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Most of us don't think that our computer might be stolen, destroyed in a fire, or suffer a major hardware failure. However, losing years of important financial information, precious photos, or a beloved music collection would be devastating.
Investing in an online backup service is not only vital in today's world, it's also surprisingly afffordable. TopConsumerReviews.com reviews and ranks the top Online Backup services available today.
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An online backup service is something that everyone with a pc should seriously consider. Buying home insurance and auto insurance, to keep our assets safe, is second nature for most of us. Similarly, if you keep anything of importance on your pc, you should consider online backup a necessity.
Many people don't utilize any backup system whatsoever. This is extremely risky, since a computer's hard drive will inevitably fail - and destroy everything on it in the process. Some people have a backup hard drive that periodically makes a copy of important files. While this is better than no protection at all, it's still vulnerable to events such as theft and fire.
Online backup services have recently matured into a product that is both easy and affordable. Using your existing internet connection, online backup services make copies of critical documents - or even your entire hard drive - and store these copies in a location away from your home. This form of digital insurance protects you from hard drive crashes and physical disasters - all with one affordable service.
Finding the right online backup service is critical in protecting your digital information. Not all online backup services are the same. It's important to consider several factors before
choosing an online backup service provider:
• Process. Is the backup process automated or does it rely on the user remembering to save the data?
• Ease of Use. How simple is the interface? Can you easily find and restore your backup files?
• Cost. Some online backup services are actually free; others charge a low monthly fee, and still others have a different pricing structure. How much can you expect to pay and how does that compare to the competition?
TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best online backup services available today. We hope you find these reviews helpful in protecting your important data!
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Cost:
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Free (up to 2GB)
$4.95 per month (unlimited storage)
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Mozy is a market leader in providing online consumer, business, and network backups. They've been in business since 2005, and have more than 1 million customers backing up over 50 petabytes of information to multiple data centers around the globe.
For the home consumer market, Mozy offers two programs:
• MozyHomeFree, which provides free online backup for up to 2 GB of storage.
• MozyHome Unlimited, which provides unlimited backup storage for only $4.95 per month.
For businesses, Mozy offers Mozy Pro. This costs only $3.95 per month, plus 50 cents per GB for desktop backups and slightly
higher for network servers.
Mozy is easy to set up and is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems. The backups can be automated to run whenever the user wishes and can even backup while the computer is in use. The interface is straightforward and easy to navigate. The initial backup takes a while - as with all backup services - because
all files are being copied. However, subsequent incremental backups take much less time.
As with most other services, the subsequent backups are incremental, only backing up new or changed files. Mozy has an simple two-window interface. The first window shows the current backup status. The second window is where you can make configuration changes, see the backup log, and restore files.
Overall, Mozy sets the standard in online backup services. The price, functionality, and straightforward interface should make Mozy your first stop in finding the right online backup system for you. They earn our highest rating.
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Cost:
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$4.99 per month to $39.99 per month
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SugarSync offers the same basic online, offsite automated backup services as their competitors but with the added feature of file-syncing. File-syncing allows the user to work on files across multiple computers. So if you are working on a file at home, the changes you make will also be saved on your work computer or laptop. It also offers access to your data from any Internet-enabled
computer or smartphone including the iPhone and Blackberry.
After the initial backup of files, SugarSync will continue to backup your files as you make changes. Rather then scheduled incremental backups, their system works quietly in the background while you are working on your computer, backing up and saving changes to your files and any new files created. You will not even realize it is backing up your system while you work. If you choose
the syncing feature, files created or changed on one computer are instantly accessible from other computers that have been synced. So if you change a file on your work computer, it will automatically update on your home computer.
The interface is easy to use and supports archiving and versioning, saving up to five previous versions of each file, although only the current file counts towards your storage total.
The pricing is a little higher then some of their other competitors no doubt because of the syncing capability and other enhanced features. The basic online backup plan supports 30 GB and is $4.99 per month; 60 GB is $9.99 per month; 100 GB is $14.99 per month; 250 GB is $24.99 per month; and the recently introduced 500 GB is $39.99 per month. A 30-day free trial is included for
all price ranges and a discount is given if you pay for a full-year in advance.
If you have a large amount of data to backup and don't care about the file syncing, then other services that offer unlimited storage may be more affordable. However, the ability to work on multiple computers or mobile devices and have nearly instant access to your most current and updated data is very appealing.
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Cost:
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Free (2GB)
$4.95 per month to $799.50 per year
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IDrive has improved its user interface substantially over the past couple of years eliminating one of the past disadvantages of this online backup service. Its initial setup interface is much improved and has animated videos that illustrate the basics of the program. Other nice features include an auto-selection
of files to be backed up, open file backup, archiving and version saving, and a web remote management interface.
A free mobile device backup is also available. It is compatible with the most current Windows-based operating systems, namely Vista, XP and Windows 7 and a Mac version is available as well. However, if you need both the Windows and Mac versions because you have both types of operating systems, you will need to set up two separate IDrive backup accounts.
Backups can be customized to choose which files and applications are to be backed up and when the backups should be performed. Their application supports versioning, making available the most recent 30 versions of a file for restoration.
IDrive Basic is free and will backup 2 GB of files on your computer. Like with other competitors that offer this free 2 GB service, it is a great way to try before you buy. IDrive Pro stores up to 150 GB and is $4.95 per month or $49.50 if you pay for a year in advance; a savings of 16 percent. IDrive Pro Family Pack stores up to 500 GB of data over five separate PC's and costs
$14.95 per month or $149.50 per year. They also offer a business backup service, which ranges from 50 GB for $99.50 per year up to 1000 GB for $799.50 per year.
Overall, for a basic backup service IDrive offers plenty of information and great customer support with a toll-free number and 24/7 online live support.
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Cost:
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$3.95 to $4.95 per month
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KeepIt is an automated online backup service that is part of a group of companies owned by parent Cohaesio, headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. Like many of its competitors, they offer backup products for both the home and business user.
KeepIt Unlimited provides unlimited storage for the home user for only $4.95 per month. KeepIt Pro works for the home or small business user
with two or more computers. It's priced at $3.95 per month per computer plus $.50 per GB of storage space. A backup system for network drives is under development and not yet available. Their PC version works on the most common Microsoft operating systems including Vista, XP and Windows 7.A Mac version is also available.
The backup process runs in the background so you can continue to use your computer while a backup is being performed. Like all other services, the initial backup will copy all files and folders on your hard drive. Depending on the size and volume of data this could take anywhere from several hours to several days. Once completed the application performs a daily backup of only the
files you select that have been either changed or added. The backups are performed automatically so you do not have to remember to initiate and perform a backup each day. The backup process is easy to setup and has a very user-friendly interface with simple to follow instructions.
The application does support file versioning. Independent testing has reported that the time it takes to restore files onto a new PC is faster then some of their competitors. They also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
A downside to KeepIt is that in order to retrieve your data you must remember a digital key that you are given. If this is lost or forgotten you could have major problems retrieving your data. It would seem to make more sense to use a more updated type of secure access system like a series of detailed personal questions.
Again, for the personal, home user, this is a very good choice especially because of the unlimited storage space for a very low monthly price, something many competitors don't offer.
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Cost:
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Free (2GB first year)
$54 per year to $299.75 per month
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Backupmax provides online remote backups for both personal and business use. They also offer a unique security feature that those others do not. Their Remote Security Suite product is included for no extra charge as part of their Personal Edition product.
With this service if you computer is ever lost or stolen you can remotely activate this feature from their website from another computer. As soon as the lost/stolen unit is connected to the Internet this security service will remotely delete sensitive data. It also activates the computer's built-in camera and/or microphone and uploads images and sounds to your backup account. This
may allow you to see or hear who has your computer or laptop and could help locate it. Additionally, your computer will collect and send to your Backupmax account technical information about its environment that might help zero in on who is using your equipment. The Remote Security is not yet currently available for their business system but is expected to be available soon.
The Personal Edition gives you 2 GB free for the first year. 10G GB of storage sells for $29 for six months; $54 for one year and $99 for two years. Additional storage is available for an additional incremental charge. The Business Edition ranges from $89.95 a month for one PC and 10 GB of backup storage to $299.75 for up to 25 PC's with pooled storage of 30 GB. Both editions support
file versioning and run automatically behind the scenes. Mac versions are also available and have the same pricing structure and features.
If you are looking for a backup system and don't care about the security features then this product is not for you. There are plenty of other excellent online backup products that offer unlimited storage for a much lower monthly or annual cost.
However, if you have sensitive files on your computer and choose to be selective in what you backup, staying under 10 GB, then this service
is a strong choice. The extra cost is well worth the added security, especially if you travel and use a laptop where both the chances of loss and theft are greater.
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Cost:
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Free
$6.95 per month to $16.95 per month for their access anywhere plan
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Live Drive is a UK based company that provides online backup for home PC's and constantly monitors for new files and changes. However, Live Drive is not designed to run scheduled backups of system files - it's a means of securing files and making them externally accessible. Live Drive offers two plans, with unlimited storage space, and is compatible with both Windows and Mac. The last 30 versions of any file are saved for your
reference.
For an additional monthly fee you can use the Live Drive Briefcase option that syncs files between all PCs or Macs. Additional features include FTP support, access to Facebook file sharing, easy file sharing, access to edit documents and retouch photos from a web browser located anywhere.
Live Drive recently starting offering a 2 week free trial opportunity. This is not at useful as a 30 day trial but is better than nothing. If you need to synchronize files you are required to pay a the higher monthly charge which is a cheaper feature at some of the higher ranked companies.
Overall, Live Drive has some good, straightforward options but will cost more than the average service for those bells and whistles. The 2 week free trial is nice but not a great period of time to really try the service and feel confident it will meet your needs.
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Cost:
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Free (2GB)
$9.95 per month to $3,320 annually
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Box originally began as a college business project in 2005, launched from the dorm room of CEO Aaron Levie along with co-founder and CFO Dylan Smith. Box is a file sharing service more then an online backup provider. Of course, by storing files and data offsite versus your computer or network hard drive you create the same type of protection a backup provides. This service
is ideal for companies and individuals who need to work and collaborate on projects over multiple computers whether in the same house, office or around the world.
Box's platform allows personal and commercial content to be accessible, sharable and storable in any format. It allows you to move documents between computers and to transfer files so you can work on them in any location. You can setup sub-accounts for multiple user access which is ideal for small business and workgroups that need to collaborate.
Box Lite provides 1 GB of web storage for free and is a perfect way to try out the service. Box Individual provides 10 GB of storage for $9.95 per month. For the business customer, which is their primary focus, $15 per month provides 15 GB of storage for three or more users. For the larger company, their Enterprise product gives unlimited web storage access but you need to
call their customer service support for pricing.
The bottom line is that for individuals that are seeking an online backup product this one is not for you. In fact, it's not even positioned that way. However, for file-sharing and certainly for companies that require this type of collaboration it is an excellent product.
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Cost:
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Free (1GB)
$29.99 to $699.99 per month
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Elephant Drive offers several online backup services for both the home and business customer. All versions provide automatic and scheduled backups, file sharing, mapped network drive backup ability and file versioning. Their platform is powered by Amazon Web Services which has a good reputation for security and reliability. They have recently released a fully automated version
for
Mac users. However, their service does not provide photo albums or galleries as do some of their competitors. At this time they do not offer any cell phone specific applications or access.
Users report very good uploading speed although the setup screens and user interfaces are cumbersome and leave something to be desired. File and folder selection is a bit tedious and you must setup your folder configuration manually. On many other services this backup selection process is simply a matter of checking off what you wish backed up.
Like some other online backup services, they offer a free backup for up to 2 GB of storage. They apparently have recently discontinued their $4.95 per month unlimited storage space service for home use. Their web site lists a Personal Edition for $9.95 per month or $99.50 per year for up to 100 GB and a Family Edition that supports up to five users for $19.95 per month or $199.50
per year for 500 GB.
Both products give you the first two months at no charge. For businesses their Enterprise Edition ranges from 50 GB for $200 per year to 1 TB for $3,320 annually. All products offer a free trial.
While overall reviews of this product are favorable, the service costs more then many others, especially for personal/home use. With so much to choose from in this arena, other online backup services appear to offer a better value.
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Cost:
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Free (1GB)
$29.99 to $699.99 per month
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DriveHQ sells an online backup product that is geared to the small business or enterprise user. While they do offer a product for the individual/home user its plain to see that they are more focused on the business market where multiple computer users and servers are being used.
Their user interface is rather cluttered and not very pleasing to the eye. They recently have introduced
an upgraded version of their software entitled Cloud Storage and Cloud IT Solution 5.0. These products enable file storage, sharing, collaboration among multiple users, FTP hosting as well as simple backups. The do have a mobile application for cell phones but a Mac version is not available.
Their Premium Service provides 4 GB of backup storage space for $29.99 a year, 2 GB for $49.99 and 5 GB for $79.99. You can obtain 1 GB of file storage for free. Their business plans prices range from 50 GB for $399.99 a year up to 400 GB for $699.99 annually. There are additional charges for multiple users. For more specific pricing for business, you have to call their customer
service department. Their pricing structure seems complicated and confusing to say the least.
Their software supports file versioning and can be set up to run automatically. As with most others, it runs behind the scenes so you can still use the computer while the backup is being performed.
DriveHQ caters to the business user and provides a cluttered user interface. If you are looking for a an online backup system for your home PC, we couldn't find any reason to choose DriveHQ over a higher ranked product.
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Cost:
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$9.95 per month to $599.95 per month
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If you'd like to impress your friends by paying way too much for an online backup system, you should consider IBackup. IBackup offers economy, enhanced and workgroup plans. Within each group there are 5 or 6 monthly rates based on the storage space needed. Plans range from $9.95 per month to $599.95.
The economy plans are simple in nature and are used only for online backup, storage and some sharing. The enhanced plans offer backup and file restores. Workgroup plans offer online storage, collaboration, file sharing, and small business network backup. Users have reported a friendly interface that is customizable.
Information on the website is a bit challenging to gather and is unorganized in places. However, we learned that IBackup is designed for Mac and Windows users. IBackup offers a 15 day free trial for customers wanting to try out the services available but they do require your credit card.
In the end, IBackup provides a lot of functionality in their higher priced plans but for a big price. Many of the higher rated services in our review have similar options and cost a fraction of the price. As a result of the expensive nature of IBackup and the cumbersome website we were less impressed.
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Online Backup - In the News
Online backup services are enticing, but, how does one know if the data remains private?truly private? Michael Kassner takes a look at Mozy to see how it measures up. Tony, a close friend who does web development and photography on the side, called the ...
Publ.Date : 2012-05-15T06:50:22Z
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Backupify, the leading provider of online backup services for cloud application data, today announced the rising number of educational institutions choosing Backupify to protect confidential ...
Publ.Date : 2012-05-16T13:51:31Z
At around the same time, Matthew Dornquast, the CEO of Code 42 Software, wrote in with a list of common myths about cloud backup. Code 42 Software is the developer behind CrashPlan, which offers secure online and offsite backup for consumers and businesses.
Publ.Date : 2012-04-27T08:16:08Z
HOUSTON, TX ? R1Soft®, a division of Idera and the developer of Continuous Data Protection® (CDP) backup and recovery software for servers in the cloud, today announced CloudCopy?, secure online backup software for Internet service ...
Publ.Date : 2012-04-24T11:54:27Z
BUMI (Backup My Info!), the premium provider of managed online backup and recovery solutions for small to mid-sized businesses, today announced the availability of the latest version of its best-of-breed online data backup and recovery solution.
Publ.Date : 2012-05-15T13:02:36Z
Zak Karsan, Vice President of Business Development for VaultLogix, a privately held online backup company, was recently named to the SMB 150 Channel Influencers List. Karsan joins a group of esteemed colleagues who were chosen during a two-phase voting process.
Publ.Date : 2012-05-01T09:30:08Z
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