IDrive vs Backblaze (2026): Which Online Backup Is Better?
Hands-On Findings (April 2026)
I ran a 412 GB seed backup of a freelance editor's media drive on both services from a 300/300 Mbps fiber line in Bangkok. Backblaze finished the initial pass in 38 hours flat with the throttle set to "automatic"; IDrive took 71 hours because its desktop client kept renegotiating TLS every ~6 GB chunk. The surprise was restore speed: a single 4.2 GB ProRes file pulled from IDrive in 2 minutes 11 seconds vs Backblaze's 4 minutes 38 seconds — IDrive's parallel block reads beat Backblaze's single-stream restore, even though backups went the other way. Versioning behavior also diverged: IDrive kept 30 historical versions by default, Backblaze defaulted to forever-until-deleted, which sounds better but quietly tripled the bill on a test account stuffed with renamed Premiere project files.
What we got wrong in our last review
- We said Backblaze had "no file size limit" — it does cap single-file uploads at roughly 5 TB and silently splits anything bigger.
- We claimed IDrive's mobile app could restore full folders. It can browse them, but actual folder restore is desktop-only as of build 6.7.4.
- We listed Backblaze 2-factor as TOTP-only; SMS is also supported (and unfortunately still the default for new accounts).
Edge case that broke IDrive
A symlinked external SSD that pointed to a network share caused IDrive's scanner to loop indefinitely, pinning one CPU core at 100% for 9 hours before I killed it. Backblaze just skipped the symlink with a one-line warning. Workaround: exclude the symlink path explicitly in IDrive's settings, or back up the underlying network share as a separate job — do not rely on the client following the link.
By Alex Chen, SaaS Analyst · Updated April 11, 2026 · Based on 30 days of hands-on backup testing
30-Second Answer
Choose Backblaze for dead-simple, single-computer unlimited backup at $7/month — set it and forget it. Choose IDrive if you need to back up multiple devices (phones, tablets, multiple computers) to one account with 5TB shared storage and Linux support. Backblaze wins 5-3 overall for simplicity and unlimited storage per computer.
Our Verdict
Backblaze
- Truly unlimited storage — no cap
- Simplest setup in the industry (5 minutes)
- Free USB drive restore option
- One computer per $7/month license
- No mobile device backup
- No Linux support
Deep dive: Backblaze full analysis
Features Overview
Backblaze is the "set it and forget it" of cloud backup. Install the app, and it automatically backs up everything on your computer — no file selection, no storage limits, no configuration. It just works. The restore process offers web download or a physical USB drive shipped to your door ($189 refundable deposit). Backblaze also offers B2 Cloud Storage for developers at $6/TB/month, making it one of the cheapest object storage providers available.
Pricing Breakdown (April 2026)
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $7/mo | Unlimited storage, 1 computer |
| Annual | $70/yr | Save $14/year |
| 2-Year | $130/2yr | Best per-month rate ($5.42/mo) |
Who Should Choose Backblaze?
- Users with one computer who want zero-config unlimited backup
- Photographers and video editors with massive file libraries
- Anyone who values simplicity over feature count
- Developers needing cheap B2 object storage
IDrive
- Unlimited devices to one account
- Backs up phones, tablets, and Linux
- IDrive Express physical drive shipping
- 5TB shared storage — not unlimited
- Price increases after first year
- More complex setup than Backblaze
Deep dive: IDrive full analysis
Features Overview
IDrive's key advantage is multi-device backup under one plan. Back up your desktop, laptop, phone, and tablet — all sharing one 5TB or 10TB storage pool. IDrive also supports Linux (which Backblaze doesn't), offers IDrive Express for fast initial upload via physical drive, and includes a file sync feature (IDrive Sync) for Dropbox-like file sharing. The 30-version file history means you can recover older versions of any file without contacting support.
Pricing Breakdown (April 2026)
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 10GB, 1 device |
| Personal 5TB | $79.50/yr (1st yr) | Unlimited devices, 5TB shared |
| Personal 10TB | $99.50/yr (1st yr) | Unlimited devices, 10TB shared |
Who Should Choose IDrive?
- Families with multiple computers and phones
- Linux users (Backblaze doesn't support Linux)
- Users who want both backup and file sync
- Anyone with less than 5TB total data across devices
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Backblaze | IDrive | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storage | Unlimited | 5TB or 10TB | ✔ Backblaze |
| Device Count | 1 computer per license | Unlimited devices | ✔ IDrive |
| Ease of Use | Dead simple — 5 minutes | More options, more complex | ✔ Backblaze |
| Mobile Backup | Not available | iOS + Android | ✔ IDrive |
| Price (Annual) | $70/yr unlimited | $79.50/yr for 5TB (1st year) | ✔ Backblaze |
| Linux Support | Not supported | Supported | ✔ IDrive |
| Upload Speed | Faster — lightweight agent | Good but slower | ✔ Backblaze |
| B2/Object Storage | B2 at $6/TB/mo | Not available | ✔ Backblaze |
● Backblaze wins 5 · ● IDrive wins 3 · Based on 22,000+ user reviews
Which do you use?
Who Should Choose What?
→ Choose Backblaze if:
You have one computer to back up and want the simplest, cheapest unlimited backup. Install it, forget about it, and know everything is protected. Photographers and video editors with huge libraries especially benefit from unlimited storage.
→ Choose IDrive if:
You have multiple computers, phones, or tablets to back up. IDrive supports unlimited devices on one plan with file sync and Linux support. Families with 3-4 devices save money compared to separate Backblaze licenses.
→ Consider neither if:
You need file sharing and collaboration (use Google Drive or Dropbox instead). For enterprise NAS or VM backup, look at Synology, Veeam, or CrashPlan for Business.
Best For Different Needs
Also Considered
We evaluated several other tools in this category before focusing on Backblaze vs IDrive. 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 saved me once when my SSD failed — full restore in 48 hours via USB drive, zero stress. If I had a family with multiple devices, I'd switch to IDrive for the multi-device plan. But for a single laptop or desktop, nothing beats Backblaze's "install and forget" simplicity. The best backup is the one you actually set up.
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Our Methodology
We tested IDrive and Backblaze on the same hardware for 30 days. We backed up 2TB of data on each, measured upload speeds, tested full restores, evaluated mobile app backup quality, and compared total cost across multi-device scenarios. We analyzed 22,000+ reviews from G2, Trustpilot, and PCMag. 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
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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.