Got the blue screen of death? Spilled tea over your laptop? Had your tech stolen? It’s more than an inconvenience. It’s the horror of knowing you can’t access those important client files.

If you have local backup storage you can breathe a sigh of relief. But an external drive is neither the only option or the best. Cloud backup software offers peace of mind if you lose your external drive and, wherever you are, your files are always accessible.

What are the Best Online Backup Software Options?

Your online storage software choice will depend entirely on your needs. We’ve focused on common requirements in this roundup:

  1. IDrive – best for value
  2. Acronis – best for secure backups
  3. Backblaze– best for unlimited storage backup
  4. Comet – best for MSPs
  5. Veeam (Backup and Recovery) – best for virtual machine backup
  6. Carbonite – best for one PC backup
  7. Crashplan – best for small businesses
  8. SpiderOak – best for multiple device access

Want more info? Let’s take a look:

1. IDrive – the Best Value Online Backup Software

Pricing: $79.50 – $99.50+

IDrive seems to be everyone’s favorite cloud storage option in 2022. The company’s low pricing plans seem to be the clincher for their popularity, but they offer much more than that. If you want functional, easy to use, online storage then IDrive might be your best option. Compatible with iOS and Android it offers folder syncing, bandwidth controls and file-sharing, so it is definitely value for money.

KEY FEATURES

  • Cost effective
  • Incremental and continuous backups
  • No file size restrictions

REASONS TO BUY

  • Ease of use
  • Sync files across devices
  • Good for small to medium-sized businesses

REASONS TO AVOID

  • UI is “ugly”
  • No rate of transfer indicator

2. Acronis – the Best Online Software for Secure Backups

Pricing: $49.99 – $124.99

Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office (formerly Acronis True Image) is a high-performing option for those who are concerned about cyber threats and file security. It works primarily for individuals and small to medium-sized businesses in offering a range of security features including encrypted cloud backup and award-winning antimalware capabilities. If you’re dealing with confidential or sensitive data, Acronis might be the best choice.

KEY FEATURES

  • Integrates data protection and cybersecurity
  • Blocks attacks in real time
  • Flexible scans

REASONS TO BUY

  • All-in-one protection
  • Full system images
  • Local and online backup

REASONS TO AVOID

  • UI is hard to navigate
  • Longer load times
  • Expensive

3. Backblaze – the Best for Online Backup for Unlimited Storage

Pricing: $7 – $130

Backblaze is a popular online cloud storage option, and it’s endorsed by some high-profile names like PCWorld, The New York Times, and Lifewire. It is a credible and trustworthy provider and unlike many of its competitors offers unlimited backup storage. It’s got a slick set up and users approve of the ease of use of the UI.

KEY FEATURES

  • Unlimited storage
  • Continuous backup
  • Statistics report

REASONS TO BUY

  • Instant start
  • 15-day free trial
  • Fast backups
  • Cost effective for small companies

REASONS TO AVOID

  • Archive hard to navigate
  • File management lacks intuition

4. Comet Backup– the Best Online Backup Software for MSPs

Pricing: $1 – $49

Are you managing someone else’s data? Comet Backup offers a versatile UI for an IT department or a service provider. The reporting capabilities offer MSPs useful data for addressing client needs, and the ability to “White Label” the software is an added bonus. It supports a range of backup targets, is self-hosted and allows users the ability to manage all clients from one login making information management much simpler.

KEY FEATURES

  • Affordable
  • Great customer service
  • Configurability

REASONS TO BUY

  • Ease of use
  • Per-device pricing
  • Customer support

REASONS TO AVOID

  • No downgrade capabilities
  • No automatic daily reports
  • Some complexity

5. Veeam – the Best Online Software for Virtual Machine Backup

Pricing: Custom quotation

Are you in the market for a system that emulates your hardware system? Veeam is a user-friendly and customisable storage management software for those who want VM backup. The admin console is set up very quickly and is accessible. It allows employees to utilize built-in WAN acceleration and encryption to create remote replicas in VMware, vSphere, or Hyper-V. Customers support is also responsive for any technical queries.

KEY FEATURES

  • Continuous Data Protection
  • Image-based backups
  • Advanced replication for recovery

REASONS TO BUY

  • Instant recovery for NAS, Microsoft SQL and Oracle
  • Item-level and application recovery
  • Built-in WAN acceleration

REASONS TO AVOID

  • Some file restoration issue
  • Slows some systems

6. Carbonite (Home) – the Best or Single PC Online Backup Software

Pricing: $4.20 – Custom

Carbonite offers three different options for different types of business. Their offer of “Home Backup” seems comprehensive enough for a person who works from home. Even their most basic plan is impressive. You get unlimited backup, the security of an encrypted cloud, automatic file and photo backup, and it supports all files and photo types. For their “Home Plus” plan ($6) you get external hard drive backup and automatic video backup, too. It’s pretty comprehensive coverage for individuals looking for a little peace of mind.

KEY FEATURES

  • Unlimited backup
  • Encrypted cloud
  • PCMAG- editor’s choice

REASONS TO BUY

  • Easy mobile access
  • Good customer support
  • Automatic backup

REASONS TO AVOID

  • Possible Mac user issues
  • File retrieval is tricky
  • No video backup on Basic Plan

7. Crashplan – the Best Online Backup Software for Small Businesses

Pricing: $0 – $200

CrashPlan is tailor-made for entrepreneurs and small businesses with up to 200 employees. Its easy setup appeals to all users, and the automatic backups offer peace of mind. Knowing that you will never lose even a day’s worth of work is worth a lot more than the free plan! CrashPlan is particularly recommended by people who travel for work as they can access the cloud remotely, and if they have a PC/laptop stolen or damaged in transit, they can always access their work.

KEY FEATURES

  • Customizable backup options
  • Tailored to small businesses
  • Non-obtrusive

REASONS TO BUY

  • Clear pricing structure
  • Multiple file version
  • Automatic backup

REASONS TO AVOID

  • Web app doesn’t restore large files
  • No offline backup/restore option
  • No home user option

8. SpiderOak – the Best Backup Online Software for Multiple Device Access

Pricing: $0 – $15 (per user)

Need multiple people’s eyes on your data? No problem with SpiderOak One Backup. This provider enables users to synchronize data across multiple devices. It also offers colleagues the opportunity to share files through a web-based interface called “Share Room”. Another selling point which appeals to users dealing with confidential material is that SpiderOak prioritizes its “zero-knowledge” security and privacy features.

KEY FEATURES

  • Dedicated to security and privacy
  • Fully encrypted data
  • Full mobile functionality

REASONS TO BUY

  • Selective sharing
  • Cross-platform usage
  • Instant notification for team members
  • Free trial

REASONS TO AVOID

  • Per user rate expensive
  • Mac user issues

Reference and Links:

  • https://www.capterra.com/
  • https://www.cloudwards.net/
  • https://www.msp360.com/
  • https://www.lifewire.com/
  • https://www.getapp.co.uk/
  • https://www.g2.com/
  • https://www.tomsguide.com/
  • https://uk.pcmag.com/
  • https://cometbackup.com
  • https://www.comparitech.com/
  • https://www.idrive.com/
  • https://www.acronis.com
  • https://www.backblaze.com/
  • https://www.veeam.com/
  • https://www.carbonite.com
  • https://www.crashplan.com
  • https://spideroak.com