How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- The best computer backup service in 2026 follows the 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies of your data, on 2 different media, with 1 copy offsite, so a single drive failure, theft, or ransomware attack cannot wipe you out.
- Backblaze is the best single computer pick at $9 per month with unlimited storage, while IDrive is the best multi device pick with unlimited devices sharing one storage pool.
- Sync is not backup: Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive sync deletions and ransomware encryption everywhere, while dedicated backup keeps version history and a recovery path.
- Promotional first year prices do not continue: IDrive renewal runs at standard rates, and Carbonite and Backblaze long term costs differ by plan, so budget for the renewal price, not the intro deal.
- Test your restore before you need it, since a backup you have never restored from is only a hope, not a plan.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Backblaze | Single computer unlimited backup | $9 per month | No |
 IDrive | Multi device households | See website | Yes |
 Carbonite | Set-and-forget simplicity | See website | No |
 Acronis | Backup plus cybersecurity | $49.99 per year | Yes |
 CrashPlan | Small business endpoints | $2.99 per user per month | No |
 Proton Drive | Privacy-first storage | $4.99 per month | Yes |
 Google Drive | Google ecosystem sync | Free | Yes |
 Dropbox | File sharing plus basic backup | $11.99 per month | Yes |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best computer backup service
#1Backblaze
Best for: Single computer unlimited backup4.4/5 on
G2 (38 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit backblaze.com
Starting price$9 per month
Free planNo
Backblaze is the best single computer backup pick, offering unlimited storage for $9 per month or $99 per year with zero configuration. It continuously copies files in the background, retains previous versions, and gives you a recovery path when a drive fails, a laptop is stolen, or ransomware strikes.
The limits are device count and platform. Each license covers one computer, Linux is not supported natively, and version history is 30 days by default, with 1 year history costing $2 per month extra. Mailed USB restores cost $99 for 256 GB or less and $189 up to 8 TB. For one computer with unlimited data, Backblaze is the simplest pick.
What we like- Unlimited storage on one computer
- $9 per month or $99 per year
- Simple zero configuration setup
- Optional private key encryption
Watch out for- One computer per paid license
- Windows and Mac only, no Linux
- Version history 30 days by default, 1 year costs $2 per month extra
#2IDrive
Best for: Multi device households4.4/5 on
G2 (2,048 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit idrive.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
IDrive wins on device count, OS support, and server backup, letting unlimited devices draw from one shared storage pool, with support for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android, plus SQL, Exchange, VMware, Hyper-V, and NAS backup. Its free tier covers 10 GB, and business plans start around $99.50 per year.
The trade is tier and renewal pricing. Storage comes in fixed tiers from 5 TB up, first year promotional rates do not continue at renewal, annual billing only applies on business plans, and overage charges run $0.50 per GB per month. For a household or small business with many devices, IDrive is the best value pick.
What we like- Unlimited devices share one storage pool
- Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android
- Server and NAS backup
- Free 10 GB tier
- Optional private key
Watch out for- Fixed capacity tiers from 5 TB up
- First year promo pricing does not continue
- Overage $0.50 per GB per month
- Express Restore costs $99.50 per request
#3Carbonite
Best for: Set-and-forget simplicity4.0/5 on
G2 (198 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit carbonite.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Carbonite is the set-and-forget pick, with unlimited storage on personal plans and an established platform with compliance support for businesses. Courier recovery costs $99 per request regardless of size, cheaper than Backblaze for large restores, with a discount to $19 for Safe Prime subscribers.
The limits are billing and price clarity. Monthly billing is not available, so personal plans carry a yearly price tag, and reported pricing conflicts across sources, so it is written here as "See website". Business base plans include limited storage with extra capacity charged separately. For a user who wants simple unlimited backup with cheap courier recovery, Carbonite is a solid pick.
What we like- Unlimited storage
- Set-and-forget simplicity
- Courier recovery cheaper than Backblaze at $99 per request
- Established platform with compliance support
Watch out for- Yearly billing only, no monthly option
- Long term pricing conflicts across sources
- Business base plans include limited storage with overage fees
#4Acronis
Best for: Backup plus cybersecurity4.7/5 on
G2 (1,462 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit acronis.com
Starting price$49.99 per year
Free planYes
Acronis Cyber Protect combines backup and endpoint security in one agent, with tiered cloud storage from $49.99 per year, immutable backups on the Advanced tier, and a free tier to start. Business plans run from about $85 per year per endpoint, making it the best security pick for small businesses.
The trade is storage caps and complexity. Storage is tiered rather than unlimited, and security features add setup complexity versus Backblaze simplicity. For a user who wants backup plus ransomware protection in one tool, Acronis is the best pick.
What we like- Backup and endpoint security in one agent
- Tiered cloud storage
- Immutable backups on Advanced tier
- Free tier available
Watch out for- Tiered storage, not unlimited
- Business pricing reaches about $85 per year per endpoint and higher
- Security features add complexity
#5CrashPlan
Best for: Small business endpoints4.9/5 on
G2 (273 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit crashplan.com
Starting price$2.99 per user per month
Free planNo
CrashPlan suits small business endpoints, with per-user unlimited storage and entry pricing from $2.99 per user per month, making it the best budget business pick in some comparisons. Its endpoint focus covers laptops across a small team without per device storage math.
The limits are tier pricing and consumer fit. Business plans run about $8 per user per month, there is no free tier, and consumer features are thinner than Backblaze or IDrive. For a small business that wants simple per-user endpoint backup, CrashPlan is a strong pick.
What we like- Per-user unlimited storage for endpoints
- Entry pricing from $2.99 per user per month
- Simple business endpoint coverage
Watch out for- Business plans run higher at about $8 per user per month
- No free tier
- Consumer features thinner than Backblaze or IDrive
Starting price$4.99 per month
Free planYes
Proton Drive is the privacy-first pick, with end-to-end encryption built in, a free tier covering 5 GB, and paid plans from $4.99 per month. Its Swiss jurisdiction and encryption suit users whose threat model includes provider access to files.
The trade is backup depth. Storage is fixed rather than unlimited, and its sync focus means version history is thinner than dedicated backup services. For a privacy focused user who wants encrypted storage with backup features, Proton Drive is the best pick.
What we like- End-to-end encryption built in
- Free tier with 5 GB
- From $4.99 per month
- Swiss privacy jurisdiction
Watch out for- Fixed storage, not unlimited backup
- Sync focused, so version history thinner than dedicated backup
- Smaller storage caps than Backblaze
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Google Drive is the ecosystem pick, free with 15 GB and deeply integrated with Google apps, making file access and sharing across devices effortless. For many users it is already the place files live.
The honest limit is that sync is not backup. If a file is deleted or encrypted by ransomware, the change syncs everywhere, and files stored outside synced folders are not automatically protected. Use Google Drive for access and collaboration, paired with a dedicated backup service for disaster recovery.
What we like- Free 15 GB tier
- Deep Google ecosystem integration
- Easy file access and sharing across devices
Watch out for- Sync, not backup, so deletions and ransomware changes sync everywhere
- No client-side encryption by default
- Files outside synced folders are not protected
#8Dropbox
Best for: File sharing plus basic backup4.4/5 on
G2 (31,453 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit dropbox.com
Starting price$11.99 per month
Free planYes
Dropbox is the sharing pick, with the best file sharing and collaboration tools, a free tier covering 2 GB, and paid plans from $11.99 per month. Its basic backup features cover key folders, which suits users who mainly need sharing with some protection.
The trade is backup depth and price. It is sync focused rather than dedicated backup, with no client-side encryption by default, and $11.99 per month costs more than Backblaze unlimited backup. For a user who prioritizes sharing with basic backup on top, Dropbox is a workable pick.
What we like- Best file sharing and collaboration
- Free tier with 2 GB
- Paid plans from $11.99 per month
- Basic backup features
Watch out for- Sync focused, not dedicated backup
- No client-side encryption by default
- $11.99 per month costs more than Backblaze unlimited
How we chose
We ranked services by storage model, device coverage, version history, encryption, and price honesty. We favored dedicated backup over sync for disaster recovery, since sync propagates deletions and ransomware, and we gave extra weight to version history and restore options, because a backup is only as good as its restore.
We also weighed price honesty. First year promotional rates do not continue, business tiers jump unevenly, and overage fees change the bill, so prices that conflicted across sources were written as "See website". Readers should budget for the standard renewal rate, not the intro deal.
Buying guide
Start with the 3-2-1 rule: keep 3 copies of your data, on 2 different media, with 1 copy offsite. A dedicated cloud backup plus a local external drive satisfies this for most home users, while businesses should add server backup and a signed data processing agreement where needed.
Next, count devices and data before choosing a tier. A single computer with large data suits Backblaze unlimited, while many devices with modest data suit IDrive pooled storage. Check version history length, since 30 days may be too short if you discover a problem late.
Finally, test your restore. Download a few files, restore a folder to a second machine, and time a large restore. A backup you have never restored from is only a hope, not a plan, and a shipped drive restore can take days, so know the process before disaster strikes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best computer backup service overall?
Backblaze is the best single computer pick at $9 per month with unlimited storage, while IDrive is best for multi device households with pooled storage. The best pick depends on your device count.
Is Google Drive a backup service?
No. Google Drive is sync and storage, not dedicated backup, since deletions and ransomware changes sync everywhere. Pair it with a dedicated backup service for disaster recovery.
What is the 3-2-1 backup rule?
Keep 3 copies of your data, on 2 different media, with 1 copy offsite. For most home users, that means your computer, a local external drive, and a cloud backup service.
How much does computer backup cost?
From $2.99 per user per month at CrashPlan entry tier to $9 per month at Backblaze unlimited and $49.99 per year at Acronis, with IDrive and Carbonite priced by tier. Budget for renewal rates, not first year promotions.
Should I encrypt my backup?
Yes, where available. IDrive, Backblaze, Acronis, and CrashPlan offer client-side encryption options, and Proton Drive builds end-to-end encryption in. With a private key, losing the key means losing the backup, so store it safely.
How do I restore files after a drive failure?
Most services let you download files from the web, restore to a replacement machine, or order a shipped drive for large restores. Backblaze charges $99 to $189 by size, Carbonite $99 per request, and IDrive Express Restore $99.50 per request.
Sources we checked (0)
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.