Cloud storage is a good way to maintain your information and folders organized with out investing in costly arduous drives (or worrying about corrupting them). Nevertheless, you have to contemplate potential information breaches and shield your self from these in any respect prices. For Mac customers, Backblaze has a robust give attention to encryption and safety, so I feel it’s at the least price an in-depth evaluate.
I’ll cowl the entire software program’s key options, plus the professionals and cons. You’ll additionally study pricing, whether or not I like to recommend Backblaze, and what alternate options to contemplate. Let’s get began.
What Is Backblaze?
Backblaze is a cloud storage resolution launched in 2007. The software program has important B2B purposes, however there are a number of helpful options that particular person customers can even profit from. Backblaze can be used for common pc file backup, and this software presents choices for safely storing your exterior paperwork and content material.
When utilizing Backblaze, you’ll be able to select the safety features you need to implement. The software program additionally options categorization instruments.
Key Backblaze Options
1. Creating Buckets
Creating Buckets is the principle factor that customers will do in Backblaze. These are similar to folders in Google Drive or OneDrive. To make new Buckets, go to My Account > Buckets > Create a Bucket.
When you’ve made a Bucket, you’ll be able to add the required information and folders to every one. Since Backblaze has no storage limits, you’ll be able to again up as a lot as you need. The utmost is 100 Buckets with out a paid subscription, however even this must be greater than sufficient for most individuals.
After creating your Buckets, you’ll be able to join different providers by way of an app key. In the event you ever need to entry your whole uploaded information, merely choose Browse information and select the Bucket for which you’d like to do that.
2. Select Your Degree of Encryption
Other than limitless information, Backblaze additionally permits you to select your degree of encryption for every Bucket. You can also make your information public or personal relying in your preferences, for instance. Default encryption is disabled by default, however you’ll be able to choose to allow an SSE-B2 key.
To entry Backblaze’s customizable encryption options, you’ll must create a brand new Bucket. Right here, you’ll be able to decide your preferences. In the event you’re looking out for different storage options, contemplate trying out these encrypted cloud storage tools.
3. Object Lock
Object Lock is one other useful safety function in Backblaze. It restricts file modification and deletion, which is useful for minimizing the chance of by chance transferring delicate paperwork.
Just like the safety features talked about above, you’ll be able to activate Object Lock when creating a brand new Bucket. The software is switched off by default. When you resolve to allow the software, you are able to do so by adjusting your present Bucket settings.
4. Automated Backup
Manually backing up information can rapidly grow to be tedious. Many customers ultimately get sick of the method and simply cease making backups altogether, compromising essential paperwork and folders.
Thankfully, Backblaze has an answer: Automated Backup. When enabled, the app searches for brand spanking new information in your system and mechanically creates backups of them. Consider it as an automatic model of how iCloud works when backing up your iPhone and Mac.
To make use of this Automated Backup, you’ll want a premium Backblaze subscription. You may schedule your backups in order for you your system to run system scans at scheduled intervals each day.
5. Exterior Drive Backup
Exterior arduous drives are useful for protecting your information and folders in a single place whereas additionally saving reminiscence storage in your pc. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t solely use an exterior arduous drive for backup. Ultimately, these drives will cease working, and also you’ll not be capable to entry what you saved. This may trigger enormous issues when you’ve got important paperwork, or your job depends in your folders.
Fortunately, Backblaze can again up your exterior arduous drives after they’re linked to your pc. You’ll all the time have entry to your most essential content material, even when one thing goes unsuitable along with your bodily system. Once more, you’ll want a paid subscription to entry this function.
In case your external hard drive won’t show up on Mac, nevertheless, cost your system, verify Finder settings, and reset your NVRAM.
Backblaze Pricing
You may pay for full Backblaze access on a month-to-month or annual foundation if you wish to use its private account options. The software additionally has a pricing choice for two-year subscriptions.
Beneath is a breakdown of Backblaze’s pricing:
Month-to-month | Annual | 2 Years |
$9.99 per pc | $99 per pc | $189 per pc |
Backblaze Professionals and Cons
Backblaze’s benefits primarily circle round its complete safety features. You may select to lock objects and cease them from being adjusted or deleted, and it’s additionally potential to allow two-factor authentication (2FA) in your accounts.
However regardless of these benefits, there are some drawbacks. Right here’s a rundown of Backblaze’s professionals and cons:
Professionals | Cons |
Customizable safety instruments | Restricted superior options |
Automated file backups in your pc | 100-Bucket restrict without spending a dime accounts |
Two-factor authentication (2FA) | |
Limitless backup, even without spending a dime plan customers | |
Again up exterior arduous drives |
Backblaze Alternate options
Whereas Backblaze is a good cloud storage software for anybody who needs to encrypt and again up plenty of information, you’ll additionally discover various alternate options. If you wish to analysis your choices, I compiled my favourite instruments beneath—they’re all ones I really use.
1. Google Drive
Google Drive might be the only, most accessible Backblaze different. You may instantly add content material out of your pc and edit paperwork on-line, which means it’s nice for college kids and professionals specifically. You solely want to join a Google account to get began, and also you get 15GB of storage without spending a dime.
When utilizing Google Drive, you’ll be able to create hyperlinks to share your content material with others. The Starred function on your favorites is useful, and so is the highly effective search perform.
If you wish to improve your storage, you’ll be able to select between 5TB and 20TB. Costs vary from $19.99 to $249.99 per yr for annual subscriptions.
2. Field (Previously Dropbox)
I’m an enormous photographer in my spare time, and Box is my most popular resolution for storing footage that I need to edit sooner or later. You may simply entry your folders from the left-hand toolbar and alter your entry permissions. Dropbox has 256-bit AES encryption and SSL for added safety.
In the event you select Field for cloud storage, I’d suggest importing a restricted variety of information at one time. When I attempt to add information over 100GB, the software program tends to lag, though you may see quicker outcomes when you’ve got a greater web connection.
3. OneDrive
OneDrive is the best cloud storage software if you have already got a Microsoft account. You get 5GB of free storage and may do most of the similar issues as you’ll be able to in Google Drive, comparable to importing information and renaming folders. In the event you use Microsoft Workplace, you’ll be able to simply save your Phrase, Excel, and PowerPoint paperwork to the software program as properly.
OneDrive additionally has paid pricing choices in the event you want further storage. Microsoft Fundamental ($19.99 per yr) offers you 100GB of storage, whereas Private ($69.99 per yr) gives 1TB. Microsoft 365 Household ($99.99 per yr) presents 1TB of storage per individual and as much as 6TB in whole.
4. iCloud
iCloud is a useful storage software in the event you even have an iPhone and/or iPad. You may mechanically add your paperwork, photographs, notes, and so on., plus you get 5GB without spending a dime. To maximise this area, I like to recommend creating separate Apple IDs on your units.
In the event you want extra storage, you’ll be able to select from one in every of these subscriptions obtainable. Storage ranges from 50GB to 12TB. Your month-to-month pricing choices are as follows:
50GB | 200GB | 2TB | 6TB | 12TB |
$0.99 | $2.99 | $9.99 | $29.99 | $59.99 |
Is Backblaze Price Utilizing?
Backblaze is a unbelievable cloud storage software in the event you don’t want plenty of distinctive options. The limitless storage you get with a free plan is way larger than each different huge cloud storage software, and its safety choices are additionally wonderful. Even in the event you improve to a paid plan, it’s not too costly, and you’ll profit from mechanically backing up your information.
The comfort of utilizing Backblaze makes the worth worthwhile, and your information and folders can be much less prone to get misplaced if one thing unhealthy occurs. Backblaze additionally permits you to hire a USB to revive misplaced information if wanted, and options like Object Lock imply you could have full management over the whole lot.