Online Backup Services Reviews

Who's better?

IDrive vs Elephant Drive

We've analyzed the best Online Backup Services to help you find the right solution for your needs.

2025 Online Backup Service Reviews

Here you can see how iDrive and Elephant Drive match up head-to-head in a battle for the Best Online Backup Services in 2025.

Winner

iDrive

  • iDrive Personal: 5-100 TB ($9. 95 to $99. 95 monthly), one user, multiple computers
  • Free 10GB plan available with no credit card required
  • True archiving - files remain stored until you decide to delete them

With iDrive, you get cloud backup that truly respects your data - nothing is ever automatically deleted until you say so. Your files stay safe across unlimited devices with powerful 256-bit encryption, and you can even have a physical drive shipped to you for faster initial backups. We give iDrive 5 stars for delivering exceptional value at prices that consistently beat the competition, making it perfect for anyone who wants comprehensive backup protection without complicated technical requirements.

Elephant Drive

  • Solo Plan at $10/month or $100/year for 1,000GB storage with 10 device limit
  • Specialized in NAS device integration
  • Zero-knowledge encryption option available

Elephant Drive offers cloud backup with specialized NAS device integration - something you won't find with most competitors. With their service, you'll get automatic backups, optional zero-knowledge encryption, and multi-platform support for $10/month per 1TB across 10 devices. However, you'll need to tolerate a clunky interface, buggy mobile apps, and customer support that's hit-or-miss at best. Elephant Drive works for tech-savvy users who need NAS backup capabilities, but most people should consider alternatives with better usability.

In a world where our lives are increasingly digital, we store countless irreplaceable memories and crucial documents on our devices. But what happens when your hard drive fails, your laptop gets stolen, or ransomware encrypts all your files? That's where online backups come to the rescue - but with so many options available, finding the right service can be overwhelming.

Everyone with digital data needs an online backup solution. From photographers safeguarding thousands of client photos to small business owners protecting financial records, or even families preserving decades of precious memories - online backups provide the peace of mind that comes from knowing your data is secure. When disaster strikes, whether it's a coffee spill on your laptop or a full-blown system crash, online backups ensure you can quickly recover everything that matters.

Not all online backup services are created equal. Some focus on unlimited storage for a single device, offering simplicity at the expense of flexibility. Others provide robust multi-device support with sophisticated encryption, but they cap your storage. The most comprehensive solutions include additional security features like ransomware protection and antivirus capabilities, transforming your backup into a complete data protection system.

The pricing models vary dramatically too. Some services charge per computer with unlimited storage, while others offer fixed storage amounts across multiple devices. Many tempt you with dramatic "discounts" that mysteriously remain available year-round, while others offer genuinely competitive pricing with substantial savings for annual commitments. The difference between paying $6 monthly for a single device versus $10 monthly for unlimited devices can add up significantly for multi-device households.

When selecting the ideal online backup service for your needs, here are the key factors to consider:

Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the best online backup services available today. We've thoroughly tested each option to help you find the perfect balance of features, security, and value. We hope our research helps you find the best online backup service for your unique needs - because when it comes to protecting your irreplaceable digital memories and crucial files, you deserve nothing less than complete peace of mind.

Slide Down Image Left Slide Image FAQ Image Slide Image Twirl Image

Online Backup Service FAQ

What is an online backup service?
Online backup services give customers the ability to back up, secure and restore their files. In the event of data theft, hard drive failure or other loss, clients can easily get their information back from the service's cloud storage facilities.
Are online backup services just for big companies?
Definitely not. Anyone can benefit from having their computers backed up to a secure cloud, whether the data contains sensitive financial data or treasured digital photos.
How much do online backup services cost?
For the average personal user, the monthly fee starts at around $5. Business pricing begins around $30/month. Fees vary by the number of users and the amount of desired offsite storage space.
Why would I pay for an online backup service when there are free options out there?
Free services are handy, but they're not designed to give you automated backup and seamless restoration of your files. If you're not on top of saving absolutely everything on your computer, your free storage is going to be incomplete. Using an online backup service with regularly scheduled backups is the best way to ensure that none of your files are lost.
How often should I schedule a backup to my online service?
At least once a week. Your online backup service may allow you to have continuous backups; your system is monitored constantly for any files that have been deleted, modified, created or moved and it updates accordingly in the background with no effort on your part.
How secure are my files when using an online backup service?
If you use a reputable, reliable provider, your files are extremely secure. Be sure to choose a service that encrypts the data not only as it's being transferred but also as it's stored in their cloud. You should also check to see how your encryption key is stored; if you've got serious concerns, pick a service that allows you to create your own private key (and don't lose it, because the service won't be able to recover your data if you don't have the key). Finally, it's worth asking where your provider's data centers are located; ones in the EU and US are preferred.
How long will it take for the initial backup of my computer?
That will depend on how much you're backing up and your internet speed. It could take as little as an hour or as long as a week.
What if I need help?
That's a frequent complaint among users of online backup services: difficulty in accessing support at all stages of the relationship (questions prior to signing up, during the initial backup process, several months into the service). Some providers have a better track record than others in this regard, so if you expect it to be less than smooth sailing because you're not tech-savvy, you should carefully choose an online backup service with a reputation for helpful, reliable customer support.

Compare Any 2 Products

iDrive
Arq
Acronis
Proton Drive
Elephant Drive
Carbonite
SugarSync
Backblaze
Live Drive
Internxt
vs
iDrive vs ArqiDrive vs AcronisiDrive vs Proton DriveiDrive vs Elephant DriveiDrive vs CarboniteiDrive vs SugarSynciDrive vs BackblazeiDrive vs Live DriveiDrive vs InternxtArq vs AcronisArq vs Proton DriveArq vs Elephant DriveArq vs CarboniteArq vs SugarSyncArq vs BackblazeArq vs Live DriveArq vs InternxtAcronis vs Proton DriveAcronis vs Elephant DriveAcronis vs CarboniteAcronis vs SugarSyncAcronis vs BackblazeAcronis vs Live DriveAcronis vs InternxtProton Drive vs Elephant DriveProton Drive vs CarboniteProton Drive vs SugarSyncProton Drive vs BackblazeProton Drive vs Live DriveProton Drive vs InternxtElephant Drive vs CarboniteElephant Drive vs SugarSyncElephant Drive vs BackblazeElephant Drive vs Live DriveElephant Drive vs InternxtCarbonite vs SugarSyncCarbonite vs BackblazeCarbonite vs Live DriveCarbonite vs InternxtSugarSync vs BackblazeSugarSync vs Live DriveSugarSync vs InternxtBackblaze vs Live DriveBackblaze vs InternxtLive Drive vs Internxt Internxt vs Live DriveInternxt vs BackblazeInternxt vs SugarSyncInternxt vs CarboniteInternxt vs Elephant DriveInternxt vs Proton DriveInternxt vs AcronisInternxt vs ArqInternxt vs iDriveLive Drive vs BackblazeLive Drive vs SugarSyncLive Drive vs CarboniteLive Drive vs Elephant DriveLive Drive vs Proton DriveLive Drive vs AcronisLive Drive vs ArqLive Drive vs iDriveBackblaze vs SugarSyncBackblaze vs CarboniteBackblaze vs Elephant DriveBackblaze vs Proton DriveBackblaze vs AcronisBackblaze vs ArqBackblaze vs iDriveSugarSync vs CarboniteSugarSync vs Elephant DriveSugarSync vs Proton DriveSugarSync vs AcronisSugarSync vs ArqSugarSync vs iDriveCarbonite vs Elephant DriveCarbonite vs Proton DriveCarbonite vs AcronisCarbonite vs ArqCarbonite vs iDriveElephant Drive vs Proton DriveElephant Drive vs AcronisElephant Drive vs ArqElephant Drive vs iDriveProton Drive vs AcronisProton Drive vs ArqProton Drive vs iDriveAcronis vs ArqAcronis vs iDriveArq vs iDrive
See the Best Online Backup Services in Your State

Why You Should Backup Your Computer

It used to be that fire or flood could destroy an entire lifetime's worth of paper files and other personal items like photos, music, home movies, business records, and so on. This is still true. But now more and more valuable family and business documents exist primarily on hard drives in our computers, or as digital versions in smart phones or tablets. So in addition to fire, flood, or other environmental threat we can add hardware failure and computer theft to the list of threats that could remove these important items from us.

In the early days of personal computers, all PC files were recorded on floppy disks; hard drives were large, expensive devices only found in the clean, secure, and climate-controlled computer rooms of large companies or governments. This allowed the storage of personal files in cases on a shelf. Hardly more secure than paper files, but at least not susceptible to hardware failure. Now, if the hard drive in a computer fails, chances are that all the information stored there will be lost forever. This could include:

Individuals, families, small businesses, and even larger enterprises sometimes have no backup copies of these valuable and often irreplaceable files. Or they might occasionally copy them to a DVD. Or they might have an external hard drive attached to the computer. Any copy is better than no copy. But copies that are kept at the same location as the computer are subject to the same environmental threats as the computer. And an external hard drive is just as subject to failure as the one inside the desktop or laptop system. Copies on optical disks, like DVDs, are likely outdated in as short a time as a week or two. So files must be manually backed up again and again, in an ever-increasing stack of disks.

What are the characteristics of a solution to this dilemma? Consider a solution that would provide:

These statements all describe online computer backup systems.

Only the Best Reviews

Network World

Iron Mountain, Microsoft team for online backup

Iron Mountain and Microsoft inked a deal last week to support organizations with System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) and back them up to Iron Mountain’s CloudRecovery. Trusting the protection ...

Mon, 19 Jan 2009

Only the Best Reviews

The New York Times

The Basics of Smartphone Backups

It doesn’t take a lot of work to keep copies of your phone’s photos, videos and other files stashed securely in case of an emergency. By J. D. Biersdorfer J.D. Biersdorfer writes the monthly Tech Tip ...

Tue, 16 Apr 2024

Only the Best Reviews

CRN

CES 2007: Dell Previews New DataSafe Online Backup Service

The new password-protected service, unveiled Tuesday before hundreds of CES showgoers, allows users to easily back up data online and migrate it to a new laptop or desktop PC. Pricing for the new ...

Tue, 09 Jan 2007

Only the Best Reviews

MSN

I’m an IT expert. Here are the 6 most common backup mistakes people ...

Backing up your files can be a lifesaver when data gets corrupted, or in the case of total drive failure. But it must be done right. Too often I hear stories of well-meaning people trying to back up ...

Thu, 25 Sep 2025

Only the Best Reviews

TechCrunch

iDrive Now Offers Unlimited Mobile Backup for Life

In 2018, paying for online mobile backup is a given due to the amount of data we store on our phones every day. From photos to videos to private text conversations, our mobile data can be both ...

Wed, 08 May 2024

Only the Best Reviews

MSN

The Beginner's Guide to PC Backup

We all know we're supposed to back up our data; it's essential for peace of mind. But one copy of a file on your computer does not a backup make. Redundancy, people, redundancy! As the organizers of ...

Sun, 31 Mar 2024

Top Products.  

Top Reviews.  

Top Consumer Reviews.

Reviews 

Browse through thousands of reviews.

Social Media 

Like us?  Follow us!  We'd love to have you join our community.

Newsletter 

Stay up to date with the latest reviews. We'll keep you informed, and we'll never sell your information to anyone.