What is the Best Online Backup Service? 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.
Best Option
Read Full Review
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.
Great
Read Full Review
Arq puts you in control of your backups with a sleek, powerful app that lets you decide where your data goes. You can save your files to cloud services like Amazon S3 or Google Drive, or even your own NAS, all with bank-level encryption that only you can unlock. With flexible scheduling options and the ability to recover specific versions of files, Arq gives you peace of mind without the typical limitations of other backup solutions. At $6 per month for 5 devices with 1TB of included storage (or $50 for a perpetual license), Arq is an excellent choice for tech-savvy users who value privacy and want complete control over their online backup strategy.
Very Good
Read Full Review
Acronis gives you powerful online backup protection with added security features to keep your data safe from everyday threats. With plans starting at $49.99/year for local backups, you can upgrade to include cloud storage (250GB for $72. 99 or 1TB for $124. 99) if you want the convenience of off-site protection. You'll get comprehensive tools like disk imaging, active ransomware protection, and the ability to restore your system to completely different hardware. Acronis earns a solid rating and is best suited for tech-savvy users and small businesses who value advanced backup features and strong security over simplicity.
Good
Read Full Review
Proton Drive provides you with fortress-like online backups thanks to end-to-end encryption that even Proton can't peek into. Your files are protected by Swiss privacy laws and multi-factor authentication, making this an excellent choice if security is your top priority. However, you'll contend with frustratingly slow upload speeds and mobile apps that completely lack search functionality - all while paying premium prices ($3. 99/month for 200GB or $9. 99/month for 500GB). Overall, Proton Drive earns a solid recommendation for privacy-focused users willing to trade some convenience for maximum security.
Average
Read Full Review
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.
Average
Read Full Review
Carbonite offers unlimited cloud backup for a single computer at $6/month, with the unique perk of physical courier recovery service for those who'd rather not download large amounts of data. You'll appreciate the strong security features, including 128-bit encryption and two-factor authentication, though the one-computer-per-subscription limitation feels restrictive compared to competitors that cover multiple devices. While Carbonite has been in the online backup business since 2005, recent customer reviews suggest declining support quality, with many users reporting difficulties reaching representatives outside the US. Carbonite remains a decent option for individual users with a single computer who prioritize simplicity and an established name, but those with multiple devices should look elsewhere for their online backup needs.
Fair
Read Full Review
SugarSync offers you cloud storage and file syncing across all your devices, with standout phone-based customer support that gives you a real human to talk to when things go wrong. However, you'll pay premium prices for limited storage space (starting at $7. 49 for just 100GB), and many users report concerning reliability issues including service outages and unexpected account terminations. We can't recommend SugarSync when better online backup options exist at a fraction of the cost.
Subpar
Read Full Review
Backblaze offers unlimited online backups for a single device at $9 per month, which might sound appealing if you have substantial data to protect. However, you'll want to think twice before trusting this service with your irreplaceable files - with abysmal customer support, unreliable restoration processes (exactly when you need your backups most), and concerning financial instability, Backblaze falls short where it matters most. This service might work for casual users with minimal data and plenty of patience, but if you value seamless recovery and responsive support when disaster strikes, you should look elsewhere. Reflected by its disappointing rating, Backblaze isn't recommended when better alternatives exist for your critical online backup needs.
Weak
Read Full Review
LiveDrive offers unlimited online backup starting at $10/month, but you'd be taking a risky gamble with your precious files. While they've improved their security since our last review, their service still lacks private encryption keys, and multiple users report troubling data losses and non-existent customer support. LiveDrive might work for backing up non-essential files, but photographers, businesses, or anyone with irreplaceable data should absolutely look elsewhere. LiveDrive functions minimally as an online backup service but falls short where it matters most: reliability and customer support.
Poor
Read Full Review
Internxt promises secure, private cloud storage, but delivers a seriously flawed experience marred by synchronization problems, lost files, and deceptive "lifetime" subscriptions that disappear key features shortly after purchase. You should avoid this service if you value your data integrity or customer service, as Internxt falls dramatically short in both areas - especially if you're looking for reliable automatic backups or photo syncing from mobile devices. With unreliable file syncing and a customer support system that seems to exist purely in theory, we cannot recommend Internxt to anyone.
Continued from above...
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.
Compare Any 2 Products
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.
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.
