iDrive and Backblaze are cloud backup providers, allowing you to sync your data from any of your devices to a secure and offsite backup system. The major difference between these storage providers is that iDrive is feature-rich and more expensive, while Backblaze offers simple unlimited storage.
If price and storage space are the only factors in your decision, you may already have your answer as to which is better for you. But many factors can determine which is better, how secure and fast the storage is, is it reliable, and many other things you should consider.
I’m going to review both products to see which is ultimately a better overall storage solution, and you review each section as well for your own needs.
| iDrive | Backblaze | |
| Free storage | 5 GB | Unlimited for 15 days |
| Premium storage | 5 – 50 TB | Unlimited |
| Premium rates | starting at $59.62 per year | $70 per year |
| File size limits | Unlimited file size for iDrive app. | No limits |
| File Recovery | Unlimited | 30 days or $2 per month for Unlimited |
| Encryption | 256-bit AES | AES (256 bit for idle files/128 bit for files in transmission) |
| Two-factor authentication | Yes | Yes |
| Direct collaboration | Only sharing files | None |
| API for external software applications | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop software application | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS |
| Mobile app | Android, iOS | Android, iOS |
iDrive vs. Backblaze: Pricing
The pricing models are massively different between iDrive and Backblaze, and the best option will depend on what you need. iDrive gives you a variety of different plans to choose from, with a reasonable amount of space and unlimited devices for a lower cost than Backblaze, so they win the pricing comparison.
5 TB with unlimited devices for $60 seems like a much better deal for regular users. However, 5 TB is a lot of space, and in general, you don’t just want to backup a single device. For me personally, I like to at least backup files from my work and a personal laptop to my cloud storage.
If you only have one device, you need to backup, and it’s more than 5 TB, then Backblaze is a much better deal.
| iDrive | Backblaze | |
| 5 GB | 5 GB forever | Unlimited space for 15 days |
| 5 TB | $59.62 per user and unlimited devices | N/A |
| 10 TB | $74.62 per user and unlimited devices | N/A |
| 50 TB | $8,699.62 for unlimited users and devices. | N/A |
| Unlimited | N/A | $70 per user for one device. |
Who is iDrive Best Suited For?
iDrive is an excellent option for users who want more features out of their cloud storage provider, don’t need unlimited space but do want multiple devices backed up. It’s also a good option for anybody that wants a small amount of free space.
iDrive is also a great business backup provider as they comply with a number of regulations that allow sensitive data to be backed up, such as HIPPA for medical data, SOX for publically traded companies, and several others.
Who is Backblaze Best Suited For?
Backblaze is perfect for a single user with a considerable amount of data to back up and doesn’t need any particular features aside from lots of storage space. Once you start requiring more users or even more devices to be backed up, then Backblaze becomes more expensive.
iDrive vs. Backblaze: Features
Comparing features between iDrive and Backblaze is easy because Backblaze only provides the simplest features you would need to backup files. iDrive easily wins the feature comparison between the services as it has a wide range of features that will make most users happy with the service.
OS and Device Support
Both services support Windows and Mac, along with apps for Android and iOS. iDrive also supports Linux, which is a significant benefit to those users, as Backblaze will not be available to them.
Backup Options
Backblaze only lets you backup your Mac or Windows device and any external storage attached to that device. iDrive will let you backup multiple devices with external storage, your mobile devices, and any servers you happen to have.
iDrive also lets you take a snapshot of your device for a complete backup and recovery option. Unfortunately, Backblaze can only be used for backing up and recovering individual files.
Backblaze lets you order your backed-up files via a physical USB drive instead of having to download the files, which may be a benefit when you’re given unlimited storage. However, I can’t see myself ever using this service.
The most significant difference in backup between iDrive and Backblaze is that iDrive is syncing your files constantly, while Backblaze is simply a place where you can store files when you manually upload them there.
iDrive vs. Backblaze: Syncing & Sharing
Both iDrive and Backblaze allow you to sync files from your system to be constantly backed up when changes are made to them. iDrive lets you select which files and folders you want to be backed up, while Backblaze makes you exclude files which makes it less user-friendly, so iDrive wins this category.
For sharing, iDrive allows you to share and set permissions on files with people, so they can be read-only or editable by the person you’re sharing with. You can also share files between devices for your personal use.
Backblaze, on the other hand, considers sharing to be part of a different service, and it will cost you another $5 per TB per month to be able to share files, and there are significant limitations on how much can be shared each day.
iDrive vs. Backblaze: Speed
Speed comparisons between iDrive and Backblaze are pretty consistent, showing that both are extremely slow when uploading your files, though iDrive is even slower, often being up to double the time of Backblaze. Backblaze wins the speed comparison.
What’s significant to note is that both services are extremely slow in uploading when compared to other cloud storage providers in the market. Backblaze at least has fast download speeds.
What really concerns me is that Backblaze is marketing to people who want unlimited storage but give slow upload speeds, making it tough to use that unlimited storage.
iDrive vs. Backblaze: Security
Both iDrive and Backblaze have similar encryption options with personal private keys, and they both offer 2FA for added security. Backblaze takes your personal private key when accessing your data which negates the point of using it in the first place. So iDrive wins the security category.
Why is it a problem if Backblaze takes a copy of your private key? It means technically they can store it and access your data or provide your data to anybody that requests it. This is a failure in Backblaze’s implementation of their encryption.
iDrive vs. Backblaze: Verdict
iDrive just beats out Backblaze in the comparison between the services. You’ll need to make a decision on which features and options work best for you though. They provide essentially the same service while doing it in very different ways.
The most interesting thing about the results is that both iDrive and Backblaze are changing how they work pretty often, based on customer complaints or comparisons to other online storage services. For example, it was only recently that Backblaze started syncing files rather than just accepting uploads from you.
iDrive vs. Backblaze: Which is Better?
iDrive is a better option for users who want richer features and don’t need unlimited storage. As long as you don’t need more than 5 TB of storage and won’t be doing large backups often, then iDrive provides the better service at a better price.
Click here to sign up for iDrive.
Backblaze is the best option for users that want unlimited storage for a low price but don’t need any advanced features.
If you need to backup more than one device, it’s the worst option, as prices double for every new device you want to backup.
If cost is not a factor, then Backblaze may be a good option for storing all of your especially large files, but using another service for your day-to-day documents and work.
Click here to sign up for Backblaze.
