaze remembers the files you backed up on the prior system to avoid duplication. Other services with single-device licenses work similarly. With Carbonite, for example, you must uninstall the software from the original PC before you install it on a new one.
To cancel your Backblaze account, you must delete all active backups on the Preferences page (available on the web), remove unused licenses on the Overview page, and then delete the account on the My Settings page. The process is more complicated than other online backup services. If you enabled the optional B2 Cloud storage capability on your account (more on that in a bit), you must take additional steps to cancel it. If you need help, Backblaze offers live chat support from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PST) on weekdays.
Setting Up Backblaze
Signing up for Backblaze requires just an email address and password. Before creating a person account, the site asks you which service you want; make sure to sign up for Computer Backup, not B2 Cloud Storage (the latter's designed for backup veterans who want to create their own cloud storage). Backblaze then generates a custom installer bound to your account, which downloads and installs quickly. Backblaze works with macOS and Windows computers, but not Linux systems.
After installation, Backblaze scans your hard drive for certain file types, such as documents, media files, and downloads, and calculates the total backup size. Hitting the Continue button launches the backup process. This setup is ideal if you don't want to worry about what you need to back up. If, however, you want more control over what gets uploaded to the cloud, this initial backup behavior is annoying. You can pause the backup process immediately after it starts, but if you want to make changes, you must deal with Backblaze's exclusion-based system. I'll discuss these shortcomings a bit later.
While Backblaze backs up all user files on your computer, it can't be used for disk imaging. For creating and backing up a fully bootable backup, I recommend Editors' Choice winners ShadowProtect SPX Desktop or IDrive (the latter offers disk imaging as an option). On the upside, Backblaze lets you back up attached external drives, something which costs extra with Carbonite Safe.
Desktop App, Backup Options, and Folders
On the desktop, Backblaze displays an icon in the notification tray. It gives you quick access to the Backblaze Control Panel, a shortcut to the website's View/Restore Files section, and the option to inherit a backup state for new setups. Backblaze does not integrate with Windows' File Explorer or macOS's Finder, so you can't right-click on a folder or file to quickly add it to your backup set. Carbonite Safe and IDrive both support this feature.
(Credit: Backblaze/PCMag)The Backblaze interface is compact and well-organized, even if it doesn't look as sleek as Acronis True Image or SpiderOak. I had no problem finding and changing individual settings. Note that Backblaze's restore capabilities are only accessible via its web app. To configure your backup settings, open the Settings panel. The options include changing the backup device name and selecting which hard drives to back up.
In the Performance tab, you can manually set threading and throttling preferences, but most users should just leave it on the Automatic setting—unless you aren't transferring a lot of data. Backblaze calculates how long it will take to back up the computer based on the last file transfer speed.
By default, backups in the Schedule tab are set to occur continuously. In other words, Backblaze monitors file changes and updates the stored version in real time. I prefer this method as it mitigates the risk of losing changes if a hard drive crashes before a scheduled backup. Alternatively, you can pick a time for a daily backup or set it to run only when you hit the Backup button. The latter two options are useful for people limited by system resources or bandwidth.
Here's where things get a bit irritating. Instead of letting you select which folders to back up, Backblaze backs up everything by default, except for some system folders. You are responsible for excluding the files you do not want to include in your backup. No other service I've tested works this way. I prefer the flexibility of inclusion-based selection systems that let me select exactly what I want to upload. It's tedious to manually exclude every file you don't want backed up.
Backblaze's back-up-everything approach doesn't conflict with storage limits because it offers unlimited space. However, there's one potential reason to slim down your selections: to conserve system resources and bandwidth, especially if you choose the continuous backup option.
Another related issue is that Backblaze's backups mirror the structure of your hard drive, so seldom-used folders, such as ProgramData and Recovery, are backed up by default. I would rather Backblaze give me the option to narrow the initial backup selection to specific user folders.
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Web Version and File Sharing
Backblaze's web interface is effective, and it matches the desktop application' simple, intuitive design. The main panel shows an overview of your backup, including how far back your version history goes and the number of files selected for backup.
You will likely use the View/Restore Files section the most—that's where you browse backed-up files. In My Settings and Billing sections, your options are Configure Account Security Settings and Change Plan and Billing Preferences.
To share files backed up with Backblaze, you need to enable the B2 Cloud option in your account settings. The two services are separate: Backblaze handles encryption and online backup, while B2 is a cloud repository unaffected by any local changes you make. Backblaze users get 10GB of total B2 storage and 1GB of downloads (per day) free via B2. Additional B2 storage costs $0.006 per gigabyte, with increased download capacity costing an additional $0.01 per gigabyte per month.
You share files from within the web portal's View/Restore section. In testing, I clicked a file, then clicked the Share With Link button to generate a link to send to others. On the back end, Backblaze adds the shared file to what it calls a Bucket. I accessed these Buckets from the My Shared Files. Sharing a file makes it public, and anyone with the sharing link can access it. I'm not a fan of that. SpiderOak One and OpenDrive offer a more secure approach, letting you optionally protect shared links with passwords and set an expiration date.
(Backblaze/PCMag)From the Locate My Computer panel, Backblaze tracks the location of your backed-up device, the last upload set, and the computer's IP address. In testing, Backblaze successfully located my test computer. If your PC or Mac is stolen, Backblaze recommends preparing a restore, contacting the police, and monitoring any subsequent account activity.
Restoring Data With Backblaze
To restore your data, you must visit the Backblaze website's View/Restore section, as the desktop app does not offer this functionality. The app presents you with three options: Download Files, Save Files to B2, and USB Hard Drive. The first option is free, while the B2 option costs $0.005 per gigabyte per month. If you restore your data to B2, the file set will be formatted as a Snapshot, essentially a zipped collection of files as they existed at a specific point in time. A Snapshot has a maximum size of 10TB. IDrive offers a similar feature for point-in-time recovery.
The last option, in which the company mails you a hard drive containing your files (up to 8TB), is part of Backblaze's excellent Cloud Restore service. It's helpful in case something disastrous happens to your current computer or if you want a faster way to move files (local transfers will always be quicker than transfers to and from the cloud). To use the portable hard drive option, you put down a refundable $279, which you get back if you return the drive in its original condition. Carbonite Safe and IDrive offer similar disaster recovery services by mail.
Regardless of your restore option, you select files using the file browser. You can specify the backup device used and the backup frequency if you are looking for a specific file version. Backblaze keeps 100 days' worth of file versions. You can increase the file retention period to forever for an additional fee. For the unlimited retention plan, you pay $0.006 per gigabyte per month for file versions that have been updated, changed, or deleted more than one year ago. IDrive retains the previous 10 file versions forever, and Acronis True Image includes extensive versioning capabilities for no additional cost.
As you make selections, Backblaze calculates the total file size of the restore. Restore jobs are accessible via the My Restores menu and are available for seven days after your initial request. You receive an email alert when your restore is ready.
If you have a large amount of data to restore, you can also install the Restore App, a dedicated application for downloading files from Backblaze and restoring them exactly where you had them before.
Using the Backblaze Mobile App
I tested Backblaze's Android app and had no issue signing in to a test account (Backblaze also offers an iOS app). Either way, the app is pretty rudimentary. The main screen displays all the backup devices linked to your account. You can access any files you downloaded from your backup. The Settings section is similarly sparse. The only options are remembering your login info, enabling biometric login, and allowing downloads over cellular connections.
I found browsing for backed-up files tedious since I could only navigate the file tree one level at a time. On the upside, Backblaze let me move up the file tree without having to start from the top, which I appreciated. The app's search bar worked fine, but I couldn't filter the results by file type or size.
Since Backblaze's license is for a single device, you won't find options to automatically back up photos, videos, or contacts on your phone. IDrive and other competing tools have this capability. You can manually upload files to a B2 bucket, but there's no automatic backup.
Strong Security Options
Backblaze states it uses "2048-bit public/private keys to secure a symmetric AES 128-bit key that changes for every backup 'session' on your computer." After they are encrypted, backups are sent to Backblaze's data centers over an SSL connection, where they remain encrypted. If you're concerned about Backblaze staff, a hacker, or a law enforcement agency snooping through your data, you can manage your own encryption keys. However, if you ever lose or forget the password, Backblaze won't be able to help you reset it, and you won't be able to access any encrypted backup data.
On the Backblaze website, you can enable multi-factor authentication for your account via SMS or an authentication app, such as Authy or Duo Mobile. Backblaze lets you integrate logins with Google Workspace single sign-on (SSO). These are all good security options. I wish they were standard features for all online backup services.