Best Online Backup Software
Summary: If you don’t have your devices backed up, all it takes is for that device to become damaged or stolen for everything you have on it to be lost for good. If your computer, smartphone, tablet, or hard drive becomes damaged, there’s no recovering the files on it, unless you back them up.
Online backup services work by copying your files and uploading them to a secure server. If your device gets stolen or damaged, getting your files back is as simple as downloading them from their servers.
For the most user-friendly program available, and the best online backup software, get iDrive now.
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Why Are My Files at Risk?
We’ve all been there before – the sickening crunch as you step on your tablet, the panic when you realize someone took your phone. It’s an unpleasant thought to have our devices damaged or stolen, but what’s even worse is realizing the amount of files and information that are stored on these devices.
Photos, videos, contact lists, documents, e-mails, personal information – it’s all there, and it can all vanish in an instant. If you’ve heard of online backup services before, but have never taken the steps to use one, it’s time to get started.
How Does Online Backup Work?
Online backup works by making copies of your files and uploading them to one or more remote server locations. When you sign up for a service plan, you either get software or access to an online terminal, where you can immediately begin backing up your entire system.
Some companies also offer backup for your mobile devices, and most include external hard drive backup as well. Here are a few things to consider when you start looking for the perfect one for you:
- Storage space – How much can you backup?
- Security – Are your files private and secure?
- Cost – Are there prices competitive?
- Compatibility – What devices can you back up?
- User-friendliness – How easy is it to use?
Top 3 Online Backup Services
There are a lot of options to choose from for online backup services, and not all of their software is the most user-friendly. Here I’ll lay out a few of the biggest ones on the web, and how they compare for ease of use.
#1 Choice: iDrive – 9/10 – Easy to use on any device
Some backup services leave you searching for features and struggling to understand what exactly you’ve backed up. With iDrive, their interface provides an easy to understand visual so you can tell at a glance what you’ve backed up. Their settings are easy to adjust, and when in doubt, their logs are easily accessible.
iDrive has great customer support too – their staff are always prompt and responsive, and you get a real person instead of a copied and pasted answer from their knowledgebase. You can reach them either by live chat, e-mail, or phone, and the wait is never long for assistance.
iDrive comes with a terabyte of storage space, 30 day file recovery, and file versioning for up to ten versions. This means that even if you modify a file and back it up, you can still go back and recover previous versions of that file, and even ones you have deleted.
Additionally, you can backup all types of files with iDrive. Some companies exclude many file types to prevent massive data dumps, but iDrive definitely doesn’t put any limitations on the size or types of files you upload so you’re free to dump all the data you want, anytime.
What’s really great about iDrive is how secure their service is. They’re one of the few companies that doesn’t employ any third parties in the storage or protection of your files while still managing to keep your storage geo redundant.
iDrive is compatible with all major operating systems, allows mobile and external hard drive backup, and even allows you to sync your account and access your files on the go. You can also easily use this service to set up a private folder for sharing files with other users.
For software that works on any device and is easy to use, get iDrive today.
#2: CrashPlan – 7/10 – Unlimited storage, but not very intuitive software
CrashPlan is overall a pretty decent backup service, but where they fall short is definitely with their software. If you’re looking for a program that’s user-friendly and good for beginners, this one may not be your best bet.
It’s not that it’s very complicated, but it’s not laid out in a way that’s initially very easy to figure out, and the layout is over-simplified to the point of making features difficult to access and use.
Another thing to note is that though CrashPlan is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux systems, it won’t work on your mobile devices. Their apps allow you to sync and access files on Android and Apple phone and tablets, but you can’t actually back them up.
Therefore, if you want to backup all your devices, you’re much better off sticking with iDrive.
However, CrashPlan is a backup service with lots of unlimited options, including unlimited storage space, file recovery, and versioning. However, CrashPlan also doesn’t allow you to share your backed up files – it’s purely a simple backup service.
iDrive, however, will let you set up secure file sharing, and even offers a private encryption key.
CrashPlan can be found at their website.
#3: Acronis– 5/10 – Requires a lot of information
Acronis definitely isn’t my favorite backup service. Their software isn’t terribly complicated to use, but I was really miffed by how much personal information they needed to get an account set up. On top of that, there is some really sketchy language in their user agreement regarding the privacy and security of my backed up files.
Acronis is also an incredibly expensive backup service. Their basic plan only covers PC backup, and doesn’t even come with 24/7 support. If you have other devices or operating systems to back up, your price is going to jump $25 just for a program that lets you back up something besides a Windows computer.
Their service is also lacking on the security side of things – their backup isn’t geo-redundant, and doesn’t include a remote wipe feature for stolen devices. All in all, you can just do a lot better for that kind of money. Acronis may include unlimited storage space, but it’s not worth it for what they’re charging.
Acronis is here.
Conclusion: Use iDrive for Secure Backup Anytime, Anywhere
Not everyone’s used an online backup service before, and honestly, that shouldn’t be a problem. This is the age of technology, and everyone should be able to use software, not just the techies among us. Look for software that’s simple and intuitive, and take it for a test spin with a free trial before you buy.
iDrive online backup service will give you:
- lots of storage for all types of files
- backup of your mobile devices
- an easy-to-use format
- secure file sharing
- geo redundant encrypted and private storage
- and much more
To backup your files and save you from permanently losing important documents and precious photos, with the best online backup software, get iDrive right away.
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