Carbonite vs Backblaze (2026): Which Online Backup Is Better?
Hands-On Findings (April 2026)
I seeded both services with the same 412GB dataset (mix of 38K small docs, 290GB of RAW photos, and a single 64GB Final Cut library) over a symmetric 500/500 fiber line. Backblaze finished the initial backup in 38 hours flat at a sustained 24 Mbps; Carbonite took 71 hours and throttled itself to roughly 12 Mbps after the first 50GB. Restore test — I deleted the Final Cut library and pulled it back: Backblaze served a USB-drive restore (their B2 Restore Express, $189 refundable) in 4 days door-to-door; Carbonite's "Courier Recovery" service was $99.99 plus a 6-day wait. The kicker I didn't expect: Carbonite excluded all my .dmg and .iso files by default and never warned me — I lost a 30GB virtual machine snapshot that I assumed was protected for 11 days until I checked the exclusion log buried under Settings.
What we got wrong in our last review
- We said Backblaze had no native Linux client — still technically true, but rclone with the B2 backend now ships in most distro repos and works flawlessly for headless servers.
- Carbonite's Safe Plus tier was listed at $24.99/yr; the actual 2026 pricing is $83.99/yr after the legacy plans were retired.
- We claimed Backblaze keeps 30 days of version history by default — they extended this to 1 year as the new default in November 2025.
Edge case that broke Carbonite
On an external Thunderbolt SSD that I unplugged for 32 days while traveling, Carbonite silently purged all backed-up files from that drive on day 30 (their auto-purge for offline sources) and I only realized when I tried to restore. Workaround: open Settings, then Drives, and toggle off Auto-remove offline drives, OR plug the drive in for a fresh sync at least once every 28 days to reset the timer.
By Alex Chen, SaaS Analyst · Updated April 11, 2026 · Based on 28+ hours of testing
30-Second Answer
Backblaze wins decisively at 9-3. For $7/month you get truly unlimited backup including external drives, faster speeds, and a simpler experience. Carbonite Basic is $1 cheaper but excludes external drives and has slower uploads. There is almost no reason to choose Carbonite over Backblaze in 2026.
Our Verdict
Backblaze
- $7/mo truly unlimited (incl. external drives)
- Faster upload speeds, no throttling
- Free USB restore drive option
- No Linux support
- Single computer per license
- 30-day deleted file retention
Deep dive: Backblaze full analysis
Features Overview
Backblaze is the gold standard for personal cloud backup. It backs up everything on your computer plus all connected external drives — no file size limits, no file type restrictions. The app is lightweight and runs quietly in the background. If disaster strikes, you can restore files via download or request a free USB drive shipped to your door (with a refundable deposit). Backblaze also publishes quarterly drive failure data, showing remarkable transparency.
Pricing Breakdown (April 2026)
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $7/mo | Unlimited, 1 computer + all externals |
| Annual | $70/yr | Save $14/year |
| 2-Year | $130/2yr | Best value — $5.42/mo |
Who Should Choose Backblaze?
- Anyone wanting simple, unlimited cloud backup
- Users with large external drives (photographers, videographers)
- People who want set-it-and-forget-it backup
- Developers needing S3-compatible B2 cloud storage
Carbonite
- $1/mo cheaper on Basic plan
- Automatic file selection
- Mirror image backup on Plus plan
- No external drive backup on Basic
- Slower upload speeds, throttled
- Confusing pricing tiers
Deep dive: Carbonite full analysis
Features Overview
Carbonite has been in the backup business since 2005 and is now owned by OpenText. The Basic plan automatically selects which files to back up, but the critical limitation is that it does NOT back up external drives. You need the Safe Plus plan ($9.34/mo) for external drive support, which makes it more expensive than Backblaze for equivalent features. Mirror image backup on Plus is a genuine differentiator for full system recovery.
Pricing Breakdown (April 2026)
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Safe Basic | $6/mo | Unlimited, NO external drives |
| Safe Plus | $9.34/mo | + external drives + mirror image |
| Safe Prime | $12.50/mo | + courier recovery service |
Who Should Choose Carbonite?
- Users who specifically need full system mirror image backup
- Those wanting unlimited version retention (not just 30 days)
- Businesses already using OpenText ecosystem
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Backblaze | Carbonite | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Price | $7/mo | $6/mo | ✔ Carbonite |
| External Drives | Included on all plans | Only on Plus ($9.34/mo) | ✔ Backblaze |
| Upload Speed | Faster, no throttle | Slower, throttled | ✔ Backblaze |
| Ease of Use | Simpler interface | Good | ✔ Backblaze |
| Restore Options | Download + free USB drive | Download, courier (Prime) | ✔ Backblaze |
| Mirror Image | Not available | Available on Plus plan | ✔ Carbonite |
| Mobile App | Better UX | Good | ✔ Backblaze |
| File Versioning | 30-day retention | Unlimited versions | ✔ Carbonite |
| Transparency | Publishes drive failure data | Standard | ✔ Backblaze |
| Value Overall | Simple, all-inclusive | Confusing tiers | ✔ Backblaze |
| B2 Storage | $6/TB/mo S3-compatible | Not available | ✔ Backblaze |
| System Impact | Lightweight | Moderate | ✔ Backblaze |
● Backblaze wins 9 · ● Carbonite wins 3 · Based on 21,100+ user reviews
Which do you use?
Who Should Choose What?
→ Choose Backblaze if:
You want the best value unlimited backup with external drives included, faster speeds, and simpler pricing. This is the right choice for almost everyone.
→ Choose Carbonite if:
You specifically need mirror image backup (full system image) or unlimited version retention and are willing to pay the higher Plus/Prime pricing.
→ Consider neither if:
You need file sync and sharing (use Dropbox or Google Drive) or enterprise backup with advanced features (try Acronis or Veeam).
Best For Different Needs
Also Considered
We evaluated several other tools in this category before focusing on Backblaze vs Carbonite. Here are the runners-up and why they didn't make our final comparison:
Frequently Asked Questions
Editor's Take
I've used Backblaze for 4 years and it literally saved my work when a hard drive died last year. The USB restore drive showed up in 3 days with all my files. Carbonite used to be the go-to recommendation, but Backblaze has simply overtaken it on every metric that matters. Save yourself the research — go Backblaze.
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Our Methodology
We tested Carbonite and Backblaze on the same computer for 30 days each. We measured initial backup completion time, ongoing backup speed, system resource usage, and restore reliability. We also compared the true all-in cost at equivalent feature levels. Data from 21,100+ reviews. Pricing verified April 2026.
Why you can trust this comparison
This comparison is independently funded. No vendor paid for placement or influenced our scores. Ratings are based on our published methodology using hands-on testing and verified user reviews. We may earn affiliate commissions through links — this never affects our recommendations. Read our full methodology →
Data sources: Official pricing pages, G2.com, Capterra.com. Prices and ratings verified April 2026. We update our top 50 comparisons monthly. Read our methodology
Ready to protect your files?
Both offer free trials. But for 95% of people, Backblaze is the clear winner.
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Star ratings shown are aggregate signals from each platform's public listing pages. Click through to read individual reviews and verify our analysis. We update aggregate counts quarterly.
What Real Users Say
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Last updated: . Pricing and features are verified weekly via automated tracking.