Backblaze Review: Unlimited Computer Backup Pros and Cons

Backblaze Review: Is It Worth It?

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Backblaze Personal Backup at a glance (checked October 18, 2026)

Item	Details
Price	$9/month, $99/year, or $189 for two years
Storage	Unlimited for one computer
Platforms	Windows and Mac
External drives	Included if directly connected; reconnect at least every 30 days
Version history	30 days included; 1 year and forever cost extra
Encryption	AES-128 with 2048-bit keys; optional private key
Restores	Web zip up to 500 GB per request, or USB drive free if returned within 30 days

I have recommended Backblaze to many single-computer users over ten years, mainly because it needs so little setup. This Backblaze review explains what you get, and where the limits might catch you.

What Does Backblaze Back Up?

Backblaze backs up all user-created data on your computer and on directly connected external drives. By default it selects files for you, skipping system files and apps. You can add exclusions, but most people never need to.

Network drives and NAS devices are not part of the Personal plan. Backblaze’s help pages say a drive must connect directly to the computer to qualify.

How Much Does Backblaze Cost?

Backblaze Personal costs $9 per month, $99 per year, or $189 for two years. There is no storage cap for one computer. Each additional computer needs its own license.

Longer version history costs extra. In its version 7.0 announcement, Backblaze priced one-year history at an extra $2 per month. Forever history adds a small per-gigabyte fee for versions older than one year. Check current add-on prices before buying.

How Long Does Backblaze Keep Your Files?

The default plan keeps versions and deleted files for 30 days. That covers most accidents, but it is short for slow-to-notice problems. If you might miss a deleted folder for weeks, upgrade to one-year history.

The external drive rule follows the same window. If a drive stays disconnected for more than 30 days on the default plan, Backblaze may remove its data from the backup. With one-year history, it keeps that data for up to a year.

Is Backblaze Secure and Private?

Backblaze encrypts your data with AES-128, protected by 2048-bit public and private keys. You can add a private encryption key, so Backblaze staff cannot read your files. If you lose that key, nobody can recover your backup.

Backblaze is a US company, so US law applies. Turn on two-factor login and store any private key in a password manager.

How Do Restores Work?

You can restore single files through the app or website. For larger sets, Backblaze builds zip files of up to 500 GB per request. After a disaster, you can order your data on an encrypted USB drive. Backblaze says the drive is free if you return it within 30 days.

Backblaze Pros and Cons

Pros and cons

Pros	Cons
Unlimited data for one computer	No Linux or NAS support on Personal
Attached external drives included	30-day default history
Simple, automatic file selection	Drives must reconnect every 30 days
Optional private key	One license per computer
USB drive restore option	No phone backup

Who Should Use Backblaze?

The short answer from this Backblaze review: anyone with one main computer and more data than they want to manage.

• Great fit: photographers, video editors and anyone with one main computer and lots of files.
• Good fit: small offices that want a simple per-computer business plan, listed at $99 per year.
• Poor fit: Linux users, NAS owners and families who want one account for many devices.

If that poor-fit list sounds like you, read our IDrive review. For NAS devices, Backblaze’s separate object storage product may work instead. See Backblaze B2 cloud storage.

How to Set Up Backblaze in Five Steps

1. Start the free trial and install the app on your computer.
2. Choose whether to set a private encryption key.
3. Let the app select your files, and add any external drives.
4. Leave the computer on and connected until the first upload finishes.
5. Restore a few files to confirm the backup works.

For step 5, follow our guide on how to check a backup. For the bigger picture, see our list of the best cloud backup providers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Backblaze back up Google Drive or OneDrive folders?

Backblaze can back up files that are stored locally on your computer, including a sync folder. Files set to online-only exist only in the cloud, so Backblaze cannot copy them. Set important sync folders to keep files on the device if you want Backblaze to protect them.

Can I use Backblaze on more than one computer?

Yes, but each computer needs its own license. You can manage all of them from one account. If you have several computers with modest data, a multi-device plan from another provider may cost less, so compare total prices before you decide.

Does Backblaze back up a NAS?

Not with the Personal computer backup plan, which requires drives to connect directly to the computer. For a NAS, use the NAS vendor’s backup app with Backblaze B2 cloud storage, which is a separate, pay-as-you-go product billed by the amount you store.

What happens if I stop paying for Backblaze?

Your backup is removed after the subscription ends. Before cancelling, download any files you need and make sure another backup is running. If you switch providers, keep Backblaze active until the new service has finished its first upload and passed a test restore.

Is the Backblaze free trial enough to test it?

Yes, for a first impression. Use the trial to back up a sample folder and restore it, then check upload speed on your own connection. A full first upload may not finish within the trial if you have a large library, which is normal.