Backblaze Online Backup shows that good backup software doesn't need to be expensive or complicated, with a simple setup process and unlimited backup storage for a single PC. Its back-up-everything approach should appeal to newcomers in particular. The service performed well in our upload speed tests, but it doesn't have a folder-syncing option, nor can it back up your mobile devices. While Backblaze is suitable for people with one PC who don't want to fuss over settings, others should look to Editors' Choice winners IDrive for better value or ShadowProtect SPX Desktop for full disk image backups.
How Much Does Backblaze Cost?
If you have just one computer to worry about, Backblaze Online Backup is cost-effective compared with other online backup services. It costs $9 per month or $99 per year and comes with unlimited cloud backup storage for one computer. You can alternatively pay $189 every two years for the service. Backblaze doesn't have a permanent free account level like IDrvie (10GB for free) account, though you can get a 15-day trial.
Carbonite charges a similar rate for unlimited storage to back up one personal computer ($95.99 per year). Backblaze's unlimited storage is generous, especially compared with SpiderOak One Backup, which charges $115 annually for just 400GB of space. However, with Backblaze, you have to get licenses for each computer you want to protect. So, if you need to back up five PCs, the cost increases to $350 per year. Other services, including SpiderOak and IDrive, let you add multiple computers and mobile devices to one account. And IDrive starts at $79.50 per year for 5TB of storage, which you can share among as many devices as you like. So it really depends on how many computers you want to back up and how much data is on that computer.
It's 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.
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To cancel your Backblaze account, you must delete all active backups for the account on the Preferences page on the web, remove unused licenses on the Overview page, and then delete the account on the My Settings page. The process is more complicated than other online backup services. If you enabled the optional B2 Cloud storage capability on your account, there are additional steps for canceling it.
Backblaze has a live chat support system available most working hours (Pacific Time) during weekdays.
Getting Started With Backblaze
Signing up for Backblaze requires just an email address and password. Before creating an account, the site asks you which service you want; make sure to sign up for Computer Backup, not B2 Cloud Storage. 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. It's not available for Linux systems.
After installation, Backblaze scans your hard drive for certain file types, such as documents, media files, and downloads, and calculates the total backup size. Hitting the Continue button launches the backup process. This setup is ideal for users who don't want to worry about what they need to back up. If, however, you want more control over what gets uploaded to the cloud, this initial backup behavior can be annoying.
You can pause the backup process immediately after it starts, but if you want to make changes, you still need to deal with the hassle of Backblaze's exclusion-based system. We discuss the shortcomings of this system a bit later.
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, we recommend Editors' Choice winner ShadowProtect SPX Desktop or IDrive, which includes disk imaging as an option. Backblaze does let you back up attached USB hard drives, though, something you need to pay extra for with Carbonite Safe.
Backblaze Desktop Interface
On Windows PCs, Backblaze displays an icon in the notification tray. It gives you quick access to the Backblaze Control Panel, a shortcut to the website's View/Restore Files section, and the option to inherit a backup state for new setups. Backblaze does not integrate with Windows' File Explorer or macOS's Finder, so you can't right-click on a folder or file to quickly add it to your backup set. Carbonite Safe 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 Cyber Protect Home Office. 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 it 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 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. You are responsible for excluding 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 to be backed up.
Backblaze's back-up-everything approach doesn't conflict with any storage limits because it's unlimited, 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 to be 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 it if Backblaze gave users the option to narrow down the initial backup selection to specific user folders.
Backblaze 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 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 multi-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. We wish they were standard features for all online backup services.
![What Is Two-Factor Authentication?](https://zmgvideos.mashable.com/cms/2019/5/4e8cd2c5-8eec-cb8a/uploaded_thumbnail.jpg)
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, Calif., in the US.
Web and Sharing
Backblaze's web interface is effective, and it matches the straightforward design of the desktop application. The main panel shows an overview of your backup, including how long your version history goes back, how many files are selected for backup, how many files are still being uploaded, and when the latest upload for all of your hard drives was. You can navigate to more information in the left panel.
You will likely use the View/Restore Files section the most—that’s where you can browse your backed-up files. In My Settings and Billing sections, your options are Configure Account Security Settings and 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 unaffected 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 $0.006 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, which generates a sharing link you can send to others. On the back end, Backblaze adds the shared file to what it calls a Bucket. You can access these Buckets from the My Shared Files section of the main navigation menu. Sharing a file makes it 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, the last upload set, and the computer's IP address. In testing, Backblaze successfully located our test computer. If your PC is stolen, Backblaze recommends preparing a restore, contacting the police, and monitoring any subsequent account activity.
Restoring Data With Backblaze
To restore your data, navigate to the website's View/Restore files section, as the desktop app does not offer this functionality. The app presents you with three options: Download files, Save Files to B2, and USB Hard Drive. The first option is free, while the B2 option costs extra. If you restore your data to B2, the file set will be formatted as a Snapshot, essentially a Zipped collection of files as they existed at a certain time. IDrive offers a similar feature for point-in-time recovery.
The last option, wherein the company mails you a hard drive with your files, up to 8TB, is part of Backblaze's excellent Cloud Restore service, helpful in 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). To use the portable hard drive option, you put down a refundable $189, which you get back if you return the drive in its original condition. Both Carbonite Safe and IDrive offer similar disaster recovery services by mail.
Regardless of your restore option, you select files using the file browser. You can specify the backup device used and the backup frequency if you are looking for a specific version of a file. Backblaze keeps 100 days' worth of versions for each file, and every file version that has been backed up is retained. You have the option to increase the retention period of files to forever for an additional fee. For the unlimited retention plan, you pay $0.006 per GB per month for versions of files updated, changed, or deleted more than one year ago.
IDrive retains the previous 10 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. 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.
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 rudimentary. The main screen shows all the backup devices linked to your account. You can access any files you downloaded from your backup from the hidden left-hand menu or visit the app settings. The Settings section is similarly sparse. The only options are remembering your login info, enabling biometric login, and allowing downloads over cellular connections.
Browsing for backed-up files is 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 starting from the top, which we appreciate. The app's search bar works fine, but there's no way to filter files by type or size in the 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 (though BigMind scored low overall in our assessment). You can manually upload to a B2 bucket, but there’s no automatic backup.
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 over a home Ethernet connection (16Mbps upload). 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. With that change, Backblaze's performance improved significantly, even with a variation in the home Ethernet network we used for testing (10Mbps vs. 16Mbps upload). Backblaze 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 users or those who don't want to fuss with settings and only have a single computer. It's easy to set up and works in the background to protect your files. We particularly like its encryption features. However, we wish it offered an alternative to its exclusion-based backup selection and a more functional mobile app. Look to Editors' Choice winners IDrive for better value or ShadowProtect SPX Desktop if you'd rather make a full disk image backup.
For more backup options, check out our list of the best external hard drives.
Backblaze is a streamlined and secure online backup service that's good for novices but may frustrate users who want more control over backups.
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