Cloud Backup Comparison: Top Services Side by Side (Guide)

Cloud Backup Comparison: How Do the Top Services Stack Up?

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Side-by-side comparison (checked October 18, 2026)

Feature	Backblaze Personal	IDrive Personal	Carbonite Safe	Arq
Listed price	$99/yr; $9/mo; $189/2 yrs	5 TB: $6.99/mo first year, then $9.99/mo (yearly)	Basic $76.79 first year (list $95.99)	One-time license; Premium subscription
Storage	Unlimited, 1 computer	5 TB to 100 TB	Unlimited, 1 computer	Your own storage, or 1 TB with Premium
Free plan	Trial only	10 GB free	Trial only	30-day trial
Version history	30 days; longer for a fee	Up to 30 versions	Check current plan	You set retention
Deleted files	Kept within version history	Trash for 30 days	Check current plan	You set retention
Private key	Optional	Yes	Check current plan	Yes, end-to-end
External drives	Yes, if connected at least every 30 days	Yes	Plus and Prime plans	Yes
Linux / NAS	No	Yes	No	NAS as a destination
Shipped drive	USB restore, free if returned in 30 days	IDrive Express	Courier recovery for a fee	No

I have compared backup tools for ten years. Tables like this narrow the field, but the restore experience decides the winner. Use the rows below to shortlist two, then try a restore with each during the trial.

How Does Each Row Change the Decision?

Price and real cost

Backblaze charges a flat price per computer, so it gets cheaper per terabyte as your data grows. IDrive charges by capacity across devices. Carbonite and IDrive both show first-year discounts, so compare renewal prices too.

Storage and devices

One computer with a big photo library favors unlimited plans. A family with three laptops and phones favors IDrive’s multi-device account. Arq depends on the storage you pair it with.

Version history

This row matters most for ransomware and slow-to-notice deletions. Backblaze measures history in days, while IDrive counts versions. Arq lets you set your own rules, which is powerful but needs care.

Encryption and keys

Backblaze, IDrive and Arq let you hold a private key. That blocks the provider from reading your files, but a lost key means lost data.

Restores

A shipped drive can save days after a disaster. Backblaze and IDrive both offer this. Web restores at Backblaze come as zip files of up to 500 GB per request.

Which Service Wins for Each Use Case?

Winner per use case

Use case	Winner	Why
Photographer with one Mac and big drives	Backblaze	Unlimited data, attached drives included
Family with mixed devices	IDrive	One account across computers and phones
Linux desktop or home server	IDrive or Arq	Linux support or self-chosen storage
NAS owner	IDrive, or NAS app plus object storage	Direct NAS backup support
Privacy-first user	Arq	End-to-end encryption, open format
Non-technical single PC	Carbonite or Backblaze	Minimal setup

What About Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox?

They are left out on purpose. Those services sync and store files, but they mirror deletions and keep deleted items for limited windows. Google’s Drive trash, for example, empties after 30 days. They work best alongside a real backup.

For a full explanation, read backup and sync. To understand storage itself, see what cloud storage is.

How to Use This Cloud Backup Comparison

1. Count your devices and data. Note total size and any external drives or NAS.
2. Filter by coverage. Drop any service that cannot back up all your devices.
3. Check retention. Pick history that outlasts the time you might take to notice a problem.
4. Compare renewal costs. Use the standard price, not the first-year deal.
5. Trial two services. Upload a sample folder and restore it.

Then keep a local copy too, as the 3-2-1 rule suggests. Our guide to a backup of backup shows how.

Privacy Notes

All four companies are US-based. Each encrypts data in transit and at rest. If you set a private key, store it safely, because nobody can recover it for you. No provider is “unhackable,” so turn on two-factor login wherever it is offered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Google Drive not in this comparison?

Google Drive is storage and sync, not a computer backup. It mirrors deletions and empties its trash after 30 days. It is great for access and sharing, but it does not keep the long, independent history a backup service provides. Use it alongside one of the services compared here.

How often do backup prices change?

Often enough to check before every purchase. Providers adjust prices, storage tiers and promotions several times a year, and first-year discounts usually end at renewal. We record the date we last checked prices on each comparison, so you know how fresh the numbers are.

Is per-computer or per-terabyte pricing better?

Per-computer pricing suits one machine with a lot of data, because the cost stays flat as you add files. Per-terabyte pricing suits several devices with modest data, because one plan covers them all. Work out your total data and device count, then compare both models.

Can I try these services before paying?

Yes. Backblaze and Carbonite offer free trials, IDrive has a 10 GB free plan, and Arq offers a 30-day trial. Use the trial to upload a sample folder and test a restore. That shows real speeds on your own connection, which no comparison table can predict.

Which service is easiest for beginners?

Backblaze and Carbonite need the least setup for one computer, because they select your files automatically. IDrive offers more options, which helps families but adds choices. Arq is aimed at confident users who want to pick their own storage and retention rules.