Backblaze is the leader in online backup with a reputation of being reliable and easy to use. We specialize in making sure all user data is backed up by default so you don't need to worry about making sure you remembered to drag a file from your desktop into a designated folder. Backblaze is a pioneer in robust, scalable low cost cloud backup and storage services. Personal online backup to enterprise scale data storage solutions.

• Carbonite Online Backup
• Backblaze B2 Azure Carbonite Online Backup
• Carbonite Vs Backblaze Vs Idrive
• Carbonite Vs Backblaze Reddit

Carbonite and Backblaze are highly popular names in the world of online backup services. Both of them are known for their affordability, unlimited cloud storage and great functionality. While Carbonite was launched before Backblaze and it is a well-established and successful business, Backblaze has managed to build a strong reputation in the industry and it has a loyal customer base. Given that these two online backup solutions offer similar features, it is difficult to decide which one to choose. To help you make the decision, we will compare them neck to neck.

• When you examine Mozy, Carbonite Basic, Carbonite Prime, iDrive and Backblaze based on cost, storage volume, and ease of use it's clear that Backblaze is the best choice for your online backup needs.
• For example, the same server backed up via carbonite took 3 or 4 days for the initial backup whereas backblaze finished in under 7 hours. Full restore with carbonite is a nightmare. I have it in 4 clients and about 60 computers.

Ease of Use

There is not a clear winner in this category since both Carbonite and Backblaze are very easy to use. Backblaze’s software can be installed easily and once it is running, it will start backing up your data immediately. The same can be said about Carbonite and files are also selected for backup without input required, everything is done automatically and efficiently with both services. It is possible to restore files easily from the web interface and with Carbonite, you can also restore files from the desktop software. Backblaze only allows you to restore files from the web interface.

Price

In this category, Backblaze takes the advantage since it is less expensive than Carbonite. With Backblaze you pay $5 per computer for one month and all the plans offer the same features. When you extend the subscription to one year, you can save money as the total cost is $50, making the monthly price just over $4.10. Carbonite has a basic plan that costs $59.99 per year per computer, making the monthly cost nearly $5.

It is important to note that this plan doesn’t offer all the features supported by Carbonite. In order to get options like external hard drive back up and mirror image backup, you will need to upgrade to a Plus plan ($99.99) or to the Prime plan, which also offers automatic video backup and courier recovery service.

Features

While Carbonite offers some exclusive features, Backblaze gives you more flexibility in terms of the type of files that can be backed up. The option to backup external drives is included with Backblaze, but Carbonite offers it for an additional cost. The two services support the below features:

• Strong encryption
• Easy restores
• Unlimited cloud storage space
• Automatic throttling

Some of Backblaze’s specific features are automatic video backup, automatic backup of files over 4GB, external hard drive backup available for no additional cost. On the other hands, Carbonite’s exclusive features include public file sharing and the option to sync and share files.The Plus plan offers mirror image backup, which allows you to create a local backup of your entire hard drive.

Both Backblaze and Carbonite give you the possibility of restoring files to a USB hard drive that is then sent to you by post. The advantage of this option is that it is faster than restoring files over internet. With Carbonite, this feature is only available in the Prime plan and a service fee of $9.99. Backblaze offers this for $189 for a 4TB hard drive.

Platforms

These two services offer software compatible with Windows and Mac, while Linux is left out in both cases. Carbonite has a slight advantage thanks to its Sync and Share option for Windows and Mac, which allows you to sync files across your devices. Android and iOS are also supported for both online backup services.

While the apps let you access your backed up files on the go, you won’t be able to upload files. However, Carbonite’s Sync and Share app supports additional functionality. Carbonite’s app automatically backs up your Android’s smartphone data including photos and videos, which is very practical.

Speed

Here Backblaze takes again the lead, thanks to the good results offered in speed tests. You can upload files quickly (8 Mbps) and download speeds are also quite impressive at 31 Mbps. With Carbonite, it is possible to upload files at 3.1 Mbps and files are downloaded at 4.7 Mbps, according to speed tests.

Security

In terms of security, both services offer strong protection for your files. They encrypt the data on their servers and then encrypt it again (using SSL) while it is being transferred online. They both offer bank-grade security to keep your files secure at all times.

Additionally, both Backblaze and Carbonite give you the possibility of using a personal passphrase for encryption. This measure enhances the security of your data as it gives you control of the encryption key. The only thing to consider is that it is not possible to recover the passphrase if you forget it. It is your sole responsibility to keep your passphrase safe and to make sure that it is easy to remember for you.

Support

Both companies offer customer support that is professional and knowledgeable, but only Carbonite gives you the possibility of contacting them by phone. Backblaze provides support via email, every day of the week. Usually, the response take about 24 hours. They also offer assistance via live chat from 9 AM to 5 PM, PST. Carbonite’s support can be reached everyday (except US holidays) between 8:30 AM to 9 PM, EST. They are available by phone, live chat and email.

Conclusion – Which one should you choose?

Although both services offer a high level of quality and the final decision will depend on your personal requirements and preferences, Backblaze has a few features that give it an advantage over Carbonite. Backblaze offers more flexibility for backing up files, it is faster and costs less. That being said, it should be noted that Carbonite is the only one that offers mirror image (local) backups, apart from cloud backups. Plus, the Sync and Share feature is a convenient solution when you need to collaborate on files.

What sort of data do you keep on your computer? If you’re like most people, you probably keep a variety of photos, music and other media on your PC. You probably also store important, personal documents such as financial info and medical records.

If any of this information were to be lost or destroyed, you’d likely be unhappy at best and in real trouble at worst. Unfortunately, your PC is vulnerable to both virtual and physical damage. A natural disaster, leaky basement, virus or something else can permanently damage your PC and cause important files to disappear.

Backblaze isn’t just the name of the company, it’s also an accurate description of the services provided. This online backup platform is fast – blazingly fast. They don’t offer many frills or features, just fast, reliable file storage and protection.

Founded in 2007, CEO Gleb Budman and CTO Brian Wilson created the service as a data backup solution for their personal use. Since the initial launch, however, Backblaze has quickly grown into a worldwide company. According to Deloitte, they’re one of the top 500 fastest growing tech companies.

Key Features:

• Automated Online Backup
• Scheduling Options
• Fast Speeds
• Unlimited Storage Space
• Continuous Backup

Sometimes there’s simply no substance on earth strong enough to reflect your company’s level of security and reliability. This is the thought process behind Carbonite, which is actually named after the fictional element from The Empire Strikes Back used to capture Han Solo.

While their name is inspired by fantasy, their service is certainly very real. Carbonite offers unlimited cloud storage, private encryption and security settings which are compliant with most major standards including HIPAA, GLBA and FERPA.

Carbonite doesn’t offer any free plans but their prices are reasonable, their support is U.S. based and their entire platform has a lot to offer.

Key Features:

• Unlimited Storage
• Compliant with Major Regulations
• Private Encryption
• Incremental Backup
• Mobile App

Which Company is Easier to Use?

Online backup can cause some funny behavior in users. If the backup platform is confusing or difficult to use, most people will simply not backup as frequently. Even if you want a platform which features a lot of customization and options, you’ll still need the basic backup features to perform effortlessly.

Backblaze is extremely easy-to-use. The entire service is completely automated. As soon as installation is complete, Backblaze scans your entire hard drive and uploads your files. This entire process is done in the background so you can still use your PC.

Carbonite is a powerful platform with a variety of features including HIPPA security compliance, unlimited storage space and private encryption. But don’t be intimidated. The basic backup features are very easy to use. Carbonite can be set to automatically upload all the data, video, images, music and other files on your system. A color-coded system lets you easily see which files are backed up and which aren’t.

Backblaze is easier in the sense you have less buttons to click. But we’re not thrilled with the lack of options. With Backblaze you can only select which hard drive, not folders, you want to upload. If you don’t want to store the entire contents of your hard drive, but would rather backup select files and folders, then Carbonite is really the easier option.

Which Company is Fastest?

A data disaster can happen at any time. So when you want to backup files to the cloud, you don’t want to waste a lot of time. If backing up individual files and folders is too complicated, time consuming or resource intensive for your computer, then you might just decide to skip backup entirely. The more times you decide to forgo backing up your files, the more useless your cloud storage provider becomes. In order to be effective, your cloud storage provider needs to be fast.

Backblaze is going to run fast and, frankly, there’s not much you can do about that. The default setting can’t be altered by the user. This means Backblaze will likely throttle your bandwidth and ensure resources are always available for your cloud storage. You can even use the Backblaze speed test to see how fast you’ll be able to backup files.

Remember when Han Solo was freed from his carbonite prison? Only a few button presses on the side of the block and he was instantly free. Carbonite the cloud storage provider takes the same approach. Retrieving data from the cloud takes a few mouse clicks. You can even turn on Carbonite’s data throttling feature so all your internet resources are dedicated towards making data retrieval as fast as possible.

Both services offer fast backup recovery. When files on your PC are lost, you can be confident backup copies will be ready and waiting. We do think Carbonite provides the fastest recovery times, if not always the fastest speeds. Aside from all the traditional recover features, and their bandwidth throttling feature, they also offer a paid service where large files can be mailed overnight to you on a flash drive. For large recoveries, such as system recoveries, this is going to be the fastest restoration method possible.

Is One Company More Reliable than the Other?

If data goes missing from your PC, you already have enough problems. Worrying about the security of your stored data should be the last thing on your mind. A reliable storage provider will have both technically secure servers as well as an established reputation for guarding customer privacy.

Backblaze has been around since 2007 and has a proven track record of satisfied users. Located in San Mateo, California, they offer U.S. based support from a helpful, knowledgeable team. Their highly automated platform is another reason this is a company you can count on. User error isn’t much of a worry because the advanced software does all the work for you.

Over 1.5 million individuals trust Carbonite to protect their photos, music, documents and other previous data. Apparently, if it’s good enough for Jabba the Hutt, it’s good enough for everyone else. Another reassuring fact about Carbonite is that they were founded in 2005. This makes them a veteran within the cloud storage industry.

Backblaze is reliably fast, and there’s certainly plenty of reasons to trust them to protect your data, but we feel Carbonite is the more reliable company overall. The primary reason for this is their age. Founded in 2005, they’re actually one of the first providers to enter the market. They have a long, established reputation for trustworthiness and competency.

What Kind of Features are Offered?

Do you want to store your entire hard drive in the cloud as a safeguard against total data loss? Or do you have a few important files which you want to store yet which you’ll also need to update often? The type of features you’ll need in a cloud storage provider depend on the type of data you plan to store.

Backblaze’s speed is the feature which really makes the service stand out from the crowd. Fast backup and fast storage are the name of the game here. Backblaze uses automated, full hard drive backup where the user can’t make a lot of adjustments. This allows the fully optimized power of the Backblaze platform to bring you “blazing” fast speeds.

Carbonite’s most compelling feature is probably their ease-of-use. After installation, Carbonite can automatically upload everything on your PC. You can back up your entire system without ever having to know anything but the bare basics as to how cloud storage works.

Although Carbonite can do practically everything for you automatically, there are also options available. You can select specific folders for backup or even specific file types. This flexibility is why we feel the features offered by Carbonite are better than those offered by Backblaze.

Carbonite Online Backup

How Does Each Company Handle Security?

Cloud storage has two major types of encryption. Local encryption protects the data on your PC. Server side encryption protects your data during storage. There’s also physical security, which are the steps taken by the provider to ensure their servers are always up and running no matter what environmental conditions may be occurring.

Backblaze moves your data quickly while also keeping that data secure. In transit, data is given SSL/TLS encryption. Server side, AES encryption protects the data while stored. 128-bit local side encryption and 256-bit server side encryption provides another security layer.

Carbonite provides a variety of top security features. Storage is compliant with HIPAA, GLBA, FERPA and other official regulations. Server side and local encryption are 256-bit. With proper encryption, not even Carbonite will know what type of data you’re storing on their servers.

Backblaze B2 Azure Carbonite Online Backup

Security for both providers is very strong. Your data should be sufficiently protected both in transit and in storage. By a small margin, we choose Carbonite over Backblaze. Carbonite specifically states they’re compliant with many different government regulations, which makes them the better choice for storing sensitive personal data.

What Are the Differences in Pricing?

Backblaze offers everyone 15 days for free to trail out their service. After that, they offer a simple and straightforward pricing plan. Backblaze is $5 a month or $50 a year.

Carbonite Vs Backblaze Vs Idrive

Carbonite offers a variety of personal and business plans. Their basic personal plan is $59.99 annually and includes unlimited cloud storage, external drive backup and remove file access for one computer. The Plus plan, at $99.99, includes all these features plus mirror image backup. Finally, their Prime plan has all features including the option to have your files sent to you on a flash drive overnight by courier.

Carbonite Vs Backblaze Reddit

It’s hard to find fault with Backblaze’s no-nonsense pricing structure. There aren’t multiple plans to consider, just one simple price for one simple service. We like that. In terms of price alone, we favor Backblaze over Carbonite.