Secure Your Data With Online Backup Software
You can either tear out your hair when a disaster strikes your hard drive or you can prepare for it ahead of time, but data loss is as inevitable as death and taxes. An online backup service is one of the best ways to protect yourself against such threats as a crashed hard drive or accidental deletion. Natural disasters such as fires, floods, and earthquakes can also spell the end of your digital media and documents. Even if you're among the very few who diligently perform local backups at regular intervals, you could still lose data if you don't store backups offsite.
Online backup services scan your hard drive for files worthy of protecting, encrypt them for security, and send them up to the company's online servers. Once your files are uploaded, you can access and restore your data from anywhere. Though there's some overlap, online backup services shouldn't be confused with cloud storage and file syncing services like Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and SugarSync. Those services do store files in the cloud, but they aren't designed to automatically protect all important documents and media files, let alone system files. Their strategy is generally to sync just one folder with all its subfolders to the cloud, and in some cases, to offer online collaborative document editing. Many backup services offer folder-syncing capabilities, but few syncing services offer full-scale backup functionality.
- A file syncing app is a service or program that offers a convenient way to automatically synchronize your files across more than one computer or mobile device. Anywhere you're logged in to the file syncing app, the same files are available for you to open, edit, copy, stream, and so on, just as if you were on the device on which you initially uploaded them.
- SparkleShare: SparkleShare is an open-source Dropbox-like file syncing solution. The only difference is that you host it yourself. The only difference is that you host it yourself. You could host Sparkleshare on one of your computers or on a server you have access to and get Dropbox-like syncing that’s entirely under your control.
That being the case, we believe that an online backup service is ideal for protecting your files, this solution will not appeal to everyone. Read our guide on how to choose the best backup plan for more specific advice on how to implement a backup method that works for your needs.
File Server Os
How Much Does Online Backup Cost?
The list of supported devices is not really big. You can sync data between Mac computers and iOS devices only, syncing with other non-Apple devices or accounts is not offered. Sync options. ChronoSync allows syncing any type of files between Apple devices, whether you need to sync media files or documents - ChronoSync can do this for you.
Since you're probably going to be paying for a backup service for years, cost is an important factor to consider. All the services rounded up here are subscription-based, but they partition their features and fees differently, so it's worth comparing plans closely before committing to one. Most construct pricing tiers based on the amount of cloud storage included, however, or by the number of devices you can use with an account. A few services offer permanent free accounts, but those plans impose paltry storage limits or restrict key features to the paid versions. Watch out for file-size upload limits as well.
Home backup users have different needs than businesses. If you need a larger-scale cloud solution for your company, check out our roundup of the best online backup services for businesses. These plans typically cover many more devices and include better administration features, but at an increased cost.
Create a Backup Set and Schedule Uploads
Backup services vary widely in how they set up and perform backups. For example, the totally hands-free Backblaze automatically encrypts and uploads all your important files without any input. On the other hand, services such as IDrive and Acronis True Image let you choose specific files you want from a file tree. Note that some services restrict you from backing up specific file types or using particular sources, such as from an external or network drive. Make sure the service you choose supports all your needs.
There are a few common practices for configuring when backups occur. The most common option is on a fixed schedule, such as once a day, week, or month. The second, which we prefer, is to upload file changes whenever they're changed and saved, otherwise known as a continuous backup setting. Services only transfer the modified part of the file in this scenario, so as not to overburden your internet connection or take up unnecessary storage. A third way is simply to upload files manually. Some may appreciate this degree of control, but this method is only effective if you remember to regularly run the backup.
How Secure Are Online Backup Services?
Most services encrypt your files with strong systems such as AES 256 before sending them up to the servers over an encrypted connection. The majority of products we tested also offer a private encryption key option. If you choose to manage your own encryption keys (basically the 'key' that decrypts your backup), know that it is your responsibility to remember it. The online backup service itself will not be able to help you reset the password if you forget it. On the flip side, this means that no one (including employees of the backup service and law enforcement officials) other than you can unlock your backups. This is ideal from a privacy and security standpoint. Use a password manager to keep track of your private encryption key if you think you will forget it.
Restoring Folders and Files
An online backup service isn't much use if it doesn't make the process of restoring or recovering your data quick and simple. For example, a service should offer search tools for finding particular files in your backup. It's also desirable for a service to be able to replicate an entire folder-tree structure so that it can help you recover from bigger data losses. Keep in mind that if you buy a plan that covers just one computer, you may have to transfer the account to a new PC if you ever switch your main device or if you need to restore data from a damaged computer to a replacement.
Many services also offer a feature called versioning. This saves incremental changes you make to files as recoverable snapshots of the file. It's useful in case you need to get back information from an earlier version or if your latest file save becomes corrupted. Services vary widely in how many versions they keep and how long they're saved. Best-in-class services, such as SOS Online Backup and SpiderOak ONE keep an unlimited number of file versions forever.
Web and Mobile Backup Apps
One of the biggest advantages of using an online backup service is that it lets you access your files from anywhere. Most online backup providers let you view and download files from a web browser, but that should be the bare minimum. Many also include file-sharing options, the best of which even let you specify a password for access and an expiration date for the shared item.
All the online backup services we tested offer Android and iOS apps, but the quality and utility of those apps vary widely. Some just offer simple document and media file downloads from your existing backups, but the most feature-complete allow you to back up the data on your mobile devices.
Backup Performance
An online backup service's speed depends on how quickly it can encrypt, compress, and upload files to its servers. This should be of particular concern if you need to back up (or restore) a large amount of data. A high-performance backup service also minimizes its effect on network and system resources. Make sure to check out our speed test results in the review of any service you're contemplating using. Backup speed should not be the sole determinant of which online backup service you use, but fast upload speeds can certainly make initial and subsequent backups less disruptive.
Disaster Recovery and Bulk Data
Some services go above and beyond, including extra capabilities that improve the experience. For example, a few offer disk courier services for bulk uploads and restores via an external drive that the company ships and manages. A couple of these services throw in a local backup component, too. If you go that route, you should take a look at our roundup of best external hard drives. Some of these services can even track your device's location and let you remotely wipe it in case it's lost or stolen.
Best Online Backup Services Featured in This Roundup:
IDrive Review
MSRP: $69.50
Pros: Easy setup. Unlimited devices per account. Disk image backup. File Explorer integration. Folder syncing. Bulk uploads and restores via mail. Fast upload speeds in testing.Cons: No true continuous backup option. Fractured web interface. Storage isn't unlimited.Bottom Line: You won't find a better overall online backup service than the full-featured IDrive, especially for the price.Read ReviewAcronis True Image Review
MSRP: $49.99
Pros: Excellent desktop interface. Fast upload speeds in testing. Local and cloud backup. Full disk image backup and restore. File syncing. Ransomware Protection.Cons: Expensive. Slow web interface and mobile apps. Lacks password protection for shared files. Bottom Line: Acronis True Image's full disk backups, fast performance, and useful extras such as active file protection, make it well worth the cost.Read ReviewSOS Online Backup Review
MSRP: $44.99
Pros: Robust security options. Archival features. Can back up external and network drives. Local backup.Cons: Expensive. Outdated desktop and mobile interfaces. Continuous protection limited to individual files. No File Explorer integration. No free or unlimited storage accounts.Bottom Line: SOS Online Backup offers top-notch security features and true archiving for your files, but expect to pay top dollar for this service.Read ReviewBackblaze Review
MSRP: $50.00
Pros: Unlimited storage. Easy setup. Strong security settings. Close integration with B2 cloud storage service. Ability to back up or restore via mailed drive. Cons: Licenses are for a single computer. Convoluted backup selection. No File Explorer or Finder integration. No private sharing of backup files. Basic mobile app.Bottom Line: Backblaze is a streamlined and secure online backup service. It's good for novices, but it may frustrate users who want more control over backups.Read ReviewCarbonite Review
MSRP: $71.99
Pros: Unlimited online backup storage for one computer. File Explorer integration. Continuous backup option. Easy guided setup. Excellent web interface.Cons: Expensive for multiple computers. Limited mobile apps. Base version doesn't back up external drives. Lacks file sharing and syncing.Bottom Line: Carbonite is an easy-to-use online backup service that offers unlimited storage, but a license only covers a single computer and you can't use it to back up your mobile devices.Read ReviewSpiderOak ONE Review
MSRP: $69.00
Pros: Strong privacy features. Unlimited computers per account. File syncing included. Well-designed, full-featured desktop application.Cons: Buggy mobile apps. No search in web interface or mobile app. No two-factor authentication. Slow performance in testing.Bottom Line: SpiderOak ONE offers top-notch security features and flexible backup and sharing options, but it's more expensive than the competition.Read ReviewLivedrive Review
MSRP: $8.00
Pros: Unlimited storage. Effective desktop and mobile apps. Solid versioning capabilities.Cons: Expensive. Base tier only protects a single computer. Lacks standard backup and security options. Slow performance in our upload tests. No full disk backup option.Bottom Line: Livedrive delivers unlimited online storage for a single computer and as many mobile devices as you'd like, but you can't use private encryption keys with the service and it lacks a continuous backup feature.Read ReviewOpenDrive Review
MSRP: $99.00
Pros: Reasonable pricing and unlimited storage plans. Good web interface. Fast performance in our upload tests. Free account.Cons: Disjointed desktop interface. Unintuitive restore settings. Mobile app stutters occasionally.Bottom Line: Online backup service OpenDrive is a good value and uploads files quickly, but its options for restoring backed-up files are not intuitive and its mobile apps need improvement.Read ReviewZoolz BigMind Review
MSRP: $35.88
Pros: Top-notch desktop and web apps. Good performance in our upload speed tests. Permanent free version. Easy sharing options.Cons: Expensive top-tier plans. Limited versioning. No private encryption key, disaster recovery, or folder syncing options. Pushy subscription upsells.Bottom Line: BigMind offers sophisticated apps and is easy to use, but it lacks common features found in competing online backup services, including private encryption key protection and robust versioning.Read ReviewElephantDrive Review
MSRP: $99.50
Pros: Flexible versioning and archiving capabilities. Good sharing options. Fast upload speeds in our tests.Cons: Disjointed and buggy applications. 2GB upload-file-size limit for home accounts. Outdated Android app. No 2FA.Bottom Line: ElephantDrive's flexible backup and versioning capabilities are overshadowed by its file upload limitations and unintuitive desktop experience.Read Review
Best Online Backup Services Featured in This Roundup:
IDrive Review
MSRP: $69.50Pros: Easy setup. Unlimited devices per account. Disk image backup. File Explorer integration. Folder syncing. Bulk uploads and restores via mail. Fast upload speeds in testing.Cons: No true continuous backup option. Fractured web interface. Storage isn't unlimited.Bottom Line: You won't find a better overall online backup service than the full-featured IDrive, especially for the price.Read ReviewAcronis True Image Review
MSRP: $49.99Pros: Excellent desktop interface. Fast upload speeds in testing. Local and cloud backup. Full disk image backup and restore. File syncing. Ransomware Protection.Cons: Expensive. Slow web interface and mobile apps. Lacks password protection for shared files.Bottom Line: Acronis True Image's full disk backups, fast performance, and useful extras such as active file protection, make it well worth the cost.Read ReviewSOS Online Backup Review
MSRP: $44.99Pros: Robust security options. Archival features. Can back up external and network drives. Local backup.Cons: Expensive. Outdated desktop and mobile interfaces. Continuous protection limited to individual files. No File Explorer integration. No free or unlimited storage accounts.Bottom Line: SOS Online Backup offers top-notch security features and true archiving for your files, but expect to pay top dollar for this service.Read ReviewBackblaze Review
MSRP: $50.00Pros: Unlimited storage. Easy setup. Strong security settings. Close integration with B2 cloud storage service. Ability to back up or restore via mailed drive.Cons: Licenses are for a single computer. Convoluted backup selection. No File Explorer or Finder integration. No private sharing of backup files. Basic mobile app.Bottom Line: Backblaze is a streamlined and secure online backup service. It's good for novices, but it may frustrate users who want more control over backups.Read ReviewCarbonite Review
MSRP: $71.99Pros: Unlimited online backup storage for one computer. File Explorer integration. Continuous backup option. Easy guided setup. Excellent web interface.Cons: Expensive for multiple computers. Limited mobile apps. Base version doesn't back up external drives. Lacks file sharing and syncing.Bottom Line: Carbonite is an easy-to-use online backup service that offers unlimited storage, but a license only covers a single computer and you can't use it to back up your mobile devices.Read ReviewSpiderOak ONE Review
MSRP: $69.00Pros: Strong privacy features. Unlimited computers per account. File syncing included. Well-designed, full-featured desktop application.Cons: Buggy mobile apps. No search in web interface or mobile app. No two-factor authentication. Slow performance in testing.Bottom Line: SpiderOak ONE offers top-notch security features and flexible backup and sharing options, but it's more expensive than the competition.Read ReviewLivedrive Review
MSRP: $8.00Pros: Unlimited storage. Effective desktop and mobile apps. Solid versioning capabilities.Cons: Expensive. Base tier only protects a single computer. Lacks standard backup and security options. Slow performance in our upload tests. No full disk backup option.Bottom Line: Livedrive delivers unlimited online storage for a single computer and as many mobile devices as you'd like, but you can't use private encryption keys with the service and it lacks a continuous backup feature.Read ReviewOpenDrive Review
MSRP: $99.00Pros: Reasonable pricing and unlimited storage plans. Good web interface. Fast performance in our upload tests. Free account.Cons: Disjointed desktop interface. Unintuitive restore settings. Mobile app stutters occasionally.Bottom Line: Online backup service OpenDrive is a good value and uploads files quickly, but its options for restoring backed-up files are not intuitive and its mobile apps need improvement.Read ReviewZoolz BigMind Review
MSRP: $35.88Pros: Top-notch desktop and web apps. Good performance in our upload speed tests. Permanent free version. Easy sharing options.Cons: Expensive top-tier plans. Limited versioning. No private encryption key, disaster recovery, or folder syncing options. Pushy subscription upsells.Bottom Line: BigMind offers sophisticated apps and is easy to use, but it lacks common features found in competing online backup services, including private encryption key protection and robust versioning.Read ReviewElephantDrive Review
MSRP: $99.50Pros: Flexible versioning and archiving capabilities. Good sharing options. Fast upload speeds in our tests.Cons: Disjointed and buggy applications. 2GB upload-file-size limit for home accounts. Outdated Android app. No 2FA.Bottom Line: ElephantDrive's flexible backup and versioning capabilities are overshadowed by its file upload limitations and unintuitive desktop experience.Read Review
A file syncing app is a service or program that offers a convenient way to automatically synchronize your files across more than one computer or mobile device. Anywhere you're logged in to the file syncing app, the same files are available for you to open, edit, copy, stream, and so on, just as if you were on the device on which you initially uploaded them.
Mac Connect To File Server
File syncing apps have plenty of uses, and the apps we've chosen work well in all occasions. For example, Dropbox stores your files online so that you can access them anywhere, while Resilio Sync skips servers altogether and syncs via a peer-to-peer connection.
Most of these apps are free, but some require a monthly subscription, especially if you want online storage too.
Dropbox: Access Your Synced Files Anywhere
What We Like
- You can manually set bandwidth limits
- Thirty days of undo history to recover deleted or changed files
- All files are encrypted on the Dropbox website
- Files can be uploaded to and downloaded from the Dropbox website (without needing to use the app)
What We Don't Like
- Data must be stored online first in order to sync to other devices
Dropbox is one of the most popular cloud storage services, and for good reason. Anything you put into your Dropbox folder gets backed up online and downloads to any other device that's logged in to the same account.
In other words, Dropbox is a file sync utility because the folder on your computer in which you can store files is replicated to all of the computers and mobile devices that your account is connected to.
Dropbox is free for the first 2 GB of data. You can pay for more storage with the Plus and Professional plans, which offer 1 TB and 2 TB, respectively.
Resilio Sync: Sync Any Folder With Any Other Computer
What We Like
- Your files are not stored online
- You get to choose which folders to sync
- Each folder can have its own permissions: read-only or read and write
- No user account is needed; data is synced by special links or codes
- Bandwidth control options are available
- You can change the listening port
- Encrypted folders can be created and synced
What We Don't Like
- Can't access your files from a web browser because they aren't stored online
Resilio Sync (previously called BitTorrent Sync) is a peer-to-peer synchronization program
Unlike Dropbox where you have to put every file you want to sync into the Dropbox folder, Resilio has you pick folders on your computer that will be synced to your other devices. For example, select your iTunes folder to share all your music between your different computers.
When you accept a folder share from another computer, you get to pick which folder on your computer is used to download the files. From there, any changes you make are reflected back to the other computer's original folder.
Some features, like selective syncing to sync only certain files from a folder, are available only if you upgrade out of the free version of Resilio.
GoodSync: A File Syncing Tool With Tons of Options
What We Like
- Lots of options
- Supports folders from a variety of locations
- Filtering options let you exclude subfolders from a sync
- Can sync files to and from your phone
- Each device can browse through files on all the other connected devices
- Also works as a one-way sync, backup service
- Supports encryption and bandwidth control
What We Don't Like
- Can get confusing with all the available settings
If you're looking for a file syncing program with the most options and greatest flexibility, you can't go wrong with GoodSync. Tons of options can be customized, and it works seamlessly between desktop and mobile devices.
Like most file sync apps, GoodSync keeps two folders in sync with each other. However, you can take it a step further and connect the program to your phone to back up your photos and videos automatically, or to send files from your computer to your phone on a schedule.
Unlike most file sync software programs, GoodSync lets you connect to a variety of locations in addition to your computer folders, like FTP servers and cloud storage services. If you don't use an online service, then GoodSync works like a P2P file sync program (i.e., no data is stored online).
The free version of GoodSync has some limitations, like a maximum number of files that you can sync for any single job and a maximum number of jobs you can make in any one account.
You can buy GoodSync to get more features beyond the free version. For example, you can get GoodSync2Go to use on a portable device like a flash drive.
SyncToy: The Easiest Way to Sync Two Local Folders
What We Like
- Completely free with no limitations
- Really easy to set up
- Lots of optional settings, like file, subfolder, and file attribute exclusions
- Supports not only synchronize but also echo and contribute, two other ways to keep two folders in sync
What We Don't Like
- Works on Windows operating systems only
- Only Windows 7, Vista, and XP are officially supported
- Can't sync to computers outside your local network
SyncToy is like a lesser version of the other syncing apps from above. It lets you keep two folders in sync but doesn't span across multiple networks.
In other words, the SyncToy file syncing program is handy if you like to keep a copy of your files in two locations like on your local hard drive and a flash drive, or on your external hard drive and a computer on your same network.
A practical use for SyncToy might be to pair your Music folder with Dropbox so that any changes you make to your music collection will automatically be copied over to Dropbox for online backup.
Tip
You can download a 32-bit or 64-bit version of SyncToy. Click the x86 option for 32-bit, or x64 for 64-bit.
SyncBack: Sync With Online File Storage Accounts
What We Like
- It's free if you don't need the extra features
- Lots of advanced customizations
- Can be used to back up, sync, or mirror files and folders
- You can sync with a variety of folders: FTP, Amazon Drive, Backblaze, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, SugarSync, and more
What We Don't Like
- macOS and Linux users can only use SyncBack Touch among the SyncBack options
- SyncBack Touch is required if you want to sync to another computer off of your network
SyncBack is another syncing application that you install on computers you want to back up and synchronize. Several versions of this program are available, each with different features, including SyncBackFree, SyncBack Lite, SyncBackSE, and SyncBackPro.
All versions of SyncBack let you sync select files and folders, back up to FTP, compress files, and set other basic options. However, SyncBack Lite also supports copying locked files; SyncBackSE can works for business use and includes a USB app, incremental backups, and file versioning; and SyncBackPro can save to DVD with disc spanning, and keep emails backed up.
You can sync your files within your same network, such as another drive on your computer or a shared folder on a different computer. You can also sync your files to an online account like Dropbox or Google Drive. To sync to another computer not in your network, you have to buy SyncBack Touch.
In short, SyncBack is a powerful software application with many other backup and syncing features.