7 Best Online Backup Solutions for Secure File Storage

Backblaze

Backblaze has over 500,000 customers all around the globe. This platform was launched over a decade ago and is known today as a great place to get quality backup service. This platform is mostly used by IT experts, developers, entrepreneurs, and people who seek easy and affordable backup tools.

iDrive

iDrive was launched in 2007 with the goal of helping its users secure their data. Today it grew to become one of the best online backup platforms packed with features for personal and business use. iDrive is also among the safest platforms since it utilizes military-grade encryption to secure the data.

Carbonite

Carbonite backup offers a cloud solution for businesses and personal use. This company was founded in 2006 and now offers a rich portfolio of services. According to reviews, it has an intuitive setup. Currently, 17 million customers are using it, recovering about 60 billion files.

Google Photos

Another one of the best online backup service platforms is Google Photos. It works as a secure space that stores your photographs and the most important memories. Google Photos can automatically pull all photos and videos from any device and keep them on the cloud.

OneBackup

OneBackup by SpiderOak offers secure and reliable backup and protection for your most important files. SpiderOak was founded in 2007. At the moment, OneBackup is just one of its products focused on improving people’s lives.

NordLocker

NordLocker is the world’s first end-to-end file encryption tool with a private cloud. It has been working with NordVPN and NordPass since its foundation. As a result, all three companies work in unison to offer highly secure features when it comes to data storage.

pCloud

pCloud is another one of the best online storage backup services dedicated to keeping your files safe. The company was founded in 2013 and is located in Europe. Today, it counts 14 million satisfied users around the world. pCloud is a reliable online backup tool for individuals and businesses alike.

Backblaze

Overview

Backblaze offers simple yet powerful backup services to individuals and businesses. This platform is ideal for people looking for the best cloud storage backup for their apps and large media libraries. Currently, Backblaze has over one exabyte of data under management.

Pricing Plans

When you sign up to Backblaze, you’ll get your first 10 GB of data stored for free. In addition to this free plan, there are paid plans that start at $0.005 per month per GB.

When it comes to data downloading price, it’s at $0.01 per GB of data. Additionally:

• Class A transactions are free
• Class B and C transactions start at 2,500 free transactions per day

You can also email your data to this online backup software. This would cost you:

• $550 if you use Backblaze B2 Fireball
• USB flash drive up to 256 GB — $99
• USB hard drive up to 8 TB — $189

Business vs. Individual Solutions

Business backup features include Veeam, Server, NAS, and Computer backup.

Veeam backup works seamlessly with Backblaze B2 and Cloud Tier. There will be no interruptions to the workflow. Server backups are simple to use, feature-rich, and more affordable. 

NAS backup can easily sync with Backblaze B2 cloud storage with native integrations. Finally, computer backup works via a centrally managed admin setup.

Besides online backups for businesses, Backblaze also offers unlimited PC and Mac backup tools to secure your data on the cloud. It also has an iOS and Android app to help you access your files from any device.

Customer Support

If you face issues with your Backblaze account, you can reach out to customer support via email at [email protected]. You can also submit a ticket or visit the help page for more information. Regarding customer reviews, users seem to be highly satisfied with the offers.

Our Verdict

Backblaze offers some of the best online cloud backup features on the market. However, it might be too complicated for people who have no experience with similar services. However, according to the latest reviews, IT experts and developers will likely enjoy what it has to offer.

iDrive

Overview

iDrive is among the best online backup platforms ready to be used by all types of customers. Based on some online backup service reviews, it’s fast, offers easy setup, and has an excellent mobile app. However, its storage is limited.

Pricing Plans

If you wish to test out iDrive, you can do so for free for the first 5 GB. Besides the free trial, pricing plans are as follows:

• iDrive Personal for one user and unlimited computers — $59.62/first year
• iDrive Team for five users and five computers — $74.62/first year
• iDrive Business for unlimited users, computers, and servers — $74.62/first year
• Small business solution — $149.62, 500 GB for the first year

Naturally, there are differences in the amount of storage you’ll get with every plan, so make sure you check the numbers before you subscribe to the service.

Business vs. Individual Solutions

iDrive is among the best online backup solutions for small businesses and enterprises. However, individual users may also benefit from its features.

Individual users can enjoy a military level of security for their files. The platform uses 256-bit AES encryption together with an optional private key.

When it comes to small businesses, they have additional tools to use:

• Multiple device backup
• iDrive Thin client
• iDrive Express
• Sub-accounts
• RAID-protected storage devices
• Onsite Bare-Metal Disaster Recovery with Cloud Replication, and more

Customer Support

When it comes to these best online server backup services, you can reach customer support on several phone numbers based on your location. In addition, you can submit a ticket or take a look at the tutorials available on the website. Unfortunately, customer support could use some improvements based on the user reviews, 

Our Verdict

iDrive covers a variety of features and is packed with backup services. We found it has enough to offer to home and business users. However, according to reviews, sometimes the backup is slow, so you might want to look for other solutions.

Carbonite

Overview

According to what we saw online, millions of people love Carbonite’s services. It’s no wonder since Carbonite offers a complex portfolio of backup tools. For example, it has SMB cloud backup, enterprise server backup, threat intelligence, expanded disaster recovery, and other features to secure your files.

Pricing Plans

Carbonite’s Home plan prices are as follows:

• Basic — $58.99/year
• Plus — $83.99/year
• Prime — $104.99/year

If you’re looking for the best online backup for Mac and Windows for the business environment, you’ll have to ask for the best possible pricing plan for your needs.

In addition to these two options, Carbonite also offers professional backup for small businesses, called Carbonite Safe. This option is ideal for up to 25 computers, and the prices start at $6/month, billed annually for 1–3 computers and go up to $50/month, billed annually for the backup of computers and servers.

Keep in mind that pricing plans may vary due to seasonal offers and discounts. You may also test them out with a free trial.

Business vs. Individual Solutions

Carbonite’s secure online backup has different features for different users. For example, home users have an unlimited backup, external hard drive backup, support for all types of files, and automated backup solutions.

Professional backup offers protection for servers, external storage devices, and secures up to 25 computers.

Business solutions include Carbonite Endpoint, Backup for Microsoft 360, Carbonate Server, Migrate, Recover, and other powerful features that benefit enterprises the most. 

Disaster recovery is especially crucial for these users. Carbonite Recover replicates critical systems onto the cloud, thus preventing data loss and providing an up-to-date copy for immediate failover.

Customer Support

This is one of the best online backup platforms for multiple computers, but some users are still unhappy with its customer service. According to user reviews, the support team wasn’t helpful or eager to solve issues. Still, if you face challenges while using Carbonite, you can reach out via the Contact Us section on the homepage.

Our Verdict

We found that this online backup company has enough features to keep you covered and secured even if you run a business. In addition to powerful tools, you might also score great seasonal discounts, which make Carbonite one of the cheapest online backup solutions.

Google Photos

Overview

Google Photos is one of the most famous platforms for backing up your photos. It’s basically a photo app service that works great on the web and mobile devices. One of its best features is artificial intelligence that automatically edits photos and recommends the person to share your photos with.

Pricing Plans

Google Photos is one of the best free online backup apps for files up to 15 GB in size. However, if that’s not enough storage, you can pay for additional space. The pricing plans are:

• $1.99/mo for 100 GB
• $2.99/mo for 200 GB
• $99.99/year for 2 TB

In addition to these pricing plans, Google Photos has a few additional options. For example, you can order photo prints starting from $0.18 or create photo books for $14.99.

Business vs. Individual Solutions

There is no specific distinction between business and individual solutions. Therefore, anyone can use Google Photos. However, since it’s packed with features such as AI, editing tools, sharing options, facial detection, and others, it can act as the best online backup for professional photographers and photography enthusiasts.

The mobile interfaces are the same on iPhone and Android, the interface is sleek, and the app looks highly organized regardless of the device it’s installed on.

Customer Support

If you face issues while using the app, you can visit the Help page to look for answers. There’s also a Community section where you can talk with other users and solve existing problems. Unfortunately, there’s no way to contact Google support directly.

Our Verdict

If you’re looking for the best personal online backup platform for photos on your phone, Google Photos will do the job perfectly. You can install this app across devices and use the first 15 GB for free. The pretty yet straightforward interface is what makes it stand out. Still, it can’t serve as storage for files other than photos — look elsewhere for storing other types of valuable files.

OneBackup

Overview

SpiderOak is dedicated to preserving the world’s data. The company has been successful in providing leading-edge security and privacy solutions for over a decade and OneBackup is just a part of its portfolio. This product offers increased security for all your stored files with no time limits or restrictions.

Pricing Plans

To start using OneBackup, you can opt for a 21-day free trial for various versions of Windows, Mac, and Linux. Otherwise, the pricing plans are:

• 150 GB plan — $69/annually
• 400 GB plan — $115/annually
• 2 TB plan — $149/annually
• 5 TB plan — $320/annually

If you wish to know more about SpiderOak’s offers, you’re advised to reach out to customer service. 

Business Vs. Individual Solutions

Being one of the best online computer backup platforms, OneBackup doesn’t have two distinctive offers for business and home users. Instead, both types of users can benefit from OneBackup offers.

The only difference is when you decide to log in to your account. In that case, you will access your SpiderOak account via Management Console and your unique company’s URL. Know that the Console will have to be downloaded locally to the organization’s hypervisor and distributed as an OVF.

Customer Support

When writing this review, we couldn’t find any specific complaints about SpiderOak’s customer support. If you face difficulties, visit the official Help page or submit a ticket to get help.

Our Verdict

OneBackup is among the best online backup services that offer excellent security for your stored data. While it offers service without time limits or restrictions, some of its pricing plans can be higher compared to other similar platforms. Still, OneBackup is designed to store your information safely, and that might be worth the cost.

NordLocker

Overview

If you’re looking for the cheapest online backup storage solutions, you should consider NordLocker. It’s a cloud-based backup storage option with end-to-end encryption and a zero-knowledge policy. This means that the company never knows what you store on the cloud, and yet it keeps your information highly secure.

Pricing Plans

Compared to other pricing plans from other companies, NordLocker is affordable. You can start with a free lifetime plan with 3 GB cloud storage that includes unlimited encryption and email support.

Additionally, based on the online backup pricing comparison, the 500 GB pricing plan starts at $3.99/month.

The most popular and affordable option is the 2 TB plan that starts at $9.99/month. All premium plans also involve:

• 24/7 priority support
• End-to-end encryption
• 30-day money-back guarantee

What’s more, if you’re not happy with the service, you have a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Business vs. Individual Solutions

NordLock offers business and individual options with state-of-the-art security for any type of business.

Overall, the offer for home users includes a backup service with the most trusted form of encryption, and the best online backup for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. In addition, the AES256, Argon2, and ECC algorithms work together to secure the files.

What’s more, NordLocker offers ideal solutions for multiple industries:

• Healthcare — to safeguard the patients’ data
• Education — for secure cooperation
• Legal — for improved data confidentiality
• Financial — increased protection from data thieves

NordLocker is also GDPR and HIPPA compliant.

Customer Support

NordLocker customer support is available via email. You can also find what you need on the Help page, which contains troubleshooting, FAQs, and other valuable information. The customer service is decent.

Our Verdict

NordLocker definitely appears as the safest platform for storing your data on the cloud. Additionally, its zero-knowledge policy means that the company won’t know what you’ll store. This makes it ideal for both home users and business owners across multiple industries.

pCloud

Overview

Here’s another one of the best online backup service platforms, only this one is located in Europe. pCloud is known as the most secure cloud storage in the region with Swiss data protection, ease of use, and powerful features.

Pricing Plans

There are three plans available at pCloud — individual, family, and business.

The individual pricing plan starts at €49.99/annually for 500 GB. If you wish to purchase Premium Plus and use 2 TB, you’ll pay €99.99. There are also lifetime options that cost €175 and €350, respectively.

What’s more, you can use the best free online backup services for up to 10 GB with your free account.

The family plan usually costs €1,400, but you might get seasonal discounts. It includes 2 TB space and works with up to five users.

Business plans are based on the number of users and start at €7.99/month per user.

Business vs. Individual Solutions

The individual plan is packed with powerful features to keep your data securely backed up. You’ll get:

• Fair share
• Shared link branding
• 30-day trash history

These features are also available for up to five users of the Family plan.

Regarding the business options, there might be other affordable online backup software platforms. However, you’ll get 1 TB storage per user, pCloud Encryption, Teams and Access Control, secure file sharing, and 180 days of file versioning.

Customer Support

You can contact customer support at [email protected] or use the form in the Contact Us section on the homepage. Support is available in English, French, German, Spanish, and Turkish. User reviews are generally positive.

Our Verdict

pCloud has decent online backup solutions for individuals, families, and business owners. Based on reviews, users are happy with the provided service and features. Furthermore, the paid plans are reasonably priced. All in all, pCloud is definitely worth considering as a data storage service.