Comparison of online backup services

This is a comparison of online backup services.

Online backup is a special kind of online storage service; however, various products that are designed for file storage may not have features or characteristics that others designed for backup have. Online Backup usually requires a backup client program. A browser-only online storage service is usually not considered a valid online backup service.

Online folder sync services can be used for backup purposes. However, some Online Folder Sync services may not provide a safe Online Backup. If a file is accidentally locally corrupted or deleted, it depends on the versioning features of a Folder Sync service, whether this file will still be retrievable.

Comparison

[edit]

Legend

[edit]
  • ^1 Windows/Linux/Mac/iOS/Android/BlackBerry: Supported operating systems for thick client (native binary application), which provide background data transmission and setting services.
  • ^2 Zero knowledge: The service provider has no knowledge of the user's encryption key, ensuring privacy of the backup data.[88][89][90]
  • ^3 Secure Key Management: If yes, the user holds and controls the encryption key. If no, the service provider holds and controls the encryption key.
  • ^4 Payment options/plans:
    • Limited MB plan: Pay per computer. Additional fee for storage over a threshold.
    • Unlimited MB plan: Pay per computer. Storage per computer is unlimited.
    • $/MB plan: Pay per unit of storage, but unlimited computers may share that storage.
  • ^5 Cloud hosted Net Drive: Cloud can serve storage over WebDAV, SMB/CIFS, NFS, AFP or other NAS protocol, allowing files to be streamed from the cloud. A change made to the cloud is immediately accessible to applications on all clients without needing to pre-download (sync) the file in full.
  • ^7 Sync: Synchronization between computers, and/or mobile devices (PDA, MDA,...)
  • ^8 Public Internet file hosting
  • ^9 Restore via physical media
  • ^10 Server location: Countries where physical servers are located. Where the data will be located.
  • ^11 Still in Beta version
  • ^12 Whether the desktop client (if available) can detect and upload changes without scanning all files.
  • ^13 Many backup services offer a limited free plan, often for personal use. Often it is possible to increase the free backup limit through coupons, referrals, or other means that are not included in this column. This column also does not include free trials that are only available for a limited period of time.
  • ^14 External hard drive support: Can refer to an alternate backup destination or whether the service can back up external drives.
  • ^15 Hybrid Online Backup works by storing data to local disk so that the backup can be captured at high speed, and then either the backup software or a D2D2C (Disk to Disk to Cloud) appliance encrypts and transmits data to a service provider. Recent backups are retained locally, to speed data recovery operations.
  • ^16 Unlimited BW: If bandwidth capping or limits are used on accounts.

Comments

[edit]
Acronis
Up to five PCs, always incremental backups, remote access from the web
Backblaze
Data de-duplication; block-level incremental.
Barracuda Backup Service
Data de-duplication; real-time hybrid on-site/off-site data back-up.
BullGuard Backup
5 PC/license, fast upload speeds, mobile access, encrypted transfer and storage, password-protected settings, free 24/7 support.
Carbonite
Block-level incremental, Home or Pro editions. iPhone/ Blackberry/ Android App available to remotely access data from the online backup (For Pro: Users of the computer which are backed up, not available for the Administrator of the Pro). Can manually select files to upload that are larger than 4 GB.
Cloudberry Backup
Image & File Based backups, data de-duplication, block-level and multiple cloud providers supported.
CloudJuncxion
Decentralized multi-cloud backup with integrated sharing, sync, backup, and Cloud NAS. Fault-tolerance against failure of a constituent cloud.
Crashplan
Unlimited destinations. Data de-duplication; block-level incremental. Can run server-free, exchanging backup space with friends and family.
Datashield
High-level encryption, personalized encryption key, shared cloud drive, sync folder functionality .
Dolly Drive
Cloud storage that is specifically designed for the Mac. Also allows users to store files exclusively in the cloud for seamless access on any computer or mobile device.
Diino
iPhone/Android app available.
Dropbox
Data de-duplication, delta sync, iPhone/Android/Blackberry app available.
Dropmysite
website backup, database backup, SFTP support, free up to 2 GB.
Egnyte
Delta sync, Google Docs sync, user and group management
ElephantDrive
Auto-transfer from defunct Xdrive.
F-Secure
[Steek acquired by F-Secure July 2009]
Humyo
Humyo was acquired by Trend Micro and will become part of Trend Micro SafeSync. Humyo no longer accepts new clients.
IASO Backup
Advanced[clarification needed] data reduction technology. Data de-duplication mechanism. High level[clarification needed] of scalability and cost effectiveness.
ICFiles
Secure File Share Storage. Proprietary license download client. High level security, SOC 2 TYPE II, ISO 27001,27017, 27018, CSA, PCI, HIPAA, CJIS, EU Model Clauses, on request private servers for FISMA and FedRAMP.
IDrive
Proprietary license download client. Automatic Selection. Continuous Data Protection. "Virtual drive" explorer.
Jungle Disk
Proprietary license download client sample code.
KeepVault
Real-time hybrid on-site and offsite data backup.
Memopal
Cross-user de-duplication, delta sync.
MiMedia
Initial seed via a MiMedia-owned external hard drive available (no extra cost, shipping included).
Mozy
Data de-duplication; block-level incremental. "Mozy Data Shuttle" physical seeding service available for extra fee.
Replicalia
Professional Backup for Professional Data.
SpiderOak
Data de-duplication."Zero Knowledge" encryption.
StoreGrid Cloud
Byte-level incremental backup, local backup, Disk Image backup—BMR and physical seeding.
Syncplicity
Google Docs sync, Central Management with Business Console.
Tarsnap
Client source available; data de-duplication; block-level incremental.
TeamDrive
Store encrypted data on any WebDAV server; supports working offline; files can be commented; built-in support for conflict resolution.
Unitrends Vault2Cloud
Data de-duplication; hybrid on- and off-premises data backup; physical seeding.
UpdateStar Online Backup
Data de-duplication; block-level incremental.
Usenet backup
Is the method of storing backup data on the usenet.[91]
Windows Live Mesh
Replaces windows live sync and windows live folder.
Zetta Enterprise-grade Online Backup
Supports Linux, Mac OS, and Windows, high speed WAN optimization, SAS 70 certified data centers.
Zmanda Cloud Backup
Available in German and Japanese languages, supports MS SQL Server, MS Exchange, SharePoint, MySQL Database, System State, Oracle.

Versioning

[edit]

Any changes can be undone, and files can be undeleted.

Acronis
Supports detailed history of changes to files with browsing by date or version number.
Backblaze
Old versions of files are kept for 30 days by default; One-year or Forever Retention is optional.[92]
Box
Versioning is included in paid subscription
Carbonite
Keeps old versions for up to three months. It keeps one version for each day of the past week, one version for each of the previous three weeks, and one version for each of the previous two months that the file has been backed up. Versioning available for PC computers only; not available for Mac.
CloudJuncxion
Supports multiple versions less than a week old, one version less than two weeks old, one version less than month old, and one version older than a month.
Crashplan
Options: All, or staged (daily, then weekly, etc.).
Cubby
All previous versions and deleted files are kept until explicitly removed by the user or the user runs out of space. All deleted files and previous versions count towards the storage limit.
Dolly Drive
Yes. Keeps unlimited versions of files.
Dropbox
By default, Dropbox saves a history of all deleted and earlier versions of files for 30 days for all Dropbox accounts.[93]
Dropmysite
Provides incremental backups with the ability to download every snapshot.
ElephantDrive
Any number of versions can be kept for any amount of time.
Google Drive
Old versions of files are kept for 30 days or 100 revisions. Revisions can be set not to be automatically deleted.
IASO Backup
All versions of files can be kept for different periods of time, starting from 1 month to 1 year or more.
ICFiles
No files are kept after delete, auto delete clears at every 24 hours.
iDrive
Up to 10 old versions of files are kept forever (until explicitly removed).
Mozy
Old version of files are kept for 30 days. Pro 60 days, Enterprise 90 days.[94]
PowerFolder
Five versions are kept online. In the client it is configurable how many versions to store locally.
SOS Online Backup (Infrascale)
All versions are kept. Only the largest counts towards the storage limit.
SpiderOak
All versions are kept. All files can be undeleted.
SugarSync
Five versions are kept. Only the most recent version of each of existing files as well as deleted files count towards the storage limit.
Sync.com
Sync.com saves a history of all deleted and earlier versions of files, 30 days for free accounts, indefinitely for premium plans.
Syncplicity
Old versions of files, as well as deleted files, are kept for 30 days. Configurable for business or enterprise-class services.
TeamDrive
All previous versions are kept and can be restored.
Tresorit
Versioning is included in paid subscription
Zetta Enterprise-grade Online Backup
All versions are kept. All files can be undeleted.

Other features and limitations

[edit]

Other notable limitations or features.

Baidu Cloud
Must be registered by verified phone first.
Box
Performance degrades after 10,000 files in sync folder. Technical limit of 40,000 files in sync folder. Does not sync .tmp files, Outlook PST files, hidden files (hidden folders are synced), or any file or folder with \/*?":<>| in the name.[95]
CloudJuncxion
Decentralized fragment-and-disperse storage across a collection of heterogeneous clouds for maximal security. Supports a Virtual Private Cloud model for complete control by the enterprise customer. Supports Sync Groups for greater control over synchronization of files across multiple devices.
Dropbox
Performance degrades with more than 300,000 files in sync folder. This is a soft limit.[96]
Google Drive
All account types are limited to 750 GB upload bandwidth per day.[97] Enterprise accounts are now limited to 5 TB per paid user on the account whereas prior to May 2023 only a single user was required for the advertised unlimited storage. Once 5 users are on an Enterprise account, more storage can be requested in 25 TB allotments once every 90 days, but extra storage is not guaranteed. The extra allotted storage is also removed when users on the account drop under 5. Thus unlimited storage is unfeasible to attain with Google Drive's new restrictions.
Sugarsync
Limited to 80,000 files per top level sync folder. To work around, one can create multiple syncing folders, but each top level folder is limited to 80k files. Also, Microsoft outlook and Apple iTunes databases are unsupported.[98]
Trustbox
A 3-layer encrypted storage supports privacy for an unlimited file version retrieval. Restore any file from any point in time.[99]

Defunct services

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Security Now! Transcript of Episode #349". www.grc.com. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b "How Backblaze uses Encryption to Protect your Data". Archived from the original on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  3. ^ "Overview – Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage is a cloud service for storing files in the cloud". Backblaze. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  4. ^ "百度网盘 帮助中心". Baidu.com. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  5. ^ "首页-会员中心-百度网盘".
  6. ^ "Barracuda Backup Service – Integrated Local and Offsite Backup". Barracudanetworks.com. 9 February 2009. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Box for Enterprise IT: Security Leadership in The Cloud". Box.com. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  8. ^ "Box and WebDAV".
  9. ^ "Box Plans & Pricing From $5 Per User/Month | Start a Free Trial". www.box.com.
  10. ^ "Carbonite Support Knowledge Base". support.carbonite.com.
  11. ^ Bandwidth Allocation Archived 2012-07-14 at archive.today, retrieved 2012-01-25
  12. ^ "Knowledge Article". Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  13. ^ HomePremier and Business plans only: "Pricing - Carbonite Home & Home Office". Archived from the original on 18 June 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  14. ^ HomePlus, HomePremier and Business plans only: "Pricing - Carbonite Home & Home Office". Archived from the original on 18 June 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  15. ^ "CloudMe". CloudMe.
  16. ^ "Backup Software, Best Windows Backup Software Features – Comodo Backup". Backup.comodo.com. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  17. ^ "PRO FAQs". CrashPlan PRO. Codefortytwo Software. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  18. ^ "Archive Encryption Key Security". CrashPlan. Codefortytwo Software. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  19. ^ FAQs for Mozy Converts Archived 28 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine, throttled by setting by default Reference Guide Archived 2011-03-05 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ "reference:real_time_backups [CrashPlan Support Site]". Support.crashplan.com. Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  21. ^ About Us, Code 42 Software, archived from the original on 28 June 2013, retrieved 13 March 2013
  22. ^ "Back up external hard drives". 30 August 2013.
  23. ^ Singel, Ryan. "Dropbox Lied to Users About Data Security, Complaint to FTC Alleges". Wired – via www.wired.com.
  24. ^ "Can I upload large files to Dropbox?". Dropbox.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  25. ^ "How to use Dropbox Backup". Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  26. ^ a b "Security Architecture for End-to-End Data Protection". www.egnyte.com.
  27. ^ "Desktop Synchronization with the Egnyte Desktop App". www.egnyte.com.
  28. ^ Linux | ElephantDrive Archived 2014-02-16 at the Wayback Machine. Home.elephantdrive.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-10.
  29. ^ Download Android App | ElephantDrive Archived 2014-02-09 at the Wayback Machine. Home.elephantdrive.com (2011-12-09). Retrieved on 2013-08-10.
  30. ^ "What is a Personal Key in the encryption settings? : Knowledge Base and Support Center". Archived from the original on 23 September 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  31. ^ "ElephantDrive: How do I set up my Trunk (mapped) drive?".
  32. ^ Everywhere folder : Help Desk Archived 2014-02-21 at the Wayback Machine. Support.elephantdrive.com (2012-07-05). Retrieved on 2013-08-10.
  33. ^ Tutorials Archived 2014-02-21 at the Wayback Machine. Vault.elephantdrive.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-10.
  34. ^ a b c d e "Clicking Clean: How Companies are Creating the Green Internet" (PDF). Greenpeace. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  35. ^ "Where is my ElephantDrive data physically stored?". 4 September 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  36. ^ Sneddon, Joey (25 April 2012). "Google Drive Is Coming to Linux". OMG! Ubuntu.
  37. ^ "Sign in - Google Accounts". accounts.google.com.
  38. ^ "Google Drive for Linux images leak after years of promises". PCWorld.
  39. ^ "Compare Flexible Pricing Plan Options | Google Workspace". workspace.google.com.
  40. ^ Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides size limits "Files that you upload but don't convert to a Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides format can be up to 5TB each."
  41. ^ "Tracking Our Carbon-Free Energy Progress". Google Sustainability.
  42. ^ "iCloud data security overview - Apple Support". Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  43. ^ Statt, Nick (18 July 2018). "Apple's iCloud partner in China will store user data on servers of state-run telecom". The Verge.
  44. ^ "Web-only access to iCloud". apple.com. 8 November 2021. Web-only iCloud accounts are limited to 1GB of storage.
  45. ^ "iCloud storage plans and pricing – Apple Support". Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  46. ^ "Apps to backup your PC, Mac, Linux, Servers, iOS, Android and Windows Phone to IDrive cloud". Archived from the original on 15 October 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  47. ^ "IDrive features multiple device backup, hybrid backup and more..." Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  48. ^ "FAQs on data security, secure access in cloud - IDrive". Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  49. ^ "IDrive pricing plans". Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  50. ^ "Jumpshare Landing Page". Jumpshare. Jumpshare, Inc. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  51. ^ "General Help". Jumpshare. Jumpshare, Inc.
  52. ^ "Wayback Machine". 24 March 2022. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022.
  53. ^ a b "Encryption and Account Keys : Jungle Disk Support".
  54. ^ "Jungle Disk WebDAV". Archived from the original on 16 September 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  55. ^ "AWS Marketplace: Homepage". aws.amazon.com.
  56. ^ "Office 365 Backup Tool – Best Solution to Backup & Restore O365". www.softaken.com.
  57. ^ "For Advanced Users: Using FTP and WebDAV to access your files within other apps – The Official Livedrive Blog – Cloud Storage and Online Backup". blog.livedrive.com.
  58. ^ "Office 365 Backup Tool to Export, Backup Office 365 Mailboxes to PST". www.cubexsoft.com.
  59. ^ "MEGA". mega.nz.
  60. ^ "How secure is my data?". Support.mimedia.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  61. ^ "Does MiMedia Support WebDAV Or FTP?". Support.mimedia.com. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  62. ^ "Microsoft OneDrive [Nasuni Access Anywhere Documentation]". docs.storagemadeeasy.com.
  63. ^ Microsoft SkyDrive for Android app is now available
  64. ^ Defend yourself from cybercrime with new Office 365 capabilities, Microsoft monitoring, censoring SkyDrive uploads? | WMPoweruser Archived 2014-02-07 at the Wayback Machine
  65. ^ "Restrictions and limitations in OneDrive and SharePoint - Microsoft Support". support.microsoft.com.
  66. ^ "Does SpiderOak use encryption when storing and transferring data?". spideroak.com.
  67. ^ The company refers to this as "No Knowledge"
  68. ^ "SpiderOak FAQ: SpiderOak can not map network drives". Archived from the original on 31 March 2014.
  69. ^ "Spideroak preferences". Archived from the original on 24 February 2014.
  70. ^ "SugarSync Mobile". sugarsync.com.
  71. ^ "SugarSync". www.sugarsync.com.
  72. ^ What is max file size for upload? Archived 2013-02-03 at the Wayback Machine "There is no maximum file size limit for adding the file through the SugarSync Manager application. However, there is a 100MB limit for files being uploaded through the SugarSync website."
  73. ^ a b "Syncplicity User Manual / About Syncplicity". Archived from the original on 13 January 2012.
  74. ^ Cryptography. Tarsnap (2009-09-04). Retrieved on 2013-08-10.
  75. ^ "Tarsnap - About". www.tarsnap.com.
  76. ^ "Tresorit on Linux".
  77. ^ "Cloud Storage Security - Secure Cloud Storage from Tresorit".
  78. ^ "Set up Tresorit Drive – Tresorit Knowledge Base".
  79. ^ "Tresorit Send FAQ – Tresorit Knowledge Base".
  80. ^ https://support.tresorit.com/hc/en-us/articles/224348627-Does-Tresorit-have-a-free-plan- and https://tresorit.com/solo in FAQ "What happens if I cancel my trial or a subscription I'm paying for?"
  81. ^ "Tresorit pricing & plans | Secure file sharing and cloud collaboration". tresorit.com.
  82. ^ "Encryption for your Backups | Unitrends Incrypt". Unitrends.com. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  83. ^ "Console client for Linux". Yandex. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  84. ^ "Что такое Яндекс Диск - Яндекс Диск. Справка". yandex.ru.
  85. ^ "Yandex Disk for desktop - Yandex Disk. Support". yandex.com.
  86. ^ a b Zcb Faq. Zmanda.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-10.
  87. ^ "Zmanda cloud storage options". 22 September 2020.
  88. ^ F., G. (18 May 2011). "Keys to the cloud castle". The Economist.
  89. ^ Gaddis, Jeremy L. (20 April 2011). "Why I Use Jungle Disk and Tarsnap -- Evil Routers". evil routers. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018.
  90. ^ Kiss, Jemima (17 July 2014). "Snowden: Dropbox is hostile to privacy, unlike 'zero knowledge' Spideroak". The Guardian.
  91. ^ "usenet backup". Wikihow.com. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  92. ^ "Overview – Extended Version History". Backblaze. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  93. ^ "Version history overview". Dropbox. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  94. ^ "Recovering Older Versions of Files". Mozy. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  95. ^ "Box Sync 3.X Behavior, Limitations, And Recommendations". Box (company). Archived from the original on 4 January 2015.
  96. ^ "How many files can I store in my Dropbox account?". Dropbox.
  97. ^ "Upload limits in shared drives". Google. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  98. ^ "Sugarsync desktop app limitations". Sugarsync. Archived from the original on 18 October 2015.
  99. ^ "Trustbox backup".
  100. ^ "Bitcasa Infinite Drive | Your External Hard Drive in the Cloud | Infinite Storage". Archived from the original on 16 June 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  101. ^ "Copy and CubaDrive End-of-life". Copy.com. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016.
  102. ^ "Dell DataSafe Online service will be shut down on June 11, 2015". Archived from the original on 25 June 2014.
  103. ^ "Norton Zone End of Life FAQ". Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  104. ^ "Ubuntu One file services have been shut down". Archived from the original on 14 June 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  105. ^ "Wuala Shutdown Notice". Archived from the original on 18 August 2015.