Backblaze proves that online backup services do not need to be expensive or complicated. It offers unlimited backup storage for a single PC and is easy to set up. Backblaze’s back-up-everything approach will appeal to newcomers, but more advanced users may want more control over the backup selection. The service performed well in our upload speed tests, but it is missing a folder-syncing option and can’t back up your mobile devices.
How Much Does Backblaze Cost?
For those with just one computer to worry about, Backblaze is cost-effective, compared to other online backup services. Backblaze charges $60 per year and offers unlimited cloud backup storage for one computer. You can also pay $110 every two years for the service. Backblaze doesn’t offer a permanent free account level like IDrive‘s 5GB account, but you can get a 15-day trial.
Backblaze’s unlimited storage is generous, especially compared with SpiderOak One, which charges $69 annually for just 150GB of space. However, with Backblaze, you’ll have to get licenses for each computer you want to protect. So, if you need to back up five different computers, the cost increases to $300 per year. Other services, including SpiderOak and Acronis True Image, let you add multiple computers and mobile devices to one account.
It is possible to change which device is associated with Backblaze by either transferring the license or inheriting the backup state on the new device. When you transfer the license, Backblaze deletes your backed-up files and you start anew. If you choose to inherit the backup state, Backblaze will remember the files you backed up on the prior system, to avoid duplication. Other services with single device licenses work similarly. With Carbonite, for example, you need to uninstall the software from the original PC before you install it on a new one.
To cancel your Backblaze account, users need to delete all active backups for the account on the Preferences page on the web, remove unused licenses on the Overview page, and then delete their account on the My Settings page. This is a more complicated process than other online backup services. If you enabled the B2 cloud storage capability on your account, there are additional steps for canceling that.
Backblaze offers a support ticket system with responses within 24 hours, and a live chat system that is available most working hours (Pacific Time) during weekdays.
Getting Started With Backblaze
Signing up for Backblaze only requires an email address and password. Backblaze then generates a custom installer bound to your account, which downloads and installs quickly. Backblaze works with macOS and Windows computers, and it offers apps for both Android and iOS devices. Backblaze is not available for Linux systems.
After the Backblaze installation completes, it scans your hard drive for certain file types (such as documents, media files, and downloads) and calculates the total size of the backup. Hitting the Continue button launches the backup process. For users who don’t want to worry about what they need to back up, this is ideal. If, however, you want a bit more control over what gets uploaded to the cloud, this initial backup behavior can be annoying.
You can, of course, pause the backup process immediately after it starts, but if you want to make changes, you’ll still need to deal with the hassle of Backblaze’s exclusion-based systems. We discuss the shortcomings of this system a bit later.
Note that while Backblaze backs up all user files on your computer, it can’t be used for disk imaging. For creating and backing up a fully bootable backup, try Acronis True Image or IDrive. Backblaze does let you back up attached USB hard drives though, something you need to pay extra for in Carbonite.
Desktop Interface
On Windows PCs, Backblaze displays an icon in the notification tray. This gives you quick access to the Backblaze Control Panel, a shortcut to the View/Restore Files section of the website, and the option to inherit a backup state for new setups. Backblaze does not integrate with Windows’ File Explorer or macOS’s Finder, which means you can’t right-click on a folder or file to quickly add it to your backup set. Carbonite and IDrive both support this feature.
The Backblaze interface is compact and well-organized, even if it doesn’t look as sleek as that of SpiderOak One or Acronis True Image. We had no problem finding and changing individual settings. Note that Backblaze’s restore capabilities are only accessible from the website. To configure your backup settings, you need to dive into the Settings panel. Basic settings include changing the name of the backup device and choosing which hard drives to back up.
In the Performance tab, you can manually set threading and throttling preferences, but most users should just leave this on the Automatic setting—unless you aren’t transferring a lot of data, as we explain in the performance section. Backblaze calculates how long it will take to back up the computer based on the last file transfer speed. In the Schedule tab, backups are set by default to occur continuously. In other words, Backblaze watches for file changes and updates the stored version in real-time. We prefer this method, as it mitigates the risk of losing changes if a hard drive crashes before a scheduled backup. Alternatively, you can pick a time for a daily backup or set it to run only when you hit the Backup button. The latter two options are useful for people who are limited by system resources or bandwidth.
As mentioned, instead of letting you select which folders you want to back up, Backblaze backs up everything by default—except for some system folders. It is your responsibility to exclude the files you do not want to include in your backup. No other service we tested works this way, and we prefer the flexibility of inclusion-based selection systems, in which users select exactly what they want to upload. Backblaze does allow you to exclude folders of your choice or files of specified types or sizes, but it can still be tedious to make sure you account for every single file you don’t want backed up.
Backblaze’s back-up-everything approach doesn’t conflict with any storage limits (it’s unlimited after all), but one potential reason for slimming down your selection is to preserve system resources and bandwidth, especially if you choose the continuous backup option. Also, if you had private documents that you absolutely did not want uploaded to the cloud, Backblaze’s method would require you to manually exclude each of those items.
Another related issue is that Backblaze’s backups mirror the structure of your hard drive, so seldom-used folders, such as ProgramData and Recovery, are backed up by default. We would prefer that Backblaze gave users the option to narrow down the initial backup selection, to say, specific user folders.
Security and Privacy
Backblaze says it uses “2048 bit public/private keys to secure a symmetric AES 128 bit key that changes for every backup ‘session’ on your computer.” After they are encrypted, backups are then sent to Backblaze’s data centers over an SSL connection, where they remain encrypted. If you’re concerned about Backblaze staff, a hacker, or a law enforcement agency snooping your backup, you can manage your own encryption keys. However, should you ever lose or forget the password, Backblaze won’t be able to help you reset the key and you won’t be able to access any encrypted backup data.
On the web, you can enable two-factor authentication for your account via SMS or an authentication app, such as Authy or Duo Mobile. Backblaze allows users to integrate logins with the G-Suite single sign-on (SSO) service. These are all good security options, and we wish they were standard features for all online backup services.
Backblaze’s privacy policy is easy to parse. Backblaze collects three categories of personal data: information you provide, such as email address and phone number; automatically collected device data, such as your IP address and the number and sizes of uploaded files; and third-party service data. This information is used primarily to set up and maintain accounts, but your data may also be shared with third-party service providers that “require access to your personal information to assist in providing and improving our products.” Backblaze may also disclose your information if required by law. For reference, Backblaze’s headquarters are in San Mateo, CA, in the US.
Web and Sharing
Backblaze’s web interface is effective, and it matches the straightforward design of the desktop application. Navigation works via a left-hand menu with separate sections for Backblaze and B2 Cloud Storage, which we discuss in a bit. You spend most of your time on the Backup/Restore screen. In the account and billing sections, you can configure account security settings, as well as change plan and billing preferences.
To share files backed up with Backblaze, you need to enable the B2 Cloud option in your account settings. The two services are separate; Backblaze encompasses the encryption and online backup portion, while B2 is a cloud repository that is not affected by any local changes you make. Backblaze users get 10GB of total storage and 1GB of downloads (per day) free on B2. Additional B2 storage costs $0.005 per GB, while increased download capacity will cost you an additional $0.01 per GB per month.
From the View/Restore section of the web portal, simply click on a file, and then the Share with Link button. This will generate a sharing link you can send to other people for access. On the back end, Backblaze adds this file to what it calls a Bucket. You can access any of these Buckets from the B2 Cloud Storage section of the main navigation menu. When you share a file, it is public, and anyone with the sharing link can access it. SpiderOak One and OpenDrive offer a more nuanced approach, allowing you to protect shared links with passwords and set an expiration date on the link.
From the Locate My Computer panel, Backblaze can track the location of your backed-up device, as well as the last upload set and the computer’s IP address. In testing, Backblaze successfully located our test computer. In the event your PC is stolen, Backblaze recommends preparing a restore, contacting the police, and monitoring any subsequent account activity.
Restoring Data
To restore your data, navigate to the View/Restore files section of the website, as the desktop app does not offer this functionality. Here, you have four options: Download files, Save Files to B2, USB Flash Drive, and USB Hard Drive. The first option is free, of course, while the B2 option uses your aforementioned B2 storage allotment. If you choose to restore to B2, the file set will be formatted as a Snapshot, essentially a zipped collection of files as they existed at a certain point in time. IDrive offers a similar feature for point-in-time recovery.
The last two options, in which the company mails you physical storage devices, are part of Backblaze’s excellent Cloud Restore service, both helpful in the case something disastrous happens to your current computer or if you want a faster way to move files (local transfers will always be quicker than transfers to and from the cloud). The USB option costs $99 and can handle up to 256GB of data, while the portable hard drive option costs $189 and can store up to 8TB. Note that Backblaze will refund you for the cost of the drive if you return it in its original condition. Both Carbonite and IDrive offer disaster recovery services, too.
Regardless of the restore option you choose, you select files using the file tree browser. You can specify the backup device used and the backup time period, if you are looking for a specific version of a file. Backblaze keeps 30 days’ worth of versions for each file and every file version that has been backed up is retained. One change from the time of our last review is that you can increase the retention period of files to either one year or forever for an additional fee. The cost depends on your subscription plan and which retention period you choose. It costs $2 per month, $24 per year, or $48 every two years for the one-year retention plan. For the unlimited retention plan, you pay the same rates, as well as $0.005 per GB per month for versions of files updated, changed, or deleted more than one year ago.
IDrive retains the previous 30 file versions forever, and Acronis True Image includes extensive versioning capabilities for no additional cost. OpenDrive keeps up to 99 versions of files.
As you make your selections, Backblaze calculates the total file size of the restore. Restore jobs are accessible via the My Restores menu and are available for seven days after your initial request. You receive an email alert when your restore is ready, too. If you have a large amount of data to restore, you can also download the Backblaze Downloader, which the company says should allow for faster and more reliable downloads than the browser. Files restored from the web maintain their original folder structure.
Backblaze’s Mobile Apps
We tested Backblaze’s Android app and had no issue signing in to a test account. Backblaze also offers an iOS app. Either way, the app itself is pretty barebones. The main screen shows all the backup devices linked to your account. From the hidden left-hand menu, you can access any files you downloaded from your backup or visit the app settings. The Settings section is similarly sparse. The only available options are to remember your login info, enable biometric login, and allow downloads over cellular connections.
Browsing for backed-up files is a bit tedious, since you can only navigate your file tree one level at a time. Backblaze does allow you to move back up the file tree, without having to start from the top, which is a change we appreciate. The app’s search bar works fine, but there’s no way to filter files by type or size in results.
As Backblaze’s license is for a single device, you won’t find options for automatically backing up photos, videos, or contacts on your phone. Many of Backblaze’s competitors, including iDrive and Zoolz BigMind, have this capability. A representative from Backblaze noted that the iOS app now allows you to upload files directly to your B2 cloud storage and that the Android app would soon get the same capability.
How Fast Can Backblaze Back Up Files?
For our backup speed tests, we time how long each service takes to upload three 1GB file sets. We then take the median of the results for comparison. Our test device was a Dell Inspiron tower running Windows 10 with a 256GB SSD and 32GB RAM.
We tested the online backup services this year over a home Ethernet connection (16Mbps upload), since we were not able to access PCMag’s corporate test network (600Mbps upload) due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The first time we tested Backblaze (with the default settings), it took around 27 minutes to upload our files. A representative from Backblaze explained that the service is designed to work with much larger data sets and suggested we increase the threading/throttling settings. Backblaze’s performance improved significantly with that change, despite a variation in the home Ethernet network we used for testing (10Mpbs vs. 16Mbps upload). It’s possible that Backblaze’s may be comparatively faster in your tests; more broadly, any differences in available computer resources or network speed will affect your experience.
Since Backblaze doesn’t let you specify individual files and folders to back up, it presents a challenge for testing. As a workaround, we let the service run an initial backup after excluding each folder with the test files. Then, we removed the test folders from the exclusion list one at a time and manually rerun the backup process each time.
With the modified settings Backblaze performed well in our tests, with an average time of 13:34 (minutes:seconds). This result was slightly slower than IDrive (12:29) and ElephantDrive (12:44), but quicker than Zoolz BigMind (13:55). Backup time will matter most when you are running the process for the first time on a computer, but faster backups make the process that much more convenient.
Complication-Free Backup
Backblaze is ideal for novice computer users or those who don’t want to fuss around with settings and only have a single computer. It’s easy to set up and works in the background to keep your files protected. We particularly like its encryption features. That said, we still wish it offered an alternative to its exclusion-based backup selection and a more functional mobile app. Look to Editors’ Choice winner IDrive for better value or to Acronis True Image for its combination of backup and security features.
For those who prefer to keep copies of data locally, check out our roundups of the best local backup services and external hard drives.
